The Centaur's Shrine

Chapter 32 - Electra

Camelot,

When Trevor and Dragonis returned to the Circle room, after having activated all of the castle's defenses, Electra was not there anymore. Professor Boocrat was busy working on some complex incantation. Trevor didn't dared disturb the man. He could sense that this was delicate work. Finally he was told that Electra was probably in the former citadel's baths. Dragonis gave him a few directions and he went in search of her.

The castle was still in ruins, but here and there, some parts showed the smooth patina of fresh construction. Trevor didn't know it, but Camelot was slowly restoring itself, as it magically adapted to the return of its former owners. He found her after a few minutes. In the end, by following the sound of running water. She was inside a large tiled room, the air thick with moisture from the bubbling springs. It was hot here. The water was evidently warmed by some underground volcanic activity, or a permanent heating charm. She had her back turned to him, and she was covered in a large white sheet.

"Who is it?" she asked sharply.

"It's me, Trevor." He sensed the nervousness in her voice. "Are you all right?"

She didn't answer immediately. Evidently there was a problem, but he couldn't see what it was. Electra pondered what to do.

He'll know sooner or later. It might as well be now.

She waited a few seconds and then whirled around, throwing the makeshift towel away. She stood naked before him, a form of unearthly beauty. He gasped, but not because of her nakedness, or the lovely shape of her body.

Great Demons!

Electra's skin did not display the soft cream tones he remembered; or rather it didn't display only those. Streaks of silver marked her face, right hand and several parts of her body. She looked ready to kill someone, showing an expression of extraordinary anger and hatred. He didn't dare say anything. It wasn't particularly ugly or repulsive. It was just ... strange. And then, when one considered the obvious cause, it became the mark of Cain.

She looked at his face and saw the unease written there, even though he tried to mask it.

"So, what do you say?" she asked defiantly.

He swallowed. The woman had first fascinated then seduced him. He was still very much in awe of her, but now he was also afraid, if not terrified. What she had done placed her beyond the realm of mere humans. He couldn't help but wonder if she had mortgaged her soul. It was not as bad as the stories of Liches drinking Unicorn blood in search of desperate immortality, but it was close.

Oh, Electra, why did you do this?

"You had to do it," he finally ventured.

She reflected that it was probably the most prudent thing he could say.

"Yes I did." Her voice was less strained.

He didn't dare add that it didn't matter, because of course it did. Once she had held sway over many men by the raw power of her beauty and seduction. That looked severely compromised.

"Can't you ... hide it beneath a charm or something?"

"I tried. It lasts about five minutes."

He shivered, and not even she could fully hide the terror in her voice. The silver marks weren't mere stains. They worked their own enchantments. It was as if they drained the magic of the masking charm. She would discuss this with the Scholar later. He might be able to arrange something. A moment of silence followed, and then she asked the really loaded question.

"Will you still find me desirable?"

"Yes," he replied immediately.

He knew that there was only one possible answer he could give. One did not abandon a woman like Electra, not without paying a very high price. He hoped that he would still be able to make love to her. In truth, it wasn't the look, it was what he was now imagining about her. She reached out to touch his mind, and felt his rigid control. She could pry. Force his defenses and determine what he was really thinking, but at this moment there were some things which she didn't want to explore.

"Show me," she whispered.

He stepped toward her, his hand extended to caress her hair, and ready to bend her head for a kiss. Automatic moves, which he could make without thinking. Part of this would be easy to fake if necessary, and part would depend on how his body would react. He would do his best, and if she didn't make it too hard, it would be enough.

She didn't push for more. At this point, what she really wanted was reassurance, not indubitable proof. The offer of a kiss was all that she got anyway, because the wards were suddenly screaming in her mind.

"Intruders!" she exclaimed.

She turned around and conjured up a long sleeved robe to dress herself. He followed after a moment. He was almost grateful for whoever was daring enough to come here, even if it was only delaying the inevitable.

- - -

Forbidden Forest,

The Centaurs led him to a place at the base of the hill upon which the school was built. Dumbledore estimated that they were at about the same level as the circle room. Everything seemed to fit well together. The undergrowth was thick in that area. A good indication that visitors, humans, Centaurs and otherwise, were scarce.

They plowed on and after several minutes of efforts, a vague circular opening could be seen against the rock face. A stone archway of sorts, almost completely hidden by centuries of unsupervised vegetation. They moved closer. He cleared the plants with a spell, but the cavity was blocked up by boulders and earth. It had been a tunnel once certainly, but it would take a lot of work to make it usable again.

A lot of work or a lot of magic.

Dumbledore thought that the best way would be to enlist the help of some Goblins. These creatures were supremely adept at such tasks, but of course, it was out of the question. He would make do with some of the school staff, the rest of the Centaur Herd, and maybe a few older students. Such cooperation could only contribute to better understanding and relations.

He explained this to Bane, and then he had another insight. Restoring the passage would take time, and it might be prudent to anticipate further actions from their enemies. The Ministry could not be trusted anymore, but some of his friends could. He excused himself, promising to be back shortly. He had a floo call to make.

- - -

Camelot,

The walked in a triangle formation. Harry and Draco at the point, Remus and Helen in the middle. The ruins covered a large area, but Hermione had drawn a rough map from the vision Dobby had brought back. Flitz's indications on the location of the Shrine room were enough to orient them. They moved in silence. There were absolutely no signs of life. Helen wanted to call out to her children, but they had agreed that it would be best if they stayed discrete.

"After all the noise we made, they must know we're there," said Ron.

"Yes, but they may rely too much on such defenses," said Severus. "And if the children and that Unicorn are hidden somewhere, we shouldn't give their presence away."

Maybe he was right. Maybe the defenses were automatic. With luck their enemies might not have arrived yet. In that case, their best bet was to find the Circle and secure the position until they could get enough Aurors to take over.

They entered the last courtyard before the Shrine building. Like the rest, it looked completely deserted. The dark opening was visible, dark and vaguely menacing. Wands at the ready, they advanced toward it when suddenly, a dazzling ball of green fire jetted toward them. Not even Harry's lighting reflexes could react in time, and it wouldn't have made a difference in any case.

"Prot-"

The world turned green, and then dark.

From inside the Shrine room, Electra relaxed her hold on the Circle. She was learning to control it, and it was living up to its promise. It made the most trivial spell insanely potent. These fools didn't have a chance, especially since they hadn't taken any safety measures. What was remarkable however, was for them to have passed through the Sentinel defenses.

"Trevor, bring them inside, and take the precautions we discussed." She thought for a moment. "Sylvia, contact Shrummer and have him come here with as many other members of the Council as possible. There are only four of us and I don't like it."

It would have been simpler to use some of the lesser associates of the Brotherhood, but the location of the Shrine could not be disclosed yet. It didn't really matter. None could stand against the power of the Circle, she was just being paranoid.

When it was just her and the Scholar, she explained what had happened to her. As she talked, he saw that the silver marks were becoming faintly visible once more. He canceled what was left of the charm and examined them. When she finished, he said nothing and probed his vast memory for a possible remedy.

"There are precedents," he said finally. "Not exactly of this situation, but similar." He indicated that she should follow him. "I can brew something which should be a little more permanent that a masking charm." He looked at her severely. "And then we will get back to our work."

She stayed silent, and he didn't say anything about heeding his warnings. He knew her better than that, and as a teacher he considered that she had been taught a lesson. He only hoped that it would not have more serious consequences.

- - -

Ministry of magic,

Shrummer had been very late in coming to work that morning. The previous day's work had exhausted him, and a full night of rest was barely sufficient for recuperation. He frowned when he saw the Aurors and Percival Weasley standing at the entrance of his office.

"Good morning Minister," said Percy with a very serious face.

"Weasley, what's going on?"

"Dreadfully sorry sir," replied the young man. "There's been a, er ..." He squirmed in apology. "Well, a sort of emergency, sir"

"What emergency?" snapped Shrummer, frowning in annoyance.

Percy handed him a sheet of paper marked with the seal of the Wizengamot. It was all he could do to keep himself from grinning. He didn't know what was happening, but he was sure it heralded some good news. Professor Dumbledore was certainly taking an awfully big risk. Shrummer read the short text quickly, his eyes growing wide with stupefaction.

"HOW DARED HE!" he roared.

"You're quite right sir," agreed Percy, nodding approvingly. "Not fair play at all. A disgustingly low blow actually. However I'm afraid that the regulations are quite precise in such a situation."

Shrummer looked up in alarm. Percy was now showing his famous stubborn face.

"You don't mean ..."

"I'm very sorry sir," said Shacklebolt, stepping in. "I'm sure that this will be cleared up in no time, but in the meanwhile I'm afraid you'll have to stay here with us."

- - -

Camelot,

The eight of them were immobilized in the Shrine room. Their hands and feet were tightly bound by magically conjured ropes, and they were all separated by sufficient intervals so that they couldn't possible help each other. Electra had been very clear about that. Their wands, and everything else in their possession, had been taken away. As they slowly came back to their sense, Draco recognized the wizard guarding them, his own wand pointed in their general direction. Sylvia Dragonis was a little further away, keeping an eye on the door and the Circle.

"Trevor," he said simply. His expression was set in a hard mask of controlled resentment.

"In person. I must say that I am quite surprised to see you here Draco. I guess you decided to stand with the Muggle lovers after all."

Ginny emerged in her turn with a whimper. She placed the familiar voice before she could see him clearly. When she looked at him, her face was far from composed. It showed all the disgust and hate that the Slytherin inspired her.

"You scum!" she spat. "You tricked us. I'll make you pay for that."

"Good day to you too, Ginny. Don't you think that you're a little presumptuous?" He had liked the girl once, but compared to Electra, she was nothing but a petulant child. He didn't pursue the thought with what had happened this morning.

Ginny glanced at Draco and saw the determination there. The situation was bad, but they were alive. There was still hope. Luna woke up in turn.

"Why?" asked Draco. "Why are you doing this?"

Actually Trevor didn't have the full answer to that. He didn't know what this place was, and he was only following orders. He tried to hide it, but somehow the pale haired girl sensed it.

"You don't really understand what the stakes are," she said. "Listen to me. Nothing irreparable has been done yet. If you help us now, then we will vouch for you."

The others turned toward her with surprised expressions. Ginny and Ron in particular looked outraged that she would propose such a thing, but Luna stood her ground unabashed. She could read enough from his mind to know that Trevor was a weak point on which they could play. Severus nodded, and after a moment so did Draco.

Once the first moment of surprise was passed, Trevor chucked and shook his head. Such naivety was incredible.

"And to think I called Ginny presumptuous. We hold the Ministry of Magic, the Wizengamot follows our lead, and I stand here before you." He gestured at the ropes binding them. "You'll have to do better than that if you want me to betray my friends."

"It shouldn't be too hard," spat Ginny. "Look what you did with us."

Trevor sighed. She was referring to his little deception with the note.

"I am sorry about your father, Ginny. I didn't mean it to happen that way. And you could have been part of it if you had wanted-"

He stopped as he realized that she was getting ready to spit in his face. He raised his wand menacingly and she refrained, glaring at him instead.

After that no one spoke. They waited in uneasy silence while Trevor and Dragonis stood guard over them. After a moment, Boocrat and Electra came back. She radiated even more personality than before. The marks were gone. Her face was beautiful once more, and only the hardness of her expression reduced the charisma.

"We've checked the area, and there is no one else in the vicinity," she said. "I wonder where Shrummer and the others are though." She looked at them and recognized Helen. "What's a Muggle doing here?"

"She came with me," said Severus before Helen could say anything about her children.

They must be hidden somewhere. If they could stay that way, then they might be able to get away. Severus was not optimistic about their own chances. The Headmaster would certainly go looking for them, but in all probability, he would be too late. He couldn't help the selfish thought that this should happen just as he had finally accepted Helen's love. He looked at her with undisguised yearning. The emotion was quite real, but he was also displaying it for a purpose, a desperate ploy to divert their captor's attentions.

Electra saw the gesture and he sneer came over her face. Muggles and Mudbloods! Boocrat said nothing. He looked at them like a scientist might consider the content of a Petri dish, evaluating what he could learn from it.

"Who are you?" asked Harry. "And what are you doing here?"

She turned toward him.

"So I finally get to meet the famed Harry Potter," she said in a falsely admiring voice, walking slowly toward him. "The boy wonder so brilliantly used by that cowardly old wizard."

"How dare you speak that way of professor Dumbledore!" exclaimed Harry.

Electra laughed at him, delighted at the success of her baiting. All eyes were on her. Draco and Severus were searching for clues and weaknesses. Hermione was thinking furiously and trying to get her right hand free. Luna winced at the callous emotions she was receiving. Not far from them, inside a crumbling hole in one of the walls, Richard and Alicia wondered what they could do. They were horrified to see their mother tied up and threatened, and they wondered at what power could have succeeded in besting both their six friends and the two professors.

"Dare? Of course I dare!" said Electra. "The man owes me a blood debt, and I intent to collect in full. I would have already if you hadn't interfered."

"Blood debt? Interfered?" Harry was puzzled. He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

She looked at him and laughed again. She was secure in the knowledge that she, and the Brotherhood, were now in control of the Circle. Its power was still coursing through her veins, making her feel like a god.

"My name is Electra, but I doubt that it means anything to you. My family name might however. It is Grindelwald." She spoke the last word with force and a flash of green light burst from the circle. The echoes of the Dark Wizard's name sounded across the room. Horror showed on their faces. She threw her head back and broke into a triumphant laugh.

Trevor was thunderstruck. He had been ready to learn that she came from a powerful family. Certainly she carried the trademarks of the magical aristocracy, but Grindelwald, now that was something else. It was also very disquieting. He was much too young to have lived it, but he remembered chilling stories about the short reign of Grindelwald.

That explains her hatred for the Headmaster.

"So all this is for a mere vengeance?" asked Hermione in a disgusted voice.

Electra whirled toward her. Her face white with fury and her left hand reaching for the dagger at her belt. Hermione tensed and the ropes tightened painfully around her. Electra held the weapon menacingly.

"Be silent Mudblood!" she hissed. "I do not share the late Riddle's taste for the Cruciatus. I prefer the old ways. The knives and the blood. Talk to me that way one again and I'll cut off your nose."

Hermione saw the gleaming metal blade and turned white. The others were aghast. The venom of the woman's voice was like acid.

"I see that you understand. Good." She surveyed them. "Now tell me what you are doing here. You." She pointed toward Ron.

"We- we came to help our friends," he stammered. He gestured toward the adults. And Electra followed his glance.

"And what were your friends looking for?"

Remus took his cue and decided to answer for him. Like Severus he wanted to conceal the possible presence of the children.

"This Shrine is vital for the Centaurs," he started, "and you- Ow!"

Electra had taken two quick steps and slashed him across the face with the dagger. The force of the blow splattered blood away and some of it fell on Helen's dress. She screamed in terror. Trevor winced. There was an unchecked ruthlessness in her which was threatening to make him physically sick. He wondered if it was her true nature, or if the morning's events had unbalanced her.

"Shut up, you," said Electra. "And remember that I decide who speaks here."

Remus was deeply cut, from his upper lip to his hair line, but the blood had already stopped flowing, and the edges of the wound were closing visibly. She considered him coldly.

"Werewolf," she murmured. She shook her head in a gesture of disgust. "What a pitiful band you make."

Trevor reflected that pitiful was perhaps not the proper term. He and Dragonis had configured more than fifty Sentinels to defend the castle. Not a single one remained. It was very impressive.

"They evidently came because of the Centaurs," said Boocrat. "I suppose that the creatures asked the school for help, and that the Headmaster obliged."

In their hiding place, Richard and Alicia were paralyzed by fear. The old scholar took over the questioning. The tension abated somewhat, and Richard's brain resumed working. The situation was hopeless. They had to get word to Hogwarts immediately. Professor Dumbledore was the only one who could possibly help them. He whispered to Alicia and she agreed.

"I'm going to make a run for the circle and use the teleport," she said. He looked at him with terrified eyes. She insisted. "I've got the silent boots."

He swallowed and nodded.

"All right. I'll- I'll give you my hat for protection and ... and I'll make a diversion."

His face was grim. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. They stayed silent for a few seconds, and then he took off the hat and gave it to her quickly, before he could change his mind. He was shaking with fear. She took it and something caught in her voice.

"Don't get hurt, little brother," she said with a chocking voice. "Don't try to fight her." She forced a smile. "Remember that you're a Slytherin. No heroics." He tried a grin which was more of a grimace.

"Yeah, well don't worry. And tell Silena... well just tell her she's my best friend." And I may never see her again.

Alicia nodded gravely. They hugged fiercely, knowing that this time it wasn't just a game or some kid's adventure. It was the real thing. Alicia waited for an opportunity when no one would be looking in their direction. The four Brotherhood members were moving in to press Hermione with questions, Alicia moved carefully out of the hiding hole. She walked slowly and with precautions along the wall, using the Shadow spell to stay undetected. It would get her to about six meters from the circle. After that she would be in the clear. She had her wand in her right hand, the hat in her left, and her eyes were fixed on the pillar which Laurell had indicated to be the one linked to Hogwarts.

She was almost there when the oldest wizard stood up and said that it was time to continue the rituals. She froze, and her heart stopped beating. She would be right across his line of sight if she made her move now. She stayed immobile for several seconds, and then she heard the sound of a shoe scraping against stone coming from the back of the room. She knew that Richard was going to try for his diversion.

Alan Boocrat heard the disturbance behind him and turned around. There was something moving in the darkness.

Electra and Trevor turned as well. Trevor called out a Lumos maxima spell which illuminated the back of the room. Richard was caught in the light like a deer at night on the road. He immediately dropped his wand and raised his hands. Helen gasped in anguish as she saw her son.

Alicia seized her chance and sprinted toward the Circle, keeping the bowler hat between her and the group of wizards. Sylvia Dragonis caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. She took out her wand and screamed a warning.

Hermione made a desperate effort to try and free her right hand. She was almost able to do it, and Harry threw her a pointed look, indicating his own tied hands. They had both experimented with wandless magic, but he had gone for a more ambitious attempt than her. He wanted something which would enable him to launch powerful hexes without burning off his fingers. The practice runs had never been very successful, but today he would certainly have enough motivation.

With a final effort, Hermione got her index finger out of the mess of vines. She aimed at Harry's hands and murmured "Finite Incantanum!"

"Stupefy!" screamed Sylvia, aiming at the running girl. The spell hit the hat's shield and rebounded with a resounding ricochet sound. Electra and Boocrat turned toward the sound. Richard dived for the ground, not far from his wand.

Harry's hands came free as the ropes disappeared. He had been wondering whether to attack their enemies, or try and free his friends. He decided that the most urgent thing would be to neutralize Electra. She was the most dangerous adversary. He opened all his fingers and extended both arms at her back.

"Expelliarmus!"

Electra was thrown forward as if a truck had hit her from behind. Her wand flew through the air. He got ready to catch it when he saw Trevor turn toward him.

Alicia was just stepping on the raised stone surface. Her wand extended at the pillar.

"Lumos!"

The walls of the Shrine disappeared, and then she was in the cave room of Hogwarts circle, minus wand and clothes. There was a huge hole in one side of the cave. She heard the Headmaster's voice, giving direction to teams of diggers.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she called.

- - -

Trevor had been caught completely by surprise by Harry's spell. He didn't understand how the boy had freed himself, and how he could have hexed Electra without a wand, but that didn't stop him from taking aim. Harry's left hand turned toward him, while the left was still reaching for Electra's falling wand. Richard clutched his own wand and aimed at the man.

"Protego!" said Harry.

"Stupefy!" said Trevor.

"Stupefacio!" exclaimed Richard.

Trevor's spell was deflected by Harry's shield, seconds before Richard's hit him squarely. There was not enough force for a full effect, but it was enough to disorient the Slytherin and give them a few seconds' respite. Hermione managed to vanish some of Remus' rope with another spell and the Werewolf's strength did the rest. He heaved with a tremendous effort and jumped at Dragonis and Boocrat who still hadn't reacted. He viciously kicked Dragonis away and pinioned Boocrat, falling down with him on the ground.

Harry finally caught Electra's wand and finished Trevor with a stunning spell. He freed his friends and was getting ready to recover their wands when a yell of warning made him turn. Electra had already recovered, and she was rushing at him with the dagger in her hand. She stabbed at his right hand. Burning pain racked his arm, and he dropped the wand. He tried to kick it away, but she grabbed it before he could. He barely managed to cast another protection charm when her hex blasted him across the room. The shield saved his life but he was knocked unconscious when his head collided against the wall.

"ELECTRA!"

The terribly loud voice of Dumbledore was booming from the Circle. He had apparently used the pillars from the school to return here, but somehow he had kept his clothes and wand. His right arm was extended toward her. Electra's hand closed round her wand and she turned toward him in one fluid movement.

"DUMBLEDORE!"

She called upon the power of the Circle and suddenly she was bathed in deep green light. A ball of green flame jetted from her wand, but the Headmaster was ready. A disk of fiery gold materialized and blocked the attack.

Richard made a quick decision and threw his wand across the room in Severus' direction. The man jumped to catch it, rolling away from a curse thrown by Dragonis.

Fifty points to Slytherin, thought Severus. Dragonis was still trying to aim at him. He grabbed the wand and aimed.

"Sectumsempra!"

He did not especially want to harm her, but it was the fastest spell he could use. She screamed and fell back, blood all over her face and arm.

Remus was struggling with the Scholar. Electra aimed her wand at him. He suddenly twisted to turn the old wizard between them, before they were both hit by the tremendous blast of her hex. Boocrat's body took the brunt of it, but Remus didn't escape completely. He hit the wall hard, fell down and lay still. The Scholar's body was pulped into a gory mass.

Electra cursed horribly and turned immediately toward Severus and the others. She used the same stunning blast which had knocked them out before, but this time it was intercepted by a golden fireball from Dumbledore. As it was, the effect was only to shove them brutally aside, not too far from where Harry was lying.

Richard fell back into the dark recess of the room. Without a wand, there was not much he could do.

Dumbledore conjured a golden cloud which enclosed Severus, Helen and the students. It clung to them like a shield. Electra did the same to Trevor and revived him. For few seconds they threw hexes at each other which rebounded from the shields. It was a stalemate, but suddenly Electra started to use the Killing Curse, aiming it first at Severus who barely evaded it. Dumbledore conjured a wall behind which his friends could hide, and then Electra concentrated on him. Green and gold light battled once more. The curse couldn't be blocked, but conjured obstacles could neutralize it, as long as he could keep up.

Richard felt something against his shoe, and there was the sound of a small solid object rolling away. He bent down and fumbled in the darkness. His hand touched it. It was long and felt like a twisted cylinder.

Laurell's horn!

He recalled the woman kicking away something after killing the Unicorn. He pulled his hand away and looked at the object with a mix of fascination and horror. This was all that was left of Laurell, a real, living and breathing creature that he had touched, and who had spoken to him. The fascination won over and he picked it up. The thing was warm to the touch. A Unicorn horn was a rare relic. He had heard that Centaurs occasionally bartered Unicorn hairs as potion or wand ingredients, but they always kept the horns. He remembered the previous night's dream and wondered if he could use it as a wand himself. The fight was still raging. Every little bit could help.

Aim it at her.

The crystal clear thought in his mind almost make him scream in terror. He dropped the horn and took two steps back, and then he picked it up again. He waited for something, but this time there was nothing. Maybe he had imagined it.

Maybe Laurell is like a ghost now. A Unicorn ghost.

A yell of triumph from Electra told him that there was no time to waste. There was only one way to test if he had been dreaming or not. He took the horn by its wider end and turned toward the center of the room. Electra was sending bolts of green fire with incredible speed, and professor Dumbledore was blocking them as best as he could, but he was clearly on the defensive. Richard aimed the horn point at her back.

Nothing happened. Maybe I need to say an incantation, or think of something? He tried to concentrate on the makeshift wand, holding it in both hands. Remembering the dream, he imagined a fog of luminous particles converging along the length of the horn. Concentrating power and sending it toward a goal.

A great silver beam of light jetted from the tip and struck Electra in the back. He could feel the horn humming through his hands. Something like static electricity was crackling around him. Another single thought came into his mind.

Continue.

Electra screamed as she felt the pain and realized that something abnormal was happening. She had been winning. It was all that the hated old man could do to stop her from destroying his friends before she would blast him out of this world, and now her power was waning, and she could barely move. She felt encased in burning glue. It was all she could do to defend herself against the Headmaster's. She turned her head around with difficulty and barely saw the boy sending a stream of silver energy toward her.

"Trevor!" she screamed. "Take him out."

Trevor adjusted his position to get a look at what was happening. He hesitated. She can't wish for me to attack a child! And before he could even have time to aim his wand, Helen had jumped from behind Dumbledore's conjured wall to position herself between them, and behind Electra so that the woman could not strike at her. She was still covered in the simmering aura of the Headmaster's shield. He aimed at her.

"Expelliarmus!"

The hex struck her cleanly, but it rebounded harmlessly against the shield. She only had to take a step back, as if he had struck her with a pillow.

"If you want to get at him, then you'll have to kill me!" she said. Electra tried to turn around but she couldn't move, and then she had to defend herself against Dumbledore's renewed attacks.

"Get out of the way!" said Trevor. "I'll only disarm him. Give up and we won't hurt you."

"Like hell, we won't!" screamed Electra. "Trevor. As you care for me, just do what I say!"

Draco and the others were moving as well. He tried to conjure something to block them, but a blast from the Headmaster pulverized his barrier.

"You are going to have to use the Killing Curse," said Severus calmly.

He couldn't do it. He knew that Electra could, and would. She was screaming at him to kill them.

"Trevor!" There was real panic in her voice. She was in obvious pain, and losing control. The way things were now going. She was not going to survive this, and he did love her, or he had once.

He raised his wand. They were all between him and the boy now. He knew that he would have to kill them all, one after the other, and it would probably have to be the same with the boy. The Headmaster would transfer the same protection to him.

"Can we make a deal?" he asked desperately. "We can pledge a truce, and all of us would leave this place. No one dies."

"NO TRUCE!" screamed Electra. The others didn't even answer.

I can't do it.

He was doomed. He knew it. It was a choice between surrendering right away or losing his soul. Trevor wasn't an assassin. He was certainly not a starry eyed idealist, but he had believed in some things. He was strong and ambitious, and had been ready to bend rules, and manipulate people in order to further his chosen goal, and that of his allies. He still thought that he could have killed a man in the right circumstances. Maybe, just maybe, even someone like Severus, if Electra had asked him at the height of his infatuation for her, when she was still human in his eyes.

But he was totally incapable of killing a bunch of students and a small boy for the monstrous creature that she had become.

"Trevor! I love you. Do it!"

You don't love me. If you did, then you would accept a truce.

He looked at her, twisted in agony, bathed in silver and green lights. The golden tendrils of Dumbledore's spells battering at her shields from outside. The silvers marks on her skin were actually glowing.

"TREVOR!"

He couldn't do it. He lowered his wand in defeat. It was over. He had played and lost. He didn't know what would happen to him. Perhaps the victors would prove magnanimous, but he didn't really care anymore. His life was even more in ruins than this forsaken place. He opened is fingers and the wand dropped on the floor, the soft sound of its clattering on the floor was as definitive as a prison door clanging shut.

Electra saw him surrender and raged filled her. Where was Shrummer? Was there no one on which she could count then? All was lost, unless she could extract the greatest power from the Circle. Boocrat had warned against doing it so soon, but the old fool was dead, and there was no other choice. She called out to the ancient relic and opened her mind to draw out its full power. There was an immediate response, the green glow around her intensified and she relished in the augmented mastery. She could see the golden tendrils been pushed away, and once more the Headmaster was being put on the defensive, but she didn't see what was happening to herself.

From behind her, Severus and the others watched in alarm at her renewed power, and then in fascination as the silver light from the Unicorn's horn intensified as well. Richard was barely able to hold it, his teeth were clenched and he was shaking like a leaf. Terror showed in his eyes. The beam now seemed actually drawn into Electra's back, and bright marks were shining all over her body. It was as if she was a living incandescent lamp, with the light escaping from tears in her skin.

She could move her arms a little, and she saw it as she tried to aim her wand at Dumbledore, who was by now crouching, encased in a sphere of luminescent and translucent gold. She saw the bright rays jetting from her hand and arm, and then she realized that it was the same with her face.

And the energy was leaving her. She could feel it. It was dissipating out of her faster than she could call it in. The pain was sickening, and she could feel that irreparable things were happening to her body. She could see it on her arm. The marks were now real wounds. The skin was cracking and pulling back, the tears widening as more energy came out.

An image formed in her mind. The Unicorn, standing before her and looking calmly back at her. She screamed with rage and frustration, because she knew that it was too late, and that she had lost. She was not going to avenge her father. The Brotherhood was not going to get hold of the Circle. In a flash of intuition, she understood what had happened. He had somehow cursed her, setting up this trap into which she had fallen.

She was dying. Her body was crisscrossed with streaks of white and silver beams. They grew and merged until nothing could be seen except a blinding glare. It lasted a little more, and then the room was silent once more. Where Electra had been, nothing remained. The only light was from the golden radiance of Dumbledore's spells. That disappeared as well and then there were only the softer glow of torches.

Helen was the first to move, rushing toward Richard. They heard the sound of Laurell's horn falling on the floor, followed by a strangled gasp. Helen took her son into her arms, and the boy forgot all about the required dignity of a Slytherin wizard as he sobbed with abandon against his mother's breast.

Severus rose to join them. The others roused themselves one after the other. It was over, and they had won.

Dumbledore stepped up, recovered everyone's wand and equipment and gently made them go outside. Remus was whole once more. Dragonis and Boocrat were dead. The courtyard was brightly lit by the new spring sun, and leaving the Shrine room was like moving into another world. He closed off the entrance with a complex warding spell, and then took Remus aside and whispered for a moment. The younger wizard nodded. The Headmaster conjured a portkey and gave it to him.

"I have asked him to get Mad-Eye and other loyal aurors here," he said to Harry, in answer to the boy's inquiring look. "We will need to guard this place until it can be returned to the Centaurs."

"What about the Ministry?" asked Hermione. Trevor looked up but said nothing.

"I called for an emergency session of the Wizengamot before I left," said Dumbledore with a satisfied smile. "I invoked the high treason clause in the Charter."

This exceptional provision gave the High Court temporary control of Ministry policy. It also freed the Aurors and other security organizations to act autonomously in order to protect public order.

"So that's why Shrummer and the others couldn't make it," said Trevor.

"Yes. The Minister will have to defend himself in court. I gambled that I would be able to prove his involvement in this conspiracy."

Severus had remained with Helen and Richard. The boy had stopped crying, but he was clearly shocked. He was clinging tightly to his mother. He looked up at the potion professor.

"What happened?" he said in a trembling voice. "Did I ... kill her?"

Severus squatted next to them. His hand reached out to rest on the boy's shoulder. Richard's eyes grew wide at the unheard of gesture. Severus wasn't even embarrassed.

"No Richard," said the man gently. "You didn't kill her. You stopped her from killing us all, and she destroyed herself."

He waited to see how the boy was taking it. Richard thought about it, and then he slowly nodded. Evident relief was visible on his face as he wiped his eyes. It would have been a terrible thing for an eleven year old to be a murderer, even of someone as evil as Electra.

Severus paused and added in a very serious voice.

"You did very today, Richard. You showed the valor of a great wizard. I am very proud of you, and so is everybody."

Richard's face lit up. He sniffed and looked at his mother, who was beaming at him.

"Alicia and Silena did good too," he affirmed.

Helen and Severus smiled.

"They certainly did."

The boy cocked his head and looked at the professor in a calculating way.

"Is this going to mean, er, points for our House?" he asked.

If I didn't know he was a true Slytherin, I know it now, thought Severus.

"We'll talk about it with the Headmaster, but remember that Alicia's House will get some too."

"That's okay. It will still be two to one. I hope we get the cup this year."

Severus chuckled, and he exchanged a smile with Helen. The boy would be all right if such things were on his mind. He saw that Dumbledore had been following the scene with amusement. It had taken a long time, but Severus thought that he finally understood what the old wizard found in being in charge of so many children. Some of them might be dour and uninteresting, and others nothing but trouble, but there were jewels among them as well. He looked at the Headmaster and winked. The gesture was clumsy for lack of practice, but Dumbledore took it as the sign that this older child too, would be all right.

The Headmaster was satisfied. Several important issues had been resolved today. Of course there were still a few minor loose ends to fix, and some which were not really minor. He considered the young Ministry official with attention.

Trevor's mind started to work again. It was not over yet. With the others dead, he was the last surviving witness, and it was not clear if veritasum, or pensieve memories, could be used forcibly in such a situation. He noticed that Dumbledore and the six students were looking at him.

Harry and Dumbledore exchanged a glance. The Headmaster appeared to be waiting for something. Harry turned toward the others and they grouped together. Trevor saw them evidently communicate silently together, just like he and Shrummer had suspected Draco and Ginny of doing at the Parkinsons. Something must have shown on his face because Dumbledore chuckled. He turned and shot the man a furious stare.

"What's so funny?"

"I wonder if you really realize what you were up against," said the Headmaster.

Trevor grimaced. He was certainly impressed.

"As it was, I must admit that it was a brilliant plan," continued Dumbledore. "But if I had not made a number of mistakes, it would not have gotten half as far."

Trevor raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"I did not take them seriously enough," explained the old wizard apologetically, nodding toward the six students.

Trevor pondered that. He wondered if Electra had. Something else occurred to him. He didn't want to be framed for more than he'd actually done. He spoke clearly enough so that the others would hear.

"You have to understand that I wasn't part of the entire plan."

"Oh," said Dumbledore politely. "I do?"

Trevor squirmed. They weren't making it easy for him. The best deal would be to offer him a plea bargain. His cooperation in exchange for an amnesty, but instead, the canny old man was asking for a confession. What could he say? Trevor was afraid that the simple truth might paradoxically make him too little involved to be a good enough witness against Shrummer, and just guilty enough to be an accomplice.

"Don't," said Dumbledore.

"What?" He felt caught in the act before he had even begun.

"Do not lie. Do not even try to let us believe something false." The Headmaster was very serious. "Do you see that young witch here?" He gestured toward Luna. "She is an Empath. I couldn't even trick her."

Trevor clenched his fists in frustration. He felt angry at his powerlessness.

"So my only choice is to come clean, and throw myself at your mercy?" he said sarcastically.

"This would actually be a better move than you can imagine," replied Dumbledore calmly. "These six know a lot about justice and forgiveness, and as I said, I will listen to them."

Trevor's shoulders dropped and he sighed. Once more he felt crushed by defeat. Whatever the old wizard might say, he didn't expect any clemency. That Granger girl had been far from sympathetic to him before, and he didn't think that Ginny, or even Draco, would ever forgive him.

It serves me right. They made me an offer when I had the upper hand, and I rejected it.

He looked up to see the Headmaster shaking his head at him.

"You are making the same mistake again," he said. Trevor frowned. The Headmaster continued. "Underestimating what they can do."

Trevor held his gaze for a moment, and then he looked at the group of students. They were very close to each other, actually touching in fact, and they were all watching him attentively. He was finding it difficult to look at Ginny directly. What really bothered him was having tricked her to act against her father. Family traditions were after all one of the principles he valued. He hadn't known that the man would be running for office. Maybe Shrummer did, but they had only discussed Bones. She probably would never believe it.

What the hell. Let's just get this over with.

He straightened up, recovering a little of his usual assurance, and spoke at length. He explained how he had chosen to follow Lord Shrummer's steps, and help the man's career and his own.

"I never had cause to believe him evil," he said defiantly. "And others have listened to his arguments and found them honorable." He looked pointedly at Draco who didn't react.

Shrummer wanted to be Minister of Magic. That was normal enough for a politician of his caliber. An opportunity had arisen, and they had taken it. Trevor detailed their actions, then he looked away and described the first time he had seen Electra, and what he had done for her. Some things he didn't say, but they were implied clearly enough. He went on to being contacted by her this morning, coming here and finding the Unicorn standing inside the Circle. Speaking about what happened afterward was very difficult, but he did it, up to the discovery of the silver marks on her skin.

He didn't look at anybody when he talked, but they were all watching him, even Richard. The boy still grieved for Laurell, but he found it proper that his murderer would be cursed by her very act.

Trevor stopped at the point when they had recovered after being stunned in the courtyard. He finally turned toward Ginny. It was easier to look at her after having explained everything.

"I said it before, and I'll repeat it Ginny," he said. "I'm sorry about your father. I didn't mean for it to be so personal .The rest was ..." He shrugged. "Politics."

She didn't reply, and after a moment he turned back toward the Headmaster. Now that he had confessed, he felt the anger returning. He would suffer the indignities of imprisonment. The cells, the chains and the detailed interrogations. He would hate it, but he would stick to his story and damn them all.

I've done all my explaining. Don't expect me to beg.

"Thank you, Trevor," said Dumbledore.

A series of cracking sounds erupted around them. Remus was back, along with Tonks, Mad-Eye and four other Aurors. They had been warned what to expect, but they still gasped in outrage as they took in the torn and dirty clothing, the bloody stains and the other marks of battle.

"Good day, Alastor."

"What the hell happened here Albus?" growled the Auror. "Remus told us you needed help in guarding some kind of relic. Wouldn't say a damn thing more." He looked around. "What is this place anyway?"

"I am afraid that it is a rather long story, but now that you are here, he can tell you some of it. We need to return to the school. In the meanwhile, none must enter that building. I trust on you to be-"

"Vigilant!" exclaimed the Six with one voice.

Mad-Eye threw them a furious look, but he would accept banter from them. From the way they looked, he guessed that their story would be a good one.

"Arrumph! Well, that's my job all right. You can go now. Oh, by the way. There are some visitors waiting for you. They'll be with McGonagall in your office."

He considered Trevor and frowned. He remembered having seen the man with Shrummer on several occasions. The Minister was certainly not a friend of the Headmaster, and in fact he was under high suspicion. He jerked his head toward the disarmed wizard while looking at Dumbledore who nodded briefly.

"I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye on Mister Themis. I will talk with him later."

Trevor kept a stony face and said nothing. At least he wasn't sent to Azkaban right away. Dumbledore performed some magic to restore their appearance somewhat. His choice of robes was a century out of date, but no one minded. He created two portkeys to take them back to Hogwarts, one for himself and the Six, and one for Severus, Helen, and Richard.

Severus activated his portkey and found himself in the entry hall. Several children exclaimed at seeing Richard, and he was cheered as a returning hero. News of their arrival dispersed quickly through the school. The doors to the Great Hall opened suddenly. Alicia and Silena were running at breakneck speed toward him. He ran toward them and they hugged passionately.

"You made it!" said Alicia.

"Yes! Thanks to you, and to you to," he added to Silena who was clinging to him. "Where's Flitz?"

"He stayed with the other Centaurs. But McGonagall said that we'll be able to see him later."

They had so many things to tell each other, but the crowed hall was not the proper place for that. It would wait until they were alone. Alicia went to embrace her mother. Their friends were pressing them with questions. Severus intervened and dispersed the students.

"I am certain most of you have homework to occupy yourself. If not then I will be glad to ..."

The end of the phrase was lost in the deafening sound of running feet. The hall was emptying itself faster than the eye could follow, only Richard, Alicia and Silena where left standing.

"Er, we'd better go too," said Richard. "See you later Mom." Severus caught his eye and frowned slightly. "We'll be discrete, sir," he added.

"You do that," said Severus. The three children went away running. Severus doubted it was toward anything resembling homework, but it didn't really matter. He turned toward Helen.

"Teachers have private accommodations. Despite the Headmaster's talent, I believe some cleaning up in is order right now, and even I can find you better clothes than that."

- - -

Dumbledore and the Six materialized in the Headmaster's outer office. As Mad-Eye had said, several people were waiting for them. Ginny and Ron froze as they saw their father standing next to professor McGonagall.

Arthur Weasley turned toward the new arrivals. His face was serious. McGonagall had been bringing him up to date on the last developments. He stopped listening when he saw his children. Ginny's face was terrified. She held Draco's hand tightly and he could see Harry behind her.

"Dad," she whispered.

He knew most of the story now, and he could guess at what she had gone through. His poor little girl, and all because he had accepted to play a role he wasn't meant for. He took a step forward, and he was so tense, that it was impossible to read what he was feeling from his face. Ginny and Draco watched him come toward them and braced themselves for the worst. Certainly he had every reason to be angry.

Arthur embraced Ginny, calling out her name in a choked voice. Both of them said they were sorry, that they loved each other, and that it should never have happened. Draco released her hand, and Arthur looked at him. They held each other's gaze for a moment. It was difficult for Draco to admit anything. A Slytherin is never sorry. He had been imprudent certainly, but he had never acted knowingly against the man. Arthur knew it, intellectually, but it wasn't the same thing. Ginny reached out to take back Draco's hand and pulled him toward her. She looked at her father, silently expressing that it was both of them or nothing. Mistakes had been made, but they were still together. Arthur watched them for a moment, and then he nodded toward Draco, acknowledging that it would be all right.

Ron greeted his father, and then they turned toward the remaining visitor. Amelia Bones had been considering Dumbledore reservedly. The Headmaster went behind his desk and had them sit down. He spoke at length, going over the main points once again so that everyone was aware of what had actually been happening.

"And so, the Centaurs will be able to recover their old Shrine again," he said. "But they can also use the one under the school. One foal has been initiated today. An important gesture of good will."

"What about Shrummer?" ask Bones.

"He will stand trial, with as many of his accomplice that we can find. Certainly we have enough proof to charge him. There will be a new Minister of Magic."

Bones' look was unflinching.

"And?"

"And nothing," he replied tranquilly. "Everyone will be free to participate, although this time I will allow Miss Granger to defend her project personally ... and I will support her champion."

Bones turned toward Hermione who was looking at the Headmaster with radiant eyes. The former candidate scowled. It would still be some time before she could fully forget the past, but in truth there was really nothing more she could ask for.

"Miss Granger," she said. "I believe that the spring vacations are planned for two weeks away, but can I hope to meet with you before that?"

"Certainly," replied Hermione. "I can't wait for us to place our names under that Manifesto of yours."

Bones liked the idea. They had received a great deal of support for Fraternity of Magic. It might even be a good tactic to go public before the election.

"I think that can be arranged fairly quickly," she said.

Electra Ch32 - 18