By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 24
Devil Snake
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK.
--Lady Lestrange
Special thanks to my beta, ennui de mort who always does such a good job being my extra muse as well as proofreading, moral support and just plain fun.
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 for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story.
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down.)
Up to this Point: Alternate 5th year book. Voldemort was uncertain which was the prophecy child, Samara or Ginny so he kidnapped them both. Beatrice made a mad dash after them in her animagus form. She has been since crucioed and rescued and returned to Hogwarts still in her bunny animagus form.
Harry, Ron and Hermione struggle to figure out how the prophecy might aid them. The trio travels to Hermione's house, Samara's house, the Riddle house and eventually the Snow Castle in search of the girls.
Ginny, who has a Dark Mark, is torn between the visions of Tom in her head and what to do to stay safe from Voldemort at the Snow Castle. Snape is an unexpected help to her.
Voldemort meanwhile has some unpleasant Christmas surprises in store for Harry and Neville. Neville's grandmother ends up in the hospital and the Dursley's are dead, leaving Snape as Harry's guardian.
Back at Hogwarts, the trio tries to ascertain how they will save the girls. They enlist Draco and Lauren's help.
Voldemort has some trouble within the ranks and sends Ethan to learn with Narcissa and Gloria. Meanwhile, the trio works out some differences with Draco, and miss a chance to save the girls. Now, Snape gives some timely advice and Harry invites Neville to their little planning gatherings, which ends in an altercation between Neville and Draco.
Voldemort sets his plans in motion by giving Samara the Dark Mark, but she is far from defeated by this. Ginny on the other hand is ready to give in to save her family. The plot continues as Volemort sets family members upon family members in a quest to destroy all who might thwart him.
Meanwhile, Harry considers the meaning of curcio and tries to puzzle out what Voldemort is doing by reading his scar pangs.
Ethan and Edward prove their worth to Voldemort and Beatrice is finally released from the bunny animagus.
For further discussion, visit: YAHOO GROUPS, TheSeersTruth
And now, on to the story…
DEVIL SNAKE"Three hours of class with the Slytherins," complained Ron. "I just don't think I can deal with this today."
Harry sighed, his mind far from the problems of school, he paused outside of the DADA classroom. "Are you ready for this?" he asked Beatrice, and she smiled at him, lightening his morose mood a little. Nonetheless, it seemed like everything was piling up: Dumbledore had subjected them all to the speech, once again praising Harry for the rescue of Beatrice Ellis. With Beatrice restored to her witch form, everyone had to applaud his rescue. It seemed like a nice start to the day even though it had been embarrassing, but then Cho had come over to the Gryffindor table to extend her congratulations.
"Where's Marietta?" asked Beatrice innocently, and Cho said she was feeling under the weather.
"Too much wandless magic in service of the Dark Lord?" said Beatrice between bites of egg and Cho had huffed her indignance
"She wouldn't do that," said Cho, her face turning an unnatural shade of red. "Don't you ever say that about my friend, you little rodent."
Harry's face darkened. "Cho, you should leave," he said in a soft serious tone.
"You're a liar," spat Cho, glaring at Beatrice. "You just wanted the fame—poor stuck animagus—You were never stuck were you?"
"I'm sure Beatrice wouldn't lie," said Harry.
"Wouldn't she?" said Cho. "A lot of people would lie for a chance to date you, Harry."
Harry raised an eyebrow. He was rendered speechless. That thought had never occurred to him, but Cho didn't seem to expect an answer. Her eyes were still glued on Beatrice, who was completely unruffled by Cho's attack.
"Cho," said Beatrice. "Marietta is a Death Eater. I saw her at the Snow Castle. I thought you should know."
"She would never do Dark magic," said Cho. "You're a liar."
Beatrice shrugged as if the whole argument made no difference to her whatsoever.
Cho's eyes narrowed and her hands clasped her wand. "Maybe you were the one doing Dark Magic," said Cho. "You hid out as a bunny long enough—"
Harry finally found his voice and stood, drawing his wand. "That's enough," he said gruffly, but Beatrice had already transformed back into a bunny and darted under the table.
"Is there a problem?" asked McGonagall who glided over to the table, her eyes on the drawn wands.
" A woman scorned," mouthed Ron.
Hermione poked him, and he closed his mouth, leaving Harry to explain.
"No problem," said Harry. "Cho was just leaving."
"If I leave," said Cho, with eyes narrowed. "I won't be back, Harry. You can have your little rodent, but don't come crawling back to me." Cho turned, her black hair flying over her shoulder as she strode back to the Ravenclaw table. She did not look back at Harry Potter.
"Does that mean you aren't taking Cho to the Chamber of Secrets?" asked Ron.
"That never was a good idea," interjected Hermione as she put away the wand that she had stealthily drawn during the confrontation.
Harry smiled at his two friends who had relaxed into the normal banter that had been absent from their lives since they learned that they would go to the Snow Castle today. They seemed to have forgotten Harry for the moment, so he went to fetch Beatrice from under the table. He had gathered her into his arms and petted her, cooing. "It's alright, Beatrice. You shouldn't let her frighten you." He was crawling from under the table, with the bunny in his arms when Beatrice suddenly transformed into a witch. He gasped pulling has hands away from her.
"I'm not frightened of her," said Beatrice in a soft voice. "Not after what I've been through."
Harry put his hands into his pockets, trying to think where he had his hands on the bunny. He felt his ears get hot with his blush, although thankfully, it wasn't as noticeable as Ron's blushes and since he was still under the table, no one really noticed except Beatrice herself and she didn't seem to mind. "I'm sorry," stammered Harry uncertain exactly what he was apologizing for.
"I just wondered if you would crawl under the table after me or wait for me to come back to my chair," whispered Beatrice with an amused twinkle in her eye.
"You!" spat Harry. "You did that on purpose!"
"Guilty," she said with a little laugh. Her warm brown eyes filled with amusement.
They looked at each other for a moment longer, as the amusement faded and neither was really conscious of the crowd in the Great Hall until Hemione picked up the table clothe and peered under the table. "Harry? Beatrice?" she said, and giggling, the two of them crawled out from under the table.
They finished eating breakfast while talking in whispers and veiled references about the plan to go to the Snow Castle. "Harry, I really don't think you can fight You-Know-Who now," Hermione argued in a secretive undertone.
"Sowilo," said Harry softly thinking of what Oglesby had said about destiny. Harry wasn't sure if he believed in destiny or not, and yet his whole life seemed to be dependent upon it. He didn't think he could change it now.
"No," said Beatrice. "The blank rune. Chance. What will happen will happen regardless to what you do to change or prevent it. It can't go wrong Harry."
"What do you mean it can't go wrong," Hermione hissed. "Harry could die!"
"Then it's preordained and there is nothing he can do about it," said Beatrice.
Ron cleared his throat as the Great Hall started to fill up with students seeking their breakfasts and the conversation shifted to a safer subject for public scrutiny: Beatrice's animagus change. Dumbledore had told them to tell no one how she was restored to her witch form. He had even said that she wasn't allowed to thank Snape for his help, but Beatrice balked at that.
"He deserves to know," she said, explaining, "If it hadn't been for Snape, I wouldn't have gotten out of my animagus. You see, I never thought I would die. I thought I was having an asthma attack. I've had a lot of them, and I never could breathe." She looked at the ground. "Professor Snape took away my puffer. He said that witches can breath magic and only a muggle would die, so I thought I could breath. All I had to do was concentrate. I mean, it was hard. It hurt, but I thought I could do it. I never thought I was going to die.
"But it wasn't an asthma attack. It was crucio," said Harry. "I read about it. Almost no one comes back from a crucio induced animagus change."
"but if she never thought she was in danger of death," said Dumbledore, "That explains why she's been able to return to us. That part of the spell is mental torture, Harry. If she didn't think she was going to die, she shouldn't have been stuck as the animagus at all."
"Well, at the Snow Castle it seemed like a good idea to stay a bunny and then, I guess, everyone expected me to be stuck," said Beatrice. She shrugged. "I never was good at getting out of the bunny. I could always go into it quickly, but getting out has always been hard for me."
"Did you really think you couldn't breath under crucio," asked Ron.
"Of course I really couldn't breath magic while under the crucio, but I thought I was just doing it wrong. Professor Snape berated me enough for doing it wrong. I always got it wrong. I just kept trying to breathe. I managed to keep control of the bunny, but after I passed out, the bunny just freaked out and wouldn't come back to me later. It took a crisis--to force me to override the bunny's fear."
"What crisis?" asked Dumbledore.
"Well, Harry was arguing with the rest of the Gryffindors," said Beatrice looking shamefacedly at her shoes. They had already agreed not to tell Dumbledore about Edward's Dark Mark, or the fact that the Dark Mark came out of his wand when they did priori incantum.
"And that was enough to bring you out of the animagus?" asked Dumbledore surprised.
"Yes. I'd rather not talk about it," said Beatrice.
Beatrice is rather sensitive to arguments," said Harry. "And she is friends with both Hermione and me. It upset her to see us at odds."
"I see," said Dumbledore. None of them thought he was fooled, but he let them go and made the speech in the Great Hall at breakfast. Tomorrow, none of it would matter.
The group hurried into DADA class. When they entered, Edward was speaking to Snape in an animated manner.
"I want to tell Professor Snape 'thank you'," said Beatrice.
"Maybe later," suggested Harry, and Beatrice nodded taking a seat between Harry and Hermione, but when class was over, Snape hurried out of the room like the hounds of hell were chasing him. No one had a chance to talk to him.
As he watched Snape leave, Harry Potter rubbed a distracted hand over his scar. It was burning with a soft prickly heat.
Voldemort had honed the plan to a fragile form of perfection in his mind. There were only a few places were it could go wrong—only a few people who could thwart him. Virginia Weasley was one of those. He visited her hours before the evenings' events, to ascertain how deep her loyalties ran and to strengthen them accordingly. Her connection with the diary would work nicely.
"You know, that if you do this right—if you follow my instructions carefully I will reward you." He told her, drawing his finger along her cheek. She could feel the roughness of the skin, like scales, she told herself.
"Yes," Ginny said thinking that if she failed he would punish her. She shivered, and Tom interrupted her thoughts.
It would not due to remind him of that Ginny Love. Let's concentrate on succeeding."
But I don't want him to succeed.
I want us to succeed," Tom argued.
Voldemort cupped her chin in his hand and turned her to look at him. Tom fled.
"You are far away," he said softly. "Thinking of me—of Tom."
"You are not Tom," Ginny said.
"I thought you agreed that Tom was present in me when you joined me."
"I didn't join you. I was tricked," said Ginny.
His face darkened momentarily, but he didn't hurt her. Instead he transfigured himself into his sixteen year old self, the skin of his hand softening beneath her chin.
She backed away. "You can't fool me. You aren't him," she said.
"Yes I am." he said, taking a step closer to her.
She continued backing away fearfully until her back was against the wall, and still he reached out to touch her, putting his other hand up along the wall and blocking her exit.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said.
"Yes you are."
"Well, maybe just a little," he agreed, his lips curling into a smirk, as he leaned close, playing his morbid game of cat and mouse.
She closed her eyes, knowing she was trapped. The temptation to just give in was over whelming.
She whimpered as he touched her, his magic bubbling about her just like it did when she was eleven, only now she could understand what his magic was doing to her, and she would not consent. "Please," she murmured turning her face from his. "I don't want to—"
And then he closed his hand over her Dark Mark and every bit of will power she had to reject him deserted her. It was just like the diary all over again and she had no will to resist him.
He stepped away, leaving her incomplete and whimpering. "Good," he said. "You are mine." His gaze was almost tender, as if he could see something in her of which she herself was unaware. He touched her with something more than his fingers then, perhaps it was legilimency, but it filled her with a dread and wanting at the same time.
"Remember," he said, "If you want to see your family, you will obey me." The words were both a promise and a threat and Ginny shivered. He paused as if considering if he had more work to do with her. He seemed detached, thinking of something,, strangely, like her mother acted when she had too many things to do in too short of a time. A part of Ginny rejected that thought. She couldn't possibly compare him in any way to her mother.
Your polyjuice, Virginia," he said handing her the vial with a flourish. "Take your basilisk to Samara, now," he said, and be ready for me in an hour. He smiled at her, saying, "We shall have fun," and touching his fingers to his lips, he ran his thumb along the line of her mouth. "I can be who you want, Virginia," he said.
"You're not," she said hoarsely. "You're not Tom."
"Tom and I are more alike than you think," he said. "You have idealized him in your mind. You have forgotten who he really was." He continued rubbing her Mark with a concentrated gentleness. "I am he and he is me."
He touched her mute lips with his thumb, and then melting back into his snake form, he disapperated. His magic burned on her lips long after he had left, and she pondered what he had said.
"You can still fight Him, Ginny Love, but I can't see the point," said Tom. "He is not me, but you have the Dark Mark. He is right. You are His."
Ginny lay on her bed and wept.
"You should have had these doubts before you came to Him. Now you have no choice."
"He said I could go home—afterwards," Ginny said. "After I do this task for him."
Tom said nothing.
A tense atmosphere hung over the meeting that had been called on the afternoon of January 17 in the Minister of Magic's office on the top floor of the Ministry Building. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic was sitting at the head of the long polished mahogany table, drumming his fingers nervously. Every now and then, he touched the wand in his pocket as if it could protect him from the dangers beside him. He looked right and left with darting eyes that searched for too much gold and too few friends. Beside him was the seat for the Deputy Minister, Amelia Bones, as yet empty. On the other side of the table sat Lucius Malfoy, Finance Trustee and beyond that, the seven chief Aurors, including Auror Dawlish, Head of Internal Operations and Auror Williamson Chief of Staff who were settling into their seats after the short break for tea.
Aurors Dawlish, and Williamson were seated at one end of the table with their heads together when Madam Amelia Bones entered. All looked up at her entrance, happy to see her for one reason or another. Lucius Malfoy stepped around the table and graced her with a courtly bow.
"We are happy to see you back from your ordeal," he said, gray eyes intense. "We hope that you are well enough to see this meeting through and bring to justice those that are responsible."
"Hear! Hear!" agreed Williamson with a short applause that was joined by the others.
The gray-haired woman nodded mutely as Lucius kissed her hand, but she managed to pull her hand away quickly.
As you know, she said, "We are here to discuss the horrible deaths of several aurors and ministry officials." She paused. "And we are here to decide what to do about it." Madam Bones took a deep breath, looking exceedingly pale to anyone who knew her well. Fortunately, most of the aurors did not know her well enough to realize that the person they were looking at, was not Madam Bones. It was Virginia Weasley.
The first time Ginny swallowed the polyjuice, she threw up. Several sips of pumpkin juice drove the taste of vomit from her mouth but nothing could drive the fear from her heart.
She never thought she would regret the absence of a basilisk, but as she traded the small serpent at her neck for an even tinier viper she found she couldn't control her shivering.
The viper curled around her hair decoration, hiding in the leafy fronds over her ear with a concealment charm He spoke in the sibilant tones she had already begun to associate with Voldemort.
"(Such fear,)" he observed. "(You have nothing to fear unless you fail.)"
The touch of his tongue on the skin of her ear lobe filled her with loathing which he seemed to find amusing.
"(And here, I thought you had some fondness for me, Virginia.)"
"(Only for Tom)", hissed Ginny. "(And you are not he.)"
"(Of course I am. I am he and much more, I thought I made that clear earlier today. But we have no time for this private conversation--yet. We have work to do, and you must be silent, only listening. It will not do for the deputy minister to be speaking parseltongue.)"
"Madam Bones," greeted Auror Williamson his black eyes glittering in anticipation of today's meeting. "We are so happy to have you back among your friends after your close call."
"Thank you, Mr. Williamson," Ginny said in the gravely old woman's voice.
Minister Fudge greeted her nervously. His hand was clammy against hers and he didn't meet her eyes.
"(Do not let him worry you,)" hissed Voldemort in her ear. "(He always smells of fear.)"
The others with their aides were already seated at the table: Evelyn Burton, Warren Conlin and Robert Fair were not introduced, but Ginny knew them from Voldemort's descriptions of them.
"It's good to see you back, Madam Bones," Percy Weasley said politely.
Ginny felt the air go completely out of her lungs. She just stared at him.
"He didn't tell me Percy would be here," she thought frantically.
"Sit down, Ginny Love," said Tom. "You are going to get yourself in a jam before you even start."
Ginny sat.
"We are here to discuss the safety of our aurors," began Fudge, when the door banged open again and in walked Alaster Moody with Darneil Semenik, who was masquerading as the Auror Sturgis Podmore.
"(Right on time,)" said Volemort. "(I love Semenik's punctuality.)"
"Alaster, this is a Ministry meeting," said Fudge insensed.
"I think we have every right to be here," said Moody, his eyes swiveling to examine each of the assembled witches and wizards who were still talking quietly among themselves.
"She was so young," said Sturgis softly.
"Have you been to Tonk's flat?" asked Kingley Shacklebolt. The big black man looked visibly shaken by the news of her death.
"Yes," hissed Moody. "That's why I am here. Some of these Aurors I have trained since they were green recruits just out of Hogwarts. Hell, some of them I saw in their nappies. I certainly have every right to know what is killing them."
"(You-Know-who,)" hissed the snake in Ginny's ear, and Ginny reacted, turning toward Moody, "You-Know-Who is killing them," she snapped. "He and his Death Eaters. Welcome, Auror Moody." She stood to shake his hand.
"So you are finally going to open your eyes, are you Fudge?" said Moody. "It takes the death of a child before you do anything to arrest the growth of evil in our midst."
"She was hardly a child," said Sturgis. "She was an auror."
"She was so proud of being an auror," Kingsley whispered. "And she was not the first one attacked. Madam Bones had a close call earlier this week. I'd say that You Know Who is getting bold now that he has his Prophecy Child."
"Yes, Madam Bones did have a close call herself earlier this week. Reminds me of Hogshead, 1941," said Moody. "Don't you think, Amelia?"
Ginny froze. She had no idea what to say and apparently, neither did Voldemort.
"(Touch him,)" Voldemort demanded, "(Maybe I can get a sense of what he is thinking through you.)" The sparkles of discomfort she felt when Tom attempted to possess her were nothing in comparison to whatever Voldemort did to sense Moody, but it was no good. She gasped with his attempt to reach out magically and became extremely dizzy, swaying sickly on her feet and gripping Moody's shoulder not because of Voldemort's order, but because she would have fallen if she didn't.
"I'm sorry," Moody said, instantly contrite. "I wouldn't have brought up the death of your husband so close on the heels of your accident, if I could have thought of any other way to ascertain that this was really you, Amelia. Since only you and I knew your husband was on that clandestine mission that took his life at Hogshead. But after all, Amelia your husband died a long time ago."
"You son-of-a-bitch," snapped Ginny, but Moodly smiled grimly. "Oh, I'm glad to see they haven't scared the spunk out of you, Amelia."
"I want them caught and put in Azkaban where they belong." Said Ginny caustically.
"Very nice," hissed Voldemort, "taking the initiative, but you will wait for my words next time." His hiss was a tickle in her ear and she resisted the urge to brush him away from her.
"Speaking of Azkaban," said Moody. "Has Mr. Rookwood been apprehended yet?"
Voldemort's amusement was apparent to Ginny. "(Well, the Ministry Morons can keep looking, but they won't find him, will they?)"
"No," said Ginny. "Of course, I've been out of the loop for the past week."
"(But he's been dead for two and a half months, Virginia,)" commented Voldemort.
"Yes. Yes. Of course, Madam Bones." Moody was traveling around the perimenter of the room checking for wards and breaches of security. Mr. Shacklebolt slipped back outstide to add an extra guard to the doorway. Then Moody sat at the table and pronounced, "Now, we wait."
"Wait?" questioned Fudge.
"Article ---1597 of the security code. No meeting shall commence until an hour has passed to rule out the possibility of polyjuice."
Don't be ridiculous," interrupted Lucius. "We've been with each other all morning. The only one who hasn't been here is you, Mr. Moody." Lucius said tightly. "Perhaps we should examine your hip flask."
Obediently, Moody took off his flask and passed it to Fudge who called for a house elf.
Ginny was surprised to see Snape's personal elf Maximus, but neither Fudge nor Moody nor any of the others saw anything amiss as the elf took the flask and opened it. The elf lifted the flask to its face, tasting and pronouncing the contents mineral water. As Moody reached to retrieve the flask, Lucius grimaced, "You would drink after that?" He asked indicating the house elf. "Clean it at once and refill it," stated Malfoy and the elf disappeared with the flask.
No one noticed the elf re-appear with the flask. He gave it to Fudge, which was proper as he was the ranking Ministry official. Fudge moved it absently and continued talking. The elf, however, looked directly at Ginny and disapparated.
Fudge laid out the particulars on the attack on Tonks. "The evidence of shared magic was unmistakable, but it doesn't match the records we have on file of –of " He glanced at Lucius Malfoy. "Of anyone." he finished weakly.
"Not the Doogle sisters?" asked Moody. "We know they killed Andromeda—"
"You know no such thing," snapped Lucius. "My wife's innocence was proved long ago, the Imperious curse—"
"Is convenient for you Slytherins," said Moody.
Ginny shifted, but Voldemort told her to be still. "(Malfoy will control himself.)"
The sudden twitch in Malfoy's cheek was the only indication that he was angry, that and his stormy gray eyes. "I know, Alaster," he said smoothly, "You love berating Slytherins. You Gryffindors are always saving the wizarding world, but let's remember, it is the Slytherins who are still running it.."
At Voldemort's instruction, Ginny added. "Let's not forget the Hufflepuff's keeping the peace." She said with a small smile.
"There is no peace," snapped Warren Conlin.
"And the Ravenclaw's logic," continued Ginny, looking at Warren. "It takes all of us to run this country, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Moody-- The way I see it, we would be foolish to disavow any of our strengths."
Ginny looked uncomfortably at the shiny mahogany table, unable to bear Lucius approving eyes on her.
"Do you think he is aiming for the Ministy building?" asked Warren Conlin changing the subject. "It would give him communications throughout the world."
Voldemort coached Ginny through her answer.
"Indeed," said Ginny. "That's a scary thought, but I don't think he would be so bold, not with all of you brave and cunning ladies and gentlemen to protect us. Not with all the talent and intellect assembled here. We defeated him once. We still have the means. We are strong enough to defeat him again, just as we did before."
"Harry Potter is a bad risk," commented Lucius.
"He has been the savior of the wizarding world more than once," commented Moody.
"All the more reason to let the poor boy be a child for a while," said Lucius.
Ginny's eyes darted to Lucius face, which was cool and unflustered, betraying nothing. She had half expected a smirk.
"The prophecy," began Robert Fair.
"(Bring this conversation to the matter at hand,)" coached Voldemort. "(They are concerned about this new prophecy child. Let them think that perhaps they can still save her. The Gryffindors are itching for action. Humor them. I will tell you what to say.)"
"If I may have the floor," interrupted Ginny.
"Of course, Madam Bones," said Minister Fudge.
"I was not speaking of Harry Potter, although we all know the importance of the boy. I was speaking of this new prophecy child, the one that has made Him so bold. As long as He holds her, He feels He is invincible. She must be turned to the side of light. She must be found, captured and brought to us. If we can steal her from beneath His wand, we will be the victors. It will take the arrogance out of His attack."
"(If they cannot capture her,)" coached Voldemort, "(they should try to kill her. That will surely push her into my waiting arms,)" he added smugly.
Ginny took a deep breath, ignoring Vodemort's words. She would not tell the aurors to kill Samara. They may do it anyway, but she would not be the one to give them the idea if they didn't already have it.
"We will pay for your stubbornness," predicted Tom, but Ginny ignored him too.
"His Death Eaters will doubt," Ginny continued picking up the other things Voldemort wanted her to say. "Indeed, from what I saw, there were some who hesitated in torturing me. They realized they would be recognized if I escaped, and our dear friend," She paused thinking everyone at this table knew she, though Voldemort's words, was speaking of Severus Snape, but she could not say his name. A spy," she continued, " in the Dark Lord's ranks, at great risk to himself, was, instrumental in my return to you. His followers are witches and wizards, pure and simple, caught between conflicting loyalties. If we give them a chance to betray Him, some will take it. We should give them the chance to be loyal to the Light. We should give them a chance to rethink their loyalty. We already have one of his Death Eaters on our side. Perhaps there are more who would turn."
"(That should flush out our true spy,)" predicted Voldemort.
"If they have already betrayed the Light," growled Moody, "they should die."
A hush settled over the table, as Williamson cleared his throat. "If I may have the floor," he said, holding up a sheet of paper that constituted one of the most damning pieces of evidence, and yet it was only a piece of paper, signed in ink, not blood.
"Certainly Auror Williamson," agreed Madam Bones, glad for the moment of respite.
Williamson stabbed at the paper he held with his forefinger. "You have copies of this," he reminded the members of the council. "What I have here is an urgent communication for a transfer of funds—muggle funds—to purchase magical items including unauthorized potions ingredients. Items six and seven call for twelve thousand kilos each of both the herb brimstone mirra and the potion itself, mira opening, the same potion that was used in various bombings in the muggle and wizarding world. Williamson lowered the paper and sent a challenging look around the table. "If this becomes common knowledge—" He broke off.
"There will be an inquiry," added Malfoy.
"Something like this couldn't have been authorized without Minister Fudge's approval," Williamson said, his eyes on Fudge.
The bureaucrats at the table shifted already preparing to fireproof themselves against public opinion. The Aurors pressed for answers. Fudge, visibly sweating looked helplessly at Malfoy.
"You haven't told us how you happen to have this document in your possession, Williamson," drawled Lucius Malfoy, trying to sidetrack Auror Williamson and ease the tension.
"How I got it, makes no difference whatsoever," snapped Williamson. "It's part of an inventory supply list for a muggle chemist. Why should we be shipping wizarding explosives off to muggles?" he asked.
"Well, if it was paid for with muggle money," said Stergis Podmore, with a shrug. "Do you think it was a muggleborn wizard who ordered it?"
"Twelve thousand kilos?" interrupted Dawlish aghast. "That's enough to blow up half of London. No one person would need that much."
"Well, nothing has been blown up, has it?" asked Madam Bones.
"No, not yet. But this is a controlled substance," said Williamson.
"I can't explain it," said Fudge, wringing his hands. "I'll have to have a committee explore it further." Fudge glanced at his watch. "Mr. Podmore, this seems like a job for your department."
"Yes, sir," said Sturgis. "I'll get on it right away." Sturgis immediately excused himself from the meeting.
"That doesn't tell us how the Aurors were killed," said Moody petulantly.
"These explosives can kill too, Alaster," said Williamson haughtily. "Potions or curses, it makes no difference, wizards and witches are just as dead."
"And the dementors?" added Lucius. "There have been dementors sighted in muggle London. The papers are rife with stories. We cannot just let them loose to create havoc."
"Indeed," said Moody, and Ginny could almost be amazed. "It appeared that Malfoy and Moody were agreeing on something."
"Of course the dementers, if they are loose, must be dealt with, Mr. Malfoy," added Ginny, still continuing with Voldemort's coaching, that is why Rookwood must be found and detained."- Ginny hesitated, thinking of Rookwood's rather gruesome death before she continued. "Someone, perhaps one of the Ravenclaws," said Ginny glancing at Warren Conlin. Perhaps your department should begin work on creation of a second Pandora's Box."
"That won't work," said Mr. Conlin. Pandora's box is unique. We cannot destroy it, or we loose all the dementors created since the beginning of time. Can you imagine the chaos? Can you imagine how many have lost their dreams since the beginning of time? The dementor are—endless--"
Ginny shivered.
As the hour drew to a close, Ginny felt the sweat trickling down between her breasts although she was not too warm. On the contrary, her hands were cold as a ghost's. Although when Maximus had first brought in the flask she thought perhaps it contained polyjuice, now, it seemed unlikely. She was going to sit right here in front of them all and turn into Ginny Weasley and then Moody would discover her Dark Mark and they would wonder why she did it. Obviously she was insane. They would send her back to St. Mongos.
"Quit moping," spat Tom. "You need to pay attention."
"(You need to drink from the flask,)" Voldemort hissed, bringing her back to reality. "(It is time.)"
If it is polyjuice, I'll get sick, thought Ginny. I always get sick on polyjuice.
"If you throw up, and they realize you've taken polyjuice, you are dead," advised Tom " The aurors might not even wait to see who you are."
She was sweating profusely now, and Alaster Moody laid his hand on top of hers. "Madam Bones," he said. "Are you ill?"
"No—I,"
"(Tell him you are dizzy—weakness and dizziness are common aftereffects of crucio)." Hissed the little viper in her ear.
"I know," she thought bitterly. "Just a little dizziness," she said aloud. "It will pass. If someone could get me a glass of water—"
"Here," said Moody, reaching across the table and picking up his hip flask from in front of Fudge.
Ginny took it, hesitating only a moment before, downing a large swallow of the contents. It was indeed polyjuice. She swallowed and then clapped both hands over her mouth, suddenly sick.
It was Malfoy, who came to her rescue transfiguring a quill into a basin with the words, "Plectrum ad trulla!" and another almost imperceptible swish at the hip flask in her hand, and another barely audible word, "Pergo." He thrust the basin under her face just before she wretched. "Pergo," he said again, immediately magicking the sick away.
"Perhaps we should allow Madam Bones to lie down," said Moody. "She obviously still needs the medi-witches' attention. Madam Bones?" Moody picked up the hip flask and brought it suspiciously to his nose, sniffing and then turning it up to his lips to taste, but he stopped realizing the flask was empty.
"(If you screw up this meeting--)" hissed Voldemort angrily.
"I'm fine," said Ginny. "I'm afraid, I consumed a bit of dark magic before Mr. Shacklebolt arrived," she said sheepishly. "I didn't tell anyone. I thought I was stronger than that." She took several deep breaths. "I feel better now. Thank you."
"Get some chocolate in here," growled Malfoy, and Fudge nodded. "Yes, yes. That's a good idea, Mr. Malfoy."
"Leave it to Lucius Malfoy to know the anti-dotes to dark magic," said Moody, his eyes fixed on Lucius.
"As should you," Lucius said evenly. "It's not like chocolate is a secret family recipe."
"No doubt it is, in your family, Mister Malfoy," sneered Moody. After a moment, he turned to face Madam Bones. "I have a request, Mr Fudge, Madam Bones," he said. "Years ago, you remember when Voldemort was at his peak, Aurors were given permission to use more powerful spells on known Death Eaters."
"You are talking about unforgivables," snapped Malfoy. "I will not condone the murder of innocent wizards. They have a right to a trial."
"Why? So they can claim imperio?" asked Moody. "Anyway, we're not talking about innocents, are we?" said Moody.
"The death of even one innocent is one too many deaths," said Lucius. "Don't you agree Madam Bones."
Ginny hesitated before answering, "Yes, but—"
"(But that just means we will have to be very careful before we fire,)" Voldemort suggested.
Still Ginny hesitated. "Voldemort agreed with Moody? She was shocked. "I don't know," she began, uncomfortable with agreeing with Moody. Had she heard the little viper correctly?
Sparkles of pain shot through her as Voldemort used his legilimency to tell what was making her hesitate. "(I don't agree with Moody,)" said Voldemort, at last, "(but Madam Bones would. It's not like the policy decided here today is going to go into action, is it?)" Voldemort continued.
Ginny rubbed her tingling arms as she voiced Voldemort's opinions, stating that she felt that the Aurors should have more leeway to kill if necessary, although she could think of no reason why it would be necessary. Any number of stunning or immobilizing spells could be used quite well.
"So what do you think, Mr. Fudge?" sneered Lucius. "Should we just put a few aurors on patrol and tell them to shoot anything that moves? Do you trust your aurors that much?"
"No. no. no.. I in no way agree with upping the Auror's authority. We need to handle this crisis as civilized human beings, and civilized human beings do not fire Avada at one another."
"Perhaps you should send a memo to Mr. Malfoy about that fact," said Moody snidely. I don't think he's learned that particular item yet."
"At least I've learned how to do a first year glamour," said Lucius, and I don't even have to hide my disgusting half nose from the world."
"Not when you could wear a mask," said Moody with cold calculation.
Lucius Malfoy visibly twitched in his chair and he closed his fist around the magic in his hand. His eyes were narrow slits. "Prove it," he growled under his breath.
"Oh I intend to, and in the meantime I don't think one should hide scars of war," said Moody.
"War?" scoffed Malfoy. "Evan Rosier was barely 20—"
"So was young Barty Crouch and I should have killed him when I had the chance," snapped Moody. "No one would have missed him, except Voldemort."
"Is that what you thought about Evan Rosier? But someone did miss him. Did you know that you made an orphan the day you killed Evan Rosier? Her name is Maura. Do you really think it is within the Ministry's jurisdiction to create orphans that the country has to support? Does that make you feel good about your job?"
"Evan Rosier got no more than what he deserved," said Moody.
"He deserved a trial. We are after all a civilized country."
"And the appearance of the law must be upheld, no matter how twisted and broken you make it Malfoy? Is that right" Moody growled.
"Indeed," agreed Lucius, "When the law is broken that is all the more reason to uphold what the masses expect. Isn't that right, Minister Fudge? We can't have all manner of riff-raff questioning our decisions."
Fudge sputtered, unwilling to be drawn into the debate.
"(Stop them,)" Voldemort hissed. "(This is pointless. It is time to finish it. We are nearly at the end of the second hour and everything should be in place.)".
"Enough," snapped Ginny. "Fighting among ourselves is not vanquishing Voldemort."
The entire room turned to stare at Ginny.
"(She does not say my name," said Voldemort. "(No matter.)" He said as the alarms began to blare. "(It is finished.)"
"Or it has just begun?" Wondered Ginny.
Answers to the ReviewersI love all my readers and reviewers. I just love my reviewers more. You don't have to pay for this fic. How much trouble is it to click review? Be a responsible reader. REVIEW. 15 reviews gets the next chapter.
Adaneth: I hope this chapter explained how Beatrice could be a witch again, and as far as Harry being stupid…well I try to make him as true to canon as possible. LOL
Indubitably: Yes, you are right Voldemort is a god and if you visit my rp, you will know I channel him regularly. I would give you the link to the rp, but considering what you think of me, not-- As far as your scathing review, if I and my stories are such a turn off, please don't read them. Interesting that you got to chapter 23 It always amazes me that the people who flame are the ones who never wrote anything themselves. (Yes, I visited your site) I update exactly on schedule and my readers never need worry that I won't finish a story. I don't think my readers are offended by my remarks about their lack of reviews and since I have the two longest Ginny/Tom stories on fanfic, I think it's obvious I write for the love of writing.
Little Red Rabbit: Here's my update. Right on time.
Jager: Thanks. Nice to have nice reviews.
Trillium: I would say the combo.
Cronenus: Thanks for the review, and thanks for sticking with the story long enough to translate it all to speech files so you can listen to it. You are awesome.
Silverfox: So insightful. Love you, deary. It's readers like you who make it all worthwhile. And you are forgiven for not reviewing, but I really love to hear your comments. It helps me to know I'm going in the right direction. I know if I lose you, I need to explain better because you usually get all the little nuances.
Kemenran: So short and yet so faithful. Thanks for reviewing.
Ammarine: What happens at 5:28? Harry goes to get the girls out of the Snow Castle! Go ahead Ammarine, you have the authority to crack that whip for me. I'll just watch.
Draginlover: Are you happy? Here's your next chapter early. I hated to leave you all with the morbid thoughts of the last chapter. I like the morbid thoughts of this chapter better. LOL. Remember I told you I was debating where to cut the 60 or so pages at the Ministry? Well, it's in 3 chapters. Sorry. People don't review long chapters so I have to assume they don't like them. Review to get the rest. Sorry about killing Tonks. Well, not really. I always thought she was too powerful. As far as Beatrice, and the priori incantum…I'm not sure what your question was. Hermione thought it wasn't up to students to check Edward's wand regardless to what he had done and the whole moral episode of Edward being a Death Eater weighed against Ginny being a Death Eater is brought into play. After all, none of my characters can be pigeonholed into "good and evil" categories. There are even moments when Voldemort makes sense and Dumbledore seems manipulative. That's the whole point of my story. But I'm sure you knew that by now. Why did Beatrice pick this moment to come out of her animagus? Well, there is the story they told Dumbledore which is true and also a little bit of "fate".
Veela Valoom: Yes, this is my distraction from my math homework too. LOL. And I like Beatrice too. I never meant for her to be this big of a character.
Review. Do it right now. Imperio!