The dread balloon, round VI

[pauraque_bk]

Round I: Dolores Umbridge
Round II: Vernon Dursley
Round III: Cornelius Fudge
Round IV: Bellatrix Lestrange
Round V: Albus Dumbledore

'Can't we draw straws this time?' Percy pleaded. 'Or at least vote?'

'An excellent idea,' said Lord Voldemort. 'I cast my vote for our... gracious host. I am certain Wormtail does as well.' He glanced down, and the rat nodded anxiously.

'In that case,' Dumbledore replied, 'I find myself forced to vote against you. And I am certain that young Weasley will agree, leaving us deadlocked.'

The other three looked at Percy, who was appearing ever more stressed and uncertain. 'Er...'

'Do not speak for this boy,' said Lord Voldemort, stepping towards him. 'Consider, my young friend... think. Who was it who gathered his enemies to him under the pretence of peace? Who proposed this ill-fated voyage? Who has been yammering on about losing altitude? Whose idea was it to start flinging people overboard one by one? As I once said many years ago to your former pet, here...' He picked up Wormtail and scratched him between the ears with one long finger. The rat shivered under the touch, though in pleasure or fear, it was impossible to say. '...the Headmaster may not be "Dark"... but he is certainly dangerous.'

Percy looked helplessly at Dumbledore. 'Is-- is that true?'

'Of course it isn't,' said the old man seriously. 'What cause have I ever given you to doubt me?'

Percy gazed uncomfortably from one side to the other. Wormtail -- Scabbers -- peered at him with beady eyes wide, perched on Lord Voldemort's palm.

'I-- I'm sorry, Headmaster,' he finally said, miserably.

Lord Voldemort smiled. 'I knew you would see it my way. An equitable vote, Albus, and you have lost.'

'Very well,' Dumbledore said quietly. 'I have often wished, Tom, that I had your knack for swaying the loyalties of young men.' He climbed to the lip of the basket, and turned to Percy. 'I hope you will be able to live with your decision.'

'I think I will, Headmaster,' Percy said.

And Dumbledore stepped lightly over the edge, as though fear of death had never crossed his mind.

'Well,' said Percy after a time, sounding a bit hoarse. 'Now what?'

Lord Voldemort gazed over the side. 'Hm. I'd have thought losing those heavy velvet robes of his would have done the trick.'

'You mean we're still falling?' Percy choked.

[Poll #397744]

The Balloon Master Sez: This balloon may be a piece of crap, but it wasn't made by Diebold. ONE VOTE PER PERSON.

[EDIT: This round is closed. Proceed to round VII.]

Comments

[trobadora]

I used to think I wanted Peter to survive, but after this part I think I want a Voldemort/Percy showdown...

[pauraque]

Either outcome would be fun to write, I think.

[trobadora]

Eep! Now it looks like it's going to be Percy/Peter... what the hell?

(and is there any reason why they aren't Apparating, anyway? - yes, I'm slow; that only just occurred to me!)

[joiedumonde.livejournal.com]

Because that would make sense. And we all know that fanfiction (much like the books) is supposed to be as unrealistically real as possible.

did that make any sense whatsoever? Didn't think so. *Is going to bed now, as she has to be up in 4 hours*

-Joie
(Great storyline by the way. Took me awhile to figure out the whole voting thing, but I'm hooked now!)

[erinellii.livejournal.com]

Because it said in the very first post that they didn't bring wands on the balloon, as it was a peace summit. And you need your wand to apparate.

[liwy.livejournal.com]

You do?

[chthonya]

It's not specified in canon, to my knowledge. (I went looking after panicking about the original draft of Invictus C3.) JKR may have said something about it in an interview, though I've never heard that she specifically addressed the issue. She has indicated, I think, that wandless magic is less reliable/strong/easy to use, though personally I think it's arguable that Apparition could use the body as a focus so could be more reliable than most.

As for the balloon, I found myself wondering the same thing last night, re-read the first chapter and just assumed that pauraque was going with the 'you do need a wand to Apparate' option. Alternatively, perhaps they put Anti-Apparition wards on the balloon to prevent unwelcome visitors during their peace conference?
(And if they didn't, perhaps we can get an occupant top-up and the story won't need to end after all! ;)

[liwy.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't remember a single instance of a wizard using a wand to Apparate or Disapparate, and I think that notion is sheer fanon. But wards would be effective, I agree.

[chthonya]

Yes, I couldn't find one and I looked, believe me! But neither does it say explictly that a wand is not needed. So personally I reckon it's still open. I tend to the view that wands aren't required, but I've found it difficult to write plots that depend on it because I never know which assumption readers are going to make.
(Hmm. It just struck me that a wandless aspect to Apparition could account for its difficulty.)

I suppose we'll find out in Book 7 if not before, as Harry will be old enough to learn by then.

[trobadora]

as unrealistically real as possible

That's a really wonderful way to put it!

(And it's a shame, isn't it, that soon no one will be left and the story will have to come to an end...)

[pauraque]

In the first round, it was explained that they don't have their wands.