Author's Notes: Once again, thanks to all the readers who have read my story in the past week. And a special thanks to all the reviewers.
ProfessorChris: Suffering is something every hero in literature has to go through. I don't want to anger anyone here by saying this, but Harry has a lot in common with another messiah, Jesus. I won't spoil anything in Deathly Hallows for those of you who haven't read it yet, but those of you who have will understand what I mean by that. The similarities are quite striking, really. And all the struggle really just makes the success at the end so sweet. Thanks for your support.
GinnysLove: I'm glad you like the start. As to where I'm going with this... well, I can't tell you. First of all, it would ruin the story for you. And I hate people who intentionally spoil stories to those who don't want it spoiled. Also, while I have a good idea of where I want to go with this, it isn't set in stone yet. But I'm getting there. Thanks for the support.
As for last chapter's Monty Python reference, thebladeofchaos got it right. It is when Ginny comments to Harry, "Oh, you're no fun anymore." This is from episode 7 of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The quote becomes a running joke throughout the first half of the episode. This week's reference may be a bit weak and no one is likely to get it, but it's there.
By the way, we've reached 1,500 hits! Keep it up guys!
And remember, I will mark off the flashback sequence in this chapter that I feel may be too disturbing for some readers.
Well, lets do this. Get ready, this is rather long.
Chapter 5: A History of Violence
The day of August 13, 1997 started out like any other. Another rainy day for the wedding of William Weasley and Fleur Delacour that would take place near Fleur's home in northern France at around noon. Bill and Fleur were already at the location where the wedding would take place, while the Weasley family would soon be very busy getting ready for the occasion.
Harry woke up at around 8:30 in the morning saw that Ginny was still with him, sleeping soundly right next to him. Harry sighed and stroked her red hair softly with his right hand as her forehead lay against his left shoulder. Harry had a feeling of security with her next to him that he couldn't explain. After he had gone back to sleep, he had felt another nightmare coming on, but somehow, it just turned into a dream that Harry couldn't remember now. One thing Harry could remember was that it involved Draco Malfoy and the lake near Hogwarts. Harry once again felt a huge conflict within him. The monster in his stomach was still alive and well, and was placated at the moment. But he knew that even the thought of being away from Ginny would make that monster awaken again in anger and fury. And Harry himself didn't want to leave Ginny behind, but she was safer away from him. And his recent nightmares didn't help, either.
I can't bring her along, Harry thought as he continued to stroke her hair, It would be too dangerous for her. She'll be much safer back at Hogwarts, with Ron and Hermione to look out for her.
A few minutes later, Ginny began to stir from her peaceful slumber. She opened her bright brown eyes and looked up at Harry. "Good morning, Harry," she said with a smile.
"Good morning, Ginny," Harry replied, smiling back at the young woman he loved.
Ginny giggled. "Well, today is the big day," she said as she got up from Harry's bed and stretched her arms out with a yawn.
"Yeah, it is," Harry replied as he sat up in the bed, "How are we all going to get to France? It takes a powerful wizard or witch to apparate that far."
"It's not all that far to the wedding," Ginny replied as she sat back down on the bed near Harry, "And from what dad says, we have a powerful wizard coming to help me get to the place. I don't know who it is, though."
"Well, we'll find out soon enough," Harry replied, looking at his watch, "The wedding starts in just over three hours."
"We've been asleep that long?" Ginny asked in a surprised way, "The family must already be up. And if they see me coming out of your room . . . "
"Well, you have to get dressed up for your part," Harry replied, "I have an idea. I'll get out first and distract everyone's attention while you sneak back into your room."
"Sounds good to me," Ginny replied. She then leaned over to Harry and kissed his lips. Harry kissed back, satisfying the monster within for now.
"I wonder what Percy would think about us dating at all," Harry said with a chuckle, "He'd probably want to start a ministry inquiry or something. It seems that he has never thought too highly of me."
"Well," Ginny began, "You'll be seeing him today."
Harry was unmoved by what she told him, but inside Harry had a little score to settle with Percy. Next to the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort, Harry had never encountered anyone as soulless or heartless as Percy Ignatius Weasley. He had always followed his ambitions blindly, even if they broke him away most terribly with his family. Percy was now just a suck up to his boss, Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, as far as Harry was concerned. Any friendship he had with Percy had ended when his fifth year at Hogwarts began. Both Harry and Ron were infuriated by his nerve to say that Umbridge was in any way a "Really delightful woman."
"Well, we'll see what happens," Harry said as he stood up and walked to the door, "Remember, wait a minute before you leave this room."
"I will," Ginny replied as Harry left his room, closing the door behind him. He walked down from the landing and looked around. He saw no one outside of their room. After a minute, Harry heard a door open from on top of the landing open and shut. He looked up and saw Ginny.
And it was at this point that there was a knock on the front door. Harry and Ginny both jumped from how startled they were. Ginny quickly scurried into her room as Harry walked to the front door and looked through the peep hole. Geoffrey Gryffindor and the two Weasley twins were standing outside.
"Password?" Harry asked, remembering the procedure outlined by Mrs. Weasley yesterday.
"London Calling," Geoff answered immediately. That was the password for today.
Harry opened the door and let the three people into the house. "Good morning guys," Harry said as he shut the front door behind them.
"Good morning, Harry," Geoff replied as he handed Harry his good wizard's robes, "You'll probably want to change into those for today."
Harry took the robes and noticed that both Fred and George were also wearing good black robes. Geoff was once again wearing his red and gold robes. "Thanks," Harry said, "Are you getting us to France?"
Geoff nodded. "I'll be getting you to France," he replied, "If you can't get there on your own, that is."
"Thanks," Harry replied as he started walked back up to his room and got dressed.
--
"So, you're going to be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?" Ron asked Geoffrey as the Weasley family with Harry and Hermione walked outside of The Burrow about half an hour before noon.
"That would be accurate, Mr. Weasley," Geoffrey responded, "And I hope to keep the job for more than a year."
"Good luck with that," Harry told Geoff, "The position is cursed."
"Yes, I have heard that before," Geoff replied, "But I am confident my demise will not come anytime soon."
As the group continued walking away from The Burrow, Harry slowed up and motioned to Ron and Hermione to slow up with him. "What is it Harry?" Hermione asked.
"This guy just acts so arrogant to the dangers around him," Harry informed, "He even spits in contempt at Voldemort. I'm kinda worried that will get him into all sorts of trouble."
"We'll keep an eye on him, mate," Ron promised, "But it looks like he can handle himself quite nicely. And he'll be Head of Gryffindor House, so he won't take points away from us."
"I sincerely doubt that, Ron," Hermione responded, shaking her head, "Professor McGonagall won't allow anyone to play favorites, and I don't expect Professor Slughorn to be like Snape."
Again, the name came up in Harry's head. And again, the feeling of unmatched hatred for the man who killed Albus Dumbledore and made his life a living hell. Harry's fists clenched once again and in his bright green eyes burned a fire that would not die until he beheld Severus Snape's dead body.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione asked, seeing Harry's reaction.
"What?" Harry asked in a confused way as he broke out of his semi-trance and re-entered the real world again, "Oh, uh, nothing."
"Hey, are you three staying behind?" the three friends heard Geoff call back to them.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione jogged to catch up to the group as they approached a small item on the ground which Harry saw was a Muggle CD case. Harry recognized it almost immediately. It was the soundtrack to "Titanic," a new Muggle movie that would be coming out in less than three weeks. Supposedly, it was going to be a big hit. He was still skeptical, however.
"I thought we were apparating to France," Harry said, knowing a portkey when he saw one.
"For those of you who can apparate to France, you can," Geoff replied, "But since half of you have never seen the place the wedding will occur, you'll have to take the portkey here. I needed to bypass a few Ministry regulations, which is why I'm using a Muggle object. No trace of our using it will appear to the them; no offense Arthur, but I need to stay under their radar for now."
"None taken," Mr. Weasley replied as he nodded. "Did you take into account Percy will be there?"
"The lost sheep will not see our illegitimate arrival," Geoff responded, refusing to call Percy by his name, "I'm going to stay with Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione. The rest of you lot go on ahead and distract him before we go."
The four in question nodded and separated themselves from each other out on the lawn. They then extended their right arms and spun around. They disappeared with four separate popping noises.
"Alright now, everyone, touch this item here," Geoff said as he picked up the CD case, "Sorry about how small it is, but I needed something I could quickly slip into my pocket. And after we all get back here, I'm going to have to destroy this thing. Not that we can use it, anyway."
"You could get a CD Player," Harry suggested.
Geoff shook his head. "The only Muggle technology I trust is the stuff my brother uses," he replied, "Okay, now everyone."
All of the wizards and witches still there placed their left hand on the CD case that Geoff was now holding at shoulder level. After just a moment, all of them felt like they were falling through darkness for a brief moment, then found themselves still holding the CD case, but now in a new setting. It was near the coastline and nearby everyone could see the wedding setup. They were now in northern France.
"Ah, good, just as I wanted, he is being distracted now," Geoff said as he slipped the CD case into a hidden pocket in his red and gold dress robes. Indeed, Percy Weasley was being distracted by his parents. He appeared to be in a heated argument with his father about something.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Geoffrey walked toward the small array of seats. On one side of the aisle were the seats that Fleur's family members were sitting in. Upon seeing Geoff, one of them rose to his feet and the rest of the family followed his lead.
"Geoff, what's going on here?" Harry asked about what the people just did.
"I'll explain it to you later, Harry," Geoff replied, trying to find a seat in the back row of the Weasley side of the aisle. Unfortunately, Percy also noticed Fleur's family standing and looked around, catching sight of Geoff.
"Geoffrey Gryffindor, the Ministry has been looking for you," Percy called out loudly with a frown on his face as he walked toward Geoff, "We need to have a word."
"Not here," Geoff hissed back at Percy, "Not in front of everyone. Show some class, Percival."
"Why not?" Percy asked, "Are you afraid your past will come back to haunt you here?"
"Follow me Percy," Geoff requested, though it was really more like an order, "Harry, please come with us."
Harry did as he was told and followed Geoff and Percy away from the wedding site. Looking back, he saw Fleur's family look at Percy with unmistakable looks of disgust on their faces.
"Percy, the Wizengamot never convicted me of anything, and you know that," Geoff said once they were out of hearing range of the wedding site, "And it was a fair trial."
"I know you ordered and planned those killings, even if the Wizengamot couldn't convict you of it," Percy retorted, pointing his finger at Geoff, "And I know you're planning something all over again."
"Why would you say that?" Geoff asked.
"You have come out of your quiet life," Percy answered, "And that can only mean that you are planning something very unethical and extremely illegal again. Just like those murders seven years ago. And I know you aren't working with the Order. My father would have said something about your activities by now if you were."
"What murders?" Harry asked, now looking at Geoff.
"Seven years ago," Percy began, "There was a string of grizzly killings involving former Death Eaters who had admitted their crimes and had served their punishments."
"You call public embarrassment suitable punishment for those sadistic killers?" Geoff asked, his voice filled with anger, "Those people would have rejoined Voldemort the moment they knew he was back. Whoever did it just saved your Ministry lackeys from themselves and their own contentedness."
"Who was killed?" Harry inquired.
"Again, a number of admitted Death Eaters," Percy repeated, "Many of them were thought of as suicides from a Killing Curse at point blank range. However, on closer examination, practically all the victims had suffered from cuts and bullet wounds designed to inflict a maximum amount of physical pain."
"What happened to those criminals needed to be done," Geoff stated, "And I applaud their efforts. Voldemort was still around and was about to return to Britain at that time."
"Yeah, he had possessed Professor Quirrell when he was in Albania," Harry remembered.
"Whoever took these actions may have saved dozens, even hundreds of lives by taking the lives of ten criminals," Geoff replied, "You do the math Percy."
"You are a murderer," Percy growled with his teeth stuck together, "That is all you are, Gryffindor. You have no right being here."
"No right?" Geoff asked indignantly, "I was invited here by your own parents and Miss Delacour's family. Don't you say I have no right to be here. Percy, when will you realize the apparent truth that if we do not unite together now, we will all be killed as we are divided? Stop with this nonsense and unite to do what you know is right. Don't let your ambitions rule you blindly."
"I see you have Harry Potter on your side now," Percy replied, looking at Harry with disgust, "I have nothing more to say to you, Mr. Gryffindor. But I do have something to say to Harry."
Geoff nodded and walked back to the wedding. "What do you want with me, Percy?" Harry asked irritated. He didn't appreciate what he was doing now at all.
"Harry, don't make this mistake," Percy warned, "Don't go with him. You're just asking for trouble."
"Percy, don't tell me what to do with my life," Harry replied, "Our friendship ended long ago."
"Harry, you must go to Hogwarts," Percy ordered, "You have to finish your education."
"I just can't," Harry said, "I have to destroy Lord Voldemort once and for all before he kills any more of those that I love."
"Speaking of which, stay away from Ginny," Percy stated quietly, a hint of anger in his voice.
Harry stood for a moment staring at Percy with his bright green eyes, then walked up to Percy and got into his face. "What happened and what will happen between Ginny and myself is between Ginny and myself. It is none of your concern," Harry warned as he walked past Percy Weasley and back to the wedding.
Percy remained standing there for a minute. Harry, I will bring you down if I have to, he thought, No one is going to get in the Ministry's way. Not this time. He then walked back and took his seat.
--
"William Weasley, do you take this woman, Fleur Delacour, to be your wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" the wizard presiding over the wedding asked Bill.
"I do," Bill replied as Fleur began to cry.
"And do you, Fleur Delacour, take this man, William Weasley, to be your husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" the old wizard asked Fleur.
"I do," she replied as the tears kept coming down her face.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife," the wizard declared, "You may kiss the bride."
Bill lifted the veil covering Fleur's face and kissed her. They stood there at the altar like that for a few seconds and then turned to walk down the aisle as everyone stood up and clapped. Mrs. Weasley was crying her eyes out, as expected. After the ceremony was over, Harry noticed Geoff had gotten up and was walking up to the old wizard who had presided over the wedding and shook his hand. "Thanks Dad," Geoff said.
"It's the least I could do, Geoffrey," Frank Gryffindor responded, strands of grey beginning to age his brown hair, "Besides, I needed to get back in touch with you and what you are doing. I assume you're going back to war with Gary."
Geoff nodded. "In times of crisis, a Gryffindor has always stepped up to defend all that is good and holy. I'm just upholding the family tradition."
"Not only are you proud of that, you're smug about it. Just don't get yourself killed for nothing," Frank warned, "I don't want to see Amelia being a widow anytime soon."
"I have no intentions on becoming a martyr," Geoff assured his father, "But you do have my final will and testament, just in case."
Frank nodded. "I love you son," he said, starting to cry.
"I love you too, dad," Geoff replied as father and son embraced each other.
"Harry, let's go," Harry heard Ginny whisper to him.
He turned toward Ginny and looked at her. "Alright, we need to have a talk anyway," Harry replied as he and Ginny stood up and walked away from the wedding site.
"Harry, I'm sorry for always being so hard on you," Ginny apologized.
"It's okay Ginny," Harry replied, "As long as you stay out of trouble. And don't get yourself hurt too badly."
"Harry, I want to come with you," Ginny blurted out, "You can't do this alone, you'll get killed."
"Ginny, I don't want to put you in danger," Harry replied, "And this is just something I have to do on my own. It's my destiny to kill him or to be killed by him."
At these words, Ginny looked at the ground. "Harry, please don't die on me," she said, "I don't know what I'd do without you. And plus without you, Voldemort would have nothing to stop him from getting what he wants."
"You're a pureblood Ginny," Harry pointed out, "You'd be safe for a while." Harry knew that this statement was a lie. The Weasley's were the best example of blood traitors in the wizarding world. They would not be safe from Voldemort and his followers. In fact, the Weasley's would be some of the first to die in Voldemort's new world order.
And Ginny knew it was a lie too. "Harry, don't try to sell me that nonsense," she replied as she shook her head, "My mother had two pureblood brothers who were killed by Death Eaters years ago. We aren't safe."
"I know I've been mistaken,
But just give me a break and see the changes that I've made.
I've got some imperfections,
But how can you collect them all and throw them in my face?. . ."
Harry sighed. "Ginny, you can't come with me," Harry said, ending all debates on the matter, "You have to go back to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione. You have to help defend it."
"Defend it?" Ginny asked.
"The Death Eaters will be back to take over Hogwarts, I just know it," Harry explained, "You have to help protect Hogwarts."
"At least promise you'll send me some owls," Ginny pleaded.
"I'll try to, Ginny," Harry replied, "But Geoff may not let me. A matter of secrecy or something of the sort. I'll try to talk to you Ginny, but don't expect much."
"Harry, I just want you to know that I'll be waiting for you," Ginny said looking right into Harry's eyes, "If you ever need me, you know where I am. And I'll be right there, waiting."
"...But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting,
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting,
And if you chose to walk away, I'd still be right here waiting,
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting. . . ."
Harry nodded, knowing the place Ginny meant. Harry looked behind him and saw Geoff was approaching him. "I think I have to go now," he said to Ginny.
"Harry, in case we never get to talk to each other again," Ginny began, "I love you."
"I love you too, Ginny," Harry responded as Geoff stopped behind Harry.
"Here," Ginny said as she walked toward Harry and took a gold-colored clip out of her hair, "This will remind you of me when you need me the most."
"Thanks Ginny," Harry replied as he looked at the clip in his right hand.
"Harry, we have to get some things straight at your house," Geoff informed, "We have to leave now."
Harry nodded as he walked away from Ginny. Neither said goodbye to each other. They knew they would see each other again. But Harry knew, despite the agony of the creature inside him, that he needed to go on alone. He would eventually have to face Lord Voldemort alone, with no one's help.
I will return this to you, Ginny, I swear it, Harry declared to himself as he put the clip in his pocket.
"Geoff, why did Fleur's family stand up when they saw you?" Harry inquired.
For the first time since Harry had met him, he saw a sad look in Geoff's eyes before he turned to face him. "Seven years ago," Geoff began, "Gary and I were tracking a known Death Eater named Eric Martin. He had taken part in several tortures and killings ordered by Voldemort, including the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom, though from what I understand, he nearly lost his nerve after he saw what Bellatrix put those two through."
"You use her first name," Harry pointed out.
"Harry, you must understand that many of these Death Eaters went to Hogwarts with me," Geoffrey pointed out, "But Bellatrix left Hogwarts before I got there. I didn't know Martin well, either; he went to Durmstrang, not Hogwarts. He had escaped a life term in Azkaban by naming quite a few names, including Evan Rosier. In return, he was released from Azkaban and allowed to return to wizarding society. However, it was clear to my brother and me that he was still in league with Voldemort. He was the first one we tracked down, and after a month, we discovered that he was actually staying with the Delacour family one night as a guest. It was the opportunity we had been waiting for."
--
WARNING: The following section contains scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Discretion is advised.
Gary Gryffindor ran as fast as he could from his crouched stance the final 20 meters to the house near the northern shore of France in Normandy. If they had the time, Gary would have loved to see all the memorials around this area dedicated to those brave muggles who gave their lives during the Second Great War, but right now there was something more important to be done. Gary looked around quickly, saw that everything was quiet, stretched his right arm away from the house and waved his hand toward it.
Geoffrey Gryffindor stood up and ran in a similar way until he was against the house. Both were wearing black clothing and black masks that completely covered their faces except for two holes for their eyes. They looked exactly like burglars and, in a way, they were. However, what they were about to take from this family was something they wouldn't want in their home anyway.
"Well, here goes nothing," Geoff remarked quietly as he pulled out his wand.
"Do we really have to do it this way?" Gary asked as he pulled out a Glock 17 pistol with an attached silencer, "This whole thing seems just a bit over the top."
"Gary, Voldemort will be back in Britain soon, and we have to make it loud and clear that his followers will not be treated lightly," Geoff answered as he examined the window to his left, "And if Martin gives us some names, all the better, especially if he has any leads on Greyback."
At the mention of the infamous werewolf, Gary's teeth clenched and his hands gripped around the gun tightly as he pulled the slide back, chambering the first of 17 rounds. "I suppose these people wouldn't mind this if they knew who he was," Gary decided.
"My point exactly," Geoff replied as he pointed his wand at the window, "Wingardium Leviosa."
With that, the unlocked window slowly moved up in its frame without making a noise. Geoff climbed through first, wand always pointing forward and feet falling silently on the floor. Gary followed his older brother and began moving around the darkened house slowly when Gary saw something moving on the upper floor and tapped Geoff on the shoulder and pointed toward it.
Geoff saw the moving figure and knew immediately that their search was a success. It was Eric Martin, and he appeared to be sneaking around the house as well. He looked around a few times before walking up to a nearby door, a smile crossing his face as he pulled out his wand.
"Alohomora," Martin whispered, which unlocked the door. Geoff knew something was very wrong as he closed the door behind him.
"Did he lock himself out of his room?" Gary asked his brother as they walked up the stairs.
"No, he's not supposed to go into that room," Geoff informed as he moved next to the door Martin had just entered, listening for some confirmation of trouble. He got it about a minute later. He heard the unmistakable sound of ripping fabric. Geoff's eyes went wide with the realization of what was going on inside the room. Without further hesitation, he kicked the door in as hard as he could.
As the door flew around into the room on its hinges, Geoff caught sight of Eric Martin, kneeling on a bed in the room. He looked up at the noise as he reached for the wand in his robes.
Geoff didn't give him the chance. "Stupefy!" he whispered strongly as he pointed his wand at the man on the bed. A bolt of red light flew from the tip of Geoff's wand and flew right into Martin's torso, throwing him off the bed with a groan and a thud as he fell unconscious.
"Gary, take him and get him out of here now," Geoff told his brother as Gary entered the room and holstered his gun, "I knew he was up to no good."
Gary looked at what Geoff saw on the bed. "Oh, bloody hell," he muttered as he walked over to Eric Martin's body and lifted it onto his right shoulder.
Geoff took off his mask as he looked at Martin's intended target, a young girl who had been sleeping on the bed. Geoff looked at her scared face and her disheveled silvery-blonde hair. Her frightened blue eyes told Geoff everything he had suspected, and her torn pajamas simply backed up that story.
"Il est correct," Geoff said soothingly in French to the girl, "Il ne vous blessera plus. Nous allons le prendre loin d'ici. Il ne vous reverra jamais." What he said was, "It's okay, he won't hurt you anymore. We're going to take him away from here. He'll never see you again."
All the girl did was whimper in reply, which Geoff decided was only logical after what she had just nearly went through. Suddenly, he and Gary heard French voices from inside the house, and they were getting closer.
"Geoff, we have to get out of here now," Gary implored to his brother, who was still looking at the girl, trying to comfort her. She was staring at Gary in fear.
Geoff shook his head slowly. "We have to tell her family what's going on," he replied, "Take off your mask Gary. You're scaring her."
"And you're scaring me with how bloody calm you are," Gary responded with an agitated voice as he grabbed his mask and pulled it off quickly, "Do you realize what her parents are going to think when they see us like this?"
Geoff stood up and put his wand back in his pocket and looked toward the opened door, appearing as unthreatening as possible. A few moments later, a French wizard appeared at the doorway and pointed his wand right at Geoffrey's chest. Upon seeing him, the man's eyes burned with anger. Geoff already has his hands raised to show he meant the man no harm.
"Qui êtes-vous?" the man asked, his voice full of ire, "Et diable vous font-ils dans ma maison?" He was asking, "Who are you? And what the hell are you doing in my house?"
"Est-ce que je peux parler en anglais?" Geoff inquired calmly as he showed his hands were empty. He had said, "Can I speak in English?"
"Oui, yes," the man answered, though his accent was still very noticeable.
"My name is Geoffrey Gryffindor," Geoff began, "And I apologize for my intrusion into your house, sir, but it was absolutely necessary."
"Why?" he asked, his wife now appearing behind him.
"The man you invited into your house as a guest is named Eric Martin," Geoff informed to couple, "A known Death Eater."
At this, the wizard's jaw dropped in fear. "What are you all doing in my daughter's room?" he asked, already having an idea what the sequence of events was.
"When my brother and I entered your house, we saw Martin sneaking toward this door," Geoff explained calmly as Gary walked up behind Geoff, still carrying Martin's body on his shoulder, "When I saw him use his wand to unlock the door, I knew he was up to no good. We found him kneeling on the bed in here. One of his hands was covering your daughter's mouth, while the other was . . . well, you can see the results of that hand's work for yourself."
He and Gary stepped out of the way as the girl's parents walked into the room and examined their daughter's clothing. Her mother immediately embraced her as she began to cry, while the man rushed at the unconscious man on Gary's shoulder. "Vous foutu fils d'une chienne!" he yelled as he attempted to strike him.
At this, Gary quickly pulled out his pistol and pointed it right at the wizard's head. He stopped in his tracks. "Sorry, but we need him first," Gary explained coldly, "He has information on the whereabouts of other Death Eaters, and possibly even You-Know-Who."
At this, the man stopped moving completely. "I... I thought he was dead," he stammered.
"No, he'll be back in Britain soon," Geoff explained as Gary holstered his gun, "And we need to ask Mr. Martin here a few questions. May we use your kitchen? We'll clean it up afterwards."
The man knew exactly what Geoff wanted to do to the man, and he had no problems with it. He would probably have done the same had he caught Martin himself, just without the interrogation part. "Sure, go ahead," he replied, "And thank you for saving my daughter."
"Don't mention it," Geoff replied as he and Gary went downstairs, the three family members following. As Gary entered the kitchen with Martin's body, Geoff looked back and saw that the man's wife was carrying her daughter. "I wouldn't let her hear this," Geoff warned, "Please, I think she's gone through enough tonight."
"Loraine," the man said, "Prise Fleur de nouveau à sa pièce s'il svp."
"Oui Jean," Loraine replied as she carried Fleur Delacour back to her room.
Geoff closed the kitchen door behind him as he saw Gary was already tying Martin's body onto a sturdy chair. Geoff looked on the kitchen table and saw that Gary had already removed Martin's wand from his clothing and put it where Martin couldn't use it against them. Geoff nodded to his brother as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at Martin. "Rennervate," he said quietly, causing a blue jet to leave his wand and hit Eric Martin, causing him to regain consciousness. He looked around and saw his situation was a hopeless one.
"Who are you?" he asked with hostility in his voice.
"Eric Martin, you still have a thing for young girls, it seems," Geoff answered with a sly smile on his face, "I suppose your master catered to that tendency of yours quite a bit, didn't he?"
Martin said nothing. Instead, he saw his wand on the table and was about so summon it to his right hand, which was bound to the arm of the chair by his wrist, when he saw Gary pull out his pistol and put it against Martin's head. Martin could tell that this was no ordinary Muggle gun.
"No Eric," Geoff warned, "You never fight fair, so we're not going to give you a fair fight. We're doing this by our rules now. The rules are we ask you questions, and you give us answers. And we have ways of making you answer if you don't want to. Understand?"
"I will tell you nothing," Eric declared defiantly, but Geoff saw something in his eyes that said otherwise.
"We shall see," Geoff replied as he kneeled down to Eric's eye level and looked him square in the eye, "Now, what do you know about Fenrir Greyback's current location?"
"I have no idea," Eric replied immediately, "He moves by his own accord, and no one except him knows where he is. The only one he takes orders from is the Dark Lord."
Geoff nodded, knowing that Martin was telling the truth on this one. "So you are not hiding him yourself?" Geoff asked.
"Are you crazy? Of course not!" Eric half-shouted in reply, "That beast is insane!"
Geoff then pulled a list of names out of a pocket in his clothes. "Alright then, how about the Carrows?" Geoff inquired, changing the subject, "What do you know about them?"
Martin hesitated for a moment. "I don't know where they are," he declared.
Geoff didn't believe that for a second. "Really?" he asked with his arms folded in front of his chest.
"Yeah, I don't know anything about them," Martin assured, though Geoff saw he was getting really nervous about that.
Geoff looked at Gary, who was still holding the gun to Eric's head. Geoff saw that Gary had the same doubts as he did. Geoff nodded to his brother, which was a silent signal to start applying pressure to him. Gary nodded back, then quickly moved the aim of his gun down to Martin's bounded left leg and squeezed the trigger once.
Contrary to what most people see in the movies, a suppressor on a gun does not completely silence its noise. For almost all guns, that is an impossible goal. Instead, most suppressors are designed to reduce the noise a gun makes and, in some cases, alter the sound the gun makes. In Gary's case, the suppressor on the Glock 17 reduced the noise of the shot enough so that while indoors, he wouldn't suffer hearing damage to his unprotected ears. Also, instead of the loud bang, the bullet fired with a loud clack, which would sound like a staple gun to a Muggle. To Jean Delacour, it sounded as if someone had just magically set a fire with a spell from their wand. However, the next noise he heard dispelled that notion from his mind immediately from his mind.
To Eric Martin, it felt like someone had just taken a sledgehammer and slammed it right into his upper leg, leaving behind a terrible burning sensation. As the magically-imbued 9 mm round tore into his leg, Martin screamed in agony, at first more in shock than in pain. But soon the pain kicked in, especially because the bullet didn't come out on the other side of his leg.
"We can do this the hard way or the easy way, Eric, it's your bloody choice," Geoff said loudly and calmly over Martin's cries of pain, "Where are the Carrows?"
And this process continued for about two hours, with Gary and Geoff providing additional "pressure" to Eric Martin whenever they knew he was being dishonest. Finally, Geoff found no more names on his list of suspects and therefore put it back in his pocket. He looked at Eric Martin once again, now a broken man. He had a bullet in both of his legs, along with multiple other injuries. He was bleeding all over, although Geoff could heal the cuts rather easily if he needed to. As Geoff looked at the man who sat before him, he decided that he had given him enough information.
"Eric," he said in a much softer voice than the one he had been using for most of the past two hours, "Thank you for all that you've told us."
Martin struggled to look up at Geoffrey. His blood had turned his blonde hair red and he could taste the blood going down his mouth. "You're going to kill me, aren't you?" he asked in a loud hoarse whisper, his head resting on his right shoulder.
"No, we'll make a deal with you," Geoff replied as he crouched down to be eye-to-eye with Eric again, "You promise not to go after underage girls again, and we'll patch you up and let you go."
Eric considered what Geoff had said for a moment. "I would think a man of your namesake would never resort to this," he commented.
"You forget that my last name is Gryffindor, not Dumbledore," Geoff pointed out, "My ancestors would have started cutting your fingers off about an hour ago. My family has never been a group of saints, Eric, although I know many make them out to be that way. And while I do respect Albus Dumbledore, I don't agree with his idealistic approach for dealing with your master at all. Not anymore, anyway. I am a man of action, as you have found out the hard way."
Eric laughed in spite of his own injuries. He had a very dark sense of humor. "Oh, why couldn't I have followed your banner instead of his?" he asked rhetorically, contemplating his own fate, "I've never been big on the whole pure-blood philosophy. I just thought he looked like such a great leader that he couldn't be wrong, you know?"
"And your time at Durmstrang didn't help you at all with not looking up to Voldemort," Gary commented, actually using the name, which caused Martin to make an involuntary flinch as Geoffrey used his own wand to start patching up his cuts.
"You know, this is an apt place to be talking about blood status," Geoff pointed out as he healed a particularly nasty gash on Eric's right shoulder, "Just north of here is the coast of Normandy. I know they don't offer Muggle studies at Durmstrang, but I'm sure you've heard of what muggles call either World War II or the Second Great War, right Eric?"
"Yeah, I've heard of it," Eric replied, starting to feel a little more comfortable now, "But I don't know much about it, really."
"The Second Great War was the most destructive war the Muggle world has ever seen," Geoff explained, "Some estimates put the number of muggles killed in that war at more than 72 million."
At the mention of that number, Eric's jaw dropped. "Are there even that many wizards and witches alive today?" he asked.
Geoff laughed for a moment. "Oh yes, many more," he assured, "You forget that there are more than 100 million living in the States alone. But you understand the scale that we're talking about here. And this war was triggered in great part by a Muggle named Adolf Hitler, who was the leader of Germany. He proclaimed that all races were inferior to the Aryan 'Master' race. Does that sound familiar at all?"
Eric thought for a moment, and then Geoff saw the epiphany in his face. "That's exactly like what the Dark Lord says about muggle-born witches and wizards," he reported, "But he also says that they are not even worthy to live."
Geoff had just begun work on Eric's leg wounds when Eric said that. "Well, Hitler said the same thing about the other races, basically," he continued, "And he practiced what he preached. Hitler ordered the organized murder of at least six million innocent muggles. And Voldemort would love to do the same to all the half-bloods and muggle-borns in the world. And another strange connection between Hitler and your master is that like Hitler, Voldemort isn't even a pure-blood."
This last revelation hit Martin harder than anything else he had experienced tonight, and he knew it wasn't a lie. And it also made him realize something about his own fate.
"Geoffrey Gryffindor, I have my own deal to offer you," Eric stated with strength in his voice, "And it's a very simple offer."
"You know something else that you didn't tell me before?" Geoff asked.
"No, I've told you everything," Eric admitted as he looked his torturer square in the eye, "I need you to kill me."
That demand didn't surprise Geoffrey at all. But he didn't want to see a human life be put to waste. "Why?" he inquired, trying to talk Martin out of this.
"The Dark Lord won't let me live, not after all I know and all I told you," Eric pointed out, "And he'll have me tortured worse than you could possibly imagine. I saw what the Death Eaters can do to you. What Lestrange did to the Longbottoms will haunt me to the grave."
"Can I ask you for one thing before I ascent to this deal?" Geoff inquired, "And this might be rather painful for you."
"Considering I'll be dead soon, does it really matter?" Eric asked in reply, "What do you want?"
"The torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom by Bellatrix Lestrange," Geoffrey replied.
That made Martin stop in his tracks. "You sure you want to see that?" Eric asked cautiously, "It made me rat out my group to the Ministry, you know. And I'm not the softest person in the world."
"I need to know what I'm up against, Eric," Geoff pointed out, "And Lestrange could be the most dangerous Death Eater out there. I don't care if she's in prison or not."
Eric nodded as he recalled what happened on that night. He began to weep almost immediately as the horror of that night came to mind. Geoffrey saw that he had gone into a state of shell shock as he vividly relived the incident again, as his face seemed calm but he was totally unresponsive. Geoff put the tip of his wand to Eric's head and then drew it away. Silvery wisps of the dreaded memory came out of Martin's head as Geoff stuffed the memory into a small glass bottle he had just taken out of his pocket and then corked the bottle. He placed both the bottle and his wand back in his pocket as Eric lay back in the chair and breathed heavily for a few minutes, trying to regain his composure.
"You know, you need not die here, Eric," Geoffrey pointed out, "We can protect you from your master."
Eric simply shook his head. "No, I'm not getting you into that kind of trouble," he said, "I am a dead man. And if he does me in, I know how terrible it could be, and it could even be worse than that. He won't let me live, and he'll make me die in the worst possible way. Just kill me now. I prefer the quick and painless death. Besides, I gave up on redeeming myself years ago. I am nothing but a criminal or the worst sort."
Gary responded by putting his pistol against Eric's head, but Geoff shook his head. "No, Gary, not that way," he denied as Gary holstered his weapon, "Let him loose."
Gary nodded and began to untie the ropes that held Martin into the chair, beginning with his ankles. After Gary had finished with his wrists, Eric stood up straight and grimaced in pain. "Those bullets are still in my legs, you know," he mentioned to Geoff.
"I had a funny feeling I forgot something," Geoff said with a chuckle as he retrieved Martin's wand from the table, "Want me to get rid of those?"
"No, it doesn't really matter," he replied, "Just finish this."
"Eric, if you're so keen on dying, why don't you just do this yourself?" Geoff asked the Death Eater.
Eric Martin thought for a moment about that. Then he nodded to the elder Gryffindor brother. "Give me my damn wand," he demanded.
"I leave the choice up to you, Eric," Geoff replied, handing the wand over, "Choose wisely."
"There is no damn choice here," Eric stated as he pointed the tip of his wand at his chest, "I have no desire to live on borrowed time." And with that, he closed his eyes and then said his final words, "Avada Kedavra."
And with that, a bright green light flashed from the wand, blinding the Gryffindor brothers for an instant. The next thing they saw was Eric Martin's body falling backwards and hitting the floor, his wand gripped in his right hand and his eyes wide open. He hit the floor with a hard thud and was completely motionless afterwards.
"Well, I suppose we have to clean up after ourselves now," Geoff commented.
--
About 20 minutes after the screaming stopped, Jean was starting to get concerned about what had happened in his kitchen when the door finally opened again. Geoffrey Gryffindor walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.
"Your kitchen is just how we found it now," Geoff assured Jean Delacour, "And you'll have no troubles with Mr. Martin anymore."
"You killed him?" Jean asked, panic beginning to take hold of him realizing what that may mean for him and his family.
"Well, he is dead, but I didn't kill him," Geoff corrected.
That didn't help Delacour. "Oh mon Dieu!" he began in his native tongue, "Ils vont venir après moi! Ils vont venir tuer ma famille!" What he said was, "Oh my God! They're going to come after me! They're going to come and kill my family!"
Geoff reached out and held Jean's shoulder lightly. "Jean, don't worry," Geoff assured, "I will make sure that the Death Eaters don't come after you or your family. I promise you that. If they come after anyone, it will be me. Trust me, they'll know you had nothing to do with this."
Jean nodded, although he still wasn't completely reassured by those words. "I can't believe he would do something like that to me," he remarked, "If you didn't break into my house, who knows what he would have done to my Fleur."
"That's your daughter's name?" Geoffrey asked.
"Oui," Jean replied.
"She is a very beautiful girl," Geoff commented.
"Well, my mother was a Veela," Jean admitted.
Geoff nodded. "That will do it," he said, "I'm sure she'll become a very beautiful woman."
"Thank you for everything, Monsieur Gryffindor," Jean said as he reached out his hand.
"No problem, Jean," Geoff replied as he shook his hand, "Just making sure the Death Eaters know that they won't get away with anything they want."
End of sequence.
--
"And ever since then, Mr. Delacour and I have been friends," Geoff finished his story, "So that's why his family greeted me as they did."
"I see," Harry replied.
"But enough living in the past," Geoff commented, "We have lots of work to do."
--
Author's Notes: And there you have it. Originally, that flashback sequence wasn't a part of this chapter. But I decided to explain what happened between the Delacours and Geoff,and thus the flashback sequence here. I also used it to set a big contrast between Dumbledore and Geoffrey. This isn't another old mentor who will discourage Harry from ever striking in anger or resorting to terrible tactics. This is a man with obvious flaws. He takes matters into his own hands to protect the things he holds dear to him. He isn't afraid to kill and while he bears the guilt, that guilt doesn't make his hesitate in doing what he feels has to be done. In many ways, this makes him more like Lord Voldemort than Albus Dumbledore. That's a point that I disagree with J.K. Rowling on. She made everything a simple good vs. evil thing when reality is never, ever that simple.If only it were that simple, but it isn't.
The title of this chapter was changed as well. The original title was too clunky, in my opinion. It's actually the same as the DC Comics graphic novel which was turned into a film in 2005. It also refers to Geoff and the history of violence that follows him. Later chapters will expand on that, including one which walks us through the important events of Geoff's life.
Also, I used an online translator for my French used in the flashback sequence, so I'm almost certain the sentences contain mistakes. If anyone with more knowledge of French than I do could correct them, I's be most grateful.
Well, that's all for now, I think. Until next week, read, review and enjoy.