The Binding
"That's the Innocuroso Binding!" Nevra exclaimed. Her voice sharpened. "How did you find it…that hasn't been used since Slytherin's doom!"
Blaise and Draco nodded grimly. Draco said, "Voldemort is the Heir to Slytherin…the family kept the Binding Charm for safekeeping. A charm so powerful it could break up the Hogwarts Four…well, it could wreak havoc on the world. Slytherin wasn't so evil as the stories make him out to be…it was his descendants that gave his family a bad name. They kept the charm in hopes that they would be the ones to destroy the world and remake it to their own will."
Nevra nodded impatiently. They all knew the story. "Slytherin joined Mysticus, a secret occult of wizards trying to purify the wizarding race. The group used a Binding Charm as part of the Initiation of new members. The Innocuroso Binding was unique to that group…it is believed it was created by Merlin, the purest of wizarding blood, to bind a dragon for a century to use its blood in his experiments. So Slytherin was bound and ordered to turn against Hogwarts because it allowed Muggleborns admission. He couldn't refuse to betray Hogwarts, but he warned the other three of what was happening…Mysticus forgot to bind his silence. Even the Hogwarts Four together could not find a way to break the charm, so Slytherin was forced to leave the school forever. But the bind overpowered his self-will at the last moment and made him create the Chamber of Secrets before he left…the ultimate tool to purify the halls of Hogwarts. All the Dark Side knows the story…after all, Voldemort was originally a member of Mysticus before he became even more radical than they and broke free of the Bind. Do you know how he did it, since you managed to get your hands on the Charm itself?"
Blaise and Draco were gaping at her. She scowled impatiently. "Well, do you?"
Blaise spoke with a slight smile on his face, "Quite the historian, aren't you?"
"Well, how did Voldemort break free?" The two men looked at each other. Blaise shrugged.
Draco said hesitantly, "Well…the thing is…we don't really know. But this Bind…it breaks your allegiance to the Dark Side…or rather puts it second to the bond the Trio shares. That's why Pansy was able to resist Voldemort when he searched her mind for the names of her accomplices. We cannot force people to actions as was done to Slytherin, nor coerce them to secrecy. But if willing given, this bond will make you one of ours…you will not want to hurt us or our cause. Only if willing given."
Nevra said, "So we will be killed if Voldemort finds out." It wasn't really a question. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to make sure they realized it as well. Both the men nodded. "All right. Let's do what we have to do. According to legend, it must be repeated thrice over…once for heartbeat, once for breath, once for mind and soul. Is that right?" Draco nodded and held out the paper in front of them. Together they began to recite.
Bound we are till Life's last breath
While our brethren live no barrier is death
And our binds do defy every promise and lie
That we have made before this day
Draco said, "For as long as our hearts beat."
Bound we are till Life's last breath
While our brethren live no barrier is death
And our binds do defy every promise and lie
That we have made before this day
Draco said, "For as long as thoughts are ours."
Bound we are till Life's last breath
While our brethren live no barrier is death
And our binds do defy every promise and lie
That we have made before this day
Draco said, "For as long as our souls are whole."
And together they recited the binding sentence.
And so are we bound to each other...forever.
Thus, a new Dark Trio formed. Thus, a new Alliance began. Thus, the struggle of Dark and Light started within me. Thus began the path that led to today. The day I stand again on the shore and ponder whether life is worth the price of love.
Divided Loyalties
A jet-black eagle owl streaked into Nevra's office, causing her to jerk with surprise and splatter her letter to Dumbledore with ink. It held out its leg imperiously and she could see the thick waxen parchment with the black-green seal. She opened it to reveal a flowing cursive script in green ink.
Miss Ginevra Weasley,
You are cordially invited to the funeral of Pansy Morgana Parkinson. This letter will transport you to the place of the ceremony at the appointed time. Your arrival is scheduled for Sunday, April 23 at 10 a.m.
It was a standard invitation issued to all Death Eaters…it would be a Dark Funeral. Her family would not allow the death of its sole heiress to go unremarked upon…even though she had died in disgrace of the Dark Lord, even he could not risk offending one of the oldest Dark Families in England…only the Malfoys ranked higher. However, the seal and the handwritten invitation meant that she had moved up in the eyes of her peers. Only members of the Inner Circle and favored Death Eaters would receive a personal invitation.
She could not begin to imagine why anyone would think that she had moved up in the ranks. In fact, it would make more sense that she would have moved down…Dumbledore as of yet had not given her the signal to take the Sorting Hat and the delay in her initiation to the Inner Circle was beginning to irritate the Dark Lord. No one knew of her initiation into the Dark Trio…it was to be kept secret until they could find a way to hide that Draco summoned her through the Dark Mark.
As she folded up the note, a small scrap of paper slipped out with writing on it. It looked as though it was written by the same person in a more hurried, ragged fashion.
I risk everything in writing this to you. I do not know if I can trust you…do not even know whether you will exploit a mother's grief, but I have no other choice. Forgive me for imposing on you like this…even receipt of this note could mark you for treason. I dare not trust any within the Inner Circle any longer…not even my husband.
I blindly followed in our Lord's steps for many years without thinking of the harm we inflicted upon innocents. But now, now my daughter has been killed by one she claimed her master. One who promised to protect her…but never from himself. Now I question whether it is truly safe amongst people who I named my friends. Even Pansy's father will not question his daughter's death because it was his Lord who killed her.
I know that Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini are two untouched by the fanaticism that infects all the Elders within our Heirarchy. But I dare not speak with them. They are too high up and have too many plans hidden from my eyes. They would exploit my doubts to their own agenda. And I have seen a look in your eyes of pure torment when you kill…one that gives me hope some humanity remains in you…something that will save me.
I can not live like this any longer. I pray that you will be of some help to me before Death's temptation becomes too great. I cannot live knowing that I killed my daughter when I promised her to the Dark Lord's service when she was an innocent babe. I cannot live knowing I condemned her to a life that left her with no choice but her own destruction. I leave myself In your hands, to condemn or to forgive as you will.
Elena Zabini Parkinson
It seemed as though the cracks within the loyal of the Dark Side were deeper than she thought. Unless it was a trap. She would wait until the funeral. Until she could talk to Draco - and Blaise - alone. Maybe this would be of help. But she could not tell Dumbledore yet. Not until she was sure of what this meant…to everyone.
Expendable
Dumbledore came into Nevra's office mere hours before the Parkinson funeral. "Harry is ready. I have him living in a concealed apartment in the school. You need to see him soon to plan for the attack."
"Let's make this quick…you know I have that Parkinson funeral to attend soon. You remember that I have no power over the time of the attack, Dumbledore?"
"Yes. But he - and I - will be ready."
"And the students?"
Dumbledore sighed. "We can't save them without letting the Dark Side know that we are using this attack to our advantage. Without risking your cover." Fury rose within Nevra.
"Damn it, Albus! I am not doing this if children die!" He looked at her with eyes hard as steel.
"We all do what we must. For the Light."
"I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FOR THE LIGHT! I GAVE UP MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY INNOCENCE. I HAVE KILLED FOR THE LIGHT!" Suddenly her voice became poisonously soft. "I will not be responsible for the destruction of the one place that is home for me."
"Hogwarts will not fall. As long as I live." Dumbledore said, full of reassurance. His eyes widened with surprise when Nevra laughed in his face.
"As long as you live, Dumbledore? And tell me, when did you become immortal? Or invincible? If the attack fails, and Hogwarts falls, do you have a backup plan?"
Dumbledore was silent. She smiled grimly. "The Light will not always prevail if we become arrogant in victory. The Dark Side is becoming more powerful…not in numbers but in magical strength. We cannot afford to be careless or throw away our defenses for sloppy attacks."
He nodded grimly. "That is why I need you and Harry to meet."
She grimaced. "All right. But Potter and I are not on friendly terms."
He sighed wearily. "No one knows that better than I. But we must stand together for the greater cause."
She bent her head in assent. "How do I get into his apartment?"
He smiled. "Thank you…for making the effort to come face to face with him. It is the picture of Boderick the Bold…the password is Raspartan."
"I have to prepare for the funeral. I will see him soon. He will be there until the attack?"
"Yes. I will need the both of you to come to my office after you converse to share with me your thoughts. And Ginny -" he said, pausing. She nearly forgot to turn to face him because she was so used to being called Nevra.
"Yes, Dumbledore?"
"Don't let bad blood come in the way of the work of the Light…please."
"I will do my best. But teamwork isn't a one-person job. Be sure to tell your beloved Potter the same thing. Good day, Albus." She said bitterly, offended that he thought he had to tell her to forget everything but the Light in her work.
"Good day, Ginny." He didn't even realize he had offended her. Typical of her life with the Light. They always used her without appreciation on this side of the War.
She was just another tool that could be thrown away when the time came. Everything changed perspective beneath the eyes of the Light.