A/N: The climax is soon! We've got only a few chapters left! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own not the Potter of Harry.

Unfurling With Amaranta

Snape couldn't help but raise a curious eyebrow when he found the Dark Lord alone. All the Death Eaters had become so accustomed to Dianthe's presence, like an abnormal growth, and it was now a rarity to find her missing.

"She's torturing the Blommarian," Voldemort answered Snape's unasked question. "That is her whole purpose, is it not?"

"That may not be the only thing," Snape said in a sepulchral voice. "I have noticed some activity in the Forbidden Forest lately. A giant tree is growing in there. It's not very noticeable now, but it's growing very fast for a tree. I predict that it will be as tall as Hogwarts castle by the end of this month.

"Naturally, of course, I decided to check it out, but there's a strong barrier so that I cannot get within a kilometer of the tree. Since it's a tree, and Amaranta is currently being controlled by the Mannequin Potion, I figured it might be the work of the other one."

Voldemort didn't move his gaze from the dim light of the fireplace. His bald head was thinking, calculating, plotting. What was this girl planning? It had only been about two months since they had come to an agreement, and she had said she wanted Amaranta in six month's time. Did she need the other Blommarian for her plans with this tree (oh, there was no doubt it was her doing). Could this be the reason that she was waiting for six months before taking her "revenge" on the girl.

Then, Voldemort deduced, that should mean that she's simply using the whole Mannequin Potion idea to keep Amaranta within her sights until the six months are over. Since she hasn't simply killed Amaranta to keep her from running away, that must mean she needs her alive at that point in time. What usefulness could she pose alive, that a normal human couldn't? Dianthe is already a Blommarian, so she needs not eat her heart. Then why would she need Amaranta alive?

Voldemort had been so deep into his thoughts that he had completely forgotten about Snape. "After you finish brewing up more of the Mannequin Potion, return to Hogwarts and send me detailed reports of the changes that occur in the Forbidden Forest."

Snape bowed deeply before leaving. Now, to decipher how to come into possession of the Elder Wand.

Unknown hands pulled Harry off the ground. Before he could utter a breath of protest, someone had removed the blackthorn wand from his pocket. His face felt puffy and swollen, and his glasses had fallen out, so all he could see were blurred figures wrestling with Ron and Hermoine.

"No! Leave him alone!" he heard Hermoine cry.

"Your boyfriend's going to have a whole lot worse done to him if he's on my list," a rasping, familiar voice said menacingly. "Delicious girl…I do enjoy the softness of skin…"

Harry's stomach did a few somersaults. It was Fenrir Greyback, werewolf and mass murderer. Suddenly, he was cast to the ground again, and felt a sharp blow to his diaphragm. "What's your name?"

"Dudley," said Harry.

"And your first name?"

"Vernon. Vernon Dudley."

"Check the list, Scabior," Greyback said. "And what's your name, ginger?"

"Bardy Weadley," form the muffled sound, Harry could tell his voice was full of blood.

"And lastly, your pretty little friend…what's your name?"

"Penelope Clearwater," said a terrified, but convincing Hermoine.

"What's your Blood Status?"

"Half-blood."

"Easy enough to check," said Scabior. "But the 'ole lot of 'em look like they could be 'ogwarts age —"

"We'b lebt," said Ron.

"And you decided to go camping?" Scabior said. "And just for a laugh, you thought you'd use the Dark Lord's name?"

"Nod a laugh," said Ron. "Aggiden."

"Accident?" There was jeering laughter. "Bind them with the other two prisoners!"

Harry was dragged by the hair and pushed into a sitting position, then bounded back-to-back with other people. Harry was still blinded, barely able to see anything through his puffed-up eyes.

"Hey, Greyback, look a this," Scabior said.

"'ermoine Granger," Scabior was saying, "the mudblood who is known to be traveling with 'arry Potter."

"You know what, little girly? This picture looks a hell of a lot like you."

"It isn't! It isn't me!" Hermoine cried. It was as good as a confession.

"…known to be traveling with Harry Potter," repeated Greyback. "What's that on your forehead, Vernon? I thought you wore glasses, Potter?"

"I found glasses!" yelled one of the Snatchers.

Suddenly, glasses were rammed back onto Harry's face.

"It is!" rasped Greyback in delight. "We've caught Potter!"

"…to the Ministry?"

"To hell with the Ministry," Greyback snarled. "They'll just take all the credit. I say we take him straight to You-Know-Who."

"Will you summon 'im? 'ere?" gasped Scabior.

"No. I haven't got — they say he's using Malfoy's place as a base. We'll take the boy there. Take a hold of the others, I'll do Potter!" Harry could feel his long, yellow nails scraping into his scalp. "On three! One — two — three!"

They Disapparated, pulling the prisoners with them. The prisoners lurched into one another as they landed on a country lane. Harry saw wrought-iron gates at the end of a long drive. They walked down the cobble stone path up to the large golden doors of Malfoy Manor. Light spilled over them.

"What is this?" said a cold woman's voice.

"We're here to see He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" rasped Greyback.

"Who are you?"

"You know me!" the werewolf cried indignantly. "Fenrir Greyback! We've caught Harry Potter!"

"I know 'e's swollen, ma'am, but it's 'im!" Scabior piped up. "If you look a bit closer, you'll see 'is scar. And see this 'ere, see the girl? The Mudblood who's been traveling around with 'im, ma'am. There's no doubt it's 'im, and we've got 'is wand as well! 'Ere, ma'am —"

Narcissa Malfoy studied Harry's face. "Bring them in," she said finally and Harry was pushed up broad stone steps.

"My son, Draco, is off with the Blommarian girl," Narcissa said. "If that is Harry Potter, he will know."

Harry's heart leapt at the mention of Amaranta. So she was alive! And with Draco, but that only ensured her safety.

"What is this?" he heard the sneering drawl of Lucius Malfoy's voice.

"They say they've got Potter," Narcissa said. "Draco, come here."

Harry, who had been avoiding Lucius' gaze, suddenly glanced up to see a blank-faced Amaranta. His stomach turned over. She looked completely life-less and uncaring. She didn't so much as blink when she saw them.

"Oh, so t'ere's been a pretty a pretty ickle girl 'ere the 'ole time and you never even nibbled 'er, Greyback?" Scabior seemed slightly amused.

"I'm not a vegetarian," Greyback growled with digust. Then turned back to Draco, "Well, boy?"

Draco shifted his feet.

"Well, Draco?" Lucius Malfoy said avidly. "Is it? Is it Harry Potter?"

"I can't — can't be sure," said Draco.

"But look at him carefully, look! Come closer! Draco, if we are the ones to hand in Potter, everything will be forgiv —"

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy," Greyback warned.

"Of course not! Of course not!" Lucius said impatiently. He approached Harry himself, scanning Harry's face with his eyes.

"We ha better be certain, Lucius," Narcissa said. "If we are mistaken, if we call the Dark Lord here for nothing…Remember what he did to Rowle and Dolohov?"

"You're right," Lucius straightened himself. "Amaranta, come here and tell us if this is Harry Potter or not."

Amaranta stepped forward, next to Draco and peered at him coldly. He hadn't felt completely merciless until now. Her once vibrant emerald eyes were dull and faded like two ancient orbs from a lost civilization. In fact, that's what they were.

"It's impossible to be a hundred percent certain, but from my memory, I'd say that there is a eighty-three percent chance that this is Harry James Potter." Her voice was so robotic

"Eighty-three is a good number, Narcissa," Lucius said hopefully.

"But…"

Lucius glared at Amaranta for uttering those words. "But?"

"But I have a strange inclination…a feeling if you will," Amaranta's face remained completely stoic, but her voice sounded pained. "There's a message leading to my brain telling me that this is not Harry Potter. Or at least not to tell you."

Lucius Malfoy looked like he was about to slap her, but maintained his composure. "The potion is wearing off. Draco, go fetch the potions Snape left and administer them to the girl."

Draco didn't say a word, merely left the room. However, Harry could have sworn Draco glanced at his direction, a spark of hope in those silver eyes. And just as he left Bellatrix Lestrange came in.

"What happened? What is it, Cissy?" She turned her pointed eyes on the prisoners, and they stopped on Hermoine. "Surely this is the Mud-Blood girl?"

"Yes, yes, it's Granger!" Lucius cried. "And beside her we think Potter. Potter and his friends at last!"

"Potter!" Bellatrix shrieked. "Are you sure? Take these prisoners to the dungeons, all except for the Mud-Blood."

"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!"

Bellatrix struck him across the face. "If she dies under questioning, you shall be next. Blood Traitor is next to Mud-Blood in my book. Take them downstairs, Greyback, and make sure they are secure, but do nothing to them — yet."

She took out a small silver knife from her robes and cut Hermoine free from the rest of the prisoners. She dragged the girl by the hair into the middle of the room. Greyback shuffled them across the room and through a dark passageway. They were forced down a flight of stairs, and through a heavy door at the bottom. There was a blood-curtling scream from above.

"HERMOINE!" Ron bellowed, and struggled against his bonds.

"Harry? Ron?" a weak voice called to them.

"Luna?"

"Yes!" the small girl looked weak. Beside her was a familiar face. "Dean and Mr. Ollivander are here too!"

Suddenly, there was a loud crack and Dobby, the house-elf appeared. "Harry Potter," he squeaked. "Dobby has come to rescue you."

"But how did you —?"

An awful scream drowned out Harry's words. Hermoine was being tortured, so he cut to the essentials.

"Can you Disapparate out of this cellar?"

Dobby nodded, ears flapping.

"And you can take humans with you?"

Dobby nodded again.

"Good, Dobby, I want you to take Luna, Dean, and Mr. Ollivander to —"

"Bill and Fleur's," said Ron. "Shell Cottage on the outskirts of Tinworth!"

"And then come back, can you do that, Dobby?"

"Of course, Harry Potter," whispered the little elf, and he trodded over to the others. He grabbed Mr. Ollivander's lifeless hand, and the others'. There was a loud crack, and they were gone. Only seconds after this had happened, the door burst open. Harry and Ron prepared to charge their intruder, but stopped when they saw Amaranta's red face.

"What are you guys staring for? Come on!" she yelled at them and pulled them by their wrists. "Here's your wands."

"Dianthe was out for a while, but she's come back now," Draco's voice floated down to them from the top of the stairs. "We've gotta hurry, before she realizes what's going on."

"Draco!" Ron growled. "Wait a sec — Dianthe? What's she doing here?"

"Long story, Ron," Amaranta said through breaths. "Just know that she is our powerful enemy, and will kill us."

"Hold on," Harry said, just as they reached the door. "Why is Draco helping us?"

"I'm not helping you," Draco sneered with dislike. "I'm helping Amaranta, and if she wants to rescue you guys, then fine!"

They crept towards the now open door, and looked around. Hermoine lay on the floor, barely alive, as Bellatrix stood over her, sleeve pushed back, and her finger touched the Dark Mark.

At once, Harry's scar burst open. He could feel Voldemort's rage embue him. He had told them not to summon him for anything less than Potter. They had better have a good explanation…

"I think we can dispose of the Mud-Blood," Bellatrix's voice said. "Greyback, take her if you want her."

"NOOOOO!" Ron burst into the room, "Expelliarmus!" Her wand flew into the air to be caught by Harry. Harry whipped around to the stunned Lucius and pointed his wand and yelled, "Stupefy!"

Amaranta had succeeded in binding Narcissa, and Draco seemed a little unnerved about his parents being brought to their knees.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!"

Bellatrix was holding Hermoine up by the hair, the silver knife to her throat.

"Drop your wands," she ordered "Drop them or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"

Everyone froze, clutching their wands tighter.

"I said drop them!" she screeched.

Harry dropped his wand at his feet, as did Ron and Amaranta.

"You as well, Draco," Bellatrix sneered. "You have betrayed your family!"

"I can't betray someone whom I was never with!" Draco's voice quivered, and he dropped the wand.

There was a loud crash to the left, and everyone turned to see a giant green root burst through the glass window and smack Bellatrix square in the chest. Within seconds, the root divided and it caught Hermoine, who had been flung with the impact, and the other pinned Bellatrix to the wall.

"You forgot, Bella," Amaranta grinned. "I don't need a wand to fight."

"Neither do I," said an angelic voice behind her.

Amaranta flung around just in time to see a flash of ashen grey. She flew back and hit the giant tree root on her back. Dianthe stood triumphantly in the doorway, a dead-looking tree root wiggling beside her.

The sudden movement sprung the battle back into life. Harry, Ron, and Draco bent down for their wands, but Scabior, Greyback and the other Snatchers shot spells at them at the same time. They all dodged with their wands in hand, and counterjinxed their opponents.

Meanwhile, Amaranta stood up shakily, glaring at her beautiful opponent. She flung her hand in a scissor-like manner, and two sharp leaves wet flying towards Dianthe like ninja stars. They sliced through Dianthe's grey tree root, but were blocked by a light-blue shield.

Amaranta took this time to run and jump through the window. As soon as her feet touched the ground, the grass around her turned into spikes and shot towards the girl she knew was following her, however, the blades stopped just before they hit her, and turned around to attack Amaranta.

Amaranta dodged to the left, and sent more leaf ninja stars at Dianthe who easily blocked them and sent the grass blades after Amaranta again, who was pushed out of the way, by a tree root. She glanced over her shoulder and then at the green bushes in front of her. If she was going to fight Dianthe, she needed to do it in a place that Dianthe would be at a disadvantage. A place that opposed her…

An idea struck the young Blommarian just as a deadly root dove toward her. She smacked it away with her own, and ran towards the garden maze. Dianthe followed after her, laughing.

"Your only running towards a cage, Amaranta!" her sweet voice danced across the wind. "I can control those bushes just as easily as you!"

I'm not aiming for the bushes, stupid, Amaranta thought, and dashed in toward the maze, green flashing past her.

She created a hole in one of the bushes with her mind, and stepped through, to close it off quickly behind her. Not caring about the sharp twigs and thorns that slashed at her robes, Amaranta continued to run through the bushes.

It was a dangerous gamble. This maze would entrap any non-Malfoy blood in its green clutches. She could only hope that her friendship towards Draco would somehow save her.

She decided to stop traveling through bushes and walk down the path. There was no need to run, now that she was sure Dianthe was lost in the maze as well. Her breath slowly calmed down and it was now quiet. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest. It was then that Amaranta realized that she no longer had her wand. It was still lying somewhere inside Malfoy Manor.

It had felt like hours in the labyrinth. She had walked on for who knows how long until she finally came to the dead center of the gardens. The whitewashed gazebo called to her and she eagerly sat down on the old bench. She could relax now. She needed only to wait for Draco to come find her, and then they could leave Dianthe to wander around in this cursed maze forever.

Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. The red queen roses that crawled up the side of the gazebo were slowly wilting and turning an ashen black.

She had no time to react. A shockwave of pain radiated through her and she looked down at the source of her pain. A black rose was poking out of her stomach, painted crimson with her blood. Amaranta looked to the side and saw a blur of golden hair before passing out.