Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Twelve

Voldemort was incensed.

"Not only did you bumbling half-wits not get the prophecy, you failed to exterminate that Mudblood loving Weasley!" he snarled, though his high-pitched voice made it sound more like a squeal.

Though funny sounding, it was not nearly enough to risk laughter.

"But, my lord, surely there must be someone--"

Lucius Malfoy was promptly cut off with a bout of the Cruciatus Curse.

"Anyone else dare give me an excuse?" Voldemort challenged. He was met with silence. "Leave me. I cannot stand the sight of you brainless bastards any longer," Voldemort ordered with a wave of his hand, sitting heavily on his "throne." The Death Eaters tried not to look so eager to leave, turning almost hesitantly to go. "Oh. One more thing." The Death Eaters cringed in anticipation. "Happy Christmas."

Some Death Eaters could barely contain a shudder while others not at all. "Happy Christmas, my lord," they murmured monotonously. They made haste to retreat.

"That was rather . . . sadistic of you, my lord," Pettigrew said.

Voldemort cackled. "You know me too well, Wormy."

"Keeping them on their toes?"

"Precisely."

Pettigrew looked at Voldemort with interest. "Weren't you the least bit curious as to what Malfoy would say?"

Voldemort seemed bored. "He was attempting to tell me what I already know."

"Which is?"

"We have a connection," he said simply.

Pettigrew's face lit up. "Oh, my lord! You feel it as well? I thought it was just me!" Pettigrew said, as he threw his arms around the Dark Lord. Voldemort was too shocked to avoid the embrace.

"Unhand me this instant!" he screeched when he finally regained his wits. Pettigrew slowly let go of his lordship.

"Are you daft, Wormtail? I wasn't talking about you; I was talking about Potter!"

Pettigrew looked sheepish and a bit hurt. "Forgive me, my lord, I should have known." Pettigrew fell to the floor, groveling at Voldemort's feet.

"As I was saying, Potter and I have a connection--apparently he can feel my emotions and even see what I'm doing at a certain point in time. Once I realize how to tap into his, the wizarding world is as good as mine!" Voldemort grinned evilly.

"How do you plan on manipulating this connection, my lord?"

Voldemort stood and began to pace slowly. "I will behave as if I know nothing of this, however. If Potter realizes I can manipulate him, too, he'll go to Dumbledore and . . ." he shuddered to think of all Dumbledore could do.

"Brilliant idea, my lord. We will retrieve the prophecy soon," Pettigrew said surely.

Voldemort snorted. "How do you know? With this group of ingrates I have in my ranks, I'm surprised you're so optimistic," he sneered.

"The Fates proclaimed it so."

Voldemort whirled, looking at the younger man in surprise. The weak, nasally voice was gone, replaced by a stronger, more confident one.

"Wormtail?" Voldemort asked skeptically.

Pettigrew smile, and it was a very evil one. "Yes, my lord?"

Voldemort's confusion grew at Pettigrew's nonchalance. "Are you well?"

Pettigrew smirked. "I've never been better."

Voldemort walked around the seemingly transformed man. No longer did Pettigrew crouch before him, dodge his eyes, or speak in that annoying weak voice. It seemed to Voldemort that Pettigrew became a man.

And he reveled in it.

"What has happened to you, Wormy?" Voldemort asked.

The man grinned, his eyes growing dark.

"She has finally entered into womanhood. At last, she will be mine . . ." Pettigrew uttered, trance-like.

"She who?"

Pettigrew's eyes took on a glint that made even Voldemort tremble. "The Goddess of Magic."

"Now that's what I call a Christmas gift!"

Nia had been in the shower when the once clear water turned scarlet in the tub. She cried out, thinking she'd hurt herself when she realized the blood was coming from between her legs. Cousin Elle had been supportive, if a bit emotional as she helped Nia calm down before going to call Jamilah, but Angelina cooed annoyingly as she teased Nia about finally becoming a woman.

The punk.

Nia glared into the mirror at her cousin. "That's it! Get out! You ain't helpin' nothin'!" she hissed as she shooed Angelina out of the bathroom. "Where are they?"

"Under the sink. And in your case, I'd suggest you use the super-absorbent ones," Angelina sniggered through the door.

"Shut your pie-hole!" she hollered. Nia groaned, putting the soiled washcloth under the running water in the sink. The water drained crimson into the plumbing.

"This is not my idea of a Christmas gift. I want to return it," she pouted. Her grandmother had told her of this time when a girl became a woman--she just forgot to mention how messy it was.

And the smell? Nia shuddered.

No wonder she'd been so snappy in the past week. Her stomach had been dully aching for days--now she knew why.

"At least I didn't get it at Dad's house. He probably would've fainted," she muttered.

Sighing, Nia placed the relatively cleaned cloth in the hamper and walked out of the bathroom annoyed. Angelina was bouncing on the bed, grinning at her.

"Guess what?" she sang.

Nia rolled her eyes. "What?"

"You're a woman now," Angelina squealed.

"Yippee."

"Who would have thought Nia would get the gift of womanhood for Christmas!"

"Were you this excited when you got your first period?" Nia asked, crossing her arms in front or her.

Angelina snorted. "Hell no! Mum called just about everyone she ever knew with the news--embarrassed me to hell!" Angelina chuckled at the memory. "I remember when she called Cousin Malika . She got me on the phone and said, 'I know you're not thrilled about it now, but there'll come a time when that will be the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Heed my words, girlie: It's when the period stops you should start crying.' I didn't get it then, but after growing up and going to Hogwarts, I have a new respect for that bit of advice!" Angelina laughed at the memory.

Nia's eyes went downcast. "Lucky you. She'll never be able to say it to me."

Angelina immediately sobered, pulling her into a side-hug. "I'm sorry, Nia. I should be more considerate of your feelings."

Nia smiled a joyless smile and snorted. "Yeah, that sounds like my mother all right. Matter of fact, I think she would've acted just like you did had she been here," she said wryly.

Angelina laughed at that, for there was no doubt in her mind that Nia was right. "It's almost hard to believe our mothers were cousins."

"Not really. Your mother grew up in stuffy ole England!"

Angelina looked aghast. "You take that back!" she demanded playfully.

Nia stuck out her tongue. "Make me!"

Angelina began to tickle Nia, causing her to squirm out of her grasp. Nia ran down the stairs, and Angelina gave chase, both girls shrieking happily. When they reached the foot of the stairs both stuttered to a halt. Nia felt dread overcome her like a tidal wave.

"Mum, Dad, what's wrong?" Angelina asked, fear creeping into her voice.

The two adults looked tiredly at their daughter before turning their attention to Nia. They dropped eye contact immediately.

"Dumbledore sent an owl to you," Caleb said in a quiet voice, staring at the floor.

"What's wrong with that?" Nia asked. Neither of them could meet Nia's eyes.

"What?" she asked again, panic in her voice. "Is something wrong with Grandma?"

Elle shook her head. "Aunt Jamilah's fine."

"Mum, you are scaring us," Angelina said, walking into the living room.

"Sometimes . . . sometimes parents make mistakes, and we go about fixing them the wrong way and--"

"Ellie, now is not the time," Caleb said warningly.

Elle bit back a sob.

"The time for what?" the girls asked.

Caleb stood and walked to Nia, placing the owl in her hands. "Don't open it just yet. Wait until New Year's Eve to open it. Those are Dumbledore's orders."

Nia thought that an odd request.

"Why?" Angelina asked, stealing Nia's question. Elle seemed to crack at that, her body racked with sobs. Angelina brushed past Nia to comfort her mother. "Mummy, what's the matter?" Elle couldn't answer for her tears.

Nia felt as helpless as the day she watched her mother die, and she didn't like it one bit. She tried to look into Caleb's eyes for any clue to why Elle was crying, or why the mood was so somber, but he refused to meet hers. It was then Nia realized their odd behavior had something to do with her. Without a word, she walked up the stairs calmly, though her insides were in turmoil. She walked into her room and sat on the edge of the bed where not moments before she was happy, albeit achy. Nia was numb, thumbing the owl idly. Sighing, she flipped over the envelope to see who sent it.

She gasped.

It was from her mother.