Author's Note: The Vote is in! I'm sorry to those who voted for just Harry and Hermione. But as I said I was unable to decide as both routes I had planned had many merits, so I left it up to you. For a while it seemed that the poly relationship would just crush the harry/hermione one flat in the voting, but it rallied somewhat. Not enough before the end of voting however. That said, I PROMISE to approach this task as seriously and tastefully as it is possible for me to manage. I have no intent to turn this into a sophomoric Harem/orgy/rompfest like some many of the others that litter this site.
Very well, now it's on with the show. I'll likely put out an edited version of this later just so you know. But it may be a while. Editing makes my brain bleed in anguish and my Betas are fairly busy with their own lives, or just sick and tired of my waffling and gadding about.
—-
Chapter 29: Gathering clouds
Upon looking back at it, Harry had determined that on the whole he spent more time in courtrooms than any respectable person his age probably should. Harry didn't like courtrooms particularly those at the Ministry of Magic, not that it was saying much. He suspected even lawyers and judges didn't really like courtrooms.
Technically speaking he'd only been in a courtroom twice prior, he didn't really count the times he'd either directly or indirectly been present for the purpose of viewing the proceedings.
He still had to fight a scowl when he was forced to think back on that farce which had been his first trial back in the original fifth year. Still, at least the second shot at it had gone decidedly better.
Part of his distaste for it likely came from the oppressive atmosphere the ministry courtrooms seemed to cultivate. The defendant, or petitioner always sat before the judges in the centre of the dimly lit room, surrounded on all sides by the judges and jury. That was wizards though, they always liked you to know they had you beat. The average wizard preferred to come at you with superior numbers, from all sides, when you weren't expecting it. Well, that was when they weren't bat-shite crazy like Bellatrix who just liked to pop in long enough to curse your face off before running away cackling like mad.
On this day, Harry, Hermione, Kara and Luna were seated in the prosecutions witness seating off to the side. From what the prosecuting attorney had said, it sounded like they weren't even sure if they truly needed them to hang Nott and the others out to dry.
He and Kara sat on either side of Luna, Kara with an arm wrapped around her shoulders, while he held one of her hands. Sadly Little Moon had been unable to attend todays proceedings to comfort her mistress.
Hermione squeezed his other hand encouragingly before releasing it again, she'd been really good about all this. Not many girls would have reacted as well as she had. Having her newly minted boyfriend lavish this much attention of another girl. But she understood, just how badly Luna needed it.
As for Luna, she'd been increasingly…uncomfortable the last couple days. Alternating between her usual vacant defence and being tense and alert.
The one other bright spot in the activities leading up to all of this, was that the prosecution had ensured it wouldn't be necessary to display Luna's memories in front of her. The judges had already viewed the memories, and the defendants would be questioned under Veritaserum.
It was of little comfort to Luna who now had to endure once again being in the same room as her attackers.
The meeting began, officially at least, when Minister Bones stalked in and settled herself in the portion of the seating reserved for the sitting minister of the time. She wasn't to act as a judge today, however getting a look at those who trooped in following her alleviated much of Harry's worries on the matter.
Madam Longbottom, Amos Diggory and Rufus Scrimgeour were the assigned judges for this meeting of the courts. Not a terrible selection considering what he knew of them. Neither Madam Longbottom, nor Amos Diggory were likely to go easy on anyone associated with Death Eaters. And Scrimgeour, while a bit of a political sort, had no love of those who wore black robes and silver masks either.
Madam Longbottom banged her gavel bringing the audience and jury of the wizengamot to order as she sat herself. "We call this session of the Wizengamot together today, to address crimes which were committed on the grounds of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. If the Aurors will bring in the first set of accused we may begin…"
A team of Aurors escorted the group of Ravenclaws who had taken such pleasure in tormenting Luna. Marrietta Edgecombe, Joanna Long and Harriet King trooped in, heads down to stand before the judges.
"Marrietta Edgecombe correct? You have been selected as spokes person by your compatriots?" Madam Longbottom asked.
Marrietta looked up long enough to flinch and nod her head before looking at her feet again. "Yes M-madam Longbottom."
"Very good," The elderly witch intoned sounding less than enthused. "You and your cohorts stand accused of physically assaulting and ejecting a fellow housemate from Ravenclaw Tower at night on multiple occasions. In addition you stand accused of conspiring with others to ensure that the housemate was harassed and accosted while also preventing the same from reentering the shelter of Ravenclaw Tower." She enunciated clearly.
She held up a hand to forestall any reply which might be coming. "Before I ask how you plead I will warn that the prosecution have made know their intent to question all defendants here today under veritaserum, and we judges have already viewed court authenticated memories of the events in question." Harry felt a measure of satisfaction at watching what colour there was drain from Marrietta's face. "Knowing these things how do you plead?"
Marrietta briefly glanced to her friends before turning her gaze questioningly to her attorney. The man in question, looked like he'd bit into something unpleasant but waved a small gesture to her before seating himself.
Marrietta winced before looking back to the Judges. "We plead guilty your honour."
This turn of events produced a murmur through the crowd. It was Amos Diggory who spoke this time. "Very well, you and your friends shall be held for the purposes of providing witness should it be required going forward. Until then you may be seated." He waved to a row of seats along the other side of the courtroom. The three dutifully followed the Aurors to be seated in the indicated location.
Madam Longbottom cleared her throat then spoke once more. "If the Aurors will please bring in the next set of prisoners?"
Harry leaned over and gave Luna a supportive hug as the doors opened. Nott, Crabbe and Goyle stumped in, urged on by the Aurors despite their reluctance. Madam Longbottom considered the three teenagers arrayed before her, she was clearly having to work to conceal her feelings of contempt. "Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe…Gregory Goyle."
"You and your…friends, stand accused of accosting a fellow student who had been ejected from her house late at night. What is more you and they stand accused of the attempted sexual assault of said student."
She ignored the blistering glare Nott was levelling at her. It was rendered somewhat less potent by the way in which Crabbe and Goyle stared dumbly about in a clear state of confusion.
"Before we ask how you plead, I will warn you, that the prosecution have voiced their intent to question you under veritaserum, and the Judges gathered here today have viewed court authenticated memories of the events in question. That being said, how do you plead."
The public defender assigned to the trio tried to indicate something to Nott, but was ignored. Nott sneered in a manner that would have put Malfoy on his best day to shame. Perhaps a certain type of pureblood took courses in how to sneer properly?
To the shock of the crowd his spat on the floor. "I plead guilty, you already have your mind made up blood traitor. Our fathers will make you pay for this disgrace you have planned today."
That same public defender was now sighing and palming his face in irritation as Madam Longbottom eyed the boy in disgust. "Very well, let the record show that the accuse threatened the court with retribution at the hands of avowed enemies of the state."
Scrimgeour looked to the crowd. "Those in favour of finding the accused guilty of this charge indicate by lifting your wand now."
More than three quarters raised their wands.
"Very well, the Judges will adjourn for a time to deliberate, when we reconvene we shall pass on sentencing for the accused."
It was a few minutes before they returned but when they did none seem overly displeased with whatever they had discussed. "If the accused will stand?"
All six former students stood and presented themselves to the judges. Madam Longbottom stood and produced a slip of parchment. "Marrietta Edgecombe, Joanna Long and Harriet King. You have plead guilty to assault, as well as to conspiring, aiding and abetting in the attempted rape of a fellow student. You are all hereby sentenced to two years at Chapel Hill Wizarding Penitentiary, as well as being required to pay a fine of no less than one thousand galleons each, as well as two month community service."
Amos Diggory stood, "Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle…You have plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit rape as well as attempt of the same. You have also plead guilty tot he savage beating of the victim and been found guilty by this court of threatening court officials. You are all hereby sentenced to twenty years in Chapel Hill Wizarding Penitentiary. And are required each of you to pay a fine of ten thousand Galleons a piece." He intoned glaring down at the youths in question. "Aurors you may escort the prisoners away at this time."
Rufus Scrimgeour considered the crowd as the teens were led from the room. "Are there any other pressing matters which cannot wait until this august body is next in session?" He asked, then brought his gavel down when nobody ventured to speak. "Very good, this meeting of the Wizengamot is adjourned.
The four of them waited a good while to be certain the Aurors had removed the guilty parties before they pushed to their feet. Harry hugged Luna as she shook and cried with relief. "Come on Luna, lets go home."
—-
Hermione rapped her knuckles tentatively on the door frame of the girls bathroom on the top floor of "The Tower" as it had come to be known by those within the group studying under Harry. Harry himself had wandered off for a session practicing duelling with Flitwick, so she had other matter to attend to.
Kara looked up expectantly as she worked at tidying away her tooth brush into a small bag. Clearly she'd been in the middle of her evening ritual prior to going to bed. "Oh, hey Hermione, what's up?"
"Sorry to bother you, but I haven't seen Luna is a while, how is she handling things?" the brunette asked concerned.
Kara shrugged, grimacing somewhat. "About as well as can be expected all things considered. "Professor Snape provided another calming draught for her, she's sleeping that off in our room now." Hermione nodded understanding, despite the abundance of rooms in the guest tower, Luna had opted to stay close to Kara, apparently finding her company soothing. "After all she had to be in the same room as her attackers…"
She winced a little at that, "I can't even imagine."
Kara frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she leant against the counter. "It sucks, thats about the only way to put it. I remember attending my own funeral after what happened to me. Had to stand there and watch as my SOB boyfriend sat with my family and pretended it wasn't his fault I was dead."
Hermione blinked, and then raised a hand to her forehead and rubbed at it. "Right…" She sighed before glancing back up. "Just imagining it gives me a headache, what you've been through, what Harry's been through."
The American teen snorted, actually brightening slightly. "Well, I think Harry put it reasonably well when he said that the process of dying sucks, but knowing what comes next makes thing a little better…Say how's he handling it? I try to keep up with him about it, but—"
It was Hermione's turn to grimace. "Not well, he has nightmares I hear them sometimes through my wall. Every once in a while something will set him off and I can tell he's only partly there with me. I don't think he's had any major breaks with reality like that time in the alley."
"Good." The two of them stood in silence for a while before a thought occurred to Hermione.
"You've spoken with him about it right…what comes after all this I mean?" She asked.
Kara nodded easily, smiling slightly, she knew Hermione's curiosity would get the better of her eventually. "Some, yeah."
"Do you…think you could tell me a bit about it?" Hermione wheedled.
Her friend chuckled. "Just a moment," She paced to the door and pushed it open slightly before peaking out at the common room. She made a small amused sound before returning. "Tonks is asleep on the couch, we should be fine to talk."
Hermione considered that, if Tonks were to wake and overhear what they were speaking about… "I could cast something to prevent eavesdroppers." She suggested, Kara waved theatrically, as though to say be my guest.
She cast a couple of silencing and muffling charms at the door before turning to Kara who had once again settled on the edge of the counter. "So what did you want to know?"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh a bit hysterically at that. "Well, everything really, I mean where does one start when they get the chance to question an Angel?"
Kara snickered at her friend's antics. "Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to hold off on the interrogation this long."
Hermione paused to consider that, before deciding on a place to start "Well…it's been made pretty clear to me that there is God and the Devil. But what is Heaven itself like? For that matter is what is Hell like?" She paused glancing at Kara skeptically, "Do you know, I mean I didn't get the impress you'd been there…"
Kara nodded solemnly. "I know what it's like, though I honestly wish I didn't." She continued upon noting Hermione's curious expression. "We called it outer darkness, and I've only stood looking through the gates from a distance as it were. But…" She hesitated as she tried to come up with a way to describe it. Finally she hit upon an idea "I don't know if you have it in this reality, but there is this book, the Never Ending Story, and it described something in it, a…Nothing, that's what it was called, it was called "the Nothing"
Hermione nodded hurriedly. "Yes actually, I've read that, seen the movie too."
Kara pursed her lips, "Well the movie wasn't that good really, but it did it well enough for our purposes I suppose. Outer Darkness, Hell, is really very much like "The Nothing" in that story, just all encompassing, all consuming, soul smothering, happiness sucking void." She explained soberly.
"Now imagine being forced to float in that void for all eternity with nothing to do but contemplate your failures and your sins and you get a fraction of an idea of what Outer Darkness is." Hermione couldn't help but shiver at the other girls description.
"And Heaven?" She asked, now regretting her question.
Kara smiled in understanding, "It's different for everyone, everyone experiences their own little patch of perfection." She paused then corrected herself. "Well, while within their own domain that is, there is a great city which acts as a go between for it all."
"And what was your's like?" Hermione ventured as Kara trailed off contemplatively.
Kara hurried to correct her. "Oh, I didn't have a patch of my own yet. Was only a probationary Angel myself, I volunteered for service in the hopes of rubbing out some of my sins, such as they were. But I got a sample as it were when I got to visit others. Mostly I spent my time at the office or visiting dad."
Hermione looked stricken, "Oh I'm sorry I didn't know your father had passed before you…"
Kara hummed distractedly before that sunk in. "Hmm? Oh, no! Sorry I guess I didn't explain this to you. I'm not talking about my parent. Uh—how to explain it?" Again she sunk into a contemplative silence, kicking her feet while she considered how to explain. "Where do souls come from?"
Hermione's brow furrowed at the non sequitur but considered it none the less. "I never really thought about it. I knew they existed do to my research, but I never really believed in all the other stuff until now. I guess if I had to take a stab at it, I'd guess God somehow made them." She hypothesized after a moment.
The american nodded in satisfaction, "And you'd be right, but it's more than that, we call him heavenly father, because that's what he was, he is the progenitor of our souls, together with heavenly mother. All souls are his children every last one."
Hermione struggled to process that concept. "So when you say you went to visit 'Dad'…" She trailed off.
Her friend nodded. "I meant I was visiting God's own house, yes." She confirmed, then smirked in amusement at the stunned silence that followed.
Hermione considered what it might be like to be in the presence of a true deity, when something which had been niggling at the back of her mind kicked in. "You mentioned earlier, that you were not certain if this reality had the Never Ending Story…"
Kara followed her easily enough. "You're wondering if there are other realities?" She smiled knowingly when Hermione bobbed her head in confirmation. "I was born in one of them."
Hermione blinked dumbly at her for a moment. "What?"
"I didn't live my first life in this reality Hermione. It wasn't a matter of being sent back for me, it was a matter of being sent somewhere I'd never been in the first place. My world was different from this one, it had no magic, and was dead to such things beyond the touch of God's own power."
Hermione shook her head ruefully. "You know, I swear speaking with you only ever serves to create more questions than answers."
The other girl snorted "Ha, you'll enjoy it when you get there…I mean I spent a good deal of my visits with God just asking questions."
Hermione nodded in agreement, she could see that it would indeed be interesting. Not that she was in a rush to find out just how interesting. "Okay, I have a question for you, on a different topic…As interesting as I find it all, I've got something more mundane I was wondering about." Kara indicated she should ask. "What do you think of all this?" She asked waving at the room around them. "The Tower I mean, and the uniforms Tracey's got planned, it's starting to feel a bit like a private army…"
Kara grimaced nodding. "Yes, and it worries me too. I mean our saving grace is that Harry in no way thinks of us as an army, or as a personal fighting force. He's just trying to ensure his friends are protected. Most of all I'm worried about just what game wrinkle nuts is playing when he allows and encourages all this."
Hermione cocked her head, "In what way?"
"I think he's using this to try and gain a bit of leverage over us, or more specifically Harry. Also I'd bet that he's using this opportunity to monitor Harry, and will happily use the whole situation to present him as a threat if need be, so that he can argue that he needs to be controlled by "responsible adults" or some such. I can just see him comparing us using uniforms to Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
Hermione sighed, nodding her head wearily. She could see that too, and she wondered if there was any hope of avoiding it. She paused considering that, but decided she was too tired to come up with a solution just then. "Yeah, I know what you mean I guess. Well, it's something to consider, lets get out of here. If Tonks wakes up, it might cause some questions if were hiding out in here talking."
"Knowing Tonks, she'll assume were having girl talk about guys, I wouldn't worry. Still I better go check on Luna." Kara agreed dropping to the floor and pacing towards the exit.
"And hey Kara?"
"Yeah?" The girl asked pausing.
"Thanks for this."
—-
October 15th 2015
Harry shifted uncomfortably to his other foot, stamping it lightly as he blew on his hands while he rubbed them together. It was cold, even the overhanging shelter provided by the shops of Diagon Alley did nothing to stop the bite in the air.
It was unusual for anywhere in Britain south of the Orkneys to be so cold so early in the fall, but it was nevertheless, there had actually been a small skiff of snow on the ground at Hogwarts before they had departed this morning.
He and a few others had gotten permission from the headmaster to visit the alley again today under guard. It was Hogsmeade weekend anyways so having students outside the castle was not hugely outside the norm. Still Dumbledore had been reluctant, but had been talked around by an enthusiastic Tracey Davis, who was eager to get supplies for the uniform she'd planned.
Tracey, Daphne and Astoria had proceeded to Madam Malkin's with the Greengrass adults to oversee the purchase of materials and services to produce the uniforms.
He had volunteered to handle the other portions of the outfit. He'd made a short stop by the jewellers for a single enchanted button for each outfit issued. The purpose of this button was to, via enchantment, prevent wear and tear on the clothing it was affixed to. Which considering the overall price of the outfit was just good sense.
Now however he found himself waiting outside a blacksmith waiting on an estimate for the armoured components of the combat uniform.
Traditionally speaking, magic resistant armour was lightweight, usually made of Dragon or Basilisk Hide, and of the sort even now being used by the Aurors thanks to the Basilisk he'd slain.
This tradition stemmed from how costly alternatives were. He'd presented the plans to professor Babbling, and she with the aid of Professor Miller and Tonks, had worked on selecting enchantments which filled the required roll and also minimized cost where feasible.
The design they had decided in favour of was a mixture of Dragon Hide vests and enchanted metal plating to augment those already mixed into the fabrics. Half of the enchantments were simply to reduce weight and prevent overheating.
At first when he'd spoken with the metal smiths recommended by Gringotts, his primary goal had merely been to convince them that they were indeed serious and could actually afford such an expensive project. Harry had been pleasantly surprised earlier that day when not only Lord Greengrass but Madam Longbottom had offered to foot a portion of the bill each.
Harry could have afforded it on his own, but having his allies share the burden was a relief. He had enough projects he intended to fund as it was, every galleon would count before the end he was sure.
Now, as he stood contemplating this, it was just a matter of waiting on the trio of apparently eccentric armour smiths to come up with a quote for them. The armorers were an odd trio, not one Harry would have predicted given magical history.
A wizard, a goblin and a dwarf. The wizard and Goblin would be handling the enchanting side of things he was told, while the Dwarf would mostly be handling the metal work itself. Though he had been assured the others were capable of that work as well if need be.
Harry had decided to take his waiting outside some time ago, despite the cold it was still preferable to the sweltering heat of the black smithy. Currently only Tonks was keeping him company. Hermione, Kara and Luna had wandered off in search of the other assorted supplies the study group found itself in need of. Though he found it suspicious just how much of a chocolate reserve the group required in case of Dementors…
Last he'd heard, they'd actually been discussing the merits of giving their group an official name.
The door clattered open beside him and the Dwarf stepped out, dusting off his palms absently, before coughing into his hand and peering up at the expectant pair. Dwarves, were an odd bunch, even the surface ones like this fellow, who'd never lived a day of his life underground.
Short, but that was a given, though they were taller than either house elves or goblins, coming up to about mid chest on Harry.
This one in particular looked just about identical to every other dwarf Harry had ever had occasion to see. Dark haired, bearded and craggy with an expression like a thundercloud. Personally he didn't think they were actually that angry all the time, it was just a result of their somewhat harsh features.
He thumped a fist against his chest before offering a slight bow at the waist. "Apologies for the delay Lord Potter. The other two are still bickering over the merits of a pair of rune schemes they planned up. But it'll be costing the same either way, so I reckoned I'd come and given you the quote in the mean time.
Harry accepted the small slip of parchment and nodded acceptance of the stated figure. It wasn't a small one. "Thank you, this should be more than feasible given what I know. So a third from me, and the other two thirds from the Longbottoms and Greengrasses upon their agreement?"
"Aye, that was the agreement, and we'll hold to it." The dwarf agreed.
"Then we accept your offer, and will have the Galleons to you immediately. The parchment work is already handled, all you have to do is sign the contract held by Gringotts. Half now, half upon delivery."
The Dwarf offered another half bow. "Very good young sir, I'll inform the others. We'll be delaying a couple of minor projects to get on this, but we should be done in a few weeks. We'll owl you and let you know." he promised, he then proceeded to stomp back inside without a backwards glance.
Tonks chuckled in amusement. "Surly bugger isn't he?"
Harry shrugged. "Dunno, could have been worse I suppose. I mean Dwarves generally keep to themselves even more than Goblins do." The dwarf had even refrained from threatening them with an axe, that was better than most wizards got from other species.
"True enough," Tonks conceded, before huffing a sigh. "So, where to now of Lord-High-And-Mighty Potter?"
Harry just rolled his eyes at her antics, she'd taken to calling him various hyphenated names just to get a rise out of him lately. "Knockturn again I'm afraid, we need some more holsters wrist and one of those enchantments Madam Malkin will have built into the uniforms requires Unicorn Hair. Ollivander and her supplier only have so much on hand"
"Ah, so back to that dingy little wand shop…" She grumbled, Harry gave her a questioning look and she sighed before explaining weakly. "I just don't like that place."
Harry barked a short laugh at that. "Believe me I noticed, last time we went in there you glared at the shop keeper."
Tonks frowned, she hadn't meant to be that blatant about it. "She's barely licensed to sell, and I bet if I looked I'd find out half of the accreditation she has is forged. That said there's not a lot of careers a hedge witch like her can get these days, I promise I won't cause a fuss about you buying what we need from her." She raised a cautioning hand. "But that doesn't mean I won't be watching her."
It was a little fifteen minutes later when they walked out of Knockturn with a box of goods under Harry's arm. harry chuckled darkly to himself, shaking his head sadly. "You know, I think you just about made that poor woman cry Tonks." He chastised. "On the one hand she was happy because she'd just made more money in one sitting than she usually does in a season. On the other you glared at her so hard I'm surprised her hair didn't catch fire."
Tonks sighed. "Look, she was acting twitchy this time, I really don't like twitchy. Especially down Knockturn, and especially when the shop keeper keeps wanting to slip into the back to check on something." She noted stubbornly. "You can bet that most of the shopkeepers down there are part of the rumour mill. And you know perfectly well that anything said down there will get back to the other side eventually."
Harry shook his head, it wasn't that he necessarily disagreed, but honestly he felt bad at the way the shop keeper had been treated. She really had looked close to tears.
They walked into Madam Malkin's, and Daphne strode over to greet them. "Ah excellent you're here, how has the rest of our expedition gone?"
Harry dropped the box on the counter, "The materials you require. Tonks has the rest in the bag." he explained. Tonks had put the holsters in an extension charmed bag, that way it was out of sight and out of mind.
"Wonderful, we'll just turn these over to you Madam" Daphne explained nodding to the seamstress. "And we'll be on our way, are the others ready to depart?"
Harry nodded, he'd seen them standing out by the Leaky Cauldron. "I believe so, Diagon is too out in the open even with the Order about. They just want to get back to Hogsmeade or Hogwarts.
"Very good, then let us be on our way."
So as they left in relatively good spirits, it was an unknown but unfortunate side effect of their visit that, their little saturday jaunt had damned someone else.
—-
"No, no, no, please no!" Sarah Blackwood pleaded desperately, as she struggled to get her feet under her, being dragged bodily up the stepped of a forbidding castle on some coast unknown to her. The Death Eater's lair.
They'd come for her not even fifteen minutes after Harry Potter had departed her store. But they hadn't listened to her excuses as to why he was not still their with her, and had drug her literally kicking and screaming out into the alley before disapparating away with her.
She'd struggled of course she had, but all it had availed her was a black eye and some sore ribs. "I tried to contact you, really I did!"
She whimpered as she caught a backhand across the face. "Shut up!"
The pair of masked men hauled her up the stairs and into a room before throwing her harshly to the ground before a chair which had been turned to face the fire. She struggled to her feet, not even certain what she intended to do beside possibly run away, but froze when she spotted the rooms other occupants.
She couldn't see the chair's occupant, but she could see the guards. Fire and Brimstone sentinels stood, leering out at her from the shadows, seeming to practically dare her to try her luck and flee.
The Death Eaters who had brought her here left the room hastily, slamming the door behind them. A hiss and the sound of scales on wood widened her eyes further with horror as a monstrous snake began to wind it's way out from around the chair towards her. She back peddled hastily, only to once again freeze as a high cold laugh reached her ears.
An almost skeletal hand extended almost languidly to catch the serpents attention with a lazy wave. "Peace Nagini, I'm afraid this one is not for you…"
Sarah couldn't help but shudder at the voice of the figure now pushing out of the chair and turning to meet her. She had no doubts as to just who it was who was facing her, and as her eyes met red serpent like counterparts, the certainty that she was a dead woman walk solidified in her mind and set ice in her guts.
Few, save the Dark Lords own servants ever saw him with their own eyes and lived. She had begun to tremble and shake with fear, and the beast before her smiled with satisfaction. "Ah, Little, Sarah, Blackwood." He enunciated carefully, before shrugging negligently. "Not the proudest lineage I suppose. Still a pureblood however…pity. So disappointingly incompetent."
She couldn't help but flinch painfully at the accusation in his words. His sneered at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Normally I do not waste my time with such as you. However I desire something from you before your usefulness is concluded. I will give you this chance now, divulge what I require before I take it from you and you shall be spared suffering over long before the end."
A poor promise, not much in the way of encouraging at all really, but still she grasped it desperately. "Y-yes…Lord."
He chuckled to himself in amusement, most likely at the way she cowered so easily before him. Still he did not linger and gloat longer than necessary. "When Harry Potter came to you today, why did you not immediately send for my followers?"
"I wanted to my L-lord, but they would not let me out of their sight." She answered promptly.
"Could you not have made an excuse?" He asked feigning curiosity.
"I tried, I did, but—" He hummed unimpressed by her pleading. "And just whom could it be, that held you so afraid that you did not do what was required of you despite them?"
She stuttered, "H-H-Harry Potter himself milord, but…he had another with him."
"Oh?"
She nodded hurriedly. "An Auror."
He paused considering that, "Did you recognize this Auror?"
"No, but she had the badge…"
He tsked under his breath, unconvinced. "And just what was it the welp purchased?"
"I—I," She stammered fearfully, before his eyes cut to her angrily.
"Come girl I haven't all day!" He snaped.
"Wand Core material milord, and wrist holsters"
He cocked his head thoughtfully, "That is all? How curious."
"Yes, my whole stock of Unicorn Hair, and every holster I had…"
He stopped and pondered, before shaking his head and smiling mirthlessly at her. "Mmmm. No, no, I do not think that will be enough, I must see this Auror you speak of…"
She wasn't certain what he planned but she was sure she wouldn't like it, not one bit. "Milord…I—I" She stuttered trying to back away, making the mistake of meeting his eyes.
"Legilmens." He murmured.
And then he was in her mind, and she swore her head would explode from the pain. He rifled and ransacked through everything, every secret, every sin, every moment of her life, tossing it hither and thither in his haste to find what he desired. And then, as suddenly as he had come he was gone, and her eyes stung.
As she knelt on the floor, having to fight the urge to heave, she brought up hands to wipe the tears streaming from them to find it was blood and not water streaming from them.
"Hmmm. Perhaps you are not so incompetent as Mulciber wished me to believe…" he mused, then shrugged negligently. "Still. I can find no further use for you…"
He drew his wand and for a moment she was sure he was about to kill her. He flicked it towards the door and their was an eery ringing noise before the door thumped open. The man who stood in the doorway, could barely be described as such anymore, and she recognized him for just who he was, even before the Dark Lord spoke. "Fenrir, I am finished with her. Do be helpful and dispose of her once you are done."
She began screaming as the beast fell on her wrestling her to her feet and clamping a hand around her throat stifling her cries all too quickly.
Voldemort paused as Greyback began dragging her away. "Oh…And Alpha?"
The werewolf paused expectantly, though she felt the pressure increase on her threat as his hands clenched somewhat in irritation. "Do send in the others, I have need of them."
He smirked cruelly and then dragged her from the room, barking a call to the Death Eaters beyond before the door closed behind him.
Voldemort smiles thinly to himself, such a waste, at least in the terms his followers thought in. But oh so amusing to him. It gave him such satisfaction to hold someones fate within his hands and then crush the life from it in whatever way struck his fancy at the time.
There was a knock at the door. "Yes, enter."
The doors swung open and his inner circle strode in quickly taking up positions in a half circle before him. There was the distant sound of screaming briefly before the door once again shut behind them.
He began pacing slowly. "We have a problem, it seems." he stated dryly. "What the Ministry dares grows bolder. It seems that many people fear them more than they fear us…" He noted frowning slightly thinking of the hesitation which had cost the Blackwood woman the last of her usefulness to him.
He smirked derisively "They think themselves secure, that their new prison will keep us out when Azkaban could not. That they can punish the faithful with impunity. They think Harry Potter safe under the guard of a half blooded enough that he dares venture out from under the shadows of Dumbledore's protection." He explained feigning weariness, as though the stupidity of the masses tired him greatly. "Reports reach me from that school that the boy dares to raise up others against me…"
It was telling of Bellatrix's insanity that she dared interrupt him. "My Lord!" She simpered, bowing extravagantly. "Tell us what to do and we will see it done. Tell us who guards Potter and we will strike them down." She hissed, licking her lips in anticipation.
He chuckled indulgently, ignoring her hasty tendencies for the moment. "So eager to slay your own niece Bella?"
Her eyes widened almost comically as she comprehended his meaning. "Her?" She demanded before spitting. "That freak is no family of mine!"
He chuckled again at her rapid snarling. "No dear Bella, for the moment she can wait, I have another more pressing concern at this time." He said forestalling what was likely to be a lengthy rant on her part. "Chapel Hill Wizarding Penitentiary," He clarified pointedly. "Not so long ago a few of our youngest generation we incarcerated there." He waited to see the nods of comprehension from the others. Nott senior had been particularly enraged by his sons imprisonment.
"I wish you to breach the prison and bring them back to the fold,"
"We can tear the prison down stone by stone!" Bellatrix declared happily, only to be cut short by an amused chuckle from another quarter.
"If only it were that easy Bellatrix" Snape drawled. "Chapel Hill's defences are different from those of Azkaban true, but no less potent in their own fashion. Breaching them will take time and planning should we desire to avoid losses." He noted turning his attention towards the Dark Lord.
Voldemort waved that off absently. It went without saying that a plan was needed, Bellatrix was a blunt instrument, any attack she led would automatically incur heavy casualties on both sides. "Yes, and you shall see to the necessary preparations in that regard Severus." He turned to look at another in his circle of followers. "In the mean time, Dolohov, dear Bella, see to the preparation of a team you believe can quickly and efficiently breach the prison. Work with Severus in preparing the plan.I will tell you when the time comes."
The pair nodded eagerly "Yes Milord!"
"Good, Yaxley please see to finding a replacement for Miss Blackwood" he requested turning to approach his chair once again. "Perhaps someone a bit more…reliable this time hmmm?"
Yaxley nodded dutifully. Voldemort sank into his seat before waving a hand towards them. "You are dismissed, however Mulciber perhaps you could stop by and tell our esteemed Alpha to be careful with his mess. Blood does take ever so long to get out of the carpets."
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End Note: Once again, the vote is finished as of midnight last night. The vote is Harry/Hermione/Other 36 to Harry/Hermione 26.
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