Chapter 7
Daphne felt blissful as she sniffed another flower. She was at her favorite spot in the world; the backyard garden at the Greengrass Manor. No one bothered Daphne here, not even Astoria. Daphne began walking down the paved path until she got to her favorite spot, at the end of the garden was huge cliff that overlooked the sea below it. Daphne sat on the edge watching as the waves crashed below; she could stay here for hours.
"There's my little queen!"
Daphne turned around to see her mother coming down the path, two house-elves following behind her.
"Mom, I'M NOT LITTLE." Daphne said as she got up to hug her.
"You'll always be little to me!" She said as she held Daphne tightly.
Daphne felt overwhelmed with joy; she couldn't remember when she had been this happy.
"You are getting married soon, you shouldn't be hiding. Everyone is looking for you! You shouldn't keep everyone waiting on your big day." Her mother said.
Daphne smiled, "I'll be there soon. I love you mom."
"Are you nervous?" Her mother asked.
"No, today...feels like the happiest day of my life." Daphne replied.
"It's good to see you happy, now if only your sister was in a better mood."
"Astoria is a pest," Daphne smirked.
"I know how much she gets on your nerves, but she's your sister. Family is everything; don't forget that." Her mother wisely said.
Daphne turned back to the cliff, "I won't, she's a pest, but she's my pest." Daphne smiled.
Her mom laughed, "That's right," with a quick kiss on Daphne's cheek, she turned to leave, "Don't be too long!"
Daphne stared out toward the horizon for about another ten minutes before turning back toward the estate. As she left the garden and entered the house, she was met with a mixture of her favorite aromas, all pleasantly reminding her that she was getting married to the love of her life today.
"Damn, you look beautiful!"
Daphne turned her head to see her fiancee Theodore Nott, descending down the stairs.
"I was hoping for Gilderoy Lockhart, but I guess you're not so bad," Daphne said as she kissed Nott on the cheek.
"That hurt more than you know, but I'm sure we have tons of time for you to make it up to me!" Theodore pointed to a clock on the wall, "Well, we better get going; Purebloods hate waiting especially my family."
Daphne's mom burst from the room, "You two lovebirds, let's go!"
Daphne grinned, "I guess it's time."
Daphne made her way to the front yard where tons of guest were looking as she and Theodore made their way down to an aisle. The entire yard was littered with guest and elegant decorations littered with the Greengrass colors and symbols. Was this really happening? Before she could finish her thought, there was a loud scream from behind her. Daphne turned her head to see people pointing next to her, Daphne looked over and saw Theodore kneeled over, blood pouring from his body. Daphne fell to the ground beside him, she didn't know what to do. As he bled out, he grabbed her, covering her white dress with blood. Daphne began to cry as she watched his life fade away. There was another explosion that came from inside the house.
"Daphne, we need to go now!"As her mother yelled this, her body exploded into pieces, spraying Daphne and the surrounding areas with blood. Daphne began to sob, laying across Theodore's body.
"It's over for you, Greengrass. Your entire family will be wiped out." Daphne stared up, wiping away the tears as Harry Potter bent down in front of her; an evil grin situated on his face. He let his hand rub her cheek slightly.
"You can end your pain and suffering. Perform the Avada kedavra on yourself and it'll be all over. You can be with your Mom, Theodore, and your grandparents. Don't you miss them? If I have to do it, it will be a lot more painful."
Daphne felt compelled to take her wand out; she could be with everyone who was gone.
"That's it. You know the words, it'll be over before you know it. Just let it go." Harry suggested.
Daphne looked up at Harry. This couldn't be real?
"This isn't real...it can't be," Daphne whispered to herself as she looked at Theodore and pieces of her mom. Daphne pointed the wand at Harry.
"Do you have the courage to kill me, Greengrass?" Harry asked.
She wanted her mouth to move, to say the words, but they wouldn't move. Daphne lowered her wand as she looked around her, there were bodies littered everywhere; both her sister and her dad were laying the ground, lifeless.
"You purebloods are all the same...weak, " Harry hissed.
"I...won't... I won't do it," she said as tears continued to flow. Daphne looked up at Harry, "I won't do it,"
"I'll make you change your mind, then. Crucio." Harry said venomously, while he pointed his wand and fired the spell.
Daphne began to scream out from the top of her lungs as pain enveloped her entire body. Everything part of her body felt like it was being both stabbed and burned at the same time. After what seemed liked hours, the pain went away.
"How about now?"
Daphne could no longer move her lips, she could no longer even remember who she was, but she knew one thing. She knew she couldn't give up. She wouldn't.
"Never," Daphne said.
Daphne shot up like a rocket, vomiting on herself; she felt disoriented as her surroundings became clear.
"Madam Pomfrey, she's up!" a familiar voice yelled
"Is-is this another sick dream?" Daphne said weakly as she pushed the vomit-covered covers off of herself. A flood of memories began coming back; every vision felt endless, and every vision was in some way more evil than the last.
"Daphne-
"I can't...I can't do this anymore," Daphne whispered as she began crying
She felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder, "It's okay...it's over now, Daphne."
Harry leaned back against the carriage seats, it felt good to be out of the castle for once. Draco and Blaise followed after him. It had been a week since the Halloween slaying, as others started referring to it, and even though Harry's name had been cleared he knew people still blamed him for what had happened.
"We know there are more students under the imperious curse around the school, but we are still flat on any leads." Blaise said as he stared out of the carriage, "People aren't as willing to talk as they used to be."
"We're not even sure if this was done by anyone here. The Dark Lord could have done it before the start of the term. It's impossible finding out information. I would ask my father but...you know," Draco said as he twiddled with his fingers.
"It doesn't matter, someone in Hogwarts is doing Tom Riddle's bidding, whether cursed or not, it's still happening." Harry said, "We need to keep tabs on every pureblood...even the ones we wouldn't normally."
"Speaking of the imperius curse, I've been researching whether or not there's any way to counteract or at least show the imperius spell. There's a couple of outdated and complicated potions that could help but nothing really overt, but it wouldn't be an unforgivable if it had a counter." Blaise said as he looked over at Harry.
"It doesn't matter, we need to focus on the possibility; we need to look at the information we have." Harry said impatiently, "Focus on the purebloods, every single one...even Pansy. Blaise, the only sure-fire way to beat it is through sheer will, and if we can help someone get from under the spell then they'll likely know how something to help us."
"If it's from a student then the spell shouldn't be that strong, but if it's from the Dark Lord, it's impossible," Blaise said as the carriage stopped.
Draco opened the door of the carriage, climbing out first, "I really just need a drink,"
Harry grinned as he pulled a hood over his head; he wouldn't mind one either.
"Dumbledore will know the answer right?" Draco said as Blaise got out of the carriage.
"Maybe," Harry replied, "Let's go find out."
Aurors were littered across the little town of Hogsmeade, carefully examining everyone who had passed them. Harry kept his head down as they passed through the more populated shops of Hogsmeade before arriving at a more shady section of the town where Hog's head was located. As they entered, a mixture of both pleasant and unpleasant smells hit him. Aberforth was standing behind the bar, hooded as he made eyes with Harry.
Draco and Blaise grabbed a table while Harry quietly made his way to Aberforth's office. Aberforth followed behind him locking the door before pulling out his wand and putting up several enchantments. Aberforth then pointed his wand at Harry.
"What did I tell you the night Voldemort came back?"
"Get ready kid, things are about to get a hell of a lot more difficult," Harry said as he sat in one of the chairs.
Aberforth put his wand away before pulling off his hood, "I will be damned if that hasn't been true!"
Aberforth went and plumped himself down into a chair across from him, bringing a flask out of his pocket to take a deep gulp of it, liquid spilled onto his dirty beard and robe as he pushed his head back to finish the drink. Finally, he slammed the flask down onto the wooden desk, burping as he used his sleeves to wipe away the liquid from his face.
As soon as he finished, there was loud pop in the office as Dumbledore appeared next to Harry.
"What took you so long?" Aberforth asked impatiently.
Dumbledore turned to look at the portrait of his sister that hung on the wall. Harry was familiar with the incident that caused her death and the unending rift between the two brothers since that day. It always reminded him how human they both were and how much it had shaped them both.
Dumbledore turned back toward Aberforth who had pulled another flask from his desk.
"My apologies Aberforth, I would offer you some sweets, but I don't think candy is what you want," Dumbledore said as he sat down. He turned toward Harry, "I apologize to you, Harry, as well. I'm sure it's been a difficult and sudden week for you. Now, I'm sure we have much to discuss."
"Now that you've left both the ministry and Hogwarts to rot, what's your master plan?" Aberforth asked as he took a swig of the new flask.
"I've spoken with Severus. His time talking with Mrs. Lestrange has led him to believe that a horcrux, the Hufflepuff Cup, is located in her vault," Dumbledore said.
"You still continue to trust that sniveling piece of shit," Aberforth said loudly.
"Yes, I do."
"Then you're more of a bloody fool than I thought, " Aberforth countered.
Harry had to agree. He did not trust and would never trust Severus Snape, not after finding out he was sole reason his parents were dead. Although he was appreciative of Snape teaching him Occlumency, Harry would never see Snape as anything more than a backstabber.
"Even if he was right, it doesn't matter, there's no way get the hufflepuff cup without Voldemort finding out about it." Harry said, "Any plans to break into the most secure place in all of magical Britain is foolish."
"You are right, Harry, that would be foolish indeed. However, Rodolphus Lestrange and a group of death eaters will be visiting the McLaggen family to coerce them into pledging their support for Voldemort. Fortunately, the order along with Aberforth and I will be there to surprise them."
Harry began putting together the pieces, "You're planning to use the imperius curse on him."
"He and a few other death eaters will escape the battle under the effects of the curse. "
There was a silence, the only noise coming from the liquid in Aberforth's flask being swished around the container as he continued to drink from it, Harry finally broke the silence, "It's too risky. If someone gets away then everything we're doing is comprised. "
"Rest assured, boy, I'm not letting any of those goat shits get away," Aberforth said as slammed his flask down, allowing the liquid to splash all over his desk. "But does any of this matter, if we still lose this fucking war?"
Aberforth stood up hovering directly over Dumbledore, "Everything I hear sounds damn good, but when it comes to the actual war, we don't have the wizards or the resources to fight. Once he has control of the ministry and Hogwarts, he will be unstoppable, and we've done next to shit to do anything about it."
"I have it under control, Aberforth," Dumbledore said calmly.
Aberforth glared at Dumbledore, "Just like you had the first war under control? We would have lost if not for whatever the fuck happened that Halloween night. "
"Aberforth, enough-
"All my life, people have put you on a pedestal, thinking that you can do no wrong. Hell, they would drink your shit if you said it cured spattergroit...but they don't know the real you." Aberforth pointed at the portrait of Arianna, "She knew...the real you. I know the real you-
Harry could simply watch the exchange between the two brothers, he felt like an intruder on the years of tension that had been built between both.
"-Aberforth, Listen to me-
"-No, Albus, you listen to me," Aberforth yelled, slamming his fist against the desk. "You don't have what it takes to lead in war; you don't have this under control. You do nothing but stall and hide….just like with your old lover...Grindelwald. You fought him because you had too, not because you wanted too, and you didn't even have the nerve to slit his fucking throat...even after everything that bastard did. "
"Aberforth...I'm sorry. I know it hurts you to think that I don't remember that day, but I do...I will never forget what happened that day. It's something that haunts me every day...just like it haunts you," Dumbledore slowly pulled out his right hand, showcasing the black and withered parts of it. "I couldn't contain myself...There it was, in my grasp, the resurrection stone and at that moment, I wanted to do nothing more than to see them again...our family, to beg for forgiveness...to let her know how much I love her...but I was foolish and because of it I will be dead before the summer is out."
There were tears streaming from Dumbledore's sorrowful face as Aberforth fell back into his wooden chair with a with a loud thud, Harry was sure the chair would break, but it didn't. Aberforth picked up his flask, bringing it to his lips to take a long sip, finally, he put the flask down, "If you expect me to cry, I won't."
"It's quite alright, but you need to know that it's not because I'm selfish. Not killing Grindelwald was the most difficult decision I've ever made, but killing him would not absolve me of the wickedness that I sought penance for, and his death would be too easy of an escape from all the evil he had done. We both were doomed to remember the sins we had committed. "
There was a very long silence. As both Albus and Aberforth sat quietly, reflecting on their conversation. Harry could do nothing but observe the two. Finally, Aberforth glanced at Harry, a look of recognition found his face.
Aberforth took a deep forced breath, "The point is...it doesn't matter how many horcruxes we destroy or anything else for that matter, we need to be better prepared; we need to more resources to actually fight this war."
"My priorities are to make sure Harry can fight Voldemort when the time comes, but you have to trust me, I will not leave the order without the necessary resources," Dumbledore said as he got up. "I will see you tonight, Aberforth. Harry, be cautious and I'm sorry that we didn't get much of a chance to talk, but we will soon enough."
Dumbledore took out his wand and with a simple wave and a pop, he was gone.
"Damn it," Harry said in frustration, realizing he had not actually gotten any of the answers he had come to hear.
Aberforth finished the last of swig of his flask before looking at Harry, "Sorry, you had to listen to that,"
"It was needed," Harry said as he got up. "Good luck tonight, I'll see you later."
Harry opened the door, going to the table where his two friends were sitting. Draco had his head down with what maybe was fifteen empty glasses in front of him. Blaise, who was trying to force down another glass, had significantly less than that.
" 'Arry Pot maker, You-you're finally back... We...uh...drink- contest," Blaise stammered as he put down the glass.
Harry rubbed his temple; the thought of getting drinks now made him want to vomit.
Lucius Malfoy was stressed. He hadn't expected the Dark Lord to return, but he had. With him, came some gentleman named Tom Riddle, who the Dark Lord trusted completely. There was the assembly of the elite formed, which Lucius had not been invited onto. He was no longer worthy of answering to the Dark Lord, only to Tom Riddle who had been put in charge of the regular deatheater forces. None of that mattered though, Lucius was going to get onto the elite, one way or another. His family would be well-off in the new world that the Dark Lord was building. Lucius opened the door to his manor, he had been at the ministry all day, bribing and manipulating those who could the W.A.A act passed, the one thing Tom Riddle asked of Lucius, with a promise of an elite position. As he opened the door, his blood ran cold as he noticed his wife laying on the floor.
Lucius ran to her, kneeling down to pick her head up from the cold ground.
"DOBBY," He yelled frantically as he began to check over Narcissa to see where she had been injured.
"Lucius, What took you so long?"
Lucius looked up to see a robed figure walking towards him, his smile big, and instantly he knew who he was in front of, an elite member.
"By the way, she's alive; I just didn't want her to interrupt our conversation," The robed figure said.
Lucius wiped away the tears and his whole body was shaking as he got up to face the robed figure. The elite member was smiling at him in an unsettling way, one that made Lucius want to run. One of the most unsettling aspects were his blue eyes, they had such a bright glow to them that you couldn't help but be enticed by them.
"I'm just here to relay a message! My name is Light, and I'm sure you know where I'm from." Light said as he moved to lean against the nearest wall.
"What does my Lord ask of me?"
"He wants your son to capture Harry Potter as undeniable proof of his loyalty before the second term is over." Light said smiling. "It's that simple. Once that's done, he shall reward you highly, and he will know without a doubt your family is as loyal as you say they are. "
Lucius nodded in compliance. The truth was he hadn't talked to his son since he had threatened to disown Draco due to his son's refusal to take the dark mark, a decision that had almost threatened the very lives of their family. However, Lucius was able to get out of it by convincing Tom Riddle that Draco was better as a spy which would be more helpful.
"M-my son and I...we're not exactly speaking anymore."
"If he doesn't comply then put him under the imperius curse, you are no stranger to that," Light's smile faded. "If this isn't done, I will kill your fucking family, starting with your son to the last house-elf, then I will end your misery."
Lucius fell to the ground, his legs unable to hold him up anymore.
Light let out a hearty laugh, "You shouldn't have anything to worry about! Your family is incredibly loyal to the Dark Lord, and he will reward you for your continued obedience to him!"
Light began walking toward him, stopping once he got in front of Lucius, "Don't tell anyone about this, not even your wife. I've already oblivated her memory... she simply took a nap before you got home… I'm so hungry right now."
Light gave Lucius a pat on his shoulder before disappearing with a pat. Lucius didn't know how long he stayed on the ground, but after a long while, he began weeping as he curled up into a ball.
Thanks to my beta, Haphne24