A/N: revamped and reedited
-----CHAPTER EIGHT-----
"Fred-" Ron began, but Fred shot him a look that made Ron sink into his seat and shiver.
The twins departed through the side door, closing it. The four heard their footsteps, and heard Fred ask something, and he was given a reply. Harry nervously looked at Ron and Hermione, who were watching the door with anticipation. Harry turned to look at Brenna. Her mug was nearly out of her hands, her eyes wide with an emotion Harry couldn't place as they stared at the door as well.
"Brenna?" Harry asked, "What's wrong?" he knew that look. She had gotten that look when Draco had popped out of the fire.
Brenna abruptly got up, setting her mug down on the table and rushing to the door. Harry and Ron jumped up, and as Hermione got up Harry took Brenna's arms and pulled her back gently. She tried to shrug him off, rolling her shoulders in an effort to escape his grasp/
"Brenna! We can't go down there!" Harry said as kindly as he could as Brenna fought to free herself from him.
"They've got teh place sahrounded, wha's et mattah?" Brenna asked; "Ah know ooh's out theh!" she suddenly shouted angrily, and Ron and Harry pulled her back.
"Brenna!" Ron exclaimed, but Brenna threw both Harry and Ron from her in a burst of sudden magic, and she threw the door open.
Ron landed against the wall, sliding to the floor with a moan. Harry managed to skid to a halt, though he dropped to his knees and bruised them. "Ron, are you okay?" Harry asked, but Ron only waved to the door as he rose.
"Brenna-!" Harry shouted as he entered the shop, but he froze.
Fred and George were busy holding a struggling Brenna back and Harry winced as she threw them from her. Brenna's eyes were flaming with anger as she glared at the doorway. Harry looked. There was Victor Krum...
"Krum?" Harry asked; "Brenna, he's a good guy!"
"Et's ooh's bahind 'im tha's got me," Brenna hissed, clenching her fists; "Tell Ron Ah'm sorry," she said to Harry, then she stared at Krum.
Krum walked over to Harry; "Iz Herm-own-ninny here?" he asked.
"Uh- oh, hang on!" Harry suddenly said, dashing over and taking Brenna by the arm as she made to run towards the door.
"Let me go, Harry!" she shouted, "It's one of 'em, Ah kin feel tha Mark on 'is horrid arm! Lemme go!" she said shrilly, but inevitably gave up. She didn't want to hurt Harry, and she had already sent three to the ground.
"Calm down!" Harry said, then he looked at Krum; "Who's with you?"
"Mien auld headmasteur," Krum said, ushering towards the door. A tall, silvery-white-haired man entered. He was apparently in his mid- to late fifties, and his face was wrinkled. He looked weathered and pale, and his robes, though made of fine material, looked a little shabby. But Harry knew the face.
"Karkaroff!" Fred, George, and Harry exclaimed; "Never mind, Brenna, have at him!" Fred urged. And George added a spiteful "Rip that git to pieces," along with a glare at the ex- headmaster of Durmstrang.
"Please, Harry, one swing's all Ah'm afta," Brenna begged, looking at Harry.
"No, Brenna, don't hurt him," called a deep, tired voice, and with that, Kingsley, Lupin, and Tonks entered; "Karkaroff's coming with us."
"What?" Harry asked, "Why?" he pulled Brenna to him closer instinctively, suddenly weary of the two Bulgarians, and the Order members.
"Harry, we'll explain," Lupin said; "For now, though, we must go. Fred, George, thank you both very much-er, why are you both on the ground?"
"Oh, just dropped something, Professor," Fred said, groaning as he rose from the barrel he had been leaning against. He helped George up from the floor as well.
"Didn't mind them at all," George said.
Brenna and Karkaroff had engaged in a stare, both gazing at each other with hate and painful recognition, though Karkaroff's gaze showed fear. Harry remembered how Karkaroff had been a Death Eater, and had gone into hiding after the Triwizard Tournament. Harry looked at Brenna again, and saw she had tears in her eyes.
"You... you," she began, shaking; "Wha' gives ya the gall? Comin' 'round when ya knew wha' ya did! How could ya do it?" she said shrilly, "How can ya come 'round now? Have ya no regrets, nah guilt?"
Harry held her tightly as Brenna turned into him and broke down in tears. Harry shushed her soothingly, glaring at Karkaroff, and he muttered; "Bastard," to him.
"I was young," Karkaroff said, sighing fitfully; "Well, younger. I... I have no excuse for what I did..."
"No, ya don't!" Brenna snapped, turning her head to glare at him. She made to hex him again, but Harry held her back; "You laughed!" she nearly shrieked; "You laughed, you filthy, spineless piece a-!"
"That's what Malfoy was doing around," Kinglsey stated before she could continue, standing in front of a closed door; "They were looking for Igor."
"They can have 'im," Brenna spat; "'E's not allowed near us..." her voice trailed off as she glared at Karkaroff.
Harry had never heard hatred so strong come from Brenna. Though he knew she had underlying secrets, it apparently took seeing Karkaroff to make them surface. And hell hath no fury like a woman's anger...
"I... I didn't commit the act… alone," Karkaroff.
"But ya got away," Brenna hissed; "Safely veiled unda tha Ministreh's cloak!"
"I didn't do any deed like killing!" Karkaroff nearly shouted.
"Buh, ya did torture, didn' ya? Ya dinna keel 'em yaself, ya little hooded friends jus' finished et all off for ya!" Brenna shook again, turned to Harry, and buried her face in his shirt as she began crying again.
"We're taking Karkaroff into custody," Kingsley said, and Karkaroff hung his head in shame and guilt.
"I hope ya nevva wake up," Brenna whispered, so quietly that only Harry heard.
Harry looked at her worriedly; "Come on, Brenna," he said, looking at Karkaroff with hate beyond words for ever hurting one of his friends; "Let's go upstairs, away from him."
Brenna nodded, and without another word, Harry was taking her up the steps.
George and Fred turned at the same time with identical looks of shock and anger, and stared at Karkaroff; "Ooh, I'd love to be a Ministry worker now," Fred seethed; "You filthy bastard!" he shouted.
"How could you be so evil, you rotten wanker?" George nearly yelled; "That's it, unload the barrels of poprocks, Fred! Hurry, just throw them!"
"Fred, George!" Lupin exclaimed as the twins ran and hauled a large crate in labeled: DANGEROUS: EXPLOSIVES. Cursing under their breaths, the twins obeyed. When they set the box down, several cracks issued from it, and sparks. Karkaroff shivered.
"Mister Krum," Kinglsey said; "Thank you for being so willing," he took one of Karkaroff's arms, Tonks taking his other.
Krum nodded, and then moved to the stairs. Fred jumped in front of him, wand at the ready. Krum pulled the arms of his robes down, baring bare arms; "I 'ave no mark," he said, putting his robe on again; "Now, may I please see Herm-own-ninny?"
Fred nodded, letting Krum pass. He then turned to the Aurors, and he said; "Get that... thing," he pointed his wand at Karkaroff; "Out of here..."
Tonks and Kingsley left, and Lupin sighed; "He wasn't supposed to come in," he moaned; "We knew already what happened."
"Best fess up, Professor," George said as he shut and locked the door; "We're not little anymore, we can handle it."
-------
"It's just, no, no, no! Why's he here? Wha's got inta Kinglsey? 'E knew, 'e knows!"
"Brenna, clam down! Before you break something! Please, sit down..."
Harry ushered Brenna to the sofa, where both sat down. Brenna covered her face in her hands, scooting away from Harry and leaning against the armrest as she sobbed.
"Brenna," Harry began, but nothing else would follow. Harry scooted towards her slowly, and before he knew it, he was right beside her. Though he caught a stray tear every now and then, Brenna never truly cried. Now, she was bawling.
"Brenna," he tried again, and this time, she turned and fell into him. Harry held her shaking form, glancing over as Krum slipped up the stairs and too the roof, where Hermione and Ron were.
When there was finally silence, Brenna looked up; "S-Sorry," she choked.
"Everyone deserves to cry, Brenna," Harry said quietly. There was a pause before he continued; "What... what happened that'd make you so mad a Karkaroff, anyway? I can understand if you don't want to tell me..."
"Nah, I undastan'," Brenna said, "Harry, ya don' know why tha pictchas don't move, an 're faded, do ya?" Harry shook his head slowly, and Brenna sighed. She curled up, her knees half-over Harry's lap, though she didn't seem to notice because her gaze had drifted to the fire again; "Ah was seven..." she began, "When... when et all started 'appenin'... Ah kin remember, mah da takin' me to mah Aunt Belle's," she paused as tears and a sob threatened, the memory coming fresh into her mind again; "'E... 'e said 'e'd on'y be gone for ah-a few days," she laid her head on Harry's shoulder; "Buh... Belle insisted 'e stay fa dinna, a' least... well, she an' da got inta it, an' Ah 'ad gone ta my play room, ya know, when all of a sudden, Ah heard the door crash open, and Belle screamed. Da yelled, and I heard a crash," she paused; "Ah ran down stairs, an' saw that... those Death Eaters had da an' Belle cornered. They were threatenin' mah da, an' he was just tryin' to get Belle to me.
"There was this great flash o' light, and next thing Ah knew, Belle had scooped me up an' 'ad taken me ta the secret room. Soon's the door closed, Ah 'eard... Ah 'eard someone laugh," She paused; "It was unnat'ral, 'Arry, it wasn' human — at all. Ah... Ah was so scared, and then the door opened," she shook her head and closed her eyes, gasping; "He was standin' there, Karkaroff was. He'd laughed, and 'e had Belle's shawl in 'is 'and... an'... an' there was blood on et. He laughed when 'e saw me, Harry, laughed like a mad one. Then, da came up from behind 'im, hittin' 'im with a curse. Karkaroff shouted, and they started fightin'...!" Harry finally felt his shoulder grow damp, and he rubbed her arm comfortingly.
"Shh, Brenna, it's okay," he soothed.
"Nah, 'tis not," Brenna said; "Ya know why our portraits are different? Theh're self portraits, signed wheth blood. When... when tha blood's spilled... an' not on tha painta's will, tha picture stops movin'... and, when the painter's killed by murder, or not by nature, the picture fades..."
Harry's eyes widened with realization. Over the months, he had counted and remembered the portraits. There were well over one hundred, and all but two were frozen. Brenna and Anestrothea's...
"The shadings importan', too," Brenna mused, "Green, dead by Goyle, Zambini, or Crabbe, second-rank Death Eaters... steels, greys, lower Death Eaters, red, him, tan... Malfoy, or Karkaroff, Right 'anders..." her eyes darkened as she glared at the fire again.
Amadeus's was tanned, Harry mused, so were so many others! Good gods, nearly all of them were! "I can see why you hated him," Harry mused. He shifted his weight, and Brenna moved to rise; "No, you're fine," Harry said, and Brenna gratefully fell back to his side.
"Thanks," Brenna said.
"Thanks? For what?" Harry asked.
"For... everythin'," Brenna said, looking up at him; "ya're the only one ooh's listened to mah... fa this long, anyways," she added, looking away and blushing.
"Hey," Harry said, "Anything for a friend," he smiled, and when Brenna looked up at him. Go on, Harry, make your move! a little voice said.
Harry leaned forward, and kissed Brenna gently on the lips. She looked surprised, but welcomed the contact. Both pulled away, and Brenna rested her head on Harry's chest. Harry rested her chin, pulling her into his lap. Brenna sighed shakily, but Harry saw a faint smile play across her lips. He smiled, and closed his eyes.
Peace, once a myth to him, now a reality.
-------------------------
Fred and George came up the steps, both ready to kick Krum out for ever knowing Karkaroff, but upon seeing the sleeping forms of Harry and Brenna curled up together on the couch, they had to smile. Exchanging glances, Fred and George quietly retreated to the roof, to find Krum, Hermione, and Ron talking. Ron was staring over the railing at the city lights, and Hermione and Krum were conversing quietly at a table. Upon seeing Fred and George walk over, though, the stopped.
"Guys," Ron said warningly, "Please, Krum's fine," he rubbed his eyes wearily; "Just, not now..." he moaned.
"Victor just told us about everything," Hermione said sadly, "And, add that up with what Brenna's told us..."
"Lupin filled us in on both sides." Fred said glumly.
"Yeah," George said; "But, Harry got Brenna calmed down a lot..."
"Oh, how?" Ron asked, turning and looking at his brothers.
Fred and George smirked; "Found the little lovebirds curled up together on the couch," Fred said impishly.
"Not in –that- way," George said, cuffing his brother in the shoulder.
"They are rather close," Hermione mused; "No surprise, really..."
There was a Pause, then Fred said, "Ya know, I haven't seen Harry look so peaceful since last year an' all..."
The four who knew nodded solemnly, but Krum was left in the dark. He shook his head, and got up; "Vell," he said; "I must get back to my 'ome. Hermione," he said, smiling, "It vas good to see you again."
"You as well, Victor," Hermione said, smiling and getting up as well; "Here, I'll walk you down."
The three brothers watched the two disappear, then broke down laughing; "Oh, 'I'll walk you down'!" Fred said in a girlish voice, fluttering his eyelashes as Hermione had done.
"I swear, growing up fast, aren't we?" George mused. He pulled at his hair; "Great Scotts— a gray hair!"
"Well, no one can tell," Fred said, "Ron, what'd got your knickers in a twist?"
Ron was once more gazing out at the city, arms crossed and brow furrowed; "Upset, is all," he muttered.
"About what, baby brother?" George asked.
"Nothing," Ron sighed, and he turned around; "I'm gonna go back inside..."
Fred and George watched Ron go, then followed shortly after.