Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga
Chapter 10
Pansy stepped further into the night air, the grounds of the manor were so much warmer than the coldness of its inner walls, even when blanketed by snow. She didn't remember how she came to be outside, but she was glad to be. She loved the play on the shadows as she looked out on the contrasting light of white and black of night. This was a rare treat and needed break from the confides of her cage and presence of these people.
"Pensèe!"
The word caught her off guard and she spun looking for the source, "Mother?" she thought. Only her mother's memory had been a reliable companion of late, but this wasn't the memory she clung to so desperately.
"Child!"
The same voice whispered in the air, the hairs on her neck prickled and her skin rose as she felt the presence of something she couldn't explain. Snow was falling again now as she turned back to the house, she decided she'd had enough walking for one night, she pressed on down the garden path. The snow gently falling it added a fresh layer of softer, lighter crunch under foot as she walked. As she walked her vision was filled with the mist of her hot breath on the cold night air. The snow picked up in speed as it fell against her, brushing her cheeks as it past, flakes landing on her eyelashes in the blur as she pushed on. She paused, a feeling of confusion as she lost sight of the building. What should have been a simple act, one foot following another turned to further confusion as she reached an outline of trees. Squinting she saw that they were the gathering of trees she'd just walked away from, the collection that had a garden swing and willow arch centred under the canopy, that she hadn't yet had the pleasure of enjoying.
Confused further still, she turned left this time down another path, a longer route but surely, she wouldn't get mixed up a second time. This time she could see the lights of the house in the distance, but once again the snow picked up, nipping gently as it breathed over her pale skin. She pushed through it, but as she did the lights vanished. When her vision cleared, she was again frozen at the sight of the treeline she'd just left a second time.
"What's going on?" she thought internally, the concept panicked her, how could she walk away twice and be back at the same place.
"I see you child", this time the voice enveloped her, neither behind nor in front. Louder now too, it was distorted, warped, frightening, her hand went to her wand, but she hadn't it.
"Who is it", she whispered.
"Come and see me distant one".
The line of the trees blurred, from the ground at her feet to the sky up above, everything within sight blurred, as if she was plummeting beyond the speed of light the images vanished.
In a heartbeat it stopped, the treeline was back but the world was gone. The tree's had remained, but they weren't as she'd ever known. They were made of smoke and moved as though gently blown by wind. There was no snow and night, only dark and light, a living chiaroscuro land where only light played off shadow to create the images before her. Only a deep reverberating white noise was audible as it engulfed her.
Then she saw the feintest of lines of light, it only served to hint at the possibility of a figure against the darkness. The shape seemed to grow, swelling? Or slowly approaching seemed to fit better. As it neared, more of the line of light took shape, carving a slither of the figures form to her eye.
"You travel so far to see so little".
"Where am I?"
"You are home", the voice was distant, unclear to her mind, it spoke more but she heard almost nothing as the sound distorted around her. "It's end… already begun … overrun … Foretold".
The scene around her seemed ephemeral, it wasn't possible, as though they couldn't remain there.
"I don't understand, what's foretold?"
The shape came closer, it towered, it towered beyond measure, it engulfed. Leaning down she made out a hood, within there was light, something akin to a mask was there, bone like and ancient.
"Take my hand my …", Pansy could just make out, the bone beneath the hood was a carving, a mask of sorts. The figure stood back to it's full height and pansy saw fingers protrude from its cloak. Long, bone white with perfect black claw like nails the hand was outstretched. "You know me"
"My death", Pansy breathed. The understanding was instinctive as she felt the presence now rather than saw it. She had to take her hand; she was meant to.
The world vanished beneath her feet again and she plummeted, again she stopped and the chiaroscuro landscape, so other worldly and impossible was replaced with another. Gone was the forest of smoke. She looked out, stood on a precipice at the magnificence of the dreamscape before her. Like two worlds verged on colliding to her left and right, they stood on the boundaries that separated them, the light of the worlds contrasting the darkness of nothing where they stood. A void of darkness where it seemed nothing could exist.
Her host threw open her cloak, revealing she wore a celestial shroud of night, its cosmic palate visible against her radiant darkness. With a wave of her hand, her mask faded away revealing that the darkness around her was radiant only to the beauty of this palest of creatures. Long black hair crowned her face where the darkness of her eyes and lips contrasted against the rest of her, the palest of pale skin.
Pansy's head bowed, she knew not why, if she was dead, she was dead, what more could she care. But she did care. An inexplicable feeling of trust seemed to engulf her as she stood some ten feet under her goddess profile.
"Children lost to time… Duty … fulfil … ".
"I can't understand you", Pansy realised she wasn't speaking, she was thinking again, out loud. "Why do I know this?" she shouted up to Death, "Why is it so familiar to me?"
Death's hand came to stroke Pansy's cheek as she knelt by her. She closed her eye's and as Pansy started to feel something inside her Death's eyelids opened sharply, she fixed her with a deathly glare. Her head turning she raised a hand in pointing. She was talking all the time, but none were audible to Pansy's ears, it remained muffled and distorted.
Pansy's eyes squinted following Death's hand as she tried to make out something in the nothing of darkness. "There's nothing there!", Death's gaze fell to her, but again, deliberately returned to the nothing.
Someone screamed, "Something", she thought aloud, "nothing that sounds like that could be real", she breathed as it filled her ears again. The sound was primal, a reckoning of claws and teeth.
"Foretold", again Pansy made this out, "heirs of eternal light".
"I still don't know what you mean, what's foretold?"
"The eternal will reclaim… Lead light through dark… Realms".
More scream's pulled Pansy's gaze back on the distant void, she saw it now, the movement. Something was hurtling towards her. Without thought she wandered, walking towards it to better see, she couldn't hear the shouting from behind her. Pansy held a hand up to her eyes, the darkness was moving, sprinting, snarling with a ferocity of manic like wanting. Like a great horde she saw the great beasts of darkness as they traversed the dreamscape. With great speed the distance grew shorter, then shorter still until they were right on top of her.
Pansy's hands were trembling now, she'd never seen an infinity of nothing seem so monstrously powerful and driven with hunger. This wasn't a charge of some beast but the march of doom she knew it came to snuff out her existence and steal from her all purity, leaving her with only what was baring down on her now.
The huge hand of death rested on her shoulder, just as she was looking up at the falling jaws of oblivion lunging to swallow her existence. The moment her shoulder was held the horde blew straight threw them as a swirl of shadow and mist. Looking round they were back in the chiaroscuro landscape, it's mysterious forest of smoke like tree's a strange echo of the world she'd left.
Pansy fell to what appeared to be the floor panting hard as fear racked her, coughing she staggered to her feet. Her hand clutched her head as though the screams of nightmares still rang in her mind, "What was that?"
But the scene was fading now, quickly syphoning out of her view and she knew she was leaving.
"What was that, what were they?" Pansy demanded again, "you brought me here to tell me something, what is it?" She grasped Death's dress; she froze seeing what looked like a trickle run down her cheek.
"Remember", she echoed into pansy.
"Remember what? I still don't understand.
"You are the Foretold… Protect your gift… Remember!"
Death pulled on her hood, her mask of bone forming over her features. As Pansy watched, the world fading, her face distorted into darkness under the hood, her frame becoming shadow. Trying to peer after her for one last glimpse, a great set of jaws lunged at her as one of the huge beasts of darkness appeared, it's aim, to consume her.
Pansy woke, her frame breached from her mattress as she sat upright. At some point in the night she'd shuck her night dress, her body was soaked in sweat, her bed all the more so. She was panting now, desperate to remember something important.
A great dizziness took her as she swung her feet out the bed, "Rolo", she whispered. The elf appeared, "Rolo what time is it?"
"Early Miss just turned five Miss".
"I'm sorry, but I think I had a nightmare", she panted, "can you change my sheets for me".
"Of course, Miss, Miss goes for her shower and Rolo's sorts it for her".
Standing Pansy wobbled, hand going to her head as the feeling continued. Her hand stroked the top of his head as she passed, "thank you Rolo", she breathed.
Inside her bathroom she ran her small bath in a change of routine, enjoying the fog of steam that began to fill the air. She liked how it wrapped around warmly, but as it did, flashes began to take hold in her head as the dream she'd had returned. That same swirl of steam like smoke that had clogged her vision, forming a great nightscape of wispy trees that flashed away into a dreamscape of cosmic brilliance.
Her gaunt face became visible as she wiped a hand against the heavily condensed mirror before her. She was shade's better than she had been, but only because she'd allowed food to pass her lips, even than that only being because she had to.
"What the hell was that about?" she breathed as the dream came back to her, piece by broken, distant piece. Her face hardened as her hand gripped the basin of the sing harder. A wave of sickness began in the depths of her stomach as it built in her, nauseatingly strong.
She dipped a burning toe into the hot waters of the bath minutes later, the dizziness returning, she steadied herself. On the moment of lowering herself she straightened quickly looking to the toilet. Falling into kneeling before it she heaved, vomiting harshly. The sensations continued for a moment until it stopped. Finishing she stood, catching sight of herself in the mirror.
"It's, it's just stress", she assured herself.
With further shaking, her hands trembled as she gripped the bath, finally lowering herself in she hissed against the glorious burning of the heat, the pain was tremendous. She laid her head back and closed her eyes as sweat trickled from her forehead. "This was a bad idea", she thought as Ronald entered her mind. Sinking as low as she could in this tiny tub her burning body couldn't help but imagine the rawness of heat against her skin could almost be his arms around her, were he there. Leaning back on the arch of the tub she could be sat against his solid chest. Her arm brushed her front gently, eyes still closed, "this could be his arm, greedily holding me for himself", she thought.
Her moment of fleeting tranquillity dissipated as her eye's opened, startled by the sensation the hit her once again. Without thought she jumped bodily from the bath, a crash of water splashing out around her.
Heaving once again into the toilet she straightened with horrific light in her eyes as a nightmare came to her. "No… I can't be", but once again, a hand was already resting on her stomach. "No!" she whined in all but a whisper as tears fell, "not now, not here", she cried.
She wanted her mother, Molly, Tracey, anyone but this lot. But she was alone, or if her fear's were true, they were alone.
"Remember!"
She heard it, in the recesses of her mind, and as she did, it brought flashes with it. That dream again, the contents spilling into her head as she remembered more. Like the horrific realisation that she could be pregnant at a time like this, trapped here was somehow forcing her to remember it vividly.
"You are the Foretold", she whispered, "what the hell kind of rubbish is that". She looked down, her hand was stroking the spot where she now feared a bump might form, giving away her secret, if she was right. "They can't be linked, that's ridiculous".
But her mind took on more of the memory as she desperately tried to remember. "Children lost to time", she thought, "well that cant be right, child maybe but not children. The hairs on her now wet neck tingled with electricity as her mind whirled with every unimaginable thing that had happened to her recently.
She was terrified as she tried to get to her feet, wiping at the mirror again she glanced at her fearful eyes. "Lost to time though", she thought, the phrase seemed to encompass everything her, Molly and Poppy had feared. Time going haywire with them both, a backwards sort of pregnancy that she'd technically endured but with no trace of a soul to hold after.
"I refuse to believe this", she said to her reflection defiantly. Almost in defiance of herself, her reflection seemed to nod back at her to look down. She did and found her hand, yet again, finding that spot. "Fucking Charlie", she thought as she realised, he'd been right.
She looked down at the mess, but as she did the feeling returned. Collapsing back to the toilet she was relieved when this time, nothing happened, but the feeling remained.
"Rolo", she whispered.
He arrived with a pop, eye's struggling for where to look as she knelt naked, His fear turned to concern though as he saw her head disappear inti the toilet and the sounds of heaving hit him. "Miss is not well; Rolo should get help".
"No Rolo", she grasped his arm lightly, "towels, I just need towels to clean this mess".
"Yes Miss".
"No Rolo, wait", she stopped him again. "Just the towels, tell no one anything of what you've seen". He looked at her, his head turned in confusion, but he didn't speak. "Rolo?" She turned to him as the feeling passed for a moment. "Rolo has someone asked you to keep tabs on me". She saw it in his eyes, hurt and confusion bound by the relationship of his masters.
"Rolo can't say", he ground out as he squeezed his eyes tight as his little face fought in frustration.
"Rolo, you serve all within this house yes, you know of the young Master, what I have to do yes?"
"I know you have to be his wife", Rolo nodded.
"And Master has already taken ownership of me as a guardian, so I'm technically a house member. So, I can make requests yes?" Pansy pleaded quietly.
"Yes Miss, but…".
"I know Rolo, I don't outrank Master or Mistress, but I can make requests that might get in the way", she was rushing now. "Master know's I cut myself, yes?" She already put two and two together when she saw the concern of his face. She knew that between them the interactions had been genuine. "I know you don't have a choice Rolo, it's ok".
"Rolo wants to help Miss, but he is bound".
"Did Master, or anyone, specify where I had to be when you tell them of anything they might wish to know?", Pansy's cunning was awakening in her, the Slytherin snake uncoiling.
"No Miss".
"Then tell him, everything you have to", she said in reassurance, "but I request that you speak of nothing you see here, in this bathroom. As would be the most decent things to do, as per the old rules of decency and honour, this is a lady's bathroom Rolo".
Rolo's eye's widened brightly, "Miss makes this a demand Miss?"
"I do Rolo, yes".
"Then if Master asked Rolo", he said slowly, "he would be able to say he sees Miss has had a bad dream, but nothing further", he finished with a smile.
Pansy smiled back, as she did the feeling returned and she pushed her head back down in retching. She looked up in shock as she felt his little hands pushing her hair back out of her face as she vomited.
"Miss is not well", Rolo whispered in concern.
"Rolo, have you ever seen me look well since I got here", she asked with a raw honesty, he shook his head sadly. Wiping her mouth, she lay her head on the porcelain feeling exhausted, "then there is no lie in not telling Master that Miss appears sick or unwell when out of this room either".
"Rolo can do that for Miss".
"Rolo is too kind", she smiled sadly.
Rolo looked down to see her hand on her stomach, none of her sadness was lost on him. The intricacies of this family and why she was here was, it confused him, but he felt she was as bound to them as he was, unable to escape. "Miss does not belongs here!" he said desperately, "she should leaves".
"I can't Rolo, I have to stay, I've no other choice, no one I can turn to".
"Miss has Rolo", he said defiantly, "Rolo uses elf magic's to bar sound at the door, no one can hears what said in Misses room".
"Rolo you can't, if they catch you they'll kill you".
His hand touched her's on her stomach, "Rolo keeps Miss safe", he said stubbornly.
The little creature brought her to tears and she kissed his head, his ears wiggled uncontrollably in his excitement.
He disappeared and she climbed back into the bath to clean off, the need to soak less so now as her mind started to flood again with all the worry and fright of what was to come if there was any truth in this fear. Once again, her mind turned to Ron as she lay there, only this time her hand stroked at her stomach and the thought of their child. "I need you", she moaned as she slipped further into the water.
"Remember!"
The whisper sat her upright again, hand over her heart she slapped the top of the water in annoyance. "I can't take all this," her nerves were coming undone.
She was trapped here, destined to wed Draco, the thought filled her with more dread as Lucius' words returned to her. This was happening closer than she thought it would now, with no hope of change, he was escalating his plans.
Then this dream like nightmare, that was coming back to her all the clearer, just as she was worrying about being pregnant again. It was all too much, and all she had was a house elf as an ally.
Ron was shaken awake, "…up, I said get up Ron".
"What the bloody hell", he squawked as his hand found his wand, it came to be pointed in the direction of the rude person shaking him.
"At least some of what he said sunk in", the girl murmured.
"Jess?" he said rubbing his eye, "what's up, what is it". He knew something was wrong as she pulled on his arm hurriedly.
"You need to get up now!" she urged, "come on, no time to explain", she hissed, finally getting him out of bed. "Woah!" she breathed, her mouth falling open as she backed away.
Ron looked down, he was naked, swinging in the wind so to speak. He coughed loudly as she stood staring down at him. After she didn't move, "Ahem!" he coughed again.
"Shit", she turned quickly, "it's not easy remembering your only young, damn Ron!" But her mind woke to her task, and she turned back to him uncaring. Grabbing his things she stuffed them in a bag and forced a haphazard set of clothes into his arms. "Just get dressed quick, I've seen it all now anyway".
He wanted to argue but knew better, "can you at least tell me what it is", he asked.
"No time", she hissed again. Grabbing his waist band she started to yank it up over his hips in hurrying him along.
The door to his room opened and they both froze, Ron clutching her hands as they clung to his pants, shirtless standing over her. It was more than a little provocative. "Please gods not another?" Bill said as he spotted them, Arthur walked in and frowned.
"Shut it you, get his stuff", Arthur ordered his eldest, "Ron, shirt and shoes now, come one".
"Dad, what's going on?" Ron started to worry now as soon as he saw his dad's face.
"No time Ron, just hurry, someone's coming, and we need to be gone".
Ron's eye darkened and his face turned to a scowling as his mind skipped ahead to conclusions. "Come to finish the job", he sneered in anger, picking up his wand and squaring off his shoulder.
"Oh no you don't, oh great avenger, it's nothing like that", Bill said passing him with a tussle of his hair, "we just need to be gone, like now!"
"Just go Bill", Jess said, pushing the bag of clothes into his arms, "I'll get anything he leaves".
His brother and father started to push him from the room, but he stopped them, "No wait, Jess, what about her".
"You really are a sweetheart aren't you", she touched his cheek, "I'm fine, I'll be running out of here in a minute raising the alarm that you're missing. Besides I'll be seeing you soon".
"What, when?"
"You still need treatment dumbass, go!"
"Come on Cassanova for Merlin's sake", Arthur growled as he started to drag him. They got halfway down the corridor, by which time seven or eight questions were already left hanging from Ron as he looked between them. "Quiet!" he hissed.
There was a collection of loud voices and the sound of footsteps marching along. "Dad, in here", Bill said, and they piled into a healer's ward office that was empty. Arthur tapped the blind's as they shut.
"Fawkes", Arthur said aloud, there was a sear of light and a flash of plumage. A great winged bird trilled and with one flap of it's wings it was there, a second and it was gone. Only three feathers remained, floating down in the air where they landed consecutively on the table.
The voices grew louder, "What was that noise?" one said aloud.
"Check everywhere", another ordered.
"Grab one each, now!" Arthur ordered.
Ron and Bill grabbed a feather each. As they did the sound of Jess shouting could be heard. "I've got a high-risk patient out of his room, Security! Someone alert security, high risk patient".
All three were sucked from the room with a small 'pop' as the door opened and one of the men stuck his face in. "Nothing in here Shacklebolt Sir".
"Search every room, I want that boy".
"Ronnie-boy!" cried a snarling sort of voice.
"Sirius!" Ron accepted the hug, learning to roll with the sad and shocked look that people had now when they saw him for the first time.
"I'm sorry I couldn't visit you", he growled with pissy look to his face.
"I know how you feel mate", Ron said in feeling for him.
Sirius's features softened a little, "I guess you do now", he said sadly.
He was pulled into the kitchen of Grimmauld place where the sight of his mother, pausing from her whirlwind conducting of breakfast seemed almost a regular sight he'd missed. The smell hit him instantly, like a great dog, his mouth salivated at the smell of his mother's breakfast filled his nose. He was starving after his last few meals, that and his general loss of appetite.
"I know that look", Molly smiled, glad to see something familiar on his face, "fancy some breakfast love, guessing the food's been bad".
"Shite!" he exclaimed, receiving a sharp slap across the chest, "sorry, yes please, couple of those sausages".
"Your thinner than you were when you went in, you're getting more than a few sausages".
"Honestly mum, I haven't had much of an appetite since waking from the coma, I just wanted some decent food for a change".
Molly dropped her spatula, and the others behind him went silent. Apparently, this news trumped everything else. "Right", Ron called out, "can I get some bloody answers now?" he said turning around. His mind spasmed at the sight before him, "Headmaster!"
"Bloody good to see you too", Dumbledore mocked Ron's own intensity from behind the table where he sat with Moody. "Ronald, come join us".
Ron, amazed to be asked to sit like this did as he was told. He sat next to Bill as another figure entered the room.
"Err!" Charlie yawned, "Mum can I get some breakfast before I grab a few hours kip".
"Course sweetheart, sit down with your brothers".
Charlie turned and blinked seeing Ron sat there. "Lad!" he shouted, rushing forward and landing as big and wet of a kiss as he could on his little brother's cheek. Ron pushing him off like swatting a fly. "Who sprung you from that hell hole".
"Dad and Bill, I'm waiting to find out why now, what's got you so tired?"
"Responsibilities Ron, its called a job", Charlie poked sitting on his other side.
"Your still working, how!" Ron said in astonishment.
"Dumbledore, set me up a back-and-forth portkey so I can keep my foot in and do some shifts, it's good for the Order". Moody coughed purposely, "Oh crap, Sir… I mean Albus, sorry I didn't see you… Mad-Eye", Charlie nodded.
"Good to see that work ethic's coming in good Charles", Dumbledore smiled.
Ron instantly felt bad for his brother, "wait, it's true, you're really bouncing round so much because of me? And you, you're supposed to be back in Egypt".
"Hey" Bill said, "you're doing me a favour, I only had six months before my role in London opens up and I have a ton of holiday days to take. And just think of all this extra time you've gotten me with Fleur", he winked.
"He's right, plus I'm just helping out with they odd shift, I'm still hitting my contracted rates as they've asked me to keep an eye on the Scottish Lux and English Prider breeding pairs we released into the wild a few years ago, get some data and see how they are. Like a paid holiday for me mate".
"So!" Ron allowed the words to hang in the air as he poured himself a coffee.
"Argh, yes", Dumbledore smiled, "that's right, so it seems I'm now a fugitive".
"Come again?"
"A man at large, Wanted posters, Danger to Society. I doubt we'll see any 'Shoot on Sight' posters but as it happens, I truly am… a fugitive!" he said the last with a heavy dose of mischief.
"You're kidding", Ron said, "why".
"Because of that bloody brilliant little group you Harry and Hermione put together", Moody growled, "couldn't have been prouder when we heard a few months back".
"You knew about that?" Ron asked in shock.
"Oh, thank you Molly, this looks fit for any Englishman", Dumbledore smiled as she traversed all their plates over to them seamlessly by wand before taking her seat by Arthur. "Of course I did", Dumbledore's blue eye's twinkled in the light. "As Alister said, couldn't have been prouder. But while they were caught leaving their club meeting- …".
"-They were caught", Ron said in panic, "are they alright, Harry, Hermione… Ginny!"
"All fine Ron, all fine", Dumbledore said holding his hands up, "but as you already know, Cornelious has not been for meeting me even close to halfway this year and I fear he truly is set now in his convictions. They've found their other weight to leverage me out of my position in the school I think they were just waiting for the proverbial straw that broke the Sphinx's back. Which is what this proved to be, allowing him to think up some form of charge to hold me in Azkaban".
Ron stilled, knowing the answer already with a sad realisation, "if it wasn't this then what's the real, leverage".
Dumbledore sighed, seeming not willing to say, until he eventually did. "I allowed a student to be severely disfigured and another to run away, unable to be found".
Ron gritted his teeth, "that wasn't your fault", he growled softly.
"So why he here?" Charlie shouldered into his brother, forcing him out of his head.
The door went and Molly rushed off, but Dumbledore paused as he listened. Second's later she went straight back to the great aga stove. Kingsley's head popped through the threshold of the kitchen, as he did his wand pointed at Dumbledore.
"Hands in the air", Kingsley smiled, Dumbledore chuckled, putting his wrists together in a 'cuff me' gesture. "You timed that close", his hand clapped Arthur's shoulder as he walked to sit opposite, next to Sirius. "Were you in that Healer's office, I was sure I heard you go before Arlo poked his head in".
"We were, this one was too busy chatting up Alister's niece", Bill laughed.
"No, I wanted to make sure she wasn't getting in any trouble, seeing as it felt like that was exactly what we were doing".
"Yeah", Bill sniggered, "with her hands down your pants".
Charlie choked on his Orange juice as Ron's eye's nervously found Moody's. "No", he thumped Bill, "she never… she was pulling them up". The boys both snorted as Moody's eyebrow raised, "not like that!" he shouted getting to his feet.
"Sit down", Arthur said, Ron did, just as his dad added with his own snort of laughter, "Cassanova!" He turned back to Kingsley, "thanks for the heads up, great idea to get Alister to warn Jess, all joking aside we wouldn't have got out if she hadn't of dragged him up".
"Wait, why did you want me?" Ron asked.
"Fudge want's anyone close to Albus rounding up for interrogation, he knows you and the Parkinson girl have been of great concern to your Headmaster, he wants to know what you know. Thank you, Molly, just what I need after an early start", Kingsley accepted the breakfast.
"You've time for food then", she laughed.
"I've five minutes to be in and out before I'm needed back", Kingsley said as he added his brown sauce, "so naturally I'll stretch it to thirty, perks of being the boss", he winked to Ron.
Moody coughed and they all turned to him. His instincts were to tell them all to get on with it but he knew a bit of tact was needed. "We don't have long, I need to make headway".
Ron saw as his mother and father's faces changed. Arthurs became stoic and set, Molly's was watery eyed and pained. "Mum, dad?"
Arthur turned to his youngest boy, his piercing eye's told Ron he wasn't sure about something. "Your leaving Ron, you're not staying at headquarters".
"I thought we all were", he said looking round, "I thought mum said the others were only spending the extra night at school, what's the point in me going to come back". Ron saw his brother's head's droop slightly and he knew he'd missed something. "You're kicking me out?"
"No!" his dad hissed, "but Ron, you can't go back to school either, indefinitely".
Ron's mouth fell open, he was rising out of his seat but Bill and Charlie's hands grabbed his shoulder. "What do you mean indefinitely, don't be daft of course I am".
"I'm afraid Ronald, you can't", Dumbledore said sadly, "I will not be there to allow you to. Dolores Umbridge is now already in my place, and we seriously doubt you would be allowed to return if she has her way, which she now, can. It's also not safe for you, whatever the source of the strange strength you summon is, it has clearly remained within you. I don't doubt that if you were to come face to face with young Draco Malfoy, you'd be able to stop yourself".
Ron's face burned as he heard the name, his fist clenched, and knuckles grew white.
"See", Bill said softly, "Ron, you'd kill him-…".
"…-Hardly an issue", Charlie muttered.
"Mate, stop", Bill warned, "we all agreed this was what's best".
"He's not agreed yet!", suddenly Molly snapped towards Bill and Ron knew she wasn't for this idea. "If he doesn't want to go then he can just stay here, I'll teach him".
"Molly", Arthur started.
"He's our son Arthur, I'm not sending him away, you were right!" She snapped at her husband now, "I should never have let Pansy go, it eats at me every day and now you want to let him go, well no! Not if he doesn't want to".
"Go where, exactly" Ron spoke up.
"To be trained, as you would in school", Arthur said, "but in way's the school won't be able to, not for someone as you are".
"With who?"
Ron's eyes followed where his father's gaze halted, "hello!" Moody waved with a sarcastic delight.
"You're shitting me!" Ron said opened mouth. Charlie snorted to his left. "Why do you want to train me".
"Because I'm a charitable soul", Moody deadpanned, "and I've an affection for cripples, even cheeky little sods like you. That, and I told you, good man your father, your mother too, good woman". He turned to his coffee and took a long sip, seeing to come to some decision of his own. "But your mothers right, it's your choice, not ours. If you want to stay, I'll not say a word against you, I'll not even be offended. She's lost more than most…"
His mother stilled to his left, her watery eye's being dabbed by her tissues.
"No one could blame her for wanting to protect what she could lose, she nearly lost you once. So if you want to stay, that's your choice. But from one cripple to another, you can live like this, clinging to whatever amount of normality that takes you back to before. Or, you can come with me and I'll promise you nothing but pain, misery and hard work. But before were even near done, I'll give you back more than what you lost. You'll grow to do more than you ever could, or you can cling to what you can. That's it, nothing more or less than a choice".
"I can't stay here and learn from you can I", Ron already knew what kind of arrangement this was. Moody just shook his head. Ron knew this was a mental idea, he didn't want to go off and live with some old man. But the old man wasn't quite your regular old man, more like an old battle worn Lion. He was formidable and had an unforgiving attitude, Ron had quite liked the way they didn't mince any of their words around each other. He honestly couldn't think of anyone more qualified to at least try to get him somewhere as close to normal as he could hope.
Ron stood, slowly walking to his mother, he knelt down and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek. "I'm sorry", he whispered.
Molly sobbed as she turned to him, Moody's words had struck at her but it still hurt. "It's what's best for you, I know it, I just, don't want to watch you leave again".
"You know I'm always here Molly", Moody said as he rose to his feet, "soon as he start's showing some effort I'll make sure he's always with me, he'll be back soon. And Jess is going to give him regular visit's until were happy he's fully on the mend".
Arthur too stood and gave Ron a firm embrace, followed by his brothers. "Go and pack now", his dad said, "we had everything from Hogwarts brought back to yours and Harry's room.".
"I can't stay and wait to see them can I", Ron said sadly.
"No", Moody Growled, "you know the fight they'd put up. Besides, you've that little owl, I see no harm in the odd letter, so long as there not going to the headquarters where they can be intercepted".
"Come on mate", Charlie said quietly, "we'll help you pack". Charlie and Bill guided him out of the room and up the stairs.
Bellatrix entered the main drawing room used the most by the family, her boots stomping out her arrival. Pansy merely watched; head down as was normal. as she entered. "What is it now Brother-In-Law dearest", she cried out sarcastically, "what's the great summoning for".
"Bella", Lucius' fake cry of joy audible to all, "come, sit with us, we'll some good news".
"Cissy", Bellatrix nodded as she sat next on the arm of the chair her sister sat on, "woah, what's with you?" she said looking down at her.
"What?" Narcissa looked up at her, "what was that?"
"Jeez Cissy, are you alright?"
"I'm fine Bella, why wouldn't I be", Narcissa said irritably as she was pulled out of her head. She was nothing but fine, she was deeply concerned for her son, angry at her husband and struggling with an internal need to get Pansy away from this arrangement as soon as possible. All ridiculous of course, this was her family, she had to trust that she was wrong, her faith in them right. "Lucius just hurry up".
Both Lucius and Bellatrix had rudely already started ignoring Narcissa. Lucius turned to Bellatrix who turned to listen. "With the tragedy of Pansy's parents, sad passing", he seemed to add as a footnote, "I was left in the strange position of having arranged to take the girl in before Arachnus' departure. Thus, I became, by proxy, her guardian, in the face of her being the last of her line and not yet of age. Because of this her estate will pass into ours… for Draco and herself of course", another late footnote. "But in making that decision I've also concluded that we have nothing further to wait on, so I'm bringing the wedding forward to this weekend".
"That's three days away", Narcissa said in shock.
"Yes!" Lucius stayed firm.
"Last might you said sooner, you didn't say three days".
"Narcissa, make a point or remain silent", Lucius drawled in boredom.
Narcissa stood quickly, the action catching the other two Malfoy's and Bellatrix off guard, only Pansy remained statuesque in the corner. "You want to marry the girl, while her parents are yet to be buried!" she hissed. Then with an intake of anger induced courage eyed him dangerously, "watch how you speak to me in the presence of our child Lucius, he is acting up enough without your influences".
She stormed out of the room, leaving Lucius and Bellatrix to exchange a raising of eyebrows.
"What say you Pansy my dear, unfortunately the Ministry won't be releasing your parents for some time due to the circumstances".
Pansy stood, just as Narcissa re-entered, glass of wine in hand, "I remain at readiness to complete my duty".
"The Duty!" An ethereal voice breathed in her, it knocked her, and she lost herself for a moment. Turning her head as though stunned. "Not now", she thought, "block it out", as more of the early morning's strangeness returned to her.
Realising they were all staring, she sat. Luckily, she hadn't done or said anything, merely stood with a face of confusion. Inside she hurt though, with great sadness she realised she hadn't once thought of her mother's funeral, that her body wasn't laid to rest. She knew there would have to be a ministry pathology report before her release. With great venom she refused to care for her father, he was the cause for this state.
"And what of you Draco?" Bellatrix called.
Pansy's low hanging head chanced a glance, "Bastard!" she thought venomously, "fucking bastard". For Pansy's part she'd managed to keep a lid on this, the hatred. She knew she did hate him of course, his treatment of her, even before as far as Ron's attack she hated him. But now as they spoke of her mother. Just the thought that he could be the one to have taken her life. And yet, there was doubt, big doubt. It was something that confused her from the moment she saw her.
For the same reason she questioned it, the image of her dead mother didn't haunt her, because of how peaceful she looked. "But Why", Draco would never have that within him not now she'd seen the trueness of his heart. There was no kindness in him, not anymore, nor would he have cared to be if he were capable of kindness. It simply didn't fit. It was the reason she knew her hand stayed her dagger for so long, the night in the follow-through, she wasn't convinced it was him. And yet, his note, and what was more, she believed it, she was here because of the fear he created.
"… but saying that", Pansy had missed what he'd been saying, "I'm pretty happy with fathers' choice. He always knows what's best, and the sooner me and Pansy can settle into the warmth of marriage the sooner we can settle together. And while I return to School and she learns to run a household, maybe we can look at starting our family in the summer". He turned his smile to Pansy.
A glance between him, and a chance to look at Narcissa told her that his mother at least pulled the face she felt like internally. Narcissa's brow was creased, Pansy knew now that the woman had some deep concerns for her son, she simply wasn't buying this, and neither was Pansy.
"Oh well look at my boy", Bellatrix sang, "he really is the perfect gent. How could you not be with my blood in those veins".
"Thank you Aunty".
"And your absolutely right Lucius", Bellatrix said confidently, "if this child's the right one, then let's get on with it. We unite with our allies swiftly, it sends the right message, of strength".
"Exactly", Lucius smiled with smugness.
"I want to vomit", Pansy thought. Then her eyes widened as she realised how nauseating that was to think. Horrified this was some form of trigger she had to push the sickening feeling down low. She couldn't just run off to the bathroom, not here.
She was saved the issue of sitting thinking on it as Rolo popped into sight. "Master, you has visitors sir".
"Not now Rolo, tell them were busy", Lucius ordered without addressing his servant.
"Sir, they has already entered, they is on the list sir".
Lucius rolled his eyes, "very well send them in. Bella, looks like work-…".
"…-No Master sir", Rolo hesitated to interrupt, "not that list, they are on family list".
"On the family list?" Lucius said in confusion, finally turning to look at the elf, "who are you-…".
The main doors to the room burst open, each door smacking off the wall as it were pushed bodily by two large men. Both six footers and as wide as barn doors. One, the largest, walked with a slight limp. Both had black manes of hair, the larger of the two had a full beard, though it appeared to be freshly trimmed and angled. He walked in with a fat cigar in his mouth, puffing a huge cloud of smoke that covered his face. The smaller of the two had a cigarette in hand, exhaling casually, he too had a black beard but this was short and blended into his face as stubble, not as impressive as the other's but neater and subdued. Both were wearing black cloaks, rich looking clothes underneath and thick leather gloves.
"Rodolphus, Rabastan" Narcissa said with a little too much enthusiasm than was called for as Bellatrix turned her head from the two, pulling a face.
Pansy's composure slipped as she heard the names. She'd stood, head bowed as soon as the guests entered but her glimpse of them was fleeting, she hadn't had chance to recognise them as she'd kept her eyes down. Now a thrill took her, the two men were the closest thing she had to family, the favourite relatives of her mother. On the other hand, two of the most dangerous criminals in the country, they were notoriously vicious and uncaring, she felt she might meet them both on a knife edge.
"Cissy!" Rabastan said with a smile, the familiar use of the name seemed to get Lucius' back up. "Oh, apologies", he looked down at his hand. Spinning the cigarette in his fingers it vanished. Rabastan elbowed his brother who did the same with his cigar and nodded in apology to the lady of the house.
"Gentlemen" Lucius said warmly, "what a surprise, please sit, your back early I'm glad to see".
"Husband", Bellatrix ground through her teeth.
Rodolphus walked past her without a glance, "Wife", he growled.
"I thought you weren't back for another three days", she called after her husband in irritation.
Rodolphus and Rabastan came to stand either side of Pansy, looking down at her they turned to the others. "What, is this?" Rodolphus said, his gravely voice low.
"It's your Neice Roddy", Narcissa said in confusion.
"We know who she is Cissy", Rabastan said kindly, "what's she doing?"
"She's greeting guests as she should, the proper way", Lucious said with a smile, "good isn't she, a fine wife your niece will make for my son-…".
"How old's this one?" Rodolphus said pointing at Draco.
"Nearly sixteen!" Draco answered with notable distain.
"Then get the fuck up and greet your elders", Rabastan snapped.
"Rabastan!" Bellatrix shouted.
"I'm sorry, I thought he was a boy. If she stands in greeting then all children do as I remember rightly, or is there something special with her?"
Lucius frowned, but the weight of the two men he knew he wanted no fight with weighed on him. He laughed, "Brother's he said standing, "please, it's just her way of showing just how well she was brought up". Both men nodded at this, and Lucius breathed a little easier, "drinks", he rubbed his hands, "this is a celebration, and we are family after all…Elf!"
Rolo arrived and disappeared again on hearing the order. Moment's later he began handing out glasses of bubbling celebration to each of them. They all took one, including Pansy who worried about how she'd get rid of it, she didn't want to drink, not if there were a possibility.
"And what are we celebrating", Rabastan asked airily. Pansy had met the men before. She was very young though and she was twice taken to Azkaban as a child to visit them, though the memories failed her. She remembered sitting on Rabastan's knee, too small to remember more. It meant she didn't know either of them, not really, but even so she didn't trust something in his voice. Or at least, she felt they shouldn't trust his voice, he was too casual, underneath she sensed anger.
"The bonding of course you idiot, there to be married", Bellatrix shook her head.
"When!" Rodolphus spoke up now, his voice and glare were intense. Pansy struggled to look up at him as she hadn't been excused yet and was still stood in between them.
"Argh well, we were just discussing that actually", Lucius smiled, inside he was livid, twice now they'd interrupted his toast. He went on to repeat his earlier statement to the family. When they heard it they both nodded, though their faces were stoic. "And, well, that's that really, we proceed by weekend. You'll be here of course; it will be a grand affair. A lot to do in such short time but, Narcissa is the best when it comes to throwing parties. Anyway, cheers!"
"Hang on", Rodolphus said, his hand pausing Lucius whose composure faltered. "I'd like to hear from the bride to be". He turned, looking down at her. "And you, what do you say little one?"
Pansy bowed her head in curtsy, "I remain at readiness to complete my duty". No repeating whispered this time she was relieved to not hear. Until Rodolphus spoke again.
"Your duty?" he breathed quietly, "I'll bet you are". He turned away from her and raised his glass.
"Cheers", Lucius finally led them through the toast.
Both men necked their drinks and Pansy felt Rodolphus' huge hand take the glass out of hers without word. He tipped that too down his gullet. "Elf!", Rolo returned, "two Scotches". Second's later the Elf returned again, and the brothers took their glasses and placed them on the coffee table at their feet.
"So how was your trip", Lucius said with a smile as he sat back down.
The brothers had already turned their backs to him. "Sit", Rodolphus said quietly to Pansy, who did as ordered, though she quickly saw that he'd requested rather than told her. Then both men silenced the room as they bent low, each kneeling on one knee. They each took one of Pansy's hand's and brought them to their lips, kissing the back gently before they each pressed their forehead's to them. Silently they muttered something for a long moment before looking up into her face.
"Please accept our condolences for the loss of our sister", Rabastan said quietly.
Pansy nodded, wide eyed, she didn't realise they were watering until they both stood.
Then yet again both men's demeanours changed, picking up their glasses and taking a sip Rodolphus stood leaning against Pansy's chair in the corner of the room, his brother shadowing his stance to his right. "So, Lucius, I'd like to discuss the details of the wedding with you, shall we say this weekend?".
Lucius sat up looking between them and Bellatrix, "there's really nothing to discuss, we will be arranging everything and", he laughed, "come weekend it will already be done".
"Except it won't, you've decided to complete these matters without her proper guardian's proper consultation, Brother!"
Lucius straightened, his eyes narrowing. "This is my household, Rodolphus. The decision is mine to make".
Rodolphus took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "Pansy is under my guardianship; she is my blood. You have no right to dictate her future without my consent".
For a true moment now, Pansy lost all composure she prided herself on as she turned to look up at both men, shock etched on her face.
"Rodolphus", Bellatrix stood, "you grow bold. This is not your place." She hissed, her eyes flashing.
Rodolphus's eyes darkened, his voice laced with a dangerous edge she wasn't used to. "You've mistaken patience for weakness, Bellatrix. Pansy's welfare is my priority. Any mistreatment of her will not be tolerated".
Rabastan stepped forward shadowing, adding weight to Rodolphus' words as he addressed Lucius. "We've seen how she's been treated. Locked in her room, her wand taken away. This ends now!"
"We've done no such thing, her wand remains with us for safe keeping, there's no way you can know any of this", Lucius stammered.
"My brother", Rodolphus smiled, "has been up to his old memory magic tricks. You might just find one or two of your elves needing to take it easy for the rest of the day". Rodolphus sneered in disgust as Lucius eye's betrayed him, knowing the details were out now.
"What are you… suggesting", Lucius ground out, the brother's resolve wasn't for breaking, but his was.
Rodolphus, maintaining his composure, addressed Lucius and Draco as he spoke. "The wedding will not take place until Pansy is 16, as per the tradition of the Lestrange family. Any further decisions will be made with my involvement".
"Rodolphus!" Bellatrix now shrieked, crossing the room to him, "You do not run this family, that girl is no niece to you-…".
Rodolphus closed the distance to her. "Finish that sentence and I swear I will fuck you bloody!" he snarled over her. Bellatrix eyes widened, stunned into silence having never heard such a threat from him. She'd never seen anything like it from him. He leaned in slightly, his voice a low growl. "Do not mistake my involvement as mere formality. I will protect my niece, even if it means confronting those within this household. Do you understand me wife?"
Bellatrix's eyes widen slightly, realizing for the first time the true extent of Rodolphus's resolve and the potential consequences of crossing him. Her body betrayed her, the slight tremble of her hand as the thought to go for her wand fell away, too scared to move. To the deep heat radiating in her underwear as she heard the sickening threat, her arousal for him peaking. "Yes husband", she was stunned to hear herself breathe.
Lucius, sensing the shift in power, nodded curtly. "Very well, Rodolphus. We shall abide by your decision."
"Come child", Rabastan said quietly and led Pansy out of the room.
Pansy noted the subtle nod her uncle and Narcissa shared. The woman then fixed her with a look she couldn't understand in the moment but passed her all the same as they exited. Rodolphus appeared behind them, closing the door. They marched her down the corridor, telling her to lead them to her room.
After a few minutes they arrived at her room. On entering they both examined the small place, sharing a meaningful look as they shook their head.
"Uncle Rodolphus, Rabastan, please, I have been treated well by the family and-…".
Rabastan stepped forward, "you cut that shit out with us! Come here", he widened his arms to her.
Pansy hesitated, scared and unsure, but she saw a true pain in his eye as he looked on at her. Her emotions peaked as she felt all the loneliness, the isolation and helplessness that had tormented her for the week she'd been trapped in the place. The offer of true blood, true comfort was too much, and she fell forward, crashing into his arms as her cries spilled out.
His hands stroked the back of her head, and she felt Rodolphus to her side, his arm draping over her in comfort as she broke down. Something akin to love finally finding her in her misery.
"Uncles", she breathed.
A/N
I love Pansy's little ark with how her and Harrier see House elves in the first chapter of Torn Apart and now her closest friend is Rolo, it's a lovely thing gone full circle.
I'm not sure where I stand on how this ended, I've really struggled keeping the Brother's out as I wanted them in sooner and it's made me have huge dramatic arguments and something that bit more visual, but I went for their quiet composure. They knew what they knew when they walked in and what they were going to say and do and yet played along little by little until they show their cards. We'll see, maybe it was the right decision but there's a lot to come from their addition.
I'm nakared now, half 3am, I'm off
L&L - Venom