" ...the cold sun lingers..."
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Hermione woke up with a headache. She shielded her eyes for a moment, as strong sunlight filtered through her window. She had forgotten to close the blinds. She groaned and buried her head under a pillow, determined to stay in bed, not work. It was a Saturday, after all.
But a minute later, she was standing in the shower, watching the water circle around the drain, sloppily applying shampoo and soap. She got out after thirty minutes, most of the time, she had done nothing, but stand under the heat of the water, her head strangely blank.
She poured her coffee monotonously, made some toast, but didn't drink or eat at all. She stared at the table, not knowing she had been gazing so long at something she didn't even realize she was gazing at. The doorbell rang and she snapped from her silent reverie.
She stood up and looked into the peep hole.
" Miss Granger? " the man began. " I have a package for you from a certain Mr. Angus Tied. "
Hermione frowned. " What? " She opened the door. " I don't know anyone by that name. There must be some mistake. "
He shrugged, thrusting the package to her. " If you're Miss Granger, then this is definitely yours. Have a good day, miss, " he added as she signed the form with a baffled look in her eyes.
She closed the door and wondered what was in the parcel. It was a tiny box, and she shook it, and her Auror instincts came rushing in. She quickly grabbed her wand from a nearby table and readied herself as she opened the parcel with the use of her wand. Nothing exploded. Instead, she looked into the tiny box and saw nothing but a piece of parchment, and she had a gut feeling it had something to do with the wizarding world.
She murmured a spell to see if there were any hexes, there was none. She put her wand down. Why would an envelope be delivered in a box? Couldn't it have been delivered via plain mail? Dropped down her mail slot? Gingerly, she opened the letter. Something dropped on the floor. She stared at it for awhile, shocked at what she was seeing. With shaking hands she picked it up and placed it on the table, and grabbed the letter.
The handwriting was done with a quick quotes quill, as if to remain anonymous. She knew a quick quote quill when she saw one. She was an Auror, after all. Her eyes scanned the letter quickly. It was done in a prophecy-like style, much like the ones she had heard about and seen during her Hogwarts days from a professor she disliked immensely. Her heart pounded as she read it, without her knowing why.
" The future is dark, as the full sun grows cold, spills the blood of the innocent and the tainted. The eighth has been found, the pieces should be seized, but to enter the cathedral shall need the deceit of the innocent blood. Look into peers, as to who is tainted, whose concerns lie not for the safety of the masses, but for the safety of a new arrival. An equal shall be utilized, a fate that cannot be changed. It will either be death or renewal, as the cold sun lingers. The fate cannot be changed."
She thought her heart had stopped beating. What did it mean! She didn't know who this man was! But the letter-! What did it mean! She felt lightheaded all of a sudden, nauseated, and she shakily sat down as she looked at the contents of the letter once more. Should she tell them? Her fellow Aurors? Or keep it to herself? It was sent only to her. To her! Why in Merlin's dead balls would it be sent to her! Her hands shook, and she felt blood leave her face. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. She didn't even know why she had this kind of reaction to a letter she had not even proven true!
Suddenly, the letter started burning at the corners and she gave a little cry as it quickly shot up in flames. The ashes fell on the floor and on her table. She stared at it as she stood and she stared at the object lying in the ashes, wondering why the hell in the world this was happening.
She was glad she had memorized it quickly. And now she was left to ponder it. Early in the morning, alone, and suddenly wanting Draco beside her to quash the fear that was creeping through.
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A tall man walked with his head high, dressed in a black coat with fur linings. His boots made heavy sounds as he walked the marble floors. Some people stopped to stare at the newcomer, to which he responded with by giving arrogant looks. The mustache gave him an even more arrogant look indeed. He entered a hall, without knocking. He looked at the people inside one by one. Ron, Lupin, Dean, Lee, and a few other aurors sat or stood near Pansy whose eyes kept darting back and forth.
And then she saw her husband. " Marko, " Pansy said standing up from her seat.
Marko looked at her and was pleased that she had not been physically harmed in any way. He stepped forward as she ran to him. He embraced her tightly and held her shoulders. " They did not hurt you? " he asked with a heavy accent.
" They put a binding spell on me, " she spat out.
Ron raised a brow. Like it had hurt! Manipulative wife, she sure was.
" You had no right to mistreat my wife, " he said in a low tone.
" Circumstances lead to the binding, which I assure you did not even hurt. She had shot a hex first, naturally we retaliated, not knowing it was Pansy- your spouse, underneath that black hood, " Lupin said.
" But still! You will hear from me, a complaint would do good from the Ministry of Bulgaria for incompetent Aurors like you, " he spat out as Pansy gave a little smile from behind.
Ron's blood boiled hearing that. " We are not incompetent! "
Lupin raised a hand to stop Ron from further seething. " Mr. Sarovic, your wife was alone, at the Riddle mansion, at such an ungodly hour, naturally we had rights to suspect the happenings, and hearing her explanation, what she calls the 'truth' gave us further reason to speculate. "
" Leave her to her business, she just likes to surprise me in many ways by acquiring things I am most fond of, " he said, cracking his knuckles, glaring at Lupin like he wanted him dead.
" Like Tom Riddle's objects? " Lupin asked.
Marko went quiet for awhile. " Yes. "
" The Ministry of Bulgaria knows this, then? That you are acquiring possessions of the former Tom Riddle? In a private museum as Pansy claims? "
" I collect anything related to the history of Slytherin, I am pure-blooded, what would you expect? My little joys are when I find artifacts, little treasures that have belonged to history. Pansy, naturally knew this, and had gone out to find something more. The Ministry knows, of course, all items have been cleared of hexes or buried secrets. All items in my private museum have been documented accordingly. Even your Ministry knows, I would presume. "
" But the Riddle house has been abandoned for years, " Lupin spoke quietly. " There is nothing there. We had done thorough searching in that mansion, and nothing reeked of the memory of Tom Riddle. "
" I did not know she would be there, " he said quickly. " I was busy, attending a meeting- a convention in Bulgaria. I could not attend to my wife. And she has a manner of surprising me. "
Ron glared at Pansy. She had her husband by the throat! The man was willing to do anything to save Pansy from incarceration! Lucky bitch! He saw her smile once more, in triumph, and it irritated him further, and he just clenched his jaw to control his temper.
" I told you I was innocent, " she said in a loud voice, a throaty one, looking at her husband with batting eyelashes and a smile. Her husband tightened his hold around her shoulders, as if to protect her from the glares the Aurors present had sent her.
" Then we were mistaken? " Lupin said in a soft tone. His eyes bored into hers and she hated it immensely. She always saw the werewolf in him, no matter what. Even though his position had changed, now one of the leading Aurors- she still hated him.
" Then we shall get going then, back to Bulgaria, " Marko said indignantly. " My wife has done nothing under your noses, but look for objects for my personal collections. I shall see to it that the Ministry of Bulgaria hears about this. " He looked at Pansy and smiled, feeling like a knight in shining armor, a husband who had done his duty to protect his lovely wife. Pansy smiled back and snuggled closer to her husband's chest.
Ron further boiled! They had no proof at all, but somehow they knew, everyone knew that Pansy was up to something, whether her husband knew or not! Why else would she be sneaking around? She had shot hexes, as if in defense! What was she searching for! He knew it, that somehow, something wasn't right about her being there! How could Lupin acknowledge it was their mistake! He should have had Pansy in chains! Instead he was letting her go, go back to her obnoxious husband, a freedom she didn't deserve! He eyed Lupin and saw his eyes. They glinted for a moment, and he thought he could see some wolf staring back at him. Lupin was up to something. He controlled his temper again. He trusted Lupin. Whatever it was he was thinking he wanted to know.
In a second, both husband and wife spun around to exit the Auror's hall. Heads held high, arm and arm linked together, they walked, and Pansy sneaked one last glare at Ron and she smiled again, as if to keep repeating she had won, and not them. Her smiled screamed that they were incompetent. The bitch! There was nothing else he could think of! He wanted Marko in chains too!
Once they had gone, the doors magically closed and there was the sudden hush of whispers, murmurs, ramblings and displays of aggravation.
" Who the hell does she think she is! " Lee muttered, banging one fist on the table. Dean stared at the floor, brows furrowed.
" Hiding at her husband's back because Sarovic's got connections! " Susan Bones said with a pout. " Her dress was ugly! " she added as an afterthought. A few smiled at her comment.
" Just wait! That Sarovic is going to pay! " another spat out.
Lupin merely smiled and looked at Ron.
Ron walked towards Lupin with a rather cheeky look on his face. " Sir? Would you care to explain what's behind that smile? "
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" Pansy, " Marko cleared his throat as they rode in a carriage back to their manor in Bulgaria. Marko found the excuse of wanting to look at the scenery while going back instead of apparating immediately. He had reported of course, of the incompetence of the British Aurors to the Ministry once they had arrived by floo at the Ministry building.
" Yes? " she asked, raising a brow. She looked at her nails and saw one chipped. Must've been because of that blasted incident at the Riddle house! She frowned. " What is it Marko? "
" I was wondering, " he began. He suddenly found it difficult.
" What is it? " Her blue eyes peered into his and all he saw was innocence and loyalty. " Is something the matter, darling? " The 'darling' hit home. Her husband's eyes looked tired. She twirled a lock of her long dark hair.
" Nothing, nothing at all. I was just glad they didn't harm you in any way. "
" Oh but they have, it was a horror to be under their clutches, " she feigned a little distressed look, eyeing her husband at the same time. She enjoyed toying with his emotions.
" I have reported this anyway, " he said immediately. " The Ministry of Great Britain should know by now, or tomorrow- the latest. I was truly vexed by that certain gray haired man, what was his name again, darling? "
" Lupin, " she said with clenched teeth. " He was my professor at Hogwarts during my third year, if I recall correctly. Horrible teacher, awful lessons. "
" I would assume, " her husband said. " He was rather irritating, wasn't he? "
Pansy looked at her husband for a moment; she looked into his dark eyes, the little mustache playing above his mouth, a permanent look of proud stock. This was a man many pureblood women dreamed of marrying, and she had succeeded in getting herself into a highly celebrated marriage. And she hated it.
She had only wanted one man. And she could not get close to him. She contrived the marriage, quickly enamoring Marko to attempt and seize Draco's attention, but Draco's mind had drifted off to the wretched muggle world, and she had gotten married after a whirlwind courtship of three months, and yet had gone through the lengths of inviting Narcissa and of course Draco. But only Narcissa attended, Draco's chair remained unfilled. Upset as she was, she knew she had to keep face; the Sarovics were a well respected family and had fine connections with many purebloods and ministries in Europe.
Marko was about three years older than she, and had happened to meet him by chance at a ball during the anniversary of the founding of the Ministry of Bulgaria. Her parents had both been invited by some distant relative working at the Bulgarian Ministry, and she knew it was her chance to flaunt out and probably get featured in Witch Weekly's best dressed list, or even see Draco Malfoy, despite knowing how slim her chances were of seeing him there. So she went, carefully choosing her make-up and dress, a dress that showed off her curves, for she had worn a corset under the pink princess styled gown.
She was the centre of attention for the single men at the ball, and many asked her to dance, but she played demure and appeared disinterested. Marko had been eyeing her for quite some time. He asked a few people who she was and finally got to know her name as he stared a few feet away from her.
" She's from England, " a friend confided. " Graduated from Hogwarts. "
Marko made his move on her in a few minutes time. " You're Miss Pansy Parkinson?"
She raised an eyebrow at him as she toyed with her glass of elven champagne. " Of what interest is it to you, if I am? "
" You're beautiful, " he said quickly, holding out a red rose for her.
She looked at him. " Looks can be deceiving. "
" I like what I'm seeing now. "
She laughed flirtatiously and drank the last half of her remaining champagne. " You're quite bold aren't you? To come up to me and not introduce yourself? "
" Why should I? " he responded. " I'm sure you know me. "
" I don't, " she replied tartly. " Now if you'll excuse me- "
" If you take one more step, you're missing something out on your life, " he said calmly.
She spun around and looked at him. A smirk began to form at the corner of her painted lips. He was bold. Too bold. And she liked it. Reminded her of…Draco. She tried to hide the smirk but he saw it.
" You've taken an interest in me then? " he asked her, offering his arm.
" No, you've taken an interest in me, " Pansy took his arm as he led her though the grand ballroom. He wasn't a bad dancer at all…and they had caught the attention of most of the people inside the ballroom, she saw women's eyes narrow, he saw men's eyes narrow. She held the rose in one hand.
Pleased, Pansy took it to further heights by pulling him closer to her as they danced a waltz. The women either gasped or turned away or began to whisper about. Marko saw in the corner of his eyes how the men Pansy had spurned awhile ago burned with envy. He was glad he had gotten to her first. Perhaps it was love at first sight for him.
" I am Marko Sarovic, " he finally said as they entered into their second dance. His arms were masculine, his build was tough, his jaw was quite strong as well, and perhaps he was an Auror? He wore black dress robes, lined with a little fur, and two badges were displayed at his left chest.
Pansy read the words on the badges. Reserve forces Captain and an honorary member of the Bulgarian Ministry…not so bad, she thought. Perhaps Draco would feel the competition when he gets to read the papers…" Nice to meet you, Marko Sarovic. "
" I like how you say my name, " he said.
" Oh? " She flirted unabashedly to the horror of the girls present, and to the delight of Pansy's parents and even Marko Sarovic's parents were enjoying the little spectacle.
" Would you like to go out sometime? " he asked.
Pansy bit her lower lip. Why Draco never asked that to her still never got away from her thoughts once in awhile. And he just had to remind her! The bastard! But she smiled sweetly at him. " Perhaps…that would be nice…" she murmured.
" I assure you, it will be, " he said.
" You're so sure about yourself aren't you? " Pansy said with a laugh.
" Of course. I am pureblooded and a Sarovic, we live up to our standards. Do you live up to yours? " he asked her with his brooding eyes.
She smiled seductively. " Of course…do you think I would be dancing with you right now if I did not? " She saw him break into a satisfied smile. The man wasn't so bad. He was ambitious, aggressive- she liked it.
And three months later, she got married.
" Pansy? Are you alright? " a voice broke her thoughts.
She looked at her husband and nodded. " Yes, I am now. "
She held his hand, and his grasp tightened. She never loved him, it was a marriage of convenience for her, but she knew her husband adored her, perhaps even loved her. There wasn't a week wherein she wouldn't get a gift or gifts. It ranged from dresses made in Paris, chocolates from Belgium, jewelry, fur…it kept going on and on. She liked the lavish attention, but her husband bored her somehow. Draco never bored her. He was an enigma. The embodiment of a true Slytherin Prince. She sighed.
" Would you like to throw a ball? " her husband asked.
She looked at him. " What for? "
" Just for the kick of it, invite old friends- I suppose our manor's boring without our relatives visiting, so I'm thinking about something else- a sort of reunion? If you could pull it off? I'd like to show that Bulgarians welcome Britons, despite that Auror incident. I'll invite my old Durmstrang schoolmates as well. "
She smiled, hiding her annoyance. Invite them! But…perhaps…if she could get Draco to go, just to see him again- " I'll think about it, " she finally replied. Her smile was genuine this time.
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Ron took the floo network for The Burrow. He arrived at seven-something in the morning, seeing his mother in the kitchen, baking a new batch of mince pies. " Hello, Mum. " He kissed her forehead as she smiled and dusted off flour from her apron. " Can I eat those? "
" No," she said quickly. " Now be a nice uncle and tend to Philip. "
Ron walked into the living room to find Fleur cooing over her baby as did Bill. He smiled, seeing that they used Hermione's gift. It was wonderful of course; quite extravagant of her, a wonderful godmother she was, alright.
Bill's eyes lit up. " Ah, just the brother I wanted to see. "
" 'Ello, Ron, " she said with a little wave. Then she went back to cuddling her baby.
" Don't tell me- you want me to baby-sit? " he asked stepping back a little.
" Ginny won't be home yet, " Bill said. " Come on. I want Uncle Ronald to baby-sit. Fleur and I will be off to Diagon Alley, buy a few stuff for Philip. "
" Fine, " Ron huffed. " Great way to spend the morning. I would have loved to fall into bed and drool in my sleep. "
" Let Philip drool on you instead for awhile, Mum's a little busy, there's this little witch's pastries day in Hogsmeade. " Bill smiled, a scar on his cheek shone in the daylight. Bill's face had looked far better than years ago. All that remained of that terrible event was the fact that he liked his steaks rare, that his senses were much more alert, and he stared for the longest times during full moons.
Bill and Fleur kissed their baby goodbye as Ron sat down beside the crib. The baby gurgled and he couldn't resist the urge to lift the baby up and into his arms.
" Nice hair you've got there, " he murmured as the baby stared at him, his little mouth moving once in awhile, forming little circles and Ron couldn't help but laugh. " Trying to talk eh? I hope you won't grow up to be like Fred and George- frankly they're funny, but they can get annoying. "
The baby's attention seemed to focus on him now and Ron smiled, pleased at how he did not make the baby cry. " You're a quiet chap eh? " The baby moved his fists up and down. " Strong one too. You're from good stock, that's why. Grow up like me? " He chuckled. " Nice eyes you've got there too, got that from your mum, huh? Hope you don't go all vain with your good looks though- "
He heard a muffled laugh. He looked up and saw Ginny in her pajamas, with a big smile on her face. " What? " he asked.
" Uncle Ron seems to be adjusting well, " she snickered. She was delighted in seeing her brother so- fatherly-like, so unguarded and he looked responsible and mature.
" Oh shut up, " he said.
" Hey, no words like that around Philip! " she said.
" Oops, " Ron said, eyeing the baby. " Sorry, Phil. Your aunt Ginny can be so domineering at times, you'd better keep a watch out for her. "
Ginny laughed. " Can't wait to see you get married. "
" No way, " Ron said as he held Philip up. " I'm not getting married in my prime! "
Suddenly Ginny looked serious. " Could you place Philip back in his crib for awhile? "
" Something the matter? "
" I just want to ask you something, " she replied.
Ron placed Philip back in his crib as Ginny sat beside him on the couch. " If this is about what happened last night- "
" Rumors fly around fast- "
" You're not writing this in any article, are you? "
" No, " she replied. " That would be a bad topic. I heard that you arrested Pansy Park- I mean Pansy Sarovic? And that her husband went to the Ministry to personally take her out? "
" It wasn't exactly an arrest. More like detention. The woman was so manipulative! You should've seen her control her husband! He was practically her lapdog! "
" So I heard, " Ginny said. " Do you think her husband's one of them? "
" One of what? Death Eaters? " Ron frowned for a moment. " Gin, speculate all you want. We're still in the progression of analyzing what our next step will be. Whatever Marko Sarovic's up to, we've kept our tabs on him, especially Pansy. She wanted to get something from that old Riddle mansion, we just couldn't confirm it. "
" Borgin and Burkes, " Ginny said in a thoughtful voice. " Check them; they're under a new management, right? "
Ron's brown eyes looked over his sister's. Perhaps…he had overlooked that. He had forgotten to tell Lupin to check Borgin and Burkes the night two of their Aurors died. Under a new management…he smiled at Ginny, stood up, and kissed her forehead. " Gin, thank you! "
" Ron- "
" Be a nice aunt for awhile! " he said as he stepped into the fireplace. Within a second he was gone.
Ginny looked at a very awake Philip. Well, it never hurt to try….perhaps she might get married herself someday, whoever the lucky bastard was going to be. " Hello, Philip, " she cooed. " It's Aunty Ginny here- Merlin's beard….you really do have flaming red hair, don't you? "
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A/N: so i decided to update faster this time, out of necessary boredom and the urge to read your comments and "suggestions".hehehe. The ending, i decided it to be light, the first few parts had to be serious, and I featured Hermione in a rather tight situation- finally, eh? My friend's not talking to me right now, i'm giving a judgemental reason that she's probably ashamed of what she did? (okay...so sue me, i'm having brain imbalances right now, hehehe). how does that C2 thingy go? i saw my stories featured on that community thingy...someone please explain?
ebbe04 (i'm glad you thought that was funny, i personally smiled when i typed it!), jchaser (your review was so uplifting), meenajon (i'm happy to know you still read my story, thanks for the advice), Zarroc (keep reading too?), angelraine (you never fail to make me smile), lunaticlover (do leave your email add so i can thank you 'personally'?) , Fain Oakenbringer (Now you know why Pansy's there...well sort of...), silverstorm93 ( i never get mad at critcism, i think it's the best way to be better!)
if you've just read this story, do tell me what you think, too? oh yeah, i know this is kind of improper cause it's the internet and all, but i am kind of anonymous and so are you...just a question...is it okay to feel self-pity right now? I always smile around my family cause they're the ones sad for me, but when i'm alone and stuff, it gets to me too, you know. crap, i don't know what i'm saying. sorry. just- whatever. smile. smile. smile.