44: The Nice One
HOGWARTS, FOURTH EARTH
Slowly, peace came to Hogwarts.
Scabior, Pettigrew, Crabbe Sr., Jugson, Macnair, Rosier, Wilkes, Rodolphus and Edmond Lestrange, and Gibbon were arrested immediately and shipped to Azkaban.
Presumably, the Azkaban guards would be passed the responsibility of having to put up with listening to Scabior and Pettigrew argue over who botched the invasion worse.
"And you?"
McGonagall stared down over the top of her glasses at Snape from across the desk in her office. She awaited his answer.
"I intend to return to the life I once had," Snape stated. "Invisibility. Anonymity."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Severus, what good does running do you? Were I you, I would take a page from Miss Sparkle and ask what it means when you let those who care about you believe you are dead."
"It admittedly was…a selfish life. But it befits what life came before."
"How can you think you were selfish in your protection of—"
"It was only ever because of my desires," Snape insisted sternly. "Desires that I either should never have had…or lost because of my own foolishness."
"Has it never occurred to you that Potter is Lily's son as much as he is James'?"
"Every. Single. Day."
McGonagall sighed. "If you wish to return to the life you had before, then you may. However, I do not want you to leave with the mistaken belief that your actions at this battle had no effect. Judging from your reports, had you not held off that very strange witch, more than Grintcliffe and Ricksmith would have died. Which brings me to another point. With the new knowledge building that our enemies can return from the dead, for whatever reason…the study of Defense Against the Dark Arts is more important than ever. Mister Potter has declared to me that he intends to return next year and the years after in order to continue Dumbledore's Army. We shall need a professor of the subject, Severus. One who is experienced. Not to mention…er…durable."
"You're suggesting I take the position."
"It was what you wanted most. Severus, what better way would there be to make up for what happened in your past than to devote your future to the students?"
Snape was silent as he cogitated.
Neither he nor McGonagall was surprised to hear Rainbow Dash's voice from behind the office door: "Oh, will you just TAKE THE GOSHDARN JOB!"
"I suppose it wouldn't do to refuse with all of them listening," Snape sighed.
"One of these days, I shall have to find a way to rout eavesdroppers," McGonagall added.
"Very well," Snape conceded. "If Voldemort has returned…than so shall I. I will accept your offer."
"WOOHOOOOOO!" Pinkie Pie squealed.
Snape left the office to find the six Equestrians there, along with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Neville, and Draco.
"You know, Harry," Luna pointed out, "he is the closest thing you have to a father."
"I would not say such things again, Miss Lovegood," Snape growled. "Were I employed, that would be ten points from Ravenclaw." He stormed down the stairs.
"He's NOTHING like my father," Harry added.
The six Equestrians just exchanged glances.
"It looks like we've got the same old Snape back," Hermione remarked.
"Good," Draco replied. "We've finally got a professor who'll invite ME in to tell his class about how great I am." As he said this, he looked to Harry and genuinely smiled.
Harry realized Draco was joking, and he couldn't help but laugh. Soon, they all were caught up in laughter as they moved down the stairs.
"So are you really going to come back next year to work with Dumbledore's Army?" Twilight asked at last.
"I know I am," Harry said. "For sure."
"And me," Hermione added.
"Me too," Ron chimed in.
"I'm not going to back out now," said Ginny.
"Of course," Luna affirmed.
"If you'll have me," Draco stated.
"From what I hear," Harry pointed out, "your teaching about the Imperius Curse saved several lives. You can be a real jerk some days, but you know things I don't know that are important in these times. I think it would actually be best if you did come back next year."
"Can anyone take pictures?" Ginny asked incredulously. "My boyfriend's asking Draco Malfoy to work with him. I won't be able to believe this later without evidence."
"Actually," Ron told Twilight, "all of us were thinking about staying for the rest of the year. We don't exactly know if Voldemort's done wreaking havoc on the place."
"Plus you miss us," Hermione teased.
"Well…there is that," Ron admitted, throwing his arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"But you can't distract us from studying for our N.E.W.T.s!" Hermione insisted.
"That reminds me!" Twilight cried. "Most of us here have finals! We should be studying! We only have three weeks left! Library?"
Everyone else agreed, and the thirteen headed out to the library to form their usual study group.
Fluttershy couldn't sleep. She had a feeling something was wrong, or at least amiss. She got up from her bed, trotting out into the Hufflepuff Common Room.
She found Veronica Aardman huddled on a couch there. "Veronica?" Fluttershy greeted softly.
"Oh," Veronica replied, equally softly. "Hello."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes…" Veronica buried her head in her crossed arms. "No."
Fluttershy settled herself on the couch. "What's wrong?"
"It was horrible. Living in the cellar. Only the same four walls to look at. But I think the worst part of it was knowing that he was being a fake me and fooling all my friends, and I couldn't do anything about it."
"I'm so sorry," Fluttershy replied. "I can only imagine."
"I guess I'll get over it, but it was so…" Veronica couldn't finish the statement. Instead, she began to cry.
Fluttershy gently hugged her. "It's okay to cry. I can tell you one thing for sure. Now that the real you is back here with us, we're going to do our very best to protect you so nothing bad will ever happen to you again. I know I definitely will!"
Veronica clutched at Fluttershy tightly. "Please," she begged. "Don't ever let them get me!"
"I won't! I promise!"
They stayed there for a little while longer before Veronica got up, wiping her eyes. "Thank you."
"If there's anything else I can do, um, you can just let me know."
"I will. But you've already done so much just tonight." Veronica smiled. "I should go to bed."
"Me too."
The pair walked into the Hufflepuff girls' bedchambers together.
When Veronica woke up the next morning, it was to the sound of the party cannon going off. A giant banner with the words WELCOME BACK VERONICA was strung across the ceiling.
"Welcome home!" Pinkie cried. "I thought we'd throw you a party now that you're back for real!"
Veronica immediately burst into tears.
"Pinkie Pie!" Fluttershy chided. "I told you it was too much!"
"No," Veronica said, and they saw her sincere smile. "It's wonderful. I love it!"
No one could forget the loss of the two newest professors, and even more importantly, no one could forget that the greatest enemy their world had known had returned from the dead—that otherworldly forces made it possible for death to be reversed, somehow, for the wicked. Firenze still spoke of the movements of the stars and chaos to come, as though it hadn't already knocked on the castle door.
But as friends came together and made vows of protection, peace did come.
RIDDLE HOUSE, FOURTH EARTH
The Death Eaters also recuperated. The very night after Voldemort had finished creation of the first Horcrux, he received word that Quirrell wished to see him. Curious, Voldemort ascended the stairs, entering his chambers.
Quirrell was in obvious pain, gritting his teeth as he endured the splintering sensation of bones regrowing themselves inside his body. He'd regained some mobility in his arms, and he was using this to clutch at the edge of the blanket of the bed in which he lay, trying to offset the pain. His skin looked bloodless, and sweat gathered at his brow.
Voldemort wasn't sure what to make of him. He looked so weak. Weakness was something he had never tolerated, never encouraged. His own moments of weakness frightened him. Yet he couldn't convince himself that Quirrell needed any sort of punishment for merely being vulnerable. If anything, he needed security until he was restored to full health. Steps to take to ensure that he wouldn't be further harmed by any associates who wanted to usurp his favor with Voldemort, thereby taking him out of the game, such a valuable player, who'd even been able to stop the bearers of the Elements of Harmony in mid-performance out of sheer tenacity.
"You wished to see me," Voldemort said at last.
"Yes," Quirrell answered, sitting up, gritting his teeth.
"You wouldn't rather it waited," Voldemort suggested, "until you had healed?"
"It's important."
"Very well."
Quirrell looked to Voldemort with pleading eyes. "Make me one of your Horcruxes."
Voldemort hadn't expected that. He wasn't sure how to react. The best he could come up with was "Why would you want a thing like that?"
"Because—" Quirrell stopped to clench his jaw at another wave of pain. When it subsided, he continued. "Because with me, your soul would be safe. No chasing breakable objects like mirrors. I would guard your soul to the last. And I realized that having a piece of your soul inside me would be nothing new. After all, I once had—" Another pause. "—all of you with me."
"Do you realize what you are asking?" Voldemort replied. "It would turn you into a target."
He wanted to kick himself. There were a million other reasons for Quirrell not to be a Horcrux. For instance, it would involve Voldemort having to hand his complete trust to the man. Though that was probably not an issue—all those years ago, he'd given him complete trust. But it would also mean that one of the Horcruxes would be a delicate living being—albeit one who'd proven he could hold up in battle quite well, despite how fragile he seemed. No, the first thought to spring to Voldemort's mind was that it would turn Merlinean wands against Quirrell.
"I would fight off anyone who tried to kill me," Quirrell insisted. "I would live. And you would live."
"I am not about to ask you to sacrifice your entire life for that purpose, Quirinus."
"But I am ready-!"
"You don't know what you're asking for, and the answer is no. I will not change my mind."
"So you'll keep chasing down objects—"
"Yes." Voldemort stepped closer to the bedside, looking down upon Quirrell. "That is my intention. If that is not what you have in mind, you are free to leave."
"No! Not now. Not when we have this chance to have everything!" Quirrell closed his eyes tightly as another rush of pain washed over him. "Damn…this…" He opened his eyes. "It's worth it, you know. This. I'd have my skeleton removed ten times over if only for the chance to win over them, to take the victory we deserve!"
"Your loyalty…impresses me," Voldemort stated. "It is perhaps a little surprising. Though perhaps I should not be surprised…you did lend me your entire body, you did burn yourself to death upon the curse of Lily Evans at my bidding…"
"I would do it again!" Quirrell insisted.
"But for what purpose?"
"For OUR purpose! To put the Muggles and Mudbloods in their places! For the rise of the Morganians! So that every world in which there lived a Lord Voldemort would know him—agh—damn—would revere him!"
"And why?" Voldemort asked, looking directly into Quirrell's eyes. "Why should the world bow to me?"
"You're…asking this?"
"I know why I believe the world should bow to me. I want to know why you believe it."
"Because you're right," Quirrell insisted. "Because just by looking at you, by hearing what you say, I know you're better than all of them. Because…you are…meant to be more."
The two men were then staring into each other's eyes, unsure what to say. Unsure, even, what to feel.
Alexandra had been a moment of weakness, Voldemort thought. The kiss shared in the Ponyville library was something he'd vowed never to give into again. But he was wiser than he had been…he knew more…he could risk more. It was Quirrell's loyalty, he told himself, that he was drawn to.
Loyalty strong enough that the man would sacrifice himself in every way. Something Voldemort was unused to on such a personal level. Something that caught him off guard.
He was kneeling then, so his face was level with Quirrell's. He wasn't sure when he'd done that—knelt by Quirrell's side. Their gazes were brought much closer together by that action.
Quirrell knew he would stand by what he said. He could think of no better leader than Voldemort. No better one to idolize, in fact. In the pits of Voldemort's snakelike eyes, Quirrell could see a drive for power that matched his own, a desire for strength and recognition. He understood that. Perhaps that was why he kept coming back to Voldemort, never choosing anyone else or any other route.
For a moment, they remembered, at once, what it had been like when they had been two minds in one body. It was incredibly familiar, but at the same time, everything had changed. Neither one was bound to the other by the restraint of having the same skin, but they returned to each other nonetheless. Each still remembered how the other had thought.
And Voldemort decided to risk more.
Quirrell was at first absolutely stunned when the Dark Lord himself moved those few inches closer and completely kissed him on the mouth. But he was overcome with a desire for that very occurrence that he didn't know he'd had before then. He let go of the edges of the comforter, sliding his arms around Voldemort's back as much as he could manage with the splinters of bones he had, leaning into the kiss. Voldemort, having decided to abandon his emotional caution, slid one hand around the back of Quirrell's head, running his fingers over the place from where his eyes had once stared.
They parted. And Quirrell had to ask. "What was that?"
"Perhaps…a reward for loyalty." Voldemort stood, backing away. He knew he should have felt regret, and yet he was satisfied with his decision. Quite pleased, in fact.
"An occurrence best forgotten?" Quirrell asked, worrying the answer would be yes.
"I would prefer…not," Voldemort admitted. "After all, you and I have shared so much."
"So…you would think of me as…"
"There is a saying, Quirinus. You know it. Love—"
"—is a weakness."
"You and I are quite strong, Quirinus. If this is what they call love, certainly you and I can withstand it. It will not hinder us."
"Perhaps you are strong, but I—"
"You have proven yourself many times. I would warn you not to speak of this before the others. They would think that we could not maintain our position and still have the ability to connect to each other. But I do hope that you would not be opposed to continuing this…this…" Voldemort was quite distracted then by Quirrell's smile. The man just looked so happy. It was almost hilarious. Were it anyone else, Voldemort would have told him off for it.
"We meet in private, is what you're saying," Quirrell stated.
"I believe that would be best. In the company of others, I do expect you to be with me on the more important of tasks. To assist me in the collection of Horcruxes. Unless 'gathering items' is of no interest to you."
"Oh, no—I will be there, I will be at your side—"
"Good. I would not want it any other way." Voldemort looked toward the door. "They will be wondering what has kept me."
"Go. I won't breathe a word, I won't—"
"I will see you again soon. At latest, when you have finished healing." Voldemort crossed to the door and left the room.
Quirrell lay back, head spinning from what had just happened. It was then that he remembered the regrowing bones splintering in his limbs. He'd forgotten about the pain for a while.
Behind a ventilation grate, having watched the entire scene, a green snake uncurled, slithering through the ducts.
Bellatrix Lestrange was in a rage. She broke everything she could find in the kitchen—a venue she chose because it contained the most things to break. "I WON'T HAVE THIS!" she screeched.
Horvath watched her, unsure what to say. He most certainly didn't wish to leave. It would have been uncouth, he thought, to abandon a lady such as herself during a time of turmoil. It was how he would have treated Morgana…back when he still held true respect and more for her.
"The castle? Lost! HA!" Bellatrix threw a teacup to the ground, stamping on the shards. "Wormy little Wormtail? We don't even have what little use we could get out of him anymore! All three Malfoys alive, SNAPE alive—WHAT BUSINESS DOES HE HAVE BEING ALIVE?" Three more teacups at once. "All because Crouch botched his so-called brilliant plan! What do we have to show for it?"
"A Horcrux," Horvath pointed out.
Bellatrix glared daggers at him. "Yes. That."
"You're sure this has nothing to do with your former husband being taken prisoner?"
"Oh, he's gone? I hadn't noticed."
"Then that's a no. Then I suppose you're angry because of your defeat at the wand of Minerva McGonagall."
Bellatrix turned red.
"Minerva is no small foe," Horvath pointed out. "She is difficult to destroy. Were it otherwise, she would have been long buried by now. You deserve accolades simply for returning from a battle with her."
"Damn bloody right." Bellatrix's anger looked to have deflated somewhat.
"Besides, you were not the only one to be humiliated. I still have no idea how I was bested by a Kentauride girl dressed in frills when I had the power of three sorcerers combined at my disposal. I do, however, know that it is an offense I will not take lightly."
"You and me both," Bellatrix agreed. "You don't look no slouch. Not compared to Trixie's sort. Something strange is afoot there."
"Stranger than my being here, or Medusa's?"
"You've got a point. So maybe we've been going about this wrong. It's going to take a little more than relying on Crouch's plans and the might of our wands, isn't it?"
"It seems so. We shall have to find other means. Then again, we have the power of multiple worlds at our disposal. We can afford to be creative."
"I like the way you think." Bellatrix grinned, but her expression quickly soured again. "Worst part of this all is, Russo's going to get all the credit for anything good coming out of this because she brought him the damn Portkey. And after she ripped up all the other ones! Oh, but he'll see. It's not her what should be his little favorite. Once he realizes what I've done for him, what I'm willing to do—"
"You suppose you will be his favorite?" Medusa asked, stepping out of seemingly nowhere. "That you even have a chance of becoming his lover?"
Bellatrix went redder than before. "I never said THAT!"
"You can put away all your thoughts of being Voldemort's lover or even his favorite," Medusa stated with her usual smile. "He's already chosen. It isn't you."
"Tell me he's not still mooning over Russo—"
"No," Medusa interrupted. "Though I doubt you'll be surprised. Who has he favored all this time? Who has made the ultimate sacrifice for him, so long ago? Who has he given special treatment, even to the point of deserting an ideal candidate for the Horcrux?"
"Well, there's that Quirrell, but he ain't—" Bellatrix stopped. She thought about it—really thought about it. "No. NO!"
"I observed their meeting," Medusa said. "They seem to be quite more than allies."
"What's that supposed to mean, more than allies?"
"Do mere allies in business express their affections by kissing each other on the lips?"
Bellatrix's jaw dropped in shock and anger.
"You're lying," Horvath said hurriedly upon noticing Bellatrix's reaction. "You're just trying to get a rise out of her!"
"I have no reason to do so," Medusa stated calmly. "I do, however, want to bring it to your attention that our comrade's goals may currently be compromised."
"COMPROMISED?" Bellatrix screamed. "THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT?"
"You know the saying," Medusa continued. "Love is a—"
"I DON'T CARE!" Bellatrix stormed away from the kitchen. "Him! HIM! That weaselly little TWIT! Over ME!"
"It is HIS LOSS," Horvath asserted, but Bellatrix was already too far away to hear him.
"Interesting," Medusa muttered. "It appears that Bellatrix is also compromised."
"Will you leave?" Horvath snapped. "Voldemort may think that your usefulness is worth your meddling, but keep this up and I may decide otherwise!"
"As you wish." Medusa left.
Horvath just stared at the door out of which Bellatrix had stomped. He had to admit to himself that it would be a detriment if that many of the Death Eaters were "compromised" by lust or love or what have you. That was logic.
There was no logical reason, he knew, to keep staring. Much like Voldemort, he decided to give in, just a little. Not a full admission, but…
"It really is his loss," Horvath repeated, still watching the path Bellatrix had taken, somewhat forlornly.
Voldemort was surprised it hadn't occurred to him earlier. The solution to his problems was suddenly all too simple.
He called for a council of the remaining Death Eaters in the living room. Quirrell had healed by that time, and so he stood there, beside Crouch and Medusa. Bellatrix and Horvath chose deliberately to stand against the opposite wall. Also present were Trixie, Fenrir, Dolohov, Goyle, Selwyn, Yaxley, the Averys, Rowle, the Carrows, the younger Crabbe, Travers (minus one arm), Gibbon, and Alex.
"Our numbers are small," Voldemort pointed out, "compared to the armies that the Merlineans at Hogwarts can pull together, without even mentioning what we face now that the Elements of Harmony have cast their fates in with them. Our loss was a disgrace, but when I consider it, it was not truly a surprise. Another mere invasion of our forces as they stand will not be enough. We must think more broadly, with the resources of the cosmos that are open to us."
"As if we hadn't just said the exact same thing," Bellatrix hissed to Horvath.
"Our forces came together with three goals at first," Voldemort reminded the audience. "To conquer Hogwarts, sanctuary of magical knowledge for the multiverse. To control the Kishin, the ancient evil. And to conduct the Rising, in which Morgana le Fay would return to us the powerful fallen who shared our goals. It now seems that we cannot do the former without the assistance of one of the latter. We must turn our attentions to the Kishin and the Rising."
"Both lost, if I recall," Medusa interrupted.
"And yet your experiments with the black blood indicate that you are not quite finished with the idea of the Kishin," Voldemort replied.
Medusa gave him her sinister smile. "Very perceptive. I have been thinking of ways to undo that…tragic loss."
"But we cannot bring Morgana le Fay back from the dead," Horvath said hurriedly. "Not without whatever power that draconequus had."
"That is true," Voldemort said. "The Morgana you knew was from Camelot, a kingdom that hailed from days far past…days that are mysterious even to us. Camelot was reportedly part of the Lands of Legend, which existed when, supposedly, all worlds were one. But we know the story, do we not? Time was broken by fools, and the existence of multiple timelines caused the need for multiple worlds."
"Did you know this?" Bellatrix hissed to Horvath. "Where the hell is he getting this?"
"This is basic knowledge for interdimensional travelers," Horvath hissed back. Bellatrix felt slightly sheepish.
"It would stand, then, that the Morgana we knew was famed throughout many worlds…the Morgana that came from that Camelot, where Horvath originally called home," Voldemort went on. "But what of other Camelots? Would the branching timelines not create that kingdom again? We retrieved Alexandra Russo from a world where she existed under different circumstances, despite her permanent death on this one. There was another of myself in that world, as well, and…Alex…has reported that on this world, there is a copy of her old nemesis, the first one she ever killed in my name. What, then, stands in the way of our discovering a second Morgana?"
Everyone present set to whispering.
"It's a good point," Quirrell whispered to Crouch.
"It's…brilliance!" Trixie whispered to Alex.
"What do you think of all this?" Bellatrix asked Horvath.
Horvath wanted to spit at the idea. He wanted Morgana to be dead and gone. She had betrayed him in a way she could never have betrayed any of the others. But that was when he felt differently about her…when he was consumed by obsession. That feeling was gone, for reasons he didn't quite understand were standing right next to him. Not to mention, it was a Morgana as different from whomever Voldemort spoke about as Alexandra was from Alex. He had no reason to reject the idea anymore…and from a purely professional standpoint, it was genius.
"It has merit," Horvath answered Bellatrix at last.
"With Morgana le Fay again on our side," Voldemort said, "we could direct her destiny, help her to become as powerful as the Morgana we recall, the one who gave us the name of Morganians. She would complete for us the Rising. Scores of pure-blooded witches and wizards on our side—"
Trixie crossed her arms, indignant that Voldemort would mention "pure-blooded witches and wizards" before a Kentauride who he'd deemed valuable. He either took no notice of this or chose not to respond.
"—and with that power, and possibly that of the Kishin, we would not only be able to take hold of Hogwarts, but this world and many others," Voldemort concluded. "It is because of this that I wish to form a small party tasked with finding Morgana. It will be led by myself and be composed of those of my choosing. The rest of you will occupy yourselves with whatever else you wish to accomplish until our return." The number of them that were still alive and hadn't gotten themselves blown up or thrown into Azkaban, Voldemort added in his mind, would stand as testament to how many were truly deserving to stand alongside him. The incompetent would surely weed themselves out as Pettigrew and Scabior had. "I intend to take only five with me. Quirinus—"
"Figures," Bellatrix hissed.
Quirrell couldn't restrain a grin. He and Voldemort met eyes for a split second, a short communication.
"—Horvath," Voldemort continued, "Bellatrix—"
"At least he still has some respect for me," Bellatrix muttered.
Horvath was beginning to doubt. After all that had happened when he tried to instigate the Rising by himself…could he actually seek Morgana in person? He didn't dare say no, however. Only an idiot, he thought, would do that.
"Medusa," Voldemort said, somewhat gingerly.
Medusa didn't make any sort of response.
"And Crouch," Voldemort finished.
"No," Crouch replied, confidently, immediately.
Horvath hadn't thought Crouch was an idiot before that moment.
"Why do you think you can defy me?" Voldemort asked.
"Because there are other things I can do to serve you besides either going on your wild Morgana chase or staying here like a mandrake rooted in the ground," Crouch stated. "I, too, have considered the possibilities of the powers found on other worlds. I have a few things in mind, in fact. There are destructive forces you haven't even considered. Let me go and do what I wish to accomplish, and you'll come back here to find the job of conquering this world half done."
"I would reject you, and even punish you for insolence, had you not performed so well with the coordination of the invasion," Voldemort replied. "Though it was a failure, it only progressed as far as it did because of you. I will humor you. You may attempt…whatever it is you wish to do."
"Oh, you won't be disappointed," Crouch said with a grin. "Still…I'm not one to ruin the surprise."
"As to those I have named, you would do best to have your affairs in order," Voldemort commanded. "We will leave tonight."
Crouch watched from the doorway as Voldemort, Quirrell, Bellatrix, Horvath, and Medusa disapparated on the front lawn, off to find other Camelots. He wondered if he should have at least gone with them for the moment, because they had the power to transfer their bodies to other worlds with just the flick of a wand. Crouch did not have that skill. It was reportedly a painful one to learn.
But he did have other means. Where he was going was nowhere near any Camelot anyway.
"So what's this genius plan of yours?" Alex asked him. "I mean, I'm just set on figuring out how to kill Stevie again. But you look like you're thinking about something huge."
"There are things I always believed in," Crouch said, "that others laughed at me for. But if the multiverse is really as big as they say…I know exactly where to find these things. Morgana isn't the only user of Dark magic to have survived since the Lands of Legend, after all."
"Well. That was useless. You really are bent on not telling anyone anything about this plan, aren't you?"
"You'll see it when you see it."
"You know, I could see you being an expert on all this stuff about dimensions and worlds. You should have your own spaceship. Make it travel through time, too. Just go all over finding different aliens and magic and stuff."
"That's ridiculous," Crouch said with a huff as he turned to walk past Alex and re-enter the house.
HOGWARTS, FOURTH EARTH
Finals drew near, and the study group—Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Harry, Ron, Neville, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Draco—met in the library nightly. Harry, Ron, Neville, and Draco were merely there to keep the others company; Hermione, Ginny, and Luna were nearly driven crazy studying for their Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests ("That one spells N.E.W.T.!" Pinkie had cried before bursting into laughter) while the six Equestrians looked over their books for their simple first-year finals.
After class, Applejack and Rainbow Dash made their way toward the library for one such study session. "Anyway, if Hermione comes back next year, she'll be able to make S.P.E.W. even bigger and better," Applejack stated.
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said. "And—"
She heard the laugh.
"Did you hear that?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Hear what?"
"Someone…laughing. It was creepy."
"Uh, Rainbow Dash? This is a school. Students laugh."
"No, this was…" Rainbow Dash felt a chill. "You'd know what I mean if you heard it."
It happened again. The laugh echoed toward Rainbow Dash's ears from further back down the hallway. It sounded absolutely familiar, a cold giggle from a male voice.
"You go on ahead," Rainbow Dash told Applejack. "I have to go take care of something. I'll be right there."
"Does this have anything to do with your mysterious laugh?"
"Well…yeah. It does. I have to check this out, okay? It's probably nothing, though."
"Want me to come with you? I mean, Voldemort is still out there, and if somethin's suspicious—"
"Nah," Rainbow Dash said, suddenly filled with confidence. "I'm sure it's nothing. But if it is? I can take it! It's just ONE laugh, after all."
"Well…all right," Applejack sighed. "See you in the library."
"See ya there!"
Applejack continued toward the library while Rainbow Dash walked in the opposite direction, following the sound of the laugh. She found herself walking down a stretch of hallway that was abandoned. The laugh emitted from behind a tapestry.
"Hey, you!" Rainbow Dash grumped. "Stop creeping me out, okay?" She swept back the tapestry. All she saw was a hidden stairway leading up. She decided to take it.
She heard the laugh again. "Whoever you are, you know I can take you, right?" Rainbow Dash threatened. "I nearly beat Dark Lord Voldemort in a battle! Geez, I don't even know who I'm talking to! Pull it together, Rainbow Dash!"
The stairway led her past another tapestry into a hallway on an upper floor. This hallway was also deserted, but at the end was a window through which filtered bright sunlight. It seemed impossible that something sinister could happen in an area so brightly lit, so Rainbow Dash sighed with relief.
The laugh was louder. It sounded as though whoever was laughing was standing right next to Rainbow Dash. "CUT THAT OUT!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash," the voice—the same voice that had made the laugh—said. "Did you REALLY think it would be that simple?"
Rainbow Dash felt her joints go weak as fear rushed over her. She figured out where she'd heard that laugh before. The voice, too. "No," she told herself. "It's a trick. A stupid trick. Ron, are you using something you bought from your brother's store?"
"You know," the voice went on, "I was never quite sure when the right moment would be to make my dramatic reappearance. I suppose this is as good as any."
With one more laugh—but different; this one was filled with mirth—the speaker came into view in a flash of light. Rainbow Dash, stunned, took two steps backward, steeling herself before she could catch herself running away like a coward.
"It can't be," she said. "You…you can't! You aren't here! You're back in Equestria! YOU'RE A STATUE!"
"Au contraire," Discord replied. "I am obviously very much here, and I am most certainly not a statue. Last time I checked, anyway."
"HOW?" Rainbow Dash asked. "How did you get here?"
"Well, I guess Maleficent would want to take the credit for that," Discord sighed, "but I like to think this is fate. Times are about to change, Rainbow Dash. Things are about to get a lot more chaotic. But you knew that. Firenze showed you where it said that in the stars."
Rainbow Dash's fear turned to anger. "So Maleficent's using you as a weapon too."
"I really wish people would stop getting that impression," Discord sighed. "Yes, she let me out of my uncomfortable stone prison, but that doesn't mean she owns me or even that she's more powerful. SHE is a pawn in MY game. Which you, by the way, are doing an EXCELLENT job at playing!"
A thought occurred to Rainbow Dash. "How'd you even get in here? You can't Apparate on Hogwarts grounds!"
"When have I ever followed rules like that, Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash sighed in frustration.
"But it seems you and I have an appointment," Discord pointed out. "As I recall, you made one wish, to defeat the so-called 'bad guy' behind the attack on Hogwarts. Well…here I am!" Discord spread his arms, beaming with glee.
Rainbow Dash drew her wand, about to fire a curse. Then his words sank in. "Wait. YOU were behind the attack…?"
"You see, once again, you give Maleficent far too much credit," Discord informed Rainbow Dash. "She may have brought Gothel back from the dead, but that's about all she's done in that respect. Voldemort and the Death Eaters? That was all me. I'd appreciate it if you started giving me due credit for showing them the way back here. Oh, and while we're on the subject, I also happened to be the one who brought Jafar back to the Seven Deserts. Mirage is an old friend of mine, you see. I thought it would be fun if she gave that lamp to a power-hungry tyrant, and oh, was I ever right! Twilight and Mozenrath are more entertaining than most soap operas."
"You…YOU UNLEASHED A HORDE OF BLOODTHIRSTY KILLERS ON INNOCENT STUDENTS?" Rainbow Dash screamed.
"It may seem one-sided," Discord countered, "but when you really think about it, it was an even match. And your side won. For now. I'm looking forward to the rematch. Oh, come now, you know I wouldn't set it up unless there was a chance you would win. I can't have you dying on me while there's still so much fun I can have watching you survive new challenges! But all this talk is boring me. Are you going to defeat me, or not? Do I have to make the first move?"
Rainbow Dash was struck speechless, unsure what to do. So Discord snapped his fingers, and suddenly the halls became a river, water four feet deep rushing down to wash over Rainbow Dash as a wave and knock her over.
She burst from the water angrily. "THAT'S IT!" she cried. Discord watched, amused, as in a blink of light, she transformed into a Mahou Shoujo, wielding her great rainbow sword.
"Now that's more like it," Discord muttered.
Rainbow Dash charged, swinging the sword. Discord ducked it, evading the shockwave. He tossed a few lightning bolts; they forked in the air, and Rainbow Dash slipped between them. She charged directly at Discord, screaming as she held the sword aloft. She struck out with it.
The shockwave knocked Discord down. The water dissipated. Rainbow Dash walked to stand over Discord, who lay on the ground, claw pressed to his forehead dramatically.
"Oh, dear," Discord said. "It seems you have beaten me. Your wish has come true."
"Save it," Rainbow Dash growled. "You aren't beaten."
"Oh, but I am! This time, anyway. I can't do anything else to bother you at this moment. That way you get exactly…what…you…wanted."
Realization struck Rainbow Dash. "Wait. You're doing this to screw with my wish!"
"I wouldn't call it 'screwing with' your wish if I'm granting it within all the terms and conditions. You beat me, fair and square. However, I can give you some information before I go. Would you like that as your reward, Rainbow Dash? To know what's going on?"
"Tell me what you're up to," Rainbow Dash commanded. "I get to choose whether or not I believe you."
"I should hope you believe me," Discord replied. "If you don't, well, you're going to be in for a nasty surprise. You've heard about the Old Ones, haven't you? Well, I'm looking for a way to bring them—to bring US, to be precise—all back. Oh, and what fun we'll have then! You're just part of the game I'm playing in the meantime to amuse myself. When the Old Ones are once again in power, why, the entire multiverse will go back to the way it was supposed to be! Have you heard of a time when all worlds were one?"
"I've heard about it." Rainbow Dash kept the sword pointed down at Discord, not daring to move.
"We were before that," Discord said. "Before there was anything that you would call familiar existence, there was chaos. There was us. Maleficent is also looking for them. She thinks she can CONTROL us. Well, you know what that means. The game's stakes are upped. More villains back from the dead, more disharmony to be spread. More ways to test you."
"Is EVERYTHING a game to you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Actually, yes!" Discord admitted proudly. "But that's where the problem lies, you see. I like a little balance. Good with evil. Light with darkness. Not that the latter two are related to the former. It makes everything just so much more enjoyable! But my idea of chaos is a little different than that of my friends. You see…well, it will be more effective if I just show you."
Discord put up his paw and claw, stretching out what looked like a square screen between them. On it flashed a series of images, and the longer Rainbow Dash watched, the bigger the screen seemed to become until it filled her entire vision.
The images were terrifying. There was Mirage, along with a blue winged cat. There was a gigantic black creature, somewhat like a gargoyle, with bright yellow eyes and a horned head, rising from a mountain in the darkness. There was a tall, thin, humanoid man, with no face—just blank whiteness—and arms that branched into writhing tentacles; he wore a neat black suit. There was a golden two-headed dragon whose body was that of a gigantic marble statue's head. There was a red-orange mass that erupted from the ground into a lumbering body and a head with sharp teeth. A slim red creature with slicked-back black hair and a teasing grin. A black sphere from which protruded an enormous hand, and at its center, through layers of black metal, a tiny glass sphere containing a green larva was visible. A man wearing black horned armor, impossibly gigantic and casting a hungry shadow. Another man, bound in bandages, with black and white striped hair. Another black sphere, with no remarkable features other than an impending sense of danger. A grinning god—or something more powerful, the father of gods—flanked by hulking masses of elements, fire, ice, wind, shaped vaguely like living beings. An aged man in crimson robes, with bright crimson eyes. A soil-colored dragon chewing upon the root of a tree, hoping to cause its toppling and with it an entire realm of existence. A creature that shifted from human woman to mare, but kept constant two black buttons for eyes. A blue-skinned woman with silver hair—her head was hacked off by an invisible blade then and there, but it kept on smiling. A man who seemed unremarkable, resembling perhaps a politician or an office worker, but whose shadow writhed as he held up a vial of what seemed to be deadly poison. A being as tall as a mountain, with a green face, sharp white fangs, and flames for eyebrows. A monstrously huge being, green as the sea, with tentacles protruding from its face.
"You see, Rainbow Dash," Discord said, interrupting the slideshow so that his own face loomed larger than any of the images. "The problem is that of all the Old Ones that are coming, of all the Old Ones you have yet to face…I AM THE NICE ONE."
He snapped his fingers. The screen and all its pictures disappeared. Rainbow Dash was unable to form a response. She simply stood in place, breathing hard.
"I know it can be difficult to take," Discord said with mock sympathy. "But you're going to have to get used to the fact that what you've seen so far is only the beginning. Well, that's all I had to say! Feels good to get that off my chest! I'll see you soon, Rainbow Dash! And tell your friends hello from me when you see them!"
Discord vanished, completely. He left behind one last echoing laugh.
It took Rainbow Dash a while to move. Discord's return was…difficult to process, but in the end, on its own, it was just frustrating. But he'd been the one who brought back Jafar. The one who brought back Voldemort. Setting up catastrophes like they were only games.
And he would probably never go away. He'd been sealed in stone three times and broken out three times. There were people who WANTED him out. Especially those who wanted the age of chaos represented by…by…
Rainbow Dash could barely process the creatures she'd seen. It was easy to believe that among them, Discord was, in fact, "the nice one."
She lowered her sword. She dismissed the Mahou Shoujo clothing, returning to her student's robe. She knew she had to tell the rest of her friends…but she walked slowly. She was in no hurry to break the news to them.
The chaos would never stop coming, she thought. They couldn't win. It was hopeless.
Her amulet was completely filled with cloudy darkness.
"Hey, where's Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked.
"She said she had to go check out somethin'," Applejack answered. "Some kinda weird laugh. She'll be along."
If they couldn't win, why even try?
This was the thought that whirled around Rainbow Dash's head as she moved ever slowly downstairs. Students pushed past her; she barely registered their existence.
So many horrors like Voldemort or worse waiting in the wings. There was no way the six of them could challenge…those. No hope.
Rainbow Dash became aware of something else, a writhing in her skin.
"Okay, Rainbow Dash has been 'checking out' that thing for way too long," Twilight stated. "I'm getting worried."
"As am I," Hermione agreed. "You never know what she could have run into, given the state of things…"
"I should've gone with her," Applejack realized.
"Let's go find her," Harry suggested. The study group rose from the table.
She felt dangerous.
Despair was eating at Rainbow Dash, despair and doubt. She knew the truth, felt that the entire universe was turned against her, and worse, her friends. But a new truth was beginning to reveal itself. When she looked down at her body, she saw it sort of shimmer and warp, as though it wasn't quite in that existence.
She took off the amulet, looking at it. The lightning bolt was cloudy and black, with not a trace of red.
Her instinct was to lash out. To draw the sword and use it. To destroy. She didn't know where those thoughts were coming from, especially since she had been in despair not so long ago. The only answer, she theorized, was that there was a curse inside of her.
That made sense. She'd used up all the energy in her gem as of the skirmish with Discord. She'd poisoned the container with her soul. She was feeling the effects. And they made her feel mean, aggressive.
A student crashed into her; she turned and hissed at that hapless child. Then she covered her mouth with a hand. She hadn't been able to control that impulse.
She began to feel what she was becoming. As her physical form kept on warping, she felt a building pressure, all her doubt and fear, and it was blowing her up from inside like a balloon, making her feel bigger.
That was how she knew she would be harmful. The last thing she wanted, after all this, was to become the threat to her friends. So she changed course. She didn't go to the library. She didn't waste time. She ran, down and down, to where she knew she would be alone.
To where she knew they would be safe from her.
The gem shifted in her hands. She felt the lightning bolt drop from its golden frame, and she caught it, not wanting it to roll away. Roll, indeed. It was round. She stole a glance at it. Round and black, a sphere with a spindle at one end and a tiny lightning bolt at the other.
She kept running. Then she found the place and entered. She was alone. She didn't know if she was safe—
But they were safe. From her.
She let the black sphere drop to the ground.
Then she took all the despair inside of her, all the fear, all the doubt—
And she let it come bursting out.
Chapter 44:
· I really feel like I'm shipping Scabior and Pettigrew at this point.
· So now you know the truth: Ricksmith was a placeholder before I could put Snape back in office. So we'll have Snape around for more fun later!
· Of course I have to keep bringing the main cast back even though they've graduated. It's more fun that way.
· I felt like Veronica needed a little closure after what she'd been through, but I didn't want to devote too much time to it because I didn't want to mishandle it.
· The Quirrell/Voldemort kiss scene was obviously one I was excited to write. Screw the idea of love potion babies not knowing love.
· I also have a thing for Horvatrix. Could you tell? This is the chapter where I take all the characters who've supposedly renounced love and make them fall in love. (You get off easy this time, Medusa.)
· The idea of the parallel Morgana is one that kind of struck me partway through this storylet, and actually will carry the Death Eaters' arc through several storylets now that I have it.
· The worlds were separated because "time was broken." This is just an outright reference to the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. While I'm aware that the breaking of the time tower did not, in fact, create multiple timelines in that canon, I feel like it's the best historical excuse I have for how things broke.
· I apologize for the bad David Tennant/Doctor Who joke. As characters go, Ten and Crouch are as far apart as characters can be.
· I introduce Discord to the Mane Six! And he can Apparate on the grounds because HE'S DISCORD.
· I have actually got confirmation that Q has set off chains of events that unleashed hordes of killers upon the Star Trek universe. So I don't think Discord would cry too hard over the casualties caused by unleashing Death Eaters.
· Rainbow Dash's wish WAS just literally granted.
· I'm also not giving you hints as to who the Old Ones were I listed. Some you'll have recognized immediately. Others are from obscure stuff.
· If the despair seems out of character for RD, I will say that the amulet is influencing some of it. You'll get more on that next chapter. In fact, next chapter, you will understand the ending of this one. I know I kind of hit hard and fast with a bunch of stuff that didn't make sense. But this is setting up for what's to come.