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Practice to Deceive	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 12424 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Author�s Note: This story is AU after book 5. It contains NO REFERENCES to book 6 in any way, shape or form.

24 May

PROLOGUE: A DANGEROUS DILEMMA

Dumped unceremoniously from the broom she'd been thrown over, she landed hard and awkwardly, the wind knocked out of her. Somehow, she managed to keep her feet underneath her.

Astrid Tyler stayed still while she regained her breath and tried to regain her equilibrium. There was a terrible pain in her head that would not go away. She was cold, exhausted, her long silver hair was filthy with sand and blood, and she was completely terrified.

The early morning attack on Mistland Magical Academy had caught most of them by surprise. Death Eaters simply did not attack anyone outside of England. Everyone knew that.

Everyone was wrong.

Now, Astrid had been captured by Death Eaters and she had no idea where she was..

She had lost her wand in the attack, and the potions and phials of bubotuber pus she usually kept in her pockets were gone. She couldn�t concentrate on anything for more than a few moments. Her head swam alarmingly when she tried to focus her attention. For the first time since she had begun learning magic, she was nearly helpless.

She was drawn from her reverie by the approach of footsteps. A black-robed figure approached her and reached to pull her to her feet.

She shrank away in terror when the man approached her. She hunched down further, trying to escape him, and forced him into a bent-over position. Since fleeing was not an option, her subconscious mind opted to fight.

Abruptly, she slammed the heel of her hand into his groin, followed quickly with a fist to his stomach. He doubled over, gasping for air. She ran for an open door she could see that led into some kind of building.

Once in the building, she turned to the left and began running as if her life depended on it. She changed directions randomly when she reached intersecting corridors, even though she vaguely realized that she would not be able to find her way out.

She finally reached a dead end and a door that was ajar. She squeezed through the door without moving it, and screamed when she was grabbed by someone and hauled into the middle of a large room. She was dropped to the ground in front of some kind of huge chair, nose-to-snout with an enormous snake.

//Must escape,// she hissed at the snake in Parseltongue. It moved closer and its tongue flicked over her face a couple of times, tasting her.

//Smells like you from before, master,// the snake said, turning its head towards the individual in the chair.

//I see,// a male voice answered. //No one here will harm you, child,//

//Nestmate,// Astrid said. //Need nestmate.// Her thought processes were getting more and more difficult to focus and her head would not stop spinning.

//Where is your nestmate?// the snake asked. Astrid stared at it for a moment, until comprehension came to her.

//Learning-place,// she told it. //Learning place surrounded by water.//

//How looks nestmate?// the snake continued.

//Hair brownred,// Astrid answered. //Eyes like grass.//

//Hair not silvergold?// the man inquired. Astrid shook her head, as much to clear it as to answer.

//Come to me, daughter,// the man said. Astrid raised her eyes to the man who sat in the chair.

Lord Voldemort had been busy since his resurrection. His skin was still milk white, he was still hairless, and his eyes still glowed red, but his features were almost human, and held an inhuman beauty that would stop traffic if he went out in public.

Whimpering, Astrid crawled over to him and laid her head in his lap.

�My head hurts,� she said. �I want my sister.�

Voldemort stroked her hair for a moment, and then his hand trailed down and he bent over until he could touch the small of her back. Even through her clothing, the tingle of the birthmark she had inherited from him was strong.

�Father?� she whimpered. The pain in her head was unbearable. She was positive that she was going to die.

�Yes,� Voldemort said in English, gazing into her unfocused green eyes, �I am your father.� Both of them gasped as a magical tie was forged between the two of them, a parent-child bond that would endure for their entire lives.

�Where is her sister?� Voldemort asked the man before him.

�My Lord,� a man kneeling on the floor raised his head. �We were ordered to leave no survivors.�

�Did you bring any with dark hair?� Voldemort asked, his eyes on the girl at his knee. One hand began to stroke the filthy silver tresses.

�No, My Lord,� the man said, his brow furrowed. �The twins are complimentary, and complimentary twins are always identical.�

�I have observed this reaction before,� Voldemort said. �I would say you are in error.�

He whispered a spell and the girl relaxed into a magically induced sleep.

�You,� Voldemort said, his eyes focusing on the man kneeling before him. �You have cost me one child, and may cost me the other, due to your incompetence and your assumptions. You will not die, though. You do not deserve the release of death. MacNair will find out the number of casualties. You will suffer for each instructor, student, resident, child, and familiar. Then, you will suffer until I am satisfied for the death of my daughter.�

�My Lord, please,� the man begged. �We only sought to please you!�

�You sought to curry favor with me,� Voldemort said. �Your punishment begins now. Bellatrix, take him away. You are in charge of him.�

�Yes, My Lord,� Bellatrix Lestrange flicked her wand at the man with a muttered �imperio� and followed his puppet-like body out of the room.

�What is to be done with the girl, My Lord,� Rabistan Lestrange asked. His eyes strayed over her body, perhaps imagining uses he might put it to.

�I will not lose both children, because of the incompetence of Americans,� Voldemort said. �You and Rudolphus will research complimentary twins, and how to salvage one of a pair.�

�My Lord,� Rabistan objected. �It must be something else. As the man said, complimentary twins are always identical.�

�Not in this case,� another voice, jarringly American, interrupted Rabistan�s objections. A new arrival approached and knelt at Voldemort�s feet.

�I came as soon as I had a preliminary report, My Lord,� he said. �My information is by no means complete, but I knew you desired information quickly.�

�Yes,� Voldemort said, indicating that the man should rise. �Report to us all.�

�I did find a record of a pair of complimentary twins, one of whom matches the description you gave me, Master,� the man said. �Her name is Astrid Tyler. Her parents of record are Simon and Elizabeth Evans-Tyler. Her twin sister, Lilith Evans, is reported to have chestnut colored hair and green eyes. The Bureau of Magical Affairs has been watching them for some time, hoping to recruit them.�

�As aurors?� Voldemort asked. The absurdity of the concept made him smile.

�No, My Lord,� the man said. �Curse Breakers, among other things. They are amazingly gifted.� He pulled a folded parchment out of his robes and handed it to the Dark Lord.

�As you can see from the picture,� he said. �Astrid Tyler is indeed this young witch. At her young age, she has perfect grades, 14 OWLS (Ordinary Wizarding Levels), 14 NEWTS (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), and three Masteries. Her test scores were all Fs, all Flawless. She's studying for her WARTS (Wizarding Aptitude Reliability Tests). She's not allowed to actually use the Masteries until she has her WARTS. It�s unheard of. There are notes in her file that she has an unhealthy obsession with success. She seemed to be determined to prove something.�

�That is a quality we share,� Voldemort said, his eyes raking the room full of Death Eaters. �It is also a quality that you would all benefit from.

�Narcissa,� he said, changing the subject. �Take my daughter to a room and see to it that she will be comfortable during her sleep.�

�Yes, My Lord,� Narcissa Malfoy drew her wand from her sleeve and levitated the unconscious girl out of the room without a backward glance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

25 May

Lilith Evans sat up from where she had been tossed, confined to a cell. Her wand was gone, her head hurt abominably, She remembered seeing her sister snatched off of her feet by a Death Eater mounted on a broom and carried away. She had knocked another Death Eater off of his broom and was mounting to follow when she was hit by a stunning spell.

She forced herself to stay alert as she waited for her captors to come to her. She was having more and more trouble concentrating, and even the simplest spells seemed to be difficult if not impossible. For the first time since she could remember, she seemed to be completely helpless.

Finally, the door opened and two figures in dark robes and masks stood in the opening. One of them raised a wand and nealry whispered.

�Stupefy.�

Lilith slumped, unconscious.

The two individuals approached their unconscious captive, and one of them knelt next to her. Knowledgeable hands burrowed under robes and rearranged clothing until the base of her spine was revealed. Behind her mask, the woman smiled in satisfaction. The revealed birthmark, in the shape of a red, seven-pointed star, confirmed the identity of the young woman lying before her.

�This is the one,� the woman said, turning to her companion. �She has the mark. This is our Lord's daughter.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

25 May

Astrid woke slowly, trying to figure out what had happened to her. She clearly remembered the attack on Mistland, and being snatched off of her feet and carried away on a broom. She remembered being knocked out before losing sight of the island. She was warm under thick blankets in a soft bed. She no longer smelled of blood and sweat. The tremendous headache that she remembered had subsided to a strong ache.

She had a misty recollection of a conversation with a snake, and a man with red eyes sitting on a throne. The man with the red eyes was her father.

The feeling of someone shifting in the bed next to her made her sit up abruptly and turn to tell her sister about the strange dream she had just woken from.

The words Astrid was about to say died on her lips as she looked at the same enormous snake from the night before. The snake raised itself to be level with her. Standing next to the bed was a haggard-looking dark-haired woman.

//How feel you, child of Master,// it inquired. //Master wishes to see you and speak to you.//

//I can think,// Astrid replied, ignoring the elated look on the woman�s face.

//Good,// the snake approved. //Master calls me Nagini. I will get Master.//

//Master is redeyes man?// Astrid inquired, her mind racing. The snake firmly nodded its head.

//Tell your master that I will come to him,// Astrid said. She turned her attention to the woman as the snake turned away and slithered off of the bed and out of the room.

�Is there something for me to wear?� Astrid asked. �I am not going to be seen by anyone in a nightgown.�

�Of course,� the woman said. �There is a large assortment of clothing that should fit you. My Lord ordered it assembled while you were asleep.�

�How long was I asleep?� Astrid asked. Usually, she had dreams. She did not remember dreaming.

�My Lord ordered me to tell you that all of your questions will be answered by him.�

�Very well,� Astrid said. She got out of the bed, fought off a bit of vertigo, and walked the few steps over to the wardrobe that the dark-haired woman had indicated. She quickly selected a gown and robes and stepped behind a screen to dress.

When she came out, the woman watched her with compassionate eyes.

�Is there anything I can do for you, my dear?� she asked. �I assisted in cleaning you up and dressing you for bed. I saw my husband's birthmark on your heel. I have never had a child, much to my regret. I would like to think any child I had would have been as gifted as you, and as beautiful.�

�I don't know what anyone can do about my sister being murdered,� Astrid replied. �Thank you for asking. I should probably ask Father where he's going to put me, so I don't hurt anyone when I finally lose my mind and die.�

�My Lord is researching ways to prevent that,� the woman answered. �I am Bellatrix Lestrange. You may call me Bella, if you wish. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. You are the closest to a daughter I am ever likely to have.�

�Then you can punish the man who was responsible for the death of my sister,� Astrid said. �Can I see Father, now?�

�Of course,� Bellatrix said, turning to lead the way. �Nagini and I were sent to get you.�

The room they entered was enormous. It was crammed, floor to ceiling, with books, scrolls, and bundles of parchment. There were four tables in the middle of the room with chairs around them. Two house elves were engaged in returning books to the shelves and taking away cups and plates, signs that someone had been heavily engaged in research until recently.

At the closest table there were two comfortable chairs, a stool, and a man in Death Eater�s robes standing nearby. Voldemort was sitting in one of the chairs. He gestured to Astrid to take the other chair.

�This man is from the American Bureau of Magical Affairs,� He told her. �Tell him what your belongings look like, and he will retrieve them for you.�

�Will he retrieve my familiars, as well?� she asked calmly. The Dark Lord arched an eyebrow, but nodded.

�Of course,� he said. �A witch is nothing without her familiars. You will describe them to him, and he will retrieve them.�

�Actually,� she said. �All he needs to retrieve are my trunks. If I can get somewhere with open sky above me, I can retrieve my animals myself.�

�Very well,� the man said. �What do your trunks look like?�

�There are four seven-lock trunks,� she said. �They are green, with my name, Astrid Tyler, on an enchanted tag. Once you find one, you will be able to find the other three, if they�re not together. I want my sister's trunks, too. They're purple, with Lilith Evans on the tags. There are also four of them.�

�What about the animals?� the man pressed. She looked at him appraisingly, and then smiled coldly.

�I�ll tell you,� she said. �If you truly think you are capable of capturing a Thunderbird, with a Congolese Venomous Constrictor as a cohort. Of course, that�s not counting the two ravens, two wolves, two cats, and a great horned owl. I don�t think much of American Death Eaters, I will tell you. Perhaps you ought to stick to what you can do correctly, and just retrieve the luggage.�

�I resent that,� he blustered, taking a step forward. Astrid watched him calmly, even though her head still hurt alarmingly. The man did not have his wand in his hand, so she knew she could out spellcast him.

�You can resent it all you like,� she said. �The fact is that your people are incompetent. They were slaughtered, literally and figuratively, by schoolchildren. I saw one taken down by a third year. I saw another taken down by several first years. None of the British Death Eaters have been defeated by children.�

�Except for Harry Potter,� the man mentioned. Astrid shrugged, even though she could see her father growing angry.

�Harry Potter is an anomaly,� she said. �He�s a fluke. The boy has some kind of intense protection on him, not to mention more than his share of sheer dumb luck. That luck will run out soon, I am sure. No one can be that lucky forever.�

�Do you intend on changing that luck?� the man asked. Astrid couldn�t see his face, but she could hear the sneer in his voice.

�If I thought that my father needed help to defeat a sixteen year-old who has been coddled by a senile old man, I might,� she said. �What I intend to do is between my father and myself, and none of your business. You should, instead, reflect on how you were so ill-prepared for Mistland that you didn�t know that there was a rigorous dueling club. You also didn�t use the brains I am assuming you possess to wonder if perhaps my sister and I might be amenable to being approached like adults, instead of kidnapping me like a child, or a reluctant bride.

�If you had prepared,� she continued, allowing her pain to surface a bit. �I wouldn�t be missing my other half. Now, I face madness and death, because you didn�t do your research.�

�Research wasn�t my department,� he said stiffly. �My Lord, do I have to take this from this child?�

�Until I say otherwise, yes,� Voldemort said. �So far, she is showing unbelievable insight and other qualities that I would prize in a child of mine.�

�Being prepared is your individual responsibility as an adult,� Astrid told the standing man. �Now be a good boy and get my trunks, before I show you what other gifts I possess.�

�Go,� Voldemort said. �Leave my sight before I discipline you myself.�

�Yes, My Lord,� the man said, bowing. He stepped away and Apparated with a loud pop.

�Now that he is gone,� Voldemort said, turning his attention to Astrid. �What are you going to do?�

�It�s only a formality,� Astrid said. �But I would like to finish my education. I am not anxious to die, so a solution needs to be found. I need old and rare references for that. I know I�m in England, so that would be Hogwarts. I imagine that there are references there that are unavailable anywhere else.�

�The research my people did has indicated that you might be stabilized, at least temporarily, by being Bound to another individual of great power,� he replied. �I am attempting to find someone of sufficient power. I am also seeking Harry Potter, since he is the strongest wizard I know of, other than myself.�

�That would be acceptable, father,� Astrid replied. �May I see the references that were used?�

�You may see anything you like,� he said. �I will send someone to show you to the courtyard. My servants have all been told that you are to be obeyed as if you were me.�

�Thank you, Father,� Astrid said. He smiled, affectionately, stood, kissed her forehead, and left her alone in the cavernous room.

After being sure she was alone, Astrid stood up and approached the nearest bookcase. The first book she pulled down was a 400 year old book on magical torture methods. She shivered a bit, but put it on the closest table.

She put one hand flat on the book and whispered a spell she and her sister had created. The book seemed to stretch and distort, then it began to split. There was a flash of light, and two books sat side by side on the table. She flipped through both books, smiled, and put one of them on the shelf. She whispered to the other one, and it shrank to the size of a matchbook, which she picked up and put in her pocket. With a delighted laugh, she began pulling out books systematically and piling them neatly on the table.

She performed several duplicating and shrinking spells in rapid succession, pocketing the shrunken books and returning the others to the shelves with a flick of her fingers. She continued until her pockets were full.

She had retained one book, on binding spells, and was sitting down to read it, when the door to the library opened.

Astrid looked up when the door opened, and her breath caught in her throat when she surveyed the handsome man before her. His perfectly sculpted features would have been a great deal more attractive without the arrogant expression he wore. His waterfall of pale blonde hair was striking, but did not appeal to her. He reminded her of several pictures her sister had drawn, of the man of her dreams, her Silver Knight. He wore the robes of a Death Eater, but his mask was in his hand, along with a serpent-headed cane. He walked fluidly over to her, and then took one hand and kissed the tips of her fingers.

�Lucius Malfoy, at your service, dear lady,� he said, smiling. �I was bidden by the My Lord to take you to the courtyard. He said something about retrieving your familiar.�

�That�s plural, Mr. Malfoy,� Astrid replied, slipping her fingers from his grasp. Just from the touch of his lips on her bare skin, she had felt more from his mind than she ever wanted to. This man was loathsome, beyond anything she had imagined. His thoughts concerning her were just as unspeakable, and involved a great deal of pain, her pain.

�Don�t overstep yourself,� she said, setting aside the book and rising to her feet. �You�re meddling in things best left alone.�

�You misunderstand me, dear lady,� he said, his smile a bit on the stiff side. �I meant nothing untoward. I simply wished to pay the homage you so richly deserve.�

�You�d have to prove yourself,� Astrid replied icily. �Worshiping at this altar is a privilege to be earned, not an entitlement.�

�May I escort you?� he asked, extending a gloved hand. Astrid folded her arms.

�Do not touch me,� she said. �That is definitely above you.�

�Surely I am one of the few,� Malfoy objected. �Worthy of your favors.�

�That is not for you to say,� she replied. �Simply put, Mr. Malfoy, you don�t have enough power to equal me. Now, I believe you were going to show me to the courtyard.� She indicated that he should precede her, and followed Malfoy.

***** *****

Once in the courtyard, Astrid cautioned Malfoy to stay under cover, which he ignored, and stepped as far from him as she could. She raised her face and her hands to the cloudless sky, and made a cry like a hawk.

Moments after she began, clouds began to gather, quickly building into what could be called storm clouds, except that the phenomenon was localized over the castle. A sprinkling of rain began to fall, prompting Malfoy to withdraw under cover of a doorway with a muttered curse.

After the clouds had built enough to be black on their undersides, tendrils of lightning began to writhe across the clouds, dim at first but building in brightness and number. Finally, there was a brilliant flash of lightning that seemingly struck right in front of the slender witch, coupled with a deafening crack of thunder.

When his eyes stopped tearing, Malfoy was stunned into speechlessness. Astrid was kneeling on the ground in the rain, her arms around a bird easily half the size of a man, her face buried in the bird�s neck feathers. The bird�s eyes were darting about, as if searching for enemies. It pulled away from the girl before it, and then butted its head gently into her chest. She stroked it, murmuring all the time.

Finally, the bird took a few steps back from her and disappeared in another flash of lightning. This time, Malfoy expected something of the kind and averted his eyes when it stepped back.

�Keep your eyes closed,� Astrid advised him. �There will be at least four more flashes like that.�

Malfoy nodded and turned away from the courtyard.

As promised, there were four more flashes, and then the rain began to taper off. Lucius turned around to find that not only had the bird returned, but he had brought friends.

Still wet, Astrid stood with a large snake wrapped around her middle, its head resting on her breast. Her two shoulders were occupied by two of the largest ravens Lucius had ever seen. Two golden cats sat at her feet, and two large gray wolves stood on either side of her. On a bench nearby sat a great horned owl. The first bird sat on the bench next to the owl.

�We can go inside, now,� she said. �I�m getting cold.� She turned to Malfoy with an air of command, and he opened the doors leading back into the building.

Just inside, they were met by Voldemort himself with Wormtail beside him, followed by Bellatrix, Rudolphus, and Rabistan Lestrange.

�Those aren�t familiars,� Bellatrix declared. �This is a zoo!�

A sound like a rumble of thunder made whatever remark any of the others had been about to make die unspoken. Voldemort's eyes focused behind Astrid, and Lucius turned to see the larger bird with its wings spread. Lightning crackled along its body, following some rather curious white markings in the dark gray feathers. The rumbling was coming from the bird.

�My familiars do not care for being separated from me,� Astrid said conversationally. �They're likely to be unstable for a little while.�

She murmured to the ravens, extended one arm. They moved until they were both on the same side, one on her shoulder and one on her forearm. When that was done, she let out a soft hooting sound. The owl from outside came flying in silently and landed delicately on her other shoulder.

�I am a bit tired, father,� she said. �I did find the most interesting book, as well. Would it be acceptable for me to spend the rest of the day in my room?�

�Yes,� Voldemort answered. �I will come see you later.� Astrid bowed her head to him, and then left towards her rooms.

Behind her, Rudolphus turned to Voldemort.

�My Lord, there is no other way to keep her stable,� he said. �We don't have anyone of sufficient power. She will become mad, and then she will wither away and die.�

�There is one possibility,� Rabistan said. �My Lord, several of the books mentioned that, if separated beyond their tolerance, a pair of twins might think that the other was dead. It is possible, although not likely, that the other girl is alive.�

�Find out,� Voldemort said. �Summon the higher ranking of my American vassals.�

�Yes, My Lord,� Rabistan said, bowing. He was relieved that he had managed to salvage some of the situation. Now, if the Americans were smart, they would have captured the other girl, not killed her.

TBC
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Practice to Deceive