CHAPTER 10: TO EACH HIS OWN THOUGHT
(Richard POV)
The Head Auror was deep in thought. He, along with two of his subordinates, were the ones interviewed the Evans and their guests.
They all stated things in a different manner, but the information they conveyed was the same. From the inquiry, Parker noted that:
1. Seven Death Eaters, along with ten werewolves (According to one of the witnesses, seven were wearing Death Eater masks, while the rest had a scent he was certainly sure belonged to werewolves), seventeen wizards in all, attacked the Evans residence. Two members of the group were recognized: Fenrir Greyback(Recognized by one of the witnesses) and Bellatrix Lestrange (addressed by name by a white-haired girl). Their primary objective was to kill the girl named Lily Evans.
2. The Evans were about to be killed, when a white-haired girl, who looked strikingly identical to the girl called Lily Evans, appeared on the Evans' roof, and joined the fray. The girl used some kind of defensive spell which blocked the Death Eaters' Killing Curses with ease. According to one of the witnesses, the spell produce a huge, glowing pinkish red colored, flower-like object, and it stood firm against the spells of the Dark Wizards.
3. The white-haired girl, who introduced herself as Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya (Parker was not sure of the correct pronunciation), engaged You-Know-Who's supporters in battle, seventeen against one. Apparently, this girl Ilyasveil must have offended the Death Eaters or You-Know-Who himself in some way. For some reason, due perhaps to the uncanny resemblance, they mistook her for the girl named Lily Evans.
4. The battle raged on. According to the witnesses, the white-haired girl was holding her own against the seventeen powerful wizards. She was barraging the Death Eaters with wandless spells. However, as things progressed, the Death Eaters appeared to have the advantage.
5. The white-haired girl lost her balance, and was about to fall, when a huge explosion that shook the entire area erupted. A newcomer entered the battlefied, and launched an explosive spell on You-Know-Who's supporters. According one of the witnesses, the man's name was Severus Snape, a Hogwarts student, who was in the same year as them. According to another witness, Severus Snape was a friend of Lily Evans (Though the girl herself remained silent when she was asked to confirm her companion's statement.).
6. Unfortunately, more than half of the werewolves only received minor injuries, despite the strength of the spell, and were able to stand up. One of the witnesses added that Fenrir Greyback was the first one to get back up, hostility present in his voice. The battle was about to resume again when the Ministry Officials finally arrived, forcing the opposition to retreat.
7. When asked why they did not bother to help the witch and wizard who apparently (obviously) came to rescue them, (Parker concluded the same thing, and one of his fellow Aurors was irritated as she too, came to the same conclusion.), or at least go and get help, however, they all fell silent, twitching guiltily. (Parker guessed that they were simply unable to move due to the shocking events, and were unable to respond accordingly, disoriented as they were. They're still kids after all, and the two adults don't have magic, thought Parker understandingly.)
Based on the information he acquired, as Head of the Auror Office, he knew what he had to do. Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya and Severus Prince Snape will have to be taken in for further questioning. They were not criminals, according to reports, but they undoubtedly hold key information, which could be valuable to the Ministry, and perhaps in the campaign against the Dark Lord.
The boy Severus Snape. A Hogwarts student. He knows about the boy, because the head of the Improper Use of Magic Office included him as one of her topics of conversations. Apparently, Severus Snape had been illegally performing underage magic in succession, using multiple spells. Due to the Trace, the Ministry is always made aware when wizards below the age of seventeen use magic.
Summoning Charm, Banishing Charm, Levitation, Repair, Shield Charm, and worse, an unrecognized spell, all in one day. From what Parker got from the witnesses, Severus Snape used some kind of spell which exploded in the midst of the Death Eaters. Although the boy would, and should undoubtedly be allowed to get away with some of his spells with a warning (plus a Ministry letter to Hogwarts ordering to put the boy in detention as punishment). But the use of an unknown spell, is a different matter.
Parker, an understanding person, knew that the boy, facing powerful Dark Wizards, probably used it because it was the best option he had in the life-threatening situation, and the old Auror believed that he should not be punished for it (In case some people debate that it was Dark Magic, he would argue that it wasn't.). Still, these were enough grounds to subject the boy to a more thorough inquiry.
The white-haired girl, on the other hand, was a much harder case. Parker could not comprehend her. He could try and search the Ministry Records, but Parker's instinct told him that there was nothing there on the girl.
As Aurors, they had full permission to perform Legilimency during interviews, inquiries and interrogations. Parker did this as protocol, but he was always as gentle as possible, not to ensure that his mind probe wasn't noticed but to ensure the person he was facing did not get hurt because of it (The case is different when Parker was interviewing criminals who he was absolutely certain caused other people pain, in which case he tried to probe and hurt them as badly as possible.).
It was easy, as the witnesses focused on the memory as they talked about it, so Parker and his companions did not need to delve in too deeply.
The white-haired girl, Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya, was a mystery. Even as he probed into the memories of the witnesses, Parker could hardly understand anything. The girl's magic, the girl's fighting style, the fact that she was able face off again seventeen Dark Wizards all on her own, her quick reflexes in avoiding multiple spells fired at her, the strange rain of spells she used against the Death Eater, and especially: an extremely powerful shield spell which could block the Killing Curse.
Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse, the most unforgivable of the Unforgivable Curses. There was no counter-curse for it, no spell which could block it, it would pass through a Shield Charm as if it were nothing but air. From his experience in battles, the best way to avoid certain death from the green curse was either dodging it, meeting the spell with another spell before the Killing Curse got too close to take effect, or block it with a solid object.
Yet the girl's spell shield blocked multiple Killing Curses, and it remained unaffected.
Rho Aius. It was the spell the girl used. Rho Aius. He had heard that somewhere before. Something was familiar about that name, but Parker just couldn't get a grasp on it. It was not much of a lead, but there was something to it.
What appears to be the best clue, however, was not the girl's magic or abilities, but the girl's appearance. The girl bore a striking resemblance to the Muggleborn Lily Evans.
Parker pondered on this. While it seemed that the white-haired did come to rescue the red-hair, Lily Evans did not seem to know anything about. From the probing he conducted, the girl's reaction showed that it was the first time the two ever encountered each other (at least as far as the red-hair was concerned.)
The Head Auror, however, knew that it was the best lead they had. The two girls were identical, different only in their complexion and hair color. Their eyes, specifically, were the same. They wore the exact same pair of emerald green eyes.
Richard Parker knew, it would take some time, but perhaps he might find something by looking up the family tree and history of Lily Evan's mother's and father's side, as well as research on the white-haired girl's own. Einzbern…Emiya… At least that was a start.
Also, Parker also had enough authority to take the white-haired girl in for questioning, but then…
Flashback
"Those two are with me," the young Auror told his superior. "I've already finished asking them questions."
"Alright then," said Head Auror. "I will be expecting your detailed report on my table by tomorrow morning."
Rufus nodded in agreement.
"But you know," Parker continued. "I really think we ought to take these people in for questioning, especially those two..."
"Don't worry Richard. They're good people, I'm sure of it," said Rufus.
End of Flashback
At first, Richard Parker was surprised, that of all people to ask him not to take in people for questioning, it would be this upright young man. Rufus would take in anyone, even innocent bystanders, just to obtain information which could be helpful, although the young Auror never hurt them. The man was behaving rather oddly.
But then, Parker saw the brown-haired, eleven-year-old girl, Evelyn, sitting together with the white-hair and raven-hair the Head Auror planned to interrogate. The girl was Rufus' sister. Something clicked in the older Dark Wizard Catcher's head.
The Diagon Alley incident. At the time, the young Auror found his sister close to the area where the Aurors briefly confronted the Death Eaters.
The Head Auror remembered. When he and his subordinates arrived at Diagon Alley to respond to the situation, the Death Eaters were already in disarray. There were people already engaging them, and he remembered seeing…
Jet black balls of light battering the hooded figures.
It was the same spell. Parker was sure of it. He did not see where the shots were coming from at Diagon Alley, as there were stores blocking the view, but the veteran Auror was becoming certain of something.
Parker, an understanding person, did not bother to ask Rufus about the Diagon Alley incident, as he gave his subordinate space to breathe, having been just frantically searching for his sister, as he finally found her. He was going to ask him about it later, when the young Auror regained his composure. Parker did not want to ruin the mood. Still…
They managed to capture five Death Eaters. Unfortunately, all of them were of noble blood. They had backers in the Ministry, (not to mention the fact that they were not branded with the Dark Mark), and it will probably take a while before anyone is allowed to interrogate them.
To hell with corruption and politics, thought Parker. But he had no choice but to obey.
There were two other eyewitnesses. According to them, around twenty Death Eaters, wearing hoods, were ganging up on three people. They were too far to hear anything or see things clearly, but according to the eyewitnesses' descriptions…
And then it hit him. While Parker maintained an expressionless face, he was actually wide-eyed with realization mentally.
A brown haired girl.
A black-haired young man.
A white-haired young woman.
The Head Auror looked again at the three people who were currently chatting under a tree…
He knows something, but he's keeping it all to himself, thought the Head Auror.
A lot of possibilities passed through the Richard Parker's head. There is something which his young subordinate is not telling. Still…
He's a good and upright person, thought Parker. If he's vouching for those two, there must be a good reason.
Richard Parker decided to trust the young man's judgment. In the two and a half years he worked with the young man, he saw that the the young Auror was righteous, disciplined, and principled.
And also, as Parker noticed, Rufus was a good judge of character. He was quite able in reading people's personalities without having to read their mind using Legilimency. Parker was sure that the man who he sees worthy to succeed him as the next head of the Auror Office will tell everything when the time was right.
Parker watched as Rufus' sister started hugging the white-haired girl, who was apparently struggling to breathe.
I have to make sure certain details don't get out to the press, or the rest of the Ministry, thought the veteran Auror.
-BREAK-
(Remus POV)
Despite the recent happenings, Remus Lupin had finally been able to compose himself enough. Perhaps it's one of the conveniences that comes with being a werewolf (He shuddered inwardly in self-disgust at the thought.). Still, it was hard to process everything that had happened.
Death Eaters…the battle…the white-haired girl who looked so much like Lily…Severus Snape…wandless magic…explosive spells…the Killing Curse proof shield spell…werewolves…Fenrir Greyback.. (Remus growled as the despicable grinning face of the one who turned him passed through his mind.).
There were so many questions running through his mind that he want answered.
Flashback
Remus overheard one of the Ministry officials talking to his companion.
"Those two are with me…"
Remus watched as he saw a somehow familiar brown-haired Auror point in the direction of Severus Snape and the white-haired girl, as he talked with an older person who was apparently his superior…
End of Flashback
The white-haired girl…Who exactly was Ilyasveil von Einzbern Emiya? Who exactly was she? Why did she look so much like Lily, that the Death Eaters ended up mistaking Lily Evans for the white-haired girl? Could she be a distant relative? Why were the Death Eaters after her? What is her relationship with Severus Snape?
Why was Severus Snape, the proud Death Eater fanatic, an undeniable supported of You-Know-Who, fighting against the very people he planned to join? Why was he apparently working with the Aurors and the Ministry to take down the Dark Lord? His desire to join the Dark Lord, was it nothing but a façade? Was it all an act?
There were so many questions that going through his mind, and it made Remus Lupin's head hurt. He looked around at his companions, and noticed that they wore the same confused look that he had.
Still, there was one thought that the teenage werewolf saw clearly.
Those two…they saved our lives, thought Remus.
Whatever the reason, whatever the circumstances, the white-haired girl and the greas…raven-haired gi…student rescued them from certain death.
He looked at Lily, Frank, Alice and Peter.
Though Remus Lupin never shared in the joy James and Sirius had of tormenting the raven-haired boy, he did not like him much either, because he was infatuated with the Dark Arts, and a You-Know-Who supporter…
Or not…
Guess I must've been wrong about him..., thought Remus Lupin, sighing. We owe him now, but at least now we know that he's on our side.
-BREAK-
(Severus POV)
It was one o'clock in the morning. After asking permission from the Aurors (Meaning Rufus Scrimgeour had to do the all the talking, of course), and saying goodbye to Evelyn (The brown-haired girl's Auror for a brother actually had to extricate Evelyn from Ilya (who did not want to be the one to push the girl off, not wanting to hurt her), who was putting up a good fight as she hung on to the white-haired girl), Severus and Ilya finally got back to the house, to get some well-deserved rest.
When they arrived, however, an unexpected sight greeted Severus' eyes.
"What the heck…what the hell happened here?" Severus gasped, as the raven-haired young man suddenly felt sick.
On the yard were three hooded figures, Death Eaters, each lying on a pool of blood. They were dead. Flies were already swarming over them, but that wasn't all…
One of them had an arm detached , which was lying a couple of feet away from the main body.
The second had a leg severed from the whole.
Severus noticed that there were spots of blood on the bodies, as if impaled by something thin, long and sharp on each affected area.
And the third…was missing its head. There was however, an almost-ball shaped lump three feet from the body, still wearing its Death Eater mask.
Severus was shaking uncontrollably. He placed a hand over his mouth to stop himself from vomiting. He was trying regain control of himself, when he heard a chillingly cheerful female voice.
"Hmmm… I guess it worked after all," mused Ilya, her voice frighteningly calm, her silvery white-hair flowing, her emerald eyes glinting, a small smirk on her terrifyingly pale white face. "Sev?"
The white-haired girl turned toward Severus, as her smirk widened.
Severus Snape was lost for words. At this very moment, he wanted to flee, to run as far away as possible, fear gripping his very being, the raven-haired boy shaken to his very core.
Cold sweat running down his face, Severus Snape lost control of himself, and his world turned black...