(a/n) obviously i don't own J.K. Rowling's works. i'd be a gazillionaire if i had.
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[A CUNNING DEMISE]
chapter two
the grand escape
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Her shrill screaming echoed in Marlene's ears.
It was unbearable for Marlene to witness. Frozen inside the closet, Marlene's face contorted in fury as her fingers twitched to draw out her wand. The longer she stood there on standby, the more she was tempted to attack Andromeda's tormenter.
"S-stop," Andromeda whimpered, pleading for mercy.
Her moans escalated, becoming louder. It was becoming harder and harder for Marlene to hold herself back from intervening. Marlene glimpsed Dolohov's shiny shoes touch the ground, letting a sigh or relief when Andromeda's bawling cease. Her raw moans transited to a series of broken sobs.
"Don't underestimate me, dear." Dolohov's hand swept down to touch Andromeda's tear-stained cheek. "If you ever defy me, I promise you that I will do much worse than this."
Marlene watched as Dolohov sharply exited the bedroom, dress robes swishing behind him.
Although he was gone, the threat lingered in the air and Marlene thought it was wise to wait before she dashed straight out of the wardrobe. And after staying stationed there for another minute, Marlene slipped out from her hiding spot and scrambled to reach the bedside. She frowned when she as her friend.
Andromeda had tears running down her cheeks, her skin was pale and face was lustred in perspiration. She was trembling, her breathing ragged through her chapped lips, appearing almost as if she was suffocating on air. Even as Marlene helped sit Andromeda up, the bride was not able to keep herself from shaking.
"Y..you need to go, Marlie," She barely managed to say in between the quakes that obstinately rattled her body.
Marlene sternly shook her head. "I'm not leaving you."
"D-don't be im-impossible," Andromeda stuttered. She used the back of her wrist to wipe away the tears that pestered her vision. "I don't want you involved in this. If I don't do this-"
"-then what are you going to?" Marlene cut her off, glowering. "Andy, I saw what he did just then. Why sell your soul and marry Dolohov for your family's honour? Because you and I both know that it is absolute bollocks! You can escape now while you can!"
"I need to keep everybody safe, Marlie," Andromeda cried. "Why can't you understand me? My family will be looked down on if I don't do this. And if I refuse, they'll punish me. They'll get to Ted and I...I could never forgive myself for it!"
"Go ahead then!" Marlene hissed, persevering, "Get married to that brute and let him torture you right after."
"Marlie..."
"If you do this, you won't get to see Tonks anymore. Have you ever pictured your life without him? Haven't you ever seen him as a part of your future?"
"And you think I haven't?" Andromeda shot Marlene a deadly glare that rivalled Bellatrix's. "Ted is important to me."
Marlene shook her head. "Then don't do this."
"I can't. My family-"
"This isn't about your family, Andy," Marlene said, furiously. "This is about you. When you get married to Dolohov, you won't be in control. If he's willing to use the Cruciatus Curse on you, he's clearly capable of putting you under the Imperius too. You have so much potential and I don't think I can ever see you being that man's muted wife. You're much stronger than this. And I...can't afford to lose you."
Marlene could feel Andromeda staring. Even if it was for a flicker of a second, Marlene noticed Andromeda's cool, grey eyes soften.
Out of all the Black sisters, it was Andromeda that Marlene was the closest to. Marlene found that Andromeda was the easiest to approach. She wasn't close-mineded like Narcissa, nor did she stick to the stern Pureblooded ideology that Bellatrix religiously devoted her life to. What Marlene liked about Andromeda was that she had her own opinion and didn't get blindfully influenced by the old Pureblooded ways. She'd research, look up things that didn't make sense and then decide on her stance.
Whenever the Black sisters visited the McKinnons, Bellatrix and Narcissa would stay with their mothers and drink tea in the courtyard. On the other hand, Andromeda would talk Marlene into taking her to the McKinnon's library. Andromeda had a fascination for learning and gaining knowledge. It was a common trait that she shared with Marlene, that Marlene often wondered why Andromeda was not housed in Ravenclaw like she was.
Despite being many years apart, Marlene had always seen Andromeda as a respectable role model – somebody with a unique flare who was well-spoken, intelligent and stood up for what she believed in.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Andromeda exhaled.
Marlene balled her fists, determinedly. "We bust you out of here."
"Since when have you taken a risk?"
Andromeda was right. It was out of Marlene's persona to go out of the way to rebel against the adults. She was one who evaded any form of danger, preferring to digress away from the front battle lines and hide behind a book, minding her own business. However, when push came to shove Marlene wasn't going to allow Andromeda to make the biggest mistake of her life. She couldn't.
"Since you've become my bad influence," Marlene blamed her, which made the bride give a dry chortle.
They both slipped out of the bedroom and as they were making a quiet escape, Marlene noticed Andromeda clutching onto her hips. Marlene put an arm around the bride as they walked on, meticulously trying not to trip onto the wedding gown.
When they heard voices, they took a bend to the right and found themselves inside the Dolohov's study.
As Andromeda took a seat onto the leather reclining chair to gain back her energy, Marlene sharply turned her head towards her.
"And why did you fail to tell me that you got injured?" Marlene snapped.
"It's not that bad," Andromeda wheezed, sweat glistening on her forehead. "Maybe a few cracked ribs, but I'm fine."
"How can we get out of here if you can hardly walk?" Marlene said, tone growing desperate. "What are we going to do?"
Marlene was usually quick-witted at solving problems, but at that moment she was stuck. She was stressed out, put under pressure, that she couldn't think as clearly as she wanted to. Spontaneity was out of her realm; it wasn't her strong point. She wasn't designed for this. Marlene liked the studious kind of stress, that was involved in the safety of a classroom, or a heated debate with a fellow Ravenclaw on which potion was the most effective antidote for snake venom.
Yet this was different; this wasn't a game.
She was actually strategising to destroy a Pureblooded wedding for Merlin's sake!
They weren't in Hogwarts where they could outsmart the Professors, or land themselves a lousy detention. The Dolohov estate was overflowing with wizards and witches, that were capable of disarming and harming them in an instance. If they were to be discovered, their punishment would be severe.
Andromeda seemed well aware of their dilemma. Lips curving downwards, Andromeda wiped the perspiration above her brow with the back of her hand.
"I think it's best if we get Sirius, Marlie."
"Sirius?" I baulked.
"Yes." Andromeda nodded her head in confidence. "Now hurry."
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The ceremony was about to commence.
When Marlene had returned to the hall, she scrutinised that most of the guests had already taken their designated seats. Thankfully, there were yet no whispers of the missing bride. Marlene felt her heart hammer inside her chest, but she gritted her teeth in an attempt to hold her composure.
She let out a sigh of relief when she surveyed that Sirius was still leaning on the wall by the fireplace.
Fighting the urge to run towards him, she took long, steady strides towards Sirius. She didn't want to cause a scene. If she had rushed at his direction, heads would turn at their and it would be suspicious scene for bystanders, as the two weren't exactly friends. Besides, if she were to run in her high heels, Marlene predicted that she'd fall unceremoniously on her face considering her luck with balance.
"Black!" She doubled over, pink-faced and panting.
His eyes regarded her curiously when she stood before him.
Sirius drawled, smirking, "Breathe, McKinnon."
"I-Andromeda-we...we need your help," Marlene stammered out.
When Marlene had uttered his cousin's name, Sirius' joking manner dissipated as if something had dawned over him. Marlene pondered how swift his thoughts connected when he muttered to her, "Where is she?"
"The study."
Upon Marlene telling Sirius of the bride's location, he pushed himself off the wall and hurriedly made his way out of the hall. Barely at his tail, Marlene tried her best to follow Sirius.
As they reached the hallway, Marlene tore off her heels, bare feet kissing the pristine marble flooring, as she raced after Sirius.
"She looks sick," Sirius said as soon as they stepped into the study. His jaw jutted out as he leered from his quivering cousin to glance accusingly back at Marlene. "What happened?"
"It's not the time to argue, Sirius," Andromeda said, raspy. "I need to get out. I can't be with him."
Sirius looked confused, but a second later his eyes widened in realisation. "I-I thought you wanted to marry him, Andy?"
The bride shook her head. "No."
"Family has always been more important to you than it has been to me," Sirius told her sympathetically. "But by you doing this, you know what this means..."
Even Marlene knew what it meant. If Andromeda was to abscond from the wedding, she was facing the consequence of being disowned by her family. Things would inevitably get messy - especially when the Blacks were considered as one of the most defined and prominent Pureblooded families in the society.
"I'll sacrifice my family ties if I have to," Andromeda replied, voice hard.
Sirius folded his arms, eyeing his cousin unblinkingly. "So you need my help?"
Andromeda nodded.
"Well, I knew there was a possibility that you wanted to make a grand escape," Sirius smirked. "Andy, I was just waiting for your permission to yank you out of here."
Marlene rolled her eyes while Andromeda gave a small smile.
Only somebody like Sirius could find amusement in the critical situation they were in.
The girls debriefed what had happened to Sirius. The boy fuming when they mentioned how Dolohov had used an Unforgivable Curse on Andromeda. After a string of swearing, on Sirius' behalf, the three then began to brainstorm and discuss various escape ideas and tactics. Somehow all their plans led to a dead end, and it made Marlene even more exasperated.
"I've got an idea, but you have to trust me." He took a handful of Floo powder.
"Are you crazy?!" Marlene barked. "What's wrong with you, Black?"
"According to people, many things are wrong with me, McKinnon. Well, mainly Professor McGonagall. She reminds me all the time. I think she fancies me." Sirius grinned, positioning himself inside the fireplace.
"Don't," Andromeda warned her cousin. "We told you already that they're also monitoring the Floo activity in this estate too, Sirius!"
"No need to worry, Andy. They always expect me to be up to some kind of trouble anyway. It'll be a piece of cake. I'll be back in a jiffy," Sirius said, offhandedly. He then instructed, "Meet me at the porch in ten minutes."
With a poof, Sirius' body had dematerialised.
Marlene gawked, turning to the bride. "What do we do now? Your git of a cousin has left us and we-"
"He knows what he's doing," Andromeda said, though her voice was still irritated.
"Are you sure?"
"Certain," Andromeda replied. "He's been pulling these pranks and going up against authorities way before Hogwarts. Trust me, he knows."
Marlene did not comprehend why Andromeda had put so much faith in Sirius, but decided to trust her friend's judgement. For somebody, like Andromeda, to praise and believe in somebody five years younger than herself, clearly meant that Sirius' mischievous skills had to be somewhat commendable.
"Can I use your wand again, Marlie?" Andromeda muttered.
Andromeda received the wand from Marlene before muttering a series of spells. The first was to dull her aching ribs (which Andromeda later told her was a spell she had learned from Madam Pomfrey during the multiple times she found herself in the Hospital Wing visiting Ted after a Quidditch match), the second spell transfigured her gown to a white Muggle sweater and pants, the last was another transfiguring spell that changed Marlene's heels and Andromeda's wedding shoes both into comfortable sneakers.
They got to the porch, only to see that there were two men loitering by the entrance.
Andromeda and Marlene hid behind the shoe cupboard.
Marlene recognised Professor Slughorn and guessed that the other man, who he was talking to, was another member of the Black family. The other man shared the same grey eyes that Andromeda and Sirius had, an almost-white complexion, and was garbed in garments that bled of affluence. His ebony long hair was tied back with a silver ribbon, and he was a fair few inches taller than the professor.
Strings of smoke swirled out of their pipes, as the duo conversed over tobacco.
"Sad that your own niece is getting married before you, Alphard?" Professor Slughorn asked the Black.
Alphard Black gave a radiant smile, not phased by the older man's abruptness to graze a subject that many chose not to venture. "Not at all. The single life is much better."
Slughorn raised an eyebrow. "Afraid of responsibility?"
"That's all dependant on the eye of the beholder," Alphard chuckled. "I, for one, think marriage isn't about responsibility. It's about love, commitment and finding your other half that improves you."
"Love is a rare attribute in arranged marriages."
"Which is why I chose to dodge them, Horace." Alphard spoke, "There's a reason why I was the top student of my year, you know?"
"Your nephew gets his tireless egoism from you," Slughorn sighed, defeatedly. "He's a menace in class. I can hardly contain that boy-"
Slughorn stopped mid-sentence when Marlene realised that Walburga Black had Apparated besides them.
The woman bristled, "It's about to start. Come inside now."
Before Walburga spoke again, Slughorn Apparated to the ceremonial area. However, Walburga and Alphard remained standing on the spot.
Sensing that something wasn't right, Alphard muttered, "What's wrong, sister?"
"Have you seen Andromeda, Alphie?" Walburga prattled on, "We can't seem to find her anywhere. Druella's having a fit and she hasn't even told Cygnus yet that their daughter is missing."
Marlene bit her bottom lip, fearful that the adults would walk in and see them. She observed that Andromeda looked equally as anxious.
"Perhaps you should try the kitchens?" Alphard said, thoughtfully.
Andromeda and Marlene held in their breath as Walburga was about to step in front of them. Luckily, Alphard placed a hand onto to woman's shoulder. "Why don't you Apparate? It'll save you some time."
Once Walburga had disappeared, Marlene could have sworn Alphard looked at them. There was a twinkle in his eye. He turned around, back facing them, and said aloud, "Good luck, Andromeda."
And, with the sound of a crack, Alphard was gone.
Now that the coast was clear, Andromeda and Marlene shimmied out from where they were hiding. They ambled cautiously past the front entrance and onto the porch.
"Where is Sirius?" Marlene mumbled.
Before Andromeda could reply, Sirius appeared out of thin air. He had to clamp his hand over Andromeda's mouth from shouting and only let her go when she had calmed down.
Marlene gasped, "You have an invisibility cloak?"
"I'm borrowing it," Sirius corrected. "As well as this."
Their eyes trailed to where Sirius was motioning for them to look at, right hand firmly grasping onto the latest Nimbus 1001.
Sirius explained, "It's James'. His father enchanted the broom to have it keep returning back to Godric's Hollow because James kept flying away without telling him. You'd better hop onto it soon before it fights out of my hands. Fast fella, this one. Anyway, it saves you from navigating and it's probably safer for you to stay at the Potters for now. Going straight away to Tonks' side wouldn't be wise."
"There is no way I'm getting on that thing!" Andromeda moaned, eyeing the broomstick like it was a deathly omen.
Sirius ignored her, glancing over to Marlene. "What do you think of the plan?"
"Ingenious," Marlene blurted out before she could think, which made Sirius give a proud simper.
Since Andromeda she was scared of heights, Marlene glanced at Sirius.
"I'm riding it?"
"You're a chaser, aren't you?" Sirius pointed out, as if he was stating the obvious.
During another time, Marlene would have felt baffled that somebody like Sirius Black knew that she played Quidditch, but she tucked that thought away and focused on mounting the broom instead. She then gestured for Andromeda to follow her lead, which she reluctantly did.
Marlene asked, "What about you? It's impossible to fit three people on one broom."
"I'm not going," Sirius revealed, smug smile apparent on his features. "I like seeing havoc break loose."
Andromeda disapproved, "But Sirius-"
Sirius shook his head, stubbornly. "It'll be fine. Anyway, I think it's of everybody's best interest that they target me for this. I'll let your parents know, McKinnon. They can make an excuse that they Apparated you back home because you felt unwell or something-"
"And you want to be held accountable for all this?" Marlene said. She may not have been close to Sirius, but she worried about the repercussions that would result from his actions.
"Why not?" Sirius chuckled. "It'll add to my credentials."
Without another word, Sirius draped the invisibility cloak over the girls. Andromeda muttered a securing charm to ensure that the cloak fell over their bodies and covered every inch of the broom. Marlene kicked off from the ground and felt Andromeda automatically hold tightly around her waist, uttering curses, as they began to battle against the wind.
The further they hovered upwards, the smaller Sirius Black became.
"Have a safe flight!" Sirius yelled after them, despite seeing nothing but a blanket of shining stars in the night sky.
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(a/n) I'm surprised by the feedback. I was expecting nothing to be honest. Haha. Thanks so much for reading/reviewing this story. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. ;) It's always fun writing Sirius.
