Death and Deliverance-Chapter 17
Harry and Hermione still felt the effects of the tremors that had coursed through their bodies just moments before. Hermione could feel the pain she ignored from her first sexual encounter, but looked at Harry with wonder. "Harry, we're together forever, right?"
Harry looked at Hermione with a smile knowing this was one of the most important answers he'd ever give her. "What words could I say that would convince you if you have to ask? I love you is easy." He rolled over putting his arm across her shoulder as he felt her smoothness under him. He put his hand under her neck. He kissed her. "I can't promise you anything except that I would die for you. I wake up with the hope to see you and go to sleep anticipating seeing you the next morning. Without you, I couldn't go on like Pappy did. Yes, we're together forever."
They lay in silence for quite a while when Hermione finally broke it.
"What do you think they told Draco?" Hermione asked. "You don't think they are looking for us do you?" She added. "This would get us expelled. Death would be easier," she smiled.
"I don't think they'd be looking for us for fear of what they might find--a brown-haired, beautiful sixth year and her boyfriend studying anatomy together. How else could we explain it?" Harry smiled and kissed her breast and ran his hand along her side. "As far as Draco, I think they wanted to tell him or do whatever was necessary without any distractions. So they didn't want us there."
"That makes sense. Hermione sat up. She was embarrassed to stand up in front of him to let him see her all at once. Harry stood up and put his hand down for hers. Shyly she stood. He admired her. "Sweetheart, have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"
"You ask me that at least once a week. Yes, but I don't believe you half of the time." She said blushing.
He pulled her close like they used to stand on the roof of the Astronomy tower. He pressed into her putting his hands on her bum. "Hermione, when I said it before we were this close. I couldn't see your body. I could only see your eyes and feel your heartbeat. You are beautiful." Harry kissed her and they could feel passion come alive again, but they both knew it was time to go.
"We have to get dressed, Harry. We can't get caught here." She wasn't frantic or embarrassed. Harry could tell. She just didn't want her parents to ban her from seeing him for having sex with their daughter. A letter home to her parents at sixteen based on expulsion from school would ensure that.
They dressed. Harry watched has she fastened her bra in front and the spun it around pulling the shoulder straps over her shoulders. He was captivated by her beauty. He walked over and kissed her again looking in her eyes. "I don't know what to say to you. My mind has so many things going on but they're blocked out by how I feel." He hugged her and held her silently without speaking.
Hermione felt Harry's heart racing and could feel an air of confidence that had been lacking before. He'd always been courageous, but it seemed as if he held her differently. It felt as if he were sure he'd do this for the rest of his life-as if he had no question of his fate.
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"Luna, Ginny, follow me. We're leaving." Ginny was unsure of what Draco was saying. Luna looked at him as if he were crazy. "Sh," Dumbledore wants us out of here tonight."
He took Ginny by the hand and walked over and did the same with Luna. He left a note on Luna's bed. They left moving as fast as Ginny could keep up with them while holding his hand. They arrived at the end of the main corridor near the entrance to the dungeons as Draco told them to take a hold each other's hands as he held the small statuette. Draco said, "Hold tight--three, two, one,' said Draco as they vanished into thin air.
They arrived in dark dusty room that neither Draco nor Luna recognized. A voice from the far end of the room scared them momentarily. It seemed different than any they'd heard before. "Draco, I am leaving you in charge. There is a price list in the register for customers if they come in tomorrow. I will be back as soon as I can." He disappeared.
Draco looked to see if it was Pappy or an illusion. Just an hour ago, he'd heard the most amazing story of his life. He looked over to the corner of the room there were two beds and a lamp between them. "Luna and Ginny, you two will have your own beds. I'll be over near the door." Draco was exhausted.
Luna took Ginny, whose expression seemed very uncomfortable, to the beds in the corner. "Ginny, I don't know either, but this seems weird."
"I have come to trust him. I don't understand why everything is happening so fast." Ginny said as she trembled pulling up the covers. She had no idea if it was day or night nor where they were.
Morning came early for all three of them. "Mr. Malfoy, why didn't you take one of the beds and let the girls share one?" Minerva McGonagall asked as she opened the door. "I have something to share with you. This tablet has been enchanted so that anything you write will appear on a similar one in Dumbledore's office. Write on it and it will automatically appear on Dumbledore's. If someone becomes curious as to what you are writing, simply say `just a list I was preparing. How can I help you?' A random list of common shopping items will appear. Remove any previous messages on your tablet. You can rip the sheets off and discard them and the next sheet will work as well as the first."
"Why do we need that?" Ginny asked nervously.
"It is simply a means of communication for the three of you. Be wary of anyone who pays too much attention to you." McGonagall warned.
"Who would be looking for us?" Luna said in desperation. The tears were pouring down her face remembering her ordeal with Voldemort.
"I can't tell you exactly, but we all know who they'd be working for. Just write down the name of anyone you recognize who visits. I must go. When the sheet is torn off the tablet it is erased if you have received a message. Do not forget to get rid of them." Professor McGonagall had no sooner finished speaking when she disappeared.
"Draco, you know something you are not telling us." Ginny stated flatly.
"I do and I must wait until dusk today to tell you." Draco said as he walked toward them both. He put his arm around Ginny and grasped Luna's hand. "I know that it is hard to trust me, but the less you know the better.
Draco had been in Dumbledore's quarters hearing Pappy's full story and all the parts that had been hidden from the student body the previous term when Shacklebolt's head appeared in the Floo. Shacklebolt said, "Tonks is missing and I found her mirror? I am sure someone has her. If she were dead she'd be where I could find her, I'm sure."
Besides McGonagall, Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and the trio sitting in Pappy's antique store, no one knew exactly where they were. Nor did either of the other two know Pappy as Draco did now. If Tonks were turned she could assume any form and take them. Why the three of them were important is what confused Draco.
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On Wednesday morning, Ron ran into the Great Hall frantic. "That rat bastard, Malfoy has helped kidnap Ginny and Luna. I knew that bastard was up to no good!" Harry and Hermione had no idea what he was talking about.
"Hey, hold on there one minute Ron. What are you talking about?" Harry said quickly before too many people got wind of what he was talking about.
"Here, look at this!" He said loudly but not as loudly as before. It was a note from Malfoy, no doubt about that.
Don't try to find us. You'll end up killing both of them if you do. It's not up to me. I had to do what I was told.
DM
Harry and Hermione had to maintain their composure. It was obvious to them that this had something to do with the scheme Pappy and Dumbledore cooked up the night before. `Why leave Ron to find the note? Why let Ron think that it was Malfoy at the bottom of it?' thought Hermione.
"Ron, have you shown this to anyone?" Harry demanded.
"Yes. Seamus, Neville and Dean were in the corridor waiting for me when I went in to see them this morning. Today was the day Luna was going back to classes." Ron was upset at losing Luna again and it was obvious. "They agree that I should never have trusted the conniving bastard. I have to go see Dumbledore as soon as possible. Will you go with me?"
"Do you mean both of us?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, if you don't mind missing your first class?" Ron pleaded.
The walk to Dumbledore's quarters felt like walking a man to his death. The numbing silence from a usually upbeat Ron was chilling. Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. They were sure that the note was not what it seemed.
Dumbledore answered within a few seconds, almost as if he'd expected an appointment at this exact time. "Come in, come in." He looked closely at the three of them. "What's wrong? I can tell this isn't a social visit, now is it?"
"I found this on Luna's bed this morning in the hospital wing. I was picking her up for her first day of classes." Ron said impatiently as he stood shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"It appears that Mr. Malfoy was given a task to protect your sister and Luna." Dumbledore said looking ever the more closely at the note.
"How can you say that? The note says they could be dead if we try to find them. It was his father and his lot of dirty Death Eaters that gave him those orders." Ron said with an incredulous look on his face. "I can't believe that."
"You can't or won't, which is it? Mr. Weasley, you came to me with the note expecting an explanation. I have given you one. I may know things that I can't disclose, but you do not want to see that I have offered you hope instead of despair." Dumbledore admonished.
"Ron, did you hear Professor Dumbledore? Besides, now that I think about it, why in the world would Draco Malfoy advertise that it was him if he were working for the Voldemort and his Death Eaters? Second, why would he say you will end up killing them if you look for them? Finally, wouldn't it be more likely that if the Death Eaters got them, they would have finished the job already?" Harry asked in rapid succession.
Ron looked astonished that his best friends and Professor Dumbledore were sticking up for Malfoy. "I'm not buying it. I think you're all nuts." He stormed out without saying thank you or good-bye.
"You two understand the note was to find out if Ron was himself or under the control of someone. I couldn't tell by his actions this morning, because there was so much hate for Malfoy. The pain for Luna and his sister were real." Dumbledore continued. "I would have told him last night myself, but Pappy wants to be sure to get the word around that the three of them are missing. Ron's reaction will do that. I am sorry for putting Ron through this, but he may be still under the influence of Voldemort or someone close to Voldemort."
Harry looked at Professor Dumbledore carefully. "Where is Pappy? He went with them, right?"
"I cannot tell you. I am his secret-keeper. Without the real Marauder's Map no one can find Nathaniel unless he or I tell them who and where he is. Secrecy is very important." Dumbledore would offer no more.
Just as Harry and Hermione locked hands to walk out, Dumbledore added. "You should go back to class. There will be an investigation from the Ministry in the next few days once the Slytherin House has announced that Malfoy is missing. It is not in our best interests that either of you be implicated in any way-knowledge of how the incident occurred or why. Let Mr. Weasley say what he wants. Don't dissuade him. Don't get involved with discussions about Death Eaters."
Harry and Hermione nodded. They disliked the secrecy, but trusted Dumbledore. They went to they're next class and heard the rumors Ron had started: `Voldemort had possessed Malfoy over the holiday and he had kidnapped them both to finish what he'd started.' They could hardly believe their ears, maybe Draco wasn't the one possessed or under the Imperious Curse. Maybe it was Ron who was not himself.
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Pappy had left the antique store that night and checked himself into St. Mungo's. He appeared to everyone there as middle-aged ne'er-do-well named Perry Hostler who had a drinking problem that led him to this sad state. He'd given the excuse that his wife had threatened to leave him if he didn't get help; after all she was a muggle and didn't understand magical medicine he claimed.
Pappy could use the freedom afforded self-admitted patients such as him to walk freely about the hospital as long as they told the nurse. He planned to disappear for a while to the Ministry level of the building as soon as he could. He was still weak but could do things in moderation. He could monitor the well-being of the Minister and talk to Shacklebolt without raising suspicion.
At nine o'clock the visitors began stacking up in a queue outside of the cardiac wing where Minister Fudge was admitted in St. Mungo's. Pappy was strolling around in his robe and slippers smelling like a brewery had just opened. Everyone noticed him, but quickly stepped aside. The people he was interested in were midway through the queue: Mr. Goyle and Mr. Lovegood stood together with Rita Skeeter two people behind them.
He walked past them without speaking, but could tell that nothing escaped their gaze. They were wary of everyone who passed. He continued down the corridor, looking back only when he turned left back toward his own ward. He immediately transformed himself into much younger man, conjured an umbrella, and a valise that would give the appearance of a young man having business in the Ministry.
He quickly Disapparated to the Ministry level and went to see Percy Weasley. "Good day, is Mr. Weasley in?" He asked the comely young witch who sat at the desk outside the corridor from the Minister's office which had Percy's office just down from it. He knew that Shacklebolt was assigned to this corridor.
"Why, yes, he is? Who should I tell him is calling?" She said kindly.
"Mr. Plant, I am an advocate for his brothers' firm, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, in Diagon Alley." Pappy said very professionally. "Thank you, Miss…," he said as he looked for the name on the name plate on her desk. "…Flaubergast."
"You're very welcome, sir." She got up from her desk and walked to Percy's office. Pappy grabbed the rubberstamp that they used to grant permission for such low-level things as portkey approvals, stamped the one he had in his hand and put the stamp back. He filed the approval in the basket on the receptionist's desk. Pappy was glad that the wizarding world had yet to adopt the practice of using muggle telephones at the Ministry. He spied the log on her desk and found that Nymphodora Tonks had been declared a no-show this morning at Auror roll call.
A young woman about twenty-five to thirty, reportedly causing a disturbance outside the Undersecretary's office had been subdued and escorted from the building at about quarter-past seven last night by Mr. Goyle and a Mr. Nott.
He could hear her footsteps returning down the hall. "He will see you now." Pappy looked at her somewhat confused. "Oh, so sorry, sir; he is in the fourth office on your right."
As soon as Pappy entered the corridor beyond the receptionist desk he recognized Shacklebolt in front of the Minister's office door. "Kingsley, you old devil, are you still working as an Auror for the Ministry? I thought by now you'd have retired and opened a shop of some sort on Diagon Alley. Or at the very least I would have thought you'd be hidden away in some muggle village somewhere." He winked and paused momentarily. "I'm sorry you may not recognize me it has been such a long time. Phineas Plant, I work as an independent advocate for many of the shops in Diagon Alley."
"Sure, now I remember. What business do you have here today?" Shacklebolt answered.
"I am seeing Mr. Weasley. Well, I'll see you again on the way out." Pappy said.
"You will, only if your business is concluded by noon. That's when my shift ends, unfortunately. It is good to see you." Shacklebolt said somewhat perplexed.
"I'll be finished in just a few minutes, but I have to see an old sot I knew from my days in Gloucester. He's been here for sometime. I also may pay my respects to the Minister before leaving. I hear he took ill early Monday evening. Well, good day, then Kingsley. Maybe we can catch up for tea after your shift?" He'd successfully given Shacklebolt three opportunities to visit with him before he'd be leaving the building.
"Possibly, I'll have to see if I get relieved on time. Otherwise, I may have to take a pass." Shacklebolt countered.
Pappy continued down the corridor to Percy's office. He introduced himself and gave Percy a fake request for an additional business license in Diagon Alley to allow for a muggle artifacts business. As soon as he'd mentioned his business and the type of business the twins were planning, Percy demeanor became uncooperative and he was coolly dismissed out of hand.
He had accomplished his mission. He had penetrated the corridor to the Minister's office, met Shacklebolt, pretended to have business, got an approved portkey even though signed by an unusually high-level in the Ministry and was now recognized by anyone who had seen him speaking with Shacklebolt as someone worthy of entrance into the Ministry's governing corridor.
Pappy exited the Ministry after fondly offering his good-byes to both Shacklebolt and Miss Flaubergast. He Disillusioned himself for the return to St. Mungo's just in case he popped in near someone and caused a scene. He could also transform his appearance once he was sure who might be in the area.
Just as he'd suspected, once he had changed appearance he looked around the corner and saw Goyle, Lovegood, and Skeeter walking toward him in the corridor where he'd seen them waiting before.
He walked toward them muttering, "I tell you the old bag had better not piss me off again when I get back I'll turn her into the old bat she is." He kept his head down and kept walking. This time none of them paid much attention except when Lovegood said sadly, "Drunken fool, he must be really out of it to be pacing the corridors smelling like that." He and Skeeter laughed as Goyle kept walking in a hurry to get back to his prize in the basement of the Goyle home.
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At noon, Harry and Hermione went back to the Gryffindor common room to relax and snuggle on the sofa instead of eating lunch. They'd be hungry later, but the new lovers wanted to feel each other close more than they cared about food. The stories Ron was telling were beginning to wear on both of them and they were sure it was best to stay clear for a while so they didn't say something that Dumbledore had warned them against.
Harry sat with Hermione's head on his lap as she lay comfortably on the sofa. "How's that sweetheart?" Harry asked quietly wanting to make sure she was comfortable.
"Good." She said rather shortly.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry was afraid she was mad.
Hermione glanced around to see if anyone had come down the stairs or was near enough to hear. "Guys don't get it, do they? They just remember how good they felt shagging. For girls, it's like you spent an hour doing the splits. And on top of that it was the first time…" She looked at Harry who looked sorry for her. "Oh, Harry, it's just a fact of life. It was wonderful to be with you, it's just something mum doesn't tell you about at the age of sixteen." She smiled as sweetly as she could. "I don't mean to be whinging about the most important night of a girl's life."
Harry didn't know how to react. He felt like laughing, because she sounded pitiful in spite of her good attitude about the whole affair. Yet, he knew she was being a good sport about it because she loved him and wanted him to feel good about it too. "I don't know what to say. I can't say I'm sorry because I'm not. I can't smile back without feeling like you would think I thought it was funny that you hurt and I don't. What can I do?" Harry said hoping for some help.
Hermione stared off into the ceiling for a moment, smiled, and said, "Keep doing what you're doing, just care about how I feel. If I hurt like this every time, I'll tell you if you're doing something wrong." She laughed. "I doubt it will always make me sore. Don't feel bad, but you're right. Don't make fun of me either or I'll give you something to be aching about afterwards too." She looked at him with a mock glare. Harry understood that he was just as vulnerable if he didn't watch out.
She pulled his arm across the upper part of her chest just under her chin. He put his hand on her shoulder as she closed her eyes. He leaned back and closed his too. The hour passed so quickly that neither of them realized it had passed until Seamus walk up to them and yelled. "I thought I told you two to get a room. You look like an old married couple." He laughed as they both awoke startled at the voice being directed at them.
Bleary-eyed they got up and went to class. They hated to hear what was going to come out of Defense against the Dark Arts today with Malfoy missing.
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Pappy found another area to transform himself back to the form in which he'd seen Shacklebolt and waited as if he were going to see someone in the ward. Shacklebolt showed up just a few moments later. "Hello, my old friend. I guess you decided to take me up on my offer for tea. I can go see the Minister later." He slapped Shacklebolt on the back.
Once they were on the street, Kingsley asked, "What the hell are you doing here? You could get yourself killed. How do you know they haven't gotten to me too?"
"First, Tonks is a fine Auror, but it takes years to become strong enough to withstand the Imperious Curse well enough to defeat Voldemort. Second, having said that they're only other alternative was to kill you. Two missing Aurors on the same day would have started people talking. One young woman goes missing for a day and they can pass it off as she was with someone and skipped work." Pappy said without hesitation. "I know where they have her."
"Where, not in the dungeon?" asked Shacklebolt somewhat rhetorically. "It was Goyle who took her out of the building."
"You just answered your own question. I saw the log just as you did. I was contemplating where they might have taken her. Without the Map to identify people entering the dungeons, Voldemort can't take the chance on another raid of the dungeons in a rescue attempt. He has Mrs. Goyle to guard the house." Pappy said.
"I am sure that Goyle is under the Curse. He is doing the bidding of someone and I am also sure that someone is Voldemort. I was sure when I found her mirror that she'd been killed until I realized no one had found a body." He said sadly about his favorite Auror partner.
"If she turns up missing more than a day, I'll be surprised." Pappy said. "Goyle will tell Voldemort that it is done and then they will try to gain an advantage by trying veritaserum or some other means to find out anything they can."
"So you think she's still alive," said Kingsley with relief.
"Depending on how useful she proves to be, she may not be in mortal danger. If she resists Voldemort and offers nothing he can use. She will die and be found somewhere where they can explain it away with her supposed aberrant behavior last night." Pappy said sadly. "She is such a wonderful girl. Have they told Hermione yet?"
"No, we won't tell her until we've exhausted all possibilities." Pappy said.
"So, what do you have planned Pappy?" Kingsley inquired.
"We are going to the Goyle house dressed as Constables." Pappy said. "I will go first because no one will recognize me and ask if the man of the house is home. If he is home you can bet he won't answer the door. His wife will. If not, you will know because I will remain there outside the door talking to Mrs. Goyle and I will remove my hat. You will go to the rear of the house and gain entrance to the basement. You must not be seen by the Goyle's they will recognize you."
"Okay, how do we get her out?" Shacklebolt still wanted to know that little piece of the puzzle.
"This. He held up the valise he'd carried all morning in his current disguise. It will fit nicely in the wizard's space we will provide in the Constable uniform." Pappy looked pleased with himself. He hadn't told Shacklebolt the suspicion that Voldemort had found a way to avoid polyjuice or possession of his soul as a method of becoming Goyle.
"Are you ready?" Pappy said. He conjured up two Constable Uniforms and decked them both out with clubs and radios. Pappy knew there might be few black Bobbies in the London police force but it was for the benefit of nosy neighbors. He was just as sure that this would be a short adventure one way or the other.
They discussed where they would Apparate. Once decided, they left.
Pappy Disillusioned Shacklebolt after they arrived and sent him to a spot where he could see the front door as it was opened.
A moment later, Pappy was at the door. He rang the bell to the huge house. An unfamiliar face appeared at the door, it was a servant. This had not occurred to him. Is the Mr. or Mrs. at home, preferably both?"
"I am afraid that only Mrs. Goyle is at home," the servant answered.
"Could you tell her that Constable Flatt is here?" Pappy requested politely.
"What manner of business is this about?" asked the maid.
"Well, we had a report of unusual activity in the area and we want warn residents of the danger." Pappy hoped that this witch, as he was sure she was, didn't watch TV for their news.
"Very well," she said haltingly as she took a second look at the badge on Pappies uniform.
Some moments later, Mrs. Goyle came to the door. Pappy removed his hat as the signal for Shacklebolt to be moving.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Goyle. Your husband isn't home today?" Pappy asked. "We really want to talk to everyone in the area." He explained that there had been some very odd signs posted in the area. The signs depicted acts of a demonic nature and cruelty to animals. He said, "We are just walking through backyards of residents to look for signs or ritualistic behavior. We suspect children are at the center of it. Do you have children, Mrs. Goyle?" He asked.
"Yes, we have a son who is away at boarding school. It couldn't have been him." She said.
"I beg your pardon ma'am; the sightings were from before the New Year, madam, and after Christmas." Pappy kept stalling.
"Are you accusing my son, Gregory, of some ill-begotten plot to use witchcraft on animals…I'll have you know…," she stopped short of telling Pappy that he was a first rate student at a school for wizardry. "You may look in back, but only look. Good day, Constable."
Pappy had run out of time. He hoped that Shacklebolt had found an entrance to the basement that provided access without magic. Pappy walked slowly along the north side of the house looking carefully along the window ledges as he pretended to look for blood or other evidence if asked.
Finally, he saw Shacklebolt untying a battered Tonks from a rickety old bed covering her with a blanket. Pappy realized that they may have less time than they thought. He put a silencing spell on the window and kicked the glass gently. There was barely enough room for Shacklebolt's large frame to fit through the window. Tonks had only enough strength to hold herself up next to the window.
"Evanesco," Pappy charmed away the broke glass and with the help of Shacklebolt, pulled Tonks out of the window. He immediately Disillusioned her as they carried her off to the trees and sat quietly. The problem with a portkey was that they had times associated with them. You had to be ready or your time could pass. "We still have ten minutes before the next time the portkey will be active and an hour after that."
Quietly Pappy assessed Tonks injuries. Some appeared to simply be from falling and others appeared to be from torture. Pappy thought, `In an ironic way, getting information by torture helps us. Why not just break into her mind using Acclumency or veritaserum.' Pappy became suspicious. He looked at the unguarded basement with clear windows. He looked at Tonks. "Ennervate!" She opened her eyes slowly, almost too slowly. He looked over at the back of the house and saw Goyle walking slowly toward the trees. He realized Tonks was possessed by Voldemort.
"Shacklebolt!" Pappy held his knife to Tonks throat. "She's possessed or under some curse. Don't let her move. Keep your knife ready." Pappy moved quickly toward Goyle trying not to rustle the trees or ground to give him away.
"Voldemort, you old conjurer, you don't know who I am and it is literally killing you isn't it? Fight like a man. You seem to like to wear women's clothes." He motioned to Shacklebolt to look at Goyle. Goyle could not see them. If it weren't for Pappy Disillusioning Tonks, Goyle would have seen her already.
Her eyes were widening as she noticed Pappy moving toward Goyle. Pappy knew he would have to kill Goyle. The question was whether he could free Tonks before she must die to deny Voldemort a body in which to reside temporarily. He flashed his knife toward Shacklebolt.
As Goyle approached more closely to his position, he rushed upon Goyle and quickly took his wand grasping him by the throat. "Voldemort, if I am guessing right, I can kill you right now. Do you know who I am yet? Shacklebolt, kill the girl!"
"Now!" Pappy screamed. Shacklebolt raised his knife and began to plunge it into Tonks as she lay on the ground next to him, before his thrust could harm her, she coughed and vomited. "You will not have her nor will you have Goyle," yelled Pappy. By his reckoning they had thirty seconds or less.
The struggle with Goyle became more difficult. Voldemort was moving to Goyle where the physically weaker Pappy was. "You are the old conjurer Moore. Your secret has been well-hidden for a long time. But you are too old and weak to escape me now." Pappy plunged the knife into Goyle's chest as he saw the malevolent visage of pure hate appear.
"Go, take her…take her now…," Pappy yelled. Pappy struggled with the bleeding body of Goyle possessed by Voldemort. Shacklebolt understood. He took Tonks hand and the valise just as the portkey activated. They disappeared.
"I will kill you now Moore." Voldemort's tone was one of pain and disgust. "Arghh!"
Pappy used the last of his strength to slit Goyle's throat. Through the gurgling blood Voldemort proclaimed, "I can find you now." The blood gurgling screams from Goyle were indistinguishable above the diabolic voice of Voldemort. "The secret-keeper's spell is broken. I will find you. Don't think you've beaten me." Goyle's body went limp. Mrs. Goyle had come around the side of the house at the sound of all the noise and so had the neighbors. They all saw Constable Flatt with a knife killing Mr. Goyle in cold blood and then disappear.
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Harry and Hermione were leaving DADA that afternoon laughing at the discomfort of all of the Slytherins and Professor Snape as Ron accused them of being murderous fascists. Professor Snape had asked both of them, if they agreed with their friend. Both of them looked at Snape and in unison said, "No comment."
This touched off a war of words between the two factions: Gryffindor House and Slytherin House. Professor Snape was forced to dismiss class and headed directly for Professor Dumbledore's office. Harry and Hermione were following him.
Twenty feet from Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore appeared heading in the opposite direction. "Yes, I know the rumors Professor. I expect you will have a plan by tomorrow to quell such insurrections within your classes. I have come for Mr. Potter and Miss Granger." He spoke angrily now at Harry and Hermione. "Potter, Granger that will be quite enough. You will go to my quarters immediately."
"Professor Dumbledore, I expect to be heard." He said loudly.
Professor Dumbledore walked toward Snape and stopped five feet short of him. He looked at him square in the eye. "I will hear you Severus when you have something new to say. What do you expect the rumors to be when you openly allow the degradation of half-muggle, half-wizard students and non-magical born students? I have never criticized your beliefs before, but at this moment my patience is worn thin. Do I make myself clear?"
Snape looked at Dumbledore with disdain. "Yes, Headmaster, you do. Shall I tender my resignation?"
"No, Severus, you shall take your punishment as you deserve. Class will begin again tomorrow at 1 o'clock. Be prepared for these issues-diplomacy, Severus; I expect diplomacy." Dumbledore wheeled and walked back toward his office. Snape stared at him momentarily and head for Slytherin House.
Harry and Hermione had reached the office and the door was unlocked. They walked in to see Kingsley Shacklebolt with Tonks in his arms sitting on the floor. She looked terrible. She had been cut severely near the rib cage on her left side and both of them were covered in vomit. "He told me to kill her. He told me too." Shacklebolt said over and over. Hermione let out a cry of despair just as Harry began to react to the scene he felt a burning on his forehead like no other. He fell to his knees, eyes watering profusely from the pain.
Dumbledore came into his office to see Shacklebolt and Hermione over Tonks with Harry on his knees next to them. "Shacklebolt, what happened?"
Dumbledore's voice shook Shacklebolt back to reality. He looked down and realized that the blood on Tonks' side may have happened when she convulsed as she vomited. The other injuries were from the torture.
Shacklebolt reported the events of the previous few moments. "Tonks, Pappy and I were hiding in the trees outside Goyle's house when Goyle appeared. Pappy recognized that Tonks was possessed. He went toward Goyle to subdue him. He stabbed Goyle in the chest. At the same time, he yelled at me to kill Tonks. I began to plunge of my knife into her chest, but Voldemort left her. She vomited as he escaped."
Shacklebolt continued. "His plan was to prevent Voldemort from having her body. Tonks stopped struggling and then Goyle started struggling harder. I could hear Goyle screaming in Voldemort's voice. Then I heard, `Go, take her….take her now…' I grabbed the portkey and we ended up here. The last I saw Pappy was struggling with Goyle."
"Harry, is it your scar?" Hermione asked through her tears as she saw the pain and tears on Harry's face.
Harry couldn't speak, but nodded. Suddenly, the sound of someone Apparating in the room interrupted them.
Pappy lay on the floor just inside the door covered in blood. His chest heaved and he was gasping for breath. Dumbledore moved quickly to Pappy's side. He heard Pappy whisper, "He knows who I am. But I am sure he doesn't know where I lived." Dumbledore nodded.
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