A/N
Here now, with a bit of delay because of the Easter family days, is chapter 9 of the Cullen story.
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The Chalice from the Palace
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„The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true." (The Court Jester)
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Tonks City House
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"Step through. I'll call Sirius."
Cullen instantly followed Andromeda's advice and only seconds later the flames turned green, allowing Cullen and Harry to cross the distance from Scotland to London with a single step. It was a kind of magic Cullen would love to have back at home. Reaching Denerim, the capital of Ferelden, in no time; better: to be able to see his family in Honnleagh every weekend instead of only once every other year, while still doing his duty at the circle tower – he would love it. Senior Enchanter Fin once told him about earlier times, when the Magisters of Tevinter actually used something similar, magical gate-sized mirrors that allowed them to cross long distances.
Perhaps there still are some of those mirrors around; the thought suddenly crossed his mind. Perhaps it would be possible to reach one of them through some means. Perhaps I could use that veil at the Ministry to go back – if I ever wish to. He wasn't certain about that wish anymore. There was this little blond reason not to. Cullen smiled.
"What happened? Harry, are you alright?" Sirius concerned voice tore Cullen away from his deep thoughts.
"I'm okay, Padfoot." Harry tried to smile but failed horribly. He looked pale and slightly ill.
"Then…"
"I had a dream again, Padfoot."
Sirius and Andromeda exchanged a concerned look and sat down on the couch. "What kind of dream?"
"About… about him," Harry sighed.
Sirius frowned. "I thought you learned Occlumency to block them out?"
"I did," Harry agreed. "Or at least I tried to, I'm not there yet. Sometimes I still 'see' him, especially if something happens that… something that causes his emotions to go in overdrive."
"And something like this happened tonight?"
Harry nodded and Cullen interjected: "Harry told me about his dream and I think we have to act on it – tonight, with no further delay. Andromeda? I expect another guest. Perhaps we should wait for her to arrive. She needs to hear this too."
She? Andromeda wondered.
"Could you please prepare some tea and a hot chocolate for Harry? We'll need it."
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"I hope you have a really, really good reason to wake me up in the middle of the night, Cullen," Amelia Bones growled seconds after her arrival. She was wearing her robes and shoes, with her long nightgown visible under the hemline. Her hair was only moderately brushed and her face still showed signs of sleep and abrupt awakening.
"Amelia, as beautiful and adorable as ever," Sirius smirked.
"Shut up, Black," Amelia growled. She calmed down a bit as she noticed the slightly shaken boy at Cullen's side.
"Sit down, Amelia," Cullen ordered bluntly. "You'll understand in a moment. I think we'll need your help before the night is over."
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"And you believe this dream to be true?" Amelia asked nobody in particular after Harry finished his story.
"It felt like the other times I had those dreams about him." Harry mumbled unhappily. He really hated this connection. It felt so unclean.
"Apparently the connection grew stronger since we started to destroy the Horcruxes," Cullen explained. "Even with me training him, Harry isn't able to block him out completely anymore. It's the reason I want to permanently cut the connection this month."
Harry startled and stared at him wide-eyed. "You… you can do that?"
Cullen nodded. "We have to speak about it later, but yes, I found a way. Especially, I found a few friends willing to help me with a cleansing ritual to get rid of that scar of yours. Sorry, Harry, but your days of being 'Scarhead' are numbered," he ended without any real regret.
"I think I can handle that," Harry grinned. Instantly, he felt lighter and like he'd grown a foot or two.
"But back to the matter at hand," Cullen changed the topic. "Sirius, you once told me about your idea to disown dear Bella. I think it's time to do just that tonight."
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"He's sleeping," Andromeda whispered two hours later. Harry was resting on the couch, moving slightly in his sleep and with a blanket covering him.
Cullen and Sirius had just returned from the Ministry where Amelia had personally hastened along the recording of Sirius' decision. Since 03:38 AM, Bellatrix LeStrange née Black didn't belong to the House of Black anymore. The marriage contract between the Houses of Black and LeStrange was dissolved 'out of moral considerations and because of the affiliation to a criminal organisation'. Her dowry vault was shut down, and her admission to any Black property revoked.
"You should try to sleep as well," Andromeda suggested. "I'll wake you up at seven."
"Alright, but don't forget to wake me up," Sirius grinned, speaking with a low voice. "We don't want to miss the show."
"Amelia and a few of her friends will be waiting for your dear-sister," Cullen explained.
Andromeda sighed. "I hope she'll surrender. I know," she continued seeing Sirius doubtful look "she won't, but I still hope. She's still my sister, nothing will ever change that."
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Not far from Gringotts – 07:30 AM
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"It's too dangerous to use the main entrance, Lady Black," the old goblin hastened to object. Copperbuck had served Bella's mother and felt something akin to adoration towards Bella since she entered the bank decades ago – or at least something as near to adoration as a goblin could actually feel towards a witch. He never accepted her wedding to Rodolphus LeStrange, thinking that she deserved better. Despite her disgust for the little creatures, Bella was amused enough by the antics of the odd goblin to allow him this impertinence – this and his unabashed, unwavering loyalty over all those years. "There are Aurors in hiding around the bank, but naturally not on the grounds of Gringotts itself. The black, bald one is leading them."
"Shacklebolt," Bella sneered. She hated the man with a passion as he had been one of the team coming to Potter's rescue at the Ministry.
"We'll open our doors at eight. Thirty minutes later I'll open the side entrance for you when the first wave of customers will be occupying everybody in the hall."
"I trust you for this, Copperbuck," Bella glared. "Don't disappoint me."
"I never will, Lady Black," Copperbuck confirmed with a bow. "I never will."
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Not far from Gringotts – 07:55 AM
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"Everybody is in position."
Kingsley curtly nodded towards Senior Auror Brinks. This was important. He had chosen his team carefully, five handpicked Aurors from the most experienced duellists of the department. They would go against the Lestranges two on one each. Brinks and another one, both especially accomplished at fighting defensively, had the duty to delay Bella, the most dangerous among the targets, until the other two pairs had knocked out the LeStrange brothers. They had to use the surprise effect well and win fast else their prey would use every opportunity to get away. A few more Aurors were standing guard near Gringotts but wouldn't be part of the attacking force.
I won't let you down, Amelia, Kinsley silently promised, not suspecting that an old goblin had already shattered his well-laid trap into pieces.
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Gringotts main entrance – 08:02 AM
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"Shouldn't we…" Sirius pointed towards the teller he had intended to ask, but Cullen already dragged Harry towards one of the guards. For Sirius most goblins looked the same, but Cullen recognized him as having belonged to the spider hunter team.
"May the blood of your enemies flow freely, Stonespear," Cullen greeted him, emphasizing his words with a heavy blow of his mail fist against the goblins armoured chest.
"And may your enemies be worthy of your sword, Shield-Bearer," the goblin guard responded while his comrade watched the scene with fletched teeth – a sign of amusement as far as Cullen knew.
The Templar clasped Harry's shoulder with his left hand, leaving the right one free to draw his sword, something not gone unnoticed by the Goblins: "my young friend here and his godfather need to speak to Lady Ironsides – now."
"And you expect me to act as an errand boy?" The guard snarled.
"I expect you to trust that this is important for Gringotts as well as for us."
Cullen and goblin locked eyes for some long moments until the goblin relented. He nodded slowly. "I'll go fetch her. I hope for you that Lady Ironsides shares your opinion. It won't be healthy for you otherwise."
Harry waited for the guard to depart before he addressed Cullen: "Lady Ironsides, really?" The old and slightly tottery looking goblin lady had been more than a tad impressive and creepy.
"I think she's the best choice if we hope to act fast. With Amelia handling the official side we could try to use the usual channels, but that would cost us a few hours at least." He had spent enough time with goblins to respect and fear their 'official ways' to handle matters.
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Gringotts – Lower Levels – 08:24 AM
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"Here we are," Lady Ironsides announced as they reached the heavy door.
Harry was still thinking about the dragon they had passed some time ago. It was guarding Gringotts' lower levels where the most important and ancient vaults were located. It was a frightening, but also very sad, sight. The goblins had apparently stationed him down here as a very young dragon. He seemed to be nearly blind now and slightly crippled. Harry wasn't even certain he was still able to fly. He was some kind of a movable flame-thrower, a weapon and not a feeling creature anymore. Hermione wouldn't be happy to see this. Hopefully she never would. It was certainly proof that goblins weren't some kind of small wizards but a race on its own with completely different morals. Compassion towards dragons wasn't part of their vocabulary.
"Here is the Ministry paper," Sirius offered the papers he got from Amelia Bones and Lady Ironsides made a show of examining them closely, while Cullen and Stonespear were watching her, the former with anticipation, the latter bored if trying not to show it too openly. It was never good to be caught yawning by your superior. Stonespear's comrade Broadaxe was close by, keeping an eye on the passages around.
"Everything is alright," Lady Ironsides announced and started to dismantle a number of special goblin wards Bella had bought for her vault. Sirius would have to pay if he wanted to put them up again. New owner, new wards and new expenses – that was the goblin way.
Sirius bound the new key to his blood and opened the vault – it was 08:28 AM.
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Gringotts – side entrance – 08:29 AM
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"Wha…"
The young Auror had no chance as the side door opened and a goblin left the bank. Without hesitation, old Copperbuck used his sharp gladius, a goblin-crafted short sword in the form of the ones Roman soldiers used two thousand years ago, to stab him in the stomach. Endless pained filled the young man and his legs lost any power to support his weight. He sank on his knees, trying fruitlessly to keep his entrails in his body. Copperbuck drew his blade back and slit his throat with a swift motion, stepping back to allow the Auror to hit the pavement with his face.
"Good work," Bella announced, making Copperbuck happy. His maniac grin broadened as she turned the Auror into a block of wood and ordered Rastaban to pick it up, while she cleaned Copperbuck's clothes with a swish of her wand. "Let's go."
"There is a small complication, Lady Black." Copperbuck said while he led her towards the wagon.
"What kind of complication?" Bella snarled.
"Your cousin arrived with that Potter-boy. I saw them leave the hall with one of the guards. I don't know where they went."
"Do you think…," Rodolphus started to ask, looking uneasy.
"We'll see very soon," Bella suppressed any discussion. "Lead the way, Copperbuck. Wands on the ready," she ordered her men.
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Black vault – formerly Bella's – 08:34 AM
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"Such an innocent looking cup," Sirius commented as Cullen put the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff into the rune-container.
"It's often the innocent little things that do the most damage," Cullen remarked softly as he closed the lid.
"Since Hermione told me about Helga Hufflepuff's cup," Harry interjected with a thoughtful voice "I wondered if it somehow became part of the Holy Grail story."
"Holy Grail?" Cullen asked. For a moment Harry wondered about Sirius' equally confused look before he remembered that a wizard wouldn't know anything about the cup of a very special carpenter.
"I'll explain later," Harry sighed. Perhaps I'll get Hermione to explain it.
"I need to bring the cup to the Ministry. Croaker should already be waiting for me. Amelia wanted to assure his presence on my arrival," Cullen explained.
"Stonespear, accompany Master Cullen to the entrance near the Ministry," Lady Ironsides ordered, before she addressed Sirius. "Would you like me to dismantle the curses protecting the vault's content? Some of them are very vicious." Ironsides wasn't a happy goblin right now. The cup had already been hidden under some very brutal goblin wards and she saw a few more in here, wards that weren't allowed in any customer vault. I have to speak with Copperbuck about this. This really goes too far. She would have to dismantle them according to Gringotts' policy. If the new owner was willing to pay for it, she was willing to accept.
"I would like this. I want to fetch a few things from my own vault. After that I would like to have a first look around this one."
"Do that. Broadaxe, accompany him," she commanded the second guard. "Master Potter, please accompany your godfather. I don't want you to get hurt while I'm at work." Ironsides nodded towards Sirius as he departed with Broadaxe and Harry. "See you in a few." She could be trusted not to steal anything. It didn't mean she couldn't have a look around herself.
She had some work to do. And after that some goblin to turn into dragon dung.
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Gringotts – Lower Levels – 08:42 AM
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Some magical observer, able to have a look at the different corridors connecting the vaults, would have laughed about the different groups currently present. While Lady Ironsides started to work in Bella's vault and Stonespear led Cullen through some rarely used corridors towards the exit, two other groups were approaching each other, both unaware of the other's presence. While Sirius and Harry followed Broadaxe towards the Black family vault, deep in thoughts and happy about the success in getting the cup, Bella and her entourage had the benefit of at least knowing about Sirius' presence. It was a small but important benefit.
Sirius only looked up as Harry shoved him into the wall. His seeker awareness and reflexes had saved his godfather. Harry had no intent to lose Sirius after his little stunt at the Ministry. The green light hit the wall far behind them, proof that Bella had no intention to play around today. Because of the direction Sirius had been going, she assumed he had already finished his business down here. Perhaps he even had the cup in his possession right now. She couldn't allow him to escape.
"Put down your wands…" Broadaxe started, expecting the witch to follow his command. Disobeying a goblin guard was one of the stupidest things to do, only prompting Gringotts to bar you from using their services ever again. It was however his own race that betrayed him on this day. Before he had a chance to react, Copperbuck stabbed him in the chest. His eyes showing the betrayal he felt, Broadaxe slumped against the wall. Unable to defend himself, he helplessly watched Copperbuck raise his sword again to finish him off. "Traitor…"
"Expelliarmus! Stupefy! Incarcerous!"
Incredibly fast the three spells Harry fired off hit the Goblin, disarmed him, smashed him against the other wall and bound him with thick magical ropes. Without waiting to watch his success, Harry rolled aside, two cutting curses blasting little holes into the floor while Sirius protected him against Bella's widespread Reducto.
We have no chance against all three, Harry realized within seconds. Sirius was barely able to hold off Bella and there were still the LeStrange brothers – mad like Bella but no less dangerous.
"Lumos Maximus!"
The bright light briefly blinded everybody. Harry heard the LeStranges utter Protego spells, allowing him to continue with something he didn't need his eyesight to execute.
"Expecto Patronum!" Perhaps it was luck that Harry wasn't able to see his Patronus right now. He would have been stunned by its appearance. "Go to Lady Ironsides," he mumbled. "We're under attack." Obediently the Patronus run off. Hopefully he would be fast enough.
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The battle went downhill from there. Harry had been right about the chances to win this fight. Only his reflexes had allowed him to survive so far. While Bella battled Sirius, who had been hurt a few times and looked far more serious than ever before, Rodolphus and Rastaban concentrated on Harry. Luckily they didn't want to simply kill but capture him, forcing Sirius to surrender. Perhaps they even assumed Harry would make a good present for their lord.
"Gund U Bot!"
Harry nearly fainted from relief as he heard the rumbling goblin voice. Bella and the LeStranges however squeaked and jumped aside as the ground beneath their feet turned from solid stone to some oily morass. Rastaban was quick enough to dodge the area attack and Bella only sunk once into the morass up to her knee before evading it too, while protecting her flank from Sirius spell fire with a new shield. Rodolphus however was in the middle of it and with every single move he sank deeper.
"Hoshat op Bot!"
Rastaban just started to use his magic to assist his brother in escaping the morass when a cube feet of the greasy matter hit his face, successfully silencing him.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Rodolphus briefly stopped his inefficient attempts at breaking free and sent a killing curse towards the old goblin, only to see her banished into the next wall by Harry's spell. Better bruised than dead, he mused. Instantly starting to snow him under mountains of spells, Harry tried to buy Ironsides a few precious seconds to recover from the impact. On the other side of the corridor, Bella only stepped up in her fury. More and more curses of the darkest kind flew towards her blood-traitorous cousin.
"Vorb op Viz!"
Ironsides hurled something akin to a clay pot towards Bella. She reacted fast enough to blast it apart with a small Reducto, but it wasn't enough to stop its content. Dozens of finger-length insects escaped their prison, irritated and eager to get some blood from the black-haired witch. Like mad she tried to swat them while dodging the spells Sirius and Harry sent her way.
"Avada…"
Rodolphus was stupid enough to try it again. This time however he wasn't fast enough.
"Balt Najor!"
"…Kedavra!" The green light left Rodolphus' wand only to hit some kind of humanoid creature created from the morass, blasting it asunder. Many more of those creatures appeared over the next moments, none of them bigger than a small goblin, but together more than enough to overpower the wizard who was still helpless and hip-high in the morass. While two of them clung to his wand-arm, incapacitating him completely in the process, more than a dozen others started to drag him down, pull him into the morass below. Animal fear broke through his usual haughtiness and he actually started to scream for help, and whine for mercy. But Ironsides knew nothing of that.
However, his screams distracted his dear wife long enough to allow Sirius and Harry to hit her simultaneously. Sirius' cutting curse went straight through her wand and hand, cutting off two fingers and half of her hand. Harry's bonebreaker spell however hit her head and smashed her against the wall. She wasn't dead right away but was certainly out of the fight for a long time.
"Tharb Pushatig Dyr!"
Happy with their success but feeling uneasy because of the sight of those mud men suffocating Rodolphus LeStrange, Sirius and Harry stared in wonder as all kind of small creatures jumped from the morass. Frogs, snakes and other creatures, none of them bigger than a housecat, none of them looking very frightening. Rastaban apparently thought the same but still decided to flee. With Bella knocked out and his brother presumably dead, he had no chance to win anymore. The animals however decided otherwise. While the snakes slithered after the Death Eater, a few of the frogs started to spit in his direction. Globs of mud hit him, instantly starting to dissolve his robes like pure acid.
"Stay," Ironsides ordered Sirius and Harry as they jumped to follow the man. "They'll take care of him. It," she hesitated for a moment "it won't be a nice sight."
Harry shuddered slightly as he imagined what could make someone like Ironsides utter such a statement.
Rastaban was soon out of side, dodging around the next corner. The sight of two dozens of small animals hunting him was a bit silly – the screaming following very soon however wasn't. The light of spells became visible, the sounds telling Harry that Rastaban tried to eradicate the menace with Reducto spells. The screaming however continued.
Ironsides, apparently certain of the success of their creatures, pulled a very dead and mud-covered Rodolphus LeStrange from the morass and started to treat Broadaxe. The seriously injured goblin explained what had happened, pointing towards the still bound Copperbuck and the slightly pale Harry. Ironsides nodded and patted his shoulder. As the screaming stopped, and her creatures returned before vanished into the morass, Ironsides walked to Copperbuck's side and grabbed his sword.
"You're unworthy to be one of us, Copperbuck. You'll pay for your betrayal." She lashed out, her fist connecting solidly with Copperbuck's chin and knocking him out, showing that she wasn't nearly as tottery as she appeared to be. Looking far happier now she turned towards Harry and tossed the gladius in his direction. "You earned this one, Scion Potter. Use it well."
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Hogwarts – Gryffindor Tower – 5th of October
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Who would have thought that Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson being guest at the Gryffindor common room would cause acceptance and not an uproar? Harry mused while he waited for Hermione to arrive.
The Slytherin duo had been invited by none else than Neville and Ginny. Since Draco defended Luna, he had been able to get along better with some of the Gryffindors. Yes, Harry had noticed that Draco still mostly kept to the purebloods but at least he was polite to the others. Some afternoon Pansy started to tag along and to everyone's surprise she got along fabulously with Ginny, Lavender and Parvati. More than once Pansy had been watching Ginny's behaviour around Draco with notable interest and it was left to be seen how she reacted to the blushing Gryffindor. Even cuter was the interaction between Pansy and Neville. The shy boy was somehow able to cause the haughty and outspoken girl to be far softer and warmer around him. Hermione hadn't been happy about it, with Pansy being her dearest enemy for so long. However, she obeyed Harry's wishes so far to give her a chance. He promised her that she could hex Pansy into next week should she hurt Neville. The thought made her smile.
"Any news about your aunt?" Ginny asked softly. She certainly didn't like the crazy bitch, knew that Neville hated her with a passion, but it was still Draco's family and she wasn't certain how he felt about her.
"Still unconscious," Draco shrugged. "Mother got a lawyer for her, otherwise we aren't really interested in her fate anymore. She's too far gone, too mad and dangerous even to her own family." Narcissa had, after leaving Malfoy Manor, more or less cut all family ties to her older sister. She knew that Bella would never accept her 'betrayal'. Far more she was interested in strengthening the bond towards Andromeda and her family, something she was now allowed to do. They weren't as close as they once were and Draco still felt somewhat queasy around Tonks and her Muggleborn father, but it was a start. Polite he could do.
For a while they continued their conversation, with Harry half-hearted listening, his own mind on Ginny's recuperation. Luna hadn't been willing to speak about the ritual; she only declared that it had been 'interesting and diverting'. Cullen had been exhausted and Argus Filch hadn't been seen for a few days afterwards. However, it really seemed to have helped her. She looked happier now, lighter-hearted and no more prone to mood swings. It gave him hope for his own ritual, terminated for the next weekend. In a way it was the reason for what they had planned for today. Not that they really needed a reason to take their girls out.
"I'm ready, Harry."
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"You're awfully silent, Harry," Hermione smirked a wee bit later on their way to Professor McGonagall's office.
"I'm still stunned by your beautiful appearance," Harry tried to compliment her. "Not that you aren't always beautiful, only today…" he hastened to add.
She stopped him, putting her hand on his arm. "I understand, Harry. Thank you."
Hermione actually looked incredible. It seemed to be one of the last nice late summer days and she had chosen a skirt way shorter than usual, showing of her tanned legs, sandals with pink-painted toenails, a mint green blouse and a compatible bolero jacket. A set of silver jewellery with malachite completed the ensemble.
"I didn't know green looked so nice on you," he grinned.
"I thought with our new inter house unity, it would be okay to wear it at last." It wasn't really Slytherin green and silver but certainly not the typical Gryffindor colours.
"It certainly compliments your eyes."
"Flattery gets you everywhere, Potter," Hermione blushed slightly. "Getting lessons from Sirius, I see."
Harry shrugged. "He has a reputation to uphold, being my godfather and all." He bit his lower lip before he dared to ask: "really everywhere?"
"We have to wait and see, have we not, Mister Potter?"
This day got better with every minute.
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Office of Minerva McGonagall
"You don't intend to walk around like this?" Minerva wondered, gesturing towards the Luna's robe and Cullen's steward uniform.
"Luna wanted to change clothes at my parents' house and my father offered to take a look at his suits for Cullen," Hermione explained. The double-date would take place in the Muggle world near her parents' home and Minerva had offered to use her floo. Since Andromeda took over as the Grangers' magical guardian, their house had been connected to the floo system. It was a very welcome change, allowing her parents to often visit the Tonks, Weasleys and – when they felt especially adventurous – Xeno Lovegood.
"Then there is nothing left except wishing you well. Don't be back too late. And I want pictures."
"You'll get some," Harry promised, feeling for the magical camera Colin had gladly lent him in exchange for the promise of a few copies of the pictures taken.
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Granger residence
"What a sight," Harry grinned as Ben Granger returned with Cullen in tow, now wearing dark brown trousers and a beige jacket, both slightly adjusted by Hermione to fit his broad shoulders and muscular thighs. With her having turned seventeen two weeks ago, Hermione was the only one allowed use magic around here.
"It still needs getting used to," Cullen admitted. "Even on the days I visited my family, I wore something more… official. But I like…" He stopped open-mouthed at the sight of Luna Lovegood hovering down the stairs.
"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies," Hermione grinned, happy about Cullen's reaction. Luna looked ethereal in her silver sandals and flowing summer dress. Hermione actually had to cast a spell on it, as the flowers on the dress were usually surrounded by little bees. It would be a tad too eye-catching otherwise. The dress clung to Luna's body like a glove. She didn't have curves like Hermione but she certainly wasn't a little girl anymore. Her hair had been groomed by Hermione's mother into a complicated pinned-up hairstyle with two ringlets framing her face, emphasizing her bare neck.
Harry nudged Cullen. "Wasn't there something… ?"
Cullen nodded, barely able to concentrate. "May I… ?" He opened a flat jewellery box, presenting Luna a silver chain with a pendant similar to the bracelet she wore. It pictured a middle-aged woman with a basket on one side and a date on the other. "It's Mother Rosalia. It's meant as a way to protect you. The date is the day we first met."
Luna smiled her most dazzling smile and turned around, allowing Cullen to put it around her neck. His fingers trembled a bit and Harry had to suppress a broad grin as he noticed how long Cullen's eyes lingered on Luna's neck. He wants to kiss it, he realized. I wonder how long it will take until he actually does it – or if Luna will be faster. It was something he actually expected to happen. Cullen was too old-school to press the matter, something that never had stopped Luna in the past.
"Let's go. Cinema is waiting."
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"What's that?" Cullen asked, grabbing a handful of the suspicious… how did Harry call it?
"That's popcorn," Hermione responded, grabbing some for herself and pushing them into her mouth, munching happily. "You eat them. They belong to a cinema experience."
"And coke too," Harry added, pushing a two pint plastic cup into Cullen's hand.
There were dozens if not hundreds of people around. There was pushing and shoving all around and Cullen was hard pressed to protect Luna from the worst of it. However, she seemed to enjoy it so far, taking in all the foreign impressions with wide eyes and children-like wonder.
"We should get in before the best seats are taken," Hermione shooed them in.
"And you're sure we'll like this… this film?" Cullen had his doubts.
"Let yourself be surprised," Harry grinned. He had chosen the film together with Hermione and was quite certain that Cullen and Luna would love it. Hopefully he was right.
As expected the seats in the cinema were already mostly taken but in the end they found two double seats in the back third. Hermione hid her smile as Cullen and Luna had some difficulties with the folding seats but after a while everybody was more or less comfortably seated and the film could start.
I think I'll have to explain cinema commercials afterwards, Hermione realized. Now it was too late for this. From time to time she glanced towards Luna and Cullen. They watched some loud trailers of the next action films and a single girl-flick, both a bit overwhelmed by all the pictures and sounds. Somewhere in the meantime Luna had used the excuse of feeling anxious to put Cullen's arm around her shoulders. She didn't look eager to end the embrace, even as the comedy started.
Alf – the film
Let the circus begin.
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"Do you think they're related to Nepalese Yeti-apes?" Cullen wondered.
Hermione had led them to the nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken afterwards, with her feeling a tad uneasy about the more renowned McDonalds after a story her aunt had told her, about the five years McDonalds had been forbidden over in France because of hygienic problems. Now she wondered about the wisdom of that decision as she nearly swallowed a chicken bone because of Cullen's question. With their meals long gone cold, the couple was vividly speaking about the film's content. With all their seriousness it could well have been a documentary and not a comedy.
Should I explain the difference, she wondered. Nah, not yet.
"They look like those sketching Dad published," Luna agreed. "But Yeti-apes have better table manners."
"There is that," Cullen admitted. "And I can't remember anything about them eating cats."
"It's still good he got away," Luna sighed happily, snuggling closer to Cullen. The young man shortly stiffened but relaxed again after a glance towards Harry and Hermione, after noticing their supportive nods.
"I think he only allowed them to catch him. He's far too clever to get caught otherwise."
Luna nodded eagerly. "Perhaps he wanted to see if they are a danger to his people. Do you think he's really an alien?"
Cullen shrugged. "Certainly not as they thought," he responded, hinting at the fact that Alf had been a prisoner of the 'Alien Task Force'. "But perhaps he's from another world like I do."
"Do you think he knows a way back?" Luna asked, her eyes telling Harry that she didn't like the idea but had to ask.
Cullen tensed again, but shook his head. "I don't think so. And if: then certainly only a way back to his world, not to others." He doesn't like the idea himself, Harry realized. At least they don't want to meet him.
Luna appeared far happier after this statement and started to munch her chicken wings, nibbling them very carefully and cleanly.
"I think he's like you, Luna," Cullen stated after a while. "You know: exploring, getting to know other races."
"You could be right about that. Perhaps his people sent him here and all this spaceship crash nonsense is only a cover story."
Hermione bit her lip; Luna was too cute speaking about her weird ideas. The fact that Cullen gravely nodded to them only caused Hermione to bite stronger.
"You know, I really would like to do that after school: going places, meeting people, looking for rare plants and animals, and learning about foreign customs and all," Luna continued after a while. A tad anxious she awaited his reaction.
Cullen watched her closely before he shrugged. "Then I fear there is only one thing I could do about that."
"And that would be?" Luna gulped. Her eyes were somewhat teary.
"Accompany you, what else?" Cullen stated like there was never a question about it. "If you want me to, I mean."
The searing kiss was answer enough. As expected, Luna was faster, Harry grinned. It's always the quiet ones – or the eccentric.
.
Hogwarts – Office of Steward Cullen – 6th
.
"Good afternoon, Professor Snape," Cullen greeted the dark-haired man as he entered his office. Without further word he offered him a seat and started to pour him some tea, adding some whiskey for good manner. The teacher looked like he could use some.
"Thank you, Steward Cullen," Severus nodded and sat down. With a solemn face he started to sip his tea and kept silent for a while. Cullen simply waited for his guest to begin. It's something about Albus, he assumed. Snape has always this slightly betrayed look when Albus does something stupid.
"Albus," he really started, breaking his silence. "He did something stupid this summer. Now he expects me to fix it." He looked up. "Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
Cullen nodded. "Someone told me about the magical theory behind it." That someone had been Croaker, naturally.
"The Dark Lord created some of them. Potter destroyed one in his second year." Snape waited for some sign of surprise on Cullen's face and found none. "Albus found a second one this summer."
"Does this have to do with his hand?" Cullen made a shot in the dark.
"You can see it?" Severus asked flabbergasted.
"More like feel it," Cullen explained. "It's a dark, unnatural feeling around his aura, similar to your dark mark but not the same."
Instinctively he grabbed at his forearm. Looking thoughtful for a moment, he asked. "I heard about your… your cleansing rituals…"
Cullen sighed. "I can't help you with this, Professor. I can try to cut your connection to him, but I can't take the mark away. You accepted it willingly, you acted freely when you served him, in the beginning at least. I'm sorry, but your soul is tainted now."
"So there is no hope?"
"There always is," Cullen stated softly. "However, it is something you have to do for yourself. You killed in his service. You can't redeem this easily. Not that I assume your life since his first disappearance was an easy one."
Severus sighed and nodded. "Back to the matter at hand. We have two Horcruxes destroyed right now…"
"Five," Cullen interrupted him.
Snape started: "five?"
Cullen nodded, smiling sadly about Voldemort's madness. "We found another three this summer and destroyed them with the help of some Unspeakable."
"Croaker?" Severus knew about Minerva's friend.
"Croaker, yes."
"That's good to know," Severus felt better now. Albus had told him… "Albus assumed that he created six Horcruxes all in all."
"Croaker assumed the same. With the poor remains of his own that would make it seven, apparently a strong magical number. So far we don't know about the nature of the last one." They had some assumptions, but they didn't know for certain.
"Did you meet any difficulties when destroying them?"
"They tried to avoid the destruction by showing some… pictures. You know, kind of nightmares or pictures of our worst fears and doubts, something like that. But nothing serious or threatening happened. I assume this was different in Albus' case?"
"Yes, regretfully. There was a dark curse on the ring. Albus was careless and it…"
"It cursed his hand, I understand. He never told me so far. It's like he doesn't want me to heal him. Not that I'm certain I even could. The curse seemed to be ingrained deeply into his aura. I assume he didn't get cursed by simply handling the ring but he actually and freely donned it. Am I right?"
"Yes," Severus sighed. "As I said: he was careless."
"And now he's dying," Cullen deadpanned, earning him another nod. "How long?"
"A few months," Severus responded. "Around next Whitsun at most, I expect."
"But this isn't what is actually troubling you right now."
"No, at least not this alone." Severus filled his cup with whiskey and a trace of tea, gulping it down before he continued: "he fears for the fate of Hogwarts. He's still not completely trusting you… your abilities I mean. I think it's difficult for an old and powerful wizard like him to trust a… whatever you are technically. Whatever, he has his own contingency plans. He wants to ascertain my position as the next headmaster and the Dark Lord's trust."
Cullen narrowed his eyes. "He wants you to kill him, under witnesses and all."
"Yes, that's the plan. He assumes that I even could protect Draco by doing this. Doing his job and all."
"And what do you think about it?"
Severus shrugged and answered in false nonchalance. "I'm not… happy."
"When does he wants this to happen?"
"Around Easter, right before the spring break. It would allow me to use the break for organizing my takeover."
Cullen thought about it for a while. Severus expected a solution, preferably an outlet that would allow him to decline Albus' order. But what would Albus do, should Severus not follow his lead? With this plan he would have some time at least, time to end it his way.
"Accept it," he declared in the end. "Deny any oath but accept the plan in itself."
"But why?" Severus had obviously hoped for something different.
"With you accepting it, Albus will be content and stay out of our hairs."
"While we look for another solution," Severus concluded.
"Yes," Cullen nodded. "I want to finish this before the year ends," he explained. "But with the problems of Harry's scar and the last Horcrux on my hands, I can't use any further distractions. Let's wait until Christmas. If we haven't succeeded then, I'll speak with Albus about his plan and his cursed hand."
"I hope you'll find a way to end this," Snape said with an unusual emotional voice. "I really don't want to kill him. At the moment I don't like him very much but he has been my mentor for a long time, sometimes a friend even. I don't want him to end like this. And I think he deserves to see the end of this, a positive end. Albus is not a bad man all in all."
"I know," Cullen agreed. "I know."
.
Voldemort's Lair – 9th of October
.
"No, your sister stays with me," the Dark Lord stopped Nott's attempt to leave together with his younger sister Ophelia. Nott paled visibly, while Ophelia's eyes darted back and forth like a frightened hare.
The inner circle had met with their lord to discuss future plans. While he didn't intend to divulge his secrets at length, he needed them to do some preparations for Halloween.
Potter destroyed his diary years ago.
Locket and ring weren't in their places anymore.
With Bella a prisoner and the LeStrange brothers dead, it could be assumed that the Cup was gone too.
This left only the Diadem and Nagini, not enough to feel secure. No, he had to create another Horcrux. He already had the right object, Hagrid's wand he had nicked decades ago. Now he only needed an appropriate victim. It would be Nott's job to get her.
"But why, Milord?" Nott dared to ask, flinching as he realized the stupidity of the question.
"She'll be your… incentive," Voldemort actually smiled, sending shivers down Ophelia's spine. "Should you fail, she will take her place. You'll better be successful."
"I will," Nott hastened to affirm. Turning towards his sister he repeated: "I will succeed."
.
A deep bell sounded through the house, instantly alarming the couple inhabiting the house. For a moment they stared at each other, pale and uncertain. Another deep bell crashed any hopes of a false alarm.
"Hurry," Ben Granger jumped up and hurried towards the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder and tossed it into the fire: "Tonks Manor." To his horror the colour didn't change, didn't turn into the green that promised escape. He tried another time: "Tonks Manor." Still nothing happened. The path was blocked. What could they do now?
.
At the same time a similar bell sounded far away. It alarmed another couple. Again a hand used floo powder to activate a floo. Again nothing happened. However, this couple had other ways to act, other ways to reach their destination. Without hesitation they drew their wands and apparated, reaching their destination within seconds, a destination not far away from House Granger.
Hopefully they would be fast enough.
.
With no small amount of consternation, Theo Nott senior watched his minions as they attacked the house. Two of them had put notice-me-not wards around, allowing them to use spells freely. He was sitting under a tree with a couple of others, hidden under Disillusionment Charms, waiting for their target. The four junior Death Eaters approaching the house were nothing than a distraction – a very poor distraction as he noticed now.
They're only a couple of worthless Muggles, Nott cursed. He glared at one of his men hiding behind some garden furniture. He was bleeding from a couple of smaller wounds, earned through some Muggle contraption. Nott had no idea what a hunting rifle was, had no idea how lucky his minion was that the rifle Beatrice Granger used was only meant for rabbits and similar small game, the calibre not big enough to put real holes into the man. But it certainly would hurt like hell.
One of the other juniors tried to distract the couple by sending a Reducto through the window while their leader, overeager to prove his worth, opened the door.
Bad move.
Very bad move.
Ben Granger wasn't interested in hunting like his dear wife. He wasn't a great shot and he had only a few hours of training under his belt. However, he had two advantages:
-An easy target, with the Death Eater standing in the door, the sun illuminating him and giving him no way to dodge the attack.
-A real weapon in his hand. A crossbow was certainly not a fast weapon and he would only have this one shot, but hell did it count. A low 'thud' was everything that warned the Death Eater of his fate. A blink of an eye later, a heavy bolt tore through his neck, ending all plans he ever had about getting into the Inner Circle one day. Seconds later the last two junior Death Eaters jumped into the room, but their leader didn't notice. Dull, wide eyes stared at the ceiling. How could this happen to him?
.
Andromeda and Ted Tonks arrived on the scene just in time to see one Death Eater jump through the shattered window, the last one hesitating for a moment as he saw something through the open door. Instantly, Andromeda hurried towards the house, while Ted stopped and sent a couple of spells towards the visible target. Within seconds he had him disarmed and stunned. For a moment his fear to be too late was overridden by the joy of victory. It only lasted a couple of seconds.
.
"Expelliarmus!"
The Death Eater was actually able to disarm Ben Granger, not that it helped him in any way as Ben would need far too long to reload the weapon anyway. The Death Eater glanced around, noticed the other Muggle contraption in the woman's hand. He had noticed the small wounds in his comrades body out in the garden, realized that this weapon wasn't as dangerous as the one the man used.
"Stupe…"
"PEACE!" Ben's use of the Templar's powers wasn't nearly on par with Cullen's. He wouldn't be able to stun a couple of Unspeakables with one shout, didn't even stun this young Death Eater – at least not for long. However, his shout was certainly distracting and he had enough force behind it to stagger the man for a second or two, long enough for Beatrice to make good use of her rifle. The calibre may not be big enough to knock out a full-grown man, but the butt certainly was. Jumping forward, she made good use of her body weight and the trained muscles in her arms to swing the weapon and violently hit him with the blunt end of it. He staggered, stunned but not unconscious. Kicking him into the groin in a most unladylike manner, she waited for him to bend over. Letting loose of her rifle, she grabbed his head by the ears and kneed him in the face. The noise of his nose breaking was very gratifying, as was the sight of him going down like a sack of potatoes.
Muggles for the win.
.
Out in the garden things weren't equally good for the side of the light.
Ted Tonks, content with his small victory, just started to run after his wife, when he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. Something, someone was moving there. Before he had a chance to react, three stunners hit Andromeda in the back, knocking her out in a blink of an eye.
"Prot…"
A widespread Reducto hit him before his shield came into existence, staggering him long enough for Nott to get him down. "Rectumsempra!" Endless pain filled Ted Tonks as he went down. His wand clattered to the ground. For a few seconds he had the time to wonder about his wife, what would happen to her. Then, it all went dark.
Ted Tonks didn't see any more how Nott and his comrades left their hideout, passed him and showered the Granger house with blasting hexes, forcing the Grangers into cover while they seized the unconscious Andromeda Tonks. The Dark Lord wouldn't be happy about the losses, Nott knew, as he freed and enervated the junior Death Eater near the door. One man dead, another injured and a third… he didn't know if he was dead or only unconscious. He had to get away before others arrived. The trap had worked, only this was important. He had her and his sister was safe.
With a last glance towards the blood-traitor who was bleeding to death he ordered:
"Retreat!"
.
A/N
A few explanations:
I wanted to have Cullen absent at the battle because he would change it too much with his abilities. And I really loved to show of Ironsides spells. By the way: I used an online Orcish dictionary for the spells. I liked the sound of it.
At the double date I omitted the usual "Hermione meets old school tormentors" incidents. In my opinion they appear in too many other stories and even the stupidest bully wouldn't harass her with someone like Cullen at her side.
About McDonald: the anecdote is a true one. On my first visit to Paris in 1990, I heard about a five year break the fast food restaurant had been forced to take in the 80s by the health office.
If you have read my "Congregation" story, you'll recognize the Hagrid's wand turned into a Horcrux story. I'm recycling here as I did with a number of side characters.