(1) Patrimony (H. Potter)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Fleur is running around, absolutely terrified, her eyes wide, her breathing ragged and sharp. She is suddenly attacked and knocked down. Harry turns the corner behind her and runs closer. Finds that Fleur is being swallowed into the undergrowth, vines and leafs wrapped around her, pulling her under.

"Fleur? Fleur!" He's too late she's disappeared. He sends up a red spark into the air. A heavy wind starts blowing, walls are closing in, Harry runs, sees something shining in the distance and he moves towards it. A bolt of light rockets past him, singeing the side of his head. He turns to see Rhiannon readying her wand for a second shot. Harry's eyes widen but they note hers. Cloudy and unfocused. He's seen it before. In their defence against the dark arts classes with Moody and their work on the Imperius curse.

"Get down!" Cedric yells behind him, Harry ducks and Rhiannon's spell sizzles past his ear. "Stupefy" Cedric's bolt surges past Harry and bursts onto Rhiannon. Sending her unconscious to the ground. Cedric runs up and kicks the wand out of Rhiannon's hand. He points his wand at her body as if to finish her off, Harry runs up and intervenes.

"No, stop! She's bewitched." Harry points out as he grabs Cedric's arm, they struggle.

"Get off me!"

"She's bewitched!" Harry states firmer as he holds up his wand and sends a red spark into the sky for her. Cedric calms slightly and looks around, Harry doing the same. They both stop when they catch sight of the cup ahead of them. Shining in the dark. They glance at one another and then sprint forward. Begin running towards the cup. The undergrowth then suddenly grabs Cedric and he falls to the ground, struggling. Harry looks back. Cedric is pinned down with no means of escape.

"Harry! Harry!" Harry runs back and zaps the plant life and Cedric wriggles free. Harry helps him up. "You know for a moment there I thought you were gonna let it get me"

"For a moment so did I." Harry agrees.

"Some game, huh?"

"Some game" The wind starts blowing around them. Cedric and Harry both look at the cup.

"Go on. Take it" Cedric offers.

"No" Harry argues.

"You saved me. Take it" Cedric counters. Harry glances at the cup and then back at Cedric.

"Together" He offers, Cedric eyes Harry, not sure what to make of this. Harry nods, reassuring him. Behind them, the huge hedge vibrates violently and begins to close in on the two of them. Turning, Harry and Cedric as one, sprint for the cup. "On three. One, two, three!" Just before the hedge completely envelopes them, they each grab a handle of the cup and they disappear.

..........

It's Dumbledore and Attila that follow Rhiannon's red spark. But she is not alone when they find her. There is a female figure sat with Rhiannon's unconscious form in her lap. She's stroking at Rhiannon's hair, fingers soft and warm. Her eyes glance up at him and he instantly knows who she is. Dumbledore lowers his wand.

"Hecate" Dumbledore greets, Hecate lifts her head fully now.

"Albus" She counters as she holds Rhiannon closer to her, protectively with a glare at the man before her. Attila hisses and growls, wanting to move closer to Rhiannon. "Calm yourself, Attila" Hecate warns him. The animal rears back surprised that she knows who he is. Albus glances at the animal.

"This is Rhiannon's mother" Attila looks up at him.

"Ah yes," Hecate realises. "Memory spell" She motions to Attila. "Sorry, old friend...It was a must" Attila frowns slightly. "Another time" Hecate warns before he can ask her. She looks down at Rhiannon and brushes her fingers over her cheek. "She's so beautiful....so strong.....so intelligent...I knew this was perfect for her" Dumbledore frowns a little and then realises.

"You put her name in the Goblet" He points out. She shrugs and then offers a smirk.

"She needed to prove herself" She offers. "And then the Ministry changed the rules....so I had to...I had to do something, for her. So people would see her for who she truly is. Not His daughter, not mine.....but herself...."

"Why did she need to prove herself at all?" Attila asks her.

"The young Potter is going to need all the help he can get in the coming years" She points out. "Especially when those closest to him are not what they seem" She and Dumbledore share a look, something flickering between them. "He needs her" She adds as she looks down at Rhiannon, her hand curling around her cheek. "She needs him...I have seen it. And now he knows he can trust her...they all do....she has proven that she is trustworthy and compassionate" Dumbledore shakes his head a little and lets out a breath.

"Get her into the hospital wing," He tells Hecate who gives him a look. "She needs to be seen by Madam Pomfrey..."

"Someone used an unforgivable curse on my daughter, Albus, I want to know who" Hecate warns and then stands with Rhiannon in her arms before walking away. "Come, Attila" She orders, the feline look at Dumbledore and then follows after the woman.