Chapter 4: Force of Will

"Episkey"

Ginny's teeth were clenched as she closed the wound that had been pouring blood. It was a minor injury to heal. She was merely fixing a cut. But, of course, that cut was the stump of what had been Ginny's pinky finger.

Missing fingers were a more common injury than the average muggle-born realized. At least one student would lose their finger per Hogwarts semester, through miscast spells or just bing to carless prepping potions ingredients. The catch, however, is that it was relatively easy to reattach the severed digit if one still possessed them.

Ginny felt her back pressed against the wall and slumped to the pavement as she started at her stump. Belatedly Ginny realized she was going into shock. Ginny turned green and through up beside her, joining where she had already been sick from her first solo apparition.

Ginny felt herself begin to hyperventilate, but she repressed her panic attack. "Nows not the time, Freak out later. We need to find Harry."

Ginny pushed herself to her feet, wincing violently as her stump touched the pavement. Ginny took comfort in the fact that she retained the foresight to sever her left pinky and not her wand hand.

"Any change." Ginny nearly jumped out of her heels as a filthy-looking muggle wandered up to her with a lean face and pleading blue eyes. Ginny had never seen a more filthy-looking man in her life and, without thinking, reached into her dress and took out three silver sickles.

"Uh...here you go, sir. I'm afraid it's all I have." Ginny whispered as the Muggle stared at the coins in wonder.

"This...This is silver! Bless you, mam. God bless you." The Muggle cried joyfully before shaking Ginny's left hand, which made her eyes water. "You have no idea what this means to me."

Ginny gave a confused smile stepping back from the strange man. A blinding white light and a loud honking noise blasted Ginny, and she merrily avoided the car which sped right past her. Ginny looked around and realized for the first time that she was lost. Suddenly the very filthy men seemed rather appealing. "Excuse me, Sir."

"Sir? It's been a long time since I've been called sir. More likely to call me, Hobo, bum, vagrant, street urchin." The man chuckled before shrugging. "Of course, if you wish to be civil, call me Neal."

"Ok...Neal." Ginny said awkwardly before asking. "Have you by any chance seen three people, two boys, and a girl around my age, round here. Two have red hair like mine, though one may have changed back to black."

"I've seen them, alright. I saw it with my own eyes." Neal declared in a hushed whisper. "I saw the boy change before my very eyes. Of course, they called me mad, but it was Magic, I tell you!"

"Not the first time I've seen it." Neal hissed frantically. "I saw them take down the bridge, but they wouldn't believe me. But I've spoken with my friends deprived of our homes, and they have seen it too. We've seen the faceless man. We've felt the chill in the air. Dark forces are at work. People are dying. We've heard their screams! Evil runs rampant in the streets of London. Evil-"

"Did you see where my friend went?" Ginny interrupted, suddenly feeling very paranoid. "Please, they're in danger!"

"What? Oh them. Why they're back there in that old ruddy dinner." Neal declared, pointing behind Ginny. "I'd be careful if I were you. They seemed a shady lot, didn't want to be followed."

"Thank you," Ginny whispered as she slowly crossed the street. Then, she approached the flickering neon sign, which read. "Cafe."

Ginny had her heart in her throat as she prepared to face the man she loved. But, Merlin, what would he think when she saw her here, like this. Ginny knew this wouldn't be a happy reunion, but the thought of Harry rejecting her was too much for her to bear...

"Rubbish." Ginny thought as her expression hardened. This was her decision, and she didn't give a dam what he thought. They were at war, and she wouldn't stand on the sidelines while the people she loved fought and died. Ginny began to whisper to herself. "I am Ginny Weasley. I am Ginny Weasley. I am-"

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and the windows to the Cafes shattered with a mighty crash. Ginny was flung back and saw a spell fly past her head, narrowly missing her. Ginny began to rush forward, but a thought stopped her. Ginny turned her wand onto herself and vanished from sight.

Neal saw the whole thing and began crying in alarm. "Magic! Black Magic! God help us all!"

...

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were taking cover behind an overturned table as they traded curses with the pare of Death Eaters. Ron cursed over the chaos of battle. "How the Bloody Hell did they find us."

"Shut up and keep fighting," Harry roared, casting another stunner at the two Dark Wizards. Then without warning, the overturned table transformed into a hamster, and Hermione could barely raise a shield in time.

One of the Death Eaters came forward and hissed. "I smell Mudblood! You got lucky last time we crossed wands, but this time I promise you, I'll leave you with more than a scar!"

Hermione's eyes narrowed as she stood and faced Antonin Dolohov, the Death Eater who nearly killed a little over a year ago. Ron's eyes turned red, and he lunged at the Death Eater, only to be cast aside and bound by robes. Hermione fired a spell at the Dolohov, who deflected it with ease.

Harry managed to disarm the second Death Eater, only for Dolohov to blast him with a curse. Harry was slammed against the wall, and by the time he recovered, Thorfinn Rowle was armed once more. Harry stumbled forward, trying to regain his strength as he watched Hermione and Dolohov exchange spells at a breathtaking speed. Rowie turned his wand on Hermione, but Harry was quicker, blocking his curse just in time.

Harry spun around and fired a cutting curse at Ron, turning around just in time to clash spells with Rowie. The ropes fell, and Ron sprinted forward, his wand lying forgotten on the floor, tackled Dolohov through a table, and began to rain a flurry of fists down upon him. Hermione stepped around Ron and aimed her wand at the Death Eaters' throat, who cackled. "What are you going to do, kill me?!"

Rowie smiled at this, and to Harry's shock, he tossed his wand to Harry, who caught it effortlessly. The golden trio exchanged glances with each over before focusing on the Rowie, who cackled. "It takes a lot of strength to take a life, but much more to live with it. I remember my first kill, some poor muggle girl, crying and begging for her mum. When you cast the spell, you feel like you will never be whole again, never happy, as if we've become Dementor's, fear itself."

"The more we kill, the less we feal." Dolohov croons, a sadistic smile on his face. "The grief fades away, the guilt becomes a mere whisper, and soon we feel nothing but our Master's will. So now we enjoy it, for every life we take, we grow stronger, like our Master."

"There is no good or evil, only power and those too weak to seek it." Rowie declared, and Harry felt a shiver down his spine at the all too familiar words. "That is what the Dark Lord taught us, and the sooner you recognize that the better off you will be."

"Do what must be done." Dolohov hissed with a wicked grin. "If you have the nerve."

Harry and Ron turned to Hermione, who seemed unimpressed by the Death Eaters' words. "What if I just wiped your memories, so not even Voldemort can rescue your minds."

"You might as well kill us. We'd be walking corpses of what was once a man." Dolohov cackled. "Would you do that to us, your own parents?"

Hermione stepped back as if struck by a curse. Dolohov covered his mouth in feigned shock. "Oh dear, I shouldn't have said that. I've seen too much. Your eyes don't lie. They're in Sidney, aren't they."

Dolohov turned to Harry and Ron. "Your eyes are open, and too much have they seen. You have no choice now. You have to kill me."

"Or maybe we leave you tied and bound." Harry snapped as he stepped towards Antonin. "Leave you for Voldemort to find."

Dolohov's mouth twitched at the Dark Lords' name, but he wasn't the one who spoke.

"They'll kill my family," Hermione uttered, looking sick and green. "They'll kill many others if we let them live."

"I'll do it," Ron uttered darkly, though his face betrayed his lack of conviction.

"Oh, I'm sure you would if you knew what I knew, and let's not forget the precious chosen one." Dolohov hissed like a snake as he took in the appearance of the boy who lived. "Oh, the things I've seen in your eyes, Harry Potter."

"Don't test me," Harry growled as his wand started to glow.

"Oh, but that's exactly what I'm doing." The Death Eater croaked before smirking. "I see pretty red hair in your mind. Bright as phoenix feathers, forever lost to the flames. You have my condolences."

Rowie began to laugh as Ron turned on him and barked. "What are you playing at!"

"Aren't you going to tell them, Antonin?" Rowie cackled, only for Ron to send a bludgeoning curse to his head, causing the Death Eater to howl in pain as his teeth shattered.

"What did you do to my sister!" Ron hollered, turning to Harry, whose eyes had not left Dolohovs. "Harry?"

Harry's face was stone as he stared daggers at the Death Eater, who somehow still had them under his mercy. Ron looked to Hermione who had tears in her eyes while Harry leaned forward and stabbed his wand into the Death Eater's throat. "Explain."

Rowie despite his pain began to laugh. "Bright red hair burn in fire. All that remained was a wee little finger."

"She was very brave to stand up to Severus." Dolohov cackled before leering at Harry. "She said she would die for you, and Severus did what any loyal servant to the Dark Lord would do and obliged. You should've seen the explosion, the flames, and screaming."

Ron stumbled backward, but Harry remained fixed on Dolohov, who whispered. "As I said before, you have my sympathy."

Harry nodded and took a deep trembling breath before roaring. "Sectumsempra."

"Expelliarmus!" A voice cried, and Harry's wand was sent flying from his hand, and the same happened to Ron and Hermione as they found themselves surrounded by Death Eaters.

Harry realizing too late their dire situation, rushed for Dolohovs, but a spell froze him in place. Harry tried to scream as his rage burst forth, but the Death eater only laughed. "You should have killed me when you had a chance. Instead, you held a committee, letting me into your minds and hearts. It's a shame she died for nothing. The Great Harry Potter didn't even last a day."

Harry closed his eyes as he felt rage and grief tear him to shreds. Meanwhile, the Death Eater gave his command. "Summon the Dark Lord so he can bear witness to my triumph. Kill the Mudblood."

Ron let out a cry as he stood between Hermione and the Death Eaters, but not Rowie, who raised his wand-

-and collapsed wordlessly to the ground.

The other Death Eaters stared in alarm, but Dolohov's rolled his eyes. "A lesson for my brothers, don't let a prisoner hit you in the face with a bludgeoning curse. I'll deal with the Mudblood, Avada-"

Snap.

Dolohov only stared as his wand, aimed at Hermione, snapped in two. "My wand!?"

Dolohov turned to Harry, reached into his robes, and pulled out a long black dagger. He rushed towards the defenceless Harry, only for the ceiling above him to come crashing down around them.

Spells flew everywhere in confusion, with many Death Eaters cursing their fellow brethren as smoke, dust, and debris filled the room. Spells deflected away from Harry, Ron, and Hermione as the Death Eaters fell one by one. Blood painted the walls as Harry spotted one Death Eater lying on the floor, holding onto his severed leg. Another was dragged across the floor by an invisible force, crying and pleading for his Mother. A brick was suddenly shoved into his mouth, and his teeth exploded in all directions..

Suddenly Dolohov had a dagger to Harry's throat as he roared. "I dare you to try it, Spector. I know you're here. I promised the Dark Lord I'd spare the boy, but don't think I won't-"

The Death Eater screamed as he let go of Harry, who found himself free of the binding curse. Harry nearly stripped as he turned around and spotted the culprit, Dolohov's right hand, under his foot.

The Death Eater gripped his bleeding stump in agony before he began to cry. "Please don't kill me. I was following orders. I want to go home!"

Dolohov reached forward and grabbed something, but this proved to be a mistake. Harry could barely hear the whispered incantation before more fingers were sent flying from the Death Eaters' left hand. Then, as Dolohov fell to the floor in tears, a glamour shimmered before a figure flickered into view, and Harry was greeted with a sight for sore eyes.

Ginny was covered head to toe in blood and debris. A frantic, manic look shined from her eyes; though she was small, she seemed to tower over her fallen foe. "What was it you said to Harry? He should've killed you when he had the chance."

"Ginny?" Harry whispered, stunned. At first, Harry was too relieved to see her alive. Harry thought he'd never seen her look so beautiful. The look in her eyes set his heart ablaze. However, the more he looked, the more he quickly realized something was wrong.

Dolohov was openly weeping now as Ginny's wand began to glow. "Mother always said second chances are a foolish thing to waste."

"Ginny!" Harry rushed forward and grabbed her wrist. Ginny's spell faded as she realized it was Harry. Ginny stared at Harry before breaking down and collapsing into her arms, sobbing against his chest. Harry could only hold on in shock. He shot a pleading look to Ron only to see he was as flummoxed as he was.

Hermione, meanwhile, approached the Dolohov. "Ah, Granger, sweet merciful Granger. You've got to help-"

Hermione kicked the Death Eater in the face, knocking him out before casting, "Obliviate."

Ginny had regained control as she let go of Harry and took in the scene around her. "I did this?"

Harry stuttered before uttering. "W...w...what are you doing here?"

Ginny looked up slowly and opened her mouth, but Hermione interrupted. "We've got to leave now. There will be others."

"What about Ginny?" Ron exclaimed.

Harry looked from Ginny to Ron and sighed. "We can't just leave her here."

Ron looked like he was going to say something, but after looking around, he closed his mouth and nodded. "So...where are we going."

Hermione's face scrunched up, deep in thought, before uttering. "Do you remember where Kreacher lives?"

Harry nodded in confusion before Hermione grabbed Ron's wrist and uttered. "I'll see you there."

They disappeared with a snap, leaving Harry with Ginny. Harry had a million questions, and only a few addressed the sinking feeling in his gut. However, Harry suppressed his reservations and whispered to Ginny. "I've never sidelong Apparated before. So please don't splinch."

To Harry's surprise, Ginny only smiled at this and uttered. "How about you let me give it a go."

Before Harry could react, Ginny grasped Harry's wrist, and with a knowing wink, they disappeared with a snap.

It was at this moment a dishevelled figure entered the cafe, taking in the destruction before muttering. "Neal tried to warn them that black magic was afoot, but nobody listens to poor Neal."

Neal felt a cold chill over his shoulder, but when he looked, he only saw the dark, desolate streets. It was quiet tonight, and if he wasn't mistaken, he could see his favourite planet shine through the foggy sky. Mars was bright tonight, exceptionally bright.

Neal turned to the cafe and nearly screamed when he found himself facing a tall, dark figure hidden beneath a hood. Neal tried to see its face but saw only blackness. Finally, Neal summoned his courage and spoke in a grave voice. "Please, sir, no more black magic? This Witchcraft must end."

Slowly the figure turned towards Neal and seemed to tower over the poor Muggle, who stuttered. "I...I meant no offence, good sir. We are but poor, humble..."

"No...No...the offence is all mine." A nasal hiss answered from beneath the hood. "You're a squib aren't you."

"Squib?" The Neal uttered, confused as the tall, dark man let out an otherworldly cackle.

"My mother was like you, at least that is what my travels have shown. She could perform Magic, but only through other vices. Who knows, maybe if her family showed her more kindness, instead of casting her aside, she would not have died in the streets, like a stray dog or a filthy muggle."

As the figure hissed, a cold white hand began caressing the homeless Muggle's face. "Instead, she had me."

Neal stared up, trembling as the cold fingers invaded his mouth and grazed his nostrils. Neal tried to fight it, but he endured the violation as a fear unlike any he had ever known filled his heart and left it cold.

"I was born broken. I felt not the warmth of the sun nor the compassion for my fellow men. The only joy I found in life was from tormenting my inferiors. I hated myself, almost as much as I hated the ones who beat me, enslaved me, left me weak and alone." The man spoke in a sinister voice. "It was only after discovering the remains of my family that I understood. I wasn't broken. I was exactly the way Magic intended me. It was the world that was sick and dying."

The white chalk hand began to squeeze the poor muggles face, and the voice sneered. "What has become of our people. What has become of our Magic? We used to hold it sacred. Now it is a cheap mundane thing for muggles to play with. I remember when we were royalty when the Slytherin line ruled both the magical and mundane world. The last rags of my noble bloodline were so polluted in muggle blood they couldn't even conjure a fly!"

"I came from nothing but the wreckage of a long-dead dynasty." Neal felt himself be lifted into the air, his feet dangling before him as he stared at the shadows beneath th hood, and from it shined two blood-red eyes. "Today, I rule England. I have been a Dark Lord for a very long time, but only now am I truly a Lord!"

"Now, I shall fulfill Slytherin's noble work and restore the natural order. No longer will the strong bow to the weak and the infirm. Soon the Muggles will serve us as slaves. What is the point of power if not to wield it over our subservient flock? The world will stand by and watch as I rule this land under the fire and fury of my power. Then I'll move on to the next country and the next. By the time they realize what is happening, they will be too late!"

The world will be united under one will, one power, one Dark Lord! My reign shall last from here until the end of time itself. No longer shall they fear to say my name. They will rejoice from it as I lift England out of the shadows and into the light. This great land once ruled the world through the power of Magic. In the name of Lord Voldemort, England shall rule once more. They will worship me as they despair, for I am everlasting. I...I..."

Lord Voldemort smiled as he stared into the petrified Muggle's eyes. "There is only one who can stop me, only one who can send the Magical world back into the dark ages of mediocrity, and I haven't the slightest clue where he is."

The Dark lord lowered his hood and whispered sinisterly. "But you do, don't you!"

Neal could only scream as he finally saw beneath the hood a face that drove even the bravest of me to madness. Neal screamed as loud as he could at the hideous face, a cross between a human, a snake, and a skull, which at his misery.

"Don't worry, my dear friend. I'm not going to hurt you...yet." Voldemort smiled wickedly at this. "I'm just going to force my will upon you."

Suddenly Neal was surrounded by compressing darkness, only to be forced painfully into a world of blinding light. Neal blinked, and he was a child crying as his Mother remained passed out on the floor. Neal blinked again, and he was starving as his Mother remained comatose on the couch. It had been three days, and she was starting to stink. Then, finally, Neal heard the pounding on the door and ran to hide under his bed, only for hands to grab his ankles and pull him out of the dark.

Neal blinked, and he was in a white room, and people in white robes poked and prodded him. Neal blinked, and soft white walls and a marshmallow floor surrounded him, which did little to ease the itching of his wrists. Neal blinked again, the siren was waling, and the white walls were a shade of red. Blood was on the floor, and his cellmate stood over a still body. Neal cowered away and closed his eyes and ears, pleading for the noise to stop. Neal blinked again, and a group of men sat behind a table, smiling at him. "I'm afraid we don't have enough room for a patient with your...symptoms. Frankly, we believe you are ready to face the world again."

Neal stared at them. "I don't know how..."

"You'll be staying at a halfway house and given a job at the local grocery store. It should be simple work for a fellow of your capabilities." The lady who spoke turned to the man on his right. "We'll need him out of his room from Friday for the Senator's son before they back out of the agreement. I want that form signed."

"Stop talking like I'm not here." Neal snapped as the committee ignored him. "I'm not stupid, and I'm not crazy. I'm sick. I tell you, I'm sick. I'm not cured! You don't understand."

Neal blinked and was at his job, stuttering as he tried to type in the correct numbers. The pressure was getting to him. The man he was serving was complaining in a loud, pompous voice about seeing the messenger. It's not Neal's fault he didn't understand this weird money. It wasn't Neal's fault he heard voices in his head. It wasn't Neal's fault he never had a Father, and his Mother never woke up from her opioid-induced nap. It wasn't Neal's fault. IT WASN'T NEAL'S FAULT!

It was Neal's fault when the cash register exploded. It was Neal's fault when the roof came down. It was Neal's fault when the man he was helping convulsed on the floor. Neal blinked, and he was running. He looked over his shoulder and saw smoke in the sky. Neal blinked again. He was hiding under a bridge, cold and alone. Neal blinked again, and he was eating a raw fish he had caught, not having enough strange coins he still did not recognize.

Neal blinked again, and he was given silver coins by a mysterious red-haired young lady who didn't seem to belong there. He stared at the coins, and his eyes watered as he felt the ghost of a memory hover just beyond his reach. He blinked and saw the restaurant explode, and the red-haired girl vanished without a trace. He saw the battle and the four magicals disappear without a trace...

Neal was throwing up the pavement on his hands and knees as the Dark Lord frowned to himself. "I know where they are, and yet I don't. This is Dumbledore's work. Even in his grave, he continues to be a nuisance."

Voldemort sighed in thought as he looked upon the pitiful man and whispered. "I used to have sympathy for squibs. However, to be born without Magic, despite magic blood, is believed to be one fate worse than even death."

Neal cried as Voldemort held out his hand, and the Squib kissed it, preying it would spare him from more living memories. Voldemort sighed as his hands enclosed around Neal's face. "However, I've learned the truth. Nothing is worse than death."

Muffled cries filled the night as Voldemort's face contorted with obscene rage. The screams grew louder and louder, and then, with a horrible crunch, they stopped. Voldemort rose to his feet, covered head to toe with spots of blood.

A police siren wailed by but passed as if the cafe was invisible. Voldemort stepped into the wreckage. With his wand, he jabbed one of his fallen ranks' wrists, where a tattoo of a skull eating a snake rested.

Voldemort turned and saw a great snake slide towards him, looking thicker than usual. Voldemort stared at his familiar closely. "I know who she is, Potter's plaything. It seems they are closer than we thought."

The Serpenti said nothing. She didn't even hiss. Instead, she merely stared at her Master. Voldemort nodded his head, a deep frown on his serpentine features. "Yes, it's the strangest thing. I have the funniest feeling that I've seen her before, and so have you, haven't you, Nagini."

Nagini nodded her head, and Voldemort grinned wickedly. "How curious indeed."