The Forging of the Bonds

Chapter 27. Desert Meeting.

Elizabeth entered Potter's office. Michael was already there, looking at a sword--the one he'd first used in their detention.

"Good evening, Miss Malfoy," Professor Potter said.

"Hi." Michael smiled at her.

Potter took the sword away from Michael. "Shall we?" he asked, once again placing the Pensieve in front of them.

"This happened four days after what you saw before," he said. "And, just as a warning, it's going to be hot."

"Hot?" Michael asked, but Elizabeth leaned towards the white swirls.

A blast of hot air struck her face, and she felt sweat droplets form on her forehead. Michael and Potter were standing next to her.

"Where are we?"

"Southwestern United States," Potter replied. "New Mexico."

"Why?" Michael asked. Aside from a small, dilapidated building, there was nothing but desert.

Two figures popped out of thin air. They immediately drew their wands.

"Nothing," her father said.

"He'll be here," Potter replied.

"Just why--"

"Seward hates Muggles. He thinks wizards are better."

"So do I."

"Malfoy, you don't know anything about them. Seward is a Muggle-born."

"What?"

"Oh yes. An American Muggle-born Death Eater."

"And the Dark Lord?"

"I think he knows. He is, after all, a very skilled Legilimens."

"So what is this place?"

"The first atomic bomb was detonated here. In 1945."

"An atomic bomb?"

"Muggle weapon. You can destroy a whole city in one blast. Now be quiet, and get under my cloak."

Her father and Potter wrapped the cloak around themselves and vanished. Soon afterwards, Elizabeth spotted a growing dot in the sky. The dot got larger, resolved itself into two, and turned into two people on broomsticks.

They landed next to the small house, and entered.

"Potter," said the voice of Elizabeth's father, "wasn't that--"

"Lavender Brown? Yes. Seward is her lover."

"I will not comment on Gryffindors."

"Good, don't. Because we better hurry if you want to rescue Pansy."

"She's in there?" Her father rushed towards the house, but Potter restrained him.

"If she was--that is, if we knew for sure--we wouldn't be standing here alone. I don't know where Pansy is. But Seward does. We're going to corner him."

The two went into the building. Elizabeth felt the scenery swirl around and transform into a dark hallway.

Her father and Potter climbed down a narrow staircase. "Light your wand, Malfoy," Potter said.

"I think there will be no need for that," another voice said coolly.

"Seward," Potter answered. "Expelliarmus!"

Seward laughed and deflected the spell. "Don't try to fight me with toys."

"Where's Pansy?" her father demanded.

"See what happens when you turn your back on the Dark Lord, Draco? Your family suffers."

"Where is she?" Her father charged Seward, who launched a spell, throwing him back. He stood up, apparently in pain.

"Malfoy, watch for others!" Potter shouted. "Legilimens!"

Seward stumbled back, but quickly recovered. "Forget it, Potter! I am the most skilled Occlumens in the world, after the Dark Lord, of course! You--"

"Legilimens!" Potter snapped. Elizabeth watched as he tightly clutched the wand, his face almost inhuman in concentration. His eyes snapped open and he fell, panting.

"Told you, Potter. You won't--"

"Legilimens!" Potter said for the third time. Elizabeth could see the enormous effort this cost him... the sweat poured off his red, puffed face... the tip of the wand glowed with power...

Then, Seward mumbled something and slowly, almost spilling himself, sank to the floor and sprawled there. Potter breathed heavily, taking a few cautious steps.

"What did you do?" her father asked.

"I broke his mind," Potter replied. "He should have let me in. Then it wouldn't have harmed him."

"What if he turned out to be the stronger one, Potter?"

"Then I'd be the one lying there. Come--"

"Andrew!" a woman's voice rang out. A young blond woman ran into the room. "Andrew--you! You killed him!" Lavender shouted and reached for her wand.

"Expelliarmus!" her father shouted, taking away her wand.

"Hello, Lavender," Potter said. "Nice company you keep these days."

"It's--" Lavender shrieked, but then Elizabeth found herself back in Potter's office.

"I think that's enough," he said. "You'll see the rest quite soon. But I do believe you have a big event tomorrow night, and I advise you to rest."

Michael bid Elizabeth goodnight and left, but she stayed. "Sir?" she asked. "What do you mean by 'breaking his mind'?"

"It means that we pitted our minds directly against each other--my mental attack against his mental shields. When I turned out to be more powerful, and got through despite his resistance, that resistance caused permanent brain damage. Essentially, his entire conscious self was burned away, leaving his body as just... functioning." He sighed.

"I was taking an enormous risk there, gambling on the fact that I was more powerful. Your father and I are lucky that I was right. Like I said, our situation might have been reversed."

"Why don't we hear about this more often?"

"Because it doesn't happen very often--in fact, this is the only instance in recent history that I know of. Usually Legilimency works--or fails--very quickly, and with no damage--at least, no direct damage--to either participant. Andrew Seward was exceptionally skilled in mind disciplines. I broke him with raw power. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me, either. If you're asking for some sort of guide as to when trying this is appropriate... consider it another Unforgivable Curse."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I do not want to use this," she said.

"There are a lot of things we don't want to do," Potter answered. "I saw this as the only way to find out where your mother was being kept, so I used it. And if I had to do it again, I would. I certainly neither want nor intend for you to end up in such a situation, but you could, and you will have to deal with it. Goodnight, Miss Malfoy. I will see you tomorrow."

Elizabeth left the professor's office. Potter had spoken in harsh tones when he mentioned 'breaking the mind', both here and now and when he had done it. She certainly believed him that it was unpleasant... but the idea that she might have to do that... no. Best not to think about it.