The Seers Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 29
Black HissusssDisclaimer: 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 saves her father and her brother, but doesn't seem to be able to save herself. However, Harry Potter and his trusty Gryffindor rescue squad is on the way. Unfortunately, they get waylaid…
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And now, on to the story…
Black Hissusss
Harry looked frantically around the kitchen, as the wards dropped into place. His eyes met those of his friends, who had come to help him, but he had nothing to offer them. A heavy load of foreboding struck him as he realized the others were all depending upon him. He took a deep breath. "OK, Draco what's another way out?" asked Harry.
"There isn't one," said Draco.
"Hey, I thought Slytherins always had a back up plan," jeered Ron, grabbing Draco by the lapels.
Draco glared at Ron's hands on his robe. "Weasel," he said, calmly addressing Ginny but not looking at her, "If I curse your brother, is your basilisk going to be upset?"
"No, but I will," said Ginny. She reached forward and laid a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Ron—"
"That isn't helping us, Ron," said Fred. "Let's all try to work together. We'll figure a way out of this. We're Gryffindors aren't we?"
"We just have to hide until the wards go down again," advised Draco.
"There's another way out," said Ginny.
They all looked at her. "There is?" said Draco.
Ginny nodded. "The floo in his private chambers."
"Your nuts!" snapped Draco. "You're freakin' barmy. I knew you were nuts before but—"
"The Malfoy boy's right," said Tom. "You can't get out that way."
"Shut up, Malfoy," said Ron pulling his wand, but George put his hand on his brother's wand arm. "Let's hear what our baby sister has to say."
"The only floo that is open to the outside is in His private chambers," said Ginny. "I was there. Once. With Beatrice—when she was Crucioed. How is she, by the way?"
"A witch as of yesterday," said Harry quickly. "Let's concentrate on one thing at a time. Getting out of here is the first thing we need to do."
"No shit, Potter," snapped Draco.
Ginny's face broke into a happy smile, as she thought of her friend, Beatrice. She had given up hope and now hope had been given back to her. She couldn't wait to find out how this miracle had occurred.
"Do you have an idea or not, Malfoy?" Harry snapped back.
"It's impossible," said Draco.
"I've beat impossible odds before," said Harry. "So just stay out of it."
"I should have," replied Draco, and Samara put her hand on his arm. "I don't think we should go to Voldemort's Chambers either," said Samara. "It's too dangerous, and we can't stay here. We need a safer place. Where would be safe?" she wondered aloud. "Draco?"
He rolled his eyes. "Here? Somewhere safe?"
"Well, in any case, Hermione, Neville and Harry should have the Invisibility Cloak," Samara said. "It won't cover more than three and the Weasleys can be Ginny's recruits. After all, anyone would expect to see us here, Draco, but not Harry Potter, nor Hermione. Neville Longbottom would be pretty hard to explain too." She grinned at Neville. "Draco told me your grandmother was hurt. He babysat the Lestrange twins so Snape could get to her—"
Neville gaped at her, but before anyone could act, a group of Veelas led by Darchelle Desideria, one of the new inner circle, entered the kitchen. "'Twas hungry work, yes?" said one of the Veelas, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder, and Darchelle stopped dead in front of her. "Vat have we here, Draco? A leetle fun?" A third Veela stroked a perfectly manicured finger against Harry's cheek, while a fourth smiled, and a fifth one beckoned the boys.
Samara reacted immediately throwing a curse at Darchelle, which the Veela blocked. "The Dark Lord will not be pleased if you harm these ones," said Samara with an obvious voice of authority.
"Zen zee Dark Lord shall not know," said Darchelle, her Veela eyes flashing and her red lips pulled back in a sneer.
"He trusts you, Darchelle," snapped Samara. "You are part of his new Inner Circle."
"Zee men are always too trusting." said Darchelle, as she eyed the twins with undisguised lust.
Ginny staggered with Tom's sudden and unquenchable desire for the Veelas. She forced herself to stay still, even though Tom begged. "Please, let me touch them. Just one touch." When Ginny did not move, he attempted to take her over. Sparkles of pain danced across her skin.
(POV)
Harry shuddered and leaned into the Veela that touched him as Shesha hissed at his wrist. His eyes glazed and the Veela kissed him. "Oh a precious leetle virgin," she said running her fingers through his messy hair and licking her lips.
"Two of them," said another Veela, pulling Neville into her embrace.
Ron elbowed Harry aside, saying, "I saw her first!"
Harry pulled his wand, glaring at Ron, and the Veela holding him laughed, suddenly showing her mouth full of fangs when Hermione stepped forward.
"Get away from him," snapped Hermione, pushing onward, but two of the Veelas hummed in unison, and while Hermione moved towards them, Ron staggered under the impact of their combined voices. His nose began to bleed. Nonetheless, he lurched forward towards the Veelas, crashing past Samara in his haste and completely ignoring Hermione.
"Ron!" screeched Hermione, distracted by the sight of Ron's blood.
Darschelle struck Hermione with one swipe of a razor sharp claw. Hermione blocked with Protego, but the force of the blow still knocked her unconscious.
Darchelle went to Fred and George, proclaiming twin magic as the most fun anyway. "You can have the virgins, girls. I get the twins," she purred.
"No, we share the twins!" protested one of the Veelas.
"You don't get any of them," roared Samara as Draco stepped towards the Veelas.
"And the other two?" asked one of the Veelas ignoring Samara, and petting Draco's silky blonde hair.
"Careful," said Darchelle. "We can't have Draco. He's one of the Circle. The Lord Voldemort will give you to the witches and feed your remains to his snake if you hurt him."
"But that's only five," whined one of the Veelas. "You have to share the twins, Darchelle."
"He's only fed two Veelas to his snake," pouted another. "And we have to get caught first."
"Anyway, rumors are that Draco may be out of favor," said the one holding Harry.
Darchelle hissed at her companion and latched on to Ron, nuzzling his neck.
"You don't get three, Darchelle," complained one of the Veelas, and Samara took their moment of ire to fire a spell to disable the Veela holding Draco. "Stupefy!"
The creature crumpled into a heap, but the other Veelas ignored her completely, and Draco turned around bewildered by their close proximity.
"Shut up," said Darchelle. "You have the virgins." She ran a razor sharp claw from Ron's Adam's apple to his navel, shredding his robe and drawing several thin lines of blood." She licked her fingers. "He tastes like the Mudblood." She shoved Ron at the Veela who was kissing Harry senseless. "You can have him too. I'll just take the twins."
"No! He's mine," complained the Veela who wanted to share the twins with Darchelle.
Although blood was pooling at his feet, the grin never left Ron's face as he stumbled into the other Veela's arms. He turned and put his arms around her neck, holding his bloody face up for her kiss.
"Ginny Love, let go of me," Tom begged, as if he could actually be a separate entity from her. His desire was fraying her nerves and making it hard to think.
"Apparate!" Ginny shrieked at her older brothers, but none of them heeded her. She struggled against Tom's mania to think of a spell herself.
The other Veela had wrapped her arms around Neville and smirked. "Yes, we will Apparate," she said, showing feral teeth as she smiled at Ginny and Disapparated.
"Apparition tag!" said another. "See if you can catch me now, Draco." In a shower of light she was gone.
"Go after her," urged Tom.
"You can't Apparate, Draco!" screeched Samara, but Draco had already followed the Veela.
"You bitch!" snapped Ginny turning her wand on one of the other Veelas. "If you try to Apparate I guarantee you will splinch," she said as she pointed her wand at the Head Veela, Darchelle Desideria, who stood between the twins."Do you vant von, leetle red?" she asked Ginny with a wink and a sweet little girl smile.
"No," shouted Ginny, and the Veela opened her mouth wide showing all of her wicked teeth.
"She's going to sing," snapped Tom panicked.
"Mutus!" pronounced Ginny before Darchelle could get a note out, and the Veela growled, launching herself at Ginny with claws extended.
"Merlin," snapped Samara as she grabbed Ginny's hand sprinted from the kitchen. She ran the length of the corridor dragging Ginny along, leaving the Veela's laughter behind.
"Yes, run away leetle girl," called Darchelle. "You might be his Chosen but you are still only a witch." The tinkling laughter of the two Veelas in their glory followed her, and then they heard the Veela song, grating into their souls like an off key symphony. Unfortunately, the boys heard a much different song.
"Go back! Go back!" begged Tom, struggling fiercely against her control. Sparkles of pain issued through her, once—twice—again and again until they were out of earshot. Ginny stumbled after Samara and if her friend hadn't been dragging her, she doubted that she would have stayed upright. Her feet and hands felt numb and boneless with Tom's repeated attempts to take her over.
"We have to go back," urged Ginny, and then she shook her head as if to clear it. "Hermione—"
"I know, I know," said Samara. "Are you alright, Ginny?"
"Yes," Ginny said rubbing her hands over her stinging arms. "What are my brothers doing here, anyway?"
"Rescuing us," said Samara.
Ginny said nothing. If she weren't so worried, she would have thought the whole rescue was rather sweet.
"Sorry, Ginny," said Tom shamefaced, as he now realized he had repeatedly tried to take her over to follow the Veelas. "I hate Veelas—especially bored Veelas."
"Bored?" wondered Ginny.
"Well, Salazar wouldn't allow them to play with the Death Eaters, but the Gryffs are fresh meat, and they're hungry for new men. I doubt that Salazar would let them play with the Ministry officials, either. He wanted to do that himself."
Ginny shuddered. "They're horrible--all claws and fangs. Why would you follow them?"
"Men don't see their claws and fangs," Tom explained his actions. "They're just dizzy with the dames. I've read about the veelas of course, and I've seen their handiwork, but men only see sweetness and beauty, and faced with their voices, I couldn't help myself. After all, they are sirens, and have the gift of illusion."
"Millicent was right," Ginny spat. "They aren't witches. They are creatures."
"Actually, some veelas are quite gentle with their mates, especially wizard mates, but they are the exception."
"What will the veelas do to the boys?" Ginny asked.
"Have a shag with them, and then shred the skin from their bodies," said Tom in a matter of fact tone. "Sometimes they shred the skin from their bodies while having it off."
"But Fleur Delacour wasn't like that," argued Ginny blushing.
"And other than attending Hogwarts, how many traits do say—that little Hufflepuff, Sally Anne Perks and I share?" snapped Tom. "These are Death Eaters, Ginny Love—bored, frustrated, Death Eater Veelas. Anyway, the Goblet of Fire is spelled to pick the good guys, not the most qualified."
"But—" Ginny sputtered.
"Do you think they are gone?" asked Samara.
Ginny stared at her, trying to get her mind back in the present. "We have to go back for Hermione and then the boys."
Samara nodded. "Yes. They shouldn't have hurt her," she hoped. "After all, they only crave men or wizards. Hermione should have been a help to us. She's smart and she's fast."
"They were just too quick," Ginny defended her friend. "And when that Veela went after Ron, I think she lost her composure."
"And what happened to you, Ginny? You froze."
"Don't you dare tell her what happened to us," warned Tom, "Or I will make your life so miserable--"
"What? Is that something new?" she asked Tom, but she answered Samara softly. "I know," she said. "Sorry."
Samara nodded. "Your aura was yellow," Samara commented, and since Ginny didn't elaborate, Samara continued. "They won't hurt Draco though, if he's okay after that Apparition. He shouldn't even be out of bed," she moaned, her hands shaking as she put her wand into her disheveled hair.
"Let's go wake Hermione," suggested Samara.
"Let's," said Ginny.
"Ennervate," said Ginny as they approached Hermione.
Samara picked up the Invisibility Cloak that was left on the kitchen floor. "You know, for the amount of grief that Harry and Draco have given me over this cloak, they are mighty careless with it."
Ginny grimaced at her friend as Samara pointed her wand to the still prone Veela beside Hermione. "Obliviate," she said.
"Samara, you are getting way too good at that spell," said Ginny.
Her friend grinned at her. "Why?" she laughed. "Afraid I might use it on you?"
"We can block it," Tom assured her.
Ginny just shook her head and asked, "Do you even know the way to the dungeons, Samara?"
"Down?" suggested Samara. With a sigh, she continued, "Yes, unfortunately, I know exactly where to go. Come on."
"Wait! You know, too" said Ginny. "When were you there?"
"Millicent talked me into visiting Gavin," Samara confessed. "She doesn't do a very good healing spell."
"What?" asked Hermione rubbing her head. "Where are—" she jerked upright as she realized that the boys were gone. "Veelas," she breathed.
"We're going after them," Ginny said in a reassuring voice.
"I don't know that is such a good idea," said Tom.
"Where would they go?" asked Hermione.
"Beauxbatons wing," said Samara with certainty.
"We are going after them," Ginny insisted to Tom in her thoughts.
"Ginny Love, we are not going to be much help."
"We need another helper," said Samara. "Lauren."
"Lauren's in the dungeon," said Ginny. "We know where she is."
"She's in the dungeon?" protested Hermione. "Is that supposed to be reassuring? Do we have time to get Lauren?"
"It doesn't matter now, the wards are back up, we might as well go after her and then the boys," said Ginny, slinging the Invisibility Cloak over Hermione and rubbing her shoulder in a comforting gesture that her Mum used when she was upset. "You have to wonder who is saving whom here," she said wryly.
Hermione pushed the Invisibility cloak off of her head and looked at Ginny.
"Tell her to hide that bushy head," snapped Tom. "How would we explain her?"
"You need to stay hidden, Hermione, and we have to get Lauren first," said Samara.
"Why?" Hermione began, "I mean if she choose to be here—" but Ginny interrupted.
"Can we just curse the know-it-all and leave her here?" asked Tom. "After all, she chose to be here."
"Shut up, Tom," thought Ginny and with effort she forced her thoughts back to Hermione's question. "Why do you need to stay hidden? That should be obvious to you, or why do we need Lauren?"
"Lauren," Hermione asked.
She didn't bother to remind Hermione that everyone at the Snow Castle knew by now that Narcissa and Valeriana forced Lauren to be here, but Ginny answered rather tightly, "Because she can follow the Apparition signature of the Veelas and find them. You don't know how to do that, do you Hermione?"
"Good," thought Tom. "Put the know-it-all in her place."
"Why?" thought Ginny. "Don't like the competition, Tom?"
Tom burst out laughing.
Hermione shook her head. "Sounds like a useful skill though," she said. "I'd like to learn it."
Tom's laughter brought a smirk to Ginny's lips. "Yes," she said dryly. "It's on my To Do list too. Right after I learn to Apparate."
"We should hurry," said Hermione.
"You're right," Samara agreed, but Ginny said nothing, instead listening to Tom's commentary in her head.
"We have plenty of time," said Tom. "The Veelas will play with them for hours. They want to have some fun. They won't kill the wizards, yet. It might not be pleasant—but well on the other hand, it might be very pleasant," smirked Tom.
"Tom," admonished Ginny, silently scandalized. "What about the claws and fangs?"
Tom sighed. "Oh they might be a little bruised and abused, but not dead except for Harry Potter, that could be a problem—"
Ginny expressed her confusion to Tom.
"Well, considering how easily Salazar can get into Harry Potter's head since they already have that little connection. Right now, if he realizes Harry is in the hands of His Veelas, He will know exactly where Harry is. And afterwards…" Tom paused uncomfortable, but his thoughts bled through to her anyway. "You do realize that Occlumency wards are considerably strengthened by virginity."
"Ginny?" asked Samara. "Are you with us?"
"I have an idea," Ginny said to Samara and Hermione. "It worked before—"
"What?" wondered Hermione. "We don't have time Ginny. It's bad enough you want to go off after Lauren. We need to find the boys now."
Ginny expressed what Tom had told her and Hermione went white. She didn't seem to be comforted so the girls started down the corridor.
"You can Apparate closer to the dungeon, Ginny Love," said Tom. "I can do it for you. I could even show you how--"
"Tom—are you sure you want to Apparate closer to the dungeon or do you want to Apparate closer to the Veelas? Apparating into a room full of Veelas when you are in control of my body is not a really bright move."
"Hmmmm," Ginny could positively feel Tom wanting to tell her something.
"Well, what is it?" she snapped mentally.
"You thought of something," said Tom. "All by yourself, you thought of something."
"I've thought of things before," said Ginny petulantly.
"And you were right," said Tom.
"Well, thank you," said Ginny dryly, "but I have thought of things before, you just didn't notice."
"Right, I forgot," said Tom snidely. "You thought of going to Salazar. You thought of getting a Dark Mark.
Ginny cringed, and for a moment she nearly broke into sobs again.
Tom reached out to her. "Ginny Love—"
"Ginny?" said Samara.
Ginny looked at her blankly for a moment, but then she felt the movement of Visha on her neck.
"You were going to save Harry," Tom reminded her in a bored voice.
Ginny took Visha from her neck and held her in her hands while she hissed to the basilisk.
"What are you telling her?" Hermione wanted to know, but Ginny didn't answer. She continued to hiss to Visha for several seconds.
"What is she saying?" Hermione asked of Samara
"Done," said Ginny with a smile. "Thanks Visha. I hope Harry stays out of trouble until we can find him." She paused, switching to English. "Now, let's go find Lauren," she said.
"Ginny," Tom said softly. "We aren't going to be much use against the Veelas." She could feel his worry and his fear even though he was trying to hide it.
"You mean you aren't going to be much use against the Veelas, Tom."
"You just want to save your precious Harry Potter," snapped Tom. "You know, he still won't notice you. He'll pat you on the head like a puppy. What a sweet little sister of my friend you are," he sneered in a mocking tone.
"Can you do a deafness spell on your self, Tom?" asked Ginny. "And while you are at it, try Mutus too."
"Ginny," said Samara "Are you coming?" She gave Ginny a little push on her arm and Ginny looked at her.
Hermione with wand raised had marched down the corridor in front of them and peeked from beneath the invisibility cloak.
"Sure," whispered Ginny with a grin. Now that Samara knew about Tom she found these episodes easier to deal with. "Just talking to the man in my head," she explained. "If I start following a Veela or something, just Imperio me, Samara."
Samara laughed and they hurried to catch up with Hermione.
(POV)
Harry did not want to be rescued. The totally engulfing intoxicating feeling of being kissed by the Veela was unimaginable. He never wanted it to end. He felt her lips on his and her arms around him and magic all around and through him. He pushed aside her robes, searching for skin. Suddenly the Veela's lips stiffened beneath his and she shuddered, falling to the ground in a dead faint. Two distinctive puncture marks marred her skin just above her left breast.
"(Shesha!)" he growled. "(What did you do that for?)"
"(Visha says,)" replied Shesha.
"(Do you always listen to Visha?)" Harry spat.
"(Visha says Veelas mate like black hissusss,)" Shesha said patiently as if she was explaining to one of the slower basilisks.
"(Black hissusss? Black spiders?)" repeated Harry trying to understand.
"Black Widow spiders," said Ron, examining the deep gashes in his belly. "They kill their mates. Is she—is she?" stuttered Ron pointing to the Veela.
"She's not dead if that's what you are asking," said Harry. "I've already told Shesha I don't want her to kill for me."
"Oh," said Ron rubbing his stomach and abdomen. "Would she do that? Kill for you?" squeaked Ron.
"Yes, but—what happened to you, Ron?" asked Harry finally noticing that Ron's robes were shredded and deep gashes were cut in his chest and belly. Blood stained his face from his earlier nosebleed. "You're bleeding."
"If I remember correctly," said Ron between clenched teeth, "our little sweetheart there wanted a taste of blood as an appetizer."
Harry shuddered. "I remember," he said. "Ron?"
"Hmmm?" said Ron, examining the wounds in his belly, and sucking in his breath. "Hurts," he said touching the wounds gingerly.
Harry raised his wand against Ron's belly and closed the wounds, which left deep purple scars in spite of Harry's expertise with healing spells. "You should probably have a potion to stop infection," said Harry looking at his friend for a long moment. "Let's not tell anyone about this."
"Good idea," agreed Ron rubbing his hand over his now healed, but still tender, belly.
Harry nodded.
"Now how do we go about finding the twins? They don't have a pet like yours to save them." He looked at Shesha. "Nice basilisk," he said, tentatively holding one finger several centimeters from her back and stroking the air. "Can you tell her I'm glad she came along, Harry?"
"Of course," said Harry, wrapping Shesha around his wrist, and hissing to her. She put out her tongue tasting Ron's essence on the air as he spoke. "I don't know how to find the twins and I wish I had the Invisibility Cloak." He paused for a moment. "Come on," he said.
"(Wait,)" said Shesha. "(Salacia says to make the sheiss that mate like black spiders to forget you.)"
"(Salacia?)" said Harry, raising his wand for the Obliviate spell. "(Who the hell is Salacia?)" But he realized it had to be one of Samara's basilisks.
"(Yes,)" Shesha agreed. "(The one she wears at her waist)"
"(Tell her thank you,)" said Harry.
"(She already knows that you send thanks, Master,)" said Shesha. "(And Visha says do not turn over any more sheiss' rocks. Stay out of trouble now.)"
"(I am not looking for trouble,)" Harry sputtered. Ginny was telling him to stay out of trouble?
"(Make the sheiss to forget. Mistress says. It is sisshausss,)" insisted the basilisk. It was obvious that Shesha did not understand how forgetting would be as good as devouring the prey. She was only repeating what Visha had learned from Ginny.
Harry frowned. He didn't see how Obliviating the Veela was a matter of survival, either, but he didn't argue. Shesha thought the alternative was to kill her, and to Harry, that was not an option.He didn't think Shesha would kill the Veela when he had told her not to kill for him, but he didn't want to take any chancesOnce a basilisk got an idea in its head, it was very hard to defer from that idea. Obviously, Shesha was, at this moment, more inclined to listen to Visha than to himself.
"Obliviate!" said Harry Potter. They started stealthily down the corridor in search of the twins and Neville.
"Keep your eyes open for Death Eaters," said Harry. "I wish we knew where we were." He paused, realizing that Koschei might be able to help. "(Koschei?)" he asked. "(Maybe you can give us some directions. Do you know where we are?)"
"(Yes,)" hissed the snake, but she offered no further directions.
"(Why are you asking the snake?)" hissed Shesha petulantly.
"(Because you've never been here before,)" Harry protested.
"(Bitemates have been here,)" said Shesha as if that explained everything.
(A/N: Fanfic keeps taking out my parselmouth parenthesis. I hope they stay this time. It didn't. I had to put them in by hand, grrr. )
Go review!
Answers to reviewers:
Trillium: Do you love me? Ah, I feel so honored. No Tommy doesn't feel left out. He's planning to take over. Is this our beloved Tom Riddle or not? Muwhawha.
Little Red Rabbit: Sorry about the cliffie. Well not really, it keeps you guys reading otherwise you desert me. So read on, imperio!
Chernobyl" Love your reviews. Funny if the rescue went to waste? Oh no. the Gryffs have to do something. Of course it's your guess if it goes right or wrong. As far as why the wards went up, we will be in Volde's head shortly and you will know all you wish to know.
Silverfox: Love your comments, and to me, anyone who gives as insightful and faithful comments as you do deserves to be called an "almost beta" Honestly, no one would guess that English is not your first language. You seem to have a very good grasp of it. Anyway, I'm not really looking for grammar nitpicks. I was looking for forgotten holes in the plot or things that are unclear, and you always seem to notice the stuff I work hardest to get right, which is very gratifying. Poor dear trying to survive without the net. Have you recovered?
Mistrunner: Glad you liked the Snape thing with Lupin. I had to have him say, "I live in a castle full of idiots somewhere in the story. It's just soooo Snape.
Raptors galore: Yes, well I wanted you to wonder what will happen now that the barriers are back up. You know it was way too easy for Harry to get B Bunny out. Now the fun starts.
Ammarine: Will they make it back to Hogwarts? You will find out in hmmmm2-3 chapters I guess. As far as Sturgis being obvious, do you mean obvious to the reader or obvious to Sirius? Because the reader knew about Sturgis a while back and I figured he was going to kill Sirius. He couldn't let him walk in on the Dark Lord and Dumbledore! He was just not as good as he thought he was.
Jager: Action packed to please.
Fire-Sprite 16: Another vote for Dumbledore's death. I'll keep it in mind. Sniggers. Wait, more Ginny/ Tom and family coming up. Volde will find out! Ya think?
DraginLover: Yeah. 15 on May 4, just like the Lestrange twins. I gave them my birthday. Oh yes, poor Neville, but right now, he might not mind not having B Bunny. Heheheh. I know I gave the veelas a little different flavor than JK, but sorry, I just thought Fleur was incredibly boring, and veelas sounded too much like sirens to me. This was foreshadowed in my previous fic in the discussion in the Slyth common room when Millicent called the veelas creatures, and sirens are supposed to have razor sharp claws and fang teeth, which their victims of course never see until it is too late, thus the changes. Oh, and everyone does not need to be back from the Ministry. Volde left the DE in charge when he went to fight Dumbledore, so they have separated. The children have come back in the care of Carman. That's it so far. We don't know if anyone else came back before the wards were activated--or even why the wards were activated. We will know as soon as you get in Volde's head--shortly.
JamToeMan: Thanks for the kudos. Your words are music to my ears--well I guess to my eyes since I'm reading, not hearing. Do you think Ginny heard Tom in her head when he wrote to her in the diary. Oh--oh--off on a plot bunny.
Lauz: You hate Dumbledore? Heheehe. Me too, but I don't know if I want to kill him. He's just so deliciously inane. So like a Gryff. And the whole point of this story is for people to realize that sometimes choices come with hidden costs. Better than ootp! Oh goodie. I thought so, but hey, it's mine and I'm prejudiced. There were so many things I wanted to change about OotP, including Sirus' death, not because I liked Sirius that much, but because it served no purpose. I could go on and on, but you can just read my poem about OotP. It sums it up. Ginny not being affected was just impossible in my idea. After all, people who were physically raped or molested usually have some scars. I would think that being possessed falls in the same type of category. And Tom is the best. Loved you post! Please review often. My ego can handle it. Lol.
Wormtail: Sorry about the cliffie.
Kemenran: You wrote a review. I'm speechless.
Croneus: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate the extra effort you put into this with transcribing the story so you can listen to it instead of reading. Then doing the same with a review. Wow! Aren't those of you who never review feeling really small right now? You should be.
So go review!
15 Reviews gets the next chapter.