Dark, Dastardly Deeds at Dusk (Alternate Ending)

By: Veela Covington Polgara and Karelin Elladora Lestrange

Karelin, Veela and Jacob - being held fast by Bellatrix -  were still standing, albeit barely. Karelin’s ankle had been broken, Jacob was only half conscious, and Veela was still knocked out cold. They, surrounded by Professor Prince and other students, were standing in the middle of the clearing.

That was when something quite unexpected happened.

Professors Dowler, Rubedo and Polgara - Veela’s Papa - apparated into the clearing with a crack. They would have been there sooner, but they had to get outside the boundary of the school before they could apparate. Everyone was utterly shocked by their arrival.

Bellatrix just grinned before saying to Professor Polgara, “Ah, at last he comes to save his daughter - get my message, Polgara?” She threw a glance as her husband Rodolphus who sneered back that creepy smile.

Professor Polgara just smiled and said, “Yes I did, Madame Lestrange, and I must say I cannot believe you’d threaten your own children as well. Rest assured, you will not get the Astrolabe.”

Bellatrix had a look of fury of her face before saying, “Well then, say good bye to your daughter, Polgara!” With that being said, she grabbed hold of the rope binding the children together and took off flying with them - a skill she learned from her former master. Flying without need for a broomstick, she headed straight for the Astronomy Tower knowing that Polgara would have surely kept the Astrolabe there. She also know that he would surely follow them there in time.Prof. Polgara apparated to outside the front gates. He then took off as fast as his legs would carry him - pausing only long enough to ensure where Bellatrix was flying. His hunch was right - she was headed straight for the tower and would most certainly get their first. He had not paused to consult with Dowler and Rubedo, as he knew they could handle the remaining Death Eaters. Prof. Polgara also knew that he had to get to his daughter before Bellatrix could harm her.When Bellatrix landed at the top of the Astronomy Tower she first cast ‘Rennervate’ to wake young Polgara up. Then she pulled her free of her own children, whom she forced to sit down, and pushed Veela to the ground a few feet away. She knew Polgara wouldn’t be too far behind and so she continued to use Veela’s wand and casted ‘CRUCIO’ with all her willpower, intent on killing Veela for her father’s disobedience. For several minutes, Veela screamed her head off. Bellatrix smirked as Veela collapsed in a heap and did not move.

“I warned the fool what would happen,” mumbled Bellatrix to herself. She walked over to Veela and prodded her with her toe. “She’s dead, all right.”

Immediately, Polgara came bursting into the tower, busting through the entrance so hard that the door seemed to bounce off its hinges. He scanned the room quickly and saw Jacob and Karelin still tied up on the floor as well the still form of his daughter laying behind Bellatrix. Not worried in the slightest about Bellatrix, he hurried towards his daughter’s body.

Bellatrix blocked his path and in a deadpan tone, said, “She’s dead.”

With his eyes alight with shock and grief, Polgara shoved Bellatrix to one side. Bellatrix, who was caught by surprise, stumbled and fell. Polgara, however, paid no attention and continued rushing towards Veela.

“No, no!” he thought. “Veela ...  my Veela … she can’t be dead!” He dropped to his knees and pulled his darling daughter into his arms, cradling her and hoping to see some sign of life. He saw none, and this made his blood boil. “Bellatrix,” he thought, “she would pay for this.” Sobbing, he buried his face into Veela’s neck before sitting bolt upright and turning his head to Bellatrix.

His eyes immediately found Veela’s special wand - the wand he had custom-made for her - clutched in the hands of that evil woman. This really set him off - his blood boiled furiously, and he carefully set his daughter’s body down before heaving himself to his feet. He clutched his own wand tightly in his hand.

He took several steps away from his daughter's body before saying to Bellatrix, “You kill my daughter with her own wand and have the audacity to sit there holding it?” After pausing for a few seconds, he continued, “You’ll pay for this Bellatrix!”  With that being said, he made several slashing movements in the air in front of him directing all this magical energy at Bellatrix.

At first she laughed. “What was that, Polgara, some sort of dance?” she leered. He just stood there staring a stoic look on his face, and that was when she noticed what was happening - slices appeared in her flesh and she fell over, no longer able to support her own weight. Veela’s wand slipped out of her white-knuckled hand and bounced away from her toward Polgara’s feet.

Polgara stooped momentarily to pick up his daughter’s wand before returning his attention to Bellatrix. He had planned on watching her die for what she had done. He prepared to watch her suffer, but suddenly he heard a rustling to his right. He looked to his right and saw Veela stirring.

She was alive!  His was daughter alive! He rushed over to her, letting his wand and hers fall with a clatter, pulling his precious daughter up towards his chest and hugging her.

“I thought ... I thought ... I thought you were dead,” he sobbed as he cried into her neck. He then pulled his head up and kissed her on the forehead.

“I thought … I was about to be too Papa,” Veela replied weakly.

“You darling girl,” her Papa replied before pulling her back into a tight hug.

-----

Meanwhile, Karelin and Jacob had carefully crawled over to their own mother. Mixed feelings bubbled up in their chests. Their hair showing this whirlwind of feelings by turning to a light, muted brown colour.

As she lay dying, Bellatrix saw her children sitting next to her. She  reached out a hand, which they pulled back from. She smiled a strange smile before saying to them in gasps, “Children!... Children!  It’s your … your turn now. You must continue your father’s and my work …. you MUST eliminate the Muggles and Muggle-borns of this world.”

She glanced at Prof. Polgara, who was comforting his daughter. She couldn’t help but sneer at the astronomer.

“And don’t be fooled, children,” she continued as her voice weakened. “Kill Polgara … kill both of them….. Get the Astrolabe…… Toujours …… pur.” And with that, her life left her body.

Karelin and Jacob just stared down at her lifeless body. They were disgusted by her final words. After several long moments Karelin said in a whisper, “Don’t worry mother - we’ll be sure to do the opposite.”

-

After several moments in which Karelin and Jacob just stared at Bellatrix’s body and Prof.Polgara comforted his daughter, Professor Quilmane walked through the door. He surveyed the scene, taking note of Karelin and Jacob, both of whom seemed to be sitting awkwardly back to back. This was when he noticed the charmed rope.

“Ah, let me get rid of that for you two,” he said. He performed a complicated little wiggle, and he directed an exquisite spiral motion at the rope. Karelin winced, thinking initially that it was only going to force it to tighten up like before, but instead the rope almost melted away into oblivion. Karelin and Jacob, finally free of their bonds, rubbed their sore wrists. This is when Quilmane noticed Bellatrix’s lifeless body on the ground not so far away from Prof. Polgara and his daughter.

“Well, Dax, remind me not to make you angry,” he chuckled. “You know, a great dueller like you should go take on Rodolphus.” Egging on his colleague, he continued, “He’s standing at the foot of the tower waiting for some worthy competition.”

After hearing Quilmane’s report, Karelin and Jacob got up to their feet - Karelin with the aid of her brother due to her broken ankle - and limped over to the window. Looking out over the grounds, they saw Dowler and Rubedo in the distance running towards the tower. Rodolphus was right below the tower. Even from up here, the twins could tell he’s sneering.

Prof. Polgara grinned as his mind quickly caught on a wonderful idea. After kissing his daughter on the forehead once more, he leaned her against a wall. He then stood up, walked over to Bellatrix’s body, and then scooped up her body. He then carried it over to the window without missing a beat. Karelin and Jacob, surprised at Prof. Polgara’s determination, quickly moved out of the way.

Without a second thought, Prof. Polgara hurled his opponent’s body over the side - where it landed right in front of Rodolphus. Immediately after seeing his wife’s dead body, Rodolphus let out a high-pitched shriek and dropped to his knees. Of course, this just made it that much easier for Dowler and Rubedo to catch up to him, bind his arms, and haul him off to the Ministry - and eventually Azkaban. During the entire time, Rodolphus whined that that his wife was killed by a mere stargazer.

Back at the top of the tower, Quilmane couldn't help but watch Polgara in with a sense of admiration. He thought that the Astronomy professor looked so manly when he tossed an enemy he had just defeated over the side of the Tower as if it took no effort at all.

"Alex?" asked Polgara caught him with a stern gaze.

Quilmane's heart couldn't help but flutter when he heard Polgara's deep voice and felt his brilliant blue eyes fall on him.

"Alex!"

"Sorry!" apologized Quilmane. "I was just ... thinking of things." Quilmane, red-faced, chuckled nervously while descending the Tower stairs.

-

With Jacob’s help, Veela pulled herself to her feet and walked over to where her Papa was standing by the window with Karelin. Veela hugged her Papa tightly. He reciprocated by hugging her back before pulling Karelin and Jacob into the hug as well.

After several long minutes he said, while still hugging them all, to Karelin and Jacob, “You're not alone. You don’t have to be like your parents.”

Karelin nodded into the crook of his arm where her head was nestled before saying, “We know Papa-Badger, we know.” With that being said, they all gave one last squeeze of a hug to each other before releasing.

They looked out the window just in time to see Rodolphus being dragged away.