Chapter 9

Nightmarish Notions


When Ichigo first saw the prophecies within the Department of Mysteries, he thought they were mesmerizing. Each one pulling him in with the promise of answers to questions he didn't know he had. Now, as he raced past shelf after shelf, row after row, they were disorienting. Had he already checked here? Should he go right or left? With Mr. Weasley's life on the line, every choice mattered, every second counted. Each prophecy exuded the reiraku of those who's future they contained. The cacophony was overwhelming.

He had not come searching for the man alone. Tonks and Lupin were also roaming the shelves. They agreed to split up when they first arrived since it would cover more ground. Ichigo had tried to sense for the man himself, but the prophecies made it impossible. Once someone found him, they were supposed to shoot a flare to signal their retreat. After all, it was very likely that his assailant was still nearby. It wouldn't be good to hang around and find out.

No such luck, however.

Among the identical isles, he searched for any kind of anomaly that could help him. A piece of clothing or a sound. It came in the smell of blood. A metallic stench that Ichigo would never be able to wipe from his memory. It was ingrained into his very soul from battle after battle. He stopped in his tracks, nearly toppling over from the speed he was running at.

Cautious, Ichigo drew Zangetsu, following the scent. It wasn't long before he finally came upon Mr. Weasley. Ichigo scanned the area before he sheathed his zanpakuto and approached. The man was oozing blood from a wound to the chest and he was also bleeding from a head wound, but there weren't any other marks on him. Ichigo couldn't see his wand anywhere so either his attacker took it or Mr. Weasley hadn't had the chance to use it before he was incapacitated. Either way, the man was in critical condition.

Ichigo took a step towards him but paused when the air around them changed. He took another step but couldn't stop the shudder that went through him. The aura around the injured man was dark. Very dark. A remnant, perhaps, of whatever had attacked him. Harry had mentioned a snake. What kind of snake would leave this in its wake? The sinister feeling mounted with every step closer. Still, Ichigo pushed on.

At last, he was within arm's reach. Ichigo sought out his wrist, but the second their skin met, his soul was forced out of his gigai.

"What-" Ichigo jerked his hand back as if burned. He watched as his gigai crumpled to the floor. He suddenly found himself back in the maze, when his powers were not his own. He took a few steps back, but his heart was already racing and breathing had become difficult. His head was pounding. To his shock and dismay, his mask had begun to materialize without his control. It was suffocating.

'What's happening to me?'

Ichigo frantically looked around, trying to find something - anything that could help - when his eyes landed on Mr. Weasley. Whatever was happening, it had something to do with him, or at least whatever had attacked him. Shaking with exertion, Ichigo grabbed his gigai's chest and started dragging it away from the injured man. He struggled under the weight, but he was able to get enough distance that he was finally able to breathe. A few more yards and he didn't feel like he had to puke anymore.

With shaking hands, he grabbed the side of his half-formed mask and yanked it off. Ichigo watched as it clanged against the ground before disintegrating. After taking a few moments to catch his breath, Ichigo re-entered his gigai, relieved that it worked the first time. Ichigo didn't waste a moment pulling out his own wand and firing a bright red light into the air above him.

He sat, waiting for Tonks and Lupin to find him. Lupin discovered him first, and then Tonks shortly after. They looked at him, concern in their eyes. "Mr. Weasley is down that way. He needs to be taken to St. Mungo's." Tonks nodded, heading in the direction he pointed.

Lupin stayed behind, eyeing him warily. "What happened?"

Ichigo shook his head. "I couldn't explain it, even if I wanted to. What's important right now is that we get him medical help. I'm afraid I won't be able to touch him at the moment, but I can at least apparate us there."

Lupin looked like he wanted to say more, but instead, he extended his hand and helped Ichigo to his feet. They made their way to Tonks, who had pulled Mr. Weasley's arm over her shoulder. Lupin quickly stepped over to grab his other arm and share his weight. Tonks smiled at them gratefully.

"Are you ready?" Ichigo asked. The two of them nodded, and Ichigo grabbed Lupin's hand. He disapparated them to the hospital. The healers, to their credit, did not squeal when the three of them appeared, holding a prominent and bloody member of the Ministry in their arms. Instead, they were quick to action, guiding them to one of many private rooms. Lupin and Tonks laid Mr. Weasley down on the cot and Ichigo answered as many of their questions as he could.

"What happened?"

"He was attacked."

"By what?"

"I don't know."

"How long ago?"

"An hour or two at most."

"Where was he attacked?"

"The Ministry."

Ichigo could tell that they were bothered by his answer, but they didn't ask him any more questions. Instead, they put all of their focus into the man prone in front of them. Tonks and Lupin stayed with him for a few minutes in silence, then they promised to go update everyone and that they would be back later. Ichigo nodded as they left, keeping his eyes on Mr. Weasley and his guard up. He was close enough to make Ichigo dizzy, but not enough to give him a headache.

Because of Harry's nightmare, it was logical to assume that Voldemort was involved in this, but that was all the information he had. Was this attack planned? If so, why? What were they going after Mr. Weasley for? Was it because of his involvement with the Order? Or was this opportunistic? If that was the case, what was Voldemort doing at the Ministry in the first place? Were they going to come after him again? And his mask? The same thing had happened several months ago. Ichigo had hoped that training with his vizard powers would be able to give him better control, but clearly, that was not the case. There were simply too many variables at play here.

When they began cutting away Mr. Weasley's clothes, Ichigo stepped outside the room to give him privacy and increase the space between them. He stood at the door, wary of everyone who passed by. After all, Ichigo considered Mr. Weasley a friend and he wasn't going to let anyone harm him again. It was unusual for witches and wizards in this day and age to have physical injuries, most of the people in the hospital had strangely colored skin or animal limbs.

It wasn't long before Dumbledore appeared in the hallway, concern etched into his face. Tonks and Lupin weren't with him, so Ichigo assumed they had stayed at Grimmauld Place. "I've been told that Arthur is not in the best of shape. Thank you for finding him so quickly. But, Ichigo, you don't look well."

Ichigo shook his head but regretted it immediately after. The hallway swam and the people blurred together. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. "I'll rest later. What I'm more concerned about is what attacked Mr. Weasley, and why."

"I have some… ideas," Dumbledore hesitated.

Ichigo tried not to growl at the wizard in frustration, but he was tired and ready to go to sleep. He couldn't do that until he was sure Mr. Weasley would be safe. "Well?"

Dumbledore eyed the patrons around them and waved his hand in the air. He didn't say an incantation, but Ichigo could feel the presence of a sound barrier. Their conversation would not be overheard. "Harry mentioned a snake. I believe Arthur's attacker to be Nagini, Voldemort's loyal animal companion. As for why, well, I'm afraid the fault lies with me. The Order predicted that Voldemort would try to breach the Hall of Prophecies. We thought that he was going to try and view Harry's prophecy, which would be futile considering that only the one who recorded the prophecy and the subject of the prophecy would be able to remove it. Nevertheless, I suggested that someone keep watch in the event that he did."

"Arthur made the most sense, since he actually works for the Ministry. I did not foresee this outcome." Dumbledore looked away, ashamed.

Ichigo rubbed his forehead. "Well, that explains the aura surrounding Mr. Weasley when I found him… Tell me, do Nagini and Voldemort share a bond that runs deeper than just companionship? A magical bond, perhaps."

"I… I have had a suspicion for some time that the reason Voldemort keeps Nagini so close is because she is a horcrux. Why do you ask?"

Ichigo ignored his question in favor of asking one of his own. "What's a horcrux?"

"Something that should not be discussed here, I'm afraid," Dumbledore answered. The old wizard smiled at Ichigo. "You look exhausted. Why don't you join the others at Grimmauld, I'll take Arthur's bedside vigilance."

Ichigo didn't have enough energy to argue and nodded. If what Dumbledore said was true, then it was unlikely Mr. Weasley would be attacked again. Ichigo said goodbye to Dumbledore and took his advice, apparating to just outside Grimmauld Place. He didn't bother knocking at such a late - well technically early - hour. Stepping inside, he was surprised to be greeted by Winky.

"Winky, what are you doing here?"

"Well, Dobby told Winky that the other Order members were staying here, so she asked Dumbledore to come with them, that she did. Winky is glad she did so, otherwise, who would prepare Master Ichigo's tea the way he likes it?"

Ichigo laughed, feeling lighter than he had since before he had gone to sleep that night and pat her head. "Thank you very much, Winky. I don't know where I would be without you. You can go ahead and put a pot on, I'd like to talk to Harry before I head up, if he's still awake?"

"Harry Potter went to sleep a few hours ago, but Sirius Black is in the kitchen, if Master Ichigo wants to speak to him."

"Yes, I think I will. I'll be up in a few minutes."

Winky nodded and disappeared up the stairs. Ichigo followed her instructions and indeed found Sirius in the kitchen. He was sitting at the table, drinking a hot mug of… something. Something probably much stronger than butterbeer, if he felt the same as Ichigo. Sirius didn't seem to notice him enter the room. Ichigo pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.

"How're the children?"

Sirius startled. He relaxed and sighed when he saw who it was. "They're finally asleep upstairs. It took ages they were so worried. Tonks' and Lupin's message was the only reason they laid down."

Ichigo nodded in understanding. "And Harry? Has he said anything?"

Sirius nursed the warm cup in his hand. Ichigo watched as he took another sip. "It's… Harry told me this in confidence, but he said that right after he woke up from the nightmare, he was very angry. And that, when he saw Dumbledore, he wanted to hurt him. It was very disheartening to hear. That boy doesn't deserve any of this. I'm sure he feels partly responsible for what's happened tonight."

"Harry's aggression is probably related to Voldemort's involvement. If that's the case, it could also be related to the reason my mask manifested without my permission."

"That scary white one that just appears out of nowhere?" Sirius asked, eyeing him skeptically.

Ichigo smiled, "Yes, the scary white one."

It was clear that something with Nagini and Voldemort was behind all of this. Feelings of aggression, his mask manifesting, this sudden mention of a horcrux, whatever that was… Ichigo couldn't help but think of the darkness surrounding Mr. Weasley. Looking back, Ichigo was reminded of hollows.

There was a lot to look into.