Chapter 17: The Renatusis Spell
"Wow. This is a pretty big house." I whistled as I stepped out of the fireplace. Chad had gotten permission to floo us to his house.
"Ya. Mum and Dad got it just after Caylee was born. It is a nice home." He smiled as he guided me to the bedroom.
"So my room is down the hall. Caylee is at work so we'll only see her in the evening. Why don't you freshen up and come downstairs. I'll give you a tour of the house."
"Alright." I smiled before closing the bedroom door.
The room was even bigger than my room back in Hogwarts. It had deep purple walls and a giant maroon four-poster bed. There was a big fireplace and French windows on either side of the room. The bathroom was ivory-white and had a Jacuzzi in it as well.
I changed and washed my face before heading downstairs to the large living room which had three big couches surrounding a grand fireplace and two small fountains on either side of it.
"Ah. There you are." I heard Chad as he stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel.
"I see you've already seen the living room. This way, I'll show you to the dining hall." He gestured before walking to the left of the living room.
He showed me the dining hall, three offices, another spare room and a yard on the first floor itself.
"You have a library in your house!" I exclaimed as we walked into a giant room with shelves and shelves of books.
"Of course. I forced Father to build this room. You know how I love books!" he grinned.
"Well, it's nearly lunch-time. Let's eat first before we explore the library."
I nodded and we headed back to the dining hall where a few House Elves were preparing the table.
"You know, I am against this whole concept of House Elves…"
"I know. I know." He rolled his eyes and I scoffed.
"That was rude. This is very barbaric. This whole idea of having poor elves do all the work for you." I huffed, sitting down at the table.
"Yes. Well, we treat them properly, in case you were wondering and we give them more benefits than any other House Elves in London. So…"
"Alright. Alright." I mumbled.
"Try this. It's really good." Chad said as he passed me a cup of some red juice.
"What is it?" I murmured as I stared into it.
It was a crimson red, and small black bubbles were popping at the surface. It was almost hypnotizing to watch the bubbles appear and disappear.
"It's a special type of apple juice. Very rare. It's the most delicious thing ever." He smiled.
"It looks like poison!" I joked, rolling the cup around, watching it flow slowly from left to right.
"Ya. Because I plan to kill you. Muahaha!" he dramatically waved his hands in the air, chuckling darkly.
"Smells funny." I commented as I sniffed the drink.
It smelled like rotting flesh.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake Hermione." He mumbled, taking the cup from my hand and taking a huge gulp of it.
"There. See. Nothing. Relax! It's nice." He coolly said, handing back the cup which was now half empty.
I rolled my eyes and took a sip of it. It was absolutely divine. It tasted like apples and honey, mixed with the sweetest caramel and a hint of peppermint. So many flavors swirled around my mouth and I quickly gulped down the addictive drink.
"You were right. It is nice!" I exclaimed, pouring myself another cup-full.
After lunch, and six cups of the delicious apple juice, we made our way to the library where Chad showed me some his favorite books.
"This one is about a Muggle who accidentally discovers a secret…"
Chad continued telling me about some book of his as we lounged on a sofa. I was struggling to keep my eyes open as his voice suddenly became muzzled and there was aloud ringing in my ear. Slowly, the room started spinning and I clutched my throat as it started to close up. My stomach was burning and my head was throbbing.
"Hermione?"
I fell to the floor as I started sweating bullets and my blood was on fire.
"Hermione? Are you alright?"
I struggled to shake my head as I tried to breathe but my throat just got tighter and tighter.
After a few seconds, everything became darker and darker and the last thing I saw was Chad's blurred face as my mind slipped into a black abyss.
I groaned as I opened my eyes. The lower part of my body was numb and and my head was spinning. After a couple of seconds of getting used to the darkness around me, I moved my limbs only to realize that I was in a chair, with my arms behind my back and my legs firmly clamped together, under a binding spell. I struggled to break free, but the spell was too strong. All the more, my hands and feet were bound in magical ropes which could not be ripped or broken whatsoever without lifting the spell.
I looked around and realized I was in a small dungeon which was completely empty, with four bare stone walls around me and a small lantern swinging from the ceiling, emitting the smallest amount of light.
The door swung open and a cloaked figure walked in, dawned from head to toe in black with a mask on his face.
"Aaah. You're awake."
Wait…that voice…
"Chad?" I whispered, my throat as hoarse as ever.
"Aw. You recognized my voice!" he chuckled, pulling off the mask to show his sinister-looking face.
"How sweet." He grinned maliciously.
"Chad. What…how…" I struggled to speak, my lungs exhausted.
"Confused as to what happened? Haven't you heard of the story of Snow White? Don't you know strange apple treats are very bad for you." He scolded, as if to a little child.
"But…you…"
"I drank the same drink. Yes, I know. You see, this potion is very special. It only works on, what's the proper name for people like you? Oh yes. Mudbloods." He spat as he walked towards me.
"B-But…why…"
"Sweet, naïve Hermione. You honestly need to improve your sense of judgment. You thought I was a true friend who would never do anything to hurt you, am I right? Well, obviously you are not the brightest witch of your age then. Which is why I guess I will have to explain everything to you now, since it will take you forever to understand." He sighed.
"Maybe I shall start by introducing myself." He grinned before rolling up his sleeve to show that horrid snake tattoo which immediately made me realize who he was.
"Chad Durklin. DeathEater. Pleasure to meet you." He laughed as he pushed down his sleeve.
"Y-You…D-Dea…"
I couldn't speak. Not only was I too drained, but I was simply too shocked.
"Yes, yes. I'm a DeathEater. Shh. Don't interrupt the storytelling session." He cooed as he patted my head.
I glared daggers at him. If I had enough strength, I would have spit in his face.
"Now, as to why you're here. I'm sure you know my master was not very…successful in his attempt to eradicate that bastard Harry Potter. The boy who just won't die. Anyway…he is gone. But what many don't realize is that we are still here. Us, his followers. And there is this special spell we all created, in case our Dark Lord failed. The Renatusis Spell. You see…how it works is that all of us will give up all our magical abilities and powers, ultimately our life, to a single embodiment of being. That being, will become the most powerful Wizard of all time, hundred times greater than either Harry Potter or the previous form of our Dark Lord. And he shall be reborn as the same Dark Lord, only this time more powerful and undefeatable. Amazing, isn't it!" he cheered.
I seethed as I listened to his explanation.
A being will all the powers of every single DeathEater alive.
That will surely be no match for Harry!
But…what does that have to do with me?
As if on cue, Chad chuckled darkly.
"Wondering what your part is in all of this?" he grinned.
How could such a warm smile turn so cold and evil.
"You see, the spell is such that it will only work with non-magical blood of a Wizard. In short, the blood of a Mudblood. Don't ask why, for I have no patience to explain. The faster the ritual is carried out, the better." He exclaimed.
"N-No." I stuttered out, shaking my head as much as I could.
"Oh, muddy, you don't really have a choice. There's a difference in this reincarnation of the Dark Lord. You see, the first time all those years ago, only one small drop of Harry Potter's blood was needed to bring him back. This time, we will need more than that. And the amount we need is…well…all of it. So, I don't think you can survive with no blood at all, right?" He smirked.
My breathing became heavy and my heart quickened about ten times.
"Oh, but don't think your death will be painless and quick. Ha! In your dreams. No, this ritual will take time. We will need to…adjust your blood a bit. You will be fed a special potion which will alter some things in your blood for a period of time and after that period, once your blood is ready, then you will be sacrificed. And let me tell you know, Mudblood, the adjustments are not painless either." He spoke, a cold laugh erupting from his mouth.
"Come on in, my fellow friends! She is ready for the first intake of the potion." He called out as he stood behind me.
A group of masked DeathEaters entered the small room. It was cramped with about 20 of them surrounding me.
"This is what is left of my fellow companions after that War. But not to worry, this many is more than enough for the ritual." He smirked.
"He…w-was…right." I coughed out, blood flowing from my mouth as my lungs continued struggling to take in air.
"Your little Head Boy, as in? Oh, Muddy, like I said earlier, you really need to improve your sense of judgment." He chuckled, moving over to stand in front of me again.
I looked confused at him for a second before noticing another masked DeathEater enter the room, pushing his way to the front.
"Aaah. You're here. We were just talking about you." Chad chuckled to the DeathEater, clasping his shoulder lightly.
The DeathEater slowly reached up and pulled off his mask, a cold, unmistakable smirk on his face as a cold, heartless laugh came out of his mouth.
"D-Draco?"