Voldemort’s Heir
Chapter Fourteen
“Well, well, the young turncoat returns,” Voldemort said, laughing as Draco led Eric and Harry down the corridor. “And he’s brought presents.”
“Something’s up, milord,” Lucius growled, glaring at his son, who glared back. “I don’t trust him.”
“Nice to see you too, Dad,” Draco said in an icy tone.
“So, you’ve come to give yourselves up,” Voldemort said, addressing Eric and Harry.
“We want to see Krista first,” Eric told his grandfather.
“You’re in no positions to make demands, boy,” Lucius snapped.
“Malfoy,” Voldemort said, holding up a hand. “You will address my grandson with the highest of respect.”
Lucius clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing at Eric. “As you wish, milord,” he told Voldemort.
“Now, I can assure you that the Muggle is quite safe,” Voldemort said. “You can see her as soon as we’ve gotten to know each other better.”
He smirked at Harry. “As for you, Potter,” he said. “I’ve waited many years for this day. Malfoy, my wand.”
Eric and Draco exchanged glances. No! Draco thought. Though it was only a clone, he couldn’t bear to see anything happen to Harry. He tensed, ready to defend his love.
Eric saw Draco tensing and shook his head. Just let it happen, he thought frantically, his eyes boring into Draco’s.
Lucius flashed an evil grin, pulling a wand from his robes. He handed it to Voldemort, who lovingly caressed the wand. “Oh yes,” he said. “I’ve been waiting a long time indeed.”
He pointed his wand at Harry, shouting “AVADA KERDAVA!”
Draco bit his lip to keep from crying out as a flash of green light struck Harry in the chest, flinging him backwards.
Voldemort threw his head back, laughing evilly. “At last! I am rid of Potter!”
******
In the middle of the corridor leading to Krista’s cell, there was suddenly a strangled cry. Seemingly out of nowhere, a young man’s body appeared, crouched on one knee. Harry clutched his chest, struggling to breathe.
Eric let the Invisibility Cloak fall to the ground, kneeling beside Harry. “What is it?”
“My clone. . .” Harry croaked. “I felt him. . .die.”
Eric looked grim. “We kinda figured that would happen.”
Harry nodded. “But I didn’t. . .think it would be. . .this painful.” He grimaced as he ruefully rubbed his chest.
“You gonna be okay?” Eric asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” Harry said, nodding. “Find your wife.”
Eric nodded, rising to his feet. He glanced around the corridor. There were several doors, and he quickly tried each of them. Most were unlocked and led to storerooms or empty cells. Finally he came to a door that was locked. “Oh please, let Krista be behind this door,” he muttered, drawing his wand.
“Alohamora,” he said, pointing his wand at the door. He heard the lock turn and then pushed the door open.
Inside the room, as soon as Krista had heard the door opening, she’d sprang up from the cot, her hands held ready.
“Really, Blondie, are we gonna go at it again?” she said.
She gasped as the door swung open fully and a dark-haired man entered, brandishing a wand. “Blondie?” he said.
“Eric!” she cried, propelling herself across the room and into his arms.
“Whoa, Big Mouth!” he said in surprise as she covered his face with kisses. “I’m glad to see you too.”
“Oh god, Eric,” she said, kissing him. “What are you doing here?!”
“That should be obvious,” he whispered, hugging her to him. “God, baby, I’ve been so worried about you.”
“You shouldn’t have come,” she hissed, clinging to him. “That man, Voldewart, he wants to use you to bring himself back to power.”
“I know,” Eric said, smoothing her hair down. “I couldn’t just leave you.” He loosened his grip on her, cupping her cheek in his hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m just sick of this place.”
“We’re getting you out of here,” he told her.
“We?” she said, frowning.
“Yeah,” Eric said. “Harry Potter is outside. He, among others, helped me plan this rescue.”
Suddenly Krista cried out in surprise as another dark-haired man appeared in the doorway. His eyeglasses were sitting at an angle on his nose and he was breathing heavily.
“We have to hurry,” he panted. “Draco’s in trouble.”
“What?” Eric said. “Oh, uh, Krista, this is Harry Potter. Harry, my wife, Krista.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Harry said, nodding at her.
“Hi,” Krista responded. “Who’s Draco?”
“My boyfriend,” Harry said. “C’mon, Malfoy’s killing him!”
******
Back in the main room, Draco was glaring at Voldemort, who was still cackling gleefully. “No more Potter!” Voldemort laughed.
Lucius narrowed his eyes, staring at his son. “I don’t know, milord,” he said. “It was too easy. And Draco here hasn’t even sniffled. Something isn’t right.”
“What do you mean?” Draco said. “There’s the evidence that Harry’s dead!” He motioned to the still form lying on the ground. “Your master murdered him.”
“And you don’t seem the least bit broken up about it,” Lucius growled, stalking toward his son. “What is going on?”
“Nothing,” Draco said, backing away from his father. “I’ve had a change in heart.”
“Malfoy, what is the matter with you?” Voldemort said, frowning.
“I don’t trust him,” Lucius spat. “A mere day ago, he was defending Potter against my curses, and now he barely even sheds a tear when you kill him? No, something is wrong.” His hand lashed out, gripping Draco’s upper arm. “What is it? Tell me!”
“Ow!” Draco cried as Lucius squeezed his arm. “Let me go!”
“Let him go,” Eric said.
Lucius narrowed his eyes, drawing his wand and pointing it at Eric. “Crucio!”
“No!” Draco cried, launching himself forward and shoving his father. Lucius stumbled, his aim thrown off, and the curse sailed past Eric, striking one of the statues.
Lucius whirled on Draco, his eyes glinting with anger. “Traitor!” he cried. “How dare you!”
“MALFOY!” Voldemort shouted as Lucius pointed his wand at Draco, casting the Cruciatus spell.
“Milord,” Lucius said, bowing to his master.
“How dare you cast a spell against my grandson,” Voldemort hissed, shaking with rage.
“Milord, they both are spies for Dumbledore,” Lucius said. “There is something amiss. We should get you to safety.”
Voldemort narrowed his eyes, glancing at Eric. “You wouldn’t be foolish enough to double-cross me,” he said.
“I don’t know, I’ve been told I’m pretty foolish sometimes,” Eric said, stepping toward Draco’s writhing body.
Lucius raised his wand, his mouth already forming the words of a curse.
“Malfoy!” Voldemort hissed. “I forbid you to curse my grandson!”
“Milord, he is obviously working against you,” Lucius growled. “It is my sworn duty to protect you!”
“Get up, Draco,” Eric hissed under his breath at the form beneath him. “C’mon, fight it!”
Draco gave another cry of pain.
“Go and fetch the girl,” Voldemort told Lucius.
“Milord!” Lucius protested.
“The girl, Malfoy!” Voldemort shouted.
Lucius grumbled under his breath as he left to go retrieve Krista from her cell.
A muscle in Eric’s cheek twitched. “If you think for a second that bringing Krista in here is gonna change my mind. . .”
“Oh, I have no doubt it will, grandson,” Voldemort said, his eyes flashing.
Suddenly Lucius’ strangled cry could be heard from around the corner of the corridor leading to Krista’s cell, followed by the thudding sound of a body hitting the floor. Eric whirled, a puzzled expression on his face, and even Voldemort looked startled.
“Draco!” cried Harry as he rounded the corner, racing to his lover’s side.
“WHAT?!” Voldemort shouted, enraged. “It is impossible!!!!”
“Looks like you’ve been had, Voldie,” Krista said, smirking as she and Eric came into the room. She blinked, seeing the clone standing beside Draco’s body. “Whoa, talk about double vision.”
“No, this is not possible!” Voldemort cried.
“Expelliarmus!” the real Eric shouted, pointing his wand at his grandfather. Voldemort’s wand flew across the room, and Krista caught it, grinning.
“Cool,” she said, examining it.
“Be careful, it’s not a toy,” Harry said.
“Okay, Professor,” Krista said, rolling her eyes.
“It’s all right,” Harry told Draco, who groaned. “You’re going to be okay.”
Draco gave him a pitiful look, then mercifully passed out.
“Well, it seems to me the tables have turned,” Eric said smugly, smirking at his grandfather as he pointed his wand in the wizard’s direction.
Voldemort hissed, gripping the armrests of his chair. “I’m not through yet.”
He raised his wand, intending to curse Krista, but Harry beat him to it. Harry raised his own wand, shouting “Repealo!”
Voldemort was suddenly thrown from his chair, slamming into the opposite wall hard enough to knock him unconscious. As the evil wizard slid to the floor, Harry looked at Eric and Krista.
“Let’s go,” he said, casting the Mobulicorpus spell on Draco.
“We’re really getting out of here?” Krista said, handing Voldemort’s wand to Harry, who tucked it away.
“Yep,” Eric said, smiling. “I want you to meet my parents.”
“So it was true,” Krista said. “Voldie saying that you’re a wizard.”
Eric nodded. “There’s a lot more, but let’s get you fed and bathed and some new clothes.”
“What are you trying to say, I stink?” she teased.
“Well. . .no offense, but yeah,” he said, smiling.
Krista laughed. “I’ve missed you.”
“I know,” he said. He quickly scooped her up into his arms. “We’re ready when you are, Harry.”
“Wait, what about your clone?” Krista said, motioning to the other Eric.
“Oh yeah,” Eric said, frowning.
“I wonder if there’s a reversal potion,” Harry said.
“C’mon,” Eric told his clone, feeling slightly weird because he was essentially talking to himself.
Wordlessly, the clone stepped toward him, raising his hands and presenting them to Eric, palms first. Eric frowned, but something told him to place his palms against his clone’s. Their palms began to glow, a warm feeling rushing over Eric.
Krista suddenly gasped as it seemed that the clone was being sucked into Eric through their linked palms.
“Whoa,” Harry said, blinking.
As they watched, the two Erics melded, becoming one. As Krista watched, she was reminding of a submarine disappearing beneath the surface of the water.
When the last bit of the glow subsided, Eric blinked. “That was. . .weird,” he commented, gazing at his palms.
“C’mon,” Harry said. “Sirius is waiting for us.”
******
They found Sirius pacing outside the mansion, his arms crossed over his chest. His wand and the book were stuffed in the back pocket of his pants, and he glanced up at the sound of the door being opened. He drew his wand immediately, then relaxed.
“It’s about damn time,” he said irritably as Harry descended the steps, followed by Draco’s limp body. Eric and Krista were the last ones out of the house, their hands entwined.
“Bored, were you?” Harry said, smiling.
“Yes,” Sirius snapped. “Laugh all you want, Harry. Next time, you can wait outside while I play hero.”
Harry laughed. “Deal,” he said. “But at least this way we can tell Isabene that you’re just fine.”
“Ha ha. Come on, let’s get back to the castle,” Sirius said, pulling the book from his back pocket.
“Oh, Krista, this is Sirius Black, my godfather,” Harry said. “Sirius, this is Krista.”
“It’s always a pleasure to meet a beautiful woman,” Sirius said, smiling.
Krista grinned, then nudged Eric in the ribs with her elbow as he scowled.
“Just put your hand on the book,” Harry said. “It’ll take us back to Hogwarts.”
“Okay,” Krista said, hesitantly reaching out to the book.
“It’s okay, Krista,” Eric said, wrapping his arm around her waist and touching the book.
Krista gasped, feeling a jerk below her navel.
******
Isabene paced her father’s office, wringing her hands. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, watching her over the rims of his glasses.
“Child, sit down,” he said. “You’re giving me motion sickness with all your pacing.”
“Sorry, Dad,” she said, reluctantly sitting down on the couch. “I’m just worried.”
Before Dumbledore could respond, the door to his office opened and Sirius entered the room, followed by Harry, Draco, Eric and Krista.
“Siri!” Isabene cried, leaping off the couch.
“Hi honey, I’m home,” he said, hugging her.
Harry gently maneuvered Draco’s body over to the couch as Eric ushered Krista to a chair.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” Dumbledore told her. “I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster.”
“Hi,” Krista said, blinking. “I’m Krista Myers.”
“And this is Isabene,” Sirius said, draping his arm around Isabene’s waist. “Dumbledore’s daughter and my lovely significant other.”
“Nice to meet you,” Krista said pleasantly.
“I’m sure that Mrs. Myers would appreciate some rest,” Dumbledore said. “I can have quarters set up for you and Fyril momentarily.”
“Thank you,” Krista said, glancing at Eric. “My husband and I have a lot of catching up to do.”
Dumbledore nodded, sending for a house elf.
******
In little over thirty minutes, Krista and Eric had been led to a quaint little guest suite in the northern part of Hogwarts. Krista sank down onto the bed, sighing with delight as she sank into the soft mattress.
“Oh, this is so much better than that stupid cot,” she moaned, turning onto her side and curling up.
“What would you like to do first, baby?” he said. “Eat? Sleep? Wash up?”
“A bath does sound good,” she responded, sitting up. “Would my husband care to join me?”
He grinned, and fifteen minutes later, they were seated in a large bathtub, filled to the brim with scented bubbles. He sat with his back against the wall, Krista nestled between his legs, as he lathered up her hair.
“Mmm, this is nice,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning back against his chest.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured, kissing her shoulder as his fingers massaged her scalp.
“Mmm,” she agreed.
“After you’ve had some sleep and been fed, I want you to meet my parents,” he told her. “I think you’ll like them.”
“Mmm,” she responded.
He grinned. “I think I’d better stop before you slip beneath the surface on me.”
“Hey!” she said, laughing as he poured water over her head to rinse the suds out of her hair.
He finished rinsing her hair, then gently nudged her to her feet. They both stood up and he lifted her up into his arms, carrying her out of the tub. Setting her back down on the tiled floor, he wrapped a warm, fuzzy towel around her.
She grinned. “I could get used to this,” she said as he finished drying her off and then carried her to the bedroom.
“I intend to pamper you totally,” he said, laying her in the middle of the bed. “Especially if what Voldemort said is true.” He planted a soft kiss on her abdomen, right below her navel.
She smiled, running her fingers through his hair. “And if it isn’t?”
“Well, he did hold you captive for days,” he pointed out. “That deserves some pampering.”
She smiled. “I love you.”
“I know,” he said, lying down beside her and drawing her into his arms. “Now sleep.”
******
“So Fyril rescued his wife,” Isabene said. She and Sirius were on the rooftop of Hogwarts. He had a bottle of champagne in his hand, two glasses held in the other. Handing one to Isabene, he filled it half full of champagne, then poured himself some.
“Yeah, and I was stuck outside,” Sirius grumbled.
“At least you were safe,” she said, sipping at her champagne.
He, too sipped from his glass, studying her profile, which was outlined in moonlight. “You were worried, weren’t you?” he said softly.
She glanced at him, then down at her hands. “Yes, I was,” she admitted. “I couldn’t help it, Siri. My dream. . .it was so real.”
“Spitfire, you know that I can take care of myself,” he said.
“I know that you think you’re invincible,” she argued. “All of you did. James, Remus, you most of all.” She shook her head. “James’ death should have taught you something. And yet you’re ready for danger whenever and wherever the call comes out. You’re always ready to risk everything.”
“Except you,” he said, swirling his drink around in his glass. “I don’t think I could stand to lose you.”
“Then you should know how I feel,” Isabene said. “Every time you go off on one of your adventures, I’m afraid. I’m afraid that one day, Father or Remus or Harry or somebody is going to come to me and say ‘Isabene, I’ve got bad news about Sirius. . .’”
“That’s not going to happen any time soon,” he assured her.
“There you are again,” she said. “The cocky attitude.”
“Isabene, I asked you for a reason,” he said softly, reaching one hand into his pocket. “I know that I’m still a wanted man and that I can’t show my face in public. . .but. . .”
She looked at him curiously. “But what, Siri?”
“I’ll understand if you say no, of course,” he said. “I mean, I can be difficult to live with, and I know that you don’t much like my house, but-”
“Sirius!” she said. “Get to the point! You’re making no sense!”
He licked his lips, setting his glass down on the rail that surrounded the area of rooftop on which they stood. He pulled a small black velvet box from his pocket and flipped open the lid, sinking down onto one knee. “Isabene Dumbledore, will you marry me?”
She gasped, covering her mouth with one hand as she stared down at the ring. “Siri. . .I don’t. . .I don’t know what to say.”
“I was hoping for a ‘yes’,” he said.
She glanced down at the ring, which was a beautiful silver band adorned by a heart-shaped sapphire offset by two small round diamonds. “Sirius, it’s beautiful,” she said. “Where did you. . .?”
“Remus was kind enough to pick one out for me,” Sirius answered. “What do you say, Spitfire?”
“I say yes,” she said.
He rose to his feet, grinning as he embraced her, kissing her passionately. “I love you,” he said, slipping the ring on her finger.
She grinned. “I love you too.”