It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 32

"Taxes . . oh dear," Molly muttered.

"Can of what?" Arthur asked.

"Worms . . . Muggle expression; means tricky, slippery situation, once it's started, hard to control," Rupert replied.  "But, with a bit of magic, the hookup could be hidden, and running a computer doesn't take but a tiny bit of juice."

"Juice?" Both Molly and Arthur said, then looked at each other, puzzled.

"Juice is slang for electricity - the current coming through the line."  Rupert was quick to explain.

"Oh."

"Right."

Bill leaned over to Rupert and whispered, "You do realize Mum thought she'd won this war . . . looks like it was just the first battle."

" 'Oh dear, we are in trouble now'," added Percy, with a grin.

* * * *

When everyone was finished, they retook their seats for the next part of 'the story', as the four Muggles were starting to call it.

"Where were we?" mused Albus, then he snapped his fingers and turned to Narcissa.  "I do believe it's your turn, Narcissa."

"This should be interesting," Tom whispered to Emma, who nodded.

Narcissa Malfoy stood and walked forward, a thoughtful look on her face, but she smiled at the four young people watching her with inquisitive expressions on their faces.

"These are my recollections, mixed with what my sister related to me over the months that followed the 'Battle at the Ministry'.  Bella's was a slightly biased, off centered, deranged version of the events, but I surmised the truth, easily enough, from her ranting and raving," she added, with a slightly evil smile.  Lucius snorted which earned him a swat on the arm from Draco and a cocked eyebrow from his wife.  Emma covered her mouth to keep from giggling, but Draco caught her eye, then nodded and winked.

"Anyway, Minerva, carrying Crookshanks, Sirius and I 'Apparated' away from the house less than a minute after Sirius beheaded Nagini.  Good thing, too, as the Dark Lord returned not more than 2 minutes after that."

* * * *

The black stream of smoke, that marked an 'Apparating' Wizard or Witch, streaked across the forests and fields, landing at the back entrance of the manor house.  Voldemort let go of Bella's hair and walked thru the open door, wand out, listening for any sound.  He advanced silently up the stairs, Bella almost crawling at his heels, knowing, for once, to hold her tongue.

At the door to the main salon, the Dark Lord paused, as if steeling himself for what he might see when he entered.  His boney white hand gave the wooden panel a shove and the door swung open only to bang to a halt against an upturned, broken chair.  The room was a shambles, wrecked furniture scattered in every direction, blasted to bits, overturned tables, rugs bunched in piles, some smoldering slightly . . . it was evident a battle had taken place in this room, but who had it been?  Where was Wormtail? But, more importantly, where was Nagini? If she was here, she'd have come to him by now . . . his anger boiled over.

"WORMTAIL!!!!" Voldemort  roared, causing Bella to cringe against the wall.  Scanning the salon, his eyes settled on an odd shaped scattering of ashes, and he knew it was Nagini . . . he could feel it.  "AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Dropping to his knees, he scooped up a hand full of the grey powder and clenched his fist.  "Find Wormtail . . . and bring him to me . . . here," he hissed at Bella.  "Do not harm him, just FIND HIM!"  His voice shattered the glass in the windows and the chandelier, which had been hanging precariously, crashed to the floor.