Chapter Twelve: Touched by the Dark

(i) The characters and world of Harry Potter are the property of J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this.

(ii) Thank you once again for the kind reviews. Please do continue to let me know what you think of the story.

(iii) A big hug of gratitude to my amazing beta, Queen_of_Stars.

(iv)This chapter is in response to the October 2009's OWL theme 'The Dark Arts'.

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Severus was not the only person who had heard the appalling way in which Ginny, Ron and Molly had turned on Hermione. Minerva McGonagall, who had mentioned the Weasleys' behaviour towards Hermione to Severus earlier, now watched as the trio headed toward the dark, murky waters of complete irrationality. Having listened to Severus explain to Hermione the true dangers of being submersed in the Dark Arts, Minerva strongly suspected that the three Weasleys were experiencing something along similar lines. She wondered if the Dark picked up on hidden grievances and negative attitudes and multiplied them until they were completely illogical. It would go a long way in explaining Molly's almost palpable dislike and fervent assumption that Hermione was a promiscuous girl, just as it would explain Miss Weasley's jealousy of Hermione's close friendship with Harry. Young Mr. Weasley's bout of jealousy following the Krum debacle was so well discussed in the staff room that Minerva did not have to look far to realise the reasons behind the attitude he was exhibiting.

Well, thought Minerva, we've just got through one situation, and we're already facing another. I wonder how many of those who fought in the Battle will be experiencing similar changes to their magic?

Arthur had listened in pained silence to his wife and children's attack on Hermione as well. He had always liked the girl immensely, and he had admired both her patience in dealing with his many questions on Muggle artefacts and her level-headedness in dealing with his younger children and their boisterousness. Although Arthur had not been brave enough to take on his wife in public, he now realised that he would have to take charge of his family. They were turning into something he did not recognise. As his eyes rested on the pursed lips and thoughtful frown on Minerva's face, he came to understand that Molly, Ron and Ginny's reactions had been observed and had become a cause for concern for more than one person.

After the meeting, Bill, Fleur and a few others drifted off toward the library in small clusters while others like Aberforth and 'Dung departed, claiming the need for a bracing drink of Firewhisky. However, as Arthur attempted to leave, he was stopped by Minerva. "Arthur, could I have a word with you and your family please?"

Arthur did not look surprised. Instead, he nodded and replied, "Of course, Minerva."

"Excellent," said Minerva, before turning to Kingsley. "Kingsley, I think we need to sit the Weasleys down and have a little chat." She then looked at Severus, "Please, Severus, would you be as kind as to stay too?"

Severus was usually one of the earliest to depart from meetings, despising the thought of socialising. On this occasion, however, he had stood quietly in a corner, observing the action. He, too, had suspected that Minerva would call for a special, private meeting.

As Minerva ushered out everyone but the Weasleys from the kitchen and recalled Bill and Fleur to join the discussion, Kingsley and Severus took their seats once more.

Kingsley looked at the family before him and said, "I am now addressing you as the Head of the Order. Due to your actions during the Battle of Hogwarts, you have all been tainted by the Dark. We don't know how all of you will be affected yet. Sometimes it is obvious; sometimes it takes a while for the symptoms to manifest. This is a warning so that you all know to watch out for the signs in each other. Now, since Severus is our resident expert on the Dark Arts, I shall let him explain what the three of us see before us."

Severus glared forcefully at the waiting Weasleys. Then, in a quiet, almost hypnotic tone, he said, "The Dark Arts affect everyone differently, feeding on insecurities, hidden grievances and prejudices. After listening to Molly, Miss Weasley and the youngest Mr. Weasley this evening, I can best pin-point the changes I see in them. Let me assure you that you have all been touched deeply by the Dark since you all had sinister intent behind your recent spell casting."

There were shocked and angry murmurs, and Molly shook her head as if to deny that she was touched by the Dark.

Severus prevented the Weasleys from speaking by carrying on. "Molly, you used an Unforgiveable Curse to kill Bellatrix Lestrange. You, who have never murdered before, now have blood on your hands, and as you had never really been prepared for the taking of a life, the Dark has found in you an easy home. Your irrational feelings of resentment towards Miss Granger and your need and desire for fame are bound to this. These have been your hidden weaknesses, and they are now coming to light."

Molly gasped. "Rubbish," she said vehemently.

Arthur laid an arm on his wife to calm her and nodded to Severus to continue.

Severus sighed before going on with his lecture. "Miss Weasley, you fought Bellatrix and other Death Eaters; the intent behind your magic was to harm, to hurt and to destroy. You housed a part of Voldemort's soul at the tender age of eleven. Despite your efforts to overcome that obstacle, this recent reintroduction to the Dark Arts has coloured your aura, and the Dark is now feeding on your darker emotions such as your jealousy and your desire for the spotlight. These emotions have been strengthened by the Dark. They are no longer simple goals or aspirations; they are now ruthless pursuits."

It was now Ginny's turn to glare at Snape. "You're so wrong," she said. "I'm not jealous. Why on earth would I be jealous of that ugly cow?"

"Of course," said Severus with a smirk. "That remark is, obviously, completely devoid of all jealousy and irrationality."

Then, he glared at the ginger-haired menace with absolute loathing. "The same is true for you, Weasley. You wore a part of the Dark Lord's soul for the better part of a year. Later, you battled and destroyed that very soul fragment, a fragment that was so tainted that it learned of your strengths and weaknesses and used them against you to try to influence your decisions. This is very Dark Magic. Your act of murder, of soul destruction, has tapped into your inner Darkness. I can see clearly that you are no longer content to be a member of the golden trio; you want to be recognised as a hero with all the trappings that entails."

Ron shook his head and glared angrily at Snape. How he hated the git.

Severus ignored the anger and hatred radiating off his audience. Instead, he continued, "The Dark feeds on negative emotions, and the stronger they are, the more the Darkness will latch on to them. I have learned to control my Darkness, feeding it in manageable doses using anger, bitterness and sarcasm to control the beast that dwells within me. Aurors do the same; Moody for many years used methods almost as Dark as those of the Death Eaters to feed his hunger and finally succumbed into irrational suspicion and vigilantism."

An angry, hostile silence descended at the end of Severus' lengthy explanation.

Then, Molly broke the silence with a furious tirade. "Been touched by the Dark have I? Just because my children and I are able to call a spade a spade, we've been touched by the Dark. What nonsense. Hermione Granger is a shameless trollop. She went off for a year to camp out in Merlin knows where with two teenage boys, and you sit there and tell me I'm touched by the bloody Dark because I called her out on her shameless behaviour."

Arthur shook his head sadly. Severus' explanation had helped him understand the altered behaviour of his family. George was no longer filled with mirth and laughter; instead, he sat quietly, as if the loss of Fred had taken all the joy from his existence. Percy worked; his whole being seemed to focus on doing his duty to the Ministry. Arthur did not fault Severus' perceptive take on Molly, Ginny and Ron, for he agreed with Severus' harsh but just pronouncement.

Placing a gentling arm on Molly, Arthur said, "Molly, dear, please be reasonable. If Severus has noticed these things and if Kingsley and Minerva agree, then we must accept that we have all been changed. I think Bill and I have handled it the best because our training and experience has stood us in good stead. However, the rest of you have no experience in the Dark; your magic is unable to cope."

Then, he looked at Severus, Kingsley and Minerva. "I agree. Percy is buried in his work; George is in a deeply entrenched depression. I myself found it very hard to cope after I was bitten by Nagini all those years ago, but I worked through it with Remus and was able to better control my temper and irritation. Tell us what to do. Is there some kind of counselling?"

Minerva shook her head sadly. "There is no real counselling, although we are all here to talk to you, to guide you, if need be. However, we can only offer you training in learning to control your magic. You must learn to feel the irrationality rising within you so that you can then curtail it or redirect it in some other shape or form. Ultimately, there is only forewarning and learning to control one's Darker, baser impulses. Once you are touched by the Dark, there is no way back. You will just have to learn to live with it."

Molly continued to shake her head. "I don't believe you," she said shrilly. "You're all delusional. There's nothing wrong with any of us; if anyone has been touched by the Dark, it is all of you. Pointing fingers and trying to destroy our family honour. We are not your bloody Malfoys. They are the ones with Darkness pouring out of them; go preach to them and leave my family, my children, alone."

Molly stood up and turned to glare menacingly at Arthur. "You, as always, have to believe what they tell you. How could you agree that we've been infested with Darkness? I'm ashamed of you, Arthur."

Arthur did not respond. He did not want to get into a disagreement with his wife in the presence of an audience. Instead, he merely said mildly, "Perhaps it is time for us all to go home."

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