Relations, Revelations

So, after a VERY, VERY long time away (sorry sorry sorry!) in Germany. I\'m back home in California with free and fast internet access! This is VERY good news to you because I can post again! As I\'ve probably mentioned, the story is DONE!!! Now I just have to get off my lazy bum and post it for all you wonderful people who have been so very patient with me! (thank you thank you!!!) If I lost your attention months ago and you\'re back now, thanks so much for caring! If you\'re new, welcome aboard! And if I lost you after a month of not posting, screw you, you won\'t see me bitching at you anyway! So, to refresh your memory, a little snippit of the last chapter:


Harry weighed his options. Of course, Lucius was forgetting the age-old “stand and fight” option, which seemed the most viable one at the moment. What exactly did Lucius have planned for him if he came quietly? He’d really rather not find out.

“You’re right. I would rather appreciate keeping my soul. But what exactly would be the purpose of coming quietly?”

Hermione glanced nervously at Hagrid, who was still fidgetting with Fluffy’s leash.

“I don’t know yet. But my extensive Dark Arts library, as well as my general knowledge of the Dark Arts should serve to find something that will bring back the Dark Lord.”

“I’d like to think the smouldering heap of robes on the Quidditch pitch was proof enough that he’s not returning.”

“Unfortunately, Miss Granger, I failed to see that. When the flood waters rose, I disappeared to summon the Dark Lord.”

“Oh, so you scarpered. That figures.” Ron stood defiant.

“Exsolve!*” Hermione pointed her wand at the tree to which Fluffy was tied, and the leash unwound itself, falling to the ground.

Lucius’ first reaction was to disarm Hermione, sending her wand flying onto the railroad tracks between two train cars. But it was too late. Fluffy was already charging toward the train station, all three heads barking, jaws chomping, ready to tear Lucius limb from limb. The dog leapt to the train station, front paws propped on the roof, while the middle head grabbed Lucius by the leg, dragging him to the ground below.

*Latin for ‘release.’

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I suppose that was just a wee bit of a cliffie, but again, I\'m sorry! Here\'s the next chapter for all you wonderful patient people!

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Chapter 32 - Gotcha

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Lucius landed on the platform with a resounding thunk, thigh still firmly clamped in one of Fluffy’s jaws. His fury led him to draw his wand from his sleeve and cast Imperius on the dog. Fluffy whimpered, then complied with Lucius’ command to release his leg. It lazily sauntered across the platform toward Hagrid, teeth bared. Suddenly, the great dog seemed to change its mind and began a frantic trot toward the cluster of DA members. Everyone scattered, dodging between train cars, under benches, into the bushes--anywhere to avoid the three oncoming heads of the mongrel. Hermione, however, stood firm.

“There was a fishmonger and that was no wonder, for so were her mother and father before,” she sang the first song that came to mind, no matter how stupid it seemed. “She wheeled a wheelbarrow through streets broad and narrow, crying cockles and muscles alive-alive-o!”

Terror radiated from her every pore as the dog barreled closer and closer. As she reached ‘broad and narrow’ Fluffy started staggering, paws dragging, knees knocking together, belly finally dragging on the floor as she reached the second ‘alive.’ Its natural functions overrode the Imperius curse as it collapsed to the floor and began to gently snore.

“Idiotic Mudblood! Silencio!”

Hermione’s voice extinguished mid-verse, yet fluffy slept on. Apparently her singing was enough to put him out for a bit longer. Lucius waved his wand and the Dementors swooped lower, forming a silent group of terror behind him.

“Animum Abripe!*” The Dementors swooped out from behind him, each singling out one of the teens and drawing rattling breaths.

Firenze darted out and pawed the nearest Dementor away from Susan Bones, who had her wand out and was looking at Harry as if willing him to telepathically give her Patronus lessons. Harry fired off his gleaming white stag, sending Prongs out to encircle the small group of DAs. Ginny sent her still-blurred parrot Patronus out to sail over the group, protecting them from above.

Neville quickly cast Finite Incantatem over Hermione to give her back her voice, and she immediately made her attempt at a Patronus. Being the well-studied witch she was, Hermione shot out a formless silver cloud on her first try at the complex spell. The Patronus held up against a barage of Dementors, but Ron, never one to ride along in the limelight of others, stepped out of the group and took advantage of Lucius’ surprise.

“Petrificus Totalus!” Malfoy’s knees buckled, his face went ashen, eyes bulged from their sockets, and he feel over backwards.

Harry quirked an eyebrow at his ginger friend, ended his Patronus, then took a step toward Hagrid. Hermione and Ginny held their Patronuses in place for protection, but wondered what the mischievous look on Harry’s face was all about.

“Hagrid, when was the last time Fluffy had a little snack?”

“Not since breakfa… Harry, surely ya can’t be suggestin’…?

Harry just grinned at Hagrid, but the half-giant looked horrified.

“No! Harry, I’m not letting’ ya do it! Killin’ an evil person is one thing, but feedin’ him to my pet is whole other one!”

Harry looked put out. Perhaps it had been a slightly morbid idea. But then another one came to him.

“Hermione, do you remember the spell that Lucius used on the Dementors? The one that made them charge us?”

Hermione racked her brain and found nothing, but Ginny spoke up.

“Animum Abripe?”

“That’s the one! Think you can cast it on them?” Harry implored.

“I could try, but it might be too much of a risk! I’ve never even heard of it, I don’t know the theoretical portion of the spell…”

“Come on, Mione! Life and death situation! Think you can at least wing it and hope for the best?”

Hermione steeled herself, chest out, wand clenched in one balled little fist, and flung her bushy hair over her shoulder. She stepped forward and raised her wand.

“Finite Incantatem!” The silvery cloud that had been hanging above them faded and died as Hermione readied herself to perform the next spell. A dementor immediately swooped down on her, mouth gaping open to feed on her soul, but she flung it across the train tracks with a simple banishing charm. She raised her wand, pointed it at the crumpled form of Lucius Malfoy, and shouted “Animum Abripe!” A dementor flew down from where it was hovering over the train station and flew low over Hermione’s head, sending chills down her spine. It settled above Malfoy, prised his jaw open with its clammy, decomposed hands, and latched its gaping jaw to his mouth. A few tense seconds passed before his body suddenly shuddered, then fell into a limp oblivion. The group of students stood by and looked on in awe.

Hermione broke the silence.

“I cannot believe I just did that. I just robbed a man of his soul.”

“Hermione, he deserved it. He was a Death Eater. He killed innocent people. He trained his son to kill my brother. He deserved what he got.” Ron put a comforting arm around his best friend. Sephera crept out from behind Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie Macmillan whom she had rapidly befriended in the heat of battle and hugged the two Gryffindors. Harry and Ginny approached the group.

“It’s over now, you know. Unless some of the lesser-known and weaker Death Eaters pop out of nowhere, all our worries are done with.” Harry was strangely stoic for someone who had fulfilled his life’s purpose and calmed the fears of the Wizarding world once and for all.

The dementors that had congregated on the platform with Lucius Malfoy began to disperse, and slowly drifted away over the lake. But not before Dumbledore could summon them all together. He finally arrived with Lupin, Tonks, and Emmeline Vance, all broom-bound, who herded off the Dementors and removed Malfoy’s body, presumably to Azkaban.

Harry, still frighteningly mellow for his situation, turned to Dumbledore.

“Professor, what’s to become of the Dementors now that we know we can’t trust them? They can’t stand watch over Azkaban, but we still have the Death Eaters to worry about.”

“Don’t worry about that, Harry. I happen to know that Arthur Weasley, along with Amelia Bones and Remus Lupin, is organizing a new sub-department in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement that will keep watch over Azkaban.” The rest of the students gathered around Dumbledore to listen. “Each member of the new force will be thoroughly trained in the handling of Dementors, as well as the standard operations of any Muggle prison guard. I happen to know that Mr. Corner’s father is an outstanding prison guard in the Muggle world, and he has agreed to become one of the officials in charge of training.”

Michael Corner’s ears turned maroon and Luna gave his hand a squeeze.

“We’ve already had a few volunteers to join the force,” Dumbledore continued. “I believe you know Lee Jordan and Bill Weasley? Remus has also convinved Elphias Doge, Hestia Jones, and Alicia Spinnet from the Order to join. I believe Adrian Pucey and Terrence Higgs, who you might recall were Slytherin quidditch players a few years ago, also displayed an interest. And of course Remus’ girlfriend, Emmeline Vance, also from the Order…” Dumbledore recalled, almost in a pride-induced trance-like state.

“Professor,” Cho interrupted, beaming with excitement, “how would one go about joining this force?”

“I’ll get in touch with Madam Bones and let her know you’re interested.” Several other seventh year students also conveyed their interest to the Headmaster.

“Headmaster, have you, uh, by any chance… well… that is to say… have you talked to Percy about the, uh… well, what happened?”

Dumbledore’s face turned serious. “Mr. Weasley, why don’t we discuss that in my office later over a cup of tea? Your father informed me of your gift, and I believe it’s time you were told what happened. Harry, Ms. Granger, you may join us if you wish.”

*Animum Abripe - To forcefully remove one’s soul; to rip out the soul.


If it\'s not too much trouble, would you mind reviewing so I know you all still love me? I promise I\'ll post another chapter very very very soon! I dont go back to Germany until April 5th, so hopefully I\'ll have the rest of the story posted by then. Thanks guys!!!