Chapter 3: Mizeria
It watched, not in a way any normal person could see, but It watched, letting itself travel hundreds of miles from where It stood, to the gloomy place in London where the werewolf and the silly boy talked. And what an interesting conversation It was observing. The man-beast knew about It's creatures, the ones the Master had given It. That did not bode well for their side. They would have to be taken care of.
It sighed and turned away from them for now. Behind It was one of It's precious creatures, already waiting for commands not yet given. It ran a bone-white hand through the creature's thick fur. The hair was so soft, not what you would expect on so dark a creature.
It looked at Its hand, tangled in the gray hair. It was almost as white as the Master was now, and It wasn't sure how it felt about that. It remembered before, what it was like to feel, really feel something, besides the black hate festering in Its belly. So long ago. . .
"Lupin and Potter need to be taken care of. And anyone else who resides in that house or travels in their company." The voice that came back to Its ears was flat, dull, neither male nor female in its timbre.
The Mizeria would not let It down. The Master did not deal with them himself; he was rather content to let It do that work. It did not mind. After the wizards were conquered, and the Boy Who Lived became the One Who Was Dead, It would be raised to a plane of worship second only to the Master himself. . . . and It was very greedy.
* * * * *
~ 2 Weeks later ~
Remus didn't know how it had come to this, him standing with his wand alight and pointed towards the giant hulking creature with its hand around Hermione's throat, Harry in the arms of another one, screaming and clutching his now-crippled hand, Ron on the floor, still and unmoving, his already glassy eyes staring at nothing. The great beasts were all over the house, their great shadows rippling along the walls. Those horrible eyes were staring at him from every direction. He was surrounded, trapped by the Mizeria.
They had just been talking, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and himself, sitting in the drawing room. Harry actually seemed cheerful. They were just relaxing, the only ones in the house. Tonks and Snape were due to come by at any moment, but for now the four of them were just enjoying each other. They had all laughed at a silly joke of Ron's and when the laughter died he noticed the stillness. It seemed like the very air had been somehow holding its breath, waiting. . .
He didn't know how they found Grimmauld Place, or how they found their way in. All Remus knew
was that when the doors burst open and the front windows blew in, curtains flapping and tearing away, they were in big
trouble. He had ducked.
Ron had been sitting underneath the front windows, so when the first of the creatures climbed in,
he didn't stand a chance. It came in and swung its arm into his head, knocking him to the floor. His head was
facing backwards and Remus heard Hermione and Harry screaming Ron's name over the heavy breathing sounds from the
monsters invading the room.
In a fury, Harry launched himself at the creature, but was caught in midair from behind by another
one. Remus had been too far away, and he nearly screamed along with Harry when the creature jabbed a needle through
Harry's hand. Hermione's screams had been choked off by a third one wrapping its hairy arms about her throat.
Remus has his wand out in his trembling hand, sending a stunning spell towards the one that had taken Ron's life).
The red light struck the creature on its chest, where it stayed, glowing for a moment, before it sank into the
thing's flesh and was completely absorbed. Remus saw its face spread into a wicked grin, a spittle of drool
dangling from the corner of its mouth before the room plunged into sudden darkness.
Now they were hulking shadows in the light of Remus' wand, the faceless monsters of a child's nightmares come to life. The wolf inside him was awake and very eager for a fight, even if he knew he could not win. His eyes darted around the room, counting. . .
There were more than a dozen of the Mizeria, and it sounded like more were roaming upstairs. Dumbledore's
going to be so pissed. The thought sprang into his head, as strange thoughts often do at these times, and Remus
found he could almost laugh. Ron was dead, the other children were hostages, and Remus wanted to laugh.
He saw one of the shadows crouch back on bulky legs and knew it was about to spring at him. He braced himself, ready
for the worst, when he heard the creak of the front door opening.
The hallway began to glow with a pure, white light. The Mizeria were screaming, holding their arms up in front of
their eyes and backing away. The light grew until it shined over everything. It was blinding in its brightness, but
Remus kept his eyes open. The light was comforting; it filled him with a kind of warmth as it washed over him.
"Remus!" It was Tonks. The source of the light was coming from her wand, holding back the Mizeria as she
rushed into the room. Tonks grabbed his arm, making sure to keep her wand out.
"Are you all right?" She cried over the screaming.
"I'm fine," He yelled. "Get the kids!"
They turned around; Harry and Hermione had been dropped to the floor as their attackers backed away from Tonks'
light, and now Hermione was bent over Harry, who was holding his hand and screaming.
"Merlin help us," Tonks said in Remus' ear. They rushed forward and haled the kids off of the floor,
Remus practically carrying Harry.
"We have to hurry," Tonks yelled. "Snape is holding them back from the door, but more are coming. We
have to go!"
"What about Ron?" Hermione cried out. She pointed, and Remus watched Tonks' face as she saw Ron's
lifeless body. She looked back to Remus. Her face echoed his thoughts and he knew she couldn't say it.
"We can't help Ron anymore. We have to leave him," Remus forced out.
"No!" Harry started screaming and struggling in Remus' arms, trying to force his way to Ron. Remus had
quite the time holding onto him; Quidditch had made Harry stronger than he looked.
"We have to go, now!" Tonks helped Remus keep a hold on Harry, and together they moved into the hallway.
Snape stood framed in the doorway, his own wand sending out the same light as Tonks'. Mizeria were everywhere,
snarling at the little group from their places in the dark.
"We need a Portkey." Even yelling, Snape managed to keep the distaste in his voice as he looked at Remus.
Remus ignored it and nodded, grabbing a rusted silver candelabra from the hall table and forcing Harry out the door. As
they passed by Snape, the Potions master leaned over and muttered into Remus' ear.
"Don't look behind you."
Remus didn't need to. He could hear them just fine. As the light faded, the Mizeria crept closer and closer to
them, and it was something he did not want to see. They were finally outside; he could hear the noises inside as
Hermione and Tonks made their way out behind them.
He threw the candelabra on the ground, and, still holding onto Harry with one arm, pointed his wand and muttered the
spell under his breath. The familiar blue light, the trembling, and the Portkey was ready to go.
"Come on!' he yelled at the others.
"No! Ron! Ron!" Harry was still screaming, and Remus had a severe moment of déjà vu. He wrapped
both arms around Harry and held the struggling boy to him, determined that this time, he would not let go. Hermione
picked up the candelabra and took her place next to Remus, tears streaming down her silent face. Tonks was next, the
wandlight casting its rays along the street.
"Severus! Hurry!"
Snape slammed the door shut against the Mizeria and magically locked it from the outside. There were loud thuds as the
creatures hammered against the door. Snape hurried down the steps to join them, casting anxious looks over his
shoulder.
"That will not hold them for long. We have to go now," he said urgently. He was right; already the door was
denting outward with the force of their blows. He reached out one hand and touched to Portkey with his finger. Everyone
followed suit, Remus forcing Harry's hand out in his own. Tonks put her arm around Hermione, the Mizeria broke
through the door and sprang towards them, and then all was lost in the swirling darkness as the Portkey took them
away.
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