This is the final chapter of Part One for the seventh book. Which means we're halfway!
Enjoy!
Chapter Nine – Life and Death
Rachele returned to the Hufflepuff common to find it strangely empty, which was peculiar considering how many students were supposed to be hiding in there.
"Hello? Where the hell is everyone?"
"Mistress. Welcome back."
She followed the voice over near the window where her mostly absent cat was perched on the seat overlooking the grounds.
"Pusscat. What's going on?"
"Majority are upstairs I suspect. But your three main comrades have taken a handful of the older students to gain more control of the school. Well try to anyway."
Rachele's eyes widened. "Are they mad? I told them to hang tight until I got back!"
"Well I suppose you took too long. You were gone for most of the day m'lady."
"Don't 'm'lady' me! I can't leave these people alone for one day without them getting themselves into some sort of catastrophe!" She gave her familiar a stern glare. "You are to guard those stairs and make sure no one else leaves this tower! Understood?"
Unfazed by her temper, the tabby bowed. "As the Mistress wishes."
Rachele mentally scanned the castle and within seconds detected all the missing teenagers. They had split into groups of five to six and sauntered to all corners of Hogwarts. Her three main friends were each leading their own packs with wands drawn and tips lit. Focusing on one of them she quickly teleported away, her green flames portraying her foul mood.
Robert led his group cautiously through the dim corridors of the school, keeping his eyes sharp for even the slightest bit of movement. It was his idea to break off and scour through these areas since Rachele was away for several hours. He was tired of being useless while his girlfriend did all the work, so he decided it was time to take some initiative. And luckily for him a large handful of the older students had volunteered to accompany him on his quest. Somehow though, he knew Rachele would be none to pleased with this sudden ambition. And speaking of which, him and his small group were suddenly halted by a bright green flash and there stood his girlfriend looking as livid as she could be.
"Robbie." She said sweetly which shot shivers down his spine. "Please explain."
Robert stood his ground despite the fear crawling through him. "You weren't here Rach. We had to do something to keep these Death Eaters in line. And the effects of the Dementors is getting worse. We couldn't just sit back and do nothing."
She leered at him. "So you what? Tag a team and go skipping around looking for trouble? Were you expecting to play the hero?"
Robert frowned. "No... we just want to help is all."
"By doing what? Putting these kids lives in danger? You have no idea what's happening right now!"
"Because you won't tell us anything!" Robert snapped. "You say there's Death Eaters and Dementors lurking about but how do we know that's all that's out there?"
Rachele was briefly taken back; this was the first time Robert had yelled at her. But she wasn't going to stand down. "I keep you in the tower because right now the enemies outnumber us five to one. If you go looking for a fight it won't end well, one or more of you could very well be killed."
Robert stared. "Five to one?"
She nodded grimly. "You have no idea of the numbers that are out there. There's too many that's why I have to handle them." She walked up to him and took his hands in her own. "Please Robbie. Let me protect you. At least until Harry comes back. It's all I can do for now."
Robert sighed in defeat. "Fine...but I'm not the only one out here you know."
She glared. "I know you, Claudia and Ginny split up. I'll find them. You just head back to the common room."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I just worry about you."
She smiled in spite of herself. "I know and I love you for it. But I need you to trust me."
He nodded. "I do Gryffindor. Without a doubt." He quickly kissed her. "I'll see you back in the common room." He turned around and gathered his group to him before leading them back the way they came. Satisfied they were safe, Rachele once again flashed away to track down her other friends.
(Some time later)
Rachele paced in front of her friends, carefully regarding the three people before her. Once she had gathered everyone back to the tower, she decided it was time for a heart to heart chat with a certain trio. Robert wore a blank face and was watching her walk back and forth. Claudia was twiddling her thumbs nervously and looking down at her lap in shame. Ginny was leaning on the couch's arm with her head resting on her palm, waiting patiently for the scolding she knew she was about to get.
"You can all stop looking like I'm a mother about to punish her child." Rachele said rolling her eyes. "Not like I'm gonna start yelling at ya."
"You seemed really angry before." Claudia said in a small scared voice.
Rachele knelt in front of her and took her hands. "I was just scared. Those Death Eaters are dangerous, I don't want to lose you." She glanced at Robert then Ginny. "Any of you." She looked back at Claudia. "Can you promise you'll be more careful?"
Claudia nodded. "We promise. Right guys?"
Ginny shrugged. "Sure. No problem here."
Robert smiled. "You got it Gryffindor."
"So did you talk to Harry?" Ginny asked changing the subject.
Rachele blew her fringe. "Sorry no, I got a little distracted."
Ginny pouted. "Raacchheeelle."
"I'm sorry I was sorting things out with Hermione."
"How's it going with her?" Robert enquired.
She grinned. "All good. I officially have my sister back!"
They all beamed. "That's fantastic Rachele!"
"I'm just glad everything's sorted out." Rachele smiled which then dropped at a sudden death like coldness that spread through her body. "Uh oh...that can't be good news." She rushed over to the window and quickly scanned the castle grounds. Just as she suspected, a handful of Dementors had ventured a little too close to home.
"Friggin hell." Rachele growled. "They just don't learn to they?" She glanced back at the others. "Duty calls!"
Claudia stepped forward with a supportive smile. "You go ahead. We've got your back."
Rachele grinned. "Appreciate it but I don't actually have to go anywhere." When they all appeared confused she simple turned around and spread her arms wide with closed fists. Her eyes flashed bright as her hands become engulfed in a brilliant white light. She flexed her fingers outwards with a powerful command and the energy burst forward at a neck breaking speed. Witnesses watched in awe as this hypnotising power stretched like a giant blazing hand over the entirety of the castle structure. All the Dementors shrieked in fright as they fled for their lives, although a small handful were caught in the blast and evaporated from existence. Soon the light itself vanished, as did the glow from Rachele's hands. As her green eyes returned to normal she stumbled backwards slightly into her boyfriends awaiting arms.
"I've got ya Gryffindor." He said holding her upright.
"Thanks." She replied holding a hand to her forehead. "Bloody hell that was a headache."
Ginny approached her with an appraising look. "That was brilliant Rach! You sure showed those nasty skeletal buggers who's boss!"
"You destroyed a few of them." Claudia commented. "I thought you couldn't kill anything."
Rachele sniffed in distaste. "Those things aren't technically 're just soulless corpses floating around with nothing better to do but steal souls from others. It's my job to erase such creatures who don't belong in this world."
A meow sounded at her feet causing her to look down at her tabby familiar. Her heart was filled with warm affection as she realized just how little time she had spent with him in the last four months. She bent down, picked him up and cuddled him close to her chest.
"How's my widdle puddy tat been huh?"
Tiger meowed grouchily. "Don't call me that."
Rachele just laughed and nuzzled him more. "You're so cute! Why don't you head upstairs and I'll be right with you?" She said placing him back down.
"Very well, I will see you shortly." He gave all the humans around him a polite bow before trotting upstairs with his tail in the air.
"That furball will never change." Rachele giggled. "Anyway I'm gonna go with him and maybe take a little nap."
Robert rose an eyebrow. "What about our "hosts?"
Rachele smiled and shrugged. "You guys can watch them can't you?" She grinned at their dumbfounded expressions. "Wake me up if anything important happens." She gave them goodbye as she climbed the stairs. "Night guys!"
"What the hell was that?" A shocked Ginny asked. "What happened to the overprotective 'never leave the tower' stuff?"
Robert shrugged. "Maybe she's decided to trust us a little more."
"Or she's just really tired and had no choice." Claudia suggested.
Robert chuckled. "That's true. Good news is that little show of hers just now would've scared the pants of them. So for now I think we can relax."
Ginny looked around the room. "So now what?"
Robert turned his gaze out the window. "I guess we just wait." The girls followed his lead and the three continued to stare out into failing light of the darkening sky.
Footsteps raced across the leaf covered forest floor. Sparks of all colours flew back and forth, some colliding in a person's chest causing them to crash to the ground. Three teenagers sprinted through the trees with a group of men hot on their tail. No matter how fast they ran, no matter how badly they defended themselves, the adults outnumbered and out-chased them with large quantity. Inevitably they were captured, but not without the quick thinking of the only young female who cast a fast spell to her famous friends face. His features were disfigured to an ugly, unrecognisable state which for the meantime could postpone the torture or death come what may. Defeated and tied up, they were taken away to an unknown destination where their fates awaited them.
Rachele sat up in bed with a heaved gasp. In the past her visions had always confused her with vague details. But for once she knew exactly what had transpired and she couldn't waste a single moment. She reached beside her and gently shook the ball of fur sleeping next her.
"Pusscat, wake up."
"Freeooowff. What is it? Can't you see I'm sleeping?"
"Tiger this is serious! You need to get up!"
Hearing the urgent tone in her voice, the tabby opened a single yellow to look at her. "What's the problem Mistress?"
"Something terribly awful has happened to Harry and the others. I have to go to them immediately. I need you to inform Claudia, Robert and Ginny of my whereabouts and make sure they keep close guard of the castle." She looked him square in the eye. "Do you understand me?"
Her familiar was now sitting upright and he gave her a low bow. "Perfectly m'lady. I will see to it. I wish you the best of luck."
Not bothering to respond, Rachele immediately began mentally searching for Harry's whereabouts. Once she had locked onto him, she was horrified with where he was. Malfoy Manor. She knew that was a well trusted hide-out for Voldemort and that she needed to get her friends the hell out of there. Not waiting another second, she teleported herself away, making sure to appear right in the centre of the giant mansion. It was strangely quiet which was never a good sign. She linked onto Harry's mind again and carefully followed it's direction through the dim halls. Eventually she could make out a noise; a person screaming. A girl screaming.
'HERMIONE!'
She broke into a run, not caring if anyone heard her. She traced the sound of her sister's voice into a side door which led into a spacious living area. A few Death Eaters were standing around the room, there was no sign of Harry or Ron, but there in the centre lay her twin sister letting out ear-splitting screams. On top of her was Bellatrix Lestrange, a completely and utterly deranged witch and one of the wizarding worlds most wanted criminals plus one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. The insane woman was holding something small and sharp and using it to scrape deep marks into Hermione's arm. There were other various scratches and bruises covering her suggesting she had been undergoing this torture for a while.
"Tell me where you got that sword girly and I'll stop...maybe." Bellatrix sneered.
"I'm telling you I don't know!" Hermione cried. "Please let me go!"
"LESTRANGE!"
Bellatrix glanced upwards and was on her feet in a second with her wand raised. Opposite her stood Rachele, green flames wrapped around her body and whipping out to any enemy who dares draw near to her. Her eyes were a solid ebony black that glared mercilessly at the female Death Eater.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" She snarled.
Before she could react , Bellatrix was thrown backwards into the far wall by an unknown force. Invisible hands wrapped around her throat and squeezed hard. Bellatrix grabbed and clawed at the air, desperately trying to escape the grasp of something that she couldn't see.
She looked up at Rachele who had a single hand raised in her direction.
"You were going to kill her." Her hold tightened. "WEREN'T YOU?" Bellatrix's face was slowly turning purple as the life drained out of her.
Behind her, Harry and Ron had appeared, with a bewildered Luna Lovegood trailing behind them. Standing near them was the house elf Dobby who had cleverly freed the three of them from their prison. Ron had grabbed Hermione and was holding her protectively while everyone looked on to their powerful friend who, in that moment, they barely recognised.
"We have to stop her or she's gonna kill her." Harry said loudly.
Ron shrugged. "Let her then. It's bleeding Bellatrix Lestrange for Merlin's sake. World's better of without her."
"No Ronald." Hermione said stumbling forward. "We can't let Rachele kill her. It'll corrupt her soul, she won't be the same." She began walking over to her sister. "Let me."
"No Hermione dont-"
"I have to Ron!" Hermione said without looking at him. "She's only like this because she walked in on Bellatrix torturing me. I have to stop her." Carefully she made her way to Rachele whose focus was still locked intently on her victim. "Rachele! You can stop now! I'm fine!" When there was no response she reached out for her shoulder, being careful of the angry flames guarding her. She gently touched her and leaned in close.
"Rach...It's okay. I'm here. I'm alive. We're all alive. So please stop."
Instantly the flames vanquished and the death-like grip on Bellatrix's throat was released letting the gasping witch crumble to the floor. Rachele turned to her and Hermione was relieved to see her familiar green eyes gazing softly back at her.
"Hermione...she-she...I thought she-"
"I know." Hermione brought her sister into a comforting hug. "I'm right here. Everything will be alright. I'm not going anywhere."
"Grnnn...Filthy little Mudblood."
The twins looked over to Bellatrix who was now back on her feet and flashing insane eyes towards them. Rachele was instantly on her feet with raised arms to protect her sister.
"Dobby!"
The house elf looked over at her. "Yes Rachele Sullivan?"
"Take the others and get out of here! I'll deal with this lot." She turned her head slightly and smiled at him. "Can I trust you to ensure their safety?"
Dobby beamed. "Yes Miss Rachele! I won't let you down!" Just as he gathered the teenagers, a new group of people rushed into the room. The Malfoys themselves.
"What is the meaning of this?" Narcissa, Draco's mother, yelled as she whipped out her wand. But at the snap of Dobby's fingers it flew from her hand and was caught by the house elf. Narcissa could only stare there in shock and bewilderment.
"You dare disarm a witch!" Bellatrix snarled. "You dare defy your masters!"
Dobby straighted to his full height with a glare. "Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf! And Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"
Death Eaters from all around the room charged forward to stop them from escaping. Some were repelled back by quick stunning spells by Ron and Hermione. Harry made swift work disarming Draco who had turned his wand onto a distracted Rachele.
"GO!" Rachele yelled. "I'll hold them off!"
"Rachele!" Hermione cried out but was held back by Harry.
"Don't! She'll be fine, we have to get out of here! Now Dobby!"
Dobby held out a hand for everyone to hold onto. Once he was sure they were all touching his small arm, he clicked his fingers and teleported them away. Rachele was so busy keeping her eye on them, she barely noticed the small glint of something disappear with them. Confused, she glanced around the room until her eyes landed on Bellatrix Lestrange who was looking a little too proud of herself. Biting back a growl, she dashed forward, grabbed the witch by the collar and slammed her against the wall.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Her response was a wicked cackle. "Better hurry to your friends. It may very well be the last night for one of them."
Rachele clenched her jaw. "I swear Lestrange. If ANY of them are hurt because of you I will personally hunt you down myself." She emphasized this by kneeing her nemesis hard in the stomach, winding her badly and causing her to drop. She turned around to face the remaining Death Eaters who were prepared to prevent her from leaving.
"I don't have time for this." Rachele growled. She simply glared at her multiple opponents and they all fell to their knees, paralyzed with fear. A second later she felt something strike her in the middle of her back and bounce right off it. Unfazed she flashed dangerous eyes behind her to a dumbtruck Bellatrix.
"Th-that was the killing curse. How are you unaffected?"
Rachele grinned. "I see your master hasn't told you everything about me." She turned back without a care. "Now if you don't mind my friends need me." She flicked her hand, flinging Bellatrix and every other Death Eater to the back of the room. Ignoring the Malfoys who were gaping with petrified expressions, she promptly vanished from view in a flash of amethyst flames.
When Rachele tracked down her friends, she was horrified with the scene she had found. Ron had an arm around a weeping Hermione. Luna was sympathetically kneeling next to Harry who was crying softly into a bundle in his arms. As she came closer, she recognised it to be Dobby, only his eyes were closed and he was too still for comfort.
"Harry?"
Harry's head shot up. "Rachele!" He stood up, being careful with the house elf. "WHERE WERE YOU?"
Rachele looked affronted. "Stopping the Death Eaters from coming after you guys! Someone had to fend them off!"
Harry held up the body he was holding. "AT THE COST OF DOBBY'S LIFE?"
Rachele stared at Dobby's lifeless form. "Wha...but how?"
"Someone threw a knife just as Dobby teleported us out." Luna explained.
Rachele's legs gave way and she fell to the ground. "Oh Merlin...Bellatrix. I knew she'd done something, I didn't realize it was a knife. Oh Harry I'm so sorry."
"Why didn't you get here sooner?" Harry yelled. "You could've healed him! He could've lived!
"Stop it Harry!" Rachele snipped back. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him! Sorry I was too busy saving the rest of you! As powerful as I am I'm still human! I..." She sighed. "I can't save everyone."
Harry stared down at her. "Well why not? You have the power."
Rachele glared at him. "Because if I could I would've been able to save Albus..."
Harry fell silent for a moment before simply turning and walking away with Dobby still clutched in his arms. Rachele watched him go, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"I'm sorry Harry." She sobbed. "I'm sorry Dobby...I failed you both."
Luna came over and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Harry is just grieving right now. We all know this wasn't your fault." She glanced over her shoulder. "You should come. Harry's burying him the Muggle way."
Rachele nodded. "Sure...lead the way."
She trailed after Harry back up to the hill where a tall crooked house was standing, which she learned belonged to Ron's older brother and his just recent wife Fleur Delacour, a couple she hadn't seen since the night of their wedding. She shared hugs with Ron and Hermione and even took an extra moment to heal the imbedded wound in her sister's arm. She forced herself to swallow the growing rage towards Bellatrix when she saw she had etched the word 'MUDBLOOD' several inches into her skin. She placed a gentle hand on Hermione's arm and slid it across her skin. There was a subtle glow that followed her hand and once she was done there was no sign of the crude message.
Hermione smiled in relief and gave her a big hug. "Thanks sis."
Rachele returned her hug. "Anything for you."
They headed to the top of the hill where Harry was already busy digging Dobby's grave. His aggressive manner of shovelling the dirt and angrily tossing it behind him helped the others decide it was better to leave him be. When he was in the final stages, Hermione was the one to pick up the house elf and bring him to Harry. The grief-stricken boy took his old friend and carefully lowered him into the earth. Hermione then left him alone so he could cover Dobby's body in peace. After patting the dirt down they planted a special headstone which read;
HERE LIES DOBBY
A FREE ELF
Even after everyone had headed back to the house for some food and rest, Rachele stayed back and sat next to the small grave. Tears of regret poured down her face.
"Dobby...sweet selfess loveable Dobby." She sobbed. "No words can express the sadness I feel. If I just came with you guys and not let my anger get the best of me...I...I could've saved you." She wiped her eyes. "Damn it I'm such a failure."
"No you're not."
She looked up into kind emerald eyes. "Harry I-"
"You didn't fail." He said sitting next to her. "You did the right thing, staying back and confronting her. That witch needed to be put in her place. And you saved our lives. You were a hero tonight."
Rachele shook her head. "I'm no hero. If I was Dobby would still be here."
"Hey." He put an arm around her. "It's like you said. You can't save everyone."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Yeah...which really sucks."
Harry simply smiled and held his friend close to him while looking over the resting place of another dear friend. His hold tightened when Rachele broke into tears again. Her guilt and Dobby's death brought him to a clarity of sorts. Death was inevitable, nobody could stop it, not even someone as almost invincibly over-powerful as Rachele. She was human just like him, an normal teenage girl living her own life to the fullest. And right now with her being this vulnerable, her being the Earth's Guardian and him being the Boy-Who-Lived didn't matter. They were just two friends sitting side by side all alone on top a hill. With that thought, Harry looked down to find Rachele had finally stopped crying and was just simply gazing thoughtfully into the distance. He couldn't stop his mouth from forming into a small endearing smile.
The war can wait. That nose-less bastard be damned.
END OF PART ONE
Once again a warm thank you to those who have thoroughly followed this story :) A few notes before I conclude.
I wanted to keep the main canon flow of the original books which is why I kept Dobby's death in. I used anger as Rachele's mistake since it is a strong emotion and can effect her in a impeccibly negative way. She has a blind side when she becomes enraged and can have strong tunnel vision. All her attention is on what the target of her wrath is and she can lose focus on what's most important in that moment. This is one of a few weaknesses that Rachele has.
I will be very vague about what's happening on Harry's end because as you can see, he's not the main focus of my book. Yes he's important, but this whole sequence has been the same story from a whole new perspective...with a few little original tweaks here and there.
I'd also like to hear feedback on Robert and Claudia's personalities and their character development through their years at Hogwarts. I wanted to portray that Rachele's influence had a major factor in their growth as individuals.
I'll do my best to upload Part Two as soon as possible :) Can't wait to hear more from you guys.
See you next time!
Love you all!