Here's another chapter! Please enjoy. By the way I exceeded 20,000 hits! Yay... now to get at least 100 reviews? Haha oh our silly dreams.
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Chapter 16: Quiet Before The Storm
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It wasn't easy being the king of shadows but he still enjoyed it all the same, he watched as another Death Eater screamed in terror at the nightmares he was showing him. "Really, Irial, don't you think you should feed off of the enemy?" He turned to find none other than Lucius Malfoy staring him down, but he wasn't scared by this one wizard. He was feeding off the enemy not that he going to let the enemy know that though. Luna was still here which meant he had to keep on the down low so that she was safe when he couldn't be here, but he had also to be feared enough that none of these idiots tried something when he was gone either.
"Practice make perfect, you know, Lucius." He then flashed images of Lucius homeless on the street, his son walking by holding hands with Hermione as their son trotted beside them, he showed Malfoy Manor with Hermione and her friends and Draco shaking hands with Potter as he locked his father away in Azkaban guaranteeing him the kiss of death.
Lucius shivered but scoffed, "That doesn't scare me, Irial, maybe you do need some practice if that was the best you could do."
Irial growled then showed Voldemort with Narcissa as he writhed on the ground from a crucio from her wand as Voldemort kissed his wife's neck, it wasn't a fear completely but at least it would piss him off. Then he strutted down the hallway away from the steaming Death Eater, he didn't like the Malfoy senior that much especially after he'd found the heir walking through the woods one summer day and had saved the boys life by giving him a gift that would give him not only a reason to live in Hermione but a way to get revenge by making him his father's predator. Soon the hallway darkened and widened, he found the doorway he was looking for, he walked in to find a sweet scene, his mate was lying on the bed talking sweetly to Callie, "Oh the butterflies are beautiful today aren't they, sweetheart. See mama loves them too, what kind of flowers should we pick?"
She was to sweet and beautiful to be his, he wanted to be deserving enough of her but he knew he never could be. He walked over to the bed and settled in behind her smiling into her neck as he breathed in her gentle scent of lilacs. "My Faerie Queen..." he whispered causing goose bumps to appear on her skin, "She's beautiful isn't she? Even though she's not ours, don't you want her to be?"
"Of course I do, Iri. I love her as if she were my own already, look at her, she doesn't really see me but it's like I can still connect to her, she called me mama today." Tears trailed down her cheeks and Irial kissed them away. She was happy, that's all he could ever want, to make her happy, "Irial, do you think we'll ever have one that'd really ours?" she whispered to him and he froze his hand gripped tightly to her hip. She wanted children, with him, she wanted them to have kids together, he was just going to be happy having her in his life but he wanted that from him, for them. He began kissing her cheeks, her ear, her neck, anything he could reach. "Iri, really calm down... you'd think I told you Blaise had become immortal and was begging to become your second in command." she giggled as he growled in her ear softly.
"Don't joke about that, you know how much I want that. But Luna, oh my Queen, my love, you really want to have young ones with me?" He asked softly as he turned her face to his own.
Her bright smile was enough, he spread all she needed to see in her eyes, Calpurnia, him staring lovingly down at her, of what their possible progeny could look like. "I do, Iri, I really do. You know I care so much for you, you're my mate, my other half. Please, Irial, my Shadow King, I want to be yours always and completely."
Irial was sure he just died, defied the odds, and went to heaven. Fortunately, the angels all looked like Luna.
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Charis awoke the next morning to find Harry curled around her, he engulfed her. She thought she might be able to get used to this, he was warm and so gentle with her, but flashes of the night before interrupted her thoughts as she remembered his kisses and hands on her skin. Slowly she turned towards him and smoothed his hair, it really was too soon for him to want her like that. Was it just the pleasure of her feeding from him that had triggered his lust, and sudden protectiveness. He slept so peacefully next to her, she surprised him by being able to sleep, she had had to explain what it meant to be a halfling to the immortal realm.
The sun was peeking through the curtains around the bed and she was glad to see it wasn't raining anymore, she giggled a bit as she remembered the image of a soaked and grumbling Draco from the night before. When the green eyes fluttered open to see her she blushed softly, he yawned and pulled her closer, tucking his head against her neck, he kissed it and then looked back up at her, "Will you still give me a chance to make this work?" he asked her and just like the night before she knew she wouldn't be able to say no to him. His hands drifted into her hair and one found the small of her back, pulling her against him she smiled up at him as he rested his forehead against hers. Kissing his nose he dipped lower and kissed her lips, "I'll take that as a yes then." Then the door flew open and banged against the wall, Harry flipped to where he was facing the door and she was shoved behind him.
"Oh my god! Draco wasn't lying!" Harry looked up into the eyes of one Fred and one George Weasley, he groaned and Charis peeked over his shoulder curoiusly, who were these two boys that resembled Ron. "Wow, Harry really landed a beauty again!" "This one has dark hair and eyes this time though." The twins were talking to each other really fast so she wasn't really sure who was speaking when, "Heard she's an immortal too.""Think Harry will be the next one changed?"
"Really guys, could you leave?" Charis listend it seemed he was practically begging those two men.
Cocking her head to the side she sat up looking at them, "Are you two very much finished speaking now?" They both nodded as they looked at her, wearing nothing but one of Harry's quidditch sweaters. "Good, tis time you both be leaving then, so it is." She smiled sweetly the whole time she said it and watched as they both gulped mumbling something about her being a bloody siren and disappearing down the hall.
Harry the rolled onto his back and drug her down on top of him, "I've never seen anyone not even handle the twins so flawlessly when they were on the hunt to get a good joke."
Cuddling into his chest she giggled, all she had done was tell them what she thought, she felt Harry's heartbeat and purred, "Hungry, little one?" he asked softly and she shook her head, it was too soon for his system and too soon for her to deal with his lustful aftershock of her feeding from him. "Just promise when you are, you'll tell me, I don't want to have to worry about you starving yourself when I can help you." he kissed her temple and she nodded, "Good, now I am hungry, and I smell Molly's pancakes from here, if I want to get any at all I'll have to go now, because once the whole Weasley Clan is up I can forget it, scratch that once Ron's up it's over."
She laughed at him as he rolled off of him and shyly stood up, and began searching for the sun dress she'd brought in here with her the night before after seeing the water accident in Draco and Hermione's room. It was pearl like most of what she wore, this one had light blue accents. Harry obligingly turned away, she slipped off his sweater then hurried to pull the dress over her head. Then pulling her hair up into a quick bun and using a discarded pencil from the floor to hold it up. "I'm done. I think I'll go talk to Molly while you get ready!"
As she walked into the kitchen she saw the twins siting at the table with their older brother and father, as well as the only girl, she smiled at them all and politely offered to make the tea for Molly. Making tea always gave her time to think and she really need to think right now. Molly smiled at her sympathetically as she watching the girl almost scorch her hand when Harry walked into the room, the boy had wasted no time in coming over and checking her hand, he was almost as bad as Draco or Ron were with Hermione and Pansy. Charis smiled at the matronly woman as she shooed Harry over to the table pointing out Ron' recent entrance into the room grumbling about how bloody long it took Pans to get ready in the mornings. Then noticing his mother's glare, edited it from waiting for her in their bed to outside her bedroom.
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Pansy groaned as she tromped her way down the stairs, she had listened to Ron whine for over and hour about how slow she was in the mornings. Did he think beauty like this came with no work at all? Coming to the bottom of the steps she saw Fluer sitting in the living room wringing her hands. Stopping, Pansy decided no one that beautiful should ever be that worried about something. "Fluer?" The blonde french woman turned to look at her, Bill's wife was an image of true beauty, but then again she was a Veela they were known for their enchanting charms, so how had a Weasley gotten her? Then again Ron had ended up with her, so maybe there was something with the Weasley family, her Ronald was quite the charmer when he wanted to be and the right prodding.
Luckily, Pansy was a slytherin which meant manipulation was a key skill for her, and her boyfriend definitely needed plenty of that skill to get him to be the least bit romantic, and in the end he still thought he'd done it all on his own. Too sweet, that one was.
"Oh, Pansy... I didn't hear you coming down the stairs. How are you this wonderful morning, your roof didn't collapse on you and Ronald too did it?" she asked genuinely curious if it had, she'd wondered all night if she and Bill were going to end up drenched as well. When Pansy shook her head, she watched Fluer begin to wring her hands once again, she noticed Pansy wasn't leaving it seemed. Pansy instead came over and grabbed her hands in her own.
Smiling at the obviously distraught Veela woman, "Tell me what's on your mind Fluer. Perhaps there is something I can do to help you?"
Breaking down finally Pansy caught the slightly taller woman in her arms as she began crying, "Oh, Pansy! It's just that me and Bill are doing such a dangerous job being Charlie's liaison between him and the Order. It's just he already doesn't like me being involved but I just can't stand not being near him especially if there could be any chance that he'd be in danger, it's Veela instinct and all. It's just it's for sure now that he's not going to continue to let me fight or be near him if he finds out. So I just don't know if I should tell him or not, oh Pansy you just have to help me. You see I just found out, I'm pregnant!" She then collapsed back into Pansy's arms who barely had enough time to angle them so they landed on the couch when she fell from the force of Fluer's impact.
Pansy smiled and hugged her, "Oh, Fluer this is such great news! You must tell Bill! i know he won't let you to continue in such a dangerous role but maybe you'd be happy just staying here with me. You know, Ronald won't hardly let me get involved at all since the last time I went on a mission and had to seduce those Death Eaters."
Fluer nodded, "Oh, you're right. This is joyous news for us, I shouldn't let it seem like a burden on the war effort."
Pansy watched the young Veela female hurry up the steps to tell her husband the news, Bill was going to get quite the surprise this morning and she was so very excited for them. Besides this could be her first possible niece of nephew.
Then she saw Ron walk into the room from the kitchen carrying a tray of food, "Bloody harpy of a woman better be happy when she sees this, fussed at me all morning just because I was impatient to go get breakfast. She knows good and well how much each meal means to me. Then George and Fred catch Harry in bed with Charis without me! Yea this bloody well be worth it, I should get at least a good snogging out of this." She couldn't help the little giggle escape as she listened to him grumbling, he was just too adorable when he was trying to impress her.
"Ronald, said bloody harpy of a woman is sitting right here." He stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at her like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Come here my beloved." He smiled then and hurried over barely sitting the tray down before she pulled him down on top of her on the couch. She was also lucky he had quick enough reflexes to catch himself on one to keep himself from crushing her. "Now you said you wanted a good snogging was it?" He nodded vigorously and she giggled some more as leaned forward connecting their lips and falling into the spell of the charm that was her impossibly adorably clueless bumbling boyfriend.
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Blaise Zabini, was looking up at a portrait he'd refuse to even glance at the whole time since his return to the Dark Lord's service, it was him at a young age and Draco was with him. Darkness swirled about them both, and the damned dark mark stood between then and mad his sick to his stomach. He had his own mark, refusing that dreaded one Voldemort forced upon his followers. The tattoo he did bear was written across his back, it was the word death, so that all would know just whom he was. Turning in the hallway he walked pat the Shadow King's room. Before he knewnit said royal was shoving one red headed youngster into his arms, "Here, Callie, stay with Uncle B for a bit."
Looking down at he child he suddenly heard a soft moan from what he knew to be Irial, he quickly resumed walking at a faster pace, no need for the child to here what was going on behind that door, or for himself to hear either. He wasn't completely sure how long he'd had the child dumped on him for or what they had expected him to do with it. Unfortunately the short time he'd spent with his one other sibling they been in the lap of luxury which meant they'd had nursemaids to care for their needs.
Enchanting emerald eyes gleamed up at him,"I know you see the butterflies, oh there's so many, and we still need to pick flowers Unlce B." she smiled and clutched onto his freed hand as he was lifting it to scratch his head. He wasn't terrible with kids, it was just the last few kids he'd dealt with were ones he'd been taking to Harry for the orphanage. Was she calling him Uncle B? Irial was going to die, that was it.
"Sure, all the flowers you want, Purn." He smiled as he entered his bedroom and she immediately hopped onto the bed, running in bouncy circles after unseen butterflies. His eyes were still sad, though, he had hope beyond hope that Charis would be able to heal the child. He cast a spell around the bed that would keep her from falling off and getting hurt.
Drifting over to his desk, he began looking through the notes he had of Voldemort's plans as of late, a planned attack on a muggle event and another on some residential area. He could run damage control in the residential area but he was going to have to let word slip out on the muggle event. Perhaps a conveniently placed letter on an orphan or could get close enough to Grimmauld to have Draco pick up on his thoughts. Lately, it had gotten harder to slip stuff out to the Order, Voldemort was concentrating on bigger attacks meaning there were less attacks for his small divisions to go on separately. Which meant Blaise was stuck here most days and nights, unable to find many excuses to leave the lair of the Dark Lord.
Twi would know what to do, heck 'Mione would have already written down and made sure he memorized every step of her plan by now. He'd gone into all of this blind, all he'd known was he had loved ones to protect and this was the only way he knew how to do that. A squeal from behind him had him turning to see she'd found his spell for the first time it softly bounced her back onto the bed. Thinking of his mate-to-be he remembered seeing her at the Clan Wars in Rosencrantz. She'd looked some much smaller, and her eyes had seemed so dead until she was sure she was really looking at him. He'd had such precious little time with her, and he'd been a coward. He'd walked away without a proper good-bye, too scared he'd not be able to leave at all if he touched her.
How could she love him after all he'd put her through trying to protect her?
"Uncle B! Uncle B! Do you see the irises? Aren't they pretty? I bet Luna Mama would love them, she's so pretty just like the flowers! Can I take her one? Can I?" His eyes teared up as he nodded to the child and gathered her into his arms. Sitting on the bed he felt as she wiggled around trying to continue chasing butterflies and picking flowers but he continued to hold her. Slowly, it came to him, could it be possibly that the Ether could help her? Not his Ether, of course, but perhaps his sister's? Being Death brought no benefits, he wondered if Life saw any faults in her own powers.
"Sh, Purn. You need to sleep. I'll get you a hold handful of Irises to take back to Luna. Just sleep."
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Hermione Malfoy stared at the two bumbling red-headed twins as they annoyed their younger brother, "Oh, we saw you and Pans on the couch, little Ronnie-Poo..." Both twins began cackling as their brother turned redder than his own hair, "Good thing it was the two of us that caught you and not Mom or Dad, you'd been dead for sure then." They both nodded with the confidence of their judgement, "With us all you suffer is constant mild embarrassment!" They waited a beat, "For the rest of your life, of course." Ron's groan was muffled as he settled his face in the food on his plate.
"Ronald, do get your face out of your plate that is most impolite, and you two, Fred and George, do you want anyone hearing about just how you came about having those lovely purple ears?" Hermione just couldn't stand seeing the youngest one being bullied so. The two twins quickly shut up as they saw the severity of her words, she'd given them the purple ears for eavesdropping. Still everyone in the room had stopped to stare at the girl, and she couldn't quite understand why she'd so suddenly became the center of attention, certainly she hadn't done anything unusual. Perhaps there was something on her face. Picking up her napkin she quickly swiped at her face to be sure but they still continued to stare at her as if she'd grown another head. "Excuse me? Could someone please explain the reason I've suddenly become so interesting?"
Draco was the one who'd come over to her, kneeling so that they were at eye level, he stroked her cheek gently, but she just cocked her head at him, "Nothing, love, nothing. It's just you'd sounded so much like yourself, all of a sudden, we were all just a bit stunned is all. Our Hermione never could stand for any sort of bullying, except for, of course, that which you performed on one blonde Slytherin ferret." He smiled and indicated himself as that so called blonde Slytherin ferret.
Rolling her eyes, she placed a hand on his on her cheek, "It's just I couldn't stand seeing him, um Ron, getting bullied so. Draco, do finish your food, you've looked very pale and tired." Her eyes shown with worry, "Oh, is-do-um-can I-" He cut her off by jerking his hand away from her face, his eyes suddenly cold, standing up he practically disappeared and they all heard the front door slam. She was confused, she wasn't quite sure what she'd said that had upset him, but if he needed blood, he'd explained so very little to her about his nature, didn't he need her blood alone to survive? How long could he starve himself from it? How long had he gone already? Was he in pain? Could he die from this? Standing up so quickly her chair hit the floor with a loud crack, all eyes that weren't already on her suddenly were. "E-excuse me..." Tears were building up in her eyes, and she hurried out of the room, not completely sure why she was upset or why such a sudden dark feeling was washing against the edge of her mind.
Once in their bedroom she laid on the bed curled tightly in a ball trying to remember who she was supposed to be, who everyone kept telling her she was, who she so desperately knew she needed to be. The walls held no more answers than the ceiling did, and she stood, she needed books, journals, anything and everything on this Hermione Granger, and on what could cause something to happen to her like they said had happened. This wasn't something she was going to take lightly anymore, she'd just felt some sort of concern and deep feeling for a man who swore he was her mate and she couldn't remember anything about him or why she'd feel that way for him, and she knew somehow he was hurting and she needed to help him.
Slipping out of the room again, she made her way quietly down the stairs, she could hear the others murmuring quietly to each other around the breakfast table. Something told her that none of those voices were Draco's. Walking down the hall a bit she found the study, with it's collection of books, it may not have much on Hermione Granger but she could guarantee it had something on what had been used on her. IT would at least point her in the right direction anyways, they all told her how she was the smartest and brightest with of their age so she was going to prove it to herself and them. She had to do this for her own sanity just as much for his, she could just feel him breaking apart every time their eyes met. Slowly she began skimming books, and before she knew it she ha d a pile accumulating on the desk, began searching through them, and when they weren't of any use she'd place them in the floo but soon she had several open as she searched for titles others referenced to.
"You're still her, no matter how much he can't accept what has happened to you, Miss Granger, you are still very much the woman we all know and love." She turned to find sparkling blue eyes staring at her and the old man came to sit across the desk from her. He made sure not to disturb any of her research that was spread out across it as he placed a volume upon it. "This my dear, took me most of the night to create, it's very old magic but strong. In this book I have complied your life upon the grounds of Hogwarts, I've used other's memories, my own, and that of the Castle itself to do this. I think you should review it, but slowly and always under my supervision or Draco's, maybe Moody or Snape, but always someone who can be there if it were to have any adverse effects upon you."
"Thank you, sir, but who are you?" she smiled running a hand across the book, it's title held her own name.
His smile was warm but sad, "I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore, my girl."
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Turning over in the bed, she blindly reached out only to be met with a hand lacing in hers as well as sight. A soft giggle as he pulled her into him, nuzzling against her neck, nipping at it and softly licking each nip. Settling a hand against his neck, she looked up at what he gave her images of, a stone ceiling and the rails of their bed, a semi-large chandelier kind of light hanging above them. Even distracted as he was cuddling and kissing her, he could still give her sight.
It made her curious, she wondered if she'd ever read a book again or if something as simple as hold her beautiful Calpurnia, that she only saw through his eyes, would feel natural. She wouldn't be able to have that private way with her new found daughter as she grew up like her mother had for her. Truly, she hadn't realized she could be ready for motherhood until it was suddenly not an option anymore of whether she was or wasn't, she just was a mother. A mother, who in order to see anything, would need her beloved touching her at all times. A tear escaped her eyes and fell down her cheek.
"Luna, my beautiful Faerie Queen, my little fey." Irial whispered into her ear as he noticed the tear, "Tell me what troubles you."
Moving to sit up, she continued to clutch his hand, searching around the room getting perception, bookcases lining one side, a vanity with a mirror on another, their bed against another, and a desk at another next to an armoire. Testing her memory she let go of his hand, stepping on to the cold floor she judged distance by stones on the floor, finally she found the bookcases. Touching the spine of a leather-bound book she sobbed as she pulled it from the shelf, and flung it to the floor. "Irial, oh Irial..." He was there, he'd probably been behind her this whole time, every step of the way in case she faltered. Catching her to his chest he just held her sinking slowly to the floor until she was a mess of hysteria in his lap.
"Shh... my little fey, shhh." She could see him clearly, his violet eyes almost lavender, the tears gathering in them, he didn't have to be told why she was crying, mated now he could feel all, know all that she was thinking, he had before as well but it was strong enough now she could feel him, know his thoughts.
Pressing a hand against one of his pale cool cheeks, "I should not pity myself for something that cannot be changed. Distract me, my Shadow King, tell me about you, please just talk to me about anything, anything but the present or recent past, or even our looming future." His breath hitched and she wondered how she could fall for a man so easily wtihout knowing anything about him but his character.
"It is a long story, my life, too long to fit into the time Blaise will willingly keep our new daughter, or even the whole of the night." he told her softly, "But perhaps, tis better that I shall start from the beginning and tell you all, and when we have time I shall continue until it is all told. The end, of course, being the night I found you, my little fey one." Slowly he moved to where he was leaning against the bookcase, "I was born, so very long ago, it was dark times for anyone alive at all. My homeland, oh my blessed Green Isle, Ireland tis what her name be. I have long since learned to keep my brogue at bay, have learned more dialects of languages than you could probably even think to name. My eyes I took from my mother, the rest is all my father. I born in immortality, much like Twi. When you're born into it, you age at a much different rate than what you mortals do, we grow up quick in merely a decade 'til our body slows growth at our peak condition. Our minds mature just as quickly it seems mine did anyways. I don't know many born to the life, Twi is a rare gem among them. Early on my gift was useful but sought after, as I can alter what the mind sees, what it knows. I spent most of the first decade of my life being passed between relatives of my parents. They were having problems, they weren't true mates, but neither thought they'd ever find the one they were meant for so I was child of a loveless arrangement, but back then who wasn't? You were lucky when you were well-off as I was and had a happy family environment.
She felt as he kissed her forehead, "I'm so happy, I waited for you. You're part of a myth did you know that, a myth among my people, the Shadow King's elusive Faerie Queen. Little mortals took that and changed into this long epic poem about their queen and virtues and all knights and Arthur. Trust me I met Arthur, good friends with him and Merlin. The boy, he was quite young to me by that time, he deserved his Gwenevere, he was all bout protecting his people, a true prince and knight, good sword fighter at that, loved the maid more than his own life, took quite some time for him to show it though. Merlin, the mortals really screw that man over, good friend of mine, predecessor to all your kind, he and the Lady Morgana. didn't do her much good either. Lancelot, now that man was greatness, carried true darkness with him, I was his patron at one point. Merlin was the same age as Arthur I recall not some greying old man, Morgana, well she hadn't intended to be evil, she was only helping a little hurt, lost boy, too bad Mordrid was dark to the core. Merlin loved her so desperately, almost gave up Arthur's life for her a few times. Gwen, poor sweet Gwen, gets labeled scarlet, she and Lancelot, may I tell you had a little fling, but it was short-lived and regretted on both sides. Arthur was forgiving, and sent Lancelot on his way still a knight, loved his Gwen 'til his final breath and she him 'til hers. It surprises you doesn't it that I know these people."
Smiling at him she shook her head, "My Iri, you have never cease to amaze me, but I am no longer surprised when you do."
A knock at the door cut their story time short, and she had learned so little about them. Blaise nervously popped his head inside the door and saw them decently covered and happy, held out a sleeping child to them. "I'm sorry, would have kept her longer, truly I would have, but I got to get a message to Harry and sabotage a bit of Death Eater fun."
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Staring into the flames of the fireplace, she kept seeing Rosencrantz as it burned out to the stone shell that was now left standing in ruins above Salem. She also saw her intended mate waling off into the mist of the woods without so much as a proper good bye. Still there was so much more that she needed to see beyond that, and now, while she still had time to save those she loved, if not herself.
Pulling out the tiny dagger, she stared at it, it's golden hilt and amber jewel at the end, whispering ancient words that meant little to anyone that didn't know their meaning she drug it across her skin. Not carelessly, nor was it erratic or mutilating, it was ritualistic if anything. She cut in defined patterns in certain locations and only enough to bring a smattering of a layer of blood across her pale unblemished skin. The words had been said to keep her healing processes at bay, she need the pain, need the blood, need this ritual to work so that she could see more clearly. Preparation for this had been torturous, no feeding or eating for days, nothing not even water.
Soon her eyes were hazing over, and she could see through the veil. Blood dripped from her wrists, her cheeks, her shoulders, her sides along each rib, her back, across her thighs, and her feet. Her body was soon coated in the dark color of her immortal blood and venom. Eyes glowed like two milky bright peridot jewels. Staring into the flames she flicked her blade towards it as she made a last design over her heart, the blood hissed as it hit the flames turning them a dark color.
Blaise was standing in the middle of a residential muggle suburb, dressed in his Death Eater garb. His mask was in his hand as his stricken face looked at those gathered around him as they split in groups to break into muggle homes. Harry laid on a bed, offering his neck once again to the dark-haired beauty at his side, his eyes glinting with a hungry lust. Chairs stared at him fear of harming him as she looked at like a woman starved, injured enough to kill a mortal. Ron fighting through a muggle panic at Draco's side trying to help get the people to safety while the Order fought off attacking Death Eaters. Hermione lying unconscious in Irial's arms as he rescues her from Bellatrix's torturing hand. Pansy crying as she holds the limp hand of her brother-in-law as a loud screech breaks through the night. Luna staring into the unknown sharing her visions with her though a link formed by this ritual. Blood, screams, fighting, pain, sorrow, and death. Luna shared it all with her, then blessed light, as she could see the end, the end of it all ahead of them.
Falling against the stone floor, she shook and flailed. The door burst open as Remus Lupin came into view Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin close behind him. Both staring at her in abject horror not knowing what to do. "Get away!" Her pupils were growing small, she could feel the vicious hungry part of her focusing in on their beating hearts, their pulsing veins, the flush what could only be blood in their faces.
"Nymphadora, go! Get Snape, Pomphrey, Dumbledore, McGonnagal!" Remus cried as he bent closer to her.
She found enough strength to curl into a ball as the visions continued to swim through her head, and he mind could only focus on Blaise and the stricken look between terror and sorrow on his face. Contol, she needed to keep control because Lupin wasn't fully human, his blood could possibly kill her, she wasn't old enough to handle his venom with her own.
"Dear God." It was Serverus Snape, "What have you done to yourself, Little Sighted One." he reached down and took her face in his hands, she looked up at him, her fear rolling off her in waves, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. "Must get her to the infirmary quickly, she may be immortal but they can die too. She needs blood and care before she goes on a rampage. Somehow she's shut down her healing processes, she can't truly bleed out but it can be detrimental to her with so much loss, to the point where she may feel the need to replenish for quite some time. She could be come a crazed killer, never losing the urge towards bloodlust."
Cringing at her words, a tiny tear escaped and he gently wiped it away. "Oh, Little Sighted One, I shall give you mine own life's blood would it satisfy you." The offering of his wrist with his words.
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Ron stared as a hawk flew straight into the middle of his dinner plate, "Oi, bloody hell, it's Blaise bloody familiar." He took the note from it's beak as the bird began snacking on his meal, the others were just staring at him. "Fine, I'll read it, 'Death Eaters planning attack on the coming muggle sports championship in London tomorrow night, residential attacks tonight. Trying to stop tonight's attack, will be delaying tomorrow's. Little I can do without blowing my cover. Lucius will be there.'" He looked up into the faces of those around him, his face had gone unnaturally pale, his freckles stood out on his cheeks. Pansy was gripping his knee tightly, staring up at him with fear glowing in her eyes. Draco wasn't at dinner, he hadn't come back since he stormed out at breakfast this morning. Hermione was missing too, but she was with Dumbledore trying to do something about her memory and current state of mortality.
Harry sat across from him just staring down at his plate, while Charis looked at them all confused, she had no knowledge of the war they were fighting. Ginny had come with Dean, who was holding her against his chest now as she looked ready to charge out to battle. "One thing is for sure, we can't tell Draco his father will be there." Pansy spoke next to him, his brother Fed and George agreed, Percy seemed to as well. Bill who was holding Fleur's hand as if his life depended on it was just sitting there much like Harry, Fleur was exquisite in her anger. Molly, his mother, had began fussing in the kitchen while Arthur sat at the head of the table trying to make up battle plans already. "Time to call in the Order, don't you think, Arthur?"
The older man nodded, "I send out a line, Moody then Lupin and they shall inform the Order and soon they will all be here, we'll hold a meeting. Still something needs to be done immediately about these residential attacks, Blaise can't hold it off on his own enough to be successful in saving the many lives that are now in danger."
Standing up quickly, he placed hands on Fred and George's shoulders, "Let's go, guys, we can help Blaise, and you too Bill. Dean, Harry?"
Harry was suddenly on his feet, Charis clinging to his arm, "I'm coming," he touched Charis's hand with his own, "Stay here, you'll be safe. I wouldn't dare think of you in danger, facing off Death Eaters. Gin, you'll stay too." He watched as Dean pecked her on the cheek and moved to stand next to Ron, Bill doing the same with Fleur, "We'll be back by sunrise, then we can decide what to do about tomorrow night."
Ron led but was caught by the wrist by a tearful Pansy, "Try not to get yourself killed, Ginger." She kissed him and he nodded to her before taking off down the hall.
"Look for the Dark Mark, that'll tell us where they are. Blaise will be sure to let one up, if he was going to go this far as to send that blooming familiar to us." Staring up at the sky they saw Morsmordre high in the sky only a few blocks away. Disapparaating, they all found themselves soon in the cul-de-sac of nightmare, muggle screams could be heard from all around as dark figures moved in the night around them.
Harry took off toward one house, Dean was close behind him. Fred and George soon were running towards another, while Bill to yet another. Ron stood in the center and suddenly saw one of the villains removing his mask before him to see two bright blue eyes staring at him. "Your hawk landed in my dinner plate, you arse."
"Ah, Ronnie, even in the face of danger food takes precedence." Blaise's face was grim and the laughter short and forced, "Come with me, the others will handle themselves, i have a bigger problem to deal with. Dolohov, the demented bastard decided to come along, I'm tailing him trying to keep his damage as low as possible." Ron nodded following his friend closely, watching out for any other dark fiends in the night, no need to blow Blaise's cover. Keeping a good twenty feet behind, he saw Dolohov as he steeped into a muggle house's porch light, standing with a twisted sneer on his face as he kicked the door in.
Running quickly, he tackled the Death Eater into the foyer, who quickly rolled to where Ron was pressed to the wood floors. Ron bucked up to where he could get his knees up and in his back. Flipping them again with a kick to the wall for leverage, Blaise leaped over them silently to evacuate the home. Pressing his forearm against Dolohov's neck he reached up and grabbed a vase from the hall table. Before he could smash it into the Death Eater's head, he was suddenly pushed up against the wall, knocking his head against it with a hard thump. Straining to keep his eyes open and shaking his head to clear the dark spots in his vision he watched the demented bastard stand up and trying to continue on into the house. Tossing the vase at him, Dolohov spun out of the way before it hit and had his wand trained on him. Ron had his out and at the ready though, staring down its length at teh other man who wore a silvery mask of horror.
"Still fucking Parkinson's daughter, the blood traitor bitch?" Dolovhov asked, Ron saw red as he called out the fatal unforgivable.
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Harry Potter was on who could always look into the face of danger and never flinch, but tonight something was really messing with his head. He walked into a muggle living room and almost puked at the sight before him. This wasn't just a brutal killing it had been torture. He heard a whimpering from behind him, turning he saw a little girl hugging her teddy bear tightly to her chest huddled underneath a large chair covered in drop cloths. "A-are you one of those bad men that killed my mum and dad?"
Bending down he looked her in the eyes, she had beautiful big brown eyes and long ringlets of blonde, she looked like she could have been about five or six. "No, I'm not... I'm here to help you. Do you have any other siblings?" he watched as she shook her head, her eyes still big in fear of him, he stowed his wand back in his pocket and motioned her out of hiding, "I promise I won't hurt, why don't you come out now." Slowly while staring up at him she crawled out, "Did the mean men saying anything to your parents?" He watched as she thought about whether or not she could trust him.
"They kept asking about this girl.. her name was Herminnie, Hernione, Hermione!" she was happy when she finally remembered the name.
Harry's heart froze, they were looking for Hermione, that wasn't good, not that there were any muggles besides her mother left to talk, but her mother was in the relative safety of St. Mungo's. "Thank you for helping me, here I'm going to give you this coin, but first I need you to wish as hard as you can that you are somewhere far away and safe." He watched her squeeze her eyes shut and he handed her the coin and watched as the portkey activated taking her to the orphanage at Godric Hollow.
Standing he looked at the two dead muggles and then left, running back out into the night to muggle screams, he found two more houses with children much like the first. Blaise had been going around saving the ones he could. All of those ranging between ages three to twelve, none older and it seemed odd but none younger either. H e was running low on portkeys and was thinking he may have to find one of the others to get more if they had any when he came to a house with still screaming people in it. Shouldering the door open, he crept quietly in to see two bulky Death Eaters standing before two frightened muggles.
The woman caught sight of him, and Harry motioned for her to keep quiet, it would no good to his rescue attempt if he lost the element of surprise against these two. He'd have to beat them in a duel, since there was no way he could take them on physically. He needed back-up, it wasn't likely he'd be able to handle them both at once, but he didn't have much choice did he. A soft whimper made him look quickly up at the stair way landing, to see two young boys staring at him and their parents as well. His heart ached that so many young minds were being warped by seeing this awful hate crime just because of their blood and their inability to do magic. Slowly he approached the closest death eater, "Stupefy!" he cried watching as one stood stock still, as the other turned on him. Dodging the red jet of light that shot out at him, he called out, "Bombarda!" Watching as the Death Eater threw himself out of the way of the explosion. Seeing a fire erupt near the parents, he called, "Aquamenti." A jet of water doused the flames but distracted him.
"Crucio!" The DEath Eater stood above him his mask glinting silver in the spare light coming from the windows.
Harry writhed in the floor in pain, his mind trailing to Charis, remembering the softness of her, and of her eyes, so trusting in him. Hermione as she looked up at Draco in confusion not remembering anything. Pansy clutching Ron's wrist before he left with tears in her eyes. Luna's last message to him by way of her patronus. Ron storming to the rescue always the brave fighter, always with some sort of half-assed plan. Blaise leaving them only to bring him some children for the orphanage, still helping them now. Draco in so much pain day in and out as he looked at Hermione, so much like the past. His friend's all of them, they were what he concentrated on, trying to forget the pain, fight it, but it was just too much for him.
"Ahhhhh! Leave him alone! Leave my parents alone!" The oldest of the little boys screamed, then suddenly the Death Eaters were both tossed through the big bay window. Harry took in a painful breath staring at the little boy as he dropped to the ground breathing hard. A burst of spontaneous magic, those kids weren't just muggle, they were muggle-born, both were most likely little wizards.
Both boys soon came up to him looking at their frightened parents, Harry used what little strength he had to shake out his last four coins, the oldest boy untied his parents who both looked at Harry nervously. "I'm a good guy, each of you take a coin, think of somewhere far away and safe." He watched as each disappeared as their portkeys activated, using the last of his strength he held his wand tight. "Ron..." the tip of his wand glowed send out the may day to his best friend.
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Staring into the dark, he walked fast, moving down the corridors of his family home quickly. He hadn't put up any wards when he'd last left, there was a good chance it had become re-infested with Death Eaters. He needed use of his family library though, specifically his father's study. Lucius Malfoy, if nothing, was a good dark wizard, he studied up on anything and everything dark. He was sure to have a book that would have the potion used on Hermione in it. It was a last ditch effort. Remembering those frightened eyes looking up at him, at what she couldn't say out loud but he heard perfectly in his mind. He couldn't stand it any longer, he suffered when he was near her, but he suffered more when he wasn't.
Right now his mind could barely concentrate on what he'd come to do, his instinct knew his mate was sick and hurt, it didn't help to be away from her. Especially when he expected an attack at any moment. He was nervous and anxious as he came to the room he was looking for. Wondering quietly how one room could bring so much joy and sorrow at once, it still smelled the familiar smell of whiskey and cigars. The brown leather chairs were stiff when he stopped to rest in one, and cold, perhaps evidence that no one had been in his home after all.
Looking up at the collection of books he began mentally eliminating the ones he doubted could be of any help. He, himself, had studied these books behind his father's back, how else could he have become such a strong dark wizard even with the boost of his now immortal status. "Dark potions... a rare book, he would keep it hidden, the bastard."
Suddenly a chill crept into his gut, it brushed against his link to Hermione, the tiny shred of what was left of it anyways. Closing it off immediately, he fought against this hold, it felt so close to the last time he'd been under the imperious. Forcing himself to turn around he came eye to eye with his dear aunty Bella. "Oh, my dear nephew. It is so good to see you returned home. I have missed you so." her smiled was crazed as she began laughing even more crazily, "Cissy, would be so ashamed of you, becoming such a blood traitor, but in her steed, i know she would have forgiven you." She smiled as she forced his feet to walk forward to her, then he suddenly found himself on his knees turned with his back to her.
Ripping his shirt open she stared at the mark that covered his back, "You feel and resist the pain of His call all the time don't you? it burns into your skin, feeling like acid that peels it straight from your bones. Must be painful across your backbone, your most sensitive nerve. What would you do to save your little mudblood, Draco?"
He growled, rage surging up within him, his eyes bled red as he looked up at her, twisting his head at almost an odd, unnatural angle, "You won't fucking touch her! You hear me! i'll do whatever it is you demand, but you don't fucking touch her!" He struggled as he fought against her hold more adamantly now as she began to cackle once more, "Haven't you evil fuckers done enough to ruin her life? So, His Darkness wants me, he can have me, leave her out of this!" Breaking free he stood turning his wand against her, "Or maybe I won't go at all, Aunty Bella, did you ever wonder why I always cried and screamed when you came over? Do you know why I have always loved Dromeda more even though she'd burned from the Black family tree?" The crazed war cry that left her mouth showed how gone she was as a new spell sprung from her wand, sending large metal spike at him, he dodged rolling behind one of the strong built leather chairs.
Listening to them sink into the chair he leaned out throwing out a curse back, "Incarcerous!" he cried and watched as she was bound in ropes, rolling on the floor still cackling at him, her hair flying out around her as she looked up at him crazed.
"Oh, the little nephew came to find his mate's cure... too bad he won't ever find it... never documented in anything you'll ever find... that potion will be the death of her!" He watched as she suddenly vanished and he leapt like he could her here. What had she said about Hermione? She couldn't die, he refused to believe the manic words of his too far gone aunt, she didn't have a clue of what she was really saying, she couldn't. Falling to his knees he imagined those honeyed eyes staring up at him, of feeling her warm skin now golden once again, of her tea rose scent, and the faint blush that had reappeared with her mortality. Still she looked up at him in confusion, distrust, and fear, all too often he;d find her flinching at his touch, backing away from him, and shaking. Pain laced through his body, once again, she'd wanted him to feed from her, because his body stilled considered them mated, but he couldn't feed from her, she was too delicate, too easily broken.
Suddenly his wand began keening, the tip glowed red, that was Harry's signal. Something was going on, it couldn't be good if Harry was sending out a distress call. Staring at the books around him he let his head fall forward. He cast the spell that would take him to his troubled friend. "I swear to you, Hermione, I won't let you die."
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Amata Mercy