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Derfel · 12-27-2010, 07:46 PM

A/N: Once again, apologies for the delay between chapters. my professional life has been all over the place recently but i hope to change that soon.
On a happier note, i hope you enjoiy this latest installment

As always, my reply is to read to find out the answers to your questions...

CHAPTER 9: History repeating itself.

The sun, which had so recently caused Lily to wake seemed to have disappeared. A darkness so complete that lamps automatically lit themselves in the hospital wing. Even the draught that every patient had to endure had stopped.Ginny, all blood drained from her face in terror, slowly turned to Neville. "What?"
Neville's voice shook as he explained, "It's a pure blood practice designed to see if you are worthy of continuing the family line. That is to say, a test of blood purity." He turned his stern gaze to Lily, "the fact the ring changed colour suggests it was a success. Did you notice the crest on the ring, Lily?"
Lily, who had been taken aback by the look of fear in the adults, not to mention the sudden change in light, meekly shook her head. "No, P-professor. Is it important?"
"It could be, Lily, yes. Can you recall his surname?"
"No, professor. Is it important?"
"Yes, Lily, it is important to know everything you can about someone you wish to be romantically involved with." Neville continued as if he had not made one of his favourite students blush, "it is du Seneschal."
Put on edge by the darkness, both of the room and the conversation, everyhone jumped at the sound of a raven's call. It came a second after Neville had announced Cei's surname. Madam Pomfrey, a firm believer in logic, unconsciously crossed herself at the sound's third repetition.
"Should that mean something to us?" Lily snapped. the reverence in Neville's tone had annoyed her - had he not just condemned the family as death eaters?
"Yes." Neville reverted to blunt answers. His face also showing the strain of the terrifying environment. "Now, if you excuse me, Mrs Potter, I have work to do."
"But..."
"I teach, I do not provide the answers," with that, Neville left the hospital wing without a backward glance.
Exchanging exasperated looks, Ginny and Madam Pomfrey simultaneously shrugged and began separate tasks - one focussing on her patients, the other on her daughter. Neither noticed the sunlight return.

********************

"Are you sure killing them all was such a good idea?" the speaker's voice was muffled by a thick, rough woollen scarf. His eyes hidden in the shade of a hood made of the same material.
"Gaining a conscience in your dotage, old man?" the second was mocking, his tone harsh and totally lacking in remorse. "The texts demand blood. Our paymasters demand blood."
"Was one of them du Seneschal's boy?" the first voice now spiked with hurt pride. Careless of their busy surroundings - a traditional muggle pub that stank of vomit and disinfectant - it's slate flooring uneven and it's chairs a mix of pine and stained oak. Despite decades of regulations, the limewashed ceiling was still smoke stained, as if the landlord refused to give up on an almost forgotten era.
"No." the second chuckled a little at his matter-of-fact tone.
Before he could react, his partner fired a curse at him, causing blood to spill uncontrollably from his mouth. Unprotected by a scarf, his chin and robes were a deep sanguine in seconds. Realising his mistake, the elder of the two quickly knocked over the table to disguise foul play before running from the pub and disapparating a short distyance away, leaving his partner in an ever deeper pool of blood.
To the muggle regulars it went unnoticed - two strangers falling out was none of their business. That changed, however, when half a dozen child sized figures entered the pub. All in rich scarlet cloaks and wearing a ridiculous amount of jewelry. Ignoring the drinkers, who were now calling for their attention; they gathered round the fallen man and carried him out, one of their number warning the muggles not to follow them. After a few minutes, all that was left was the pool of blood, immobile on the uneven slate floor.
One of the drinkers waited a few minutes before walking outside, on the pretence of 'wanting a smoke', he whipped out a wand and contacted the ministry.

*****

Ignoring the piles of paperwork on Harry's desk, Ron leant against it and tried to calm his friend down; Fletcher had done the right thing in waiting to try to find out the identity of the scarfed wizard before contacting the ministry. "C'mon Harry, give 'Dung a break - out on the field by himself he has to play the long game. Every time. Besides, he was probably drunk and didnt want to be recognised by the, er, victim."
Harry ignored Ron's muttering to delegate an obliviator team to the site.
"What was that, Ron?"
"I said you cant blame 'Dung for the victim getting away." Ron knew better than to mention the victim's name.
"I'll take your word for it, mate. Any other news from your contacts?"
"Increased Goblin activity in Brittany, nothing to worry about though."
"Nothing in Wales?"
"Some worries about increased mist in the black mountains. Nothing unusual, though."
"Increased, probabable magic, activity is always unusual, Ron." Harry laughed, "If you're sure it's nothing, that's fine. Keep an eye though, will you?"
"Sure thing." Ron glanced at his watch, "Im supposed to be meeting Hermione for lunch, want to join us?"
"Surely, thanks." Harry held back a comment about Ron's expanding waistline, using the excuse of grabbing his coat to hide his expression.

"So, where are we eating?" Harry spoke to take his mind away from London's thick smog - it put him in mind of evil goings on in recluse mountain areas.
"Some poncy muggle restaurant, it's french." Ron sounded disapproving.

*******

After making sure her daughter was comfortable, Ginny left the castle grounds, ignoring the cheerful waves from her son and nephew, her mind was too preoccupied to notice the black sheets and empty bird cages they carried. Hermione, she thought, Hermione will be able to make sense of Neville's rambling. Checking her watch, she knew exactly where to find her friend.

Chapter 8

Chapter 10

12-27-2010, 07:46 PM	#36 (permalink)
Derfel Jarvey Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 637 Hogwarts RPG Name: Ambrocinius Fifth Year	A/N: Once again, apologies for the delay between chapters. my professional life has been all over the place recently but i hope to change that soon. On a happier note, i hope you enjoiy this latest installment As always, my reply is to read to find out the answers to your questions... CHAPTER 9: History repeating itself. The sun, which had so recently caused Lily to wake seemed to have disappeared. A darkness so complete that lamps automatically lit themselves in the hospital wing. Even the draught that every patient had to endure had stopped.Ginny, all blood drained from her face in terror, slowly turned to Neville. "What?" Neville's voice shook as he explained, "It's a pure blood practice designed to see if you are worthy of continuing the family line. That is to say, a test of blood purity." He turned his stern gaze to Lily, "the fact the ring changed colour suggests it was a success. Did you notice the crest on the ring, Lily?" Lily, who had been taken aback by the look of fear in the adults, not to mention the sudden change in light, meekly shook her head. "No, P-professor. Is it important?" "It could be, Lily, yes. Can you recall his surname?" "No, professor. Is it important?" "Yes, Lily, it is important to know everything you can about someone you wish to be romantically involved with." Neville continued as if he had not made one of his favourite students blush, "it is du Seneschal." Put on edge by the darkness, both of the room and the conversation, everyhone jumped at the sound of a raven's call. It came a second after Neville had announced Cei's surname. Madam Pomfrey, a firm believer in logic, unconsciously crossed herself at the sound's third repetition. "Should that mean something to us?" Lily snapped. the reverence in Neville's tone had annoyed her - had he not just condemned the family as death eaters? "Yes." Neville reverted to blunt answers. His face also showing the strain of the terrifying environment. "Now, if you excuse me, Mrs Potter, I have work to do." "But..." "I teach, I do not provide the answers," with that, Neville left the hospital wing without a backward glance. Exchanging exasperated looks, Ginny and Madam Pomfrey simultaneously shrugged and began separate tasks - one focussing on her patients, the other on her daughter. Neither noticed the sunlight return. ****************** "Are you sure killing them all was such a good idea?" the speaker's voice was muffled by a thick, rough woollen scarf. His eyes hidden in the shade of a hood made of the same material. "Gaining a conscience in your dotage, old man?" the second was mocking, his tone harsh and totally lacking in remorse. "The texts demand blood. Our paymasters demand blood." "Was one of them du Seneschal's boy?" the first voice now spiked with hurt pride. Careless of their busy surroundings - a traditional muggle pub that stank of vomit and disinfectant - it's slate flooring uneven and it's chairs a mix of pine and stained oak. Despite decades of regulations, the limewashed ceiling was still smoke stained, as if the landlord refused to give up on an almost forgotten era. "No." the second chuckled a little at his matter-of-fact tone. Before he could react, his partner fired a curse at him, causing blood to spill uncontrollably from his mouth. Unprotected by a scarf, his chin and robes were a deep sanguine in seconds. Realising his mistake, the elder of the two quickly knocked over the table to disguise foul play before running from the pub and disapparating a short distyance away, leaving his partner in an ever deeper pool of blood. To the muggle regulars it went unnoticed - two strangers falling out was none of their business. That changed, however, when half a dozen child sized figures entered the pub. All in rich scarlet cloaks and wearing a ridiculous amount of jewelry. Ignoring the drinkers, who were now calling for their attention; they gathered round the fallen man and carried him out, one of their number warning the muggles not to follow them. After a few minutes, all that was left was the pool of blood, immobile on the uneven slate floor. One of the drinkers waited a few minutes before walking outside, on the pretence of 'wanting a smoke', he whipped out a wand and contacted the ministry. * Ignoring the piles of paperwork on Harry's desk, Ron leant against it and tried to calm his friend down; Fletcher had done the right thing in waiting to try to find out the identity of the scarfed wizard before contacting the ministry. "C'mon Harry, give 'Dung a break - out on the field by himself he has to play the long game. Every time. Besides, he was probably drunk and didnt want to be recognised by the, er, victim." Harry ignored Ron's muttering to delegate an obliviator team to the site. "What was that, Ron?" "I said you cant blame 'Dung for the victim getting away." Ron knew better than to mention the victim's name. "I'll take your word for it, mate. Any other news from your contacts?" "Increased Goblin activity in Brittany, nothing to worry about though." "Nothing in Wales?" "Some worries about increased mist in the black mountains. Nothing unusual, though." "Increased, probabable magic, activity is always unusual, Ron." Harry laughed, "If you're sure it's nothing, that's fine. Keep an eye though, will you?" "Sure thing." Ron glanced at his watch, "Im supposed to be meeting Hermione for lunch, want to join us?" "Surely, thanks." Harry held back a comment about Ron's expanding waistline, using the excuse of grabbing his coat to hide his expression. "So, where are we eating?" Harry spoke to take his mind away from London's thick smog - it put him in mind of evil goings on in recluse mountain areas. "Some poncy muggle restaurant, it's french." Ron sounded disapproving. ***** After making sure her daughter was comfortable, Ginny left the castle grounds, ignoring the cheerful waves from her son and nephew, her mind was too preoccupied to notice the black sheets and empty bird cages they carried. Hermione, she thought, Hermione will be able to make sense of Neville's rambling. Checking her watch, she knew exactly where to find her friend. Chapter 8 Chapter 10 __________________ The ballad of Gryffindors sword 16+ Chapter 12 up! Last edited by Derfel; 01-14-2011 at 12:06 PM.