A/N: I own nothing but a beautiful black Labrador and my plot bunnies. Welcome back, lovely people! Welcome, new readers! This is a sequel to my story "A Solid Foundation." If you haven't read that one, I strongly suggest you do that. Tones of Grey needs the context provided by it because of original characters and their backstories. If you are too religious, not into politics, or easily offended, neither story is probably for you. Very Non-Canon, several OC. I suggest you listen to Mozart's Lacrimosa or Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings while you read this. Rated M. This one is a bit gory. If you want to skip it and start on Chapter 1, go ahead and wait until that is posted.
Prologue: The Aftermath
Emma Granger was exhausted but full of joy. The wedding, Minister Bagnold's incident aside, had been a success. Her feet were killing her. Even with the cushioning charm that Narcissa had done, she had worn heels for far too many hours. She was in bed with her husband, who was giving her a foot massage.
"Mmm," she sighed.
"Better, love?"
"Much," Emma smiled.
"You know, the queen asked me for a meeting…"
"She did?"
"Yes… I forgot to tell you before. She wants to study the possibility of bringing electricity to Gringotts. She asked me to bring Lily Potter along… to pick her brain, and-" Daniel stopped talking when he heard a crash a few doors down.
Both doctors jumped up but waited. Perhaps it was Nymph. She was remarkably clumsy, and the kids had wanted her to stay overnight.
"Tolanthe?"
"Yes, Mrs. Granger?"
"What was that?"
"Mr. Tonks is here. He feels agitated."
Emma and Daniel frowned and shared a look. "Thank you." They put on their slippers and robes and walked towards the master bedroom.
Far away, in an ancient castle, Minerva McGonagall decided to make herself some tea before she went to bed. Most elves would have already retired to their nests. The grisly sight that welcomed the Headmistress when she returned from Potter Manor after the wedding left her speechless and incapable of moving for a whole minute. She couldn't cry or speak. She tried to inhale, to steady herself, but severe chest pain pierced her. Her fancy dress robes felt too constricting. Later she would think that at some point, she must have made a sound because she fell to her knees, and seconds after that felt slender, shaky arms hold her from behind.
It was a blessing that Andromeda had insisted on accompanying her back to the castle. The Junior Healer could live at Hogwarts, but she preferred to live with her husband. More than ever, the cold stone under Minerva's bruised knees felt like an abandoned structure… like a house of horrors. The Headmistress could not hear herself, but Andromeda felt a cold fear she had never felt before when, as she was just walking away from the dark hallway by the entrance to the kitchen, the Headmistress screamed loudly. The agony, the pain, the horror, and the brokenness in her scream made her brace for a shocking scene, and yet, Andromeda couldn't help but fall to her knees behind the professor when she saw the gruesome kitchen. It was too much.
There were dead elves everywhere. Some were cut down from their throats to their pelvis hung upside down from shackles on their ankles that were dangling from the ceiling. A couple of their organs were hanging down, most missing, their precious hearts, missing. Andromeda felt rivers of tears free fall from her face. Many others lay on the tables or the ovens. Several elves had been forced into the oven and cooked alive while others had been cut apart. There were a few heads mounted on the wall.
Andromeda could feel McGonagall's heart beating erratically through her robe. She forced herself to snap out of her trauma-induced trance. The professor could die. Not on my watch, she thought. She began casting diagnosis spells to stabilize her. Minerva had screamed so loudly and for so long that she couldn't speak. Her raspy voice sounded small, raw, and painful when she suddenly remembered her personal elf. Milli wasn't in the kitchens. Maybe she had survived. "M-My e-elf," she muttered.
"Professor… I really don't think anyone made it out alive… Were there any professors here?"
Minerva shook her head. Everyone was on vacation, except for Hagrid, but whatever happened, he wouldn't have heard. His hut was too far away from the castle, let alone the kitchens. She tried to cast a Patronus to send a message, but she couldn't even form a mist. The headmistress could barely hold her wand because her hands were shaking too much. Andromeda had never learned. She did have a two-way mirror and floo powder. "I'll tell Ted to contact Madam Bones. She has to get here immediately. I'll floo home and I'll-"
"NO!" Minerva yelled again, her throat protesting, as she felt a slightly metallic taste. The professor was terrified. Her eyes were red from crying, snot ran down her nose, her skin was so pale that Andy could have counted veins.
"Okay, I will not leave you, but we need to get help, professor," Andy rubbed the woman's forearms up and down to calm her. "We should not move anything. I'll try my husband on his mirror."
Andromeda muttered something and tapped a small mirror she pulled out from her clutch. After a few seconds, her husband's worried, sleepy face appeared. "What is it? What happened?"
"I-I… it's horrible, love," Andromeda swallowed, her eyes filling with tears again. Her husband jumped off the bed and began to get dressed.
"What do you need? Who should I get?" he asked in fright when he caught a glimpse of a devastated, crying McGonagall covered in blood behind his wife.
"Everyone, you need to get everyone—Madam Bones, The Family, the press, everyone, quickly. But the DMLE first," Andromeda said.
McGonagall attempted to summon her personal elf and shrieked loudly again when what popped in and landed on her lap was her severed head. The elf's eyes were wide in horror with no light in them. Her face was frozen in a terrified grimace. The headmistress fell to the ground and cradled her elf's head against her chest. She cried as she had only cried once before when her beloved husband was murdered. Andromeda gasped.
"Merlin! You need to get them now! Go! I can't leave her…"
Edward pocketed the mirror, put on his shoes, and ran to the floo. It was a good thing Tonks had stayed at Potter Manor because the noise he made running down the stairs would have woken her up. He took his rifle from the mantle on the chimney and clearly called "Ministry for Magic!"
No one was there, apparently, and the floo was closed with metal bars. Damn it. "House of Bones," he yelled with less certainty. He was behind a new set of bars. He saw a discarded robe and shoes—no time to worry about scaring people.
"Help! Madam Bones! Help!"
Soon enough, two elves were pointing their knives at him, and two Aurors paralyzed him.
"Mr. Tonks?" Amelia asked, motioning for the officers to release him. "What happened?"
"Something terrible happened in Hogwarts," he explained, averting his eyes as he noticed Madam Bones was wearing a long nightie that was a bit sheer.
"What do you mean something?" Amelia took the discarded house robe and put it on. She wasn't happy at being pulled out of bed after the day she had.
"Look, I just saw Minerva McGonagall screaming and crying, and there was blood everywhere!" Edward replied with an angry frown. Madam Bones' eyes widened in shock. One of the Aurors gasped. For something to make a war hero do that… it must be a nightmare. "Look, I don't know what happened, but it must have been terrible. They asked me to get everyone, but first, I needed to get you. There was a crime for sure."
"Understood. Officers, Mr. Tonks, turn around," Amelia summoned her combat clothes and changed right there, using magic, of course. "You," she motioned, "Go get backup. At least 5 of our best. You two come with us."
"I'm going to get the Potters. We will meet you there. Do not question them without me. I am their lawyer," he stepped back into the fireplace, threw powder, and said, "Potter Manor."
Dorea smiled to herself as she brushed her hair and removed her makeup. The wedding had been beautiful. A bit too goblinsy… and with a few disgusting unwanted guests, but still. Her boys were married. Lily and James could barely stop talking about it from their painting. Charlus' hands squeezed her shoulders gently.
"Love, I've been thinking we should plan a vacation with everyone. Maybe escape the snow from Christmas time and go visit Potter Island. It's been a while…"
"Of course, but we need to visit first for repairs and such, you know… perhaps the Grangers can-"
A loud crashing sound outside their room and they jumped, turning around with their wands in front of them.
"Who is there?"
"Sorry, it's me, Edward Tonks… I tripped. Open up!" he said with an urgent tone. Nymphadora had inherited her clumsiness from him.
Charlus did a quick succession of spells to make sure then opened the door. "What's wrong?"
"Andy told me to get everyone. Something bad happened at Hogwarts."
"How bad?"
"From what I saw, sir? It's a shitshow. There's blood everywhere. Both McGonagall and my wife were terrified. They had clearly been crying. We have to go right away."
Charlus summoned Neesy. "Sorry for the time, Neesy. Get all the adults, quietly, out of bed and into the living room. Dress them in combat wear. We are going to Hogwarts. Get the priest to watch the kids."
Dorea opened the door to find the Grangers picking up the decorative pillar that Ed had taken down. She waved her wand and changed their clothes. Both doctors jumped. The matriarch had changed into her dragonhide clothes as well and called Tolanthe to take them all downstairs. Soon enough, all other sleepy adults were alert and dressed, albeit confused. Dorea began: "We need to go to Hogwarts. Minerva needs us. Ed came to warn us. He has already contacted the authorities."
"Is she hurt?" Emma asked, fixing her gun to her holster.
"We don't know," Charlus said.
"Should I get masters Doggie and Moony, master?" Neesy asked, doubtful.
Charlus and Dorea shared a look and nodded to each other.
"No, Neesy. We will tell them after their honeymoon. There is no point in interrupting their wedding night."
"Neesy, please go get Augusta. Tell her to meet us at Hogwarts," Charlus asked. He looked at his wife, "If we don't tell her, she'll get furious."
Dorea nodded. She looked at the priest who seemed conflicted, and at Eileen, who didn't seem too keen on returning to Hogwarts. She had spent many years, in a way, trapped by Dumbledore too. Dorea couldn't blame her, so she nodded at the woman discretely.
Eileen said, "I'll stay with the priest and the children."
Snape seemed relieved to know she wasn't coming. If something had terrified McGonagall, it had to be awful. He summoned a kit of vials he had previously prepared. He had placed one in Potter Manor, one in Longbottom Manor, and he had another one in his place. The kit had calming draughts, dreamless potions, antidotes to common poisons (and to uncommon poisons), Berufio's Brain Elixir, Blood Replenishing Potion, Grand Pepper Up Potion, Murtlap Essence, and Veritaserum for good measure.
They ran down the darkened castle hallway towards the kitchen. Two burly Aurors stopped them.
"We can't let you in."
"My name is Charlus Potter. The women inside are under the protection of my House," Charlus said.
"I am sorry, Lord Potter, but even then, you cannot go in there. Trust me, you don't want to. I have been in the force for ten years. I have never seen anything so horrible. Please stay here. The department is collecting evidence."
Charlus frowned. "I understand, but you have to let us through. They need our support," the man looked meaningfully at the walls of the hallway, and The Family noticed the bloody drag marks of fingers.
"It's policy, sir. I suggest you wait patiently. They will be out soon. They are providing testimony."
"Excuse you?! They are not providing testimony! I told Madam Bones not to question them without me present! I'm their lawyer, damn it! Let me through, or I will have you suspended for this!" Edward pushed the Auror away after shoving his official Ministry ID under the man's nose, and he went into the kitchen. His wife flew into his arms. She was cold and shaking like a leaf. Her hair had obscured his vision, but as soon as it moved, he felt his very soul get cold. Not from fear. He wanted revenge with every cell in his body. Whoever did this deserved death by scaphism*.
Seeing professor McGonagall look so broken while still holding a severed head to her chest pierced through him. The woman was a rock, but this had broken her. Minerva kept rocking back and forth. Her eyes were vacant. Tears didn't stop falling. She kept whispering, "Milli, Milli, Milli… I'm s-sorry."
Amelia tried to interrogate her, but the headmistress didn't even register that she was being spoken to.
"Madam Bones, respectfully, my client is in no state to answer your questions. She needs to be looked over by a Healer, and so does my wife," Edward looked at Amelia meaningfully.
The head of the DMLE was pale, and her eyes were a bit red. "W-We need to get them out of here for that. Minerva, please, let her go so we can-"
"NOOOOOOOO!" Minerva screamed in an even more broken voice as she held Milli's head tighter.
When they heard McGonagall scream, The Family ran to the kitchen beside the Aurors in case things got even more violent. Professor McGonagall had taught most of them and saved their asses more than once in the last war. Heaven help them if she got furious and lost control of her core! Things were terrible, but they could get worse.
"Mother of God!" Emma gasped, as she ran in, one of her feet slid forward on something wet, and she almost fell. The smell of burnt skin and something else hit her, and she looked at the ovens and gasped. From the small window, she could see two elf corpses hugging each other. They had been burned alive. Daniel barely managed to react and hold her up. His eyes wide and his heart constricted. How many were there? One hundred? Two hundred? Were there any more dead elves around the castle? Elves' blood smelled different. There was a sweetness to it. He was sure it was a smell he would not forget.
Charlus and Dorea stopped dead on their tracks when they saw the gory mess. Her hands covered her mouth. He bent over, hands on his knees. He felt as if he had been punched harshly on the gut. He wanted to throw up. Augusta held on to her cane so tightly that her knuckles were white. She felt her knees were about to give out. It was too much. Severus and Narcissa stood rooted in the doorway with their mouths hanging open. Narcissa moved only to hold Lady Longbottom when he saw her sway. Snape was glad his mom stayed behind. No one should have to see this. Ianthe ran out of the kitchen as fast as she had run in so she could throw up. The horror, the blood, the cruelty, the evilness of it all was too much.
Minerva seemed hollow, and her eyes were far away. Emma heard her anguished sob, and immediately, her mind forced itself to calm down and help the woman. It is a good thing that her medical training prepared her to focus in situations like this. "Minnie, I am so sorry," the doctor said, pushing Amelia away, kneeling in front of the professor, and hugging both the woman and the elf's head. Discreetly, she had started to take the woman's pulse. It was erratic and troubling. "Please let me look you over."
The woman shook her head. She didn't care anymore. "I-I'm f-fine," she said in a voice that was a bit more than a whisper.
"Honey, you are not fine. You can slap me, curse me, yell at me, or whatever, but you need to get out of here, and I need to check your vitals. Your pulse is erratic. You can have a heart attack."
"B-But M-Milli-"
"Will be treated with the utmost respect and care, okay?" the doctor turned to Amelia and squinted her eyes "as will all other elves…" Amelia nodded, taken aback. "Come with me," Emma caressed Minerva's hair. Her bun was partially undone, and parts of her hair were caked with blood. Daniel went down on his knees beside his wife. He took Milli's head slowly and carefully and wrapped his overcoat around it.
"H-Her body?" McGonagall looked at Madam Bones in a clear question.
"We will recover it. You have my word."
It took a mild sedative that the Grangers had brought with them in injection form to calm McGonagall's heart. Additionally, she had a calming draught Snape gave her, which succeeded in that she finally stopped shaking. Her spirit was a different story. They eventually found Milli's body, spread eagle, in front of the stained-glass window behind the headmistress' desk. The Headmistress had Amelia call a meeting at the Wizengamot. The consequences of this had to be severe for whoever did this. Minerva was certain it had been Dumbledore. This was too personal, too angry, too uncontrolled.
Minerva was taken to Potter manor after Poppy, who had been called in, tended to her and Andy. Emma didn't even ask the stern woman. She just pulled her towards the point where they would apparate back. At the manor, Daniel lifted the woman up in his arms, without a care for how she was covered in blood. Yes, she could be levitated, but she needed physical contact to keep her grounded. Emma went with them to a guest room.
"Minerva, I will be guarding your room right outside. If you need anything, scream and I will come in shooting, okay?" he kissed the woman's forehead. She nodded weakly.
Emma pulled Minerva to the bathroom, where the professor asked the doctor to leave. Emma stepped out against her will. Minnie should not be alone. A few minutes later, she heard the water running and then the telltale signs of a person crying and some struggle. She came in to find the professor wearing nothing but the thin slip she had worn under her dress robe. It was probably a pale beige originally, but it had absorbed blood and Minerva was scrubbing her body furiously, trying to get rid of the blood, but there was so much of it.
Emma carefully took off her shoes and coat and got in the shower with the woman, holding her wrinkled hands to stop her. Her skin was now raw from all the forceful scrubbing. The brave professor looked like a scared, desperate child who wanted to scream anew, but her vocal cords wouldn't cooperate. The doctor carefully undid the woman's hair and applied a generous amount of conditioner so that the dry blood would soften. She did the same with the woman's feet, legs, and arms. Then, she took a soft, small towel and began cleaning the older woman's skin. Once her body was looking and smelling clean, Emma called Tolanthe with her mind. She was happy that it worked. She needed help from another woman. Soon enough, Narcissa was there, holding up a clean set of pajamas, soft slippers, and a pair of scissors. Dorea was in the bedroom holding a tray with several oils, creams, and other comfort items to help her friend sleep.
The professor had looked at the scissors with a frown, but Emma turned her around while Narcissa covered her with a towel. Then, the doctor cut off the now cleaner, soaking wet slip. She was sure Minerva would not miss it. They helped her dress and dry her long hair without a word. After that, each woman took one of her arms and walked her to the bed. The covers had been moved away. The bed was cool, clean, big, and comfortable. Dorea offered her several oils and the professor chose lavender, so Lady Potter applied a few drops of it into a moisturizer and began applying it to Minerva's body. Augusta came in with a tray holding tea and a vial of dreamless potion. This was sorority in action.
McGonagall just let them do what they wanted. She had nothing in her for any reaction. She had the tea and the potion, Dorea and Augusta helped her get under the covers, and Narcissa and Emma left quietly. When her friends were about to leave, Minerva asked them to stay, so they too, without a word, summoned pajamas, got into the bed, and the three fell asleep holding hands. No one needed or wanted a thank you. But Minerva was eternally grateful to all of them. She would have been lost that night if she had been alone.
Unsurprisingly, the meeting at the Wizengamot had been postponed. Amelia believed, and rightfully so with what had just happened with Minister Bagnold, who was killed by the Queen of Goblins in self-defense, the DMLE couldn't add insult to injury by adding mass murder of creatures at Hogwarts. They needed to turn public opinion against the minister first, to avoid a second goblins versus humans war. The wizarding world was barely starting to recover after the past war. The Potters had personally decided to pay for the cleanup of the kitchens, but once they tactfully told elves at the manor what had happened, they insisted on cleaning up themselves. This way, they could do it according to their customs. There weren't millions of elves in England. Most elves knew one another, at least in passing. Some were even distant relatives.
Minerva decided to take a leap year after the Grangers insisted for her to get a medical checkup, and there were several issues with her health. She began working with a therapist who was a squib so she could understand the magical side of the issue. Madam Pomfrey had recommended her, and so far, it had been a blessing. It took months for the nightmares to stop plaguing her. She couldn't sleep at Hogwarts. Albus had put Milli's heart on Minerva's bed. The sight of that dark day affected her so that she refused to bond with another elf for years. Charlus and Dorea had asked her to help them restore Potter Island so she would have something to keep her busy. Minerva wasn't right when she was idle.
While she was gone, Professor Flitwick was assigned as Deputy Headmaster to the irk of pureblood supremacists, who found the choice quite unseemly. He was probably three times the duelist any of them could ever be, but he didn't look the way they would prefer. It didn't matter that he had taught many of those bigots. They clearly didn't learn enough. He would continuously receive anonymous hate mail. He kept working with the DMLE to try and improve the security in the castle. However, wizards and witches were stuck in a time with no electricity and technology, so little to nothing was truly changed. There had been fences put around the Forbidden Forest, which upset the creatures living there. A professor had to be at the lake during all long breaks to prevent any drownings. But other than that, things remained pretty much the same.
Remus and Sirius had been furious when they found out what had happened and that been left out. They had enjoyed their honeymoon immensely, but when they saw the state of McGonagall, they felt very guilty. They spent the rest of the year trying to cheer her up. And they were a bit successful. Little by little, she seemed less withdrawn, less jumpy, less sad. As sadness gave way, though, she became obsessed with revenge. She would behead Albus Dumbledore herself if it was the last thing she did. She began researching obscure rituals and decided that to reach the next level of her core, she had to create a coven. So far, she had rounded up four witches. She needed more. She was aiming for seven at the least, but thirteen was the ideal number.
Once the new interim Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was appointed, The Quibbler posted an extensive number titled Massacre at Hogwarts. The title was an express request from Professor McGonagall. She wanted those blood purists to feel the closeness of death to where their children studied. That way, they would perhaps be a bit less cold. It worked in getting them to push for her not to return as headmistress. She didn't mind at that point. She needed to heal… and to plot. With the money Lily and James left her, she could begin to finance her plans. Dorea was backing her up both politically and financially. If anyone in the Wizengamot dared to try and stop Minerva, the alliance had decided to back her up with their significant political support that would sway indecisive lower houses to vote their way.
The Family had decided to turn the ballroom into an indoor training space. Half of it was for magical training, and the other half was for physical endurance done the muggle way. The dining room would double as a situation room where they would draft bills, discuss their strategies, and, if it came to it, mourn. Charlus and Dorea had decided that they needed to build a medical area in their property, akin to a private clinic that would mix both muggle and magic techniques and join them to improve the quality of health care. Their own recovery had taken quite some time. They had lost significant muscle mass, and at their age, recovering it was a slow, painful process.
The adults had decided to hire a couple of young squibs to help teach the young wizards and witches about the world outside of the magical realm. By the time the family's kids received their Hogwarts letters, they had significant amounts of knowledge in subjects such as history, mathematics, science, and both modern languages and Latin. They were taught by the adults' example that they were expected to do their best always, and little by little, all the grownups had adoptive nieces and nephews that they doted on. This, in turn, helped the children feel less scared and uncertain about their future. Their years before Hogwarts were filled with playing, learning, and bonding.
Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville were bursting at the seams with excitement by the time August came to an end. They were happy and a bit anxious. Luna was sad that she would have to wait a bit longer to go study with her friends. She had friends. Actual humans who liked her and respected all her quirks. Neville was still uncertain if he would get a letter. His mom had actually squeezed his hand when he went in to tell her. The Longbottoms were improving very slowly. By now, they could blink once for yes and twice for no. They could also stand and take some steps. But this was the first time Alice had managed to voluntarily squeeze her son's hand and actually give him something akin to a smile. Neville was over the moon.
The children asked their parents to let them all have a sleepover at Potter Manor so they could wait for the letter together. Early that morning, they were awakened by owls pecking at the windows to be let in. There were only three owls. Neville sat down dejectedly. He was sure that the letter who didn't come was his.
Emma saw Alice tearing up. It must be so hard not to be able to comfort your son. The doctor sat down next to him and hugged him tightly.
"I knew it…" he whispered, using the back of his wrist to dry up his eyes.
"There must be a mistake, sweetheart. Filius told us your name was on the book and-"
Draco and Hermione were speaking in rapid whispers while they read the envelopes when Draco jumped with joy, "Emma!"
"What is it?"
"Neville!" Draco did a little dance.
The boy looked up in confusion with thick tears rolling down his cheeks.
"This is yours! Harry and Hermione share one letter since they are bonded and stuff," Draco smiled, offering the letter.
"Seriously?!" Neville's heart was beating like crazy.
"Yes, here, read it!"
Augusta sighed in relief from the next room. She dabbed her own tears away and composed herself to go congratulate her grandson. Neville was running around the room, waving the letter around.
"What do you say, kids? Dance party?" Sirius said, stepping into the room, holding hands with his husband. They nodded enthusiastically. Remus turned on a radio that was in the corner of the room and they danced. Emma and Augusta made sure to include Alice and Frank by pushing their wheelchairs so they could dance.
"Isn't this lovely?" Dorea beamed with a sigh. She was standing by the door next to Lily and James' portrait.
"Shall we dance?" Charlus rested his chin on her shoulder and swayed her to the music.
Daniel and Emma twirled their kids around. If anyone had told the Grangers that this moment was where they would be a little over five years after picking up a frail child and a stray dog, they would have thought them insane. Draco had jumped into both Narcissa's and Severus' arms. Father Martin had sent an early congratulatory letter for Draco, which he read with a watery smile. He missed the priest. He had promised to visit during Christmas break.
That night the family cooked up a homemade pizza fest with elves and goblins in attendance. They would go purchase school supplies that weekend. Once everyone was in their beds, they slept with a calming sense of accomplishment. Things were well, and they would stay well.
Unbeknownst to the occupants at Potter Manor, a few countries away, two wicked men and their servants were preparing things so that it would be a year that The Family would definitely remember, but that would live in infamy. Once The Past and The Present had obtained what they were after for this year, nothing would be able to stop their takeover.
A/N: Thank you for reading. A few notes that you may… or may not want to read. Sorry in advance. -Lux-
*Scaphism was a torture method also known as "the boats" that originated in the Persian Empire. It was designed to cause as much pain and discomfort as possible for as long as the victim remained alive. It was reserved only for people guilty of the worst crimes (like murder and treason). The person would be trapped in the space between two small boats or two hollowed-out tree trunks. For it to work, it had to take place in a swamp or somewhere where the trapped people could lie exposed to the sun. Their head, hands, and would remain outside. The person in charge would feed the person a mixture of milk and honey, forcing them to swallow, so the mixture dripped everywhere: their eyes, face, and neck. This same mixture was then spread all over the exposed body parts, and the idea was that it would attract every insect, vermin, and wild animal in the area. Soon enough, flies and rats, for instance, would show up and start attacking the victim, eating the mixture of milk and honey, but also eating the person alive along the process.