Chapter 18: The Wrath of Neve

The Opposite

Chapter 18: The Wrath of Neve

Neve and Hermione were dueling furiously. By now, both girls had cuts and bruises all over their bodies. The guys watched with wide eyes. There was nothing more entertaining than two girls wearing tight, red unitards getting sweaty and dirty in a catfight. Neville actually had popcorn with him. Aurora sighed, watching the guys be very chauvinistic.

"You four are completely hopeless," she sighed. Aislin and Fionnula walked in as Neve disarmed Hermione. Hermione's wand went flying across the room, narrowly missing Aislin. Neve tackled Hermione, and the two girls began a fight with fists. Hermione threw Neve off of her and stood quickly. Neve threw a punch. It connected with Hermione's stomach. Hermione doubled over then fell to the ground. Neve stood over her in a superior manner.

"That really hurt, Neve," Hermione said. Neve smirked and helped Hermione up. The guys all blinked.

"Is it over already?" Ron asked. Hermione glared at him as Harry laughed. Aislin walked over to the girls as they grabbed towels.

"The next group to go on a raid is Ron, Hermione, and..." Aislin paused as the group all looked at her. "...Neve. Get ready. You leave in an hour." Aislin disappeared with a flat tone. Ron, Hermione, and Neve all exchanged glances. Then they looked at Harry, Neville, and Draco.

"How was your raid?" Hermione asked, sounding a bit apprehensive. Harry and Draco looked at each other. Harry decided to speak first.

"Relatively easy, now that you think about it. There weren't many competent Death Eaters there. They didn't know that I am a Soliopath. They also didn't know how strangely tactical Malfoy is," Harry said. Draco looked smugly at Hermione.

"Plus, it was my house. Since my father is out of Azkaban now, I guess he's entrusted the manor to be used by the Death Eaters," he said. "I knew all the secret places and stuff," he said. Hermione rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to blast that egotistical look right off his face. Ron held her hand.

"Let's go get ready," he said. Hermione nodded.

Ginny opened her eyes. She wasn't in her bedroom at the Lestranges' country home. Instead, she was in another place. It looked like the same meeting place as before. Astrid and Bellatrix were visible, as was a man who looked oddly like Crabbe. Ginny deduced that this was the same type of meeting they held after they'd done some neurotic deed.

"So, Sloan narrowly missed them?" Voldemort said. Bellatrix nodded.

"Neveah Assante seemed very eager to go the other direction. Sloan took that opportunity to go Apparate and warn us. They're raiding all of our hideouts. Thankfully, no one knows about my country home," Bellatrix said. Ginny crossed her arms and smiled arrogantly.

That's what she thinks, Ginny thought, smirking. Voldemort nodded and looked at Sloan. Sloan looked unscathed.

"Why didn't you attempt to capture the Assante girl again?" he asked. Sloan looked more than a little worried. He seemed to be trying to find the right words to say. Voldemort cleared his throat, obviously letting Sloan know that he was still awaiting an answer.

"I needed to warn the other Death Eaters at other hideouts," he croaked. Voldemort narrowed his eyes and then nodded. Suddenly, the scene before Ginny disappeared.

Neve was strapping on her utility belt. It held all types of bombs and weaponry. Her crossbow was strapped to her back. She walked down the stairs, not in her cloak. All the guys found themselves ogling her. Aurora noticed this as her mind filled with a dozen dirty thoughts. She made a choking sound, and the thoughts ceased.

"What are you all staring at?" Neve asked, oblivious to the way she looked. Neville, amazingly, spoke truthfully about her. He said what was on everyone's mind.

"You look hot. There's nothing I like to see more than a girl in battle uniform," he said, completely forgetting himself. Hermione and Aurora exchanged looks. Neve cracked a smile and kissed Neville on the cheek.

"Thanks, Neville," she said kindly, or as kind as she could get with her hard exterior. Ron and Hermione stood as Fionnula walked in, carrying cards. She gave each of them two. "What are these?" Neve asked.

"These are Portkeys. Just in case you find any other prisoners, they can use their own Portkeys. Dumbledore thought it was a swell idea. Remember, try not to kill anybody. We need information on where to find other prisoners and where Ginny is being kept. So, off you go," Fionnula said. She pointed at each of their cards and mumbled one word. All three of them disappeared.

Hermione looked up. It was pitch black outside the enormous estate. It looked every bit like a Death Eater hideout. She tried to walk forward, but Neve put her hand up.

"What are you doing?" she asked. Neve threw a rock at the house. It hit a barrier and was flung back at them. Ron ducked to avoid it. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"How're we going to get passed this?" Ron asked. Neve took out a strange looking object. It seemed to be made of glass. Ron and Hermione watched with wide eyes and she drew a line down the barrier. The line seemed to open, and Neve stepped in. Ron and Hermione followed.

"Where'd you get that?" Hermione whispered. Neve just smirked. She put the object back on her belt.

"Gift from Drake. Let's go," she said. Hermione rolled her eyes. Neve slinked around the yard with great stealth while Hermione and Ron kept crunching on leaves. Neve tried a window. "It's locked. Hermione, would you do the honors?" she asked. Hermione nodded.

"Alohomora," Hermione whispered. The lock opened and, Ron hoisted the girls up into the dark room. They silently snuck around, their wands at the ready. Ron came upon a tall Death Eater who was obviously drunk. The Death Eater didn't seem to realize who he was.

"Petrificus Totalus," Ron said in hushed voice. Hermione and Neve caught him before he hit the ground. Neve stood up and looked around. There was a light at the end of the corridor.

"You two go that way. I'll go this way to look for prisoners," she said. Ron and Hermione took off down the hall. Neve smirked as she heard the screams of shocked Death Eaters. Neve turned the corner and came to a fork. She heard a rustling noise coming from the right door. She started to go down it.

No. Go down to the left. Go to the left, a voice said in her head. Neve could've sworn she heard Ginny talking to her. She looked at the door to the left and opened it. Her face hardened at what she saw.

Sloan was standing there, pointing his wand at a girl on the floor. The girl was tied up and squealing in pain. He was obviously using the Cruciatus Curse on her. Neve moved silently up behind him. She put her wand to his head, and her gun to his back.

"Try something. I dare you to," she whispered in his ear. Sloan smirked and dropped his wand. Neve turned him around. She kept the gun on him as she picked up his wand and snapped it. He stared smugly at her.

"Well, well. Neve, we meet again. Grown a bit of a backbone now, haven't you?" Sloan attempted to take a step forward. Neve held the gun to his chin and dropped her wand.

"Give me a reason, Sloan. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blast your brains all over this floor," she said. Sloan dropped the smirk off his face. That's when Ron and Hermione walked in. Hermione looked at Neve, and then saw the girl on the floor. She ran to her and took off the gag. It was Luna Lovegood. She looked slightly deranged.

"Ron, help me," Hermione said, trying to hoist the girl up. Ron bent down and picked Luna up. He headed out of the room. Hermione started to follow, but turned and looked at Neve and Sloan. Neither was blinking and Neve's eyes were practically burning with unprecedented hatred for the man. "Neve, are you going to be ok?" she asked. Neve inclined her head slowly. "All right. Hurry up. Ron and I will call the Aurors." Hermione ran after Ron and Luna.

Neve put her gun down.

"I want to beat you fair and square. No weapons and no magic. You're just going to get an old-fashioned arse-whooping," Neve said, cracking her knuckles. She decked the unsuspecting Sloan hard across the jaw. Sloan recovered quickly and hit her in the stomach. Neve put her hands on the ground as she doubled over and flipped her legs up in a handstand. She wrapped her legs around his head and pulled him over.

Sloan landed hard on his back. Neve stood up and watched him slowly rise. She was going to enjoy this. Sloan attacked her again, and Neve pulled his arm as he threw a punch. His jaw met her elbow in a powerful hit. Neve had succeeded in breaking it. She kicked him in the back and he went flying forward. Sloan recovered quicker than before.

"What's the matter, Sloan? Can't beat up a fifteen year old girl?" Neve taunted. Sloan growled something illegible and attacked her. Neve was ready for him. She grabbed his chin, and the top of his head and twisted hard. It seemed to take Sloan ages to fall. His head was twisted in a painful looking way. Neve rubbed her knuckles. "I need to work on making them a little stronger. I can't keep breaking them every time I get into a fight," she sighed. Picking up her wand and gun, she headed out after Ron and Hermione.

Suddenly, another Death Eater jumped out after her. She pushed Neve into the wall. Neve pushed the woman off of her, and they both pulled their wands at the same time. Neve stared hard at the woman. She was panting hard.

"Lower your wand," Neve said in a deadly tone. The female Death Eater didn't move.

"Neve..." Hermione came around the corner, and the female Death Eater grabbed her around the neck. In one fluid movement, Neve had pulled her gun from its holster and was aiming at it slightly passed Hermione's head. Hermione was breathing rather hard.

"Seems like we're in a bit of a predicament, Assante," the woman said. Neve smirked. "I know you won't shoot her, so why don't you just put that gun away?" she continued. Hermione's eyes flickered back and forth from Neve to the woman. Neve held the gun steadily. Hermione moved her eyes down, and Neve understood.

Suddenly, Hermione stomped on the woman's foot. The Death Eater screamed and bent down. Hermione pulled her wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!" she yelled. The Death Eater's body went rigid. Hermione turned toward Neve. "Let's go. Ron's called the Aurors and tied up the last of them. Where's Sloan?" she asked. Neve looked up at her and smirked.

"Let's go," she said, tying her cloak around her more securely. Hermione just looked at her in a quizzical way and followed her out.

The trio appeared with Luna, startling Aislin. They stood in her office, looking worn out. Ron carried Luna to a bed and laid her down. Aislin came rushing to her side. She checked her vitals and everything. Luna was unconscious. It was going to be hard to find out what was wrong with her. Fionnula and Drake walked in.

"How did it go?" Drake asked. Hermione, Ron, and Neve exchanged smug looks.

"We saw Sloan," Hermione said. She looked at Neve, who was removing her gloves. Neve looked up at Drake and smiled.

"Ho avuto mia vendetta. Sì, ho avuto completamente mia vendetta," she said quietly, walking out of the room. Drake and Ron exchanged bewildered looks.

Elsewhere, Aurora was trying to practice focusing on one mind. Lately, her telepathy was on the fritz. She could hear almost everything someone was thinking in the immediate vicinity. It was out of her control. She wasn't sure why it was acting like this. Fionnula walked in the room.

"What are you doing?" she asked. Aurora opened her eyes and looked up at Fionnula. Fionnula was thinking about how stupid Aurora looked at that particular moment.

"I do not look stupid. Recently, I can read anyone's mind without trying to. It sounds like a bunch of jumbled up words. They are just random thoughts. It hurts sometimes. I cannot seem to focus on just one person," Aurora sighed. Fionnula nodded. Then she got an idea.

"Have you been practicing using that distant connection of yours?" she asked. Aurora nodded. "Well, see if you can focus on one mind. Ginny's mind. She's a partial telepath. She can take it. Maybe she knows where she is." Aurora nodded and closed her eyes.

Ginny was staring listlessly out of the window in her room. No one had come by to talk to her today or anything. The only thing she'd done was save Luna Lovegood's life by telling Neve which door to go through. Suddenly, it felt as if she was being pushed.

Ginny? Ginny, this is Aurora. Can you hear me? Aurora's voice said in Ginny's mind. Ginny looked around. No one was in the room except her. How was Aurora doing this?

Yes. I can hear you just fine, Aurora. What is it? Ginny asked. She also focused on not severing the connection with her friend.

Can you tell us where you are? Aurora asked.

Yes. I manipulated Bellatrix Lestrange's mind so that she could tell me. She said that I'm at her countryside home outside of Southampton. She says it's protected by all sorts of enchantments and can't be seen to the outside eye, Ginny said.

Are there any others there with you? Students, maybe? Aurora asked.

No, I think I'm the only one. But, every now and then I hear them talking about Professor Snape. I don't know for sure if he's here, though, Ginny said. It was silent for a moment, and then Aurora spoke again.

Ginny, gather as much information as you can. I will tell the headmaster where you are and hopefully, we'll bring the fight to them. Do not do anything rash, Aurora said. Ginny nodded, suddenly realizing that Aurora couldn't see her doing this.

Aurora?

Yes?

Tell Neve that it was me. She'll know what I'm talking about. Bye, Ginny severed the connection just as Bellatrix walked in. Ginny looked at her, rubbing her head. Bellatrix eyed her strangely, as if contemplating how to kill her.

"The Dark Lord wants to see you, Ginevra," she said. Ginny nodded and stood. She followed Bellatrix back to the room where she'd first spoken with him. Ginny made her way around the large snake as it hissed at her. She sat on the sofa across from Voldemort.

"Welcome, Ginevra. Tell me, have you been altering any timelines as of late?" Voldemort asked. Ginny stared at him blankly. She immediately blocked her mind from him.

"No," she lied. That's when Astrid stepped up beside him.

"She lies, my lord," Astrid said, smirking at Ginny. Ginny glared at her.

"How do you know whether or not I'm lying? I already told you that I cannot alter anything on my own. It sort of just happens. So recently, it hasn't, okay? Is that all you wanted?" Ginny asked, sounding annoyed. Astrid made to reach for her wand, but Voldemort stopped her.

"Calm yourself, Astrid. Ginevra, you are familiar with the Cruciatus Curse, no?" Voldemort asked. Ginny nodded meekly. "I asked you a question, Ginevra. I want a verbal answer."

"Yes," Ginny answered simply, her voice not showing the little fear in her. Voldemort intertwined his long fingers.

"Well, there is a curse similar to the Cruciatus Curse. It is not deemed illegal in Britain, of course. Few know about it here. It is said to be more painful than the Cruciatus, but is much harder to do. It is called the Dolore Curse. I want to show you the difference." Voldemort pulled out his wand. Ginny's eyes widened. "Crucio!" Voldemort yelled. The curse hit Ginny quickly, and she felt all the pain in the world. She didn't even realize she was screaming until the curse was lifted. She noticed she was on the floor. She stood and sat back on the sofa. Bellatrix and Astrid were smiling.

"Did you like that, Ginevra?" Bellatrix taunted. Ginny shot her a nasty look.

"Right, then. That was the Cruciatus Curse. The Dolore Curse is illegal in Italy. It's where the name of it comes from. Pain in Italian is dolore, hence the name Dolore. This curse is painful; it is nearly unbearable to witness someone being tortured by it. So, without further adieu, I want to show you this curse." Voldemort pointed his wand at Astrid, who looked startled. "Dolore Mortale!" he yelled. What looked like a blast of air was emitted from the tip of his wand.

Ginny watched in horror as Astrid sank to her knees. There was no sound coming from her mouth, although it looked as if she was screaming. Astrid's body curled up in a terrible way. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Ginny twisted in her seat as she watched. She tried to wrench her eyes away, but found that she couldn't. Even Bellatrix was staring wide-eyed.

"STOP IT!" Ginny manage to yell. It sounded forced. Astrid was evil, but she didn't deserve this. Voldemort snickered and lifted the curse. Astrid's body relaxed, and she rolled over. Her eyes were staring up into space at seemingly nothing. She looked dead to the world. Her eyes were glazed over. Nagini slunk over to her and looked down at her. Voldemort hissed something, and Nagini went away.

"That, Ginevra, is the Dolore Curse. If you ever lie to me, I will do that exact thing to you. Do you understand?" Voldemort said. Ginny was still staring down at Astrid. A white fluid was starting to drip out of her mouth. "Do you understand me, Ginevra?" Voldemort asked again, this time louder. Ginny was jerked out of her stupor and nodded quickly.

"Yes," she whispered. Voldemort nodded at Bellatrix. Bellatrix grabbed her arm and drug her off back to her room.

Ho avuto mia vendetta. Sì, ho avuto completamente mia vendetta = I had my revenge. Yes, I had my revenge thoroughly.