Thank you for reviews! Please help me out guys and review more please! : )
It has been brought to my attention that possibly I haven't been disclaiming everything in my story... I did a lot of research and have read a lot of books, it will show more later in the story but I have created somewhat of my own vampire, and vampire history, and other things. I have gotten a lot of ideas probably from things I've read in researching all I needed to for this book. So I have a list of possible Books and Authors anything in my story that might sound familiar. I disclaim them all.
First and foremost Harry Potter. Evernight Series, Lindsay Sand's Aregeneau and Rouge Hunter Series, Melissa Marr's books, The Silver Kiss, Grimpow, Inheritance Cycle, Kisha'ra Series, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's books, Anne Rice, Anne McCaffrey, William Shakespeare's plays (I tend to quote them), Nora Robert's books (Charmed, Captivated, Enchanted, and Entranced), and the Twilight Series. All of these had a hand in stirring my imagination into writing this story, but I do not meant to steal any idea directly from it, and I hope to keep this a bit more original in ways of as original you can get with a vampire story. I understand that this is to protect me and the site, sorry, I wasn't sure if I should have disclaimed them all or if merely finding qualities for my vampires was too much. Thank you for helping me out. Also I tend to quote things unintentionally and may forget exactly where I got them or they just pop in and I don't notice as it is i quote things in my everyday activities, so if you want point it out for me. I love when others point out my more witty quotes that bring humor to the story.
BTW I didn't anyone to think Twilight's name was intentionally that way because it was like a funny you know with her being a vampire and there being a book called that, her name I've been using in my writing for sometime before I was aware of the book. LOL so did not realize it.
Chapter 7: Who Controls The Past Controls The Future
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Blaise Zabini had never been credited to being a death eater, always a fence rider, but Niko Merricini had been old Voldy's right hand to protect his baby sister. Holding his head in his hands as he sat on the end of the bed, he wondered if he could have avoided all this and just ran with his sister that day. A single hope in his escapist dreams was the thought that he could have just picked her up and ran, but even he knew they would have caught them, that the only possible outcome was for him to distract them while she was smuggled away under the robe of a servant. He had followed Hermione Granger throughout her life because truly she was Hermione Merricini, his younger sister by 3 years. When she arrived at Hogwarts, he had begged the Dark Lord to allow him some time away from his training to be his right hand man, suggesting for now Lucius Malfoy seemed competent enough. Finally escaping supposedly to be at his French cottage, he took on the persona of Blaise Zabini and forced himself to the attention of Albus Dumbledore in a very peculiar way.
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His cool blue eyes focused on the fog growing around him, and the cold air as his hot breath blended in with mists around him. Thinking of the girl with smart golden eyes and frizzy bouncing curls, he knew what had to be done. He had to protect her, and he could only do that by being with her, his Lord would think her a mudblood and kill her off, but yet being muggleborn to the Dark Lord was much better than being what she really was. If only his Lord knew that there was more than one Merricini left to his disposal, but it was his every intention as a brother to keep that knowledge unknown to anyone but himself and the man he intends to speak to that night. As he approached the barrier that began at the gates he turned to the ancient magic inside him to let him through, there were few things he could think the Dark Lord for but control over what he was could be one of them.
The charms fell slightly and then shifted back into place as he closed the ominous gates behind him. Raising his head to view the castle a pair of ice blue eyes met his own, "I didn't think it would take long to get you to find me." The boy spoke to the older man as he walked up to him, "I'm sure you are a little excited to see, especially from the note of disappointment in words when I rejected the invitation to attend Hogwarts 3 years ago."
"Yes, Niko I am very happy to see you on these grounds, but under what circumstances I am still oblivious to. Would you please enlighten me to the cause of this visit, after all tomorrow is the first day of school, the only ears to overhear us are professors, of which are all tucked away in their own affairs in preparation for the coming semester." The older wizard led the boy over to a row of benches along the front drive. Trying to make this all the more comfortable, Albus Dumbledore wasn't ignorant as to the whereabout and going ons of the heir to the Merricini, or as to those of his old student Tom Riddle. "So where should we start?"
The Italian boy smiled softly, "As you know the night Voldemort came to convince my family that his side was definitely the side to take, both my parents were killed for their utter refusal. The story goes that as he killed my baby sister I gave in and allowed him to take me to save myself, but the truth is... I allowed myself to be enslaved to him so that that very same sister could be swept away into the night and the only way I could continue to protect her was to be exactly as the Dark Lord wanted. The night I began to sit on the right hand of the Dark Lord was the same night Hermione Granger came into existence. Her true name is Hermione Merricini... my sister turned 11 and will be here tomorrow, she is the reason that I am here before you. Please allow me to come to Hogwarts, I need to protect her and be ensured she will not fall at or into the Drak Lord's hand. We are of the same cloth, we share a gift."
Dumbledore was shocked to hear that in fact the bright muggle-brn girl he had enrolled in Hogwarts was actually thee long thought dead sister of the last Merricini. "Of course but the Dark Lord will get suspicious I highly doubt he would approve of allowing you to attend."
"These things I have already dealt with, you shall call me by Blaise Zabini, a name I doubt Voldemort would take much notice of. Also I will have to ask that you allow me to blend into the background and let me continue to attend meetings in hopes to avoid the Dark Lords suspicions. I am undergoing a way to escape his grasp, and no I do not want the Order's help. Al I ask of your side is that you take my sister under your wing and protect her from the hands that would be wont to abuse her for their own gains, gains that have dark intentions and evil through and through. I love my sister, and I have sworn to protect her, I will in time make an unbreakable vow with a good friend, and I hope it will be enough to protect her when I cannot."
Albus Dumbledore nodded in understanding, " I agree to your terms, and hope one day you will be able to join the Light, but for now I wil keep the Dark from destroying you and the one you care for." With that the boy was enveloped in a fog that could only belong to the Ether and disappeared right before his eyes, the only confirmation he would have of any of this wasa lone dark feather left on the bench next to him.
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As his eyes fluttered open from the memory, he found a cerulean to match his own as Luna sat on the bed shaking in fear, "I shall not harm you, and nor will anyone else... Sleep." He whispered to the frightened girl as she relaxed against the pillows she had stacked behind her. "Trust me Luna, I will return you to your ever-brave and loyal knight of the Light side." the small smile that graced her face was enought o ease his soul. "Now sleep... I won't bring you back looking awful just so he can have reason to kick my butt." Luna then finally setled in to the covers and curled up into a tight ball to sleep, and try to escape this terrifying reality of what her life and future had become, if only for a little while. Blaise then returned to his own musings and his little blonde angel entered his mind, 'I love you, Twi...'.
The door opened and there was a face he did not want to be faced with, Vincent Crabbe. The chubbier man looked him up and down, as if he was measuring him up, and apparently acted as if he found him lacking. "Come on, Zabini, time to prove yourself to our Lord again, he wants to head up this attack against a muggle event. time for you to pick a team. It is planned for Friday." Blaise nodded and looking at Luna cast a shield charm around the bed and another sleeping spell to keep her unconscious until he returned, that way he could ensure her safety while he was going to be gone. Then grabbing the old mask he had created years ago specifically for his own use, he followed Crabbe into the corridor, "I'm surprised to see you here, especially in a position of such high regard so soon, you took awhile to choose sides and you seemed so close to Draco and the rest of those scum bags in the Order." Blaise had restrain himself, because he was still in a tentative place in the Dark side's trust.
The halls were clod stones, very much like the walls of Hogwarts dungeons and then it occurred to him that possibly the whole hideout was an extensive dungeon under a small looking castle. Even though he had walked many of these corridors, he had stuck to only the ones he was required to be in, but he realized there were so many more and he wonder what could possibly be down here, or who could be trapped here. A shiver ran through his body at the thought of many tortured victims stuck in states of constant pain, people that they could be thinking dead, only that they are kept alive to train the younger ones how to torture or to continue to drain information from. h was disgusted by the things that happened here and the things he had been forced to do. All that time he had continually reminded himself to think of his sister, without her his sanity and soul could have been lost such a long time ago.
They slipped into a small room and there was someone else that Blaise was positive he would never see again, "Oh so the prodigal son returns... How are you... Niko?"
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Pansy looked up into the blue eyes that could warm her heart with one soft look, and yet right now they held hurt. "It's not like I was in control... I'm sorry Ronald, but you know, I love you, more than anything!" Tears were clouding her eyes and yet they still resembled the milk chocolate that he had always loved about her. She had come up to him at breakfast the next morning to tell him everything that he and Harry had missed last night. In the process she had told him about the incident between Draco and herself. Even if he didn't think something could seriously happen between the two of him, he was still concerned with the fact that she might still have feelings for the King of the Slytherins. She wanted to reassure him that nothing and no one could ever come before him in her heart, even if her mother Hyacinth hated him and thought her daughter could do much better than some middle lower class family of Gingers even if they were purebloods but most definitely blood traitors.
He could look in her eyes and see the exhaustion, and knew she had probably sat up the rest of the night after they had returned from the forest. Most likely she had lain awake in her bed wondering if by the next afternoon she would be heartbroken and ready to end her own life. A small pale hand rested on his own freckled one and even though he might be upset with her he couldn't deny the butterflies her touch could summon in his stomach. They fought a lot like this but never seriously like this, usually it was loud and boisterous over simple things but the quiet graveness of this conversation spoke more volumes than any of the others. His eyes searched out other familiar ones but quickly realized there was none to meet other than his own younger sister and her boyfriend. Harry was in the hospital wing trading with Draco between Twilight and Hermione's beds. The latter fighting her way out of bed every other hour to demand that she was fine and for Draco to go leap off the astronomy tower for good measure. Draco then would reply about how that would hurt the grounds of the school more than himself and wished she would come up with some more creative and inventive ways to kill him than leaping off tall towers and famous muggle structures. Yet he realized that with Blaise gone Harry clung to Twilight in Luna's own absence, the two needed each other more than they needed any of their other friends, because only they could completely comprehend what the other was feeling.
Ron sighed as he flipped his hand palm up so that he would be able to grip Pansy's in his own, "I know Pan... I know... and I love you too... I just need time. It's hard to handle the fact that the girl you love might still hold a candle for the old flame that once filled her life. Especially when you were positive you'd be the one to light not only all her candles but the hearth as well, because it was your every intention after the war to make a home with her." Ron told her as he looked back down to his breakfast plate to realize for the first time n a very long time he didn't feel like finishing it or even eating for quite a while. "I need time to gather myself Pan..."
The dark-haired girl nodded and whispered a teary good-bye before walking swiftly from the room, and the rest of Slytherin House turned to glare him down, most might hate the fact that she was now on the Light side but they mostly attributed it to him. Slytherins were snakes that ate their own but that's the only ones allowed to hurt another snake, they were very protective when a lion, eagle , or ,God forbid, a badger came into the picture. Thus the obvious distress of Pansy was House business and the fact it was inflicted by a crimson Lion they were on the defense against him. "Not bloody likely going to find me in the dungeons alone for awhile." He mumbled for his own ears to hear and realized his sister was now at his side. "I'll be fine Gin... just go back to Dean... you know how Pan and I get sometimes, but it always works out."
'Or at least I hope it will..'
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Harry sat at Twilight's side, Hermione had been moved to a secluded room upon which Pompfrey had placed a silence charm so that no one would be disturbed by the couple's bickering, which has been constant since Draco had brought her into the wing. He was happy for the reprieve but was slightly curious as to what could be going on in there now. He wasn't worried so much for Hermione as he was about Draco's well-being. Given too much time to plot or enough concentration for wandless magic, the boy could quite possibly be in a hospital bed of his own before the night was out. It was a good distraction for him though, from the events that had landed them all here in the first place.
A tear found it's way from his eye and down his cheek finally to drip off onto the top of his hand. He hadn't even realized he was crying, and yet the gloom that was covering his mind at the present wasn't going to be easily disrupted. No only his moon would break through this dark patch. Twilight shifted in the bed, her brow furrowing and Harry knew that nightmares plagued her just as they did him, but he could choose not to sleep to avoid him unlike the small angel that laid in the bed he held a vigilance over. The pain written across his best friends' faces was enough to relay what had most assuredly transpired between Draco and Pansy that would be cause for Twilight to tell Ron to forgive the girl, but she had not the same sentiment for Draco. Yet Harry knew Draco would never willingly be so blatant in hurting Hermione, actually it seemed a good part of Draco's existence was in working order to be sure hermione experienced the least amount of pain, none if possible.
The flashes of hurt in Hermione's eyes went in hand with the flashes of guilt and regret in Draco's. So much pain in one night, if throwing them into a complicated disarray was Voldemort's intention with his followers' recent activities then he has very well gotten what he wanted. That possibly angered him more than the actual events, by acting the way they all were they were playing in to the Dark side's hand. "You need to stop thinking it through so much and begin planning what we need to do now." It was Twilight he realized, she had woken most likely from one of her various night terrors and found him brooding at her side.
An icy hand gripped his own as he sighed, "I know... but I just keep trying to understand how this will play out for us in the end and result in our side being victorious. If Draco and Hermione continue as they are then I doubt they will make progress in their newest mission, and if anything succeed more in pushing Draco back into Dark. Pansy and Ron, are not going to be able to work together for awhile, at least not until he can forgive her and I know Ron that will be a long time in coming. Then Luna's gone and we have no idea what prophecy she must have predicted, because that's all I can think of that would spur her on to such actions. Lastly is Blaise, I can only guess at where he's gone, but I know it's not good, and what if he is discovered to be untrue to that cause and things don't work out like he thinks they will, I can't risk trusting him when he's just as susceptible to corruption in this new position he's placed himself. It's just too much at once."
Twilight raised herself from the bed, "All I can tell you is that the war is coming, much sooner than we had expected, we can't stop it, we can only be prepared. Draco and Hermione, I can promise you will accomplish their mission despite any alterations between themselves. Ron is more forgiving than he lets on when it comes to Pansy. Luna knows what she's doing and I can see what she's doing now, and if anything the future is much brighter the way she's painted it. As for Blaise, my mate will return and stay strong in his alliances. Trust me when I say all you need worry about now is the Order's next move to put us on the offensive." Finally see some resolute strength being instilled in the Chosen One's eyes, she relaxed back against her pillows, she was tired physically and mentally, her emotions were a wreck, and her visions were playing in her dreams more clearly than they had in a while. It's about time someone else took the future's reigns other than her, she couldn't keep it all together alone.
A plan began working it's way into Harry's mind, it was so simple he wondered how he hadn't thought of it before, if he couldn't attack the Dark Lord as directly as he could attack him, then he would attack those around him relentlessly, possibly this would at least do much to reduce the sudden spike of new followers to the Dark cause. He knew exactly how too use Pansy to her utmost best in this as well, at times it was good when Ron and Pansy had their differences, at this time it was playing out just as he needed and Ron was in a situation to where he'd be best to head up an attack, the boy would do reckless things for that particular flower among snakes. Yes, it seemed he had found away to put the Order back into the fray and just maybe on the winning side of the outcome as well. He was already building the team he would need in his mind. If nothing else Twilight knew just what to say to make him a little more productive in spite of the latest tragedies.
Thing is he even knew exactly where to start and who to ask to help him with it.
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"You are the most insufferable arsehole I have ever had the unfortunate luck of knowing!" She screamed this right in his face, tears streaking down her face, and he knew, knew what was going on in her head. Playing what she had seen over and over in his head, it was too much for him to take. His mate was in pain and there was nothing he could do about it, their bond was barely allowing him to pull the physical pain away form her. It was his only ope that the Ether would pull it all away, but she wasn't calm enough or focused enough at the moment for that to happen, but he refused to leave her side again. The last time Harry came to trade him out she accused him of loving Twilight more and now he was going to go and ravish her just like he had Pansy.
A broken sob left her chest and he looked up at her, "Mia I told you... It wasn't my intentions to do anything like this. I wasn't even in control of my own mind let alone my body!" It was hard to believe she could think the worst of him like this, but she had been attacked, watched a friend disappear before her eyes, and then saw all she had seen in his moment of weakness. Yet she was stubborn, it was a quality that at times he cold love and others he wanted to shake right out of her, he wished she would just let some things go. "How can you do this?! Immediately jump to the worst possible conclusion about me?!" He just about jumped out of his seat in his anger at the way she was accusing him, "I love you, you are my mate, and my life, no one and nothing comes before you..." Softly he knelt now next to her bed and rested his forehead against the mattress, his energy for the time being was sucked dry, it was just so much burdening him at once, too much really.
Keeping her eyes away from him more tears pooled over onto her cheeks, "How can you expect me not to be like this? It is so hard to trust after everything that has happened. You were being controlled but what if it made you realize the feelings still lying dormant in you for Pansy? Then you know you denied yourself of me, for a good while you went from girl to girl trying to find one who would satisfy you as much as the thought of me did. You know what just go shag your way around the castle again!" She lashed out at him as she turned away from him and when he reached out to her a white light repelled his hand, so she was using her gift against him just as he was using his on her, but he always utilized his gift in the best ways possible.
Draco felt like breaking down, but he was just as stubborn as her, determined to make her realize that he couldn't help what happened and that he was hers just as much as she was his. Running a pale hand through his platinum locks he settled quicksilver eyes on molten gold. "You know what, just let that go, ok? What was I supposed to do walk up to you, be like 'Excuse me, I'm a vampire now, and you are my mate.' Then what hit you across the head and drag you by the hair back to my Manor or into the bloody headquarters?" he looked at her incredulously, "Every time we fight you bring that up... so are you saying if as soon as I got to the door in the Order and saw you that you would have accepted me, what I was, and who you were to me? Because if I remember correctly it took you and the other two dunderheads some time to get used to me, you may have been the first of the golden trio to accept me but it was far from being immediate."
Curls flew into the air as she flopped back against the pillow in indignation of his accusations, "I wouldn't say immediately but we could have been together much sooner if you would have brought things to my attention instead of forcing yourself to suffer." She pointed her small bony finger at him in righteous fury.
"Yea and then be dead on the ground after the words left my mouth because one of your knights would have tried to protect your honor and all that jazz..." Draco countered as he stepped up to where her finger was against his chest. She huffed and turned away crossing her arms across her own chest and he only knew that her face was drawn up into a pout that could probably melt his heart and will with one glance. "Mate... Look at me... I love you." He reached towards her and stopped short preparing himself with the shock of the barrier he was sure she had put up against him. Yet when he continued forward his hand soon fell the soft skin of her shoulder as he pulled her into his arms.
Struggling a bit to try to free herself from his arms she brokenly cried, "Draco, stop... I can't forgive you... Not yet anyways... I'm just not ready to... Not when I still doubt and can still remember so freshly..." Her body seemed frail against his chest and she seemed limp, his sigh moved her with the rise and fall of his chest. "Please... I just can't do this..." Hermione finally felt him relent his hold on her as his arms dropped from her sides and she just allowed herself to slump against the pillows. Burdened down, her soul was slowly being crushed as she heard his words along with his receding footsteps as he walked to the door.
"If that is your wish madam, then do not let my presence pressure you any longer... I mean not to harm you in anyway..." The door opened and her soul tried to fight to find a way to stop this, but hadn't this been what she wanted. "Know this, I may be immortal, and we may have eternity... But this war does not guarantee that I can wait for you forever... We will have to face this... Or will our love be among the casualties? I won't let it die..." Then she collapsed completely broken as he allowed the door slam shut behind him. 'I love you...'
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A blonde head snapped up at the call of his name, "Draco... just the man I was looking for... just a moment if you would, I think I have solved our problems for the near future anyways. I need your help before you and 'Mione leave Saturday." The boy-who-lived, walked up to he Malfoy heir with a vindictive gleam in his eyes at the thought of his new plan. This would be one for the history books for sure if he could get the right people together and all he needed from this man was for him to play host to a group that wished them all dead. "You still are allowed the use of the manor aren't you?"
"Of course... I'm the Master of the Manse. It is clear of Death Eaters and the like now... or should be. The Order dealt with my home long ago, if you remember I think it was one of the first missions we worked on together. Though I do believe Voldemort is watching it, thus reason why I haven't visited in a long time or allowed any others untrained to deal with Death Eaters to either. It is very likely in my absence that Voldemort has tried to take up residence there again." Draco explained and looked at his friend curiously, "Why what does the Manor play in your little scheme?"
Harry smiled bitterly, it was impossible to keep things from Draco so he just presented his scheme in his mind so his friend would stop digging. "Isn't it such a grand idea? I believe that possibly playing it off like this would be unexpected, making sure we could control the outcome to be exactly as we want. It may not pull out the Dark Lord himself, but it will take down the ones he needs most. They think we'll either draw back more to lick our wounds and plan or to come charging in, wands held high to avenge ourselves. This plan, it's beautiful and I know it's rough now but with you and 'Mione... well it will be a masterpiece that will write it's own place in history." Harry watched as Draco got that look on his face that Harry always could remember seeing just before a fight, during missions, even before a mission. There was a reason Draco had taken over as leader, unlike Hermione who did have a great mind, Draco had the fight to back his stratagems up.
"Just leave this to a Slytherin as it should be. You Gryffindors just be ready to fight when the time comes. Hermione, if she didn't have a courageous streak a mile wide, then she would be a Ravenclaw. The difference in a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin is we put our plans into action. You have Gryffindors who fight, Ravenclaws who plan, then Slytherins who plan their fights." Draco smirked, he was going to have fun with this little idea the Golden Boy had conjured up.
Harry quirked an eyebrow, "And the Hufflepuffs?"
The chuckle that erupted from Draco's chest was almost bittersweet in such times of war, "Well, someone has to take care of us on the home front."
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The room had taken on a definite chill as Blaise's eyes roamed the figure standing before him. Many things had surprised him in this war. Harry Potter being the savior of their world, but barely being able to keep from getting killed around every turn. The horrific contradiction that was the pairing of Ronald Weasley and Pansy Parkinson, and then them being a good team in a fight. Twilight dragging him to the Light side, promising him the safety of his baby sister when he had never mentioned his family. Draco Malfoy going against everything that once characterized him, for revenge and a girl, that in itself was an action film waiting to happen. Now he was faced with this. The man hadn't changed since he last saw him, and yet that had been so few years ago, it could seem like decades.
"You are supposed to be dead." Blaise found his mouth uttering the words that his mind had only thought a million times since entering the room.
A laugh that could stop the heart of the fearful barely made Blaise bat an eye. It was true, though, Blaise had it on good word that the man living and breathing before hi should be stone cold and six feet under. The one who had told him had no reason for lying and most definitely would never say such a thing unless there was no doubt to it being true. An anger flushed his cheeks and the man laughed once more at surely because of the sight the younger man was standing in the doorway accusing a living being of such a crime as that of being alive. Finally Blaise motivated his feet to move his body towards the table where the others sat waiting on him.
"Would you like to tell me how it is you are still alive and kicking?" Blaise asked and the others turned to the one being questioned, apparently this was the first time anyone had been brave enough to inquisition the man. It was understandable, but the Italian was in no danger to this one's fits of rage. One thing that he and Draco could guarantee was that when their time came if Voldemort was alive it would be he who dealt the death blow, all his followers feared too much their lord's wrath to harm the two he proclaimed to be his. Then again Draco was better off, at least he was harder to kill at the moment. His eyes travelled back to the one he had inquired and waited for an answer. "Either you answer me now or we'll be standing here all night completely unproductive until you do. It's your choice really, and we al know who will have to answer to the Dark Lord's anger, and it certainly isn't me."
The man sneered, a look that had his family name written all over it, "Our Lord isn't the only one capable of creating horcruxes. Merlin knows I've killed enough to have at least one." The smirk spread across his face in the pride of his own arrogance, "The idea ever occur to you to create your own. all it requires is the murder of a being to split your soul, or are you too good for that, Niko?" Blaise turned and walked towards a chair at the other end of the table, "Scared is more like it." Steel made up the words and Blaise stiffened turning with malice heavy in his gaze.
"How many of those horcruxes did you make?" The younger man asked looking the other up and down as if judging him on the spot, "Because if you really are challenging me, then you better hope it was more than one." A glint of curiosity flashed through the man's eyes before settling an icy gaze back on the the one making a threat.
"Have a backbone now, do you boy?" A less than fearful chuckle escaped his lips at the thought of being bested by anyone other than his Lord.
Blaise turned back to the chair he had been approaching, pulling it out he kept his eyes on the man on the opposite end of the table, a precautionary tactic to keep from getting surprised by a sudden choice to attack. Standing before his seat, he gave the man one more chance to threaten, insult, or prove he would need to retaliate in anything other than a bickering fashion, his hand still clutching at his wand. "How about it, then think you are lucky? Could you survive another death?" The man gave him a cross look before taking his seat, "Good then, I didn't think so either. Next time I won't let you by so easily, Lucius."
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A smaller framed figure slipped into the Gryffindor common room, softly she tiptoed up the girls' dormitories' staircase. Watching be hind her looking for a familiar head of red that wouldn't be expecting her as much as the one she was there to see. With a rush of relief as she entered a room with the youngest and only female Weasley sitting on a bed talking with two other sixths years. Then shutting the door behind her she smiled hesitantly, "Gin..." The other two girls rolled their eyes as the stood and left the room leaving only ginny and her visitor. "I didn't mean to make them leave..." The girl's eyes looked swollen and a bit red, her demeanor not as strong as usual or confident, and that was what spurred Ginny to hug the girl she one day hoped to call a sister.
"Pan... don't let him get to you..." The Slytherin Princess clung to the younger redhead's embrace, "Shhhh... Trust me, it's affecting him just as bad. He does expect it to all work out though. I know you two, you're great for one another, and once this war is over and you two are married giving me nieces and nephews you'll look back on this and laugh and say how silly you two had been fighting like you did." Ginny ran a hand over Pansy's dark hair, slightly envious of how silky and straight it could be, compared to her often frizzy and dry auburn locks. "Harry told me he needed to speak with you, would you mind staying here while I go get him and Draco, they're scheming in Harry's room."
Watching the younger girl slip silently through the door, Pansy admired the strength she had. Harry and Ginny had want been very serious, even to the point Pansy could imagine the children they were going to have. then when they split up because Ginny couldn't handle Harry's fatalistic turns and Harry couldn't stand hurting her anymore, Pansy realized Ginny was much more mature than any of them had ever given her credit for. One thing she as a Slytherin had always wished for was the courage to face any challenge without thinking of self-preservation first. That was probably why she ended up with Ron, he was her courage, and she kept him from leaping headlong into his own death. Silently a single tear slipped slowly down a smooth porcelain cheek. Wiping it off with perfectly manicured hands, she realized that she and Ron truly were from different worlds, and she was jealous of what he had. Even though she had money and things he had only dreamt of, he had things that were never offered to her. He had the love of parents who were happy with anything he did, siblings that even though they fought still had your back at any turn, and friends that never forgot you or used you. All she wanted in that moment was to share a life Ron, to have him offer to her all that she had always needed, and she would gladly in turn make all his dreams come true. "I love you, Ron." It was only a whisper, yet she knew it would spell it out loud and clear for anyone who ever questioned their being together.
The door creaked as it opened to admit Harry, Draco, and Ginny, the last coming to sit next to her on the bed and offering her a tissue. Setting aside the tissue, Pansy made eye contact with the Golden Boy, "Pansy, we're going to ask a huge favor of you. We need you to head up a mission for us, one that will need you to be subtle but completely tactless at the same time. It will be dangerous, and you can't mention any affiliation with the Order except the lines we'll give you to feed others. Before we tell you the exact details, will you agree to this?" Harry asked her as she watched Draco pace back and forth holding a parchment occasionally getting a look as if he was astounded with his own brilliance and using his wand to add to the writing already there.
"Ron will be your backup..." Draco mentioned softly giving her a gentle look as if pitying her situation because he was in a similar one with his own mate.
Pansy took a deep breath, gripping Ginny's hand tightly, she steeled her gaze as she chose her words carefully, "Under two conditions, Ron will not make-up with me to make this mission easier... and that you can guarantee Ron won't risk the mission to save my life."
A gasp from the doorway made them all turn to meet ocean blue eyes, "That they cannot guarantee..."
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Twilight left her bed, still weak her legs felt they would collapse beneath her, but what she saw in her mind was much worse. "Hermione... stop." The curly-headed girl looked up at her, black feathers fell around her as she returned from a place she shouldn't tread in such an emotional state. "She's not dead... She won't die... not soon anyways... Blaise had her and will protect her." It was hard to talk when she felt like her body wanted to pass out every second. It was a lot to get her out of the bed and across the infirmary to the room Hermione had been put in as to not disturb other patients. "Please, it's not your fault... It was supposed to be ME!!" It hit her hard in the chest with sorrow to think she should be with her mate, not an innocent who knew not what she had gotten herself into, even if the future was brighter this way. "Only prophets and clairvoyants can reshape the future... it shifts with every vision and every prophecy..."
"Twi... I froze, I could have saved her." Hermione told her, "I just couldn't attack... Something stopped me."
A blonde head looked to her friend strawberry locks falling forward into light green eyes. "She saw a prophecy, she knew you were coming, she allowed them to take her to keep them from discovering you. If you had attacked it would have been you they had taken and then everything that has happened since your birth to protect you would be for nothing. You are to keep from being discovered by the Dark, never can they be given the chance to control you or have your gift at their beck and call. Remember Hermione in this war, it is you that makes a difference, Harry and Draco can't do this without you. Without them all the world is at a loss." Twilight's eyes went milky as she said it, a vision brought Luna's newest Prophecy before her and tears ran down her cheeks. "The world will be so beautiful... You must stay with him, never leave him..."
Hermione jumped out of the bed to catch her friend but fell to her knees as the smaller girl's weight hit her arms, the last words a riddle. "Who? Draco? Harry? Was she even speaking about me?" The vision had wiped Twilight of her energy, but Hermione could no longer move either. So she sat there in the floor, her arms cradling Twilight. Focusing she opened her mind to the void, pulling from it the healing magic she would need. Concentrating she drew in the damage that the young seer had taken from the forced intrusion on her mind's barriers. Fortifying the mental walls again, she kept her own in place so that she wouldn't fall prey to the same ailments Twilight was suffering from.
"Hermione... oh dear..." Pompfrey rushed to the girls' sides as the white light faded from the immortal guardian, "You shouldn't use your magic... It will exhaust you and..." In shock she realized not only had she healed Twilight of any damage but herself as well. "You my dear do indeed have a gift. No wonder you were hidden for so long, the Dark would definitely covet your power." The woman then used a spell that would bring Twilight back into consciousness, "I do believe neither of you no longer need my supervision or care. Do take care though." She released them and Hermione stood, though healed was still broken in her own mind and heart. Twilight gripped Hermione's hand, they walked out the doors to find Dumbledore standing there with gentle eyes and a soft smile.
With a beckoning he hand he summoned them to his side, "Come with me girls... I do believe there are some matters that must be handled. I'm sorry I know neither of you probably feel up to it but some of the Order are doubting the younger generations decisions as of late. i thought you two would be the best at convincing them that you all are doing what is best for our side and the future of the wizarding world." Hermione nodded solemnly, just adjusting her direction from her bed to head towards the headmaster's office. "Oh, Harry and Draco wanted to let you both know that they are dealing with some specifics of a new mission they have concocted and that not to worry about them. Also, Ron, Pansy, Remus, Tonks, Moody, Bill, and Fluer are involved as well. Draco promises to be home before your other mission, though."
A sorrow filled her soul at the mention of her mate and Twilight's grip tightened on her hand to let her know that she was there for her, they were not alone as long as they were together. "Headmaster... Is there any possible way that I can go on to Rosencrantz without Draco and he could meet me there?" Surprise crossed Albus's face as he looked back into the empty eyes that had once been so filled with life. A part of him wanted to know what happened, but as he had already reserved with his staff, the students would tell him in their own time, he wouldn't snoop around unless it was obvious or let others fill him in unless done so without him asking.
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Amata Mercy
Review Please!!! Oh and if you want please submit a favorite line from the story. I like seeing what people like most out of my work. Also if anyone can guess where the title is from and complete it then I will allow them to set a standard for me to work in to the next chapter.
Hermione and Draco having trouble in paradise? Ron and Pansy too? Harry finally doing something smart? Twilight knows Luna's prophecy? What is happening with Luna? Blaise having to lead a mission for the wrong side? Lucius!!!