~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*`DAWN OF THE APOCALYPSE`*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the broad store-lined streets groups of shoppers browsed windows and enjoyed the rare sunny day on the streets of London. As they passed an old shabby looking building the shoppers only spared it a glance, only a little curiosity to check out the dingy place, but it was far too ugly of a place for anyone to take it seriously. It was an old fashioned, large, red brick department store, its display window fogged up with dirt, the window display of dummies randomly placed still there collecting dust. In its window hung a large sign CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT.
Frequent shoppers of the street often complained it was never open. However, if they were to even be able to step inside they'd see things beyond their muggle comprehension. Inside the dingy old Purge and Dowse Ltd. held the wizarding hospital of Britain: St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Watching to see if the coast was clear a stout little elderly man wearing dark blue robes stepped from an alley and strode over to a display window containing an ugly dummy. "Hello, here to see my daughter Elise Farina, if you please."
The dummy nodded slowly and beckoned the man forward with its jointed finger. He gave a shaky smile and walked through the glass and into the reception hall.
Inside healers in lime-green robes buzzed around the reception hall, walking up and down rows, asking patients questions and taking notes on their clipboards. The old man walked past the seated and headed to the front desk. There was already a line. He looked around the three people in front of him to the person in the front of the line.
It was a tall woman with long black hair in dark blue robes. He couldn't see her face, but he could hear her from the end.
"I'm here to see Edward Potter." She said.
The older woman behind the desk smiled softly. "Oh how nice to see you Miss Potter, your father will be happy for your visit. No one has visited him recently."
"I'm not here to chat, Berta, just tell me where my father's been moved to." The young woman said shortly.
Mr. Farina didn't like the girl's attitude. If she was known by the receptionist she must visit quite often, and should show a little more courtesy to the nice woman behind the desk. Mr. Farina puffed up and stared at the back of the young woman's head irritably.
Berta wasn't fazed at all by the younger woman's attitude. Her smile remained in place as she answered. "He's on the second floor hun, first door to the right."
Giving a stiff nod the Miss Potter turned, looking directly into Mr. Farina's eyes for a brief moment. His scowl dropped and he had to look away quickly. Her gaze was fierce and left no room for disruptions in her day.
"Oh and Emily." Berta called. "Enter quietly; the poor dear has been a little frail lately."
Emily nodded to Berta and walked away, not sparing anyone another look as she passed through the double doors and down the narrow corridor, pictures of healers aligning the walls. She climbed the flight of stairs until she reached the second floor. There was no hesitation in her steps as she walked straight up to the door on the right and opened it. The light from the hallway leaked into the dimly lit room and trailed over the bed.
Edward looked up wearily and squinted at the figure in the doorway, shadow's hiding their face. "Who's there?" He croaked.
Emily stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Hello father."
His eyes darkened. "Oh, it's you." He looked away, staring pointedly at the wall in front of him as she summoned a chair and took a seat at his bedside.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but there are some things we have to discuss about your will." She said softly.
"I have nothing to discuss with a Death Eater." He grunted.
Emily laughed, a small chuckle that filled the small room. "Oh father, why would you think something like that? The Ministry would never accept a Death Eater as an Auror."
"You can trick them, but you can't trick me."
She sighed, giving him a mocking look. "If I was a Death Eater wouldn't I be out killing muggles rather than visiting my dear father like a good daughter should?"
"You are no daughter of mine." He spat. "Show me your left arm. I have my sources to know that that is where he brands his followers, you and every other Slytherin like you."
Emily's eyes frosted over. "I will do no such thing. I did not come here to indulge your silly fantasies to make me out to be something evil. Now about your will –?"
"You get nothing." He said viciously. "It all goes to James and his family."
Even after being given such news Emily shook her head in amusement. "Well I can't say I didn't expect this, but tell me father, when did you find the time to change it between all these hospital visits and your attacks?" Her eyes narrowed. "Were you happy mother died first so you could do this?"
His eyes widened angrily and he swiped at her, his breaths becoming ragged.
Emily stood swiftly, banishing her chair with a wave of her wand and stepped out of his reach. "You knew it was her last wish that the Potter assets be divvied evenly between her children. How do you feel betraying her like this?"
His eyes bulged out of his eyes and veins in his neck stood out. He leaned on his bedside table. "Don't speak to me of betrayal! You killed you mother with your treachery. She would have lived longer had you not worried her to death. You deserve nothing! You're a spot on the Potter name!"
Her gaze was calm as her father exploded. "Now father, don't over exert yourself, you'll cause another attack."
"Get out!" He snarled. He wheezed, his body shaking. Emily drew forward as he leaned back into his pillows, coughing harshly. It subsided, but his chest still heaved as an aftermath. He glared up at her through lidded eyes. He was weak and yelling put a strain on him. He needed her to leave. "Get out." He wheezed. "You have no business with me. You'll never be able to get a piece of James's inheritance."
"Fine." Emily said shortly. "I see there's no getting through to you. What a failure of a father you are, to go so far in your prejudices to try and deny your daughter her rights. How lucky mother saw this coming before she died and took care of things for me."
"What?" He hissed.
She smirked in triumph. "Yes, before she died I brought my worries to her. She was reluctant to agree, but I was right in my worries. Leaving most of her side of the family's money to me was a very smart thing for her to do. Probably the last thing she did before passing, may she rest in peace."
Edward's breath hitched and tried to get out of his bed. "You dirty snake."
Emily stayed in her place, watching impassively as her father's body began to shake and another convolution came over him. He grabbed at his chest, his eyes darting to his ward on his bedside table.
"Oh dear, are you alright? Should I help you?" She took a half hearted step forward and Edward drew back immediately, still having the strength to glare at her in disgust.
"Stay… away. D-Don't…touch me." He looked away from her and back to his wand.
Emily flicked her wand and his wand fell to the floor as he reached for it. She remained rooted in her spot, watching emotionlessly as he tried to reach down to get it, to use it to call for a Healer, but he doubled over and fell out of his bed, landing at Emily's feet. He withered on the ground and tried to grasp his wand; it was only an arm's length away. He only had to reach a bit farther to get a hold of it. Only a bit…
The wand slid across the room and he watched it his desperate eyes. Another convolution began and he groaned, curling his body.
Emily watched, her arms crossed, tapping her wand against her arm. "Well father, should I call for help now, or will you just die at my feet?" Squatting down she reached for him.
He weakly hit her hand. "You…worthless…" He gasped. "Snake."
"So that's your decision?" She asked. "Pity." She stood and stared at him down her nose at him. "I'll be sure to break the news of your death to James. It will give me a reason to see little Harry."
He reached for her robes and grabbed the hem. "S-Stay away…from my s-son." He said, it coming out halfway between a growl and a whisper. His body gave one last seize and his head slumped forward, his grip on her robes breaking.
Emily stared at her father's crumpled, lifeless form. "Even your last words were for James." She levitated his body back onto the bed and fixed the blankets. She took a moment to look at his face. He didn't look peaceful or tranquil like her mother had when she slowly drifted off. Rather, he looked angry and gruff.
"Even in death you can't stand my presence." She said sadly, letting the briefest of real emotion break through her mask. Reaching down she placed a hand on his cheek; warmth still being emitted from his body.
"Father, I'm –"
Edward sprang forward, his eyes open and wild and he grabbed Emily's arm, pulling her sleeve up. She shrieked in surprise and flew back from him. He looked at her hatefully.
"Death Eater." He breathed. His eyes glazed over and Emily stared down at his body, panting, her heart still racing. She grasped her left forearm protectively.
The door to the room flew open and a Healer rushed in. He took in Emily's distressed look and the still body of Edward Potter. Putting two and two together he went to Edward's side and checked his vitals.
Emily pulled down her sleeve. Before the Healer turned to face her she flicked her wand and Edward's wand flew into her hand. She pocketed them both. "H-He just stopped moving." She said shakily, giving the Healer a helpless look. "I-Is he…?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Potter, he's dead." The Healer sighed and placed a hand on her arm, giving her a sympathetic look. She just looked down at her father. "He was very old, healing magic can't prolong life."
"I know." She said quietly, turning away. "I need to contact my brother."
"Of course, I'll prepare the paperwork for you and contact you once it's all ready."
She nodded and left, leaving the Healer with an aching heart for her.
In the corridor Emily looked down at her left arm with a stony expression. Pulling up the sleeve she gazed down at her marking; the Dark Mark stood out freakishly on her pale skin. She pulled the sleeve back down furiously and glared at the doorway to her father's room angrily. "Foolish old man."
With a swish of her robes she strode down the corridor and back down the stairway
It was a dreary day, wet and cold, but not raining; a day befitting the group in black robes surrounding the open grave. The ceremonial head wizard stood before the grave, holding out his wand and lowering the casket down.
James stood straight backed, his face stony. Lily stood to his left, Harry balanced on her left hip, her other hand on James's arm. Sirius, Remus, and Peter to James's right. They watched the casket lower, the Potter crest engraved into the white stone. Harry's large eyes watched curiously, not exactly understanding what was going on.
He turned in his mother's arm and blinked at the crowd. His eyes landed on a figure in the back and he stared in interest. The woman saw him and smiled widely, waving. She was the only happy face in the crowd now that she held Harry's indivisible attention. She made a strange face and crossed her eyes. Harry smiled and turned completely around to look at her.
No one noticed her, or else there might have caused some outrage as she lifted her hands up and wiggled her fingers, giving another strange face. She pulled out her wand and tapped her head and bunny ears materialized and flopped around. He couldn't contain his giggles and he clapped his hands. People in the crowd glanced at the small baby and his mother. Lilly looked down at Harry and bounced him on her hip.
"Shh Harry."
Harry looked at his mother's sad face and then to the other woman again. The bunny ears were gone, but she was still smiling. Lifting a finger to her lips she motioned for him to be quiet. He smiled and covered his mouth with both his hands.
"And now let us lift our wands and bid Edward a final farewell." The head wizard said, pointing his wand to the sky. A jet of white sparks was emitted.
In response everyone in attendance lifted their own wands. Harry watched the sky in fascination as hundreds of different colors continuously shot off into the air. A golden light shot from his father's wand, blue from his mother's. Turning slightly he watched the woman lift her wand. A green spark shot out and went higher than anyone else's, exploding as a large firework. He clapped his hand in excitement.
Lily shushed him again, but noticed her son's attention on something behind them. Turning, she looked around the crowd. Her eyes widened and she touched James's arm. He looked down at his wife then through the crowd as she motioned.
He saw her as well, the woman in the back shooting off green sparks. He watched her for a moment, his eyes meeting hers. She frowned at him and lifted a hand. His expression hardened and he looked away. The head wizard filled the grave to the brim with dirt with a wave of his wand and gave his final words of the ceremony.
Once over James broke away from the front crowd and headed for Emily. Lily followed after him, as well as Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
She saw them coming and took a step forward. "James –"
James walked past her, not even looking at her. He bumped her shoulder and she felt something slide into her hand. She didn't look down, just stared after James. Peter glanced at her nervously and Remus smiled anxiously. Sirius bumped her shoulder as he passed as well, but he only did it out of spite, giving her a dirty look.
"Shouldn't you be with your fiancé?" He hissed.
"Regulus doesn't need me by his side every moment of the day; he's not like his needy, selfish, and possessive older brother." Emily returned.
Sirius scoffed and walked away, giving her another dirty look. Emily rolled her eyes at his childishness.
Lily nodded to her as she passed, Emily returned it, giving Harry one last smile. She watched the group as they exited the cemetery. No one looked back and soon everyone was filing out, not wanting to linger in the gloomy place. Opening her hand she looked at the little piece of paper.
Mint julep works best on stress wrinkles, and you already have 2.
A meeting on July 2nd to go over information from the Order. Emily wasn't allowed to attend the meetings with the whole Order. Only Dumbledore, James, Sirius, and Lily knew she was a spy. It made it easier for Emily if it was kept that way, less of a risk to her. So instead James sent her coded notes of dates she would visit him so they could go over details.
Emily rolled her eyes and pocketed the paper. He came up with the stupidest covers, even at such a depressing place like a funeral.
She exited the Graveyard and apparated with a loud 'snap'! There was work that needed to be done and people she had to speak to before she could even think about meeting James Her life as a double agent was running on two years and she had little time to sit and relax.
Appearing at the entrance of Knockturn Alley Emily pulled up the hood of her cloak and entered the back street, letting the shadows shallow her.
A/N Right there ya go, first chapter...wooo. Yeah, my workload this week is a bit heavy, so don't expect a quick update. Hope ya liked the beginning, only gonna get darker until Voldy dies, and geez how long will it take me to get there i wonder.
So, this isn't a mindless note, I would just like to put now that I could and will be changing some things, like dates stuff happened, deaths, etc. Only consistent stuff will be personalities. This is more to those who sometimes forget this is Fan Fiction and therefore I don't have to go by the book exactly.
Alrighty, hope this was an enjoyable moment for everyone.
Toodles
~PurpleHaze09