HARRY POTTER WLoF REWRITE PART 3 CHAP 14

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!” Moria snapped when she and Nico finally landed to a place only he knew. She looked around, not even recognizing the place she was in. “WHERE ARE WE?!”

“Tuscany.”

“Why are we here?” She spat out. “Bloody hell, if we were just being called back, you could have just told me!”

“Because I saw a girl that I thought was dead!”

“…huh?” She asked, “The dead can’t be brought back to life. Not unless it’s dark magic.”

“I know that.”

“So how do you know this girl is dead?"

“Look. You know that girl that me and Abate were rivals with?”

“Yeah…so?”

“Well…” He started but then hesitated.

“Look if you aren’t going to tell me what the hell is going on, I’m apparating back.” She warned, staring at him.

“No, wait!”

“Then what is it?”

“Look…when I was eighteen I was head over heels for this girl. But…I’m me. And I didn’t have the funds to properly take care of her. So…I left. Apparently the day I left, she disappeared as well…” He murmured. “A lot of people thought she ran off with me to elope. But…Abate…Abate didn’t believe that. He was her betrothed…and I couldn’t break her up from her family because of that. But they never found her. So…they had a funeral without a body. But…but a few days ago, I saw her. And she hasn’t aged since she was 18.”

“…okay?” Moria responded in confusion, turning when she heard a popping sound and to her surprise, spotted Giacintro.

“I got your patronus. Is it really her?”

“Looks about right.”

“Wait, waitwaitwait…he knew?”

“Yeah…I needed him to look up some research.”

“About Abate?”

“Yeah. And you have to admit, he was the one who excelled in digging up dirt.”

“I’ll give him that…” Moria admitted grudgingly. “What’s this girl’s name?” She asked, sighing in resignation.

“Alma. Alma Rao.” Nico replied. He then glanced down at Moria’s feet.

“You’re wearing those boots that Rosetta made you?”

“Your point? I was breaking them in.”

“It’s not a good idea to wear shoe wear that you haven’t broken in yet on something like this.”

“Forgive me. I didn’t have much time to have a thought process of what the hell was going on, much less change my shoes.”

“Just don’t tap the heel twice unless you need to.”

“Why?”

“Just don’t.” Nico repeated and she looked at him in exasperation.

“Okay, okay. Let’s go.” She finally remarked, looking at the two men. “Where is this place that you think she’s being held in.” She asked.

“Come on. I’ll show you.”

---

It hadn’t taken long for the large group that Max, Harry, and Tonks had been forced into to find a floo connection. Though they had received strange looks, the wands pressed into their backs and sides prohibited them from speaking out or yelling for help. Now Max could literally feel her shirt sticking to her back and she was really wishing she could turn blond, because her hair was doing nothing but sucking up the sun’s heat and making her light headed. She could see Harry was having the same issues, though Tonks had changed her hair color to blonde. The woman who had been trying to escape walked right in front of them, surrounded completely by men. She seemed to not realize what was going on and she seemed almost…dead…to Max.

Finally at the end of the path they saw a magnificent luxurious property sitting on a small hill overlooking the glorious rolling Tuscan countryside with stunning views of  what she believed was Siena (if she had read the sign outside the floo connection properly and remembered the Italian country map at school correctly). The moment they entered the villa, the sweet feel of air conditioning swept past and chilled them. Though still being dragged through the halls, the trio could see a large living room with a pool table and a sitting room that lead out to a stone courtyard which had beautiful mosaics designed into it. They passed a large kitchen with a fireplace and wood stove as well as an expensive looking dining room with way too many chairs, before finally reaching a living room. They could see a chair pivoted in the opposite direction, staring out a window and a dark tan hand jutting out holding a wine glass, the liquid inside swirling lazily as the man rotated the cup.

“You brought guests.” A thick, deep Italian accented voice spoke, sending shivers up the two children and one teenager spines. The man turned around and he looked old. He looked a little bit older than Lucio but he had to be in his late 40’s at least. He had white hair and cold brown eyes stared at them from where they sat on pointy cheeks. “And light skinned guests.”

“Forgive us sir. They were there with Lady Alma and they saw too much.”

“I see. Curiosity is both a blessing but sometimes curiosity kills the cat.…” He said as he walked up and Max flinched as he pinched her chin and lifted it to look at her face. She glared at him angrily and he chuckled. “My, my…quite the brave one aren’t you?”

He moved away from her and stopped at Harry, staring at him. He then brushed the boy’s bangs up and stared at the lightning scar, and the flash of realization in his face was enough for Max to know he knew who Harry was and jerking away from the man who had his hand on her shoulder and moved in front of Harry protectively.

“Quite protective of him, aren’t you?” He said with the chuckle. “Does the famous Boy-Who-Lived, already have a girlfriend?”

“Sister.” She replied coolly. The man laughed loudly, echoing throughout the room.

“My, my…your father must be rather embarrassed with having a daughter with a cheek like yours.”

“Actually I think he would rather enjoy it.” She replied smoothly and he looked at her with a smirk. She bit her lip and glanced at her pocket. He caught her eye movement and quickly pulled out the picture. The room shifted in atmosphere as the guards grew defensive, as though the piece of film was going to suddenly jump up and destroy them. While it certainly would have been interesting, Max glared at the idea.

“It’s a picture. Not a bomb.” She grumbled hotly as the man looked the image. “The worst you could get is a paper cut.” She added, but it seemed the man didn’t hear her, to intently staring at the occupants of the image. They were all wearing the same uniform. A black pea-coat over black pants and boots. He stared at the one male, who stood next to a shorter female, whose skin was lighter than the other six occupants.

“Do you know who this man is?” He asked, his voice cool and calm, almost as though he was holding back rage. She blinked and looked at the figure who was partially covered up by the man’s finger. She looked back at him.

“That’s Nico Tosto. He’s a coworker of my mummy.”

She might as well just slapped him with the expression he gave. He straightened abruptly, his face unreadable. She glanced at the others, Tonks and Harry having similar expressions of confusion. He then placed a false smile on his face.

“Well…pardon my men’s…mistake. You must stay for dinner as an apology.” He forced out and Max looked at him in confusion before the three were led away. The young woman stood there staring out the window, her tiny hands pressed against the glass.

“Did he know him?” Max asked Harry under her breath.

“I don’t know. Seemed like it. Though he didn’t look too happy.”
Max looked behind her shoulder at the closed door.

“Sir?”

“Those three…will be much more trouble than its worth.”

“So what do you suppose we do?”

“Kill the eldest. She is far too old for anything useful. The boy we’ll have to keep…the little girl…” he trailed off thinking. “She’ll probably gain an interesting price in the markets. There are men who like children.”

“Understood.” The man said. He glanced at the woman who had looked over at him with her blank gaze and offered a smile and patted her hand.

“Alma, don’t let it bother you, dear.” He said though she didn’t offer any response, just turned to look out the window again. “There’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe. So please. Don’t go outside again.”

She was silent, just looking out the window into the horizon.

---

Max looked around the place as she walked around, trying to find a restroom. She hadn’t gone since they had gone exploring and that had been hours ago. Thinking about it, she really didn’t want to think what Uncle Remus was doing at the moment. More than likely ripping his hair out trying to figure out where the hell they had gone…boy this was going to be a fun explanation. Hopefully she would see the outside before Christmas. She paused when she saw the young woman standing out in garden, staring at the sky above her. Curious she walked over to her.

“Um…hello…” She said politely. The woman didn’t seem to acknowledge her, instead walked into the villa. Max was close to follow her as she went up to the staircase and into the drawing room, which held a large balcony, which the woman walked to. “Wait. You’re Almaa right?” She asked. The girl stopped moving.

“I don’t know.”

“So…you’re not Alma?”

“I don’t know.” She repeated somberly. Max looked at the woman in confusion almost contemplation. She seemed almost sad in a way.

“Girl!” She heard and turned to see two large men walking in. And she suddenly felt that she was in a lot more trouble and was wishing to being scolded by Remus than being here.

---

“So…this is leading to a villa?” Moria said as she jumped off a boulder.

“Yeah. It used to belong to the Rao family.” Nico remarked.

“Used to?”

“Yeah. The one who resides in it now is Abate.”

“…okay if we knew where he lived, why didn’t we just go there?” Moria asked as she looked at Giacintro.

“We didn’t have evidence against him about any illegal activity. Men who worked for him claimed to have never met him, none of illegal shipments had his name on it.” Giacintro explained.

“…why is it a place that the English Ministry declares as ‘barbaric’ has a more able and just judicial system than itself?” Moria grumbled. “Honestly, if my husband had been arrested here, there would have been a chance that he would have been freed.”

“Who is your husband?” Nico asked curiously.

“Just do a bit of research. My last name is a big clue.” Moria replied grimly walking ahead of them. Nico looked at Giacintro who shrugged. “Is that the place?” Moria asked as she looked down at the villa.

“Yeah. But we have to be careful. With the security and charms on this place. It’s like a fortress.”

Moria was silent and turned to look and noticed a lot of movement on a balcony.

“LET ME GO!!”

“Just shut up and come with us!”

“STOP IT!!! I SAID STOP IT!!” Max screamed as she flailed and kicked her legs, causing the man who was trying to grab the said legs great difficulty.

“If you don’t quiet down, we’ll beat you to death! The master doesn’t give a shit of lost dollars on a worthless meat bag!”

“LET GO!!!” Max yelled again, hoping that maybe, just maybe Harry could hear her. Alma stared at her in blank confusion. “HARRYYYYYYYY!!!” She screamed loudly and the voice carried to the ears of one of the aurors sitting just outside the property. Moria froze, recognizing that voice.

“MAX?!” Moria yelled out, abandoning this so called mission that she had been dragged on and jumped down onto the property.

“Wait, you idiot!” Giacintro and Nico yelled, but Moria didn’t heed them. Alarms sounded as Moria raced into the gardens and alarms sounded.

“MAX, IS THAT YOU?! WHERE ARE YOU!?”

“Mama?” Max whispered and yanked her arm free. “MAMA!!!” She screamed as she smashed her arm through a pane of glass, sending fragments everywhere. The harsh ringing of the alarms echoed into the room and Alma dropped to her knees clutching her head.

“Stop that alarm, you’ll frighten Alma!” Max heard as she struggled with the man holding her upper chest. She saw movement in her peripherals and turned her head to see that Almaa had stooped down and picked up a large piece of the glass, clenching it tightly in her delicate hands. Her expression was no longer a lost sadness. Her eyes didn’t show any hint of recognition at all actually. Just the insanity and desire to murder in a blind psychosis.

“GET OUT OF OUR WAY!!” Moria snapped as she threw a spell at a guard, hitting him square in the chest. A man went hit Moria while her back was turned, but was stopped by Nico.

“Maxine!” He called out, the closest to the balcony as he spotted the little girl struggling against a man, a woman in a white dress standing above her a large shard of glass clutched in her hands. “MAXINE!”

The woman paused and then turned to see who had been yelling. It felt as though the air had been pushed out of his lungs, but he could no more put the thought together than a large burly man smashed his hand into the back of his neck. Darkness flooded in.
And he knew nothing else.

---

“-saying you shouldn’t have gone running in like that.”

“Figures you’d get all annoyed, being a forever bachelor and all. Forgive me if protecting my daughter comes at a higher priority than seeing a so called dead woman, who by the way doesn’t look the least bit oh…I don’t know…Dead.” Nico heard as he slowly regained consciousness. He blinked slightly and shifted, looking up.

“You’re awake.”

“Where are we?” He slurred forcing himself up.

“Don’t know. Some shed in a construction area.” Moria remarked. “We don’t have our wands either. Seems that Abate has the brains to take those away from us.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” A voice came from the darkness and suddenly harsh lighting kicked on with a short buzzing sound, blinding the trio temporarily. Nico could see that his two teammates were a little worse for wear. Giacintro was sporting a bloodied nose and a gash to the shoulder and one of his arms that like him and Moria were bound in the back. Moria had dried blood arched down her chin and a lovely looking black eye that complimented the cut cheek. She gave a shrug stating she was okay when she spotted him looking at her. They blinked rapidly and caught sight of two men. One was in a suit, clearly just meant as a strong arm to the older man that stood in front of them.

“Leone Abate.” Moria remarked coldly.

“Pleasure.”

“It wasn’t a compliment. Where’s the little girl that you are holding hostage?” She asked, but it seemed she was ignored as Abate turned to look at Nico, who was glaring just as darkly.

“You’re here because I refuse having you under the same roof as Alma. I can’t stand the disgusting thought.” He hissed at Nico. Moria frowned and glared.

“Abate, what…what did you do? Where’s Maxine Black? What did you do to her? What did you do to Almaa?!” Nico snapped out.

Silence ensued, but the atmosphere grew darker, almost to the point where Moria realized it could probably be cut apart with a knife.

“What…did I do?” Abate asked softly. He gripped the cane he was holding tightly in his hands, to the point where they were shaking. “Alma…” He tried to say, trying to remain calm, but ultimately snapped and swung the cane, smashing it across Nico’s face. “ALMA DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!!”

Nico looked at him stunned.

“Died?” Giacintro remarked. “What do you mean she died??”

“…She’s an Inferi…isn’t she?” Moria asked and both men turned to her, while Abate remained silent. “That’s the only way to explain it. You can’t bring back the dead. Voldemort used them as his undead army during the 1st Wizarding War in England.” Moria explained, and Nico looked like he was going to be sick. She looked at Abate coldly. “What I want to know is how she looks like that. Inferi are corpses that resemble muggle zombies. Gaunt and skeletal. This Alma doesn’t look like that at all.” She added. There was silence before Abate chuckled.

“I have no need to tell you my methods. It won’t matter to you either way.” He said. “Alma is mine. And you won’t live to get in my way again.”

---

Max was in the dark. Right then, she hated the dark. Everything in this room seemed larger and scarier. She curled up, sniffling and rubbed her eye violently in an effort to not cry. She wasn’t going to cry. She perked up when she heard noises outside the room she was in and swallowed, standing up and staring at the door that had been locked. There were several clicking sounds and then the door swung open illuminating the room.

“HARRY!!”

The younger boy barely had time to comprehend his name being called before he was tackled by the younger girl. However, he did return the hug, just as relieved.

“Are you okay? Tonks and I heard you yelling before, but those creepy guards in suits wouldn’t let us try and find you.”

“I’m fine! Is Tonks okay??”

“Well-”

“Would you hold on??” They heard and saw Tonks holding Alma’s hand. Max could see red splatters on the white dress that Alma was wearing. Tonks looked exasperated as the older woman tugged.

“She’s fine. That lady helped us get out of the room were locked in. But she now won’t stop saying something about a Bluebell Valley.”

“I…made a promise…Bluebell Valley…” She said and Max noticed that her expression was different again. There was still the crazed look, but there was a flash of hope intermixed. “I have to meet Nico…in Bluebell Valley.”

Max blinked and then tugged on Harry’s sleeve. “Let’s follow her.” She whispered.

“What?”

“She knows Mr. Nico. And he might be there by the time she gets there.”

“There are probably a lot more Nico’s than the one we know, Maxi.” Harry reminded her but seemed hesitant.

“Any Nico is better than staying here, right?” Max reminded him and he groaned, rolling his eyes. “Okay, okay. Tonks lets follow her.” He called out and the teenager looked at him as though he was insane, but let the woman go and she walked out the villa, the trio following out the backdoor.

Had they walked the other way to the front door, and turned down the hall, they would have seen the origin of the red splatters on Alma's dress. Around the corner, a blood bath had ensued, the walls seemingly splashed with red paint. On the floor, two shapes were lying there. Two previously alive guards, but now brutally murdered The men stared with at the ceiling with dead eyes, their mouths open in silent screams that only the murderess had heard before silencing them forever and ever.