The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 26
Broken Trust
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infrigement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK.
--Lady Lestrange
Special thanks to my beta, ennui de mort who thought of the title and 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.
Ginny, under polyjuice potion, is impersonating Madam Amelia Bones. She is following direct orders from Voldemort who is speaking to her in parseltongue from the small snake animagus she is carrying. She attempts to save both her father and her brother. What will Voldemort do to retaliate if she does?
For further discussion, visit: YAHOO GROUPS, TheSeersTruth
And now, on to the story…
Chapter 26
Broken Trust
By Lady Lestrange
Snape and Harry hurried along the corridor and climbed the stairs. It was only when they reached Gryffindor Tower that Harry realized that Snape had taken him seriously. Would ton tongue taffies work? He wondered.
"Password?" said the fat lady.
Snape prodded Harry roughly, and Harry grinned at him. It felt rather good to have Snape in his debt. "Puppy Puffs," said Harry at last.
Snape left Harry at the door and strode quickly up to the seventh year dorms and pounded on the boys' door. Lee Jordon opened it and stared in open-mouthed amazement. "Professor Snape?"
Snape stepped into the room and growled. The Weasley twins weren't there. Snape prodded Harry. "What?" said Harry, being deliberately obstinate. It wasn't like Snape would thank him later no matter what he did. Snape grasped his arm roughly.
Suddenly a sharp pain pierced through Harry's scar. At first he thought it was something that Snape did with his legilimency, but Snape had let go of Harry's arm and clutched his own. The movement was slight; immediately, he dropped his arm by his side. Again he was the impassive, unshakable teacher that Harry knew and loathed, but he couldn't hate him so much as to send him to Voldemort without a tongue if he could help it.
"Wait," said Harry, and Snape turned. "Do you have any ton tongue taffies?" Harry asked Lee.
"No," said Lee. "But the twins keep their stash here." He pulled open a drawer and Snape took one of the candies, and nibbled off a tiny piece, grimacing as if the candy were poison.
Lee stared at him.
"That's –um two sickles?" said Lee as Snape turned and practically ran from the room. "Slimy git," muttered Lee.
Harry darted after Snape, wishing that he still had the Invisibility Cloak in his pocket. Snape stopped once and pushed Harry harshly away from him, when they passed the Great Hall, but Harry was tenacious. "I'm the one that's supposed to kill him," said Harry. "I have to go with you." Snape shook his head no, and kept walking. "I know you can Apparate us close to him, without letting him know I am there. It's a perfect time to save Samara and Ginny," argued Harry. "I'll make them a portkey home and I'll stay and—and finish it with--with Voldemort."
Snape snorted his disgust with Harry's idea, and pointedly ignored him, taking another nibble of the taffy.
Harry hesitated only a moment before following. "Look," said Harry bluntly. "He's going to kill you., Professor. I know we haven't been—close, but you've done a lot for the Order thus far and," Harry whispered. "I don't want you dead." Snape raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the one that says rushing into danger is the height of stupidity? So why don't you take your own advice?"
Snape shook his head and started to walk away, taking yet another tiny nibble of the taffy. When he finally spoke, his word were slurred as if he was drunk. "shunite," he said.
"Tonight?" Harry repeated. "What about tonight?" Harry asked, thinking of the time that Snape had told Draco, 5:28.
Snape stopped turning to look at him, struggling to make his tongue work properly. "sime," he said, "thusting ew—"
Harry looked at him blankly, and Snape growled, giving him a small shake.
"The time," said Harry. "I understand you. The time you gave Draco, 5:28, but—" He gave Harry a brief nod and then started to walk away again.
"But what's the difference?" Harry persisted, jumping forward and latching on to Snape's sleeve again. "Now or tonight, except that tonight you might be dead. I should go now."
"No!" ordered Snape, the word coming out with amazing clarity. "No Minisssy," he repeated, turning and pacing away. "Pommis me. Thware."
"But," Harry reached out and caught his robe sleeve pulling him around face to face. Snape reacted instantly, pinning Harry to the wall, magic crackling with the adhere spell although Snape had used neither wand nor word. The glare Snape gave him almost killed him on the spot.
"NO!" Snape growled, getting his tongue around the word he wanted to say. "Swear!"
"Okay," croaked Harry through the binding spell that Snape had put on him. "I swear. Binding wizard's promise. I won't go to the Ministry."
Snape shook him as if to emphasize the point.
"I said I swear I won't go. I'll wait and I'll go for the girls, at 5:28," said Harry and Snape released him.
Snape nodded and shoved away from him, striding again purposefully to the dungeon. Again, Harry followed. When Snape stopped, he waved Harry away from him, but Harry didn't move.
Snape shrugged and with his eyes still on Harry, stuck the point of his wand in his mouth, muttering something unintelligible. The shudder that shook Snape, brought Harry to his side again, but he turned away from Harry, spitting a bloody mass on the stone floor, and Harry looked at it, sudden nausea rising as he realized it was the severed grotesque shape of Snape's newly grown tongue.
Fighting disgust, Harry wondered why Snape had grown the tongue if he was just going to cut it off again. What had he done? Said? He only reminded Harry of the time, and—Harry looked after Snape, but without a sound, Snape turned a corner and was gone.
Harry slammed his hands against the stone wall. Obviously there was a secret passage, he felt along the stone looking for some way to open it. Maybe it opened with a touch, because Snape had opened it without a wand or voice. On the other hand, Snape had definitely used magic to pin him to the wall just a moment ago so what was to stop him from silently using magic to open the passage? "Damn it, damn it, damn it all! Why does this always happen to me?" muttered Harry as he felt his way the length of the corridor. "Where's the passage? I know it's here."
Maybe I should speak to it, thought Harry, and, frustrated, he looked for a snake to help his speech, but he didn't see any. Shesha stirred at his wrist and he wondered why he ever doubted he could speak the parseltongue. "Open!" he hissed.
Immediately one of the walls dissolved showing a long corridor. From the cool fresh smell, Harry realized that the passage led out of doors. He started to run, but by the time he reached the open air that was beyond Hogwarts' Wards, Snape was no where in sight. Harry stood silently looking out into the twilight wondering what he could have done differently. Nothing, he decided. He did all he could.
Voldemort strode into the corridor, disposing of several guards with ruthless efficiency before his Death Eaters caught up with this long stride. Lucius and Stergis matched his stride, followed by Fudge. "Edward, Ethan, Alvin," said Voldemort. "Clear this floor. Kill anyone who comes off of this lift or Apparates in. Alvin, use Pandora's Box if you need to, but keep the dementers on this floor. When your Mark burns again, draw them back to the box and Apparate to me.
"Ethan and Edward, you go back to Hogwarts with the other children." He waited for their obedient, "Yes Master," before turning to the others.
"Samara, you come with us. I want my basilisks with me. Virginia, you can take your basilisk back from Samara now. Stay with me, I will be needing the rest of your polyjuice shortly." With that, Voldemort stepped into the lift, checking with the Death Eaters on every floor as they descended. Lucius moved in front of his Master as they approached the lower floors. The atmosphere was thick with fear. Voldemort could smell it and taste it and feel it crackling like a fire gone wild. It was beautiful. In the distance, he could hear the screams and realized that the lower floors were still in contention. When the lift doors next opened, a panicking wizard dove for it.
"Avada Kadavra," said Lucius, and in a shimmer of green the man collapsed.
"He was a pureblood," admonished a soft feminine drawl and Voldemort recognized Narcissa's petulant tone as she turned to stun several others who apparently couldn't Apparate or didn't realize the wards were down. Voldemort stepped over the bodies and with a detachment born of immortality he followed the sound of the shouts and screams.
"Valeriana! Walden!" called Voldemort. "We need Apparition wards back up under our control, right now! I want this building secure. Fudge, delay the Aurors at the front gate. We need a little more time."
"Yes, Master," they replied, and several Death Eaters came forward to engage the ministry employees they had been trying to subdue. Several more Ministry employees were strewn across the floor in varying degrees of consciousness, some hexed, some dead. Voldemort stepped over them too, heading for the double doors that opened into the Central Floo Network where Marshall Avery, Marietta Edgecomb, and her mother, Eithne Edgecomb were working. Draco Malfoy, along with Vincent Crabbe and Dolores Umbridge were standing guard over their actions.
Voldemort, a man with a purpose, ignored the chaos and turned back to the elder Edgecomb. Every one of his death eaters had a job to do, and he expected that they would obey him without question. The plan was no longer a fragile thing in his mind. The ruthless perfection of it thrilled him and he intended to make it a reality.
"Have you secured the Floo yet?" Voldemort asked.
"Not yet," replied Eithne Edgecomb. "We're working on it."
"But we have universal communications taken care of," said Marshall. "The transportation will only take another few minutes.
"One way," Voldemort reminded them with a smirk.
"For Dumbledore," Edgecomb agreed.
Voldemort called several adult death eaters to help those who were resetting the wards. "And hurry," he urged. "We don't have much time until those that fled regroup. They are Aurors after all."
"Carman, start to gather the children. All of you, go with Carman--back to Hogwarts or the Snow castle. You have done an adult's job today. You should be proud."
There was a hiss of spells and the straining of wood and mortar as someone smashed against a wall somewhere, and Voldemort swore. "Where's the Apparition wards? I said Hurry! I came for a take over, not an attack. If I lose the advantage now and have to retreat, you will regret it! Walden!" Voldemort snarled.
Shouts and commands were heard from outside, and then a distinct cheer from the Aurors.
Reinforcement has arrived from the side of the Light, thought Voldemort. "Lucius?" He shouted
"Here My Lord," said Lucius standing at Voldemort's right hand with Narcissa beside him.
"Alvin has secured the top floor for our meeting with Dumbldore. It is time to bring our adversary," said Voldemort. He gestured vaguly to Narcissa, and the little band of death Eaters that he had previously chosen to accompany him. Lucius hurried to do his bidding.
"Walden! Apparition Wards," he shouted again, thinking that Walden was owed a Crucio for working so slowly on the wards. "Lucius, fire the Mark for Alvin. Valeriana, come here." He shoved up her sleeve and touched her Mark, calling "Severus Snape! You take your spells off of Severus, Valeriana. It's time for him to re-join us." He grasped her chin in his hands and squeezing slightly, looked into her dark hooded eyes. "And don't dally with him," Voldemort warned. "You both have jobs to do."
"Yes, Master," Valeriana said meekly. She grinned cheekily at Snape as he apparated next to her and the Master. Snape ignored her and bowed to Voldemort, but Voldemort had already moved on. Valeriana clasped Snape's shoulder. "Cat got your tongue?" she purred in a low deep voice but Snape glared at her. "Oh you're no fun, Severus," she snapped as she released the spells that had crippled his hands and his voice.
"The Master did not order us to have fun," said Snape, calmly. "I trust you have something to do." Before she could answer, he had disapperated, apparently to do his Master's bidding.
Carman and the children had gathered around Voldemort. . "Is there anything else Master, before we go?" she asked.
"Just take the rest of the children home to the Snow Castle and make sure my castle isn't in pieces when I return. You need to wait for Alvin and the twins. They are only ones missing now," said Voldemort as he surveyed the group around her. "Be sure they and the others return to Hogwarts in time for dinner, or they will be missed."
"Yes Master," said Carman.
"Quickly people," Voldemort urged. "Lucius, you are in charge here. Your team and Sturgis' team can give the Aurors a proper welcome when they come." He gestured to the front door of the Ministry and with a smirk continued. "I'm off to surprise Dumbledore. Narcissa let's go! Anyone who can't do a Patronus, get out now!"
"After my sister is finished with Dumbledore, may she go with me to get Lauren?" asked Valeriana, catching his hand in her own.
"Yes, of course," said Voldemort, impatiently shaking off Valeriana's hand. "I understand you are missing your third witch in your circle."
Valeriana clutched his hand again and kissed it. "Thank you Master. May I have the honor of accompanying you to Dumbledore's death to wait for her?"
Voldemort paused running a long finger down her cheek. "Of course, you may do more than that, my Dear. You may join Narcissa in guarding my back," he said, looking over her head at the sound of Alvin Nott's Apparition. "Crabbe and Goyle need a brain among them after all," he said shortly.
Alvin, Ethan and Edward Apparated before him and he hurriedly looked around for the boy's father as he spoke. "Alvin, give the Box to your father now, and go quickly with Carman. I want all of the children safely back at the Snow Castle before the dementors are released again."
"Yes, Master," said Alvin and the twins.
"Eldon," Voldemort addressed Alvin's father. "I hope to keep my Death Eaters as safe as possible. Do you have the pattern of which floors are to be flooded with dementers and which should be free of dementors?"
"Yes, Master."
"Remember, before you release the dementors, fire your Mark as a warning, so that any Death Eaters can get off of the designated floors." He smiled grimly at Eldon. "Be cautious," he said. "You will earn a crucio for every Death Eater kissed. Keep control of your creatures."
Eldon nodded and his hands shook. "Yes Master. I understand."
"Good," said Voldemort, pausing to go over the plan one last time in his head. Edgecomb and Avery will have the floo and Apparation wards up and the Aurors will be trapped. "Soon the aurors will be as soulless as we always knew the bastards were," said Voldemort in a low tone. "Remember to keep the creatures outside of the Deputy Minister's Office. I don't want to have to contend with Dementors and Dumbledore at the same time, until I am ready for them. When your Mark burns, Eldon, come to me. It will be time to release the dementors."
"Yes, Master." The man was visibly shaking, his fingers white as they gripped the Box.
Voldemort passed his hand over Eldon Nott's Mark, filling the man with pleasure. "Have I told you how pleased I am to have you back in the Circle?" Voldemort asked.
"Yes, Master. Several times," said Nott practically drooling with the ecstasy that Voldemort bestowed upon him. Some of the color came back into his face and his shaking stopped.
"It must be true then," said Voldemort turning towards the select group that was to accompany him to Dumbledore's death. "Virginia, the polyjuice."
The girl took one step forward and stopped.
Meanwhile, Narcissa had started to strip off the Death eater mask and stalked to Ginny, ripping the vial from her hands as Virginia's basilisk rose from her neck in anger.
"Be still!" Voldemort hissed at the basilisk interrupting its strike. "She means no harm to your mistress."
"Mistress?" questioned Visha.
"No harm," Ginny agreed, her eyes met his, and he smiled at her. He was proud of Virginia's performance this evening. She had overcome much. It was a pity he couldn't reward her as she wished. He could not allow her to go to that nest of Muggle-lovers she called home. He turned from Virginia, watching Narcissa's silvery blonde hair darken to the gray locks of Madam Bones as she swallowed the polyjuice.
Lucius touched his wand to his Dark Mark, but still hung back a moment behind the other Death Eaters to kiss Narcissa as she changed. "Sorry, Love, Lord Voldemort's orders," he said as he hit her with a curse and she crumpled to the floor just as the Apparition wards went back up, this time under Death Eater control. Walden gave a little cry of glee and sprinted for the lift.
"Hurry up, Lucius," called Edgecomb.
There was a shout behind them and everything happened in that moment: the Aurors breaking through the front door and sprinting around the corner, the shower of sparks from several unknown curses and Draco Malfoy suddenly barreling into Him, shouting "Testudo!" The boy's magic, hot and sure falling all around him, and Samara's screech of fear as Draco fell, hit by some curse meant for Voldemort, and the lighting fast movement of basilisks as they followed her shrill command echoing Voldemort's as she pointed at the Aurors, "Kill them!"
Samara raced for Draco's side, but Lucius got there first, Apparating from one side of the room to the other and scooping Draco into his arms. In a moment, he had disappeared. Although Samara studied the signature, she did not know where he went.
The nearby Death Eaters scattered from the venomous basilisks, but they need not have bothered. They couldn't escape if the basilisks had been targeted to them, but they weren't. Either Voldemort or Samara or both of them had communicated perfectly to the basilisks which wizards to kill. Only one Auror managed to side step the basilisks long enough to get off another spell, but it was not thrown at Voldemort, it was thrown at Samara. The voice laced with pain, muttered, "Avada Kedavra!"
She attempted to use her power to shield herself, but it was only the man's weakened state that saved her. Even so, she reeled as though struck by a speeding Bludger. Voldemort himself dragged her out of harm's way, shoving her at Ginny as He said, "Collect my basilisks and get out of here—both of you—go with Carman—hurry before the last portkey's gone."
"I want to go home," snapped Ginny, grasping his robes. "You promised me, if I did this you would let me go home!" Her eyes were wide and wet with unshed tears.
"Then it was a worthwhile promise," Voldemort said, "Since you obeyed me, when otherwise you would not have done so."
Ginny felt as if the life was sucked out of her. She stared at Voldemort, tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks as she realized he wouldn't let her go home.
"Come now, Ginny Love," said Tom. "Did you really expect him to tell you the truth?"
Meanwhile, the basilisks were all hissing and spitting. "Kills who hurts Tsez," claimed Salacia
"Kills all" said Tse, and the basilisks would speak only to each other.
"Bite. Kill. Die. Hisssuss!"
"You aren't going to let me go home, are you?" asked Ginny forlornly.
"Of course not, you silly girl. You are much too valuable to me at my side."
"But the emerald—" began Ginny.
"Yes," said Voldemort shortly. "Imperio! You will find my emerald, at the earliest possible moment, but not now. Right now you need to see that my basilisks come to no harm." He gave her a physical push. "Return to the Snow Castle with the others," he said gruffly. "Keep my basilisks safe." In a flash, he had disapperated.
The basilisks paid no heed to Ginny until all the Aurors who had attacked Samara and Voldemort were dead.
"Tell them, Visha. Tell them they must come with me," pleaded Ginny, but the basilisks had tasted blood and would not be turned from their task.
Voldemort scooped up the crumpled body of Madam Bones and positioned her in front of the floo. "Is our little masquerade ready?" he asked Edgecomb and Avery.
"Yes Master," said Eithne standing ready with her wand. "We will allow only Dumbledore to come through, and then we will close the access."
"How do we know he won't send the Aurors first?" cautioned Avery.
"Because he's Dumbledore," said Voldemort. "Of course he will be first."
"Do you want me to Ennervate her?" asked Edgecomb gesturing to the still unconscious Narcissa Malfoy.
"No," said Voldemort. "We will wait for her to wake naturally. I don't want to disturb the signature of Lucius' hex on her. Dumbledore will see it and be lulled into believing she needs saving."
Within moments Narcissa began to stir. She held her head and moaned as she raised herself to a sitting position.
"Everyone, move back, out of sight," Voldemort ordered as he drew his wand. "Ready my dear?" he asked.
"Yes," said Narcissa Malfoy, and taking a deep breath, she opened the floo, saying: "Hogwarts, Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Madam Bone's voice echoed through Dumbledore's office. "Hogwarts, Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Minerva gasped as she turned towards the fireplace. "Amelia!" she whispered, "Sweet Merlin! What happened?"
"Lucius Malfoy," she said, blinking her eyes hard as if she was having trouble focusing on them. "We're under attack; a handful of Death Eaters surprised us."
"Where are you, Amelia?" asked Dumbledore.
"Ministry," began Madam Bones, but the fire flickered, obscuring her face in the flames. "I'm afraid they've found the floo connection," she said, looking over her shoulder. The flames flickered again, and Madam Bones said, "I'm going to lose the connection."
Whipping his wand from his pocket, Dumbledore said to Arthur, "Go to Grimmauld Place. You and Molly can organize and bring the others from the Order. I'm going directly to the Ministry." He stepped up to the open floo.
Minerva pulled her wand too. "I'm going with you Albus," she said.
He threw the powder and stepped into the floo. "Ministry of Magic," he said.
Minerva followed, taking a pinch of floo powder and when the flames glowed green, she stepped into the fireplace. "Ministery of Magic," she said. The floo exploded, sending Minerva careening into the unsuspecting Arthur Weasley.
"Merlin," snapped Arthur looking down at his unconscious colleague. He checked to see that she had a pulse and then reactivated the fire, yelling into it. "Poppy!"
Madam Pomfrey's confused face appeared in the flames. "Arthur, what are you doing in Albus' office?"
"Nevermind that," he said. "Albus is in trouble at the Ministry, and Minerva's hurt. Get up here right away. I'm going to Grimmauld Place to alert the Order."
The Order of the Phoenix had assembled outside of the Ministry, and split up trying to get into the building. Dementers made it impossible to enter the Ministry from this entrance. Apparition wards were up and not under Ministry control.
"They are trying to herd us in the front door," said Lupin. "It's a trap."
"I've got it," said Sirius. "I'll transform to my Animagus and sneak in another way."
"No," interrupted Lupin. "They wouldn't be stupid enough to leave the wards passable by Animagi. You'll still be a target."
"They were in a hurry," said Sirius. "The wards might not be that specific. I'll chance it. Dumbledore needs at least one of us. I'll find Dumbledore and try to get the wards down." He smiled at his friend. "Don't worry. You'll find me with that werewolf nose."
"No!" said Lupin. "It's too dangerous. The place is crawling with dementors."
"Then you'd better follow soon with your Patronus," said Sirius. "Mine sucks you know."
Percy apparated to the Burrow. The kitchen was cold and dark—empty. For just a moment he panicked. Where was his mother? For years, when he had been a child, she had always been here, waiting in the kitchen. Every time he needed her, she was there, and now when he most desperately needed her she wasn't here.
He closed his eyes trying to make sense of what had happened. Thoughts and images flashed through his mind in a lightening quick sequence. Madam Bones, Ginny, Minister Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, Voldemort… He couldn't think. Voldemort's blanket Stupefy spell had given him a tremendous headache and it hadn't even been directed specifically at him. Such power, thought Percy. How could he have such power so soon? He thought about Harry's claims that Voldemort had risen last year after the Triwizard Tournament.
After the Triwizard Tournament that brought so many changes in his life. Percy had been so happy that he wasn't made to pay for his blindness to Crouch's Imperius or even for Crouch's death. It could have cost him his job. It was a mistake. He was young. He was forgiven. Not only did he get to keep his job, but also Fudge asked for him as his Personal Assistant. He was the Personal Assistant to the Minister. He was somebody! He was so proud.
His family had said they were proud of him, but later, his father had taken him aside. Do you think it is possible that Fudge wants a Weasley in his office so that he can keep an eye on us? Of course not, Percy had snapped. How dare his father even consider that he got the promotion because of some imagined sinister agenda of Minister Fudge. It was unbelievable! He didn't want to believe it. Fudge was a fine upstanding citizen, a servant of the people, a servant of Voldemort, Percy thought with a catch in his throat. His father had been right.
How could he be so stupid? He had argued with his father and moved out of the burrow. He had sent back the sweets his mother owled him. He had sent back every good thing his parents had given him. He was so sure that they were wrong. But it was he who was wrong. How could he have been so wrong about Crouch, about Fudge, about his family? He looked around at the darkened kitchen again. Where was his mother? She was always here. He needed her and she was supposed to be here! He rubbed his head and realized that tears were leaking from his eyes. Stupid Git, he chided himself. There were people dead! How dare you even consider your headache! Are you a Gryffindor or not?
He marched to the cold fireplace and lit a fire with his wand. "Headmaster Albus Dumbledore!" he called to the green flames, but although they flickered, no one answered the fire call. "Professor Minerva McGonagall," he called and again no one answered.
Order members, Order members, thought Percy frantically. Who had his dad said were Order members? He didn't know. He couldn't remember. It doesn't matter, he thought. He would tell one of the teachers to find Dumbledore and then he would Apparate back to the Ministry himself.
"Professor Sprout!"
After a moment, the reassuring face of his former teacher appeared in the fire.
"Percy?" she said curiously, "Percy Weasley?" Then her plump happy face creased into a frown at his disheveled appearance. "What happened?"
"The Ministry is under attack. Death Eaters," he said. He voice sounded amazingly calm. "I need to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore, but neither he nor Professor McGonagall are answering their fire call."
"Are you sure?" Sprout said, a trace of fear in her voice.
"Yes," replied Percy. "I was at the Ministry," he explained, "with Minister Fudge, when the Death Eaters came into a meeting. Professor," his voice broke just a bit as he uttered the words, "Minister Fudge is a Death Eater."
"Fudge? He can't be," said Sprout. "I mean he—"
"He was fighting back to back with Lucius Malfoy," cried Percy. He neglected to admit that his little sister was giving orders to the Death Eaters. "I saw Fudge, and professor, my father is still there. Please notify the Headmaster. I'm going back—"
"No!" said another voice, and Sprout moved out of the fire to allow another woman access. "Go to the Order. Your Mum will get things organized with the Order of the Phoenix. She's working at Grimmauld Place now."
Grimmauld Place? His mother? His mother was a member of the Order of the Phoenix? The thought didn't want to sink into his mind. His mother working in an important job like the Order didn't seem possible.
"Who are you?" Percy asked the small bespectacled woman.
"Arabella Figg," she said. "Your mother and I have been friends for years."
Percy nodded. He knew the name, although he had never met her. She was another Order member. "Professor," interrupted Percy. "I don't know where the Order is located. I never joined."
"I do," Arabella grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into the flames. "The Burrow!" she said, but the fire just flickered around her. The floo network was down.
Percy looked at the professors and felt the blood run from his face. Mrs. Figg already looked ghostly pale, but she turned back to Percy. "Locate one of your older brothers, either Charlie or Bill," she said. "I'm counting on you to alert them, Mr. Weasley—"
"Bill should still be at Gringotts," said Percy
Mrs. Figg nodded. "Bill or Charlie can alert the rest of the Order. I will find Headmaster Dumbledore,
With some difficulty, Sirius passed through the wards of a side door. The smell of blood and fear was strong and it took all of his effort to keep his mind on his task. Once he was almost hit by a curse, but a Death Eater kicked him out of the way, muttering something about Snape's mutt. The cries of the Ministry employees assaulted Sirius and it was hard to pass them, but he closed his ears to their pleas. It was harder to close his nose to the smell. He paused to collect his wits when he got to an unoccupied floor. It was eerily empty.
Putting his nose to the ground, he began to search for Dumbledore. He found a familiar smell and debated whether to follow it or continue looking for Dumbledore. He decided on the former. He needed someone else on the inside to help him. When he caught up with the wizard, he transformed. "Moody!" he shouted down the length of the corridor.
Immediately Moody turned his wand on Sirius. "Black!" he spat.
Sirius had no idea how much Dumbledore had told Moody about him. He was more useful to the Order on covert missions, but there was no time to explain. "Stupefy me if you have to," said Sirius. "But before you do, know that, Dumbledore is in trouble – he flooed into a trap. Get the Apparition wards back under our control." Sirius hesitated a moment and then said, "I'm going to find him." He transformed back into the dog, and turning, put his nose to the ground.
Moody nodded and made his decision, lowering his wand as Sirius changed back into a dog and hurried along the corridor. "Black!" Moody called, and the dog turned, listening. "A moment ago, this floor was overrun with dementors. He's moving them at his whim. If you get to a floor with dementors on it, don't try to be a hero, get off of that floor."
Meanwhile, Lupin, with his lightening quick werewolf senses and his awesome Patronus, managed with difficulty to get past both the death eaters and the dementors on the first floor. Once inside the Ministry, he searched for Voldemort's Apparition signature, pulled his wand and attempted to Apparate to the same general vicinity as Voldemort. Several times he Apparated to a previous signature and had to double back. Each time, he held his breath, willing himself to be far enough from his nemesis to be able to aid Dumbledore. Finally, he got a recent Apparition trail, but where he appeared, dementers were still swarming.
He entered the room in time to see Voldemort Apparate. He slowly worked his way to the area in the room where the Apparition took place, but the dementors were everywhere. He concentrated on his happy memory and tried to shut out the screams of James Potter and Severus Snape as the dementers made him relive attacking Snape. In the dementor enhanced memory, he, Remus Lupin in his werewolf form, tore them all to bits. He was shaking, and his mouth tasted of blood before he reached the Apparation spot. He had to drop the patronus long enough to check the magical signature, and the dementors closed in like a shroud of ice, attempting to suck his soul, but he moved quickly, holding desperately to the knowledge that he could Apparate, knowledge they wanted to steal from him.
Finally, he Apparated after Voldemort and, mercifully, there were no dementors on the floor to which he Apparated. Unfortunately, there was also no sign of Voldemort. Feeling like the left out child in a bizarre game of Apparition tag, Lupin put his nose to the Apparition point, trying to discern where Voldemort had gone. He had no intention of Apparating back into the dementors to check the signature again. He had to look the old fashioned way, with only his keen eyes and werewolf sense of smell to guide him, he searched for Voldemort and Dumbledore and Sirius.
Before Dumbledore stepped from the floo, he had drawn his wand, and then he very deliberately put it away. He didn't need that crutch, and he certainly didn't need Tom interfering. He raised his hands and called the Elementals. Dumbledore would expect fire. He began with air. Once Dumbledore was fully present, Voldemort fired Avada Kadavra. One part of him wished that Dumbledore had died instantly, but he told himself it was good that Dumbledore side stepped him. After all, it would have been extremely boring if Dumbledore had died without a fight. Voldemort smiled. His hands were moist and he felt the tremors of anxiety in his stomach. He would not call the wetness of his hands fear. He switched to the water Elemental. The rush of anxiety he felt now that he was finally facing Dumbledore, pushed his magic to readiness. Fire was at his fingertips and hate was in his heart. He fully intended to enjoy himself.
"Amelia!" said Dumbledore, stunning both Crabbe and Goyle and then going to Narcissa Malfoy's side. He seemed to be momentarily fooled by the magical signature, but then he fired a spell that blasted Narcissa through the open door and into the corridor beyond. "Who was she?" Dumbledore asked Tom, as he turned to face his adversary.
"Narcissa," answered Voldemort. "But, no matter, she served her purpose in attracting you here."
"You hold them so cheaply," said Dumbledore.
Voldemort shrugged and threw a spell. He was watching the Griffindor closely. Just because he had lured Dumbledore here, didn't mean the battle was a foregone conclusion. Little bits of fear coursed through him, but he guarded his thoughts from Dumbledore, and called the fear adrenalin. He knew he had the upper hand. Dumbledore was alone. He had all of his Death Eaters at his beck and call. He could afford to be arrogant. "How did you know that it wasn't Amelia Bones? Legilimency?"
Dumbledore didn't answer but he stared at Voldemort, his blue eyes accusing. "Look at me, Tom," coaxed Dumbledore.
"I've never been stupid," Voldemort returned, throwing a spell and circling away from him, studiously looking everywhere but the Old Man's eyes.
"You can't look me in the eye," Dumbledore taunted. "You're afraid of me."
"Hardly," said Voldemort. "If it makes you happy, I promise I'll look you in the eye when they are cold, dead and staring."
Voldemort felt a brush of Dumbledore's mind against his and jumped away firing Avada Kedavra!
"Still trying to kill me, Tom?" Dumbledore threw a spell that caused Voldemort to back away, coughing. He Apparated out of it, and reappeared on the other side of Dumbledore.
"Still trying to run a war without hurting anyone?" countered Voldemort. "Crucio!"
"I'm not running a war," said Dumbledore. "I run a school, and I have failed you Tom, but the responsibility for your actions still rests with you."
"I take full responsibility. Gladly," said Voldemort, firing another spell. "I know, your thoughts on responsibility, you old coot. You see, I have followed your advice. I have made my choices and that has made me the wizard I am . . ."
"I'm sorry, Tom."
"I'm not," growled Voldemort. "How can I be sorry? I have everything I wish. I am everything I meant to be—"
"I don't think so, Tom."
"Quit calling me Tom!" shouted Voldemort
"Should I call you Salazar?" Dumbledore inquired politely.
"I AM Lord Voldemort!"
By the time Lupin arrived at the corridor, Dumbledore and Voldemort were engaged in battle in the next room. He had no time to waste. "Stupefy!" he shot at Valeriana. He had thought Narcissa was unconscious, but she attacked him from behind, viciously keeping him from reaching Dumbledore and Voldemort.
"Crucio!" she spat and he had not yet recovered from the crushing pain of her Crucio when another spell was sent his way. "Avada Kedavra!"
Even his werewolf senses were not fast enough, and stinging sparkles of green light bathed his body in pain. He threw back his head and howled: a sound of lonely agony echoing through the halls to Sirius' ears.
(A/N: Stay with me. 15 Reviews gets the next chapter. Look you managed that in one day for this chapter. Can you do it again?)
ANSWERS TO REVIEWERS:
Anonymous: Thank you
DraginLover: Don't worry about Neville. He has some fun stuff coming. And I never said that Tom was going to take over Ginny's body in the next book. As far as Harry and Ginny. No. The closest I got to that pairing is my story "The Secret Seduction" Muwhawha. And Sevi's tongue being funny—I love mixing humor in with action and suspense. I hope it came across that way.
Fire-sprite16: Did I say Tom is getting out of Ginny only in the next book? No. It's not that simple. If you can figure it out in the space of a review, what is the point of reading? Expect the unexpected, but do remember, I am a Slytherin and I love Ginny/Tom.
Tamora Pierce: Congrats on your "angel" in the Moscow ballet and thanks for reading.
Silverfox: Bea bunny in Slyth with all those snakes? Are you kidding? You are doing a great job with the chapter questions by the way. Everyone rush over to the yahoo group, TheSeersTruth and answer her questions so she feels needed and I can see what you are thinking. A special thanks to Silverfox who sees some growth in my writing from BB to BTD. I appreciate your thoughts. Sometimes I have thought that the chapters in BTD did not compare favorably to some of those in BB and it worried me. We have all read books by authors who seemed to have one book and the next one went downhill. I wanted to make sure that mine are growing and going up hill. As far as short reviews, it's ok. I know some people find it hard to put thoughts into words. For example, Tom Riddle: Head Boy has had 300 readers and has 17 reviews. Both my Bellatrix story and The Secret Seduction have over 900 readers and both have reviews in the teens. I like to think I left the readers speechless. Smirks.
Ammarine: Stay with me, switching locations. I hope this chapter was organized enough to follow. There are a lot of things going on—Death Eaters, Aurors, School kids, etc.
Keminran: More is coming
Tiamat Warcraft: Good to hear from you. I hope you get your computer back soon. Sorry about Tonks. Oh well, there was a reason.
Field of Gold More is coming and you don't need to worry about reading a story that isn't finished. I promise you, it will be finished. Most of it is finished already. Just a few minor adjustments to the final chapters necessary, so YES I WILL FINISH IT. That is so discouraging when you read a story and the author abandons it. I will not abandon this story.
Trillium: Glad you like the twins. They are fun to write, and yes Neville needs a girlfriend, but so does Harry. Oh well.
Mistrunner: Oh so glad you loved Draco/Samara. There will be more interaction between them in this book before the end. After all, she is the prophecy child. I work very hard on fight scenes. I hope you see the fight between Dumbledore/Voldemort and Sirius/Valeriana (Bellatrix) as very real. I know I wrote the Sirius fight as I wish it would have been in JK's book. It grew out of my dissatisfaction with how Sirius died. If you read my "Order of the Phoenix" poem you know what I mean, and that doesn't mean Sirius has to die or not die. It just means this fight had a lot of baggage involved in it.
Jager: glad you liked. Keep reading and reviewing.
Chernobyl: You are re-reading Broken Beginning? Oh aren't you sweet! I think Broken Beginning has a ton of re-read value though. When Ennui read it again, she couldn't believe she didn't know Edward was evil from the beginning. If you pull out his lines, they are so morbid from day one. Plus, Choosing Sides and Family Ties one of the funniest chapters, isn't funny anymore. I do think the prophecy added another dimension to the story and I am thinking of what sort of puzzle I can put in the next one so it has the same sort of depth.
Little Red Rabbit: I'm still working.. You keep reading and reviewing, OK?
15 REVIEWS GETS THE NEXT CHAPTER.
Lady Lestrange