Vengeance
It took the Goblins roughly 6 hours to cleanse Severus. It was rather painful, but he gritted his teeth and sucked it up. They had him strip down and asked him to step inside a runic circle. Several Goblins joined in and started chanting. With each compulsion removed, he felt more like himself. When he and Minerva left the bank, he felt lighter. It turned out that Albus, for whatever reason, started his mind games when Severus was 11 years old. A first year. After all, a boy from Slytherin House being friends with a bright young witch from Gryffindor, that would not do. Severus was surprised their friendship lasted that long because the rift occurred in their fifth year.
‘Do you suppose…he also played mind games on her?’ It was painful to talk about Lily, even after all this time. But he kept wondering. Her behavior at that time…in the light of recent events, didn’t make sense. Sure, he had used that foul word against her…but to never speak to him again and suddenly fell in love with that arse…
‘I think it is a good possibility,’ Minerva concluded, her mouth set in a grim line. She to had some minor compulsions placed on her. They were also removed, but that took about 20 minutes. For Minerva, the compulsions were akin to loyalty towards Albus and turning a blind eye to some things. They walked in silence until they reached the point from where they could Apparate back to Hogwarts. Landing just outside the wards, they walked across the green slopes until the doors came into view.
‘Remember, he must not suspect anything…but I don’t have to tell you how to act a certain way,’ Minerva smiled. Severus grimaced and they went their separate ways.
The following morning both their acting skills were put to the test, at breakfast. Both he and Minerva joined their colleagues and where Minerva chatted quietly with Pomona, Severus kept to himself. Dumbledore walked in and he felt how he, albeit very subtly, probed his mind. Bastard. For a split second, he was worried that Minerva, who was not as good in Occlumency as he himself was, would give something away, but his worries went away after he saw that Dumbledore barely glanced at her. He probably still thought she was with him.
The owls came in and delivered some letters. Minerva received a plain-looking envelope and put it aside. She did glance over at Severus and he understood she wanted to talk to him later. Breakfast continued and Dumbledore announced that he had business at the Ministry and would be out for the day.
The teachers dispended and Severus walked with Minerva to her office. She offered him tea and after they were both seated, she opened the envelope. She offered it to Severus after reading it and he nodded. Good.
‘Since Dumbledore isn’t here, I can Floo call Amelia, maybe we can go over today? Or do you have other plans?’
‘No, everything is ready for the new school year, so I am good to go.’ Minerva made the Floo call and after about 20 minutes, both she and Severus stood inside the office of Amelia Bones. Privacy wards were put up, so no one could come in or listen in. Amelia was not alone, Shacklebolt and Dawlish were also present. They were in the middle of their investigation and needed to interview Minerva and Severus. The four of them talked well into the afternoon. When everything was set and done, a very pleased Minerva and Severus went back to Hogwarts, knowing that revenge would not take long at all.
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Reggie had woken up feeling a bit peckish. She hopped a bit up and down, looked around for Matthew, but could not see him. So she decided to fly to the library by herself, maybe Lucienne was there and she would have food. She spread her wings and took off. Now that she got the hang of it, flying was amazing. If she could grin, all her teeth would be showing. Matthew showed her yesterday how she needed to fly and which way the library was. Feeling confident, she started in what she thought was the right direction. Which, of course, was the complete opposite of where she was meant to go.
After flying for 10 minutes, she landed on the ground, a wee bit clumsy, and looked around. Damn it…this was not familiar. Where was she? There was some black sand, a couple of mountains to her left and not much else. She took off again, back in the direction she had come from. She didn’t know that someone was watching her.
Dream had been busy that morning creating new dreams and nightmares when he felt someone close by. He quickly recognized the young raven, but he didn’t want to frighten her again, so he made sure she could not see him. He left his unfinished creations and followed the bird, to see what she would do.
She was lost, that he knew for sure. Dream saw her landing on the ground, very un-raven like, for she skidded across the earth and her wings flapped frantically until she finally stopped moving. He saw her looking around. She was on the edge of Fiddler’s Green.
‘Lost, little raven?’ A squeak from the bird had him smirking. Raven turned around and saw Dream come closer. ‘Uhm, yes sir…sorry sir.’ Dream smiled and squatted on his haunches, so he would appear less intimidating. ‘Where were you trying to go?’
‘The library sir,’ Raven spoke shyly. She was more than intimidated by the man in front of her. He was long, dressed all in black, had messy hair and his eyes…yesterday she could see the night sky in them, today they looked to be almost glowing. ‘Ah, the library…that’s the other way.’ He offered her his arm, indicating she could sit on it. He half expected her to decline, but she surprised him by hopping on his arm. He rose and with the raven on his arm, he walked to the library.
‘I was wondering…I have an idea about how to prepare you, for when you are older. Are you interested in hearing it?’ ‘Yes sir. But you don’t have to trouble yourself for me. I don’t want to be a bother.’
A yes, the abuse she suffered. Of course, she would think she was a bother. Dream promised himself that he would make sure she stopped thinking these things. ‘You are not a bother child. In fact, you are one of my priorities.’ They had arrived at the library where Lucienne was berating a guilty-looking Matthew. ‘I can’t believe you left her alone. What if she is lost? This is so very…oh my Lord, you found her!’
‘One lost little raven, who needs breakfast.’ Death lowered his arm, so Raven could hop off. She could have flown off, but she thought it was nice that the King troubled himself for her.
‘I can do chores first ma’am. You already gave me food yesterday for free. Is there anything I can do for you before I am allowed to eat?’
The question was innocent but implied so much more. Lucienne felt her jaw drop, Matthew ruffled his feathers in anger and Dream went very still. ‘What did you just say?’ His voice was cold and held authority, and Reggie cowered in fear. She had said something wrong. She didn’t know what and backed away from the now very angry-looking King. Lucienne saw the disaster waiting to happen and intervened. ‘The King is merely shocked, sweetie. Of course you are allowed to eat, as much as you want. You don’t have to work for food, okay hun?’
Reggie looked at Lucienne and said very timidly; ‘But…,’
‘No but! Lucienne is right. And let me make it clear, young lady, that Lucienne is almost always right.’ Lucienne smirked. ‘You are allowed to eat, whenever and whatever you want.’ Dream spoke in anger, and Reggie was more than willing to seek cover. He nodded to Lucienne and left, leaving a very confused Reggie behind. She wanted to apologize, but Lucienne felt it coming and put up a chair to talk to her.
‘Honey listen to me and listen carefully. The King is not angry with you, but with your relatives who denied you basic care. While you are under his care, all that nonsense your relatives told you, please forget them, because they were wrong. You are smart, kind and absolutely deserving of love and affection. And food and a good education. Do you hear me?’
Reggie was very still. Of course, she knew that how her uncle and aunt had treated her was wrong. After all, Dudley never had to do chores and he got food anyway. ‘Sweetie, you deserve to be happy.’ Lucienne wanted nothing more than to hug the little bird. Fr now she decided to let it go and got some food for her. Matthew joined in and a still very quiet Reggie ate her breakfast.
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Dream was in his throne room, ready to destroy something. Anger still flowed through his body. Those bastards…tonight, Vernon would pay…and Petunia too. At first, he just wanted to send one of his nightmares over, but this…this called for a more…personal approach.
‘Brother, is everything all right? You seem a little…tense,’ Death said, who had come over to inform her brother. ‘She thought she had to work so we would feed her.’ Came the icy reply.
Death sighed deeply. ‘I see. I assume you explained everything and fed her…or did you storm off in a fit of anger and left Lucienne to do that?’ Dream turned around, angry again and one of the windows shattered. ‘Was there something you wanted sister?’ he hissed. He was fond of his sister, but she could get under his skin like none other.
‘Actually yes…the Goblins used the Codex.’ Death smiled triumphantly at her brother. ‘What?’ ‘The. Goblins. Used. The. Codex.’
Dream gave her another glare and sat down on the stairs. ‘And,’ he gestured for her to continue. ‘And I found someone to help her…someone who knew her mother. Someone, who, with a little nudge, can be persuaded to help us with our plans.’
‘She just arrived her, is terrified every time she sees me. Don’t you think it is better if she gets used to me first? Why would you want to bring someone else in already? I thought we agreed that we would wait. I can teach her magic.’
Death smiled at her younger brother and his sullen expression. Already he felt protective of Reggie. ‘We did, and I wanted to wait, but hear me out. You have not mastered the magic her people use. Would it not be better if you had someone from her world, who could help? She would have gone to Hogwarts in a year, so we have a time advantage. I know someone who would be perfect because he knew her mother and…he made an Unbreakable Vow.’
Dream thought about it. ‘How about a compromise?’ he asked. ‘For the first year, she learns from me. After that, we bring this person in, and he can teach her.’ Death agreed. ‘If you will excuse me now sister, I have to visit a certain uncle and I need to prepare.’
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When the fruit was gone and Reggie was full, she looked at Matthew. ‘I am sorry I left kiddo, but you seemed pretty out of it and I didn’t want to wake you.’ ‘It’s okay. I tried to find the library, but that was not a success.’
Matthew chuckled. ‘Okay, today’s lesson will be learning the route, how about that?’ Reggie agreed, but before they left she asked if she should go to the Kind and apologize. ‘Neh, best leave him alone today. He will probably look for you tomorrow. Don’t worry, he really wasn’t angry with you.’
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Vernon and Petunia had been arrested on charges of abuse and murder. With the help of Veritaserum, the truth had come out and now both of them were in Ministry holding cells. Now, normally, Muggles did not get send to Azkaban. But these Muggles not only killed a magical child, no, they were responsible for the death of Regina Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived. The magical community was in outrage and justice was demanded.
The trial was set for next Friday, three days from now. It was merely a formality, the truth was out. The first day Vernon had screamed and demanded the freaks let him and his wife go. After a few stunners, he had piped down. Petunia was quiet. She didn’t yell, she sat on the bench in her cell, separate from Vernon and stared at the walls.
Around 5 P.M they got their dinner. After that, they were left alone with 2 guards. Nighttime came. Vernon and Petunia went to sleep. Dream watched it all from his realm. He felt Vernon first and entered his dream. The man dreamed of abusing Reggie. Anger spiked in Dream and he unleashed his powers on the man. He used the man’s worst fears against him and when Vernon, who could not wake up, begged for mercy, he made himself known and spoke to the blubbering man.
‘Vernon Dursley. You have been found guilty of multiple crimes. From this point on, every time you fall asleep, your fears will hound you. You will not know a moment’s rest. You will be hunted down, carved open, night after night.’ Dream’s voice was booming and Vernon cowered away. His mind was quickly falling apart and he started screaming when he saw Dream, towering over him, all his powers on display.
Satisfied for now, Dream left Vernon and looked for Petunia. She was easy to find. He entered her subconscious mind, where he found Petunia standing in her kitchen, looking at her husband who was beating a little girl. Dream watched how the woman did nothing to stop him. He scoffed in anger. What was worse? A person who beats someone down, or a person who could help, but did nothing? He walked over and to his utter shock, Petunia turned her head and looked at him.
‘I know what I did, I should have helped her. But I was so angry after Lily died and that man just left her with us.’ Dream said nothing as Petunia looked over at her husband again. ‘He could not even bother to explain to us in person what had happened to my sister. He left her at the doorstep and never came back. Just threats. I never asked for this. For a freak.’ A tear ran down her cheek.
‘So you let him hurt her? That is your excuse? You didn’t ask for her, so you didn’t care for her?’ Petunia looked at Dream again, venom in her eyes. ‘She was not normal. People would notice. We just tried to get her to be normal.’ At that moment Dream knew the perfect punishment. He used his powers and in the kitchen, Vernon disappeared, and in his place stood James Potter. As this was a dream, not reality, James was beating the shit out of a skinny boy…Dudley. Petunia screamed and wanted to run over, but she found she could not move.
‘Your punishment shall be to watch the abuse of your son, night after night. Every time you close your eyes, you will hear your son scream in pain.’ Petunia started crying. ‘Please stop it, make him stop!’
Dream looked at her. ‘No.’ And with that word he left. For the rest of their lives, the nightmares would hound them. His work with them was finished.