AN: Hello, all. Yep, I'm at it again, writing two fics at once! Now, while this does hamper my ability to update fics quickly, I think I've earned a bit of leeway in that I have actually finished most of my fics. That seems to be quite a feat on this site, from what I've seen. In other news, I've beaten Gears of War (Sweet game, definitely going to keep an eye out for the sequel). Before you ask, I don't have writers block for The Red Flash, as I've actually outlined the whole thing (sort of…)… I just lack the urge to write it. And when that happens, my writing turns shitty, so I'm just putting this up to write until I get the urge to go back to The Red Flash.
One thing unique about this fic is that I'm going in a new direction (for me, at least) with it. While I'm still writing it, I'm actually doing a proper outline for it. Shocking, I know. It proved to be very irritating at first, making a proper outline on Microsoft Word, but I've got the hang of it now.
Well, I won't keep you any longer. Enjoy the fic!
A Nameless Heretic Production:
Crimson
Chapter one: Bloody Birthday
The large, round room was dark as no true source of light was within it, save for a series of small, miniscule candles. In the center was a round table, at which sat a series of mysterious figures in silver cloaks. They were silent, each giving absolute and undivided attention to the man at the 'head' of the table, whom was wearing a golden cloak.
While at first glance this figure was of modest height, the cloaked being exuded a presence of power and control, the likes of which most witches and wizards had never seen, even when in the presence of Albus Dumbledore, who was considered the greatest wizard of the age by most, and a senile old fool by others.
The figure in golden robes spoke, and his masculine voice proved to identify him as a man.
"In a matter of hours, our efforts will be realized, and the second phase of our plan will come into effect," he said in an ancient, but very strong, voice. "More than half a century ago, we had molded our first puppet into a being of hate and bigotry. He now holds the magical world in fear… but soon our second pawn will become apparent, striking down the first and be placed on the road to becoming our unwittingly faithful servant… The Tides of Fate are strong tonight indeed."
(…Divider-Thingy…)
It was just another day in the Potter household, magical home of (of course) the Potter family. Consisting of James Potter, the father, Lily Potter nee Evans, the mother, Harry Potter, the son, Cassandra Potter, the daughter, and the as-of-yet unidentified fetus within Lily Potter's womb, they proved to be a happy family of wand wavers indeed.
Wait; back up… it was not a normal day.
After all, young wizards with black hair and green eyes don't turn five every day, now do they?
"Harry, wake up!" shouted a minutely pregnant Lily Potter as she looked up the stairs, summoning her lethargic son from his room. "Breakfast is ready! And you wouldn't want to waste your big day in bed, would you?"
Immediately, she was met with a "Coming, mum!" from above her, as well as the faint pitter-patter of young feet as her son's feet pounded on the floor while he scurried from his room. Her green eyes lit up in amusement as they met identical eyes, hidden behind a wild mess of jet black hair, accompanied by a very familiar crooked grin. "Can I open presents now?" asked Harry.
Lily shook her head. "No, baby, you'll have to wait until after the party, which won't be until noon. Now come on, your pancakes are get-," she was cut off a blurry figure darting down the stares and into the breakfast nook. She smirked and blew a few stray strands of hair out of her face. "Like clockwork."
Looking out the window, she frowned at the dark clouds that came there way. The twenty five year old red-head hoped that it wouldn't rain, as they were setting up the party outside in the front yard of the Godric's Hallow. She waved off such thoughts for now, knowing that a few waves of her wand would set up a perfectly functional canopy if there was any drizzle, and that they could always just move the party within the house.
She turned towards the table, smiling as her son practically inhaled the pancakes she had cooked, mirroring his father's actions as the older man did the same while reading the paper.
"Mum?" asked a soft voice. Lily looked down to her right, seeing her daughter tugging at her robes. "Why are boys so gross?"
"We are not gross! Girls are the ones who are icky!" protested Harry, somehow managing to stay coherent through a mouthful of pancakes.
"Harry, don't talk with your mouth full," said Lily.
"Sorry…" Harry swallowed his pancakes. "Aren't I right, dad?"
"Yes, Harry, you are absolutely right," said James. "Girls have cooties."
"Then why did you marry mum?" asked Cassandra.
"Mum's not a girl, dummy," said Harry, sticking his tongue out. He was met with his sister's tongue in a similar fashion, and thus the tongue-spitting-sound fight ensued. Lily merely rolled her eyes and sat down next to her husband, who was chuckling to his children's antics.
"You just had to encourage him, didn't you?" she asked her husband scathingly.
"Yep."
"You have absolutely no remorse for making your children do this?" she asked, pointing at the two children as they started making faces at each other. James took off his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on. He then observed his quarreling children for a moment. "…well?" asked Lily. He looked at her with a solemn expression.
"None."
"You're hopeless."
James just gave a hearty laugh and went back to reading the Daily Prophet while Lily sipped her coffee. The children had calmed down now, and were now eating their breakfasts in relative peace. The mother's thoughts began to drift once again, and had moved onto much more grave topics than before… namely, the current war with the self proclaimed Dark Lord Voldemort. Just thinking about it made her shiver, although she did her best to hide it.
Now, do not misunderstand. Lily Potter was a fierce and courageous witch, and held no fear of Voldemort. However, she worried for her family, and what the ravages of war would do to it. Her worst nightmares were filled with images of her children in pain, and her husband dead and glassy eyed at her feet. She suppressed a shudder, and continued to drink her morning coffee.
She really had little to worry about. She and her family were hidden under the Fidilius Charm, a powerful security ward that allowed them to live in their home without anyone realizing it, even if they were standing right at their doorway. However, in order for this wonderful spell to work, they needed a secret keeper, the one person who could reveal to others where their house was. They had, at first, chosen Sirius Black as he was James's best friend. However, after thinking it over, they decided that he was much too obvious and that Peter would be a less obvious choice. Sirius would act as the perfect decoy.
She and James were confident that Peter would keep their secret safe. He was a timid, quiet man who kept to himself, so there was little chance that he would get drunk and start spilling his guts to someone unsavory. In addition to that, he was one of James's best friends, he was a Marauder! The rat animagus would not, could not betray them.
"Hey mum…?" asked Harry shyly. Lily looked up and tilted her head in curiosity, her former train of thought gone for now.
"Yes, honey?"
"Umm… since it's my birthday and all, do you think I could try doing magic with your wand? Or maybe dad's?" Harry then gave her the patented, 'uber-cute-five-year-old-look-that-you-cannot-resist.' Lily sighed, and made it quite evident that said look was not nearly as reliable as people thought.
"I'm sorry honey, maybe next year," she said, smiling apologetically. "If you're a good boy, that is." Harry just gave a dispassionate shrug, and muttered an 'okay.'
Several hours later, thirteen minutes past noon to be exact, the guests began to arrive. The first was Harry's godfather and James's best friend, Sirius Orion Black, the 'White Sheep' of the illustrious Black Family. In his hands was a long, straight box wrapped up in ever-color-changing wrapping paper. He gave James a manly hug and Lily a similar, but more careful hug after stepping out of the floo.
Blowing soot out of his bangs, he gave the Potter children his trademark roguish grin. "Hey there you two, you excited about today?" he asked. The children nodded enthusiastically and cheered and after wishing Harry a Happy Birthday Sirius picked them up and twirled them around over his shoulders while Lily put the present away on the table, along with Harry's other gifts.
Next to come from the fireplace was Cassandra's Godfather, Remus Lupin. Despite his age of twenty six, he appeared to be entering his mid forties due to his lupine condition. This had also made it difficult to make him Cassandra's godfather; however James and Lily had managed it after fighting tooth and nail with the ministry, claiming that Remus was perfectly capable of handling the responsibility.
Within the werewolf's hands were three wrapped parcels, no doubt books due to Remus's studious nature. After handing the gifts to Lily, Remus gave a cheery laugh as the children squealed in excitement at seeing their 'Furry Uncle Moony.' While Sirius began chatting and catching up with James, Remus was pulling quarters from behind his goddaughter's ear. It was amazing how children could be so amused by the muggle world's imitation of magic, but Remus himself also couldn't help but like their methods. "Happy Birthday, kiddo."
"Is Peter coming?" asked Lily, wondering where the future godfather of her next child was.
"He said he needed to take care of a few things, but would be here before one," said Remus. "He's been going out a lot lately… I wonder what he's been up to."
"I still think he's got a girlfriend that he's not telling us about," said Lily, who sweat dropped at the bout of laughter from her husband and his friends. "Honestly, Peter can have a girlfriend if he wants to!"
"Well, Peter is a nice guy, Lils, but… he's Peter," said James, fighting down a laugh. "He'd be too shy to ask a girl out."
"Oh, really?" asked a new voice, accompanied by a flash of flames. The Potters, Black, and Lupin all looked down into the fireplace, and were met with a grinning Peter Pettigrew. "I never thought I'd be such a topic for a lover's quarrel."
"Oh, come on in Peter!" laughed Sirius, clearing the way for the mousy man to come in. The man stepped out of the emerald green flames, dusting himself off. "So, how's our favorite rat? You keep slinking away from us; we're starting to wonder if you have new friends!"
"Heaven forbid, Sirius," said Peter, grinning. Tucked under his arm was another present, large and box shaped. "Happy Birthday, Harry!"
"Thanks, Uncle Peter," said the boy, smiling.
With all the guests there for Harry's big day, the Potters and Marauders moved out into the front yard, where a large table was set up for them to eat. Lily would've loved to have more people over, but with them going into hiding and such, it was difficult to know who was trustworthy, and even more difficult to find those who they knew were trustworthy.
She shook her head, and put on her best smile as they all sat down to eat the lunch she had prepared. The men ate ravenously, even the timid Peter, while Lily and Cassandra ate at a more graceful, dignified pace. She knew why the men were all eating so quickly: They wanted to get to the presents as soon as possible. She sighed. Even though her husband had grown up a lot by his seventh year at Hogwarts, he was still a kid at heart.
'Part of his charm, of course,' she noted mentally.
Her meal, which had taken two hours to make, was consumed in less than fifteen minutes. She grinned as her son moved on to the cake, which was a work of art if she did say so herself.
"Make a wish, Harry!" she said. Harry thought for a moment, and took in a deep breath.
It had happened so fast…
The first thing Lily heard that told her something was wrong was a popping sound. Not of apparition, this was impossible due to the wards of course, but the popping sound of Peter's gift bursting open with a jet of sickly purple light shooting into the sky. There was a cry of pain as Lily partially saw Sirius fall to the ground, a pool of blood soaking his robes.
Before she could even conceive a thought on what was happening, she had grabbed Harry and Cassandra and made a break for the house while her husband and his friends tried to fight off the intruders. She chanced a look over her shoulder, and saw men and women in black robes were coming out of Peter's gift. Lily's eyes widened in horror as she saw her husband fall to the ground, crying out in pain as his arm was torn apart by a jet of dark magic. The caster was none other than Peter Pettigrew, who now stood among the Death Eaters, Voldemort's servants, with his wand raised.
"Traitor!" cried Sirius from the ground. He pulled out his own wand, and erected a shield between himself, his fallen friend, and the group of dark wizards before them.
Remus roared in outrage from behind the picnic table, and fired off a volley of stunning spells. A part of him wished that it was a full moon, and not the middle of the day. He ducked below a killing curse, and retaliated by casting some of the nastier spells he knew, such as a bone-twisting-hex, and a satisfied smirk formed on his face as a Death Eater cried out when his forearm tore open, the bones warping and tearing through his flesh.
Sirius continued to erect his most powerful magical shield while James re-oriented himself. After getting a firm grasp of his wand, he grimaced and transfigured some nearby rocks into a series of golems, which he animated and ordered to fight off the Dark Lord's servants.
Meanwhile, Lily had hidden the children in the broom-shed (she would never question James's judgment in the matters of Quidditch again) and pulled out her own wand. She levitated a bird-bath and banished it at the Death Eaters, who sent curses at it and the golems, causing the stone structure to explode in a cloud of dust. She summoned anther bird bath on the other side of the Death Eaters, and scored a hit on one of them. He fell to the ground, grasping his head in pain as blood soaked his hair and hood.
Her emerald eyes, now blazing in fury, looked for the treacherous rat, Peter Pettigrew. He was not there. She sneered, knowing that the treacherous bastard was no doubt fleeing while in his animagus form.
Little did she know, a very familiar rodent was trying to sneak past her.
However, her maternal instincts flared as the rat neared her children who were hiding away in the broom shed, and she coldly sent a reducto into the rats flesh, killing him instantly. However, she spat in anger as the 'rat' warped for a moment, before turning into a crumbled mound of rocks. She froze as she felt a new sensation… she suddenly felt very exposed.
The wards had fallen. Pe-, no, Pettigrew, must have deactivated the anchoring runes for the wards. There was a staccato of pops as more Death Eaters apparated in. She glanced at her husband and the two other Marauders, who seemed to be holding her own.
"LILY!" shouted James. "TAKE THE KIDS AND RUN!"
She nodded, and quickly opened the broom shed and took the children into her arms.
"Mum, what's going on? Who are those bad people?" asked Cassandra, tears in her eyes.
"Shh, it'll be alright. But we need to run." Lily slung the both of them over her shoulders and ran for the house, which had emergency portkeys for the Potters. However, upon entering the house the woman was faced with three Death Eaters, one of which she recognized as Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Oh, well if it isn't perfect Lily Potter," she spat. A grin formed on her aristocratic face, a grin of the most frightening variety. "I want to hear you and your filthy little half-breed children scream…"
Lily snarled in anger at the thought of her children being tortured and dashed towards the kitchen. She hid them both under the counter, and put up her strongest stationary shield ward, before turning to face her three adversaries. She and Bellatrix stared each other down, while the Lestrange waved the other two Death Eaters away.
"I alone will have the pleasure of killing you," she said maliciously, licking her lips. "And then, as you bleed to death on the ground, I'll tear apart your ickle kiddies."
Lily's eyes narrowed, and her magic began gathering at the tip of her wand for a powerful curse she was about to use. "I will end you," she hissed. This woman had threatened her children… her whole world. Lily Potter would show no mercy to Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Shall we begin then, Lily-Flower?" asked Bellatrix, fingering her wand ecstatically. She was answered with a large purple beam of light, which she side-stepped. "I'll take that as a yes! Crucio!" Bellatrix's wand emitted a ragged red beam of light that struck Lily in the chest.
The woman fell to the ground, biting back the urge to scream in agony. Using the pain and anger to further fuel her resolve, Lily shot off a bone-breaking hex and a reductor curse, which was blocked by a magical shield. Lily shook off the after affects of the curse and conjured a cloud of smoke-screen, slipping away from her position as a killing curse caused her favorite vase to explode.
'I'll make it slow for that, Lestrange,' thought Lily.
Sneaking up behind her opponent, Lily fired a close-range blasting curse, which tore apart its target with a brutal pulse of magical energy. However, her target proved to be an elaborate decoy. Bellatrix's robes were torn apart by the curse, revealing a hastily transfigured manikin underneath.
A feminine cackle filled the room, and Lily gripped her wand tighter, beginning a very complicated set of wand movements. With a small gust of wind brought on by some minor wandless magic (1), Lily cleared away her smoke screen.
Bellatrix stood before her, sticking her long fingernails into the magical shield that Lily had erected. Static electricity arced around the woman's slender hand as she attempted to disrupt the spell with her hand.
"BACK OFF FROM MY KIDS, BITCH!" shouted Lily, releasing the spell she had been casting. Several jets of blue fire came from her wand, arcing around her and seeking her target. Bellatrix dashed away from two jets of fire, which impacted where she had been standing moments before. However, her robes had been singed, and the woman screamed in pain as more fire hit her just before she erected a shield.
Bellatrix's body was still on the ground, bits of flame still burning brightly. Lily raised her wand to take care of her for good, when her back suddenly exploded in pain. She grimaced, feeling blood soak her clothing. Turning around, she ducked below a killing curse which impacted on her shield, overloading it and leaving her children exposed.
She had to act fast.
Lily snarled in outrage and charged at the two Death Eaters, enveloping herself in a rotating shield. A white dome of light began spinning in front of her, whining loudly as it tore through the air while she charged. The Death Eaters shot off spells, which were either deflected or absorbed by the shield.
With a shrill battle cry, Lily slammed into the two Death Eaters her shield continuing to rotate at dangerous speeds, the magic ripping their flesh and robes apart. They cried out in pain, and blood sprayed all over the walls and ceiling. Lily canceled the spell, panting as she fell to her knees in a sea of blood.
She caught her breath and forced herself to her feet, and looked over to the kitchen. Harry and Cassandra were huddled in a corner, crying. Lily walked over to them, and kneeled next to them.
"Are you alright?" she asked, caressing their cheeks. They sniffled, and then threw themselves into her arms. "Sssshhh, it'll be alright," she cooed. Lily looked up and saw through the window. Blinking away tears, Lily saw that her husband now laid on the ground still, his wand held loosely in his hand. Sirius and Remus were now fighting off Death Eaters back to back, casting shields and curses with reckless abandon. Sirius was scowling and shouting his incantations in such a rage that they were nearly incoherent, while Remus had a positively feral look on his face, pure destructive magic firing from his wand and ripping the death eaters apart.
"I'm sorry, Lily."
Lily froze. She knew that voice… that simpering, timid, damnable voice. She turned her head, looking towards the man who had ruined her life. Peter Pettigrew stood in the kitchen doorway, his wand held in her direction. "He was going to kill me," he pleaded.
"You're a coward, Pettigrew. You're lower than a rat," she roared, like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Her fury and anger were blinding her now, and the usually calm and collected Lily Potter became a ravenous nexus of righteous fury. "Now you die!"
In her anger, all was forgotten except for one thing: Pettigrew must die.
However, as she lunged towards the rat animagus, she found herself feeling a sudden sense of vertigo. She felt light headed, and felt a dull pain as Pettigrew shot a jet of light at her shoulder. She suddenly felt very cold…
She tried to move, she really did, but she lay helpless on the tile floor as her husband's former comrade fired a killing curse at her daughter. Tears fell to the ground as the jet of green light hit Cassandra's chest, her expression in one of shock as her 'Uncle Pete' ended her life so young. Harry continued to stare in shock, his eyes dull and tears streaming down his face.
Cassandra fell, her auburn hair covering her face as she hit the ground, lifeless.
Lily Potter felt something snap.
The pain bled away, leaving only a cold anger. She stood, unhindered, her wand in hand and all of her magic flowing into it. Without a thought, she sent a curse at the rat before he could move onto her son. He cried out in pain as the curse literally tore him apart, covering the entire kitchen in his filthy, treacherous blood.
Lily waved her wand, and saw her son be levitated into a cupboard door.
"Stay there," she said in a voice that was not her own. Harry only nodded.
The witch jumped through the window, which was now shattered, and found herself staring at a group of about a dozen Death Eaters. Remus and Sirius lay on the ground, dead, but their faces still contorted in terrifying expressions of rage.
"Well looky here… she isn't too bad lookin' for a mudblood," cackled a nearby Death Eater, his eyes raking over her bloody form. Lily turned to him, her face neutral. "Wanna have some fun-" He was interrupted as a sword was conjured and banished at him, impaling him through the groin. With a flick of her wand, Lily's conjured blade exploded, sending bits and pieces of the Death Eater all over his comrades.
"KILL HER!" they shouted as one.
Lily side-stepped a killing curse, and batted away an incoming bone-breaking curse. Numerous cutting curses tore through her body, but she ignored it. It was superficial pain. It was nothing compared to what had happened to her husband, her daughter, or her friends. It did not even come close to that, or the psychological trauma that had now befallen her only son.
She could take the pain.
Without saying a word, Lily conjured a violet jet of flame, which formed into a whip at the tip of her wand. She swung it around, burning through three Death Eaters and sending them out of commission. Another killing curse whizzed past her head, and with a flick of her wand the Death Eater was sent flying into a nearby tree, his skull exploding in a fountain of blood as it slammed into the trunk.
Lily dashed towards another, her wand at her side and becoming engulfed in a red light. She slashed through the Death Eater, noting that her left arm had been blown off by a curse. After killing the Death Eater, who now lay dead in his own intestines, she cauterized her wound with a conjured flame.
It was okay, she was right handed anyway.
"What in the hell is she?" shouted another Death Eater from behind her.
"She's a bloody monster!"
"A DEMON!"
Lily ignored them, and her emerald eyes rose. It was raining now, like a thousand angels crying from the heavens. Lightning flashed, a mile away, illuminating the area.
A silver curse pierced through her back, coming out the other side of her torso. There was a popping sound as she apparated away, and the Death Eaters screamed as she reappeared behind them.
She jabbed her wand at them, sending a bolt of red lightning at the nearest Death Eater. He hastily raised a shield, causing the spell to be deflected. However, the magic merely arced towards another Death Eater, frying his nervous system and sending him to the ground in a smoking heap.
Only one Death Eater remained now.
"P-p-please! Have mercy!" he shouted, falling to his knees and hiding beneath his hands. His wand lay next to him, forgotten. Lily smelled the distinct scent of urine emanating from the man. Her face, which had for the past while been frozen in an iron mask of nothingness, contorted into a sneer.
"No."
Her wand twitched.
The man screeched as his skin erupted in thousands of boils, which burst open and caused as acidic puss to cover his entire body. Her writhed on the ground, screaming, begging for it to stop. Lily sent cutting curses at his spinal cord, leaving him completely paralyzed.
She walked over to his still body, kneeling down next to him. Her red bangs, now red with blood instead of her beautiful auburn, covered her eyes, making her appearance all the more sinister. She whispered, "Does it hurt? Do you want it to stop?"
"Yes…" wheezed the man, sobbing. "Please…"
Lily shook her head, an evil smirk marring her beautiful face. "Sectumsempra," she hissed, waving her wand all across his body. Blood soaked his black robes, and a puddle of the crimson liquid formed on the ground. "Bleed, Death Eater, bleed and die."
He continued to plead for mercy, but she did not listen. She stalked towards the house, and noted that she had attained a leg injury sometime during her brutal slaughter of the remaining Death Eaters. She began to feel even colder…
"Harry…" she whispered, her words barely heard over the howling wind. She entered the kitchen, and with a wave of her wand the cupboard opened again, and she levitated her son back into her arms. "Harry…" she said again.
"Mum… why?" cried Harry. Lily gave a ragged cough, and leaned against the wall. She slid down, her blood leaving a large crimson streak.
"Bad people…" said Lily. She grasped Harry's hand, placing her wand into his tiny fingers. "Remember Harry… swish and flick."
She guided him through the motion. Harry repeated the motion.
"Now, say 'Wingardium Leviosa,'" said Lily.
"Wingardium Leviosa," said Harry, sniffling. A spoon rose from the kitchen sink, wobbled for a moment, and then fell back into it with a clang. "Mum…?"
"H-Harry… grow strong, Harry… and live."
Outside, a lone candle stayed lit.
"Mum? …mum?
"MUM?"
There was a gust of wind, and the flame was extinguished. The cake, presents, and decorations lay forgotten in the blood and rain.