Chapter Seven: Black Venom
"Avada Kedavra!"
Owen grabbed her wounded left arm as she ducked down behind a turned over table. Two more sickly green spells passed by her ears as she bent behind her temporary shelter. Blood dripped into her eyes, but she ignored it for now. Her arm seemed to be a more serious problem as it was bleeding profusely. The cut was high on her shoulder and seemed to have gone to the bone. The pain was extreme, but she could have lived with just pain. Even the limited motion she could have worked with. Owen had plenty of practice in her officer training working with limited motion in her dominant wand hand. If worse came to worst she could always use her right hand.
No, the real problem was the bleeding. Passing out from blood loss would put a damper on her ability to defend herself. 'Pressure, Bryony, is our first step when healing a gash. Let the body do the work for us.' She could hear the Healer General's voice in her head.
Owen squeezed her wounded shoulder more tightly, while she tried to think of a strong binding spell. The table groaned as another round of spells hit it, but Owen ignored the sound. She knew when a wooden object was at its limits, and that wasn't the sound. Right now, she needed to concentrate.
The warm, coppery blood seeped through her fingers. Bloody hell! She didn't have time to fool around with a binding spell. What was that healing spell the Healer General had taught her just two days ago? Vernara… Vulala… Vunler…
The table she was hiding behind made another noise, this time at a higher pitch. Now that was the sound before total failure. Owen abandon her attempt to cast the healing spell to reinforce her table. After checking to make sure a well-placed reducto wouldn't break the table in pieces, Owen got back to the task of remembering the spell the Healer General had taught her. The Healer General had made it seem so easy… 'For deep gashes and cuts use…' "Vulnera Sanentur!"
The wound knitted itself back together, and the bleeding stopped. Her arm was still extremely sore, but that she could manage with little problem. Owen rolled her shoulder, testing the range of motion. Satisfied with her results, she got to work on her other minor wounds.
The Healer General had created a basic healing kit not even two weeks into the job. The small wound healing cream would save up on the magic she could be using to protect herself. Owen put her left thumb into the small bottle of cream, and smeared it over the small cut over her right eye. It still surprised her how much a little eye cut could bleed. Owen supposed she should just be thankful the Death Eater hadn't the best aim.
Owen briefly peeked from behind the table to get a measure on the other four members of her team. Corporal Tunder was on the stairs battling it out with three Death Eaters. Gunnery Sergeants Gunn and Mouser were across the room, back to back, fighting off a gang of them, six or eight on a quick glance. Master Sergeant Shepherd was near the bar dueling three of his own Death Eaters. Owen ducked back after the quick couple of seconds it took her to assess the situation. The two Death Eaters who'd been attacking her had swelled to five. Where the hell were these bastards coming from?
Out the corner of her eye, Owen saw movement. She didn't wait to find out who it was, instead she charmed the broken wooden pieces of what used to be a very nice chair that lay behind them. Owen only looked long enough to make sure she'd hit the two Death Eaters. Blood frothed from their mouths as they wordlessly screamed and looked down in horror. The Death Eaters hadn't seen anything of course, as she'd impaled them in the back.
Owen could only barely make out the 'thump' of their bodies. They'd been foolish to think they could sneak up on her from that direction. They'd not have the chance to be foolish again, and it would likely deter the other Death Eaters from coming from that direction. Still, if the fight kept going like this, she and her team would be goners. She could already feel the drain of her magic and the fatigue in her muscles. If they didn't get out of here soon…
Owen shook the thought from her head. She didn't have time for that either. Still, a part of her revolted. The Lord General had been so sure it would be an easy hit and run. And yet, they were in the thick of a well laid trap. Owen wasn't even sure how all of this had gone so wrong.
Owen's footsteps echoed off the stone floor of the tunnel on her way back to Anaon. Her heart was racing a little faster than it should have as she'd taken this route countless times now. Owen squeezed her left hand slightly into a loose fist before releasing her hold. The gesture wasn't as helpful with short finger nails, but that couldn't really be changed. Since finger nail length was monitored for all on duty Ankou members, they would just have to remain short. It was only a small price to pay to be a part of this blossoming organization. It still amazed Owen on how she'd even gotten here.
Bryony Owen was not your typical Ankou recruit, or at least she hadn't been three years ago. If she'd gone to Hogwarts like most of the UK wizard population, then she'd definitely not have ended up as an Ankou member. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the day, Owen had been born in a little village of mostly women who'd been victims of the muggle world. Cast aside by their wizard families, they'd banded together to raise their bastard children as a unit.
They'd been so against the wizarding world that Hogwarts was not on the agenda for any of the children living in little Musa. Owen had been home schooled in the arts of magic. Like all the children in that village, they'd been taught communicably from the different mothers in all the subjects taught at Hogwarts and even some not taught there. It had been a good time, even if Owen would have liked to have had friends outside of that little valley.
Thinking back on it now, Owen understood the women's caution. She could even say she appreciated it. From the stories she'd heard of Hogwarts, Owen came to realize she wouldn't have had the easiest time being a half-blood in Slytherin. And from what Owen had gathered, that would have made up just about the whole of the village of Musa.
Owen couldn't really complain about growing up in an extremely loving environment either. Or learning with children that were like siblings to her. Besides most of the mothers had at least one, in her mother's case, two, masteries in one of the wizarding arts. So, their education had been fantastic. The problem was that Owen wanted to be a Healer.
Owen had known early on that getting any apprenticeship would be hard with a home school education. Anyone, who was anyone, had gone to Hogwarts or one of the other big three schools. Recommendations were key to every apprenticeship. In fact, the majority required at least two letters of recommendation from professors. The Healer apprenticeship at St. Mungo's went even further than that by requiring in addition to two professor recommendation a letter from your Headmaster or a practicing Healer as well.
Unfortunately for Owen, all of her professors where technically family or family friends. What was worse, was that the community Healer for Musa, Ms. Goodfree, who despite being excellent at her craft hadn't been a licensed Healer. But, Owen had known that all years ahead of time. She'd taken precautions. Owen studied hard for her NEWTs. And for her hard work, she'd gotten all 'Outstanding's' in both practical and written portions of her NEWTs exam required for the Healer Apprenticeship at St. Mungo's.
Owen had made it all the way to the interview only to be turned away because they wouldn't accept her letters of recommendation. Of course, her own mother had been the professor for potions and herbology. She could understand that, but still. Owen had worked very hard to get those NEWTs.
Ransom, one of the older Musa children, had found her in the makeshift pub on one of his visits home. Her mother had told her explicitly not to get involved with him. At the time, she was sure Ransom was working for You-Know-Who.
"Whatcha doin' little Bryony? I thought you'd be outta this town by now."
"Don't call me that Ransom. It's Owen, now. No one calls me that anymore."
"Bryony is a strong name. You ought to be proud to have a name like that."
Owen scoffed at the man that might as well have been an older brother to her, to all of the Musa children. Ransom ruffled her hair like she was still three years old. "What you still doing here, Bryony? I heard you did the best outta everyone with your NEWT scores. Made the whole valley proud."
Owen looked down at her drink, as she responded. "They wouldn't take me, St. Mungo's. Said my recommendations weren't strong enough. Either it was a family rec, or someone who hadn't published in over fifteen years." Owen sighed in frustration.
"Well, they're missing out." Ransom wrapped his arm around Owen's shoulders as he continued, "As it happens, I'm not here just to check in with the old lady. I'm lookin' to give opportunities to the fine minds of Musa, like you Bryony."
Owen shook her head as she replied, "Sorry, Rans. I promised mum I wouldn't get messed up with You-Know-Who. I don't care what he's offering. I'm just not that desperate."
"Now, wait now. Who said I'd ever work with a right bastard like Moldyshorts."
Owen chuckled at Ransom's reply. He'd gotten in a lot of trouble with that mouth. Ransom had only just gotten out of Azkaban about a year ago. "I wouldn't let any of his followers hear you say that."
"I don't have to worry about that kind of thing. I'm working with a much stronger Lord these days. Which is why I'm back here. I figure some of the other guys would have trouble getting an apprenticeship, and didn't think it right to have to go into the muggle world to survive. I'd never figure you would be one of them though."
"Thanks Ransom. You make me feel all warm and cuddly inside." Owen took another sip of her cheap firewhiskey. If you were going to drink anything other than the local brewed beer then it was going to be the cheapest to import.
"Bryony, Bryony, Bryony. Make no mistake, I think St. Mungo's a right fool for not taking you. But see it like this, little Bryony. The Ankou Company wouldn't turn you down with your credentials."
Owen scoffed at that, "If you're the example of their membership, then I'm not sure I want to be a part of that."
"Bryony." Ransom said in a hurt voice. It wouldn't fool Owen, though. She took another sip before she thought of a better reason to turn Ransom down.
"They probably don't even have a Healer Apprenticeship position."
"Bryony. I'm telling you that they want and have every position you can think of." At Owen's hopeful look, Ransom continued, "I can't say I know anyone in a Healer position, but it's a big military company. What does every militant company need? Healers!" Ransom took Owen by the shoulders again as he continued, "With your background, you can write your own ticket. An officer in no time, and next stop, a Healer Apprenticeship."
Owen hadn't been able to turn down her dream, and she'd not been the only Musa child recruited by Ransom. As of today, all the children born during her time were either in the Azkaban Leadership Training Program, or on fast tracks through their own home school curriculum to take the NEWTs required for the program.
She'd graduated from the program at the top of her class after three years of hard work only to find out that she'd been had by Ransom. There was no Healer program, not even one in the works. She'd been stuck with an Herbal rotation instead. Three months of watching people catalogue the plants from the Azkaban green house, or check orders of ingredients from the Longbottom Greenhouse Company.
Owen had once made the mistake of asking why the company didn't buy from other, cheaper, Greenhouses. Only to find out that Longbottom was a friend of one of the generals. Owen didn't know which one, but she'd never been more glad she hadn't asked General McCaffer about it.
For whatever reason all Hallows Eve had marked the turn of her luck. After three months of what was supposed to be a six month rotation, Owen had been reassigned to a real Healer Apprenticeship. The first one ever. She'd also gotten a promotion to go with it. To date, she had the record for the fastest promotion of a second Lieutenant to first Lieutenant. Even better than that was working with the Healer General.
The Healer General couldn't be all that much older than herself, but in ability, they were worlds apart. Owen had a whirlwind of a time during the last month and a half learning from the Healer General. She was demanding, always expecting perfection, but amazing to watch. Owen couldn't ask for a better mentor.
Working with the Healer General also seemed to bring Owen more and more in contact with the Lord she'd sworn her life too. The interactions with the Lord General and the Healer General were just as interesting. It was as if the Healer General didn't notice the amount of power just pouring from every fiber of the Lord General.
Owen still had trouble looking her Lord in the eye, and had never been called to his office by herself before. She paused briefly at the metal door to Anaon. Without the Healer General's confidence, she wasn't so sure she could do this. But if she didn't, that would probably be worse. So Owen took a deep breath and moved to open the door. She missed the first time, her hand was shaking so badly. Owen wasn't even in front of the Lord General. "Come on, you can do this." She whispered to herself.
She placed her right hand on her trembling left and tried to open the door. Nothing happened. Owen smacked her forehead as she growled out. She'd forgotten to give her clearance. Taking her wand out and tapping the metal door, Owen waited for the door to respond.
The old metal door opened smoothly on its own. She was still surprised it didn't creak, despite coming and going for the past month and a half. Probably magic. Owen stopped outside the thick red curtain. She could do this. She was going to do this. What would the Healer General think if she chickened out here? But what if she said or did something that offended her Lord?
Owen had finally managed to talk herself into running away, when the deep voice of her Lord called out, "Come in."
A direct order. She couldn't disobey a direct order. Owen conveniently forgot how she'd been about to ignore a direct order only seconds before and stepped through the curtain.
"Ah Owen. You arrived in good time."
"My Lord!" Owen stood at attention in front of the Lord General and General Nott.
"Yes, yes, Lieutenant. At ease." Owen relaxed her stance only slightly. She really thought she should probably be bowing and not standing as if she could possibly be his equal.
"I've a job for you Owen. An easy mission really, but I want to test having a Healer in the field and this seems like the best opportunity for that."
"I live to serve!" Owen replied as she moved back to attention. General Nott had a small smile on his lips at her actions. Unfortunately, her Lord didn't seem as pleased.
The Lord General sighed before he replied, "At ease, Lieutenant." Owen moved back to parade rest. She couldn't help being uncomfortable in the Lord General's presence. Maybe if she kneeled… Her thoughts were interrupted as her Lord continued to speak, "As I was saying, I have a mission for you Owen. A simple assassination mission, with a little extra."
"I'd hardly call it an assassination mission, my Lord." General Nott replied.
Her Lord waved his hand in dismissal. "Theo is correct. Tom has decided to try putting more Death Eater within my Ministry. I want them removed, permanently, in the Reaper fashion."
Owen didn't like the sound of this mission. True, Azkaban training was all about putting an enemy down for good. And she'd been leader of a platoon for a handful of missions that involved ending another's life. Still, Owen didn't relish the job. More importantly, she didn't really think she'd have to do it again, now that she was a Healer. Owen wasn't even sure if the Healer General would condone this use of her time. And the last thing she wanted to see was the Healer General and the Lord General arguing, again.
"I thought the Lieutenant was working with the Healer General? This mission doesn't sound like the best place to try out a new unit mix up, my Lord." General Nott replied.
"No, Theo. The simplicity of the mission is perfect for a new unit mix. As a Healer in training, Owen's role would mostly be as team leader and medical support. For which, I don't think will be all that necessary."
"Assuming everything goes according to plan. Daphne told me there were three targets. How do you expect one team to go after all three, my Lord?" General Nott questioned.
The Lord General took out a detailed map of a two story building and handed it to her. Owen wasn't sure if she should look it over now or later. "That is the schematics for the Death Eater pub known as the Black Venom." General Nott looked like he might say something, but her Lord continued, "Before you ask Theo, I had three of Danny's finest spies follow each target for the past week. Their homes are heavily warded. I could break them, of course, but…"
"Daphne seems to think Voldemort had alternative motives." Owen was horrified that General Nott didn't address her Lord as he should, but the Lord General didn't seem to notice.
"Yes, I believe that the homes could be traps, that's why I'm unwilling to send a team into that situation."
"And the Black Venom? Why there, my Lord?"
"The spies found that the men meet up at the Black Venom on occasion. However, there was no pattern. At least no pattern from one week of observation."
"You plan to attack the Black Venom on the night that the spies saw their targets meet up, my Lord? In and out with no one the wiser if they don't appear. An excellent plan, my Lord."
"Not quite, Theo." The Lord General smiled cruelly. "I've always thought the Black Venom needed some housekeeping."
Owen was confused. If they mission was an assassination of these target, how did that involve 'housekeeping'?
"You're not…" With a glance at the Lord General, General Nott seemed to have the answer to his unasked question even if Owen was still thoroughly confused. "That's a bit of a dangerous mission to have a green Lieutenant leading, my Lord. I hate to question your judgment, but…"
"Then don't, Theo. Owen had excellent scores in the ALT program. And now you see why I want a healer there just in case." General Nott nodded his understanding. Owen wasn't quite used to being treated like she wasn't there, but at least the Lord General's attention wasn't centered on her.
She spoke too soon, because as soon as she thought that her Lord turned to examine her. Owen immediately stood at attention. The Lord General didn't try to correct her position.
"Ginevra would be… extremely displeased if anything happened to her little Bryony." So far Owen had not had the heart to tell the Healer General that she didn't care to be called by her first name, and yet the Lord General seemed to already know it if his tone indicated anything. "I'm having some of Danny's more eccentric and experienced men go along."
General Nott nodded his head in agreement. He didn't quite look like he agreed with the Lord General, but he wasn't likely to make a fuss about it while she was still standing here.
"Here Owen." Her Lord handed her another file. "This is the dossier on the men who will be under your command. Study it, memorize it, and understand it, because you move out at 1900."
"Your will is mine!" Owen replied using the common response she'd had drilled into her head her first year of training. It was a clear dismissal.
"And Owen." Owen turned back around to face her Lord. "Try to loosen up. This is a foolproof mission. You'll probably end up extremely bored as the other members of your team will be doing all of the heavy lifting."
Owen had read the mission objective and the dossier of the members for the remainder of her time before the mission. As it was a Saturday, the Healer General had been in and out that morning. So Owen had not needed to prep for her arrival as well. Instead, she'd learned and memorized their objective. Kill the three targets if they were present; otherwise, remodel the Black Venom in any way she and the team saw fit.
Her role was to watch, listen, and lead. The Lord General had taken into account the amount of time she'd had with the Healer General. This mission wasn't supposed to get out of hand. Her team was full of experienced ex-cons. As for Owen's healing role, she wasn't sure how far that was supposed to go. The Healer General had only been able to teach her the basic healing spells.
As it turned out, she needed her dueling skills more than her limited healing skills. Owen might not have been an experienced ex-con, but she'd graduated the ALT program at the top of her class. She'd also been dueling champion all three years, the tournament being held twice a year. Not to mention, the intense trainee school had put her home school education to shame.
Owen's team wasn't half bad either, but that was really to be expected. Corporal Tunder excelled in illusion spells. His special technique was getting his enemies to fight themselves. Gunnery Sergeants Gunn and Mouser were rune specialists. While Gunn was prone to making things blow up, Mouser could tear down or put up new wards in a matter of minutes. Master Sergeant Shepherd seemed to be the jack of all trades.
Together they made an impossible situation, survivable. It had started as a reasonable five to twenty-five, but the bastards just kept coming… She'd taken down nearly eight already, ten if she counted those chicken shits from just a little while ago. Unfortunately, seeing their comrades die didn't seem to deter them. They were like cannon folder. All they seemed to know was the three unforgivable curses, which was the team's only advantage. Despite their talent, if they didn't get out of here soon, they would all be among the many bodies on the ground.
"Lieutenant Owen, this is Master Sergeant Shepherd. Do you read?" Master Sergeant's voice rang over their communicators.
"I read you Master Sergeant Shepherd." Owen replied as she peeked out from behind her table to throw some reductos into the group of Death Eaters attacking her. She didn't expect to hit anyone, and she didn't. But she still had to keep them on their toes.
"Think you can find a way to get us out a live, ma'am?" Master Sergeant Shepherd asked.
"I'd like to get the fuck out of here too, ma'am!" Gunnery Sergeant Gunn replied.
"Amen to that!" Corporal Tunder added.
Owen ignored the Corporal and Gunnery Sergeant. Instead, she peeked over the table. While it was easy enough to avoid the killing curse, one or two of her opponents were smart enough to use more dangerous spells.
The entrance was a no go. The Death Eaters had that covered better than themselves. Even if they hadn't, the entrance seemed to be the location where the Death Eaters keep coming. It was too likely they would have wands trained on it. So, Owen didn't spend more than a glance on it. Instead, she gave a quick glance around the room before ducking her head back behind the table. Two spells, purple and orange passed where her head had been seconds ago.
Corporal Tunder had moved to the foot of the stairs for better cover, or because there was a gaping hole in the middle of them. Owen wasn't even sure when that had happened. Of course since Gunn was making things go boom for the past several minutes, it was possible she had just ignored the sound altogether.
The Master Sergeant was closing in on the Corporal's left, probably to give him better cover. The important thing, though, was that they weren't about to use the stairs as a get-away. At least the Gunnery Sergeants seemed to be holding their own.
Owen ducked out from her hiding place again. Her eyes scanning the bar again. There was something about it that was off. Ducking back Owen catalogued her findings. The floor was scattered with bodies, but that was not uncommon for the bar. Still, something was on the tip of her tongue.
Karik! Her table groaned deeply. It wouldn't last much longer…
"The bar!" It hit her like a bag of brick. The bar was mostly undamaged, and why. Simply because there had been no one behind it. Owen clearly remembered the old man bartender with the wart nose. But he wasn't among the dead. Owen closed her eyes briefly to call forth the memory of the Black Venom lay out. There had been no back door. At least not on the paper, but there had been an extremely thin section that they could probably blow through.
Owen's whole examination had taken barely a minute. Still, time was precious to them.
"Corporal Tunder, Gunnery Sergeants Gunn and Mouser, and Master Sergeant Shepherd. I'm going to cover your escape through the bar. Get behind the bar into the kitchens, clear the room of anyone there. Someone will need to cover my cross over to the room."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"And remember boys, no one in this room who has seen our uniform can live. This place is going to need one hell of a remodeling when we're done."
"Gotcha chief, I'll set up the wards." Gunnery Sergeant Mouser replied softly.
"I'll take care of the remodeling," Gunnery Sergeant Gunn added. There was a clear grin in his reply that really should have disturbed her.
Owen banished the table as hard as she could before spinning to the side and began to summon broken pieces of wood to fly into the backs of her opponents. Some remembered the tactic from her earlier kills, but the majority didn't remember much else after that.
Owen turned her attention to the Death Eaters at the bottom of the stairs. She summoned their shoes right from under them before quickly spinning to the right. Three spells passed by her shoulder, one singed her robes. So, Owen danced around the room, never staying too long in one place as she moved animated objects around the rooms. She sent small pebbles from the broken stone at the backs of the Gunnery Sergeants opponent's heads. The Death Eaters that had been buried under the table moved to stand, but she quickly rectified that problem by charming the wooden pieces to impale the Death Eaters below.
Corporal Tunder created a smoke screen while the others quickly finished off their opponents. It was Ankou policy to make sure your opponent never got up again, and her team was well versed in Ankou policy.
As the Death Eaters died, more seemed to fill their place. But Owen could not afford to hide behind something this time. Instead, she moved into position to protect their retreat. Owen used well placed pieces of table and debris to deflect otherwise lethal killing curses. Again, she thanked Death Eater training. If they used other techniques, this might have been a harder job.
When all four of them had entered the back room. Owen moved to gain cover closer to the bar, upending the closest table to use again as a shield.
Boom! Owen threw up her arms shielding her face as splinters from the imploded table shoot out at her.
Owen ignored the pain of the tiny and not so tiny pieces of wood in her arms and legs, and rolled out of the way of an incoming spell that followed. She saw the sickly green color of the killing curse pass right where she'd been seconds before.
Owen charmed a stone slab near her to act as protection, only to have is disintegrate moments later. Whoever her opponent was had a better grasp on magic and dueling than his colleagues. It didn't help that she was tiring and her spells were becoming weaker.
Owen danced out of the way of the next ten spells. The good dueler wasn't alone anymore in attacking her. And almost kissed herself goodbye when a spell she couldn't dodge was heading her way. A steel plate that she'd not summoned blocked the spell.
"We be the cavalier, Lieutenant. All's clear in the back." Corporal Tunder spoke.
Owen moved to join the group, moving passed Corporal Tunder and Master Sergeant Shepherd as they covered her retreat.
"The remodeling is set, ma'am. It'll go off at my command." Gunnery Sergeant Gunn answered at her look.
"Mouser?" Owen forewent his title in her rush.
"The wards go up in another fifteen seconds, ma'am. I suggest we get out of here before then." Mouser replied in his soft voice.
Owen nodded her head in understanding. They needed to get out of here. It didn't quiet matter that their targets hadn't been there as long as they finished the other objective. "Let's go home."
No sooner than they were out the make-shift back door, did Owen feel Mouser's wards go up. "Now, Gunn."
They apparated away as the 'remodeling' took place. Gunn was known for his explosive use of wards. She just hoped he remembered the scythe. No Reaper mission was complete without it.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ginny's high heel shoes tapped a staccato beat on the stone floor of Azkaban as she quickly made her way from her apparition point outside of the training room to Harry. Harry. The man had the worst possible timing. He'd always had. Harry liked to come popping back into her life at the most awkward times, whether she knew he was alive or not. He was a silent presence that while comforting, she could never seem to shake.
Could she not have one night of peace and quiet? Of all the nights he could have called her on a Saturday evening, why today? Ginny had been in a dinner with Harvey. A dinner that was nearly a month and a half late in happening at one of her favorite restaurants, no less. When Harry had interrupted some hundreds of kilometers away. She supposed it wouldn't have been that big of a problem if she'd only known he could call her. Instead, Ginny was surprised nearly out of her chair when her pocket-book vibrated.
Ginny looked through her pocket-book to check her pendants.
"I thought you said you weren't on call tonight."
"I'm not, but if they're paging me in, then it must be serious, Harvey."
But Harvey was right, it shouldn't have been St. Mungo's and if it was the Order, then she'd just ignore it. Half the Order meetings since the Burrow incident involved Dumbledore staring her down when he wasn't talking. She'd rather just miss this one, besides her steak was on the way and she did not plan to miss it.
"Ginny come on, you've been working non-stop for the past month and a half. We haven't had a date night for two months."
It wasn't her Healer pendant, and her Order pendant was just as silent, but her purse was still vibrating. "And whose fault is that? I was free, and then Death Eaters started up again. I've told you Harvey that with my new schedule, getting out of work would be hard until I got used to it."
Ginny pushed around the few items in her bag before landing on her talisman. It couldn't be, could it?
"I don't see why you have to be working in two departments anyway, Ginny. You just started out, you have time to work up the ladder."
Ginny held the talisman and it stopped its vibrating. Unfortunately, it was still glowing so Ginny couldn't assume she could just ignore the call. Harry needed her. "It's work." Ginny sighed as she put the talisman back in her pocket-book.
"It's always work, Ginny," Harvey said as he stabbed his salad with his fork. "Just ignore it for once. I can't even get in to see you for lunch now-a-days. Let's have a lovely dinner, a nice walk down the Gardens, and a night-cap at your place."
"I'm sorry Harvey, but I can't ignore it. If I'm being called in now, then it's imperative that I go into work." Ginny gathered her thing in preparation to leave. "I promise I'll make it up to you another time."
"I know of a perfectly good way for you to make it up to me..." Harvey trailed off in reply.
Ginny could not hide the disgust from her face. How many times had she told him, "Harvey, we've already been over this, I want to wait until I'm married."
Harvey looked undeterred, "There are other things you could do."
Ginny shook her head, and moved to leave. She did not have time for this conversation. Not with Harry waiting. "We'll talk more later. For now, I'm needed at work."
And she had better be needed, because if she had to go through the argument that was bound to happen, it had better be because there were lives hanging in the balance.
Ginny grimaced slightly at the change in pressure in her three-inch high heels as she walked briskly down the tunnel. Her feet ached and her toes pinched. Why was she wearing these shoes again? It was times like these that made her wish she could have just apparated into her work room. But of course, her talisman only had one stop, and that was outside the training room. The training room which was more than a kilometer from Anaon, on a slope.
Ginny's dress slipped up higher than it should with her long strides giving the surrounding Ankou members a view that Harry was going to pay for if this wasn't important. At least the majority of them had too much discipline to look.
Even out of uniform, "Officer on deck!" rang out before she entered a corridor or platform. By the time she got there Ankou members had already stopped whatever they'd been doing, and moved to stand at attention along the walls of the tunnel or platform. Their eyes looking straight ahead.
Some replied with a Healer General, ma'am, as she passed. While all came to attention. Ginny nodded in response to them all. She'd learned early on that it was polite to respond. More importantly, Ginny knew them. She might not remember each and every name, but she still knew them.
The group of young men she'd just passed that seemed to be heading on their way to the Quidditch pitch all had the same genital fungus. It had, in fact, been going around the male members of the company quite fast before she'd come along. Ginny hadn't been sure if they were all sleeping in the same brothel house or what, but the fungal problem was borderline epidemic among the men. She'd taken steps to rectify that, with informational pamphlets that she'd had Owen make up last week. Harry had only just approved the, 'How to keep you bits from falling off' pamphlets Ginny planned to have issued to every Ankou member.
In contrast, the woman standing at attention on the other side of the tunnel had excellent health. Unfortunately, the blonde next to her had high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels.
It was quieter as it always was as she passed her own platform. Ginny regretted it even as she walked passed, but if Harry was calling her after she had already come into work, then it was probably urgent. As Ginny made her way into Anaon proper, she couldn't help but think that whatever Harry needed better be pretty damn important for what she'd have to put up with Harvey after leaving…
Steam surrounded Harry as hot water pelted down his back. His muscles were sore. As they always were after a serious battle. But the pain was manageable, and to be honest, Harry could have decreased the difficulty of the battle if he had wanted to. If he'd used a wand for one, that would have taken a lot of the stress off his body. But his wand had been snapped some years ago, and no matter what Theo said Harry just didn't see a reason to use his spare wand.
His wandless magic was a symbol, really. It had been instrumental in his escape. And there was no real reason for the more powerful wand attacks. Definitely not with that battle anyway.
Harry let his thoughts briefly wander to the battle, if he could call it that… The fight had been one-sided. Whatever Tom had been thinking, he'd not really put up a proper defense at the three homes of the Ministry Death Eaters. The wards had been child's play to take down. There'd been only a handful of guards. Tom had too much respect for his own warders. And it showed in the guards. They had never expected to get attacked. Which led Harry to believe there had been no trap.
No, a trap for the Reaper would have involved the Ministry Death Eaters. He'd always known that, which was why he'd sent Owen and her team to the Black Venom. Harry would never send someone so young and new right into a trap. Besides, there was no reason for Tom to think he'd attack there, which was precisely why he'd attacked there.
His Ministry was not something he would let anyone else take care of. It was a fault Theo never let him forget. 'It's reckless Harry.' Or 'It could be thirty to one odds, my Lord.' If Theo remembered, he tried to be polite about telling him not to do something.
The problem with Theo's reasoning was that his actions couldn't really be called reckless. Not if he knew he was so much stronger than his opponents. If anything thirty to one odds wasn't giving the Death Eaters a chance.
Still, that really hadn't mattered tonight. It hadn't really been five to one odds. Despite the fact that he'd staggered the attacks on the Death Eaters in his Ministry. Giving Tom plenty of time to respond if the wards had been linked. Which further proved to Harry that Tom clearly wasn't even thinking about trying to trap him, despite what Daphne seemed to believe. In fact, it was the least thought out plan he had ever seen come from Tom's side so far. Tom couldn't honestly believe that a few guards would keep him from killing his Death Eater Ministry employees?
Harry shook his head violently. What was Tom thinking? This was just sloppy work, even for a deranged mad man. Harry stepped out of the shower. He wasn't going to be able to think in here. The relaxed environment of the shower just wasn't going to let him concentrate the way he wanted to on tonight's event.
Harry went through the motions of drying and changing clothes. What was he going to eat for dinner? Or more importantly, was he in the mood to talk with Davies…
Harry's stomach grumbled as he adjusted his shirt, a silk blouse since he'd moved up in the world. He moved over to the summoning runes that would connect him to the kitchens. Whether he was in the mood or not, he needed to eat something.
Harry took a deep breath steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Harry hesitated at the high pace sharp tapping sound. Harry had become accustomed to the various sounds of Theo and his servants. This didn't sound like either of those. It didn't even sound like Ginny.
Harry turned to face the doorway lowering his hand. Davies could wait as it seemed like he had a visitor. A small part of him thought it still could be Ginny. But he'd only called her twenty odd minutes ago. There was no way she could be here already. And what could she be wearing that could make that sound?
Harry didn't have to wait long to find out who his guest was. Seconds after hearing the sharp taping of shoes to stone. His curtain was throw back in a way that announced it was, indeed, Ginny. Only Ginny had the balls to do something like that.
Harry opened his mouth to comment on how quickly she had made it only to get side tracked. His eyes made a slow progression down her body. Now, this was new. Ginny was wearing a deep red dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. Harry let his eyes trail along the curve of her body. Down her shapely hips, to her mid-thighs. The slit of her dress combined with her stance gave a very nice view of her shapely legs and firm calves. Harry's eyes trailed lower. Oh, so that was the sound. Three inch heels that made her legs do things he'd never seen them do before…
Compared to Ginny's usual uniform, she might as well been wearing a bathing costume. Harry swallowed heavily. A very skimpy bathing custom. Forcing his eyes trail back up to her face. Harry couldn't stop them from stilling on some part, but he'd managed through pure willpower to get them back up. Only to find her mouth moving. She seemed to be in a good rant from the sound of her voice and the look in her eyes. And he hadn't a clue what she'd been on about…
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" Harry caught the tail end of her Weasley anger.
Think Potter, what could she have been saying, "You made extremely good time getting here."
Ginny gave him a look that said that was the wrong thing to say. "Good time? Good time!"
Harry let his eyes wonder down just a little hoping it still looked like he was looking at her face. Little Ginny was definitely not little anymore… He was sure he'd remember them being that big. That was just something a bloke could remember.
"Potter! Are you even listening to me?" Ginny complained.
Well, she'd been thirteen then, so it was plenty of time for her to have grown…
"Potter!" Ginny snapped her fingers in his face, "My eyes are up here."
"Oh, yes of course. You were saying." Harry forced his eyes to stay on her face. Was she wearing makeup?
"Where is Bryony? Where's the big emergency? Because people better be dying for you to have called me in!"
"Oh." Harry nodded his head in understanding. So that was why she was so mad. Harry sat back on his bed and motioned for Ginny to take a seat in the chair closest to him. Ginny ignored it and continued to stand probably to show her unhappiness with the situation. Whatever the reason, her stance probably wasn't having the effect she thought it was.
Harry let his eyes wander down her figure again. To the exposed thigh. Ginny was furious, that much was easy to tell by her tight stance and agitated look. But Harry couldn't quiet find it in him to care. Not when she looked like that when she was mad. He contemplated getting her mad more often, but dismissed the thought. It probably wouldn't have the same effect in her normal uniform.
"You have two minutes Potter." The look in her eyes said that she was about to do bodily harm to him that would result in him having trouble conceiving at a later date if he didn't explain himself.
"Yes, Owen…" Harry pulled his head up in concentration and thought about the situation. Harry shifted on his bed. A bed, and Ginny was just a few steps away. Never before had he wished he'd taken Theo up on the idea of an actual office.
Think Potter, think! It had just been plaguing his mind a few seconds ago. Harry closed his eyes only to snap them open. Shapely legs and curves were having the opposite effect on his concentration. Harry looked anywhere but at Ginny. Luckily his eyes found his desk. His desk with a copy of Owen's orders.
Harry had to restrain himself from lunging at them. So, he took his time picking up the folder and using it as a focus point. "For the past couple of weeks, Tom has placed Death Eaters within my Ministry. Three to be exact. And I can't have that, now can I?" Harry looked over at Ginny, looking more at her ample chest than her face, and handed over the folder. It would be easier if she just read that.
Ginny gave the folder a quick glance, while Harry stared at the ceiling. Ginny's hair was down. Falling in waves over her shoulder. She looked lovely…
"Okay, so you send a team over to the Black Venom to kill these guys. You want me here if anything goes wrong. But what does that have to do with Bryony? She should be here too."
"Well, Owen… You see. Now don't get overly upset, but I had Owen lead tonight's activities."
"You did what!?"
"Now, Ginevra. She's a member of Ankou Company and a high-ranking officer, which means from time to time she has to lead missions, and…"
"Bryony is a Healer! My Healer! And you think I'm going to condone her killing people at your beck and call!? Your organization is big enough that you could have used someone else!"
"But I needed a Healer." Harry interrupted Ginny. "I wanted to see what having a Healer in the mix would do for a group dynamics. Besides, she's likely not to even see any action. The Black Venom is a low key place. Not much in the way of protection and not high on Tom's list of important Death Eater places."
Ginny took a deep breath, it would probably take more than that to get her to calm down, but it seemed to be a good start. "Still, you should have run this by me before taking it upon yourself to put my only apprentice in harm's way, going against what it means to be a Healer no less." Ginny took another deep breath while Harry thought it wise to let Ginny think.
Now, how to tactfully ask a woman to change…
"Why did you need me, if you don't expect much to happen?"
"Just in case something did go wrong. Although I doubt you'll be needed." Harry mimicked looking at a watch that wasn't there, "The group should be back some time soon, but I think you'll have plenty of time to change into something more comfortable."
Ginny nodded as she bent over to take off her shoes. Harry was greeted with a heavenly view of cleavage.
"Don't think this is over Potter." Ginny left just as quickly as she'd come.
Harry let out the breath he'd not known he'd been holding as the red curtains fell. He needed to get laid if Ginny was having this effect on him. Merlin, when was the last time he'd had a good shag? Harry honestly couldn't remember. What was is that Blaise always said? Something about a good shag now and again kept the Healer away… Yeah, he could use that right now.
Now, where was Jim when you needed him to make those types of arrangement? Oh yeah, that's right. Across the channel. Harry sighed heavily. He couldn't change that now. In fact, it already seemed likely that Jim was going to be needed to stay overseas for longer than anticipated.
Neither Jim nor Danny had realized how underdeveloped the organization was across the channel. The news was going to set back his plans for years. Harry had been so sure they were ready for the next phase. Hopeful, Jim and Danny could spend the time to get the place set up. A couple more months if Harry was lucky, but it could take longer before he had his spy master and left hand man back. He was lucky enough that the organization in Britain was running as smoothly as a 1985 old Irish whiskey…
Speaking of whiskey. Harry was really regretting his decision to not house a fully stocked bar, or even a cabinet at this point, of high-grade, or any grade for that matter, alcohol. Jim may be gone, but that didn't change the fact that he really needed to get laid. At this point, getting a drink from Davies wasn't even worth the effort.
The curtains moved apart at a more civilized pace, signaling Ginny's return. Far too soon for Harry's liking.
Ginny walked passed him to take the chair previously offered to her. She brought it back to sit in front of him. She sat down and stared him down, waiting. From her stance, she was still upset with him, but she wasn't about to bite his head off.
The silence was awkward and uncomfortable. Harry had a hard time looking at Ginny despite her change in cloths. He searched for any topic, anything at all that he could use to break the awkward silence. "So, you were on a date I take it?"
Ginny snorted in response before replying, "Of course not, I just love dressing in extremely uncomfortable clothes and three-inch high heels every day." Ginny's eyes burned into him.
Okay, so sarcasm it was. That at least was a step up from outright anger. So Harry tried a different tactic, "If I'd known you'd be busy tonight, I wouldn't have called you in…"
"Bollocks!" Ginny interrupted him. A frown tinged her lips, and disbelief glared back at him from chocolate brown eyes. "If you'd known you'd have told me ahead of time to make myself unbusy or, knowing you, interrupt without telling me beforehand anyway just to upset my boyfriend. Just to prove that you could."
Harry ignored the accusatory reply, seeing as it was probably true, and searched for something else to say. Food, maybe? "You at least got to finish your dinner?"
Ginny laughed hauntedly, "Of course, because everyone can get a nice meal at six o'clock every day."
Harry bristled at that, suddenly remembering that he'd not had time to eat dinner. "What do you think I was doing before you got here? Finishing up a three course meal!?" Harry felt his temper rising and didn't try to stop it. "I told you there were Death Eaters in my Ministry. You think I'd sit back and let someone else take care of my problem!?" Harry didn't let Ginny respond. "No! I took care of them personally at six. And seeing as it was six o'clock, I didn't have time to eat anything
Ginny didn't pull back like anyone else would at his anger. Instead, she leaned forward in her chair to yell back at him, "Please, like it would take you more than half an hour to kill a handful of lowlife Death Eaters! You spent less time at the Burrow and the wards around that had to be much stronger than anything those Death Eaters could spare!"
Harry grimaced biting his first response. He could not let Ginny goad him into telling her more than she needed to know about the Burrow incident. Harry's involvement needed to be kept to a minimum if he really didn't want Ginny to hex his bits off. "There was three of them with unknown ward strength and ward purpose. I had to work under the assumption that each was linked to the other and a trap would be set off as soon as I took down the first of the wards. The Burrow's warders were over-confident, but Tom should have since learned from his previous mistakes. Or at least his Death Eaters would if they don't want to feel his wrath again." Harry paused as he took a breath. "I didn't get done until just before I summoned you."
Ginny gave him a piercing look trying to find the lie. She wouldn't. It was all true, after all. Even if he'd not told the whole truth, Harry was very confident in his skill to tell the truth without telling the truth.
They stared at each other for what seemed like several minutes but was probably little more than thirty seconds, before Harry's stomach kindly reminded him that he was still hungry.
"Seeing as you missed dinner and I missed my dinner, I don't see why we can't eat while we wait for Owen's team to return." It was more statement than question, but Ginny gave consent anyway with a sharp nod as she leaned back into her chair.
Harry turned to the summoning runes to order food.
"My Lord?"
"Yes, Davies…"
"I have your dinner ready. I thought you might want it, even though you said you were planning on eating out. I'll have it sent up right this minute."
"No, Davies wait…"
"You did eat my Lord. Then I'll send up a snack. I've got something special just for the occasion."
"No, Davies. That's not what I want…"
"Then some wine sir…" Harry took his hand off the summoning runes, this was a useless battle.
Ginny shook her head and moved over to the bed. "You're helpless you know that, right?" Harry was momentarily confused before Ginny moved her hand to replace his.
"Yes, Jeremy it's the Healer General." There was a pause as Ginny listen to Davies talk. "Could you just send up two dinners?" Another short pause as Ginny listened. "Yes, pair it with whatever wine you think appropriate. Thank you Jeremy."
Harry looked over at Ginny suspiciously, "How the bloody hell did you do that? I can never get a word in edge wise with him."
Ginny smiled at him in amusement. "You've got to just say what you're going to say Harry. You spend too much time trying to correct him and not enough time telling him what you want him to do."
Harry looked at her blankly. He had been trying to tell him what to do…
Ginny must have sensed what he was thinking because she smiled kindly at him, "You've never had to fight for attention have you?" Ginny shook her head as if answering her own question, "Let's just call it a learned skill. And when you grow up with six older siblings, you quickly learn how to get your point across."
Harry studied Ginny closely. "If it's a learned skill, then it won't take long for me to learn. Now will it?"
Ginny rolled her eyes as she moved back to her seat across from him. At least she wasn't as mad as she could have been. "Tell me more about this attack on the Black Venom. From the way you spoke earlier, it sounds like you killed the three Death Eaters. Why would you still send out Bryony if you were going to take care them yourself all along? Not to mention that the folder said something about an explosion specialist being involved and a warder... You can't possible mean to blow up the Black Venom?"
"It's part of the mission objective, Ginny. Remodel the Black Venom as you see fit. I just made sure the right people were connected to get the best results."
"You don't think it's a little… much? Blowing up a building."
"It will be a thorn in Tom's side, nothing more. Just as his… recent activities in my Ministry has been to me."
"Your Ministry huh? You've said that more than once now, and yet I don't think I've ever seen you outside of Anaon unless you're leaving to kill someone."
Harry wasn't sure how to take that so he ignored the killing part, and instead shared one of his proudest moments. Taking over the Ministry.
Harry had been in the middle of describing the runes he'd used to get the paperwork the Minister would normally have to go through directed to him, when Davies arrived. Ten minutes. If Harry had to say anything good about Davies outside of his cooking, then it would have to do with how quickly he always managed to get his food to him.
"My Lord, steak and potatoes with a side of asparagus. Paired with a red from 81'."
"Thank you Jeremy. Dinner looks lovely as always." Ginny replied as a table and their dinner was set before them.
"I live to serve, ma'am. Please enjoy my latest creation with milord." Davies bowed out of the room with a flourish.
They ate in comfortable silence. Harry enjoying his medium well steak with Ginny across from him.
It wasn't until he was finishing off his steak that his mind wandered back to Ginny and the date he'd unknowingly interrupted. Harry was sure she was having a better time with him, than she would have with this mystery bloke. The man had the gall to date Ginny without even a 'by your leave'… Of course, Harry had to reason with himself here. The bloke didn't know he needed to ask. This wasn't Hogwarts anymore…
Still, it would have been nice to know about this bloke ahead of time. So, Harry could have looked into the guy. Make sure he was right for Ginny.
Harry stopped his thoughts there. If Ginny had gotten even a hint that he was trying to mess with her love life, she'd probably hex him. Besides, this probably wasn't even her first date with the unknown just hadn't seen this coming, despite the long years he'd been gone. Who could really blame him with Ginny here so often? Harry had just assumed she didn't have anywhere better to go on a Saturday night.
Who was this bloke anyway? Taking up the time Ginny could be here, working. It probably wouldn't even be that hard to find this guy… But Ginny might not be too happy if her boyfriend suddenly turned up dead. Merlin, there was probably an easier way of finding information that wouldn't also leave room for something unfortunate to happen to Ginny's bloke? Harry looked over at Ginny sitting across from him. Directly perhaps. "So. This… gentlemanly caller of yours..." Harry trailed off knowing Ginny would fill in the gaps for him.
"Harvey?"
"Harvey what?" Harry asked to quickly.
Ginny snorted before she replied, "Harvey. You can't possible think I'm going to give you his full name so you can scare him off." Ginny chuckled again. "I can break up with my own boyfriend just fine, thank you."
Harry had two options available, flat out lie about his intentions or get more information out about her feelings for the guy. He chose the first, "I would never interfere with your love life."
"Oh, please. Like I don't know about how you had every bloke at Hogwarts so scared of you that no one asked me out until a year after you'd been gone. Shoot, even Neville made sure to tell me that you were alright with him asking me out to the Yule Ball. As friends. So, don't try to sit there and lie to me about it."
Okay, different tactic, "Well, as long as you're happy with him." And if she wasn't, he'd be able to tell from her response. And take the appropriate actions.
"Happy?" Ginny asked with anger veiling her voice. "What do you care about my happiness? You've been free for more than four years, Harry. If you'd wanted to see me again or have any say in who I dated, then you should have taken the time to floo. Or write!" Ginny took an angry breath. "But that's not your style is it? If you want something you bring it to you."
Harry wasn't sure if she was talking about how she came into his own employment, or something else altogether. Harry had to take comfort in his knowledge of Ginny. If she knew about his involvement in the Burrow incident, then she'd be making a bigger scene.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but could think of nothing in his defense.
Ginny pushed her empty plate way from her effectively ending the conversation, "Where is Bryony? I thought you said it wouldn't take them more than half an hour, forty-five minutes tops. It's been more than an hour now."
Harry was starting to worry himself. Had something gone wrong? "I'm sure they'll be back shortly."
To underscore his point, the sound of a group of booted feet came down the hall. Harry had only expected Owen to report on the mission, but it couldn't hurt for the whole team to be here.
"Enter Lieutenant." Owen walked in, or more limped in and stood at attention in front of him. She was covered in blood. Her left side was caked in it. Dried blood was smeared along the right side of her face. Small cuts here and there just made the whole situation seem worse. She was chalk pale, and her uniform was riddled with small holes. Her arms, legs, and upper thighs were covered in blood as well. One look said it all. Ginny was going to kill him.
"Bryony!" Ginny replied her wand out and already starting to heal Owen's more visible injuries. Harry waited for Ginny to finish. As long as she was healing, he could avoid her fury. Ginny's wand stopped moving around Owen, "Did you take a blood replenishing potion Bryony?"
"Yes, ma'am. I made sure the rest of the team took one as well."
Ginny nodded in acknowledgement, "Good, Bryony. Now where is the rest of your team?"
"Awaiting your treatment in your office, ma'am!" Ginny nodded as she turned to go. She only paused briefly at the doorway to give him a heated look. Ginny didn't have to say anything. Harry already knew he was in some deep shit when she finished.
Harry turned his attention back to Owen. It was best to find out what went wrong, "Report, Owen."
"My Lord!" Owen had relaxed while in Ginny's presence, but now that he was talking to her again, she came to attention. Harry didn't even try to correct her stance. It would be a waste of time. He'd already found that out earlier today. "It was a trap. The targets were nowhere in sight. However, as soon as we started tearing up the place, Death Eaters just kept coming."
"Did you achieve any of the objectives, Owen?"
"Yes, milord. We remodeled the Black Venom permanently. No one who got a good look at us was left alive."
Harry nodded his understanding. Why would Tom use the Black Venom as the trap? There was no guarantee he would have even shown up there. What in the world was he thinking? Harry looked back up at Owen. She was clearly tired. He could piece together the events of tonight later. "I'll want a full report on my desk by noon tomorrow."
"Your will is mine!" Owen stomped her foot in reply as she did a textbook about face out of his room. Harry watched her take a sharp left instead of the right that would have lead her out of Anaon. It would seem that she was a Healer first and foremost.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" The echo of the scream reminded Severus of every other scream of pain he'd ever heard. Man, woman, animal. All had the same high pitch cry of agony. Severus knew he'd not sleep tonight.
Severus took his eyes away from the withering man to the scythe at the Dark Lord's feet. Lestrange should have known better than to bring that here…
"You've failed me, Rodolphus! How could you possibly think the Reaper wouldn't show up at the homes of my followers!?" The Dark Lord wiped his hand over his bald head. It was a habit of a man who was used to having hair and had yet to break. "No, instead you set up at a pub. And you fuck that up too! Crucio!"
"Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Lestrange's cries echoed off the stone walls of the manor. No one moved to help as that would only have invited the Dark Lord's wrath.
"I should kill you Rodolphus." The Dark Lord paused as if considering it. Severus was sure they were going to be one more man down tonight. It would mark an even heavier toll. "But the Reaper has killed enough of my people today."
"Thank you master…" Lestrange began, but was interrupted by the Dark Lord.
"Crucio!" The Dark Lord only held it for a second. "Don't thank me yet. I'll give you one more chance Rodolphus. And this time you will succeed or die trying!" The Dark Lord's tone would have made anyone crap his pants, but Severus was sure Lestrange already had. "If you come back without the Reaper's head, then I'll kill you myself."
Lestrange bowed heavily, "I understand, master. I will not fail you, again."
"Take heart, Rodolphus. I am not an unforgiving master." Severus and everyone in this room knew the Dark Lord to be lying, but no one even hinted at correcting him. "Do well, and I will reward you handsomely for your success. Even now, I will help you succeed. Bellatrix has brought me good news. The prefect news for this plan. The person to center this next attack on. It is fool-proof, Rodolphus. Even for you. I have even written out the course of action for you to take. And Lucius will make sure that we are better positioned within the Ministry. Won't you Lucius?"
"Of course, my Lord. I will use all of my resources to make it happen." Lucius bowed in answer.
"Good. The Reaper will not be able to ignore this. But remember, Rodolphus. You will be responsible for making sure the plan goes accordingly."
"Thank you master. You are a truly gracious master." Lestrange bowed at the Dark Lord's feet.
The Dark Lord's whole expression changed as he spoke next, "Make no mistake, Rodolphus. This is your final chance."
Severus had been dismissed then. He'd kept his part of the plan. Easy really, when Dumbledore didn't want anything to do with the Reaper. The Headmaster had placed the two into the same camp. A mistake, Severus was sure. Still, Dumbledore's actions had meant no punishment was given out to him. More importantly, the next part wouldn't involve him heavily. Now he just needed to inform Dumbledore of the recent events, but how much to tell?
AN: Wow, it's been a while. I peek my head up out of the lab and it's nearly November. And I know. A flashback within a flashback not very classy, but I couldn't think of a better way...
So, I've got to thank my twin for giving me the idea on how to start the chapter. Otherwise, it would have started out pretty boring with a bunch of filler which would have taken more time then I wanted to make up. Another thanks goes out to bkats for betaing. Good man, that one.
I'm curious if anyone can guess who the next Death Eater mole will be. I think it's pretty obvious, but I also thought Ginny's dislike for Sirius was obvious...
As for the long wait for chapter seven, I've already sent chapter eight to bkats. Now, the problem with that is my PI has decided that we can write my small grant in a day and until that time I should be reading a 1200 page book on flies, every paper that even has a brief mention of my protein and/or disease, and a 220 pg dissertation. Did I mention the grant was due on the 30th? With any luck, I'll be able to post the next chapter after Halloween, but don't go holding your breath.
KJ
PS, JK Rowling still owns Harry Potter.