Shut up. Did you hear that?” The wind howled in the dead of night, nothing but the low light of the moon and desert sand for miles.
“Hear what-
Dark shadows hurled towards us from above.
Death Eaters.
“Shit. This isn't good Ivy… I still need more time.” He shouted above the noise of dark wizards casting unforgivables as soon as their feet touched the ground. The sky lit up with dangerous yet colorful spells.
“Sectumsempra!” She heard one of the death eaters hiss wildly as before she knocked him out with a strong stupefy. She tried to block the spell quickly but wasn't fast enough. The bloody curse knocked her to the ground, and she could feel the cuts opening. The sand beneath her moved wistfully as she felt her blood begin to dampen her clothing.
“Ivy?” Her partner's voice sounded so distant and far away but she knew he was probably moments away from finding her amidst the unconscious bodies.
Oliver landed right beside her, immediately starting to undo the spell. As he softly whispered, “Stay with me, Ivy. Don't you dare die on me, or Rori’s going to lose his shit.” The cuts were closing and I felt my body gaining its strength again. My eyelids grew heavy as the last cuts were sealed and my vision got darker. Exhaustion fully took over as everything went dark.
There are times when the world goes quiet and still. It's like my hearing goes deaf all at once and all I can do is be in my body. Trapped in my mind as it goes through an endless reel of my most traumatic events.
This was one of those moments.
The recurring nightmare went like this: my sister would stumble into the room, hollow eyes and hands bloody. I would grab her and rush out of the house to get someone, anyone to help. My mother, screaming, called the medic who wouldn't ever appear on time. Until my sister just dropped to the ground, before she collapsed, I slid underneath her to cushion the fall. The dewy grass moistened my legs as I held her in my arms and watched her draw her last breath.
Her gaze stared into my soul, as she whispered her last words, and everything seemed to slow down.
I woke up with a sickening headache and bruises all over. A familiar voice whispers shouting to the doctor in the doorway. The backside of his shoulders released tension as he sighed, turning around. He found my eyes and I quickly shut mine, pretending to still be comatose.
“Sumina, I know you're awake. And I'm extremely-”
“-disappointed. I know.” I finish, not being able to face him, now it's my turn to sigh.
“I was going to say, worried. The doctor just told me it would be a miracle if you would wake up in your condition.” His eyes held concern, which was a new one for me. There weren't many people that I could say show that for me anymore.
Most hold a surprising amount of contempt for me, but Rori always cared. He’s always been more of a parental figure than just a legal guardian. Even after I was old enough to take care of myself.
“It’s no biggie, all good here.” I shrug with a smirk, biting back a wince as I sit myself up.
“I know you don't mean that. You know how dangerous it is out there.” His face scrunched up with a curious look on his face he rarely held.
“What is it?” I sat up, now especially worried.
“It's just I haven't heard that spell being used in a very long time…”
The song flight of the bumblebee nearly gives me a stroke in the bed. Rori pulled his phone out and huffed. His hands pinching the bridge of his nose when he’s stressed.
“I’ve got to get this.” He turns to me, a sad grin on his face. “Get some rest Ivy, I mean it. Or no more missions.” He races out of the room, answering the call out the doorway. “This is Rori...”
“How's my favorite partner in the universe doing!?” Covered in dirt, and stinking like rotten eggs, Oliver stands by the door as I push myself off the bed.
“I’m your only partner, Oli. Who’s Rori talking to?” I question nodding to where he just left. I test one foot before standing upright, and the pain is light, due to the power of modern wizardry and magic medicine.
“Wow, no Hey Oliver how are you doing? Thanks for saving my life!” He shrugs, crossing his arms. “What in the hell's almighty are you up to this time? Didn't Rori tell you to rest? You’ve just woken up from a three day come for Salazar’s sake!”
I feign a sweet smile and bat my eyelashes, “Oh Oliver, you truly are the best partner ever for saving my life. Especially considering…I was there doing you a favor.” I roll my eyes at him and glare. His posture immediately slumps, and I see how drained and apologetic he is. Poor guy’s probably been beating himself for it the entirety of my coma. He’s always had a good heart.
“I’m so sorry Ivy. I know it’s my fault that the stupid thing got lost and then we got ambushed and I should've been more alert-’
He rambles on, pouting like a puppy dog and I’m not surprised by the small tears in his eyes. I sigh, letting go of everything and stretch my legs. “It’s fine Oliver, I know you’re sorry just… you owe me alright? Big time.”
His eyes light up, and he rushes in for a hug but I sidestep and he runs into the bed. “No hugs until you shower dude, you smell like a field of dead cows.” I hobble my way to the door peeking out to check what direction Rori went in.
“-okay, anything you need Ivy you got it. Just say the word and it is done.” Oliver rambles on, muffled by the bed, raising a thumbs up for good measure.
“Well good, because I actually do need help with something…” Thinking back to the unfamiliar ringtone Rori’s phone rang when that call came in must mean he got a call from someone important. Rori set special ringtones for each team he was in charge of and that one was meant for the Aurors.
It didn't make sense though, the Aurors rarely contacted Rori. Nowadays, with the unforgivable curse reinstated they usually had no one to interrogate or nothing left of someone to interrogate. So if they were calling Rori… “Why’s Rori talking to an Auror?”
Oliver stills, standing upright and facing me immediately. “He didn't tell you?” A grim look shadowed his usually aloof expression.
“We caught a Death Eater.”
“WHAT.” The lights flickered off in the hallway for a split second. My head began to spin so I leaned against the wall, for support so I wouldn't fall. “What do you mean you caught a Death Eater?! They always get away… they've never… they can't… It’s not possible.”
I rush out of the room, adrenaline coursing through my veins. If they had an actual Death Eater I had to see for myself.
“Ivy, wait!” Oliver walked beside me keeping a safe distance to catch my extremely wobbly self. “You can't just go over there, Rori told everyone and I quote, ` Ivy is off of all missions indefinitely until she recovers.’” He said, mocking Rori’s stern voice.
“Shit, really?” I grunt, pushing myself to walk faster. “I know I was out for a while but I’m fine.”
“Ugh, here we go again.” Oliver rolls his eyes in annoyance as he steps to block my way.
“Oliver, get out of the way.” I sigh, “Listen, I know I can be a bit vexatious to say the least but this time is different. Oli, we have a death eater okay? Let’s not pretend we both don't know what that means.”
I stare at him, and muster all the resolve I have left. Which if I'm being very honest with myself isn't a lot. After being hit with a lot of spells, my body usually manages to bounce back but this one was new. I may be able to shrug it off in front of Oliver but a three day coma is a somewhat alarming amount of time for my body to heal in the least.
“Fine. I’ll distract Rori, and give you some time.” He takes out his wand, and grabs my hand.
The hallway blinks out, warping altogether into white.
Nausea hits me instantly, as we land in front of the door.
“I see you still haven't gotten any better with apparating, huh.” I snicker, feeling lightheaded.
“Haha, now will you please lighten your grip?” He glances down at my hand on his wrist.
I let go, and he slid his arm over my shoulders to stable me. “So, what's the plan?”
“The plan is simple. You go in and come up with some dire situation to draw Rori out. Make it good, like I tried to run and passed out on my way out.
“Once he’s out I’ll slip in and have a few words with the new camper. Easy peasy…” I pause to take a full breath and straighten. “Lemon squeezy.” I force a reassuring smile, and stand on my own.
“Alright, but I can only promise five minutes at most.” He dusts himself off. “And hey, after this get some real rest. I mean it or I’m going to spell you to a bed.” Concern in his eyes Oliver, steps forward to the door. Still facing me, he taps his wand against my arm, and the feeling of an egg cracking washes over me.
“Disillusionment charm check, now to become the greatest actor the world has ever seen.” He flashes a smile to my hidden self, and I scoff.
“An Oscar isn't going to win us the war, Oli.”
“No, but it will definitely make me happier.” With that he dusts himself off and pauses to add more dramatic effect. Getting into character, for a convincing ruse.
As he places his wand on the handle, it swings wide open.
“Genton? What are you doing here, you're supposed to be with- what happened?” Rori’s jaw sets, as blatant indignation is plastered on his face.
“She’s in the pool sir.” Oliver kept his eyes downcast so as to not reveal any info.
“Why’s she in the blood pool? Oh for, I swear I’m going to spell her to a bed.” He runs off, Oliver in tow. He twists back to wink and puts a thumbs up before answering back loudly.
“I know, that's what I told her!”
Their loud footsteps have disappeared before I even get inside. A blinding white flash reflected in the steel door to the Auror room, is the only sign of them apparating.
I block the door from closing with my foot, and push it aside with much effort. The door clicks shut behind me when I step in. A few feet away another door, this time an all glass window revealing the room it leads to.
In the center a single table, and chained to it a blonde mess of hair slumped over.
“You’ve got this Ivy. It’s just one question.” My hands in tight balls, I muster the energy to walk in there without looking like the leaning tower of Pisa.
The door opens easier than the previous one, and the patter of my bare feet on the cold hard floor fills up space in the room. The small metal chair tucked in the wall scrapes against the floor, making me cringe.
When I take a seat on the chair, I realize that my entire body is on fire.
I’m in a fucking hospital gown.
I shuffle to get up and race to the door, rethinking this whole idea. When I hear whispers, from the prisoner.
It sounded eerie, yet familiar.
If I could just get closer I’d be able to…
“You can hear me?” The prisoner’s head shoots up, his dark hood falling off revealing a mess of platinum blonde.
“No?” I replied hesitantly. The fact that I’m standing in the same room as a death eater, whilst also wearing a hospital gown is beyond unseemly.
“How do you- Who taught you parseltongue?” I couldn't read the guy’s face at all behind the silver mask. It was evident by his tone however that he was just as curious as me.
“Parsel-what? I don't know what that is. And shouldn't I be asking the questions here?” I shrug off the question, there was no use in focusing on nonsense from an obviously deranged and foul-smelling death eater if i might add.
“I don't know should you?” I could hear the smugness in his tone, and that meant he felt too comfortable.
“Listen, I don't know who you are but I know what you want and I’m not-”
“Oh but do you? Know what I want?” He cut me off.
“Yes. All you Death Eaters want the same thing, power and control.” I huff, in immense irritation.
“Ah, and does it seem to you that I have those things in this room?”
“Well no but-”
“But? Oh, I know, I’m an evil person, and evil people don't get to plead their cases. If that's the case you might as well go ahead and Avada me now-”
“Will you just shut up and let me speak?!” I shout. He goes quiet but I can hear a light chuckle hidden muffled by the mask. “Why are you here?”
“What do you mean, why? I was captured. Real question is why are YOU here, hospital gown?”
“I..uh..I.” I can feel the tips of my ears go blazing red. “That is isn't relevant. And don't try to change the subject. I refuse to believe you’re whole I’m just a helpless prisoner schtick, Blondie.”
“Oof, you make me blush. I’m so glad we’re already on nicknames because I have some right now that could really work.”
“Cut it out. Tell me the real reason you're here.”
He sighs, and relaxes in his seat. “I’m defecting. And before you laugh-”
Too late I was already howling at the sound of the word being said from his own mouth.
The laughter soon ceased though, and in its place boiled over frustration.
“I’m leaving Death Eater, but I’ll be back, and you better be ready to tell me your real story. Or I swear on everything and everyone I love, whatever the Auror’s do to you will be nothing compared to my magic.” I slowly walked backwards to the door, found the handle and slipped out without breaking eye contact.
As soon as the door shut a blanket was thrown over my shoulders.
I jumped in surprise to see Rori, and Oliver with extremely worried expressions on their faces.
“I know I’m sorry I broke the rules but I’m fine. I’ll do-”
“Stop. Aurora stop and hear me when I say this, don't ever tell anyone what happened in their okay?”
“Wait, why?” Confused, I glanced at Oliver behind Rori.
“You mean you didn't hear yourself? You were speaking in Parseltongue.”
The whole conversation I was speaking in a completely different language??” My mind began spinning with questions. The first one being, “Okay...and, what is parseltongue?”