reddragonn343: Thanks very much for the review, and I'll try to finish off with the story as quickly as possible if I can. Sorry about the long waits.
Fenraellis: Wow, that is a long review, and I love it! I think I'm getting to be a bit of an attention whore, at least when it comes to my fanfic, just wanting to see if anyone is still reading really. I'll of cores answer all of your comments in a private reply soon, but I'll try and hit a few of them on here as well.
Firstly: Cho asking Luna was out of the question. For one thing Cho always assumes the worst when it comes to her chances for a relationship. Doom and gloom, so Cho just already knows in her mind that Harry being with… or rather still being with Hermione is the logical answer as to why they are all together. Luna, being Luna never thinks to ask Harry this, and because he seems more friendly towards her than Ron, she assumes the same thing. In addition Luna being with Ron, even though he told her that he didn't want a commitment, has fallen for him, and thinks that he really wants more from her too. In addition, besides being a romance, this story is about perspectives more than anything else. It's about the other world that people we know well or in passing live in, and how the situation looks to them. Cho's mother is sick, but she can't tell anyone because of her promise to her father. Cho is sneaking around trying to find a cure for her mother, and myrtle sees her performing jinxes on the torso. Luna lets it slip out that Cho's mum is sick to the school and Cho takes offence to it, considering a form of betrayal. From different peoples perspective it looks as if some people are behaving in a devious manner, when there is an explanation. The fact that people don't ask the easy questions is a theme in the tale. It's about how we can all make damaging assumptions, and the consequences of our actions. Granted Cho is not being as open as Harry would like, but she is also not being as open as she would like. Cho doesn't know about Neville or Ron much, just as Harry doesn't know about Nancy, Beverly and Erica. The two do not yet have too many friends in common, only Luna really. In addition, the two have pasts that neither of them know about. Cho doesn't know that Harry's Muggle relatives hated him, and he doesn't know that Cho went to China for a few years to study before coming to Hogwarts. As far as the investigation… well I'm not really that good at storytelling. I wanted Dumbledore to be preoccupied with the war so much that he could not focus entirely on the school. Also I needed him to be tired from the searches. I forgot about all magic leaving a trace, but considering they are in a magic school, well a lot of magic would be used in the school, and I guessed that it would be the equivalent of someone calling in a bomb threat from a pay phone. The fingerprint team would get hundreds of samples from everyone who used the phone, and it would be difficult to prove. As far as the pensive thing, well I just didn't think about it. Memory charms? Harry would remember zapping Miggins, and killing Patel in the pensive. The Masters did use the charms to recreate what happened in the library, but saw only that Marietta and Lori were right in saying that Cho was not attacked there. To add, since Marietta could have brought many witnesses, the Masters considered the case closed. Harry believing Cho after Luna told him about her mum was meant to be an epiphany of his love for her more than anything. He just took it on faith that Cho was acting weird because of her mum, and that things were going to fall into place soon enough. It would have been at this point that he might have confronted her with the easy questions, but she had to leave. Life is a tragedy, and we often don't think to ask the questions we should, instead we make the accusations we shouldn't, jumping o conclusions. But this story is fiction, so if I do finish it, Harry and Cho have the possibility for a happy ending, and if I cannot finish… I may pass it off to someone who can give them that.
Chapter 60: Dumbledore is the Priority
Marietta stormed down the many corridors in great strides, as her lover and her best friend hurried to keep up with her. Her face was flushed red, and she had a scowl that caused other students that saw her approaching to give her a wide berth. After a short time the three students reached Filches office, and Marietta slammed with full force on the door so hard it echoed down the long expanse of the corridor. After a moment the door was flung open just missing Marietta's nose and Filch jumped out looking up and screaming with a bitter look on his face.
"I told you to piss off you stupid poltergeist! Your not…" Filch started but broke in mid sentence when he noticed Marietta and her companions standing in front of him. "Oh, it's you. I thought it was Peeves, that Miserable poltergeist has been banging on my door trying to get in for the last few days. Well… what do you lot want?" Filch questioned. Marietta's face was flush red, and her angry expression only intensified when she looked at her dear uncle. She thrust a finger past Filch to the open door of his office.
"Inside!" Marietta shouted. Filch looked around, Danielle and Seamus were the only other students in the area.
"You shouldn't shout at me, the other students might get suspicious if they see you giving me orders." Filch said quietly.
"Inside!" Marietta shouted again, pointing at the door. Filch bit his lip seeming to try and control a hateful retort, but finally stood aside ushering the three of them in. Marietta walked into the room noticing that there were only three chairs. She glided to the far wall with her back to the others. She did not speak until she herd Filch close and lock the door. "Sit! Everyone sit!" Marietta ordered. The thought of having her Uncle sit on the floor due to the lack of chairs ran through her mind, but fortunately for him she didn't feel like sitting down herself. Marietta turned abruptly and walked over to Filch with a cold look in her eyes. "You've been going over my head! It seems you've had a chat with the professor over the weekend, without telling me. You're to tell me what you talked about!" Marietta demanded. Filch stood up and slammed his hand down on the desk.
"I only have to tell you what Professor Watson ordered me to tell you. I have my own orders you know, that don't have anything to do with you!" Filch said bitterly.
"I am in charge of this mission, and I don't need your interference. If you start working against me, I will make you pay… Uncle." Marietta shouted pointing her thumb back at herself.
"And I am the only one here who can go outside of the school at anytime he bloody well pleases. I have the privilege of having more communication with Professor Watson. He depends on me to keep him updated every weekend, you can't even leave the school unless there is a Hogsmead trip. I'm only doing my job when I talk to him. Did you really think he wouldn't want weekly updates on your progress? Or might I say your lack or progress. Potter is a danger to other students, and especially Purebloods. It's important that Potter be out of the castle, if it were not than Professor Watson would not have had one of our people inform the Press, and the Ministry. I merely informed him of the happening in Hogwarts, as he had instructed me." Filch explained, happy to let Marietta know that he had more communication with the leader of the Society of late than his niece.
"I need Potter here a little longer." It's vital that he be held responsible for other… incidence. We must find a way to keep him here. Why didn't the Professor tell me that you were giving him weekly reports?" Marietta asked feeling slightly betrayed. A smile came across Fiche's face.
"Maybe he doesn't trust you as much as you think he does." Marietta pulled out her wand on her Uncle at the insult, looking ready to lay a curse on him. "How dare you! I am still a member of the Hogwarts staff, even if you are the head of this mission I could have you in detention for the rest of the year." Filch said with rage.
"Hold your tong squib, I could lay a dozen jinxes on you, and top it off with a memory charm to make you think it was Potter who was responsible." Marietta said through gritted teeth as Filch sat down looking defeated.
"Heh heh heh, squib? You're a bloody squib? How pathetic." Danielle snickered. Filch looked even more hurt.
"At least I'm still a pureblood!" he said in his defense. Marietta moved over to the desk coming nose to nose with her Uncle.
"Than act like a pureblood and stop working against me. I need your help if were to take care of Potter once and for all. But it has to be done in the right way." Marietta said in a more calm tone. Filch reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a piece of parchment. He slid it over to Marietta, who looked at it quizzically.
"It's from the Professor. From what he tells me… Potter is the least of your concerns right now." Filch said quietly. Marietta read through the letter, her eyes becoming wide with shock as she finished.
Marietta,
Congratulations on having Potter accused of the Pureblood girl's death. A good job indeed and you have shown true skill in your ability to cover things up. Your mastery of the dark arts is greater than ever, and I'm pleased to see the years of training have not been wasted. However, your progress is too slow, and we must make Dumbledore our priority. Take care of him now or turn over control of the mission to your uncle. Use whatever means necessary at whatever cost, but do not expose the Society. If you succeed the rewards will be limitless. Failure will be costly. You have one week. Remember, everyone is expendable, even you. Replace Dumbledore as soon as possible. It's time for you to earn the trust that has been given to you.
Great faith will be placed in you, and I look forward to hearing of your success.
Sincerely,
Professor Watson.
Marietta's hands trembled, and the parchment fell to the floor, and slid under the desk. She noticed that her uncle did not seem to take any particular joy in her worried expression. Clearly, he had read the letter as well, and knew that while under Marietta's orders failure would have dire consequences for him as well.
"What… what did the letter say Marietta?" Danielle asked. Marietta reached into her purse and pulled out a cigarette. Her hands still shook as she brought it up to her lips and lit up. After taking a long drag she turned to Danielle.
"I need you to go now Danielle, and tell everyone there will be a meeting in the library tomorrow night at eight. Uncle Filch will make sure that… that we have privacy. I'll explain everything then." Marietta said in what now seemed like a tired voice.
"But what did the letter say?" Danielle persisted.
"I told you, I'll explain everything tomorrow night. Go and let the others know, and be as discreet as possible about it." Marietta said in a tone of finality. Danielle nodded, and started out the door. "Danielle!" Marietta called behind her. She turned around to face Marietta, who walked over and gave her a tight hug, then kissed her on the forehead. "Look, you need to make sure you get some sleep tonight. Go to bed early. I'm going to especially need you rested for the coming events, your one of the very few people I know I can count on no matter what." Marietta said with absolute sincerity. Danielle was her best friend, and she had wanted to tell her about the letter before anyone else, but she knew that she had to discuss things over with her lover first.
"Will… will you be ready Marietta?" her uncle asked concerned. She looked up at him without disgust for the first time since she was very little.
"I'm not sure. I have to check some things first. I'll let you know at the meeting tomorrow night at the meeting. I need you to reserve the library. I also need you to let us have the use of your office tonight. We have some issues to discuss about what will happen in the next few days." Marietta said politely and gesturing to her lover.
"You mean so you two can shag tonight." Filch said sneering. Marietta felt like she was going to tell her uncle off, but didn't feel like bickering anymore. The whole situation was weighing heavily on her and she just didn't have the energy to fight right now.
"Uncle… please." Marietta asked politely. She didn't have to ask, and her uncle seemed to understand this, and then gruffly promised her that he would be doing late rounds, but that the two of them should be out by eight in the morning. Marietta left Filches living quarters to get something to wear that night, but returned quickly and stayed for the remainder of the day, telling the false Seamus Finnegan to meet her back in the room at nine that evening. For the remainder of the night Marietta waved her wand about saying several incantations in order to make the dim room look lavish. She cleaned the living quarters, changed the sheets and pillow cases on the bed, set out scented candles, and even conjured up some massaging oil in a caldron that Filch had in his office. Once Filch had left she showered, lit the candles, applied her makeup and slipped into some revealing lingerie, waiting for her lover to share this night with her.
The false Seamus arrived late at nine forty five, looking quite pale, and explaining that he again had to avoid several house elves, and the Gray Lady on his journey from the Griffendore common room to the Office of her Uncle. Once he stepped into the living quarters adjacent to the office he seemed to marvel at how clean, and decorative the place had been made. Marietta ushered him over to a small table lit with floating candles. Two wine glasses, and two silver platters were placed on each end of the table, their contents covered up by silver domes, and a bottle of Château de la Somme, an expensive wine found only in the Wizarding world, was set in an Ice tray. Marietta gently grabbed her lover's hand, and lightly guided him to his seat without a word. She then moved her wand in smooth strokes, and the bottle of wine preceded to poor some of its contents into the two respective glasses. Marietta then sat in her seat across from her lover and moved her wand in small circles lifting the silver domes off their platters and revealing a juicy, steaming sirloin steak, with mixed veggies on the side under each. Seamus inhaled deeply the pleasant odor of the meal.
"It smells wonderful. Did you make this?" he asked politely. Marietta giggled.
"Of coarse not silly. The women of my family don't cook much, that's for servants. I had a house elf bring it up here, then memory charmed to forget and sent him on his way." Marietta giggled nervously at the idea of herself cooking such a meal. "However the house elves at this school do a wonderful job, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed." She smiled as her lover cut up his food and took a first bite.
"Mmmmm... I'm certainly not. You went through a lot of trouble, and tell me… what else do you have planned for this evening Marietta?" He asked with a smirk. Marietta smiled sensually.
"Some slow, romantic music… some sensual snogging, and… then the most passionate love making of our lives." She said in a quiet voice. Seamus smiled, and finished another bite of his steak.
"Such a wonderful occasion, to celebrate our victory, over our enemies. You've really gone out of your way to note the coming occasion." Seamus said gingerly. A sad look came across Marietta's face. She lowered her head for a moment, and then raised it again looking intently at Seamus.
"No my love, it's not celebration of our victory. We haven't faced Dumbledore yet. If we fail… we will not have an opportunity to have another night like this. This could be our last night of freedom together, our last chance to be together alone. I've been thinking about this night and the consequences for failure all day. The outcome will not be good if we don't succeed. This could be the last night we ever spend together." Marietta said quietly. Seamus nodded.
"I see your point. It's a lot to weigh on your mind. You've worked so hard to make it to this point and now you're having doubts. It's affecting your personality. You were even nice to your uncle today. I did want to ask what that was about." Seamus queered.
"With the letter… we both realized that our lives were in danger for real now. I guess our private bickering… just seemed a bit insignificant. In addition he must have been told about Padma's death. I'm sure that the Professor convinced him of the necessity, but I'm equally sure that he must be struggling with guilt… as to a point, I am. If we get caught… than we all get caught, Uncle Filch as well. Tomorrow you and I are going to be sick, so we don't have to go to class. We need to plan our confrontation with Dumbledore together. But tonight, tonight were not going to discuss it any longer. Tonight is just for us.
Through the rest of the meal Marietta noticed that her lover did not look to healthy. His skin was pale, his eyes carried dark circles under his eyes, and even coughed a bit. Despite his smiles, she could tell that maybe he wasn't feeling as well as he was letting on.
"Love, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" She asked. Her lover waved her concern away.
"It's not me… it's the real Seamus Finnegan. We've had him locked away from the world in solitary confinement for months now. He's eaten more of the food than he should have, because between that and attempting to escape by trying to dig out… well it's made him a bit sick, and a bit insane. So in retrospect, I've become a bit sick. I can control my actions, but as I'm coping his form, well what ever hurts him, hurts me as well. I'm actually glad we're getting this over with now. I need a new person to copy. It's hard separating his emotion s from my own since I've been imitating him for so long. He understandably cries often, and is severally depressed. Almost as much as the Chang girl." Marietta's lover said. Marietta raised her eyebrow in curiosity.
"What do you mean almost as much as the Chang girl?"
"I mean she is depressed about a number of things. I felt some of them that night you had me mimic her so that I could read her thoughts. She was depressed about what Potter had called her, her mum, Cedric, and a something a friend of hers did… Oh! Did you want me to send the letter I wrote that night? Do you want her back here now?" Her lover explained.
"No… no not yet. First we have to take care of Dumbledore. If you send the letter, or rather if Uncle sends the letter and we've already failed, than it won't matter." Marietta said worried. Seamus gently rubbed her neck.
"You really are having doubts about our success aren't you?" He asked. Marietta nodded.
"He's the most powerful wizard in the world. Our chances of success have always been… well questionable. We just have to hope for the best, and hope my special training… and your snooping into his mind have been enough. I am scared, but we must not discus this any further." Marietta finished. She turned around and gave her lover a passionate kiss. "I promised you a night of passion, not planning." She said moments later when she finally pulled away from him. Seamus smiled.
"Very well, a night of passion. There are just two more things I have to say before we close the subject. First have any of the other society members had occlumency training other than yourself?" he asked. Marietta frowned again.
"No, only me. No one else has had the training." Marietta stated.
"That's bad. Dumbledore will be able to read all their thoughts when we confront him." Seamus said. "Make sure they are all at the meeting tomorrow. All of them." Seamus said. Marietta nodded. "Also I'll need the invisibility cloak tomorrow. Can you get it to me?" he continued.
"It's in the green houses. Covering something up. I'll have to sneak in there in the morning, but I can get it. Why do you need it?" she asked curiously.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you later. Just have it, and don't let anyone in the society know about it." Seamus said.
"Danielle knows about it." Marietta exclaimed. "But no one else."
"Just make sure no one else finds out." Seamus intoned. Marietta nodded.
Marietta undressed down to her sexy undergarments, and Seamus undressed as well. Marietta used her wand to conger up a phonograph, and they had a slow dance to a romantic song.
Seamus began to nibble playfully on her ear, and she giggled. Soon business was for the moment forgotten, and Marietta and her lover removed the last of their clothes. She pushed him down on the bed, and straddled him. As he pressed up and down she rocked back and fourth. His hands reached up to her breast and he massages them. The lovers embrace throughout the night. Finally they climaxed together in a moment of intense ecstasy. Marietta still on top put her head on her lover's chest, her sweat mixing with his. She closed her eyes for a moment, and reflected on her life to this point.
Everything… everything has been leading up to the approaching night. The day that the Society takes things over. The day that the Purebloods take back what is rightfully theirs. It has to go right! If I fail, than I'll be spending the rest of my life in Azkaban. All the half-bloods, and Mudbloods, and Blood Traitors have ruined our world. Now is the time to take it back. And if we have to make a deal with You-Know-Who, than we can do that. Our interest are not so different, and he probably only wants to be worshipped and made rich. So be it, a few statues here and there to placate his ego, while we at the society do all the work to insure the eviction of the mudbloods. But we should keep the half-blood's… we will need a race of second class citizens... so that we may always look down on them as they pass, and always know ourselves to be far superior. But to fail means an end to all we have worked for… an end to the society. I promised I would be ready, that my plan would work. I go up against the biggest blood traitor in the world, the most powerful wizard of all time. Will I be ready? Marietta looked at her lover, who had his eyes closed, but was not quiet asleep. Will you be ready? She thought. Marietta closed her eyes, and went to sleep, with nightmares of Dumbledore's victory against the Society in her head.