Cherchez La Femme

Cherchez la Femme 8: No Friend Like a Sister

"For there is no friend like a sister...to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands."

- Christina Rossetti

Narcissa Malfoy stood at the large, aluminum-framed windows of the garish Muggle house in which she now lived and stared at the fast-approaching darkness. It had been years since she'd seen Malfoy Manor, the cold, stone edifice that had once intimidated her so much. But compared to this environment -- white-painted walls, unimaginative window treatments, lacking even a ghoul -- Narcissa longed for her old home. Soon the secret that had held her back would be obliterated. Soon, she could return home.

**

Meanwhile, in the quiet of Sirius' living-room, Hermione and Ron blinked at each other in surprise. This was the closest they'd been to each other in days and neither looked particularly comfortable at being left alone together, despite both Harry's and Ginny's assurances that this action had only been taken for their safety.

"Where's Harry gone?" fretted Hermione, looking past Ron to the doorway, although she had no reason to expect to see him enter the room any time soon. He and Ginny had gone off immediately with the other Aurors to strategise. Hermione had noticed how awkward both of them had been at bringing herself and Ron together again. Harry, of course, had heard the whole story from both sides, and Hermione guessed Ron had talked to Ginny on the way over, for she had given Hermione an apologetic shrug when she walked in with her brother.

"He'll be back," Ron said dully. He kept sneaking looks at Hermione, conflicting emotions running through him. On the one hand he felt an odd kind of relief at seeing her again, but at the same time even looking at her was painful, and he kept dropping his eyes and giving her monosyllabic answers.

A long silence passed, during which Hermione picked nervously at non-existent lint on the sleeve of her robes. Finally she asked, "How are you two getting on, then?"

"Fine." Ron looked up again at her question, studying her bright brown eyes, which to him appeared animated with a mixture of uneasiness at being around himself and at wondering just what was going on.

Harry hadn't said anything to them except, "Stay here," when he ushered them into the room and just as quickly withdrew. Given all that had transpired in the past few months, however, both of them could guess that something major had changed regarding the Malfoys and Gabrielle. How it pertained to themselves, however, remained unclear.

"Hermione - " Ron started, just at the same moment she said his name. "You first," he said.

She shook her head. "No, you."

"Okay." Taking a breath, Ron said, "I'm sorry about the way everything turned out. I guess I let you down, and well...I'm sorry," he repeated.

Now Hermione was the one who didn't look up as she said, "Thanks for letting me stay at the flat. I know it's probably inconvenient for you, having to find a new place..."

"Don't mention it." Ron tried to catch her eye but her gaze remained downcast. Sighing, he added, "Besides, it would be worse, coming home and you not being there. What would I do with all that space? Better that you have it."

Hermione gave him a sad smile. "I wish things had worked out differently, but -" she tossed up her hands and shook her head.

"They didn't, " he finished.

Another long silence threatened to settle over them, but then Harry returned, followed by Ginny, Sirius, and the Delacours. Gabrielle looked tired but her eyes snapped brightly as Harry explained to Ron and Hermione the content of her visions. "So that's why we had to bring you here," he concluded. "It's the only safe place I can think of."

"But Harry, how could any of this have happened?" Hermione asked, glancing around the small group. "Even before you put the extra surveillance on the Malfoys, surely they had regular visits from Ministry supervisors. I really doubt they could have kept magic of this magnitude hidden."

Both Harry and Ginny looked grim. "Clearly, there's been a security lapse," sighed Harry. "That's how it happened. But I still can't work out what they want."

"It is obvious," asserted Fleur. "Zey want my sister."

"They also appear to want Hermione and me," pointed out Ron. "Any bright ideas about that?"

Fleur gave him a condescending glance. "I am sure you 'ave annoyed many people. I still do not see why zese Malfoys were not sent to Azkaban," she added, now glaring at Ron as if he were personally responsible for this oversight.

"Because nobody could provide definitive evidence against them, and because they agreed to assist the Ministry in rounding up loads of other Death Eaters and because they provided definitively damning evidence against those who were prosecuted," Ron answered between gritted teeth, looking annoyed as he always did when anyone raised this issue.

Hermione remained focused on her original question. "But it just seems impossible they could have devised some grand scheme as Gabrielle describes. What if it's a trap to get Gabrielle back in their clutches so they can kill her? Or you, Harry."

Harry had considered this possibility himself. "Maybe so. But what she showed me --" he broke off with a shudder. "It wasn't that simple. There was a sense of evil I haven't felt so strongly since, well..." he trailed off, knowing everyone would flinch if he said Voldemort.

Hermione stood up and began pacing around the coffee table. "But it doesn't make sense," she insisted. "Whatever they're plotting, they've got to know they'll be facing slews of Aurors. I don't see how the two of them could have that much power. I mean, their wands were snapped and even if Draco managed to smuggle in some replacements, there's no way they could get strong enough results from some cornershop wand."

Sirius had been watching her pace and now he stood up, put his hands on Hermione's shoulders to stop her pacing, and guided her back to her seat before saying, "Lucius and Narcissa have no doubt remained well-connected with what remains of the Dark Side. They could have bought wands on the black market that were a good enough match for them."

"But how?" Hermione turned to face Sirius, then looked at Ginny and finally Harry. "I thought you said when the Ministry officials -- and certainly the Aurors -- check up on them they always perform spells to detect the presence of magic. Surely such a check would reveal something as basic as wands?"

Ginny began explaining her own theory, but Harry wasn't listening. Instead, he thought back to the last time he'd sought the aid of his chief informer, Malcolm Baddock -- and his parents. Even removed from the presence of Dementors, the elder Baddocks had descended too far into insanity to provide any information. Malcolm had been silent throughout the meeting. At the time Harry hadn't thought much of it, had assumed he was disturbed at seeing his parents in their current state. But now he wondered.

"I've got to go," he said abruptly, standing up and moving towards the fireplace. "I'll be back within the hour," he added, as the assembled group began talking to him all at once.

**

When he reached Malcolm's front door, Harry didn't bother knocking, just pulled out his wand and sent the door flying open dramatically.

"What the hell --" Malcolm appeared in the foyer, his own wand raised. When he saw Harry standing in front of him, he didn't lower the wand. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Shut it, Malcolm," ordered Harry, reaching behind with his free hand and slamming the door. "Let's go." He gestured ahead to Malcolm's study.

"This is my house, you know," shrilled Malcolm, but he was already marching forward, Harry's wand trained on him.

Once seated, both of them lowered their wands, and Harry said, "You didn't tell me everything you know about the Malfoys, did you?"

"Of course I did."

"You didn't." Harry leaned forward, eyes boring into Malcolm. "What did they do -- offer to cut you in on it? Can't work out why else you of all people would pass up a chance to help take down the mighty Malfoys."

"You have no idea what you're talking about." Malcolm shook his head.

"Who is it?" Harry pulled his chair closer to Malcolm. "Someone from the Ministry has been helping them, covering for them. Who?" he raised his voice at this last question, staring at Malcolm.

Malcolm shrugged and looked away. When he turned his attention back to Harry, the nervous expression had gone from his face and his arrogant smile had returned. "Could be a lot of people, couldn't it?" he asked, reaching for his cigarettes and lighting up. "Could be that Weasley girl-"

"Don't play games with me," warned Harry, gripping his wand more tightly, his voice quiet and cold. "You know as well as I do no Weasley would ever help a Malfoy."

But Malcolm remained unperturbed. "Could be your godfather," he continued, as if Harry hadn't interrupted him. "Sure, he was acquitted, but most of the magical community still thinks he's a dark wizard. He's in the perfect position to give them all the information they need about you and --"

Harry's hand snaked out and shoved Malcolm against the back of his chair. "I said, who is the Ministry official who's been playing both sides?" he growled. "Stop wasting my time."

Malcolm's blue eyes opened wider and he began to sweat nervously under Harry's grasp. "Back off," he managed to say, but the haughtiness was gone and when he fumbled for a new cigarette his hands shook.

"Nothing doing," hissed Harry, but he sat back in his own chair and pointed his wand straight at Malcolm. "Talk."

Malcolm hesitated.

"Talk," Harry repeated, and Malcolm opened his mouth.

"It's more than one official," he said quickly. "The witness protection team assigned from the Ministry? All corrupt," he said with a wave of his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?" Harry demanded, getting to his feet and indicating Malcolm should do the same.

"You didn't ask." Malcolm slouched ahead of Harry, towards the front door, at which point Harry placed a Binding curse on him and set off to the Auror offices.

After depositing Malcolm and dispatching a team to investigate the officials Malcolm had named, Harry went to his own office, thinking quickly. Based on what he'd just learned, Harry wondered if any of the Aurors at Sirius' had been involved in covering for the Malfoys. Malcolm hadn't indicated this was so, but he certainly wasn't the most reliable source. Still unsure just what he intended to do, Harry gathered up a few items from his office and prepared to return to his friends.

**

"Lucius, he's here," Narcissa's crisp voice announced. She pulled her robes over the Muggle clothing she wore reluctantly, and stepped quickly from the house to the car driven by her son.

None of them spoke as Draco drove them away from the tidy streets of the suburbs. Nor did they speak even after they reached the countryside, and the familiar spires of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies appeared on the horizon.

Draco put the car into neutral just beyond the entrance gates and turned off the headlights. "Where are the Aurors? The mediwizards?" he asked, glancing nervously out the window.

"They'll be along," Narcissa assured him.

"You're sure this is what you want?" Draco asked, now turning his gaze to the formidable hospital buildings. "I know you hated that Muggle house but at least there you were free. I brought you wands, I could bring you more things - I just can't believe you'd rather be shut up here."

"It's better this way," his mother said. "At least here we'll be among magic."

Draco turned to his father. "You're certain?"

Lucius glanced ever so quickly at his wife, then addressed Draco. "Yes. Now do just as we told you and proceed directly to our old holiday home in the Languedoc. Hospital policy says no visitors for the first month."

"The time will pass sooner than you think," added Narcissa, looking unusually happy considering she was about to enter a mental institute.

Draco nodded, wondering if perhaps this was for the best. His mother had taken to driving around the countryside ever since being forced to live as a Muggle. Initially she'd had him drive her, but lately she had insisted on being alone, and her behaviour - not to mention his father's - had become increasingly odd the past few weeks.

A tap on the window revealed a waiting Auror, whom Draco vaguely recalled seeing during some of the routine Ministry visits to his parent's home. Draco said nothing to his parents as they climbed out of the car and began walking away with the Auror; then the darkness swallowed them up completely and he drove away.

**

Gabrielle fell back with a gasp, her hand going automatically for the talisman at her throat.

Harry, who had tumbled from the Floo only seconds before, jumped to his feet and lunged across the room. "Gabrielle, what's wrong? Can you hear me?" he asked, as Gabrielle turned more glassy-eyed than he'd ever seen her, even during her strongest visions. "Ginny, get the mediwitch - now," he added, as Gabrielle slid down the sofa and lost consciousness.

Everyone in the room had moved towards her at the first sign of distress, but now Sirius laid a hand each on Madame Delacour and Fleur, holding them back. "Let them handle it," he murmured as the medical staff rushed in.

Ron and Hermione jumped back to make way, but Harry remained at Gabrielle's side, holding her hand and speaking to her. Sensing the mediwitch nearby, he said, "Do something for her."

But the witch shook her head, looking down at Gabrielle. "Can't. She's in a trance state. I don't dare interfere with a Seer in a position like that. Just hang on to her."

Gabrielle gasped again, and just as quickly as she'd sunk into the strange state she seemed to snap out of it, sitting up and leaning an arm against Harry's shoulder, her right hand still grasping at her talisman. She choked and drew a jagged breath, almost like someone who has been swallowing water instead of air. "The Slough," she finally said.

Ignoring her words, Harry gently unpeeled her hand from its vice-like grip on the necklace, and as Gabrielle unclenched her fist everyone started. Her hand was blistered where it had touched the metal, and the locket had fallen open. What they saw inside made them gasp a second time. The ringlet of hair had turned grey.

"Hermione?" Harry looked to her in confusion. "Any ideas?"

Before Hermione could respond, Gabrielle repeated, "The Slough. That's where they are." She began to speak quickly and the indeed, the more she said the stronger she seemed to become. "We can get them now. They are vulnerable, I can feel it. We must get them now, Harry."

"Easy, Gabrielle. We're not killing them, remember?"

She snatched her injured hand away from the mediwitch, who had been healing the burns, and crossed her arms. "Then they will kill you. After they finish killing your friends," she added, glancing at Hermione and Ron.

Ignoring this outburst, Harry turned again to Hermione. "The runes?" he asked, gesturing to the necklace.

"Nothing should be able to interfere with the runes' protective powers," Hermione said slowly. "The only thing I can imagine is the Malfoys have somehow located an immense source of magical energy, something to rival the energies surrounding this talisman." She looked at Gabrielle, frowning, and turned her attention back to Harry. "She keeps saying they're at the Slough."

"What's that?" asked Ron, still eyeing Gabrielle's sizzled lock of hair nervously.

"The Slough of Despond. I've only ever read about it. I didn't think it really existed."

"It exists," gasped Gabrielle. "I can take us there."

"How?" asked Ginny, practically. "You don't know how to Apparate, and if nobody knows where this place is -- or if it even exists -- we certainly can't create a Portkey for it."

"It exists." Gabrielle spoke authoritatively.

"And she can Apparate." Harry was regarding her with new interest. "The first time I met you, you just vanished. You must have Disapparated, but how?"

Gabrielle shrugged. "I do not know how I do it, only that I can."

Hermione, who had been half listening, now joined the conversation. "Harry, if Lucius and Narcissa have been able to generate Dark magic powerful enough to affect Gabrielle in this way, then she's right - they could kill you. And us," she added, swallowing.

Ron snorted. "Not if I get to them first."

"Nobody's killing anyone," said Harry, raising his voice above the din. "Ginny and I will go to this Slough place and sort things out. Sirius will stay here and keep an eye on all of you."

Predictably, this pronouncement pleased no one except Madame Delacour, who had appeared on the verge of nervous collapse ever since her daughter had fallen into the trance.

"Harry, you can't do this all on your own," Hermione finally announced in a voice that reminded him of their schooldays. "Even with Ginny helping you, that's not enough. I know you don't trust the other Aurors at this point, but you can trust us. And Ron and I have had a bit of experience over the years."

"As have I," added Sirius dryly. Everyone turned to look at him. He'd been so quiet they'd nearly forgotten about him. "The Slough is supposed to enhance Dark Magic. Rumours were flying that You-Know-Who finally located it right before he met up with you for the last time." Sirius nodded at Harry. "But the stories also said he was such an egomaniac he enchanted it to prevent his followers finding it. Guess he didn't want to share. Lucky thing for us, in a way, because if all the Death Eaters had been able to benefit from its powers I don't know what would have happened. If that's where Lucius and his wife are, you're not going without me."

Gabrielle nodded eagerly. "I'm certain Lucius and Narcissa are there."

"It makes sense," admitted Ron. "If they're plotting some new attack, they would want to tap into an energy source like that. Sounds like we'll need all the help we can get."

Harry turned to Sirius. "I want at least one person here I can trust and who's capable of taking on experienced Death Eaters, if they decide to break in here. If what Malcolm said is true, the Malfoys could get in with the aid of a corrupt Auror, and Fleur and Gabrielle's mother, the medical staff and others would be in danger. If we're not back within an hour's time, come to the Slough - and bring backup."

Sirius had looked annoyed at the prospect of staying back, but now he glanced at Madame Delacour and his expression softened. "Alright," he agreed. "I'll hold down the fort - for now. But if you're not back I'm coming after you."

**

Following Gabrielle's instructions, the group Apparated to the Slough. Although they all knew they were within a fairly heavily populated area, the immediate landscape gave no hint of any human habitation. Only the light of the moon saved them from landing in complete darkness. Even so, everyone chorused "lumos" as soon as they arrived.

"The Slough of Despond," said Hermione in a hushed tone, directing her wand's light at the horizon and the large bog immediately in front of them. "Whoever thought it really existed, let alone was located so close to Heathrow Airport?"

Fleur wrinkled up her nose. "It looks like a giant pit of mud to me," she observed with disgust.

"That's what Muggles see if they get near," Hermione informed her. "But like Sirius said, the Slough is an intensely magical ground. For Dark Arts, that is," she added with a shudder. "Can't you feel it?"

"Are you suggesting I only see as ze Muggles do?" Fleur demanded. Hermione shook her head and was about to respond when Ron broke in.

"I still don't see why she's here," he grumbled, looking at Fleur. "She couldn't even protect Gabrielle against Grindylows."

"That was ten years ago," hissed Fleur indignantly, forgetting about the Slough for a moment.

"Be quiet, all of you," ordered Harry, stepping between Ron and Fleur. "We need to let Gabrielle concentrate."

"We are too late," Gabrielle announced flatly. "They have already begun."

"Begun what?" asked Hermione.

"I don't know. But I can feel it. She is doing something," Gabrielle said. She was about to say more, but instead grabbed reflexively at her neck, trying to remove her talisman.

"Don't!" Hermione ran to her. "Don't take it off."

"But it's burning again."

"Hermione - can you cope with her?" Harry jerked his head towards Gabrielle. "I want to have a look around. Ginny, you stay with them." After receiving quick nods from both of them, Harry Apparated across the Slough.

He hadn't been able to see the small, mausoleum-like structure that sat opposite the Slough until he arrived on the other side. The outside of the building appeared to be made of granite, and as he drew closer, Harry's scar gave a quick, sharp stab of pain, catching him off guard. Ignoring it, he pushed ahead. An imposing door of stone stood before him, and he used his wand to open it. Inside was a long room, with marble floors and many pillars around the perimeter. The room appeared longer than he would have expected from the outside, reminding Harry of magical tents, and the way they were much roomier on the inside than outside. In the center of the room stood Narcissa, bent over a marble fountain, from which flowed a cascade of green and gold sparks.

She did not appear surprised to see him. "I wondered how long it would take you to arrive." And then, in a calm but dramatic gesture, she tossed a handful of the enchanted fire burbling out of the fountain at Harry's feet. It instantly flared up, creating a wall of flame between them.

"And nothing like trying to set me on fire to say welcome." Harry tapped his wand impatiently against his thigh.

Narcissa regarded him coolly, despite the increasing heat of the flames. "Your father thought he was very clever, too, but at the end he was begging the Dark Lord for mercy, just like your mother. Apparently that is destined to be their legacy to you."

"I destroyed Voldemort, Narcissa," reminded Harry. "No one's going to beg his mercy ever again."

"Not from him, you fool, me," she hissed. "All these years everyone gave the credit to Lucius for the Dark deeds we carried out. Lucius was the one allowed to sit at the Master's right hand. But I should have been the one, I was the one with the Darkest talents - and once I have completed my mission here tonight, I will finally claim my rightful position, and carry on our Master's legacy."

Her words made Harry look at her more with bafflement than fear. "Look, just hand over your contraband wand and control the fire, and maybe you'll end up with a life sentence in St Mungo's criminally insane unit rather than life in Azkaban."

"Did you really think it would be that easy to defeat me?" she sneered, and before Harry could react, she had altered the fire so that it now encircled him. Stepping back, she leaned over the small flame that sprang from the marble fountain and began muttered an unfamiliar incantation, causing Harry's scar to throb as it hadn't done in over seven years.

"Not even she can help you now," Narcissa said, eyes glittering with satisfaction as his pain visibly increased. "That stupid girl, always prattling on about her powers to protect you, how she was the chosen Veela spirit-sister to you. And Dumbledore -- making that talisman for her, all to keep the two of you safe. With the Slough, I have found a way to turn both Dumbledore's power contained in the talisman and your so-called sister's protection against you. The more I make her suffer, the more she draws the life from you as well."

**

Sure enough, Gabrielle was fighting to remove her necklace, whose protective powers had been diminished by the combination of being in the Slough of Despond and Narcissa's Dark spell. Hermione bent over her, struggling to keep Gabrielle from removing the pendant.

"But look at her!" cried Fleur, dropping to Gabrielle's side and regarding Hermione with alarm. "It is burning her skin again!"

"I know," replied Hermione through gritted teeth. "But once this is removed any protective power that remains will be gone. Ginny, maybe you'd better go after Harry."

"But I can't leave all of you unprotected - what if they come after you? Gabrielle's vision showed you and Ron as their targets, too."

Ron shook his head. "Just go. We can take care of ourselves."

"Ron's right," agreed Hermione. "Something's happened to Harry - she wouldn't be in such a bad state if he were alright."

Ginny frowned, looking torn. At last she said, "Okay, I'm going. But stay back here." And she set off in the direction Harry had gone.

**

Ginny landed not far from where Harry had arrived and soon enough she, too, saw the stone building nearby. It was impossible to tell if anyone was inside, for the building lacked any windows and had, she discovered, an impossibly heavy marble door at the entrance. Impatient to be inside, Ginny aimed her wand at the door and blasted if from its hinges. She knew such a dramatic entrance rather reduced the element of surprise, but, like Gabrielle, she was loaded for Malfoy that night.

When Ginny crashed through the door and spotted Harry it was hard to tell who was worse off, Harry or Gabrielle. Although he did not appear burnt he seemed to be in excruciating pain, yet Narcissa wasn't even holding a wand to him, merely leaning over a marble fountain, out of which bubbled enchanted flame.

Ginny took aim with her wand and sent a stunning spell towards Narcissa. Before the spell even hit, however, Narcissa had drawn her own wand and sent the curse ricocheting back towards Ginny.

Jumping to the side, Ginny called out, "By the authority of the Ministry I -"

Narcissa directed another hex at her, sending Ginny scrambling for cover. "I'm sorry, dear, what were you saying?" Narcissa inquired sweetly.

Ginny crouched behind one of the stone pillars supporting the strange marble chamber. As far as she could tell, there was no one else around, not even Lucius. Hoping to be quicker this time, she darted around the pillar and took aim again at Narcissa.

"I hope you at least brought that younger Delacour girl with you, since you're being so difficult." Narcissa inquired, apparently impervious to Ginny's hexes. "No? Then there's no reason for you to be here," she concluded. She sent a blast towards the second pillar, where Ginny was standing.

Ginny had rarely encountered anyone with such sharp wandsmanship, having been the quickest in her Auror class. But Narcissa was both fast and unerring, and the curse slammed against Ginny's leg. She hobbled for cover, unable to fight back.

"Yes, it's difficult to move when part of you is hit with an Immobilising Curse, isn't it?" Narcissa strolled closer to where Ginny hid. "Let's just finish things off, then. And I'll even leave a little sign for your friends, for old time's sake."

**

Hermione, Ron and Fleur kept an anxious watch over Gabrielle, who inexplicably seemed to experience a brief reprieve from her suffering. She stopped thrashing about and the silver pendant, which had glowed white with heat, returned to its normal colour.

"What is 'appening?" demanded Fleur. "Is she alright?"

"I don't know," replied Hermione. "Gabrielle, can you hear us?"

"Hermione - look." Ron grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and pointed to the sky.

Both Hermione and Fleur looked, and gasped simultaneously as they saw the Dark Mark hovering in the direction they had last seen Harry and Ginny disappear.

"But he's gone, You-Know-Who is gone," Hermione said breathlessly, unable to tear her eyes away from the horrible symbol. "There's no reason to put the Mark up, the Death Eaters only did that when -" she clapped a hand across her mouth and shook her head.

"When they killed," Ron finished, looking back at Fleur and Gabrielle.

"He is not killed," Gabrielle gasped feebly, gripping her sister's hand for support.

All eyes turned to Ron. "Ginny," he whispered. "No, it's a trick, Harry said they wanted us, not Ginny. Why would they kill her?"

Hermione's face was grave. "I don't know. Gabrielle," she said, turning back to the Delacours, "can you help us out? Can you See anything?"

Gabrielle shook her head. Ugly blisters covered her chest where the necklace had come in contact with her flesh, and her breathing became increasingly shallow.

"We've got to go find them," announced Ron. "I can't wait around here to see what's happened."

Hermione stepped close to him and said quietly, "But what about Gabrielle? We can't leave her and Fleur alone, and she can't even sit up, let alone walk."

"We can magick a stretcher and move her with us." Seeing Hermione's doubtful expression he added fiercely, "I have to go and help Ginny if I can - she's my sister. And Harry's our best friend."

"I know. I want to help them, too." Hermione bit down on her bottom lip, then took a deep breath and turned back to Fleur. "Okay, here's what we're doing," she began.

**

"Immobilis Incendio," commanded Harry, as Narcissa toyed with Ginny, chasing her through the ornamental columns. But the standard Flame-Freezing charm had no effect on Narcissa's fire. He still felt weak and dizzy from whatever Narcissa had been doing with her spellwork, but now that her attention was distracted the pain had abated, and he was determined to free himself and assist Ginny.

"Finite Incantatum," he tried. "Desino Incendio." The flames flickered for a moment at this last charm, but just as quickly came back full-force. He wished he had someone to perform the spell with him for added power. But Ginny was fighting for her life against Narcissa, and the only others who could help him, Ron and Hermione, were on the other side of the Slough, awaiting his return. And who knew when -- or if -- Sirius would be able to arrive with other Aurors.

Except - Harry blinked and shook his head to make sure what he was seeing was real, not a hallucination manufactured by Narcissa. Through the open door frame, he could see Hermione, Fleur and Ron, the latter carrying an unconscious Gabrielle. They approached, then turned and were lost to his sight.

Outside, Hermione pulled the group up short. "The Mark is directly overhead," she announced, "so this must be where they are." Everyone looked at Gabrielle. They had floated her on a stretcher as far as they'd dared, but then Ron had simply carried her the rest of the way, it being too difficult to protect her otherwise.

Without a word, Fleur moved to Ron's side and took charge of her sister. "Go," she said, eyes on the door.

"We're all sticking together," said Hermione. "Ron and I will enter first, but you stay right behind us."

She moved ahead and peered around the corner. Hermione could see Harry, and she saw Narcissa at the far side of the room, her back to them. There was no sign of Ginny.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Fleur. "New plan. You wait here with Gabrielle. It's going to take some tricky charm work to get to Harry through those flames and it's too difficult to do that and guard Gabrielle if she's unconscious."

Fleur nodded and sank down to the ground with her sister, watching anxiously as Ron and Hermione dashed through the doorway.

Narcissa spun around at the sounds of their footsteps. "Everyone is here except my guests of honour," she said, looking past Ron and Hermione. "Oh, I see."

"No!" Hermione turned and cast a stunning spell as Narcissa made for the door, and Ron joined in. But even their combined efforts were only enough to slow her down, not stun her completely.

Raising her wand, she commanded, "Accio Delacours!" and the two sisters came flying into the room, landing in a heap on the floor.

Fleur jumped to her feet, livid with anger. "Nobody sends for a Delacour zat way! Exilia!"

The immediacy of her response caught Narcissa off guard, the spell throwing her backwards against a wall.

Ron and Hermione instantly chorused "Expelliarmus!" and Narcissa's wand came flying to Hermione's outstretched hand.

"You foolish, foolish girl," said Narcissa to Fleur, albeit a trifle shakily. Then she took them all in with her glance. "After all you have done to save the little one, perhaps her life does not mean so much to you after all?" She flew from her position against the wall to stand before Fleur and her sister. Standing next to the fountain, she continued to murmur the spell she'd begun earlier.

Harry, who had felt almost back to normal, doubled over in pain, and Gabrielle began writhing within Fleur's grasp. "She can't take much more, you know," Narcissa addressed Fleur. "She was under our care for years, I know her limits." Turning to Hermione she added, "It takes longer to kill her this way, since you prevented her from removing her talisman, but I can still do it."

"Not without your wand," said Hermione. "You won't have enough power to continue otherwise, Slough or no Slough."

"Lucius!" At the first syllable of his name, Lucius Malfoy appeared in the archway, holding Ginny, who staggered at his side. His wand was pointed at her. Removing the arm supporting her, he tossed her wand to his wife as Ginny collapsed to the ground.

"Let her go!" shouted Ron.

Now armed, Narcissa pointed Ginny's wand at Ron. "Why should I?" she inquired casually. "Because you say so?"

"Ron, don't," panted Ginny as Lucius grabbed her again and dragged her forward, her right side still afflicted by the Immobilising curse.

"You should listen to your sister," Narcissa replied. "Now Miss Delacour, what is your sister worth to you?" With a snap of the wand, she trapped them in flames just as she had trapped Harry.

"What do you want? Why are you doing this?" demanded Hermione.

"What do I want?" Narcissa's coldly smooth voice returned. "Only what is mine."

She began to pace about, twirling Ginny's wand as she spoke. "I suppose you, like most in the magical world, assumed I had been born to my wealth and privilege. I was not. Although I come from an ancient, pureblood family, my father's irresponsible attitudes, particularly towards Muggles and Mudbloods, cost my family our fortune. I completed only one year at Hogwarts before my parents sent me to Beauxbatons instead; it was less expensive and fewer people there knew of our embarrassed circumstances. But the Dark Lord was aware of my father's ridiculous attitudes, and soon he was killed. My mother and I had nothing, and none of the purebloods we'd once known would help the widow and daughter of a Muggle-lover like my father." She paused in her narrative and glared at Gabrielle and Fleur. "Not even your noble father," she sneered.

"That's not true!" burst out Fleur. "My father would never judge someone based solely on money."

"Oh really?" Narcissa asked. "He certainly had nothing to say to me. But he is of no consequence. I disposed of him eventually." She waved her hand to indicate the trifling nature of the issue.

Then her expression hardened once again, as did her voice. "The purebloods I met held me in low regard because I had no money. Others shunned me because of my mother's views regarding the superiority of purebloods -- it was clear to both of us that if my father had only maintained the views he'd once had about Mudbloods -- that they brought down the magical world -- none of our financial problems would have occurred. And it became clear to me my only hope of escaping both my poverty and the bitterness of my mother was to marry well. Although we had lost our home in England, my mother inherited a villa in France from her parents, who had used it as a summer house. I was living there, just after leaving school, when I met Lucius." She paused once more and glanced over at her husband.

"Taken in by the size and grandeur of the house, he assumed I was wealthy. I never let him see beyond the grand entrance hall of the house, for we couldn't afford to keep any of it up. Not until we were engaged did he put the pieces together and realise who my father was. He threatened to break off the engagement, but my cunning use of desiring charms put an end to that threat. Once we were married, however, he always cast my wretched history up to me. He insisted I stay in the background, and he stole all my best Dark Magic ideas and spells."

"Lies!" thundered Lucius. A moment ago he'd looked rather cowed, but now his face became dark with anger, and he lurched forward, dragging Ginny with him. "You should be grateful to me, Narcissa. I married you when, by your own admission, no-one else would have you. It was only through me that you ever attained any standing in the magical world. But what thanks do I get for my generosity? My own wife, using Dark Arts against me!"

Narcissa had become increasingly agitated as her husband spoke, swinging the wand in wider circles, her face flushed and eyes gleaming maniacally. "Shut up, Lucius!" she commanded.

Then, collecting herself, she turned again to Hermione and continued. "I devoted myself to the Dark Lord, determined to prove myself worthy, and to redeem my name from the reputation created by my father. But every time I did something, from the lowliest hex to the most complicated Dark enchantment for our Master, Lucius took all the credit. He would have been nothing if not for me. Nothing!" She shouted the last word in a strangled, desperate voice and glared at all of them, as if daring anyone to defy her.

Nobody said anything and a strange silence filled the room, save for the snapping of the magical fires that imprisoned Harry and Fleur and Gabrielle.

"Tonight, after years of searching, I have finally found the Slough of Despond. Once I have fully harnessed its energy, nothing can stop me from fulfilling my Master's vision. Not Harry Potter, and certainly not my foolish husband." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Lucius, if you thought the last seven years with me were bad for you, just wait."

"Expelliarmus!" Narcissa cried, pointing Ginny's wand at the one in Lucius' hand. The wand flew to her grasp. He dropped Ginny, looking shaken.

"Narcissa, what -"

"Tacete!" she commanded, and Lucius was struck mute.

As Narcissa advanced menacingly towards her husband, Hermione turned to Ron. "We've got to get Ginny's wand back to her. I think we can do it if we use the Banishing charm. Now, while Narcissa's busy with Lucius," she whispered urgently.

Taking extremely precise aim, Ron and Hermione sent the wand flying back to its owner. Narcissa stopped and gaped, first at the wand as it flew from her grasp, then at her three opponents.

Seeing everyone's attention was focused on Narcissa, Lucius bolted for the door. "'E is escaping!" shrieked Fleur from behind her fiery cell. Ron, who together with Hermione and Ginny, had been on the verge of attacking Narcissa, looked away from his target. His split-second of lost concentration was all Narcissa needed. She leapt to his side and grabbed him, holding Ron in front of her like a shield and turning his own wand on him.

"Attack me now," she taunted.

"My pleasure," announced a deep voice. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound; Sirius stood in the doorway, wand pointed at Narcissa.

"Surely you're not willing to kill him just to get to me." She jerked Ron around so they both faced Sirius. "Your godson's best friend?"

"It won't be necessary to kill him," Sirius said, his ultra-rational voice contrasting sharply with Narcissa's hysterical tone as he strolled inside the room. "We've got you covered on all sides. Oh, and I found your husband, on his way out." He pointed near the doorway, where a Stupefied Lucius had been deposited in a heap. "Game's up, Narcissa."

"No! Make one move towards me and I'll kill him," she threatened, her eyes locked on Sirius and one arm firmly across Ron's neck, wand at his temple.

Furious with himself for having allowed Narcissa the opportunity to capture him, Ron decided to make a break for it, assuming Sirius had brought with him dozens of Aurors. He dropped his weight down and delivered a well-placed elbow to Narcissa's ribs. It may not have been magic, but the blow was effective and unexpected, loosening her grip enough for him to wriggle free.

His move surprised everyone, but Narcissa recovered quickly enough. Ron's wand still in her hand, she pointed it at the pillar nearest Sirius and exploded it, showering the room with dust. "That should slow you down," she muttered.

Raising her voice, she cried, "Try to destroy me! My husband ran like the coward he is, while I stayed and fought! And I will take each of you out, just as I did to him." She glanced at the crumbling ceiling that sagged where the pillar once stood, then down at the heap of rubble covering Sirius. Her face looking ever more possessed, she turned her attention back to her attackers.

From behind the imprisoning flames, Harry strained to catch a glimpse of Sirius. When the dust settled, he saw his godfather lying inertly beneath the pillar.

"Ron!" Harry choked out. "Help him!"

Ron glanced at Narcissa, who had jerked around at the sound of Harry's voice. Unarmed, Ron remained vulnerable and judging from her expression, all her wrath appeared concentrated on him at the moment. "You're not getting off that easily!" she cried.

As Narcissa lunged towards her brother, Ginny dragged herself forward and together with Hermione took aim.

"Stupefy!" they shouted together. The spell hit her squarely, but not before Narcissa had shouted "Incendio." The stunning spell hit just as she uttered her own spell, and as she fell forward her wand flailed out of control, with flames springing up everywhere.

Ignoring the rising flames, Hermione pointed her wand at Ginny. "Finite Incatatum," she commanded, restoring Ginny to a fully mobile state.

Ginny jumped forward and grabbed Ron's wand from the now unconscious Narcissa, tossing it to her brother, then dashed to Sirius' side.

"Ron, try to get Fleur and Gabrielle," urged Hermione, as Ginny began trying to free Sirius. "I'll try to help Harry." She glanced to the doorway. "I thought Harry told him to bring backup - isn't there anyone else out there to help?"

Apparently there was not. Hermione dodged around the various blazes begun by Narcissa's errant wand and drew closer to the small circle of flames surrounding Harry. The fire gave off tremendous heat, but being enchanted at least it was smokeless.

"None of the standard charms seem to work on it," Harry called out to her weakly. "I tried Desino and they flickered for a moment -- maybe if we perform it together?"

She nodded. "Tackling these enchanted fires is like subduing dragons -- it takes more than one person fighting them. Can you jump out when the flame pauses?"

"I can try," Harry gasped. Hermione glanced from him to Gabrielle. Just as Narcissa had explained to Harry, the weaker Gabrielle became, the worse he looked as well.

"No, don't," she instructed. "I'll come in for you instead. Save your energy to perform the spell."

"But that will be for only a few seconds," Harry protested. "It's not enough time."

"It will be." Hermione set her jaw in a determined way and raised her wand. Watching her worriedly, Harry raised his as well and together they shouted "Desino Incendio!"

Hermione darted forward before she'd even finished the last syllable. She grabbed Harry's wrist and yanked him towards her in one quick motion, his body clearing the flames just before they sprang up again.

Ron, meanwhile, had followed Hermione's lead and braved the fires to pull out both Fleur and Gabrielle. He and Fleur were dragging Gabrielle between them as they all struggled towards the one way out of the stone chamber.

Ginny joined them with Sirius on a stretcher. "He's alive," she called out. "I blasted away the broken parts of the pillar, but he's got multiple fractures. Maybe spinal trauma as well. We've got to move him very carefully. I put him in a Full Body Bind to keep him stabilised."

"Good," nodded Harry, one arm draped across Hermione's shoulder for support. "Let's get out of here." But everyone's initial relief at the prospect of freedom turned to dismay as they drew closer to the door.

The many small blazes that had filled the room now seemed to be working together. A wall of living flame leapt up in front of the doorway, and a similar line advanced from behind, the distance between the two diminishing with each passing second. Clearly, the flame was able to carry out the intentions of its creator whether she was conscious or not.

"What are we going to do?" asked Ginny, her face frantic. "None of us could extinguish the flames isolating Harry or Fleur -- how are we going to get through this?"

"If we all perform Desino together, that should allow at least one person enough time to get through," said Hermione. "We could go one by one."

Harry shook his head. "It won't work as well with half of us on this side and half on the other. Not to mention we can't move Gabrielle or Sirius through there very quickly."

"Or these two," Ginny indicated Narcissa and Lucius.

"Who cares?" Fleur demanded. "Zey deserve to die in 'ere."

"I want them out of here alive," interjected Ron. "Hermione, ever read about the Patronus charm being used on anything besides a Dementor?"

"I can't recall. But it's a good idea - the Slough accentuates negative energy, much like a Dementor feeds on unhappiness; at this point, I think the Slough's power is what's keeping these fires active."

"Let's try it," panted Harry, his face flushed from both exertion and the heat of the encroaching flames.

They all raised their wands and closed their eyes, trying to concentrate on a happy memory. Doing so was no easier in the face of an enchanted fire than a Dementor; even though a fire didn't intentionally suck out all happy thoughts, it was certainly very difficult to concentrate on happiness knowing flames were licking at your heels.

"Ready?" cried Harry, and in unison they shouted, "Expecto Patronus!"

Large shimmering figures filled the room and charged at the flames, Harry's stag taking the lead. The figures passed through the flames, creating a clear path, and the group moved quickly through the doorway. The Patronus figures continued into the night and seemed to prance across the Slough, before finally disappearing.

Harry took a deep breath, the cool night air rushing into his lungs. Still leaning heavily against Hermione, he surveyed the rest of his friends.

Ron's face was flushed almost as red as his hair, which stood on end. He had one arm around Gabrielle's waist, as did Fleur. Behind them floated Sirius, then Lucius and Narcissa, with Ginny close by. Although the Immobilising curse no longer affected her, her body still ached with fatigue and from the battering she had received at the hands of Lucius.

After determining everyone was accounted for, Harry cleared his throat and said feebly, "Home?"

**

The scene at Sirius' estate almost made their time at the Slough seem calm. Every mediwitch and wizard on hand had been summoned as soon as the group straggled inside, having been forced to walk a distance and gain entrance from outside since Apparation directly into the house was not possible.

Madame Delacour appeared beyond speech, and could little more than clutch Fleur so tightly her daughter was beginning to look oxygen-starved. When the medical staff came in with Gabrielle, who had been removed for special treatments, Madame Delacour finally released her elder daughter to rush to her younger girl's side. Fleur joined her, giving Gabrielle a kiss on the cheek, then stepping aside to let her mother fuss over her sister.

And then Fleur astonished everyone by walking up to Ron and giving him a kiss that more than made up for the many fantasies he had entertained of just such a moment. When he recovered his powers of speech, he asked feebly, "How do I get you to do that again?"

Fleur appeared to be reconsidering her hasty action. Tossing her hair and stepping back, she said stiffly, "It will not 'appen again. It is just - no one 'as ever walked through fire for me before. I appreciate ze gesture."

"I have some other gestures you might appreciate," Ron offered hopefully, but Fleur had already turned away and was now talking with her sister, who had revived sufficiently to sit up.

Harry smiled at Hermione and said quietly, "I guess I should thank you, too, for walking through multiple fires for me."

"It was nothing," Hermione said modestly. "Just some variations on the basic Flame-Freezing charm." Then she looked at him and said, more quietly still, "And you know I'd do that - and more - for you."

Harry merely nodded, and squeezed her hand tightly. There was a lot he wanted to say to her - how his heart had seemed to stop along with the flames the moment she stepped through them, how he'd realised tonight he'd never stopped missing her - but now seemed like completely the wrong time. She had just ended a major relationship, with his best friend no less, and they'd all had a close call with Narcissa.

In all likelihood he was just a bit overwrought from the effects of the evening, Harry told himself. It wasn't every day he sent Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy off for what promised to be a long stay in Azkaban. And Ron had indicated Draco could be charged, too, if the Ministry was able to extradite him from France. Believing his parents' story that they had opted to move to confinement in St Mungo's, he had followed their instructions and left the country immediately after dropping them off.

Then Sirius was brought in, looking dazed and battered like Ginny, and walking gingerly. He headed straight for Harry and hugged him wordlessly. "Sorry about the backup," he said at last, with a wry smile. "I owled the Ministry as soon as you left but they couldn't organise that many people as quickly as I wanted, so I just went ahead on my own."

"It's okay," assured Harry, relieved to see his godfather walking and talking again. Glancing at the other side of the room, he said, "I think someone else wants a word with you just now."

Sirius smiled over at Madame Delacour and swiftly crossed the room to her side. Harry watched them for a moment, glad Sirius had found someone who made him so happy. His attention was diverted, however, by the sudden entrance of Seamus.

"Gin," Seamus said weakly, on beholding her dishevelled form. "They told me..." he started to explain, then trailed off and simply walked forward until he had reached her. "You okay?"

Ginny wrapped her arms around him. "Yes," she said into his ear. "Couldn't be better."

Harry noted Gabrielle was studying Seamus intently, and realised she had never met him before. "This is your friend?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's Seamus. He was in my year at Hogwarts. He and Ginny are, erm, together," Harry finished, the last part seeming unnecessary as Seamus kissed Ginny with a force that made even Sirius blush.

Only Gabrielle remained unfazed. "He has a very strong...aura," she announced. "Yes, very strong indeed."

"Aura?" Hermione snorted, and Harry led her away from both the reunion scene and Gabrielle's indignant glares.

They stepped outside. The lights from the house shone brightly through the windows, but the grounds remained dark and shadowy and quiet. "So, Ron and Fleur," started Harry, then stopped short, deciding that might not be the best topic.

But Hermione appeared amused. "They bicker almost as well as he and I do."

"Hermione," Harry began again, staring out at the perfectly manicured lawns, "What do you think of when you do the Patronus charm?"

He half expected her to refuse to answer, and sure enough, Hermione merely gave him an enigmatic smile before turning away.

"Sorry," he muttered. "I guess it's kind of a personal question."

Hermione looked back at him, her expression now amused. "Can't you guess?" she asked softly. When he did nothing but look at her in a puzzled way, she asked, "What do you think of?"

Now Harry blushed and looked down at his shoes. They were slightly singed, he noticed. Tonight he'd been thinking of Hermione, not one particular moment, but just - her. "Um, it's kind of hard to explain," he muttered. "I don't really think about one particular memory, like I did when I was first learning. Tonight, I was thinking about someone who's - " he paused, choosing his words carefully. "Who's taught me a lot - about courage and about...happiness," he added, still speaking to his shoes instead of her. "Again, it wasn't just one memory, but how that person made me feel."

"Your dad?"

"Not tonight." Harry turned and looked closely at Hermione. Her eyes were exhausted, and her hair looked as dishevelled as he'd ever seen it. "Someone else."

"Ah." At his words, Hermione's eyes had brightened and the smile returned to her tired face. "That's how it is for me, too," she said quietly. Harry gave her a questioning look as he began to guess at her meaning - and the inspiration for her Patronus - but once again, she simply smiled and said nothing further.

Harry nodded, more to himself than anything. Then he took Hermione's hand, and together they walked back inside, where their friends were waiting for them.

****