Branded
Hermione shivered as Harry took over from her watch, “I’ve made you a hot water bottle, try and get some sleep, eh?” he greeted as one entered the tent as the other left.
Other was fast asleep in the bottom bunk of Hermione’s two, wait a minute, there are more beds here than when I went on watch. She thought as she climbed into her bed, though she had noticed, she didn’t care, not right now. She just wanted to sleep.
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Genesis and Brother walked for an hour at least before they saw a silver light coming from ahead. “What is that?” He asked, following Brother toward the light, finding Harry already following it; the light was formed into a beautiful silver doe, it was leading Harry somewhere. The two followed to ensure there were no ambushes.
Brother pulled Genesis to a stop as they reached the crest of a hill overlooking a small lake, frozen over from the cold.
“Why has that thing led Harry to this place?” Genesis breathed, not wanting to alert any possible attackers.
“Long time no see,” Genesis whirled round, Brother slipping in his haste to move from the person behind them.
“Genesis, Brother.”
Standing above them was none other than Ron Weasley.
There was a splash behind them as Harry dove into the icy water, where Genesis realised in horror, Harry had also been wearing the Horcrux.
Ron must have noticed this too, as he threw his rucksack at Brother, bolted down the hill and dove in after his now drowning friend.
Genesis and Brother raced to the edge of the water to see Ron pulling Harry back to the surface with one hand and in the other were two objects; one was that retched Horcrux and the other was a glistening silver sword.
“Are you mental?!” those three words had Harry looking over at a sopping wet Ron, not really seeing him.
“R-Ron?” Harry then saw Genesis and Brother approach, Brother dropping two rucksacks.
“What the hell were you thinking, diving in there, no clothes on and the water is freezing bloody cold!” Ron continued to scold.
“What are you doing here?” Harry seemed to get over his shock and Genesis could see hints of anger and distrust in his eyes. “Why did you come back?”
Genesis watched as Ron struggled to find the words, one look in his direction told Genesis that the reason he came back was for…
“She cried,” Harry’s voice broke Genesis’ thought process, “for a week, Ron. Not only did you break her heart, but you also fired the bloody Cruciatus Curse at her! And just to make matters worse you then run off into the unknown, whilst we carried on. She’s suffered because she’s missed you! There have been days where we haven’t spoken, weeks at the worst part of it… and to top it all off, Ron, I have missed you too… and thank you, for pulling me out.”
Genesis smirked, of course he had remained quiet, Ron had indeed been missed, and he will be glad to tell Angeal and Sephiroth of his return.
“Now you just need to destroy that wretched thing, don’t you?” he asked, finally stepping into the conversation.
Ron went to hand the sword to Harry, but Brother placed his hand on the blade, Genesis took note that Brother had a faint glow to him, but said nothing.
“I believe, if what Hermione has already told me of this sword,” Genesis stepped up to look at the blade and took note of the power it held.
“Only a true hearted Gryffindor can wield this sword, meaning that you, Ron, are the only one who can wield it and destroy the piece of darkness that has divided the three of you.”
What little colour Genesis could see in Ron’s face, disappeared. “I can’t, it affected me more than the other two… it made me hurt someone I care about deeply.” There was more to that sentence, but no one said anything, Genesis felt a pang of guilt, but only a pang.
“Then why did you come back?” Harry asked coldly.
Genesis felt sorry for the boy. “Ron, the only way you are ever going to get over your guilt of walking away from them is to destroy the reason for leaving.” He placed a comforting hand on Ron’s shoulder, “face your fears SOLDIER.”
Ron looked at Genesis for a moment before taking a deep, steadying breath and nodding, determined.
“If no one minds,” Brother spoke for the first time, “I am going to go back up the hill to hide my vomit.” Genesis frowned but stayed where he was.
“Stay where I can see you, Brother. I know you get embarrassed, but please, stay where I can see you.” Getting a reluctant nod in reply, Genesis turned back to the two men who were laying the locket in place.
“Anything I can do?” he asked.
“Just stay out of its way, there’s no telling what it will do or say, it could even turn the two of you on each other.” Harry advised, causing Genesis to hesitate.
I do not like the sound of that! He thought, he even considered going over to Brother when he heard Harry hiss (he had to think twice before he realised it was what Hermione had called Parseltongue) and was thrown back into the tree he had been in front of.
“Oof! Whoa!” he covered his face with his arms as a pitch-black fog fell over the glade.
“Genesis!” Brother called, reaching out to him and clutching him tight. “Mother almighty I have never felt so…” Brother never finished his sentence as he promptly threw up.
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Hermione woke suddenly to the sound of Other vomiting. “Other?” getting down from her bunk, Hermione rushed over to pull back her friend’s hair. “Are you alright?”
“They’ve opened the Horcrux!” this was all Hermione needed to hear, as both she and Other sat back down.
The she realised what Other had said. “Wait, you said ‘they’ who else is with Harry?”
Other looked over at her, “Shall we go and find out?”
With a flick of her wand, Hermione had everything packed leaving no trace of the camp or fire, and followed Other across to a glade where she was met with a horrifying sight.
It was an almost naked version of herself and Harry, and they were talking with… “Ron?!” she breathed, relief closely followed by anger filled her.
“Who would want you? You are nothing, nothing compared to the great Harry Potter.” Her shadow stated, then to her horror she embraced and kissed the shadow of Harry, it made her sick to her stomach, Harry is more like a brother to me. Hermione saw Ron lower the Sword of Godric Gryffindor, so Hermione did the one thing she could.
“Expecto Patronum.” She whispered, hiding away from sight, just letting her Otter go to Ron.
There was a cry and suddenly the fog was gone, as were the ghastly spectres.
Harry’s voice was next to be heard, “she’s more like a sister to me, Ron. As I said to you earlier, she has missed you.”
Ron didn’t answer he just accepted Harry’s hug, then to Hermione’s surprise, Genesis came forward and embraced them both. “Well done SOLDIER. Now go and face your biggest challenge yet.”
“I don’t think I need to go far.” Ron moved to her hiding place, but Hermione never moved, she just stood and planted her feet.
Rounding the tree to face Ron, she began to hit him. “You – complete – and – utter – arse – Ronald Weasley!” after saying his name, she felt someone grab her wrists only to find it was Ron.
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Genesis watched with stunned humour as Hermione balled up her fists and battered Ron, he flinched and only caught her wrists when she had finally said his name.
He watched as Other approached and embraced her Brother, he watched as Hermione’s anger ebbed and she threw herself into Ron’s chest and cried.
“You have been gone for weeks and now only show up?” she accused.
Ron’s next words took them both by surprise, “well I couldn’t let Genesis steal you away from me, could I?” there was a light hearted tone to his voice that had Harry chuckling and even got a smile from his Golden Flower, but Genesis had a sudden thought.
Had he known I was going to be here? And if so, am I the real reason he came back to her? Genesis found he didn’t care, as no soon had those thoughts hit him, Ron had led Hermione down to Genesis.
“Besides, I think he’s missed you as much as I have.” Ron pushed Hermione into Genesis, who wrapped his arms around her. “That Horcrux didn’t know me as well as it claimed.” The five others looked at Ron, “it’s not Harry I’m jealous of. Had it truly known my heart; it would have known that.” He looked at Genesis, “you alright, Genesis? You look paler than usual.”
“Bah, don’t you be worrying about me, I’m alright.” Genesis lied, throwing his arms around Harry and Ron, leaning down so that his head rested between them. “Let’s go and find another one on those wretched Horcruxes.” The boys all laughed as Genesis led them back up the hill, leaving Hermione, Brother and Other walking together behind them.
He continued to natter away to the boys as they returned to where the camp should have been, “Huh?” Harry cocked his head to the side in confusion. That confusion disappeared as suddenly as it appeared and Harry made an ‘ahh’ sound. “Ah, she must have packed everything up before she came after us.” Hearing a chuckle behind him, Genesis, turned to see Hermione waving her wand to set up the enchanted barriers. Harry and Ron started to gather the firewood.
“Well once Other had stopped vomiting, we came to see if you needed our help.” Hermione answered.
Genesis watched her sway to the tune she was absently humming to herself as she waved her wand back and forth, he could just make out the thin wispy pale light coming from her wand as she began to glow with a power, he never knew she had.
Genesis took note of the same glow coming from Other as his Golden Flower continued her magic.
She truly is the Goddess personified. Thought Genesis as he set alight the wood that Ron and Harry had gathered.
The enchantments done; Hermione came to sit next to Other who decided to huddle into Hermione.
“Incendio Maxima.” Hermione flicked her wand and the small campfire grew bigger as Harry and Ron came and sat in the vacant spaces.
“I’ll make a start on breakfast. “she stated suddenly, making Other jump. “Sorry, Other were you dozing off?” she teased, Other nodded, still looking a bit pale, as – Genesis noted – did Brother.
“Yes, sorry. I’d like to go back to bed after breakfast, but I know we will need to move.” Genesis frowned.
“Can we not linger out here for the day, Harry?” he asked.
Harry hummed in thought, looking up at the trees, “I see no reason why not. Is that okay with you, ‘mione?”
Genesis looked over at Hermione to see her with her eyes closed. “Yeah, sure, I could do with a break from travelling and Other could do with sleeping off whatever it is the two of you are suffering with.”
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Getting up from the fire, Hermione went into the tent and pilfered the cupboards for enough breakfast items, only for Ron to come in behind her and hold out a shopping bag.
“Peace offering.” He said, Hermione could see the wariness in his eyes, as she took the bag from him and looked inside suspicious of what he had bought.
“How did you afford all of this?” she asked, pulling out a pack of bacon and a bag of sausages and put the frying pan on the gas stove.
“Bill gave it all to me, said that the freshness charm that’s on the food will wear off once I found you.” Ron took the bag from her and placed the rest of its contents into the chiller.
“That was nice of him,” she replied, her voice clipped. She wasn’t going to let him off easily.
“Yeah… Look,” Ron took Hermione’s shoulders and turned her around so that she was facing him. “I know I can never make up for what I did, or what I said and I am fully expecting you to hold this against me for the rest of my life, but believe me when I say that I am sorry, so sorry, for hurting you, for leaving you, and Harry,” he added as an afterthought.
“But I am here to stay no matter what you may think…” he paused and Hermione could see the thought process as he chose his next words. “No matter what you decide, I will still be here.”
Hermione opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before shaking herself free of her stupor and returned to making breakfast for everyone.
The group sat in silence as they ate, with breakfast done, Harry and Ron gathered the plates and went to wash them, only for Other and Brother to shoot up and out of the barriers, both of them had gone very pale.
“Other, Brother wait!” Hermione and Genesis ran after their respective deity, leaving Harry and Ron.
“Other!” Hermione followed her friend to the stream, where Brother and Genesis soon caught up to them, the siblings vomiting.
“Urgh…” Other fell into Hermione’s waiting arms, looking over at Genesis, Hermione noticed Brother in his arms.
“Back to camp?”
Hermione offered her hand to him as an answer. She apparated close to the camp, then they carried the siblings through the enchantments and into the tent.
“What the bloody hell…?!” Ron started, Harry looking just as confused.
“I have no idea.” Hermione’s reply came as she and Genesis carried the siblings into the tent, lay them down and tended to the fevers that now raged.
What is this? She thought as the two now slept.
####################
Two weeks had gone by since the destruction of the locket, Other and Brother had been well enough to travel once – again inside the forest – but Hermione had decided that the two should rest rather than travel.
Looking around her, she saw the boys playing chess and Genesis rolling his shoulder having just trapped a muscle from fencing with himself.
Why do I feel like I’m being watched?
###################
Uncle shivered as he wandered closer to the enchanted barriers. A hand fell onto his shoulder, but he didn’t startle.
“Well met, Sister Dear.”
“Well met, Brother of Mine.” It was Mother Gaia.
Her slender figure pulled him away from the barriers for a moment as he took in a surprising fact.
“You have changed your clothing, Sister Dear.”
She nodded. “So as to keep my Husband’s eyes away from my movements. He pays little heed to me these days.”
“Ah, so you read the book.” Getting only a nod in reply, he watched Mother Gaia as her eyes saddened.
“What is this?”
“The Horcruxes that the children are hunting, the darkness is so vast and thick that with each one destroyed, the two shall become stricken with a sickness like this one.” He explained.
“Is there nothing that can be done, at least to ease their suffering?”
“If there is, it eludes me, Sister Dear.”
They looked at one another before Mother had an idea. Uncle watched as she stretched her arms out in front of her. “Forgive me, Hermione, but I am in need of your power momentarily.”
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Genesis felt a shift in the air, Harry and Ron felt it too as they came to stand behind Hermione.
“Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine, heal what has been hurt, change the fate’s design, save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine!”
“*What once was mine!*” the three boys all heard a second voice mixed in with Hermione’s. As Hermione sank to her knees and into Ron’s arms, Genesis saw a figure outside the tent and knew.
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“Sister!” Uncle dove for his sister, concerned. “What have you done?!”
“Now I will become sick instead of them. That way, Genesis and Hermione do not have to worry over them.”
Uncle gave a low growl. “How like you, to sacrifice yourself like that.”
Mother chuckled. “I suppose I take after my Brother in that regards.”
Smiling, Uncle held his sister as they heard the children waking from their slumber.
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“Mother!” Both Other and Brother awoken suddenly, calling out for their mother, causing all of the tent’s inhabitants to jump.
“Great Gaia, don’t do that!” Genesis snapped, lowering his glowing hand.
The siblings groaned. “What happened to us?”
Genesis watched as Hermione shook her head and got up out of Ron’s arms. “Urgh what the hell was that?!”
“I think you have just been possessed by a Goddess, Hermione.” Genesis piped up, receiving looks from everyone.
“I saw a woman collapse outside the tent, I think she was with someone as they are now no longer there, but I am pretty sure you were just possessed by their Mother, who has just used you to heal her children.”
“Mother…” Other looked down at her hands.
“She’s taken away the illness from us… meaning that now she will fall ill…” Brother looked over at the now empty jar that once held the Horcrux.
He watched Hermione shake her head again, turned to face the entrance to the tent and sighed. “Well, whatever I saw, the two of you are healed…”
“Meaning the holiday is over.” Ron stated, picking up the book Hermione had dropped.
He watched Hermione nod. “To the Lovegoods then.” He stated.
######################
The group apparated about a mile away from the Lovegood residence, Hermione sighed softly and turned to Other. “How are you and your brother feeling?”
They had begun to walk toward a hill, on top of which sat a little house, it looked like a chess piece.
“We seem to be doing better, though we are curious as to why our Mother would help us, when she has abandoned us.”
Hermione hummed in thought, “I would never have taken her for that kind of a person. Not when she came to tell me and Genesis off anyway. She seemed genuinely miffed in my honest opinion.”
The two continued on in silence for few more minutes before they reached a very strange looking garden.
“Brother and I are going to disappear, just whilst we’re here.” Other announced, not giving anyone chance to protest before they vanished.
“Okay… like that wasn’t ominous.” Stated Ron, earning a chuckle from the remainder of the group.
Hermione stood between Ron and Genesis as Harry knocked the door, she let out a barely audible gasp of surprise at the haggard appearance of Mr. Lovegood.
“M-Mr. Potter… y-you…”
*Something is not right… neither myself nor Brother remember him stuttering or stumbling over his words.* Other spoke, breaking Hermione out of her stupor.
Steeling herself, Hermione cleared her throat to speak only for the words to get stuck on their way out, fortunately, Genesis spoke up in her stead.
“Hello again, Mr. Lovegood.” Genesis made his way to the front of the group, extending his hand as he did. “It is really good to see you again,” seeing the look of confusion on the older wizard’s face, Genesis seemed to tense up. “It’s me; Genesis Rhapsodos, we met at the wedding in the summer.”
Realisation crossed Xenophilius’ face and he cracked a twitchy smile. “Wh-why yes! I remember now! Forgive me, Commander, I haven’t been feeling well lately.”
Hermione watched Genesis nod as they were all invited inside. Hermione passed Genesis, who followed behind Harry, Ron having gone in first. Genesis leant down to Hermione and whispered “Other was right, he’s nervous about something,” before he sat down, keeping himself between Harry and Xenophilius.
“Well, what is it I can do for you all? If you’re here for Luna, she’ll be back shortly; she’s down at the creek, you see.”
In this cold? Hermione thought, “that’s fine, Mr. Lovegood, we actually need your help.” Harry spoke.
“Helping Harry Potter is something of a dangerous task these days.” Xenophilius answered, looking directly at Harry.
“And yet, the magazines your machine is still churning out, is telling people to keep up the support for Harry.” Genesis purred, Hermione could see suspicion growing in those eyes.
“It’s easier to tell others to support someone that to actually do it yourself, right Mr. Lovegood?” Ron stated.
Xenophilius said nothing and looked out of the window. “Where’s Luna, Mr. Lovegood?” Hermione asked.
“As I said, she’s down at the creek, she’ll be on her way back soon. Now,” he turned back to Harry. “What is it that I could help you with?”
“That symbol you were wearing at the wedding, we’ve seen it since then, in various forms, we would like to know what it is.” Harry answered.
Xenophilius fidgeted, nervous eyes flickered to the window. “You mean the Deathly Hallows?”
“The what?” four voices chorused, Hermione took note that Other and Brother exchanged looks with each other, they seemed to have heard of this.
“The Deathly Hallows are three items that make one a master of death, it was written in the book The Tales of Beedle the Bard as the Tale of the Three Brothers. I have a copy here somewhere, I’ll find it and read it to you.”
As Xenophilius got up, Hermione remembered what Dumbledore had bequeathed her. “Mr. Lovegood, I have a copy here.” She pulled it out of her little bag and held it up.
“Well then, Miss Granger, please read it for us.”
Hermione frowned but flipped through the pages none the less.
#########################################################################
Genesis sat patiently. He knew something was wrong. It must be something to do with Luna, because even she is not silly enough to go down to a creek in this chill.
His thoughts were silenced, however, when Hermione started to recite the story.
“There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight.” Genesis was suddenly struck with the fantasy of having his beloved LOVELESS recited by his Golden Flower, secretly wondering if he could get her to record her voice for him.
“In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure
And Death spoke to them –”
Genesis frowned, “Sorry, but Death spoke to them?”
“It’s a fairy tale, Genesis.” Hermione answered, a slight sharpness to her voice, indicating that she hated to be interrupted.
Genesis smirked and waved his hand, “my apologies, please carry on.”
He saw her smirk back at him before returning to the story, “and Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travellers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each of them had earned a prize for being clever enough to evade him.
“So, the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful that any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death. So, Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother.”
“So, he wanted a wand that meant he could cheat?” Genesis asked, receiving no reply, he continued to listen.
“Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So, Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.”
Genesis got up and stretched, rolling his shoulder as he did so, blasted pain has been getting worse as the days have gone by!
“Then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So, he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own cloak of invisibility.”
“Wait, Death’s got a cloak of invisibility?” Genesis heard Harry asked, this caused a bit of banter to pass between him and Ron.
“Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way and they did so, talking with wonder of the adventure they had had, and admiring Death’s gifts.
“In due course the three brothers separated, each for his own destination. The first brother travelled to a village, sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted loudly of the powerful wand, he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible.
“That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother’s throat.
And so, Death took the first brother for his own.”
Genesis looked over at Xenophilius who was still staring out of the window, his eyes vacant, it was then that Genesis realised Xenophilius had a familiar look, but Genesis was too interested in the rest of the story to think of why.
“Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here he took out the stone that had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death, appeared at once before him.
“Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as though by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Finally, the second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself so as truly to join her.
And so, Death took to second brother for his own.”
There was a small pause as Hermine took a sip of the vile liquid that Xenophilius called tea, Genesis watched her grimace before she continued.
“As for the third brother, though Death searched for him for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and departed this world as equals.”
Genesis wanted to applaud Hermione for the way she had read those words, but he had a sudden shudder run down his spine.
Xenophilius got to his feet and picked up his wand and, with a shaking hand, drew shapes in the air. “The Elder Wand,” he drew a straight line down, “the Resurrection Stone,” the base of the circle he drew sat the straight line, “The Cloak of Invisibility.” He encompassed the previous two in a triangle. “The three of them combined make one a Master of Death… they are what he is searching for.”
There! That was what Genesis had seen in people that had been threatened with a loved one, but then that meant… “You-Know-Who is looking for them?” Hermione had asked, though Genesis knew that they had walked into something they would be lucky to get out of, now he understood why Other and Brother had hidden away.
“Yes, he wants them, and he has my Luna, Voldemort has my Luna!”
“Genesis get them out of there, now!” Brother shouted, he and his sister became visible, causing Xenophilius to startle.
###########################################
Hermione spun round, having heard Brother shouting. “Harry!” she called as her friend doubled over in pain.
“They’re coming!” he stated through gritted teeth.
Ron, Genesis, Other and Brother all gathered around Hermione and she felt them all touch her as she apparated, making sure that the Death Eaters all saw Harry before she did.
They all landed hard, Hermione landing on her back, winded.
“The traitorous little toe-rag!” Ron raged as she saw Genesis haul him to his feet.
“They had Luna, Ron,” Harry answered, Brother pulling him to his feet as Other came into her view.
“You alright?” Other pulled her to her feet.
“Yeah, I’m fine…” She stopped; Genesis was still.
“Genesis?” she took one step towards him before she heard rustling.
Snatchers.
“Hello, pretty.” Hermione felt herself pale as Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf, approached her, stalking her as though she were prey… well to him she probably was.
There were no words, the group just all took off in the same direction, including Genesis who stuck close to Ron.
Hermione and Other ran together, casting a quick glance, Hermione saw Brother and Harry running together as well, they both need to disappear! She thought, her lungs fit to burst as she leapt over fallen trees and hidden roots, the wind seemingly guiding her through her trail.
“Gah! No, keep going, Ron!” she was vaguely aware of Genesis shouting, looking back, she saw Ron narrowly miss the binding spell that had floored Genesis.
“Grrah!” she couldn’t hear him after the snarl.
She saw Other turn on her heel, her divine bow pulled taut as she released arrows. Slowing, Hermione felt the wind get stronger, *keep going! Do not look back!* Other’s voice rang through her head, so she ran.
Ron fell in front of her as she leapt over him, he too calling for her to continue running; that just left her and Harry.
Seeing Snatchers to her left and to Harry’s right, she headed up the high ground and found Harry running directly below her. Reaching the other side of the high-rise, she stopped, turned to Harry and shot a disfiguring spell at him, making his face unrecognisable.
With a wave of her hands her wand shrank and flew into the beaded bag and just in time too, as she was forced to her knees from a binding spell.
Ron, Genesis and Harry were all grouped with her, Genesis seemed to be bleeding.
“Get off of her! Oomph!” Ron and Genesis were both punched in the gut, as Hermione was dragged to her feet and roughly shoved into a tree.
“Your boyfriends need to learn to be’ave themselves, or they’re gonna get ‘urt.” The lead Snatcher approached her and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. “What’s your name, pretty?”
She stayed silent, he tugged roughly on the base of her neck, causing her to gasp. “Ow!” the Snatcher pulled back, shaking his hand, before seeing his sleeve was on fire. “’ow’d you do that?!”
“Penelope Clearwater.” She said quickly, “half-blood.” Why did you do that, stupid idiot! She chastised herself, but it was only a natural instinct for her to do that when threatened.
It was then she realised there were two missing.
The Snatched patted his sleeve down, sneering as he did. “Check it. What about the other two?”
“Dead.” One of the dumber looking ones answered, Hermione froze from struggling, as, she noticed, did Genesis.
“No…” she breathed, anger bubbling up inside her again, eyes flaring. “NO!” she screamed.
“You bastards!” Genesis shouted, managing to break loose of his binding spell.
“Crucio.” The lead Snatcher fired the Cruciatus curse at Genesis, sending him crashing to the ground, a small scream escaping his mouth as he fell.
“Told you, ‘e’d get ‘urt if ‘e didn’t be’ave.” The Snatcher turned to Harry. “What ‘appened to you, Ugly?”
When Harry didn’t answer the Snatcher held his chin and asked again.
“Dudley, Vernon Dudley.” Hermione realised that the spell she had shot at him was going to start wearing off soon, but it didn’t matter, Other and Brother…
“Boys, I think we’ve ‘it the jackpot, this one’s gotta go to the bosses.” The lead Snatcher breathed looking at the place where Harry’s scar was supposed to be.
The group was then apparated to black gates beyond which stood black stoned manor, the letter M stood on the top of the gates; this couldn’t be Malfoy Manor? She thought to herself as she was dragged through the gates and through a neatly trimmed but grimly coloured garden.
Upon being dragged into the house, Hermione took note of how cold it was in here, a surge of pity washed over her as she thought that this was how Draco Malfoy had lived. No wonder he is the way he is. She thought.
They entered what she thought was the great hall, it was dark just like the rest of the house, no light seemed to reach this place.
“Why have you brought these Undesireables here?” Lucius Malfoy sneered, Hermione quickly cast a wicca glamor spell over her, Ron and Harry, knowing that they would be dead in an instant if she didn’t.
“We thought you’d might like to see the one with the ugly face, Mr. Malfoy, sir.” The lead Snatcher said quietly.
A woman with wild hair approached the group; Bellatrix Lestrange. She was a nasty woman, years in Azkaban having made her crazy, sadistic in nature, she loved to torture.
“Well, what have we here?” Bellatrix gaped at Harry, “Draco! Come here!”
A very pale Draco Malfoy shuffled forward, he looked like he was going to be sick, his usually pale skin looking paler, as though the slightest sneeze would cause him to keel over.
“Look closely, Draco, is it him?!” She breathed into his ear. Hermione took a quick glance at Genesis, he was still, frowning, like he was listening to something.
Hermione attempted to get into Malfoy’s head to control his speech and thinking, she hated doing this, but it was a matter of life and death. Get out of my head, Granger. I won’t say anything, I want this nightmare to end and you, Weasley and Potter are the only way I know how. “I don’t know.” Hermione struggled to keep surprise out of her eyes; Draco Malfoy had felt her presence and had spoken to her. “I don’t think it’s him, the Snatchers must be trying to cash in on the reward, it’s an almost perfect double too.” Hermione couldn’t believe what she was hearing, neither did his family.
“You rotten little snot!” the lead Snatcher shrieked, “we didn’t fake this! ‘ow could we?!”
Narcissa Malfoy turned to the Snatchers, her wand in her hand. “How dare you speak to my son that way! Get out, now!!” she sent them all packing.
“OUT NOW!!” She turned back to her husband.
“Call him anyway, Lucius, we’ll have him tell us.”
Wow and I thought Molly had a temper. Hermione found herself thinking. She was so surprised that she didn’t even notice Bellatrix looking at her until she was in her face glaring at her.
“Where did you get that sword?!”
Hermione went cold, she was in for it.
“TELL ME!!” She flinched as Bellatrix pulled out her wand and ropes wrapped themselves around the boys’ wrists.
“Put the boys in the cellar, Wormtail,” Peter Pettigrew – Wormtail – came shuffling over to Bellatrix and took control of the rope as Bellatrix continued to talk, holding Hermione in place by her hair. “I want to talk to this one. Girl. To. Girl!”
It was then the boys all started to protest, Ron and Genesis pulling hard and in vain, calling out her name.
Their cries were quietened and Hermione could feel her heart rate quickening.
She was released, stumbling backwards, her survival instincts kicked in and she backed away from the crazed witch in front of her, knowing that if she ran, she would doom all of her friends.
Guess I’ll have to endure it. She cowered back in fear as Bellatrix flicked her wand and threw Hermione across the room, where she landed at the feet of Draco Malfoy. She did not dare to beg him for help, lest she incur further ridicule.
Feeling something pull her from her ankles back the way she had been thrown, she was suddenly lay on her back, Bellatrix Lestrange leaning over her.
“Did you take anything else from my vault?!” she spat, fear gripping Hermione as she started to cry.
“No!” she wept.
“LIAR!” screamed the deranged witch.
Suddenly, an eerily familiar sensation of being set on fire and stabbed at the same time washed over her body, her body convulsed as the curse – much stronger than the last one – ended.
“How did you get into my vault?!”
“We didn’t get into it-!”
Bellatrix screamed as did Hermione, one in anger, one in pain. “You must have done! How else did you get the sword?”
Hermione gasped for breath a heavy feeling on her chest, she felt broken. “W-we found it! In a wooded glade! That’s the truth! AAHHH!” Obviously, Bellatrix wasn’t going to believe the truth, she leant over Hermione’s left arm and began to carve something into her arm, her victim’s screaming going unheard.
Hermione began to pray that this pain ended soon…
###########################################
Genesis’ shoulder was throbbing with two kinds of pain, one was the normal pain from his injury, the other was because he and Ron had been shoulder barging the door to break it open, his Golden Flower’s screams ringing through his ears.
“I don’t think it’s going to work, you two.” The dreamy voice of Luna Lovegood sounded behind him.
They had found her along with a Goblin named Griphook and Mr. Ollivander of the wand shop in the cellar where he, Harry and Ron had been thrown, whilst Hermione had been kept upstairs.
“Really?” Ron snapped sarcastically, “I hadn’t noticed!” Genesis cocked an eyebrow at him, as he watched Ron take a deep, steadying breath, before striding over and gently hugging Luna. “I am so sorry, Luna, I didn’t mean to snap at you!”
Luna smiled and patted his back, “it’s okay, I’m worried about her too.”
Genesis leant against the bars, his shoulder was really hurting, it was beginning to feel like something was growing under the skin, though there was no lump or inflammation to indicate anything.
“We need to get out of here. Physical force isn’t going to work and Hermione has everybody’s wands in her bag…” Then he had a lightbulb moment. “Oh! Oh, I am an idiot!”
Genesis patted himself down, relieved to find that not everything he had brought with him had been left in the tent. Pulling out his materia pouch, Genesis searched for a Blizzaga materia, it was the strongest ice magic that he possessed besides his synthesised Shiva Summon.
“Um, what’s that?” He heard Harry ask, hearing hums of equal confusion coming from behind him.
Genesis just smirked, seeing that it still worked in this world, though if I recall correctly, the twins did say that the materia would only work for a short period of time. The thought of Other and Brother made him twinge in pain.
Not thinking or giving an answer, Genesis approached the door, placing his hand over the lock and pushed his power through the materia, sending the ice through the keyhole and breaking the lock.
“Ha! Your world really doesn’t know how to contain me!”
He was about to push open the door when he heard a loud crack directly behind him. “What the hell-?”
Stood in front of him was a small creature dressed in a pillowcase, socks and shoes, his tennis ball green eyes wide-eyed as he searched the room for someone. “Harry Potter!” it squeaked.
“Dobby?! What are you doing here?” Harry asked, stooping down to grasp the little creature’s hands.
“Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter and his friends.” Genesis was now confused.
“What are you?” he asked without even thinking about it.
Harry and Dobby looked up at him, “Dobby is a House-elf, sir.”
“Ah, so this is what they look like,” Genesis got down on his knees and extended a hand. “I am Genesis Rhapsodos. It’s a please to meet you.”
Dobby took his hand before turning Ron, who asked, “do you know how to get to Shell Cottage?”
Dobby nodded, “of course, sir, I’m an elf.”
“Take Luna, Griphook and Ollivander there, then come back and get us, we’ve got to get Hermione.” Harry ordered and the elf took Luna, Griphook and Ollivander’s hands and with a crack disappeared.
Genesis’ ears picked up a sound. “Someone’s coming.” Backing off into the dark corner in the cellar, Genesis stilled his breath and squinted his eyes to hide to glow.
Down the steps came Peter Pettigrew, his silver hand glinting in the minimum light. Steeling himself, Genesis was about to jump the little creep when Harry and Ron jumped him first.
Pettigrew struggled, and – to Genesis, at least – the hand acted on its own to wrap itself around Harry’s throat as he gasped, “you owe me!” Harry gasped.
There was a moment were Pettigrew seemed to hesitate, Genesis watched his hand pull back only for Pettigrew to scream in terror and the hand then turned on him.
“Sweet Goddess!” Genesis swore, racing to help Harry pull the arm back, only to be pulling in vain as the silver hand wrapped around Pettigrew’s throat, choking the life out of him.
“Damn it!” Genesis pulled back.
The three of them all looked up to the now open door where they could still hear Hermione screaming. Genesis felt anger burn deep within him as he watched the other two bolt up the stairs, something in his gut telling him to hold back and hide, knowing he could be useful if he hid in the shadows.
He had to applaud the two boys for their skills with the wands they had just apprehended, they were quick and disarmed all of the others, before the witch with the wild hair hauled his Golden Flower to her feet, a knife to her throat.
It was then, that Genesis stepped out, quietly, calculating every step, even though others could see him, he stalked his way to the back of the woman, who had her arm out, a black tattoo of a skull vomiting a snake wriggling around her arm, turning a darker shade of black to signify a call.
Genesis called his rapier to his hand and raised it to rest at the witch’s throat.
“Release her, or I’ll cut you throat!” he snarled, then frowned as he and the witch looked up to the ceiling at the sound of squeaking.
There he saw little Dobby sat on top of the chandelier, unscrewing it. Lowering his blade, Genesis looped his arm around Hermione’s waist and launched them both over to the boys and away from the now falling chandelier.
The centre hoop was wide enough to miss the witch, comically leaving her in the middle of it.
“You crazy elf!” she screamed, deafening Genesis in the process as Hermione ran to Ron and Harry; he, himself, turned to face the witch as Dobby answered.
“Dobby did not wish to kill, only to wound or seriously maim.” Genesis smirked, though the smirk disappeared when he saw an arm raise to his right. He watched as Dobby – seeing this – disarmed another witch that he remembered was the boy’s mother.
“You infidel! How dare you take a witch’s wand!” screamed the wild witch, “how dare you defy your MASTERS!” she screeched.
Genesis watched the little elf puff himself up with pride and replied, “Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter and his friends!” Genesis spun round to grab hold of Ron and Hermione as Dobby disappeared with them all in tow.
Genesis, Ron and Hermione fell into a wet sandy beach, a waved of ice-cold ocean water washing over Genesis as he shielded the other two from the most of it.
“Hermione…” Harry’s voice met his ears as he and Ron pulled Hermione to her feet. “Y-you’re okay now… you’re safe.”
“Harry Potter…” Hearing a small voice, Genesis turned and saw the brave little house elf, Dobby, clutching his stomach, a shining silver dagger stuck deep, blood spreading over his clothes.
“Dobby?!” Harry raced over to his friend, Genesis too rushed over to try and help, knowing that Hermione would be safe with Ron. “Genesis…” Harry struggled for words and Hermione now joined him to help heal the little hero.
Genesis knew, though, that it would be in vain as the little elf huddled closer into Harry’s chest.
“Such a beautiful place…” Dobby spoke, his voice quieting, “to be with friends.” And the brave house elf Dobby went still and silent.
Genesis stood and looked to the sky, rain starting to pour as Harry sobbed over his friend. A storm is coming. Genesis thought.
Feeling something wrap around his waist, Genesis looked down to see Hermione burying her face into his chest, her hand still in Ron’s.
Wrapping his arms around Hermione’s shoulders, he looked over at Ron and nodded, silent understanding between the two.
“We should bury him.” He stated.
“I want to do it properly,” sobbed Harry, standing with the little elf in his arms. “No magic. Up there in the dunes, he can see the ocean and be free then.”
Genesis nodded and Ron led the way to a quaint little cottage just off the dunes, there he was greeted with the sight of Fleur and Bill.
“Oh Merlin’s beard!” Bill exclaimed, racing out to meet them, taking Ron into a hug as Fleur took Hermione out of Genesis’ grip and looked at her exposed arm, gasping as she did.
When Genesis looked over, he grimaced as he saw that the word “Mudblood” had been carved into her skin.
“Bloody hell…” Bill breathed, pushing everyone inside. “Come on, Hermione, let’s get that looked at.”
Fleur, Genesis, Harry and Ron cleaned up the fallen elf’s body, cleaning the blood and closing the wound, dressing him in a fine shirt, trousers and shoes, then they covered him over with a nearby tablecloth.
“Zere, ‘e looks most ‘andsome now, I am so sorry for your loss ‘arry!” she breathed, speaking quietly.
Genesis took a breath and turned to Hermione, who was now sat under a blanket, her knees under her chin, her face pale, her eyes hollow.
“Well that explains the pain you were in, Sister.”
Everyone jumped and looked over to the door, there stood Brother, looking a little shaken, but otherwise unharmed, unlike Other, who looked just like Hermione.
“How… we were told you were dead!” Genesis felt anger stir. “Why didn’t you tell us?!” he strode over to Brother, grabbing him by the front of his clothes and pinned him up against the wall.
“We grieved over you two!!”
“We’re sorry, Genesis.” A small voice broke through Genesis’ rage, looking down he saw Other clutching her arm, “mudblood” cut into her arm too. “But we had to disappear, plus we were in pain and were unable to move far.”
Genesis heaved a sigh, resigned and let go of Brother, before pulling him into a tight hug.
He then started as he heard the sound of flesh being slapped, looking over at Other he saw that Hemione had moved up to Other and slapped her, tears streaming down her face. “You-”
“Complete and utter arse?” Other smiled gently as Hermione wrapped her arms around Other and sobbed openly.
“I know. I’m sorry. We wanted to help, but we couldn’t.”
Bill approached Genesis, “are you hurt, Genesis?” he asked.
“Just a persistent pain in my shoulder, but it’s nothing new to be honest.” He took a look at Harry as he and Ron picked up a couple of shovels. “Can I help, Harry?”
Harry looked over at him, “can you find a headstone for him?” Nodding, Genesis got up and followed everyone back up the dunes, a storm was brewing over the ocean, but it was going to miss here.
Genesis wandered left over to a rocky portion of the beach, his eyes sweeping over the rocks, searching for the best one.
Suddenly a white-hot pain shot through Genesis’ shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain. Tripping over a loose rock, Genesis fell hard onto his left side, his shoulder blade burning, the feeling of something tearing through his skin made him curl up into a ball, clutching his left side, crying out in pain as tears fell from his eyes.
########################################
Hermione and Other leapt to their feet to catch the now screaming Brother. “What is it? What’s wrong?!” Hermione asked.
“Ahhh – it’s G-Gene-sis!” Brother croaked as her writhed in pain.
Without thinking, Hermione raced out of the cottage, Fleur and Bill on her tail, she didn’t need to know where he was as she saw Harry and Ron racing back down the dunes and to her left.
Finally reaching Genesis, she saw him also writhing in pain, curled in a ball. “Genesis?” she called, kneeling down beside him, the sharp pain of the rocks digging into her knees going unnoticed.
She could feel him twitching, pulling him to get his attention, she asked, “where does it hurt?”
“Shoulder!” was all he could say before a severe spasm caused him to cry out in pain.
Keeping one hand on his right shoulder, she ran her free hand down first his right shoulder blade and then – finding nothing – down his left side, where she found a lump and it was moving, as though something was crawling just beneath his skin. “My god.” She breathed, calming her nerves, she placed him under a sleeping spell that she used to use on Ron when he had been splinched.
“There, that should have put them both out.”
“Move over, Hermione, I’ll lift him and we’ll get him back to the cottage.” Bill stated, raising his wand.
“Ron and I’ll get back to digging Dobby’s grave,” stated Harry, “let us know if there’s any change.” With a pat on Hermione’s shoulder, Harry and Ron walked back up the dunes, Ron, giving a last look as Hermione turned away to follow Bill back to the cottage.
“What happened?!” Other was beside Hermione in seconds.
“No idea.” She said perhaps a little too sharply.
Once Bill had placed Genesis and Brother in another bed, Hermione waited for their hosts to leave before waving her hand in front of her, “sleep.” She commanded and watched as Ollivander fell to sleep.
Turning back to the bed, Hermione shook Genesis gently. “Genesis, can you hear me?” Getting no response, she nodded. “That’s good, now let’s have a look.”
Taking care not to wake either of the sleeping wounded, Hermione and Other removed their coats and shirts, exposing their flesh, both had scars that neither had known about, but what Hermione was looking for was not difficult to find.
“What the hell is this?!” Other breathed causing Hermione to jump.
“It looks as though their degradation is causing a mutation of some sort.” Hermione stated, humming in thought.
Looking over at Other she had a thought. “Can you take me over to the other world? Just us two.”
Seeing Other looking at her as though she had gone mad, Hermione elaborated, “I have mind reading capabilities, with those abilities comes other benefits such as copying knowledge that others have that I may be able to use, fighting styles and the works, sort of like a mind-meld.”
“That’s not why I’m looking at you like I am,” Other hissed, “I know who you want to see! You know full damn well what will happen if you do this!”
Now it was Hermione’s turn to look surprised, “I’ve never heard you swear before,” smiling at the deity, Hermione just shrugged, “they’ll never know it was me, I just want to get some information on this,” she waved at the two unconscious men. “It’ll just be for a moment, I promise.”
“I can’t just make an opening for such a short space of time….” Hermione watched Other look out of the window, Harry and Ron were still digging. “Tell me who it is and I can take you spiritually. But it’ll be just one person.”
Nodding, Hermione thought for a moment, who would be the best to know about Genesis…? Placing two fingers gently on Genesis’ temple and closed her eyes, images flashed through her mind until she got to where she needed to be, finding what she was looking for, she opened her eyes and spoke. “Hollander.”
She waited for Other to nod, taking her now outstretched hands, Hermione closed her eyes and felt time around her stop.
As she felt herself lift, Hermione opened her eyes to see nothing but green mist around her. “Where are we?” she asked, her voice sounding as though it was coming from different directions all at once.
“The Lifestream, the life blood of Gaia. Follow this and we find our man.” Other gave no other explanation to this as she pulled Hermione into the stream where she gave a squeak, feeling the mist seemingly enter every fibre of her being.
“Hold on tight, I do not want you to get lost.” Other instructed.
Hermione gripped the only solid thing she could, but it was difficult, so many voices, so many people, so much knowledge…
“Hello there. Don’t worry, you’ll be out of here soon, just remember what you’re here for.” A soft voice reached out to her, making her realise that her hand was slipping.
Reasserting her grip, Hermione saw a light. “Is that our destination?” she asked.
“Yes. I cannot follow you inside, just find what you need and then get out, I shall be waiting to pull you back.”
Hermione felt herself land, only the world appeared in sepia. Okay, I know what the person I need to find looks like, so let’s… hold on.
It was then that Hermione could see that she was wandering through someone’s memory. A young Hollander was walking with a woman, she looked a little like Angeal… his mother?
Hermione noticed several others all in the centre of the square, she followed them as they talked.
“Welcome Hollander, Gillian! Now then let’s get to business.” A man she didn’t recognise greeted them.
“Alright, now that we are all here, let’s get down to business, Banora is where the specimen is currently being held, this is where we shall conduct the experiments to see if we can create an enhanced army for ShinRa ready for a war should it arise.”
Hermione listened to him waffle on about the ins and outs of ethical workings and how to not endanger human lives, before everyone went their separate ways.
She watched the sky in mild fascination as the days turned to nights and so on, until the man she now understood to be Hollander came out of a house with the same woman.
“Gillian, you and I are going to be the front runners of Project G, the newly formed JENOVA Project has the green light, we shall begin at once!”
“Gillian?” she spoke out loud, watching the days turn again, only this time she saw the woman standing to one side as Hollander spoke to a couple she had not seen before. He had returned to her with a smile on his face, as though a gambler had just won the jackpot.
“Now, we must ensure that things go well, that scientist and his wife have agreed to artificial insemination and will bear this child, whilst we, ourselves, create another, better to have a fall back just in case.”
Did she just hear what she had? If that woman was Angeal’s mother and they were talking about that, then… “She was Genesis’ mother too? Or at least at conception… oh God!”
She watched, this time the woman as she was injected with something, she had not noticed this before, but given the precision this was done with, Hermione assumed this was what had happened with the first conception.
Here the two women gave birth round about a year out from one another, with Genesis coming first and Angeal second.
Having ran tests on the two infants, Hermione saw Hollander get angry. “What?! No changes at all? They are completely human?! ARGH!”
The time period changed, her surroundings changed, she was now in the ShinRa labs, watching her beloved Genesis walk out of the room, Angeal behind him, both flexing their arms as they did, “a blood transfusion?” she asked the air, looking back as Hollander spoke.
““Degradation… so their cells are not as stable as Sephiroth’s, nor that of the Kancheewa girl… no matter, I shall fix this flaw and Hojo and Sakura will be kissing my shoes by the time this is over!”
Hermione felt like she was going to be sick. “Other get me out of here!!” she screamed. Shrieking as she opened her eyes to find herself back at Shell Cottage.
“They really are degrading, and it’s not just them, Angeal will be too!” Hermione whispered, “and those inconsiderate pigs in those labs don’t care!”
“You sound surprised at that.” Gasping, Hermione turned to see Genesis and Brother awake and sat up, both of them rubbing their shoulders.
“How long have you two been awake?” Asked Other.
“Long enough.” The boys replied.
Hermione sat down next to Genesis. Threading her hand through his. “I don’t care. I’ll help you in any way I can.”
She watched Genesis give a soft chuckle, “if only there were something you could do.” He placed a delicate kiss on her forehead. “But now I know what I must do.”
She blinking up at him, not understanding. “I’ll see you soon, my Golden Flower.”
And with that, Genesis and Brother disappeared, leaving Hermione with a solitary tear sliding down her face.