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The Spiral Path

Chapter 03: a Breakdown of Civility

But first, Hermione goes fainting again

10th July, 1995

"Otis Prewett, please."

The receptionist looked at the young woman standing at her counter in Barclay's and frowned. She seemed a little young, with her untamed hair and fairly shapeless cardigan and skirt- professional enough not to seem like a ragamuffin there to perform some prank, but clearly out of her element.

"And whom should I say is here?"

"I'm Herm... I'm an associate of Mr. Pink and LOM Enterprises. I believe he knows me as Miss Kittyhawk."

"I see. Wait over in the sitting area, if you please. Would you like some tea?"

"No, thank you."

The receptionist mumbled, "Good," and lifted the receiver of her desk phone.

Hermione wandered over to poke at the periodicals in the waiting area. Only a minute later, the receptionist walked up to her, an obvious blush on her face.

"My apologies for the delay, Miss Kittyhawk. Please follow me back to Mr. Prewett's office."

Hermione tried not to act surprised. She had been guessing as to how Sirius had identified her in the company register.

~o~

She was shown into a private office. A well-dressed man with ginger hair stood up from behind his desk and greeted her.

"Miss Kittyhawk, is it? We haven't met; I'm Otis Prewett. I handle the 'domestic' side of LOM's business. Let me just say that it's an honour to meet you." He looked past Hermione's shoulder to make sure that the woman from the front office closed his door as she left.

"Mr. Prewett... as in... are you related to Molly Weasley?"

Otis led them to sit together in leather chairs around a coffee table. "Not that she'd say, but yes. Notice the family resemblance?"

"I remember discussing some Prewett family magic with her daughter Ginny a few years ago. You seem to know me, though."

"Only by reputation. You're one of the genius inventors that's making me rich."

"I am? When did I do that?"

The banker sat back for a moment. "You... you invented the privacy version of the Silencio spell, the one-way Window-Wall charm, the Potion-Acceleration charm, the Rehumanizing Draught, the Warbler... have I got the wrong witch in mind, here?"

"No, that's all my work, but I didn't-"

"Ah. Mister Pink said that you wouldn't think to protect your innovations, as with the Omni-goggle design being stolen to fatten the coffers of the Parkinsons. He and Miss Rook have had me submitting patents for your work ever since. I am pleased to meet you, just the same, but I sense you didn't realise your position. Why are you here, and how can I help you?"

"I... what's my position?"

"One quarter interest in LOM, Miss Kittyhawk. While the company is profitable, most of the assets have been reinvested for the TournaMap product launch. You personally control only about twenty thousand in liquid assets."

"I just wanted to go clothes shopping. I have access to twenty thousand pounds?"

"No! No, don't be ridiculous. I meant twenty thousand Galleons. At current prices, that's about seven hundred thousand pounds."

~o~

Hermione woke up on Mr. Prewett's leather couch. She was immediately offered a glass of water.

"I've cleared my schedule, Miss Kittyhawk. I think you have entirely too many questions for either of us to continue on an empty stomach."

She gratefully took sips of the ice-cold water. "You really do know my reputation."

Seeing Hermione's colour returning, Otis chose to sit back on the matching armchair next to the couch.

"Just so I can schedule my time, what would you like to discuss over our lunch?"

Hermione concentrated for a minute. Another sip of water and she turned to look at Mr. Prewett, so that he knew she wasn't being cheeky. "I need you to describe the wizarding world's economy, and I think a few tangential discussions about property, patents, and inheritance may also be in order."

Otis considered for a moment, and then replied, "Well, I should call my wife, then."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realise that I would be interfering with your plans."

"You misunderstand me. My wife can help with your clothes shopping, as you won't have time for it yourself, today. She has a good eye for fashion, if my suit is any indication. A quick measure-up and she'll be off like a terrier on the hunt. You just saved me from being punished for forgetting our anniversary again."

Hermione smiled and teased, "You should keep a calendar."

"Well, I was thinking of hiring an assistant but I can't just hire a muggle, and a full witch or wizard would never stand for working for a squib. Actually finding other squibs who need work is a trial- it's not like we have a support network."

"Why not? You could advertise in 'the Daily Prophet' and 'le Monde Magique', keep a rolodex of contacts with-"

Mr. Prewett chuckled while raising a hand to stop her train of thought. "I see why they keep you locked away from the world. You'd be trying to solve everything, all at once."

Hermione blushed. "I... I like to help, is all. I enjoy using my talents to find solutions."

Otis aided Hermione to standing. As he followed her out of his office, he mumbled, "Which is why I'm going to be very rich."

~[]~

Resolving Old Crimes with New Ones

20th July, 1995

Hermione stretched out on Holly and Natalia's bed, watching Holly dress up for her task. By contrast, she was wearing very little- just a scandalously small blue bikini and a beach towel, as she planned to lay out on in the garden to tan. Summer was actually her favored time to simply absorb sunlight and let her mind wander, particularly since going to school in Scotland rarely gave her the opportunity for either. Being Holly's friend made free time even more scarce.

She asked Holly, "Are you certain you don't wish for me to accompany you? Mr. Prewett explained this all to me, and I have a good sense of your rights, here. Besides, meeting anyone you don't trust while bereft of a wand seems... imprudent. It's not like you'll be mistaken for some other society witch."

She watched Holly look herself over in the dressing mirror. Admittedly, her high-collared charcoal dress robes with the forty buttons down the side didn't look quite as fitting an ensemble as it used to, now that her hair was all short and spiky. Holly's hope that this still carried the overall impression of being 'just another escapee of a Dickens story' seemed optimistic. As with many things in her friend's life, the truth of matters kept her from fitting in. That and the lack of a fashionable hat.

Holly slumped in resignation, then chose to tease Hermione, no doubt to perk up her own spirits. "Speaking of your latest Humbert-"

"Uh! I am not having sex with him! We've had some very educational lunches, is all. For instance- the actual conversion rate for muggle currency from goblin coin is based upon current gold prices. Each Galleon contains a tenth-ounce of pure gold. When muggleborns are introduced to the wizarding world, their parents are charged with setting up a loan that the young witch or wizard must repay when they reach adulthood. The five-to-one ratio is to cover the setup fees, based upon the size of the loan. They don't even charge interest, as the arrangement was a codicil of an earlier goblin accord. The interest starts when they reach their majority and realise that they're already in debt and need to seek wizarding jobs."

"Couldn't they earn money as muggles and convert it back by buying gold?"

"They could, but the value of a Galleon is more than a tenth-ounce of gold- the goblin's anti-counterfeiting magics double the purchase price in raw metals. And they are very careful about knowing where that gold comes from."

"Well, that's fascinating, but you could have learned that before the first appetizer arrived. Yet these educational lunches- they include shopping for highly-revealing French swimwear?"

Hermione tried not to sound defensive. "His wife bought this for me."

"Ah- you're to be a mistress to the swinging couple, you lucky scamp."

For that, Holly got a round, pink tongue stuck out at her. "I already have that position here; why would I seek another?"

"They're the ones seeking you, love. And here I thought I taught you all that you needed to know about life."

Hermione knew a volley was called for. "Such presumption! The primary lesson I've learned from you is to only be provocative when the public can't criticise you for it. It's a lesson demonstrated by a life lived repeating that mistake, almost as a warning to others. 'See Holly? Watch her very closely, and then don't do that.'"

"No, the primary lesson I taught you was 'Oh God! Oh God! Your tongue! Yes! Keep doing that there!' That and how to whistle. It's a related talent."

Hermione felt her cheeks flush but chose to volley back. "You're confusing knowledge for skill. The one can be taught, the other is only understood through experience and revelation."

Holly's voice softened for her reply, "It was a holy moment for me as well. Glorious, really." She smiled at Hermione and returned to her doubful optimism. "I guess I'm ready. What do you think?"

Hermione thought. 'What do I think? You say it so offhandedly, but it still makes my heart skip to hear you speak of me with such love.' She chose to redirect the conversation. "Why are you doing this, today? Haven't you had enough strife for the month?"

"I don't plan to get into a fight. I just want to look around."

"You never plan to, and yet..."

Holly pursed her lips at Hermione's tease. "If it goes well, I'll come back with steaks. Otherwise, I'll get Szechuan take-away. If I'm not carrying one of those, yet appear uninjured..."

"... I should hit you with something heavy. I understand. Best of luck."

Holly disapparated.

"Though to be honest I'm in the mood for Chinese, now that you've mentioned it."

~o~

The other end of her transport deposited Holly at the iron gated entrance of a small estate on the opposite side of the town. She entered through the gate and walked along the drive up to the front door.

Holly pulled on the brass chain beside the door. From inside, she could hear a series of chimes sounding a pleasant tune.

The door opened. An old elf wearing a brown tabard looked up at her, squinting through glasses made of bottle bottoms and twisted wire. It spoke in a raspy squeak.

"This house is called 'Nottses Landing'. The Nottses are notses receiving guests at this time, as they are being in mourning. If having gifts or sorrows to leave, please place upon the rug there and be going away."

"Hello. I'm Miss Evans, but you should call me Holly."

"And?"

"And I am a schoolmate of Theo's. Tell him I'm here."

"Master Theodore did not say guests should be received this way."

"What is your name?"

"Clinker."

Holly smiled and replied in a pleasant tone, "Ah. Clinker, go tell Theo that I am here or I will kill you and do it myself. Nothing personal."

The elf sighed and closed the door.

A few moments later it opened again, this time to reveal the pale and lanky Theodore Nott. He looked into Holly's face and gulped audibly. "W-what do you want?"

"I'd like to come in and get a tour of the place. Introduce me to your mother, maybe. We're neighbors, after all."

"I... don't think that would be good for me. Sorry. Send an owl and I'll pass on the request, howabout?"

Holly sighed. "Theo, let me in, please?"

"No. Why are you really here, anyway?"

"I'm looking for a book that should be hidden in the library here."

"Then you really can't come in. Shove off, eh?"

"Fine. We'll do this the rude way. 'I, the current regent of the House of Potter, do hereby take ownership of my rightful estate.' Clinker!"

The elf popped next to Theo. "Yes?"

"Get rid of the squatters. I'm moving on up."

The elf took a long look at Holly and then looked up at Theo. He squinted and frowned at the boy, then turned back to Holly and replied, "Yes, Mistress."

Theo turned to the elf, his face already slackened in shock. "Clinker?"

"Perhaps if Master Theo had not kicked Clinker so often, Clinker might be more loyal. Not much, though. Clinker am sworn to the Head of this House. Long may he live."

"B-but with Father dead, that's me! We live here, and she's nothing but an insane half-blood slag-" Theo disappeared at the touch of the elf, who then bowed in front of the door, gesturing for Holly to enter.

She walked in. "Thank you. You are a loyal and well-dressed elf, Clinker. Anything I can do for you?"

Clinker walked alongside as they went into the main entrance hall. "Can Clinker remodel the drawing room?"

"Come up with a description and a budget. What's wrong with the current decor?"

"Missus Nott favours... purple."

"Skip the description then, just let me know how much you'll need. Can you show me to the library? The real one?"

"Of course, Mistress. But not today."

Holly turned to face the elf. "Why not?"

The elf turned red and bowed his head. "Clinker hasn't cleaned it in a long while..."

"Well, if it's a matter of more than a few dust bunnies I'll call in my reinforcements, but I really would like to get in there today."

The little man frowned and his shoulders sagged. "Clinker is to be working for other elves?"

"Two elves can join your efforts if needed, but I leave the final say on the administration of this House in your hands."

He looked up with hope in his eyes. "R-really?"

Holly knelt down facing the elf, resting a hand on his thin shoulder. "Really. Winky and Dobby have other priorities, and you'd be the senior Potter elf, anyway. Why did you turn on the Nott's so easily?"

"Clinker am the house-elf of this estate, Mistress. Mister and Missus Nott assumed rule over Clinker when they's taking the building."

"So basically, you had nothing better to do with your time, then?"

The elf bowed his head again and nodded.

Holly stood up and looked around the room again. "Well, let's see if we can rectify that. I will be expecting visits from a number of people, but the initial list of those permitted through the floo or the front gate are on this parchment. Can you read?" Holly pulled out a scrap of paper and handed it to the elf.

"Yes, Mistress."

"Could you teach Winky, and my baby when I'm not there to do so?"

The elf smiled. "Yes, Mistress- Oh! Clinker is sorry, is meaning 'yes, my Lady'. With pleasure."

"I'm a 'milady' now?"

"My Lady has birthed a new generation of the magical. My Lady is no longer a 'Mistress'."

"I think you'll need to teach me a bit about society protocols, then."

"With pleasure, my Lady."

From the top of the curving staircase in the entryway, a woman's voice echoed down in a screech. "Clinker! My closet is locked! Why is my closet locked? Who said you could lock my doors you filthy little wretch?"

Holly looked up towards the noise, her eyebrows raised. "Clinker, do be a friend and introduce me to... her."

The elf disappeared with a quiet sound like the clink of leaded glass tumblers touching in a toast.

Holly took a few minutes to take in her surroundings.

The entrance hall was made mostly from copper-veined white marble, with reddish-bronze fixtures (wall sconces, the chandelier, door levers and hinges) tinted to match. Double doors of dark wood on the left were open into an unlit dining room, while the ones on the right were closed. Beneath the curve of the staircase, a small sitting area was arranged with tufted chairs around a fireplace. Floo powder in several colours was stored in china cups, set atop the carved wood and tile mantlepiece.

Holly looked down at the Persian rug and used her foot to roll the edge back a few inches. The fabric had been placed to cover a circular mosaic of some sort. Holly pulled the rug back further to uncover a coat of arms that Sirius had once shown her- the crest of the House of Potter. She decided to leave the tilework exposed for when her 'hostess' arrived.

A few more minutes passed until a tall woman appeared at the top of the staircase, clad in a purple satin housecoat chased with white mink.

"Why Clinker- you didn't say we had such an auspicious guest waiting on our hospitality. I apologize, Miss Black. Ever since... my husband passed, we've suffered from a deplorable lack of discipline around here."

The woman glided down the stairs until she came to a stop at the bottom step, using the added height to loom over Holly. The woman gave her a momentary once-over before sniffing slightly.

"My dear friend Cissy told me of her tutoring you in the ways of decorum. Such an elegant woman. I can see that at least a little of her teachings did take hold. Are you here to visit with my son?"

"Mrs. Nott, I'm here to take possession of this house."

The woman tried to keep up her grace while sputtering, but only barely succeeded. "Whatever are you talking about? Our family stands in good stead with the Ministry and the goblins, while you are... just a girl. Why would you suggest such a foolish idea?"

"Because I've been treated rudely almost since birth. I just wanted to visit the library, but I realised that I have no good reason not to take possession of the whole house, seeing as it's my responsibility."

"And you think that, just by saying 'this is mine' that the world will gift you this fine estate? You are insane."

Holly purposely made a wide, madcap grin. "Probably shouldn't have said that straight to my face then!"

Mrs. Nott stepped forward, her lilting voice now laced with contempt. "Why ever not? As I understand it, you are weaponless. Broken. I doubt this little bluff of yours is anything more than a desperate cry for mummy, now that the world has dumped you to the gutters... where you belong." The witch then drew forth her own wand, a pale yellow glow building at the tip.

Holly bowed her head and turned slightly as if to leave, but instead looked up to stare Mrs. Nott in the eye. "So you're not going to leave peaceably?"

The older witch twisted her hand and a spell flew at Holly.

She deflected it with a fast wave of her left hand, a silent Protego empowering the impressive effect. Holly then stepped toward Mrs. Nott. She spoke calmly as she stalked closer to the witch on the staircase. "No wand? True. Broken? Maybe I was, but I heal quickly. It's a habit born of repetition."

Another two spells sped towards her, both deflected as well.

"Desperate?" Holly ducked beneath the last spell and charged up to knock the wand from the witch's hand, followed with a buzzing punch to her ribcage that induced a gasp, several snaps and the widow Nott to spit blood as she tipped forward onto the floor at Holly's feet.

Mrs. Nott strained past her intense pain to look up at her assailant.

Holly gave a derisive snort. "That would be the look in your eyes, bitch. Get out of my house."

"Th-the Dark L-lord will-"

"Oh, do you work for him? And here I was going to let you live."

"No, WAIT! I'm not- I'm no Death Eater!"

"Perhaps not, but you're close enough to them to know he's alive. Seeing as this is just me settling an old injustice, I won't provoke anybody too much. Don't be confused- this was between Houses Potter and Nott. Be sure not to lie about why I'm here. He'll know."

From between her blood-stained teeth, she spat out, "You'll pay for this!"

"Good idea. Mrs. Nott, please send my regards to your dear friend Cissy. I'll send your belongings on to her after I've had Clinker do an inventory." Holly strode over to the fireplace. A gesture lit the fire, and a handful of powder turned the flames green. "Malfoy Manor- Narcissa Malfoy."

A ghostly face appeared in the flames. "Thalia? Why are you floo-ing so early? Run out of Rye, have you?"

Holly teased in a childish voice, "Cissy, can Thalia come over to play?"

"Oh, Merlin. It's Evans."

The vaporous face of Narcissa Malfoy disappeared from the flames. Mrs. Nott crawled across the tiles forming the crest of the House of Potter, dripping blood from her mouth and holding her ribs together as she moved.

"On your way, Thalia. If I see Theo..."

The witch turned up her face, giving Holly a fearful look.

"... I'll send him along."

The witch nodded and stumbled her way into the flames, disappearing from the room. The fire flashed dead a second later.

Clinker looked at Holly with a deep frown.

Holly scoffed. "What? They stole my home. I stole it back. Would you rather I had been kinder?"

"My Lady, Clinker would like to see the House of Potter flourishing once more. That will not happen if the Lady is going out of her way to make enemies!"

"Alright. I'll do this next part the nice way."

"Yes, my Lady. Shall Clinker retrieve Master Nott from the pond?"

"Can he swim?"

"Not while asleep."

"Wow. He must have kicked you a lot. Bring him here, then."

Clinker moved to disappear, but Holly interrupted him. "Wait! Hang on. Why is it that all the pureblood families physically abuse their elves?"

Clinker halted his departure to look up at Holly with a mixture of confusion and panic. "My Lady?"

"I mean it. Barty Crouch Sr. treats Winky like a badly trained dog, but she still loves him in much the same role. Even my adoptive father Sirius kicks his family's elf when he can catch him, though to be fair Kreacher's a nasty old bugger. Why? What do you all do that annoys them so?"

"My Lady, Clinker is liking to being honest, but it will mean the end of Clinker's service to the House."

"Huh. Dobby's not bound like you are- would he be able to answer?"

"Clinker emphatically hopes not, but Dobby is head-broken. If Dobby answers, please, never tell Clinker of it. Shall Theodore be retrieved, now?"

"Have at it." Once Clinker clinked away, Holly called out, "Dobby!"

A very short man in a spiffy black waistcoat and slacks appeared. "Bobby Evanson, as requested!"

"Right. Why do- ?"

The very short man held out his hand, palm up. "Give me a Galleon?"

Holly scowled but reached into her waist pocket and drew out a gold coin. She handed it to her en-Glamoured elf and he proceeded to eat the coin. A shiver ran up his spine and the resulting evil grin on his face gave Holly a moment's pause.

'Bobby's' face returned to a pleasant and humble smile. He then said, "Because we deserve it. We betrayed a trust, and now must serve our penance. Also, House-elves are not hard-working by nature. We lose respect when serving those who are lazy. When that happens, we get... difficult." He shook his finger as his voice reverted to the more common House-elf style of mangled English. "We's then must be being beaten to make doing our jobses even a half of right."

"So, you, Clinker and Winky all like me because..."

He replied, "You are a very hard-working witch. Elves are also impressed with the Headmaster Dumbledore, the Mad Granger and Professor McGonakitty. Keep up the good, hard work, my Lady. And tell no one of what I just said. No one. Not any. Not a single or in groups."

"Alright, 'Mr. Evanson'. I'll keep it secret. How's Mr. Pink doing?"

"He was just splendid up until an hour ago."

"What happened?"

"The Dumbledore brought Paddy's non-wife and children to visit. Things have been very loud, ever since. Is there anything else I can do for you, rather than go back?"

"No, but Hermione's sunbathing, so she might-"

The snap of his disappearance popped Holly's eardrum.

~o~

It was notable that the other elf did not reappear until Dobby had been gone for a full minute. When Clinker reappeared, Theo Nott was with him. The young wizard looked like he had slept in his robes, no doubt from going through a speed-drying process of some sort. Holly chose to sit with him in the purple drawing room just beyond the entrance hall.

"Theo, I'd like to do this legally. When the probate on your father's death is complete, this house will be yours. The only thing is... it isn't, really. Legal documents covering ownership of the house and grounds still remain in the Potter vault. This place was illegally auctioned off to cover a theoretical debt which still hasn't come due. All I'd like you to do is take a payoff and sign a document setting the place back into my care until the original contracts can be sorted out."

"And then what?"

"And then you leave. If I survive long enough for the goblin contracts to come due, we'll settle that then."

"But where will we live?"

Holly gave him an irritated scowl. "There's only the two of you- I'm sure you can find a rowhouse to suit your needs."

"How much, then?"

"Forty-one hundred and forty-six Galleons."

Theo scoffed loudly. "For this whole estate?"

"That's twice what your father paid. Exactly twice."

He sat back at that. After a moment he said, "The Ministry will drag you out of here in a few days. I don't see why I should do anything but wait."

"Let me sweeten the deal, then. Same official paperwork to keep the Ministry at bay, but you also get a thousand Galleons for yourself, all on your lonesome."

Theo scoffed again.

"In coin. If you can hide it, no one can take it from you. Not your mother, not the Malfoys, not the Dark Lord. You're in Garvin's 'Magical Society' class; how long could you live, quietly and carefully, on such a sum?"

The light of understanding (or avarice) crossed his face, and he leaned forward. "Gimme three thousand."

"Done." Holly extended her hand to seal the bargain.

Theo slumped. "Damnit. I should have gone for five." He shook her hand.

Holly replied, "You should have asked for twenty and negotiated down, but I understand. You're new at this. I'll give you another thousand now if you promise to do me a huge favour."

"What's the favour?"

"I dunno yet. I'll think of something non-life-threatening and have Clinker let you know."

"No way."

"Good- you're learning. I'll come back shortly with the gold and contract. Please, don't try to set up traps or call in the Malfoys or something. If I have to fight my way in, I'll kill people to do so."

"Would you really?"

"At the risk of alienating you further, I'll confess; the others died in an explosion, but I caved in Aristotle's head with a sharp rock. Don't get all righteous, now. I remember hearing how disgusted you were with your old man, in Slytherin common room conversations this past year. I did you a favour."

"He was nearly eighty and my mum is less than half that. He used to make her demonstrate their technique for me- called it 'educational'. So yeah. I guess you did. Doesn't mean I like you."

"Of course not. That's why people write contracts."

~[]~

Resettlement Mambo

Still 20th, July 1995, only later.

Holly used the Floo to reach Grimmauld Place. Her sudden appearance caught Molly Weasley by surprise- when Holly finished spinning in to collide with the kitchen table, she looked up to see the matron half-covered in flour and juggling to catch her wand.

Holly raised her hands to surrender, waiting in this position until Molly had finally gotten her wand back in hand and pointed the right direction.

"Prove you're Holly!"

"Do you think Percy would have turned out more friendly if you had turned him into a quaffle on occasion, too?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed in relief. "Thank you, dear." After a moment she added, "Y'know, that's a good question. By the time the twins were born Bill was nearly to Hogwarts, and he's always had a talent for transfiguration. Perhaps he was using the twins for experimentation. My Percy has always seemed a little more... rigid, than the rest."

"Where is everyone?"

"Cleaning out the doxies! My goodness, what an infestation. That elf Kreacher may talk like a superior little toady, but he's a VERY POOR HOUSEKEEPER!"

Said elf screeched from his hiding place amidst the cupboards but found that all he could yell were incongruous half-phrases. "Mud-family! Blood... walkers! My Lady would never allow such... turtle-matches... AIGHH!" The elf popped away in frustration.

"Nifty curse. Sirius' work?"

"Bill's, actually. Have you time to stay for supper, dear?"

"Actually, I'm here to take everyone someplace different. I can trust you, can't I?"

~o~

The next day around tea-time, Holly waited in the sitting area (or sat in the waiting area- either way) by the Floo-connected fireplace in the entrance hall at Potter Manor. She was sipping tea when Dumbledore arrived in a flash of green fire. He walked out with no more concern than if he had strode in from the dining room.

"Miss Evans. An anonymous owl brought me this typewritten note to come to 'the Kiln for Keystone Kops'. Why am I not surprised that you are the source?"

"Well, depending on which iteration of this hour you're experiencing, this could all be a review. Still- I didn't type the note; our secret-keeper did. I just provided the Underwood #5. Manual typewriters are just as good as quills for enchanted notes, I guess. Hermione's considering bringing one with her this year."

"Where has the Headquarters for the Order gone?"

"It's once more under Fidelius protection, only this time the access is under my control. The Heart of the House of Black is not available for large parties or conferences. You can meet here at the Kiln."

"Who is your secret keeper?"

"Rude much? You may as well ask what Hermione's favorite position is, because you seem to forget that we're not friends."

"Then why should we allow you to host our secret organization?"

"One- because you won't use Hogwarts. Two- because you can't have the old one back. Three- because this place is just as useful and has nothing of value to lose- everything that wasn't magically limited to family members has already been sold off by the Notts. Four- because I'll be here; your people can keep an eye on me for you and on my baby for me. And five- because I've made everyone happy and you'll look like a distrustful and selfish Scrooge if you make them leave."

Dumbledore paused in thought, and then asked, "Am I to understand that you will be living here?"

"It's my house. Of course I will. Mostly."

"Then, may I finally meet your baby?"

Holly stared at the old man for a moment. His kind-hearted expression really told her nothing of his intentions.

"Yes, but let me just say that for the fifth year running, you're freaking me out, sir."

~[]~

The Park Bench Dare

27th July, 1995

It was a sunny day in July, so seeing a young mother in light clothing wearing deep green sunglasses and sitting on a park bench with her baby wouldn't surprise anyone in Godric's Hollow. And it didn't- Bruce the postman nodded to Holly as he passed by, earning a smile and a nod in return. Another pair of girls crossed from the cafe, heading back to their jobs in the small accounting firm above the garden supply store. Holly saw them but continued reading from her romance novel while Chrysalis crawled around on the grass, investigating the world a handful at a time.

From just near her head, Holly heard a disturbing whisper. "You have a lovely baby, Miss Evans."

Holly turned slowly to look behind her, but no one seemed near enough to have been the source of the voice. She sighed. "You and Albus have an unerring talent for being creepy, particularly about that. If a toddler with bug-breath, covered in grass-stains is your turn-on, I'm going to heave, right now."

The voice returned, this time from her right side. "Ever the biting wit, Lily."

"Devo, since I'm not suddenly dead, I can only assume you're here to taunt me, maybe make a threat about the Notts' former house that they can't remember, but I don't see the value. I'm still a non-aggressor in your conflict with Albus; I just needed to reclaim something that was mine. It got easier to justify when your crew decided to harass me in front of the Wizengamot, I just was waiting to see if you'd apologize for it. You didn't, so I retook my legacy by force and coercion. No one died. No one new, anyway."

"And so we arrive, so hastily, at the purpose of my visit. I have something else of yours that you might want returned."

"You have a number of things of mine, but if I can't keep track of my toys, it's only fair that I lose them. Or was this a let's-make-a-deal thing?"

The shifting source of the voice moved above Holly's head. "That's it exactly. Let us make a deal."

"Sorry. If there's one thing I've learned from the goblins, it's that it's pointless to negotiate with disembodied spirits."

Smoke coalesced in front of her, forming into a dashing man with wavy black hair and an attractive smile. The man was wearing a black business suit with a distractingly shiny green tie. Red eyes glared at her but soon cooled to an amber color that was less unnatural.

"Is this better?"

Holly shut her eyes but smiled. "Hello, Devo."

The Dark Lord snarled and squinted at Holly. "I suppose that's less insulting than anything else I've been misnamed."

"You-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is more of a mouthful than I have energy to waste. Have a seat. You want some apple juice?"

The dashing Mr. Riddle took a seat to her right on the bench. "Ehh, no. No, thank you."

"Oh, good. Hospitality has been fulfilled. What's the deal?" Feeling him sit down beside her, Holly opened her eyes but kept staring forward.

Riddle watched her closely. "Excuse me for not answering just yet, Miss Evans. I must know something first; why are you so calm?"

"Why shouldn't I be?"

The attractive man smiled. "When the people who meet me know who I am, they tend to tremble. You, who have already witnessed my power, would seem doubly likely to act fearful in my presence. Yet here you sit, no more agitated than if I were the greengrocer."

"Annoys you, does it?"

"A little."

"Mission accomplished. What do you have for me?"

"An apology."

"Really."

"Yes. You see, I had been living in a version of Azkaban of my own making for over a decade. I finally arranged to regain life as a mangled semblance of myself little more than a year ago, only to suffer frequent bouts of intense burning pain. Each episode was associated with some very vulgar and erotic exhortations, echoing through my mind in your voice. You must understand; I'm only now feeling at all... human. So, I apologise. If you consider what I have been through, perhaps you could find it in your heart to forgive my rage."

"Forgive it? You weren't exactly walking in new territory, there."

"I am ever surrounded by ambitious men, for whom I must present an unflagging aura of power. Such a life can be... isolating. Lonely. In such circumstances, a person can become quite desperate to protect themselves, leading to greater and more extreme acts to reinforce that authority. Have you never done something unethical to another, to protect your own interests? Don't bother denying it- we both know that you have."

He eased forward slightly, leaning one arm on the back of the bench to comfortably face her. "It is symmetries like this that draw us together. We both rail against the flawed structures meant to hold us back. It comes from having similar experiences in our development. Your courage and cunning have... intrigued me, as well. I must admit to a kind of affection for you. It's a feeling I scarcely recognised, given how rarely I've felt anything towards another."

Holly continued to stare forward rather than meet his eyes. Still, she whispered, "It sounds like there may be a spark of humanity in you, after all."

His voice softened. "Do you know why I won't allow anyone to call me 'Voldemort'?"

Holly leaned back on the bench, stretching her arms out behind her and arching her chest upwards. She relaxed from her extension and replied, "Machiavelli had some notions on the value of fear over love in holding authority."

"Yes, I am familiar with the work, but the truth is much more personal. I find the name... embarrassing. I devised it when I was still at Hogwarts, and the air of adolescent pretension is obvious. Albus knows this, and he uses it every time we meet in an attempt to humble me once more."

"He has that habit."

"You have felt a similar sting. What does he call you?"

"Harry. No matter how I appear, it's always 'Harry, my boy...' At some point I'm hoping it occurs to him how pedophiliac that makes him appear, the mincer. You'd think a pair of D-cups like mine would be sufficient reminder."

The man took a momentary glance at Holly's chest, making a non-committal 'hmm' before returning his gaze to her face. Still, Holly faced forward as if blind, or speaking to the air.

"So, you have no love for the old man, I take it? You also know of his perversion. I was once commanded to his bed, in exchange for his personal tutelage. I swallowed... my pride to gain some of his secrets and insights. But in the end, he fell in my estimation. There is a wide chasm between what he presents to the world as a model of virtue and the amoral actions he's taken to gain that position. I felt betrayed. Was it the same for you?"

"You've read my journal- Dumbledore's influence on my life has been almost universally poisonous."

"I'm sorry for that- for reading your journal, I mean, but having you escape me that evening made understanding you... very important to me."

"You wrote it yourself- it was a mistake that I already had acknowledged was foolish."

"Miss Evans, I feel that I owe you more than an apology. I'd like to return your things, right here and now. All I ask-"

Holly cackled. "Devo, it's not an offer of contrition if you add a requirement."

"All... I... ask... is that you remain as you are; a non-combatant. I made an error in not simply accepting your offer, but as I said, I was nearly driven mad for all that I had suffered recently."

The man made a flourishing gesture with his wand and a small chest of oriental design appeared, summoned from be-Vanish-ment, Holly supposed.

Riddle leaned down and opened the box. He lifted out one of four wands within and offered it to her.

She looked down at the familiar Holly wand held forth in his hand, and asked, "You want me in a non-hostile position, but hand me a weapon?"

"So that you may be able to defend yourself properly. Perhaps now you will feel less threatened."

She accepted the wand and stared down at it, lying in her hand on her lap. It was almost like seeing a dead friend resurrected. Holly smiled a little.

Riddle noticed. He added, "All that you were wearing when you came to the ceremony has been placed in this box. I even put in the remains of your journal, as proof of its destruction. It was an interesting artifact. I have included one of my own, so that we may converse in private, away from the interference and scrutiny of others."

"You've created a linked journal so that we can send each other private messages? Whatever for?"

"It's as I said- you intrigue me. I have much to share with one who can truly appreciate the secrets I have uncovered in my travels. You owe no allegiance to our former Professor-"

Holly scoffed and went back to staring across the park, her expression surly.

Riddle's voice tightened in a challenge. "Or are you still under his thumb, only allowed to stay where he permits and speak to whom he approves? Do you dare to exceed his control? All I wish is a dialogue with one who hasn't already condemned me as a lost soul. He would forbid it, I'm sure. There's always the threat that I know more secrets about him than he wishes known."

Holly was quiet for a moment, and then replied somewhat uncertainly, "There was supposed to be a... deal in there, somewhere."

"Yes. I want this intercourse with you, but I can't risk so much without protecting myself. Would you take a vow to keep secret what we discuss, and to remain a non-combatant, so long as you and those you value are kept out of the conflict as well?"

Holly tilted her head in consideration.

"I... I'm leaning towards a 'yes'. Answer an idle question first?"

The man smiled. "I will, if you will."

"Fair enough. What do you think about the prophecy?"

"I feel it has been fulfilled. Your role in our conflict seems complete. Far be it for me to tempt Fate by insisting there be a greater meaning."

"We go forward with a clean slate, then."

"Yes. Now for my question; normally you cannot see me, but I have made myself visible for your benefit. How do I look? I'm not... unattractive to you, am I?"

Holly turned to face Tom, giving his current form an up and down ogle. She looked up to his face and smiled. "Not bad. It's a tasty muffin you've made of yourse-"

His gaze penetrated the shading of her sunglasses and he plundered through her mind without resistance.

All he could hear in her thoughts were some squeaks and chitters. He pulled out to look the witch in the face, his own expression revealing his confusion. "What are you?"

Holly grinned and tossed the wand in her lap over her shoulder with a shrug. "Not here. Merry Christmas!"

He heard a quiet 'ping' sound and reflexively transmuted into mist. That wasn't enough to prevent the fiery explosion from consuming his vaporous form, once more tearing his spirit from his body.

The spirit of Tom Riddle fought the force drawing him back to his most recent soul jar, trying to linger long enough to see the effect of this trap on Holly's and her child's bodies. When the smoke cleared, all that remained were the charred corpses of a pair of badgers; a mother and her young, as he had sensed. Just not in the way he had assumed.

~o~

Holly's mind settled back into her body and she smiled. She had experienced Riddle possessing people in her nightmares, but she was still proud with herself for successfully overshadowing a transfigured mammal for the past few days of picnics.

She stood up from her lotus posture and rushed to look through the spyglass on her deck. Holly saw the last wisps of Riddle's spirit being drawn away from the park bench that had so recently been reduced to splinters by her Erumpent Horn grenade.

"Dobby!"

A short, sandy-haired man appeared with a 'pop'. "Yah, boss?"

She pointed towards the park. "Get the box and see if my wand has survived. Look around for his, too. Use precautions."

The house elf's Glamour-covered face spread into an evil grin. He pulled out a pair of latex gloves and put them on, exaggerating the stretch and snap before giving Holly a wink and popping away. He returned with the box and two slightly singed wands, placing them in the center of a protection circle Newt had just drawn. He disappeared again to return to his telly shows at Bathilda's house.

Holly knelt down and invoked the circle. Newt crawled back up her arm and resituated into Holly's eyesocket.

'Aww! Mum, look at Chrys- she's doing it again!'

Holly then looked back at the chaise where Chrysalis was ably consuming cold noodles from a shallow bowl. Almost a tenth of them were making it into her mouth. The rest were strewn across her head and shoulders; either to feed osmotically or practice applying camouflage, she surmised.

"Oh no! It's the Mayday sea monster!"

"Gabba gabba BOOOM!"

She grabbed up Natalia's wizard camera and took a picture.

(Click-poof!)

Holly gave her daughter an exaggerated nod. "I think I may have upset Mr. Devo, again. What do you think, Chryssy?"

"Booom! Booooooom!"

"You are so photogenic today!"

(Click-poof!)

She heard Newt gasp in her mind, and caught the slightest reflection of red as it shined from Chrys' eyes. The baby began to cough and hack. Holly put the camera down and drew Natalia's hawthorn wand from her left sleeve, pointing it at her baby's head.

The baby spoke in a scratchy whisper. "(Hkkk). Now, mummy. Why would you threaten me, your own baby?"

A panic shot through her. "G-get the fuck out of my daughter, Devo!"

"Why? I like it here. Warm and safe. Mummy can let me suckle on her breasts and I'll be happy forever."

"I mean it! I'll destroy you!"

"I don't think so. I think you will give me anything I ask. Right now, that is a vow. For the life of your child, you shall swear to serve me!"

Holly's expression grew fierce but she stepped back to the edge of the deck, giving her a few yards distance from her possessed child. "Last warning. Get out. She's protected like I was, so if I hit her with a Killing curse, you're in a world of hurt. What's more, you've already been torn from a living body. I kill you now and it might do the job forever."

Newt whispered a warning, 'Mum, I'm really not sure what'll happen if you do that! Are you?'

Riddle's voice raged out of her baby's mouth. "Do it, then! Destroy me, if you believe you can. I shall never die. I shall haunt you throughout your miserable life, no matter where you hide. For all the pain that you have caused me, I shall ruin every good thing you know. You shall beg for death. Now, disarm and get on your knees, or the baby dies! Right now!"

Holly paled. She snarled out a quick grunt of frustration and then tossed her borrowed wand to the floor. At her baby's direction, she collapsed to her knees and shuffled forward, reaching out to grab Chrys' little hand. It was Riddle who gripped her fingers tight enough to draw out a cry of pain.

"Yes. I've been patient with you up until now, but you will not-"

Holly looked up with her one good eye aimed at Chrys' left, and whispered 'Legilimens'.

Within the baby's mind, two beings faced one another, recognisable to each other only by the 'flavour' of their overall thought pattern.

The male voice said, "Lilllyyyyyy."

The female one replied, "Tom."

"You cannot win on this battleground, either. I was born the world's greatest mind mage!"

Holly's mental avatar shifted focus to her baby's mind that was playing host to the more complex personalities. "Chryssy, honey? [Scene of Natalia and Holly making funny faces for her; DELIGHT]

The infant squealed in happiness. A wave of joy swept through her simple mind like a sunlit rainshower.

Tom Riddle screamed.

~o~

Holly watched as the vaporous spirit once more fled a body that wouldn't support it. She snatched up Nat's backup wand and cast, "Purgatorio!"

The wraith screeched and twisted in the jet of ethereal fire that enwrapped it. Holly kept the curse fueled by her rage, but added commentary.

"Lesson one, Lord fuck-brain; if love and joy causes you pain, stay out of a baby's mind. You sift an infant for a happy memory and her last feeding will produce a Patronus so powerful it'll look like it's carved from marble."

The wraith continued to scream and pulse in powerless agony. After a minute had passed, Holly added to her chastising.

"Lesson two; we witches get insane if you threaten our babies. I was considering a retributive strike against your followers, but I think this is as good as it can get, payback-wise. Why waste resources on the middle man when I can express my feelings about you directly?"

The burning of the detached spirit caused it to twitch in a rapid series of convulsions. Holly kept up the torture, shifting grip and aim to keep the wraith within her power. Another few minutes passed before she spoke again.

"Lesson three; the words of destiny suggest that I'm your equal. You might want to consider that in your strategic calculations. You are dismissed!"

Holly let her spell cease- the spirit of Tom Riddle fled without a second's pause. It was just as well, since she was faint from channeling so much focused anger.

Despite her exhaustion, she lurched forward to take Chrys into her arms. The baby was screaming in discontent; fear, discomfort, pain and confusion were all summed up in a lung-emptying wail that continued for several minutes. Holly cried at the beautiful annoyance of the sound, and held her baby tight.

"God, that was really stupid of me. I'm so sorry, Chrys."

Newt's thought-speech penetrated through the sound of Chrys' crying. 'Mum, how'd he get here?'

'No idea. Right now, we're not safe.'

With her panic slightly calmed, Holly held Chryanthemum close to her, concentrated and disapparated.

~o~

That evening, Lucius Malfoy entered the ritual room deep within another man's house. The Dark Lord was reforming into his handsome guise once more, this time at the suffering of their latest young captive, a muggleborn witch 'rescued' from a bad fate in Knockturn Alley. Severus Snape was cleaning up the remains of his alchemical work while Wormtail was lying on his side, gasping in pain from sacrificing another pair of toes to the cause.

Once Lord Voldemort's reconstitution was complete, he growled at his bowing visitor.

"What is it, Lucius?"

"A package, my Lord. It has been checked for tampering, but I felt you might wish to inspect it for yourself."

Lucius held up a large fish, partly wrapped in newsprint. Stuck down the haddock's throat was Riddle's wand, along with a note in parchment. Riddle gazed at the package, his eyes flaring red.

"Read the note, Lucius. I sense no other magic at work."

Malfoy carefully extracted the note with two fingers, wincing throughout the process. He cleared his throat and then recited the contents in a very cultured and un-Holly-like tone.

"Devo,

That wasn't a declaration of war- you were being punished. The next time you want to negotiate, keep out of others' heads.

I've returned your wand, since it wasn't mine to begin with. I also notice that you neglected to include my invisibility cloak, substituting someone else's. I could tell because it stank of the stains of voyeurism. Perhaps you'll accept the obligation you now have to return mine, since I returned your happy boom stick without request or coercion. This note is what's left of the cloak you sent, transfigured.

Ever not yours,

Hols"

The Dark Lord sighed. "Well, Severus. Lucius has brought me my most prized possession, sheathed in a rotted fish. How do you think I should respond?"

"However you see fit, my Lord. As for responding to Miss Evans' missive, might I suggest that we take her at her word? Despite her considerable knowledge of our operations and techniques, acquired through the memories she suffered while under the influence of your... echo, she has made no movement towards leveraging that knowledge against us, outside of what one would expect of a protective mother."

"You admire her, do you Severus?"

"I acknowledge her cunning nature. No more, no less. If a snake lies in the sun shall we strike at it, or leave it to bask as it wishes? So long as her declaration of inaction truly remains in effect, she is of no real concern. She need only be watched."

"And you say, she is being watched? How is this possible, when even I cannot pinpoint her whereabouts?"

"She trusts those whom she should not. One weakness, best left idle to be exploited only when absolutely necessary, or its value shall be lost."

"And I should trust you, to trust your mole who is untrustworthy for her?"

Lucius held his breath, anticipating some pain for himself or his friend. Snape merely cocked an eyebrow.

The Dark Lord smiled. "You never cease to amuse me, Severus. I charge you with this task; use your cunning to punish the witch in a way that will not provoke her overmuch. Do that, and we shall otherwise leave her to motherhood for a time. Be interesting about it, Severus. I need inspiration. Her fate, when I choose to deliver it, must be... satisfying. Historic. I look forward to your prelude."

"As you wish, my Lord."

Lucius regained his composure. "My Lord, perhaps some fae wine would aid in your recovery."

"A brilliant suggestion, my friend. Wormtail, see Mr. Carrow about your wounds and then join us in the billiards room. I wish to hear more about the Marauders, from outside of Severus' perspective."

Snape mumbled, "Oh, joy."

Riddle smirked. "Now leave us. I wish to enjoy our captive. She's been so useful- I can't wait to thank her."

The three other wizards left the room with as much haste as they could without seeming cowardly. The witch's screams started before they made it to the door, and could still be heard through the walls even after the well-secured and Silenced door had shut.

Lucius stopped Severus from heading for the billiards room with a hand to his arm. He drew close to whisper in his ear.

"I can't say what sort of feelings you may have for that Evans witch, and I will abide by our Lord's direction, but I am not done with her, either. Not until she begs forgiveness at my feet. Will you interfere, when I seek my justice against her?"

Professor Snape replied, "Why would I? Whether she is or is not humbled in your presence, it is of no consequence to me."

"Is it? From what our Lord has mentioned of her secrets, that witch is the continuation of your school-age obsession, Lily Evans. The Dark Lord calls her 'Lily' and receives no argument. Are you certain of your feelings on this?"

Severus turned to look Lucius in the eyes with a cold stare. "Lily Evans is dead. If her spirit haunts Holly Black then they both should suffer and die for the abomination that they embody. I have no other feelings on the matter, beyond curiosity. When I enact her punishment, I think you will know my convictions."

Malfoy stepped away, giving Snape a mild nod.

"Lucius. Think what you may of her, but she has proven herself capable. If you seek to revenge yourself on Holly Black, don't underestimate her. I'd hate to see arrogance become your downfall."

~[]~