The Forging of the Bonds

Chapter 31. The Parents' Trap.

Mike almost regretted asking Professor Potter about his parents, since that meant another session at the Pensieve tonight, rather than a few private moments with his new girlfriend. When he told Elizabeth that, she laughed and said they'd have plenty of time. They also had a couple of fun minutes imagining their parents' reactions if they found out. But at eight o'clock the day after the task, they, holding hands, entered Potter's office.

It was empty. Elizabeth took down Slytherin's sword and took a few menacing steps towards Mike. "Are you sure you don't want to join the fencing club now?" she asked.

"Yep," Mike replied. "Pretty sure."

"Chicken," she teased.

"What?"

"You're afraid you'd get smacked around by your girlfriend."

"That's nonsense. I know you can beat me in a swordfight. That's why I'm not interested--it won't be fun for you or me. It'd be like one of us going up against Potter in a duel."

"Have it your way, Weasley. Someday, I will get you onto the piste."

Mike shook his head. "It'll take the rest of our lives... and I still won't do it."

"Well then, I guess my career path is set," she answered.

"That's good to know," Professor Potter said as he entered. "Sit down."

They did so, letting go of each other's hands. Potter smiled.

"Congratulations," he began. "Well done, both of you. Preparation, teamwork, thinking on your feet--exemplary. If you manage to do the same in the third task, I think the Triwizard Cup is in Hogwarts' hands. Now," he continued, "do you wish to continue our excursion into the past? We're not on a tight schedule here."

Elizabeth turned to Mike, blushing. He nodded. So far, this pertained more to Elizabeth's past than to his own, and she seemed extremely interested.

"Yes," Elizabeth said simply.

"Then let's go," Potter said, taking out the Pensieve. "I believe we left off after my mind clash with Andrew Seward, which led to a mental overload, and when Lavender Brown showed up." Mike nodded. Of course he remembered that.

"Lavender Brown," Potter said, "was a Gryffindor student in my year. In our sixth year--" he smiled at the memory, "--she and your father dated for a few months."

"What?" Mike demanded.

Potter laughed. "Yes. Your mother--" he paused "--did not like that very much."

Elizabeth and Mike turned to each other.

"After we left school," Potter continued, "we heard nothing from Lavender until our intelligence noted rumors of a woman resembling her at the side of a prominent Death Eater. We confirmed that it was Lavender about a month before the events you saw." He turned grim. "Her best friend in school, Parvati Patil--Padma's twin sister--contacted her, hoping to bring her back to our side." He sighed. "It didn't work. Lavender either truly believed in pure-blood superiority--which would be strange considering that Seward was Muggle-born--or her love for Seward crossed all reasonable and unreasonable boundaries. Either way, she led Parvati into a trap, where Voldemort killed her personally. I hope I do not need to tell you not to mention this woman in front of Padma Patil."

Mike and Elizabeth, stunned at this information, nodded.

"In that case," he said, approaching the Pensieve, "here's where things get interesting."

Once again, the environment twisted around them, placing them in the same corridor as before, with young Potter and Elizabeth's father, standing with raised wands, and Lavender Brown crouched over Seward.

"What have you done--" Lavender began.

"Stupefy!" Potter shouted, dropping Lavender on top of her lover's body. "I've had enough," he said.

Malfoy shook his head. "Why'd--"

"Later. I did get what we needed from Seward's mind." He frowned. "We'll have to sneak up on your aunt."

"Afraid?"

"Not for myself. She's not in her right mind, you know."

"How so?"

"Well, put it this way... If I had to describe her feelings towards Voldemort in one word, it'd have to be... lust."

Malfoy stopped. "You are nuts, Potter. But then, you may be right. But does it--"

"It matters," Potter said, "because she might kill Pansy out of spite."

Malfoy froze. "So what do we do?"

"Leave Bellatrix to me," Potter said. "Get Pansy and get her out of here. If I don't make it, go to Neville and tell him what happened. He's the most likely one of my circle to hear you out."

Malfoy nodded, processing the information. Suddenly, Potter grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Potter! What--"

"Right here, Malfoy," Potter said. "You ready?"

He nodded. Potter took something out of his pocket. "One of Hermione's projective shields," he said. "Stops anything except Avada Kedavra. And Bellatrix never uses that first."

Mike looked at Elizabeth, who turned her eyebrows at him. He smiled and looked back.

"Reducto," Malfoy said. The door cracked, and Potter rushed in, activating his shield, which immediately felt impact under a curse.

"Sectumsempra!" he shouted, aiming at Bellatrix Lestrange. She dodged and threw a curse at Malfoy, who was attempting to sneak towards a dark corner. Mike looked closer, and made out some movement there. He shuddered. There appeared to be nothing available for comfort, and the place was chilly. Elizabeth grabbed his hand, shaking. He couldn't blame her. If Potter and Malfoy were right, that was her mother.

Elizabeth's father blocked the spell. Bellatrix dodged a Stunner from Potter and taunted Malfoy.

"Letting another fight for you, nephew? That's all good--if the person you choose can fight--Aaargh!"

Potter's next Stunner hit Bellatrix in the shoulder, glancing off a hastily thrown magical shield. In rage, the Death Eater cast at least ten spells at Potter, two of which, by their looks, were Killing Curses.

Potter dodged all of them, and countered with a barrage of his own. Stray spells now hit walls, and chipped chinks of rock were sent hurling at the combatants.

Malfoy reached his destination at this point. The woman, obviously pregnant, lay on the stone floor, covered in rags. Mike couldn't make out her face under the massive curls of unkempt black hair.

"Water," Pansy moaned. Malfoy brought the tip of his wand to her lips and a trickle entered her mouth.

The woman's eyes fluttered open. "Draco!" she whispered. "She... Cruciatus... the baby..."

Malfoy almost dropped her. His face bore an expression similar to Elizabeth's when she first found out they were champions, but ten times more intense. He raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" he bellowed.

Shocked, Bellatrix turned towards him and met a bolt of green light head-on. She fell dead.

"Malfoy!" Potter shouted as he ran up. The duel hadn't done him good. His robes were torn, his glasses broken, his hair covered in dust, and he had bruises all over his arms and legs.

"What're you going to do, Potter? Report me to the Ministry? First of all, this isn't British territory, second of all, they'd probably say 'good riddance'."

"I would too," Potter said. "But I would have gotten her eventually. She was in no better shape than I am, and she tires faster."

"Whatever. I wasn't thinking--"

"Is Pansy all right?" Potter interrupted.

"We have to get her to a hospital," Malfoy said.

"Hold her. Grab on to me," he ordered.

"What?" Malfoy asked, but did as he was told.

Potter took something out of his pocket. "I thought we might need this," he said. "Ready?"

Malfoy nodded. Potter touched something, and the three people vanished.

The scenery around them transformed, and Mike recognized the familiar lobby of St. Mungo's Hospital. Malfoy looked at Potter.

"A transcontinental Portkey?" he asked. "Do you know how tightly regulated they are?"

"Malfoy, you're not the one to lecture me on following laws. We--"

"Hi, Harry," a woman's voice said. "Are you--"

Mike looked at the blond woman in surprise. He was staring at Kate's mother, Hannah Longbottom. "Pansy?" she said. "What're you--" She focused on Malfoy.

"Hannah, please. Pansy's heavily pregnant, had no food or water in days, and suffered torture under Cruciatus. She--"

"All right," Hannah agreed. "But just because you asked, Harry." She turned to Malfoy. "I didn't forget."

The Healers carried Pansy away. Potter and Malfoy followed in silence.

Then Mike and Elizabeth were out of the Pensieve.

Potter breathed heavily and looked at them, as if expecting questions. Elizabeth broke the silence first. "Did my--"

"Your father," Potter said quietly, "did not wish me to show you this. But I think truth is generally preferable to lies--and you would find out sooner or later anyway." He sighed. "I think we should hold off our next session for at least two weeks. I will see you tomorrow in class."

Outside the door, Mike reached out to hug Elizabeth, but she twirled away. Ignoring his pleas, she headed, almost running, to the entrance to the Slytherin dorm. She paused outside, turned, managed a whispered 'Goodnight', and entered. Mike stood outside before heading off to bed.

We break up without even one date, he thought. Damn Potter.