A/N: This actually should have been posted last week. But due to site problems, I could not get it up.

A small weather lesson for everyone.

Did you ever notice that the longer the weather reporters talk about a storm, the less dangerous it seems to be?
We were warned about the storms headed to Florida from Texas for days. In fact, all last week it was all the weather reporters could talk about. Prepare, prepare, prepare was all we were told. It was going to be really bad.

Well, as I write this, the storms have just gone through.

It rained.

The wind blew.

One city is reporting massive power outages that will, by morning, likely amount to one house on a back street having lost power for a few minutes.

Basically, folks, it rained.

So here's my theory. The more they talk about a storm and warn us to be prepared for it, the more likely it is that storm will not amount to more than a cloud spitting on you.

So that's my report, and all without an eight year education and several million dollars worth of state of the art equipment.

Next week...hurricane predicting.

And as always,

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Go back and read the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before this one.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: TRAITOR?

The boggart physically cringed back from the woman's verbal accusation. But Orion was quick to come to poor Bo's defense.

"Bo is my servant, Becca." He stated, getting her attention seemingly for the first time. "He only does as I ask him to. And I ask Bo to bring you here."

Becca immediately turned on the Unspeakable. "You?! For what possible reason, except to hasten your death?"

"Well, someone is near death, lady, but it isn't me." Orion pointed out, directing her attention to the man still laying wrapped in Katlin's arms. "I just though you'd like to see the handiwork of your masters close up."

Orion saw the slightest flicker of a question cross her face as she turned her attention to the injured man. But it just as quickly disappeared as she turned back to him.

"What nonsense is this?" She demanded. "Why would my masters have need of doing such a thing?"

"Because they don't just want us gone, Becca. They want us dead. From the very beginning of this you have touted that we are the aggressors here. That we are the ones threatening your masters. You refuse to believe that they could do anything so horrible as nearly torture a man to death. Well, lady, I am thoroughly done with being blamed for things I haven't done by people I haven't done them to." Orion stated, pointing to Voldemort. "Perhaps you'd care to explain to me exactly who is responsible for what was done to this man and what crime he committed to deserve it? Or do you honestly believe we attacked one of our own just to make a point?"

Becca stood in silence for several moments, staring at the injured man. But after a long pause, she finally ask in a whisper. "But why would they do such a thing?"

"Because they fear us." Orion answered, stepping up next to her. A move Becca seemed to take no notice of, but that Bo reacted to immediately, instantly closing space with his channeler until he was practically on top of Orion. "Because they know that we can show you what they are really like. What they are truly doing. That they are hurting and killing people, and they are using you to do it."

"That's a lie." Becca replied in the same soft whisper. "My master would never do such a thing. He is kind and generous and..."

A sudden choking sound cut off Becca's assessment of her master. Katlin quickly turned back to Voldemort, resting her hand over his chest as she tried to ease the spasm.

Becca watched the procedure with a keen interest. "You are a healer." She observed.

Katlin turned briefly to her. "What I am," she stated pointedly, "is trying to keep him alive. But your masters were very thorough." Katlin turned to her husband. "Many of these injuries are the same I felt in Hershal. These people are responsible for that attack, Orion. Not the Deatheaters."

Orion turned slowly back to the woman. "Another feather in your masters caps. Although I guess not, since they didn't stick around long enough to finish the job and Hershal Bennett survived."

But Becca seemed totally uninterested in what he had to say on the matter, instead keeping her attention focused on the man still laying in Katlin's arms.

"If you are a healer, why have you not healed him?" She ask simply, as though she hadn't even heard the other side of the conversation.

Katlin turned back to her, her frustration and exhaustion showing in her expression. "I am trying." She replied pointedly. "But its very hard to plug a hole when the dam keeps springing new ones."

Without a word, Becca reached down and laid her hand over Katlin's. Suddenly the soft blue light that glowed from her open palm seemed to flare to new life. It exploded into a brighter, more vibrant color, then quickly spread outwards until it encompassed the whole body beneath it.

Katlin pulled about abruptly as soon as Becca had touched her, but instantly found herself gripped by a numbing surge of power that radiated through her body. Closing her eyes she tried to center it and direct it into one area. But every effort failed until she no longer felt she had the strength to even hold herself up. But even as she slumped forward, a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and held her up.

"What did you do!?" She heard Orion's voice demand. She tried to answer him when she suddenly realized the question hadn't been directed at her at all. Instead Becca's voice answered the question in its usual calm and assertive tone.

"This one is a talented healer, but her skills are limited. I gave her the power she needed to heal this man. Something she was not currently able to do on her own."

Katlin put all of her remaining strength into her voice. "She's telling the truth." She whispered. "Orion, I couldn't have saved him on my own. Like Hershal, he was slipping away from me."

Orion quickly turned his attention to the Voldemort. Still laying in Katlin's lap, most of the cuts and bruises were indeed gone, and his breathing was now regular and steady rather than a forced effort to simply take each successive breath.

Orion turned back to the woman. "Thank you."

Becca's expression didn't register the gratitude one way or the other. "As you said, had he not been helped, he would have died. And his death would serve no purpose."

"It would serve one for your masters." Orion put in. "It would then have only been thirteen to seven."

Becca gave him a look that was anything but friendly, then turned her back to him as she crouched once again next to Katlin.

"You are a very talented healer." Becca said, laying her hand on Katlin's arm. "But you are limited because you limit yourself."

Katlin gave her a confused stare. "Limit myself?"

"You do not practice your craft." Becca replied. "It has laid dormant inside of you for so long it barely even exists any longer. But even as weak as it was, look at what you were able to do. Think of what you could accomplish if you did not deny it."

Becca pulled back suddenly with a slight cry of pain. But just as quickly she pulled herself to her feet, distancing herself physically from them even as she turned her attention back to the whole group. "Once again I am warning you." She stated in her usual authoritative voice. "Leave this place. You need only say you wish to, and you will be home."

And with that she abruptly vanished.

"Where is he?"

The sound drew everyone's attention immediately back to the man still lying in Katlin's arms.

The voice hadn't been very strong, but there was clearly a strong force of hatred behind it.

Struggling to get up, Voldemort waved off Katlin's protests for him to lie still while she checked for any further injury.

"Where is he?!" He demanded again, this time triggering a coughing spell that had him collapsing back into her arms just the same.

"Where is who?" She ask softly. "There is no one here but us now. You're perfectly safe."

"Safe!" Voldemort all but vaulted himself out of her arms this time as he sat forward supporting himself as he struggled still for breath. Looking up, he moved his gaze over each member of the group. "Where is he?" His eyes finally stopped moving when they settled on Harry.

Or more accurately, on his shoulder.

Where Roland sat.

Sensing the danger, Roland practically jumped from Harry's shoulder back into the safe cocoon of his sweater's hood, burrowing down as deep as he could.

"Run and hide little rat." Voldemort hissed out between his teeth. "It won't do you any good."

Harry took several steps back from the man. "What did Roland do?" He ask.

"Aside from getting nearly all of us killed, just his usual. Which is practically nothing." Voldemort replied, waging a nearly losing battle to get to his feet, finally managing it with Katlin's help, but still leaning heavily against the nearest wall for support.

Orion started to reach his hand into Harry's hood when a voice quickly called out. "The first hand in here gets bit!" Roland stated. "You should know better than to try and pick up a frightened snake. We bite in self-defense."

"Roland, come out of there." Orion stated, removing his hand from the sweater's hood just the same. "Or Voldemort will be the least of your worries."

The material of the hood moved about a bit, and finally the little snake poked his head out, looking up at Orion. "I'm not afraid of him." He stated, trying to give his voice a conviction is seriously lacked at the moment.

"Filthy, rotten little scalely..." Voldemort reached out towards the snake, but fell desperately short of his target and nearly lost his precarious balance if not for Katlin grabbing hold of him and helping him regain his footing.

But none the less Roland quickly dove back down into the hood.

"Voldemort seems to have some issues with you, Roland." Orion pointed out as he stared down into the hood of the sweater.

The little snake cautiously resurfaced, keeping a close watch on Voldemort.

"He knew." The dark wizard ground out, pointing a finger at the little snake. "He knew about the ward. He knew what it would do, but he didn't say a word. He's been helping them."

"I did no such thing!" Roland protested vehemently.

Harry turned to the little snake on his shoulder, remembering something suddenly that had happened just before he stepped through the doorway where the ward was. "When we were coming up the stairs, you told me to look at the ground. You said it would make the climb seem easier."

"You should have been more careful about revealing your talents before you started to lie, traitor." Voldemort stated, glaring at the little snake as he fought to remain on his feet. "You know about the wards in this castle. That isn't something that's selective. You either know them all or you don't know any. But you...it was practically second nature to you where they are."

"I told you! They move them around!" Roland stated.

"And despite that you still knew where they were. You guided us through dozens without a single mishap. Then, all of the sudden, you 'missed' one?"

"It was a special ward." Roland pointed out. "I wasn't able to sense it."

Orion looked down at the little snake. "I can sympathize with your wavering talent, Roland." The Unspeakable said in a not altogether compassionate tone. "Unspeakables have a similar talent for lies."

Roland turned to him.

"If a person is a very good liar, sometimes I can't sense the lie, and they are able to fool me." The Unspeakable leaned closer to the little snake. "You are not a very good liar, Roland."

The little snake all but leapt from Harry's shoulder. Hitting the ground, he took off so fast hardly anyone had time to react as he headed for the wall. But just before he made it, Orion reached for him, almost grabbing his tail.

But at the last second, Roland spun about, whipping his tail out of the Unspeakable's reach as he hissed at him, striking at the outreached hand for good measure.

"Becca was right about you." He spat at them. "A bigger pack of fools I've never seen." He stated, pointing his tail at Voldemort. "You think he's in bad shape? You think that's the worse they can do? They haven't even gotten warmed up yet. So do yourselves a favor and take her offer. Leave here while you still can." And with that the little snake turned and disappeared through a small hole in the wall.

Turning back to the others, Orion had no more to say on the matter than to suggest they keep moving.

Over the next half hour, Arabella kept a close eye on her godson, noting that Harry didn't say so much as a single word to anyone. If anything, he was doing a very good imitation of being invisible among the group. But she finally decided enough was enough and moved up to walk next to him.

"It wasn't your fault, Harry." She stated knowingly.

Harry shook his head slightly. "I'm the one would insisted we rescue him." He replied. "I'm the one who told everyone else we should trust him. That he wouldn't do anything to hurt us. And all along he turned out to be exactly what Voldemort said he was. A traitor."

"And now maybe you'll listen to someone's advice when they give you the benefit of their years." A voice stated from behind them.

The comment earned the speaker a slap on the shoulder and a stern glare from Arabella.

With the benefit of Becca's healing and the remainder of the potion they had gotten from Snape, though not exactly skipping through the corridors, Voldemort was managing to keep pace with the rest of the group. Albeit a decidedly slower one that Orion had set for them.

"Did I lie to the boy?" Voldemort ask. "Did I offer him bad advice? No. I was suspicious of the scaly little rat right from the start. But I had to fight against the whole lot of you, that were more interested in getting a group mascot than questioning if he could working for our enemies."

"Well, I'd rather be wrong once in a while about judging someone's character than live in constant suspicion of everyone I meet." Arabella fired back.

"An attitude that can easily get you killed."

Arabella huffed back at the man. "If I looked up 'paranoid' in the dictionary, would your picture be there?"

"Right after yours," Voldemort replied with a less than sincere smile, "under 'gullible'."

"Could you two discuss the English language some other time?" Orion snapped at them. "Because right now isn't really convenient."

Arabella gave the dark wizard one more glare for good measure as they moved on.

Lost once again in his own thoughts, Harry suddenly felt a hand touch his shoulder. Looking around, he found Katlin standing behind him.

"I'm bringing up the rear right now, Harry," she explained, "and your seriously hindering even my progress."

Looking in front of him, Harry noted that the rest of the group was indeed a good thirty yards ahead of them.

"Sorry." He offered in a low tone, quickening his steps to catch up. But the same hand caught his shoulder again.

"Care to talk about it?" Katlin ask. "Sometimes it's easier to discuss with someone who isn't your godmother or looks like your godfather. Maybe someone who's just a friend?"

"Or an aunt." Harry reminded her in a whispered tone.

The comment earned him a half-hearted stern stare. "Corridors have a bad habit of echoing, Harry."

"Sorry...again." He mumbled, starting off again. But once more the hand stopped him.

"Care to try again?" She offered. "I'm really a very good listener."

"Not much too tell is there?" He practically snapped back at her. "I screwed up and everyone nearly paid for it. Especially Sirius. What if Heudros had killed Voldemort."

"Don't 'if', Harry. Wasted energy, remember?"

Harry shook his head as he started walking again. "I'm beginning to think Voldemort is right. You're safer in life if you're just suspicious of everyone."

"And a lot lonelier." Katlin replied.

She watched the teenager trudge on, all the while feeling Orion reaching back to them. Due to the low lighting in the conduits, at times they lost sight of the others. So Orion was keeping a constant open contact with her, feeling for any danger they may be in. But past that, he didn't interfere or prod them to catch up, for which she was grateful.

"You really liked Roland, didn't you?" She ask after a few moments.

Harry shrugged. "Doesn't much matter. Like Voldemort said, he was a traitor. I shouldn't have trusted him. I should have just lef..."

On the teenager's abrupt abandonment of the thought, Katlin filled in the blanks for him. "Left him in that cage to die ?" She ask. "Then how would you feel now? Any better?"

Harry thought for only a few seconds before shaking his head.

"Harry," Katlin offered softly, "do you remember what I told you before you left the castle? You ask me how you were suppose to put up with being in Voldemort's company day after day, when you thought it was going to be just the two of you?"

Harry turned back to her.

"Do you remember what I told you then?" She ask. "There are two sides to every story, Harry." She reminded him gently. "Maybe you need to hears Roland's."

Q&A

FAMILY RELATIONS

MasterLupin:

Hmm... Well I'm still not sure about an over all theory about the story outcome at the moment, I need more evidence/ information to form one. However I am confident in saying that Becca may be not completely human and possibly related to Bo in nature.

(PAR grabs MasterLupin in a BIG hug.) I love you, man!

(And that's all I'm saying.)

Silverfox:

Harry, Harry, Harry, that snake just admitted to being a wizard's familiar and you don't even pick up on it? That boy is hopeless! ... So how Bo/power specific is that spell? Would it work on other creatures or only something posessed by a power very much like Bo's?

Strange that more people didn't pick up on that. No one even speculated on whose familiar Roland was.

Now, I wouldn't say the boy is hopeless. Gullible, naive, over-trusting, inexperienced, green, unseasoned, inexpert, hapless, even at times downright dimwitted.

But not hopeless.

I just loved this question. Mostly because no one else thought to ask it. That spell, Dear, is VERY specific.

Would it work on other creatures or only something possessed by a power much like Bo's? Man, that is one tough question to answer. Mostly because in there you have several separate questions. So let me try and sort it all out for you.

1. Would it work on other creatures?

Like what? Something magical?

No. The spell was designed to do one thing and one thing only. (And I'm not saying what just yet.)

2. Would it work on something possessed by a 'Power'. (And please note, I changed your question a little there.)

That depends. Remember, Orion said he had heard the spell before. And that was when Bo taught it to him. Now, think back. What was the spell Bo taught Orion? It wasn't JUST to make him his channeler, although that was part of it. It also was to make it so that Bo was linked to Orion in the way a host isn't. Orion's connection to Bo is very special and very unique.

So what does it depend on? Well, on what it is you're trying to accomplish with the spell.

3. Would it work on something possessed by a 'Power' much like Bo's?

Yes.

You're in the ballpark, Dear. You just aren't sure if there's a game today.

ilovesiriusblack:

Well who the heck doesn't?!

Another excellent chapter! I can't wait for the next one! Is there any chance of some more Sirius in it? I understand it takes a lot of energy to allow this to happen but he is still my favourite character. I wish I had a clever theory to give you as to what might happen next I'm afraid I don't you always keep me guessing and I couldn't attampt to guess what you'll do next. Keep up the good work!

I think that's the first time I've answered a reader without first posting the review. But I just couldn't help myself.

Well, Dear, I did warn people long, long ago that Sirius wasn't in this much. But he does make the odd appearance, and yes, it does take a lot out of poor Voldemort to allow the exchange. And considering his current state, you can safely assume you will not be seeing Sirius in the next few chapters. Voldemort just isn't up for it.

Well, even if I don't get a theory/guess, that was still a very nice compliment just the same, Dear. Thank you. I always try to keep my stories interesting.

Harrypotterwriter456:

WOW! THATS A LOT OF CHAPTERS!

Ain't they just?!

CelticHeiressFiona:
Awesome chapter!

Thank you, Dear.

Skahducky:

Wow, Voldemort must be incredibly strong-willed to be able to curse Harry even when he's in so much pain. How can Becca help the situation? I doubt she'd be willing to help heal Voldemort. Anyway, this is a great chapter. Please update soon!

I don't think people give enough credit to just how powerful Voldemort really is. Just a few fries short of a Happy Meal, yes. But still a very powerful wizard. And that is something I have tried to bring out time and again in this story. Not only how powerful the man is, but also just how intelligent he is. Voldemort is, in my opinion, on the whole a very interesting character, once you get him on some medication to control that whole megalomaniac thing he has going on. But once you have him accepting that one good, well-aimed bullet will have the exact same effect on him as it would on the rest of us, he's actually almost likeable.

So, as I said, strip away the whole crazy aspect of his personality, and working with what you have left is kind of fun. Over all he is a very dynamic, charismatic, powerful, forceful, intelligent, charming fellow.

End result? Great character fodder. To me he's a younger, less scrupulous version of Dumbledore.

Just how Becca can help is a bit tricky to answer without saying more about her than I should at this point. But based on this chapter, as you could see, she can do quite a bit to help.

OK. I can see why you would think Becca would not be very keen on helping to heal Voldemort, but Katlin has said it often enough, and it holds true even with Becca; 'There's two sides to every story'. Even Becca's.

SIRIUSLY BORED

Elisabetha-Ex spuffyluver:

Oh. My. God. I actually liked Peter. Blasphemy. And I so spelled that wrong. Anyhow. I Loved it with a capital L. Damn JKR, killing MY Sirius. And why am I talking, err writing so weirdly. A mystery I suppose. Anyway ducky, it is brilliant as usual. Ta now.

You guys have GOT to start making the name thing easier on PAR!

That said;

Why thank you, Dear! I am so glad you enjoyed it! And especially that you liked Peter. If you read back though the answers I gave to that story, a lot of people commented that they couldn't believe they actually liked the character in this story and that I had actually gone for making him a nice person.

But I look at it this way. Peter was not always a weaselly little rat (so-to-speak). He was, after all, for seven years or so, James, Sirius, and Remus' friend. A part of a very unique group of friends. You consider, most of us have long ago abandoned the people we considered our friends in high school. People grow up and grow apart. But these four remained friend all through those growing years and maintained that friendship even after they graduated. That's a rare thing. So the other three must have felt a genuine friendship for the rotten little traito...I mean..., poor Peter. So I felt he deserved at least one story where he wasn't shown as spending the majority of his time thinking of new and inventive ways to be a total bastard.

My spekll chick saw nohting wronge with that wurd.

Might I suggest just a sllllliiiiiight cut back on the caffeine?

Ha! You have nothing on me, Dear. I totally lost interest after Book V. Have no idea what went on in Book VI, and she could spend the rest of her life writing Book VII for all I care. The only reason right now I'm standing in line early is because I have a complete set of first editions and I'd hate to lose big bucks in about ten years when they are selling for bookoodel bucks. Especially if I can get them signed and they remain in pristine condition.

I also am fortunate to have one very rare copy of Book IV in which the chapters were messed up in the print house. Book is worth a lot of money, folks. There's only a few of these out there. Most were recalled and destroyed.

GO PAR!!!!!!!

All reviews are as of 04/15/2007.

Happy tax day.