Persephone awakened, encompassed by cold and despair. The waking dreams had gone, but she still saw the dead face of Margaret Prewett when she closed her eyes. On the floor in front of her was a tray with bread, moldy cheese, and water. She had no appetite, but she drank the water. A voice said, "You don't want that anyway. We have something you'll like better." Persephone looked up to see Moody. The cell door swung open and Moody led her out. "Have some meat pies for you. Ham and cheese if you like." Persephone couldn't stop shivering. She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Here," said Moody, handing her a brown chunk of something. "It'll help."

Persephone took it and nibbled on the end. It was chocolate and as she swallowed, she felt a warmth she never thought she would know again spreading through her. Moody took her to a small room and she ate in silence. She ate three meat pies, grateful for them. When she was done, Moody took her by the arm and led her to the stairs leading up. "Is that what it's like in Azkaban?"

Moody nodded grimly. "Every waking moment."

She wasn't sure what came over her. Whereas before, she was convinced that she deserved exactly what she had just experienced, now she only had one thought in her mind. "I don't want to go."

"I thought you might change your mind."

"No, Mister Moody. I'll do anything. Any torture. I'll die."

Moody looked down at her with a scrutinizing eye. "Alright then. You tell Barty Crouch what he wants to hear, and you won't have to. Barty's already agreed to let you go free if you give him good information."

"Is that where you're taking me now."

"Yep, the Wizengamut is in session and your case is being heard first."

When she was taken to the cell, the lift took them down to the Department of Mysteries, then she descended stairs until it seemed she was in the middle of the Earth. Now, they climbed stairs, and just one floor below the Department of Mysteries, they turned down a hallway that ended with benches on one side and a series of doors on the other. There were more dementors here, and there were wizards sitting blindfolded on the benches. Just as the nightmares threatened to return, Moody steered her into one of the rooms and closed the door behind her. Moody did not accompany her.

There was a chair in the middle of the room surrounded by a circular wall. Peering down from atop the wall were almost two hundred wizards and witches as if seated in an amphitheater. She saw Moody walk around and seat himself right next to-she gasped, filled with shame-Albus Dumbledore. In the middle, at the front, directly facing her, was a stern middle-aged wizard with graying hair that was combed into an unnaturally straight part. He had a mustache that looked as if had been trimmed using a slide rule.

Seated next to him was a blonde witch that she knew to be named Selma Edgecomb. It was Edgecomb that sent out all of the school notices on behalf of the Ministry. It was Edgecomb who spoke. "I am Selma Edgecomb, keeper of the minutes, here we begin this session of the High Wizengamut, Grand Mugwump Bartimius Crouch presiding, here to answer the confession of the defendant Persephone Raven. The defendant will please be seated."

Persephone looked over to the chair. It was covered in shackles. She stumbled in her haste to obey, and lowered herself into the seat. The shackles did not restrain her, and she felt some of her nervousness subside.

Crouch, the man with the severe part, spoke with a booming voice. "Persephone Raven, you have freely given yourself into the custody of the Ministry of Magic, and freely confessed to being in league with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. You have also confessed to the murders of Margaret Prewett and Niles Clearwater. I am also told that you have a number of names of Death Eaters that you might provide. Some, you have already mentioned in your statement. In exchange for information about the activities and accomplices of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, you will be granted your freedom."

Crouch had to know that that was a death sentence. She couldn't go back to Voldemort without undoing what she had sought to achieve by confessing, and having betrayed the Dark Lord, there would be no place safe for her to go. She said, "Respectfully, sir, I feel that there is more that I can do to assist the fight against Voldemort (there was shudder in the room at the mention of the name) than by just giving you information."

Crouch said, "Do you have information?" His voice was harsh and threatening, clearly indicating that he would discuss nothing until he had what she could offer him now.

"I do, sir. I have the names of several Death Eaters, at least six of them members of Voldemort's inner circle."

"Very well, then. Proceed."

"His most trusted associates are Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange, and Antonin Dolohov."

Crouch nodded. "We are already familiar with Malfoy and Dolohov, but thanks to you we have been able to confirm our suspicions about the Lestranges. Snape was never suspected. Continue."

"Evan Rosier, Regulus Arcturus Black, who recruited me to the order, Narcissa Malfoy, and Lyle Waylan, who I worked with to spread misinformation to the Ministry regarding the whereabouts of one Arturo Lourdes, recently settled here from Spain, and having given a large financial sum to Voldemort." She slowed down when she noticed people rushing to take notes. Clearly they hadn't expected her to give specific details. "There is also Hades Norwell, an accountant hiding the financial activities of the Death Eaters, Anthony Bulstrode, Eileen Wittier, Terrance Combs, all of whom are blockheads, little more than hired muscle, and that was all I was ever allowed to know. I met most of them through Regulus Black. I was very close with his family. I met Lourdes and Norwell through my Aunt and Uncle Lucius and Narcissa."

"Very well, if there are no others..."

"There are also meeting places. One of them is in muggle London. Number 2304 Tottingham Court Road, and another is 37 Knockturn Alley, and then there is one buried beneath Glastonbury Abbey. Also, Lucius Malfoy's house serves as their headquarters when Voldemort is staying in London."

One witch, dressed in black velvet robes, with short blond hair stood and asked, "If he's not in London, then where else does he stay?"

Persephone shook her head. "We're subjected tongue-tie curses. The only reason I was able to tell you those is because I'm supposed to be able to share that information with other Death Eaters." The woman was apparently satisfied with the answer because she nodded and sat back down.

"I can tell you he uses his father's house. I can't tell you where. We have safe houses we use throughout the town, usually in muggle London, away from heavy wizard traffic. During an operation, a messenger leaves an envelope marked with the dark mark that contains the address of a safehouse. The envelope ignites if anyone who doesn't have a dark mark attempts to read it."

"That information is certainly useful. You have more than fulfilled the terms of the deal. We simply need to confirm-"

"I'm not here for any deal. I want to stop them! I want to keep anyone else from being hurt!" Persephone was surprised to find that she was standing. She sat down quickly.

Crouch observed her, appraised her. "You realize that there is only one way you could be useful to us."

"You mean for me to go back to him." Her voice was distant now. She knew what that would mean.

"You suggested it yourself, if you recall. You told Sample that you could simply say that you failed to kill Sirius Black and was captured in the process. If you really want to help us beyond what you have already done, return to his service and give us as much information as you can gather, for as long as you can."

"I'll do it," said Persephone without hesitation, "only I'll need someone to teach me occlumency. Voldemort is a master legilimens."

Before Crouch could speak, Dumbledore spoke. "I can personally see to that, and I quite agree; you will need the best training in occlumency if you are to overcome Voldemort." Professor Dumbledore leaned toward Crouch and spoke so softly that Persephone couldn't hear. Whatever he was saying, Crouch clearly was not happy. Still, he seemed to relent and Dumbledore returned his attention to Persephone. "Very well, you will return to Hogwarts along with a team of aurors that will be helping to secure the school from the Death Eaters. Sample shall require that you be my personal bodyguard. I will consider it quite unnecessary, being a wizard of some modest talent in my own right, however I will relent, if for nothing else, preserving Sample's peace of mind. I believe that that arrangement shall be ideal for our endeavors. Now, I believe my esteemed colleague, Bartimius has something he wishes to add."

Crouch folded his hands and examined Persephone carefully. "Ms. Raven, we understand the course of action that you have agreed to undertake, and I do ask if you understand the dangers you face?"

Persephone didn't know why Crouch was asking this now. He was perfectly happy to throw her to the wolves earlier. "No more dangerous than anything else I've done. Certainly not as dangerous as just telling you what I know and then walking out of here on my own." A whisper of a chuckle caught her ear and she saw a twinkle in Dumbledore's eye.

Crouch directed his eyes to his hands, clearly deciding how to respond to that. "You're brave enough. I just wanted to be sure you weren't a fool. Clearly, you have a knack for reading the situations you find yourself in. Obviously, your lapse in judgment in joining the Death Eaters merely goes to show that nobody is perfect. Very well, if you feel you are equal to the task, then we give you every protection and assistance the Ministry is within its power to provide. During the time you will spend at Hogwarts, your absence will be easy enough to explain. You were detained by the Ministry on suspicion of Death Eater activity, and you were held indefinitely until your defense was verified. You have already experienced the dementors, so you will be able to accurately recall their effects if you are questioned."

This was much more reasonable than what Crouch had previously offered, and Persephone breathed a bit more easily now. She felt she deserved the worst, and was willing to accept it, but that didn't mean she wanted it. Lowering her head, she said, "Thank you, members of the Wizengamut, and you Mr. Crouch and Professor Dumbledore."

"Good, now that that's settled, I remand you into the custody of Alastor Moody and Eugene Sample. They will brief you on our procedures and arrange your training as an auror, training you will require if you are to undertake this mission. Once we have confirmation of your evidence, your case will be dismissed."

Persephone bowed her head and expressed her appreciation. Eugene Sample appeared behind her and said, "There's a door you can take to get around the dementors." She followed him quickly as more witches and wizards filed into the Wizengamut.

Persephone said, "We have no idea who all Voldemort employs. Perhaps it would be best if I wasn't seen by people, and my name not widely spread." They came out into the corridor that led into the Department of Mysteries. She wondered if there was something magical in the architecture, because the Wizengamut was a full floor down and there were no stairs on Sample's bi-path.

"We've got that covered," he said. "In fact, you have staunchly denied anything to do with the Death Eaters, and because of the dark mark on your arm, we are holding you indefinitely for questioning. Of course, anyone except those of us in the know are allowed access to you so if anyone outside our little circle goes looking for you, they will simply run into a bored clerk who seems to only know how to say, "Sorry, restricted prisoner'."

After just a few minutes, she found herself back in the auror office. Now that she was no longer a prisoner, per say, she felt a bit more freedom to look around. The office was like many muggle office buildings, divided into cubicles, except instead of pens, there were quills, except for telephones, there were owls, and except for florescent lamps, there were candles and oil lanterns. Her heart nearly jumped into her throat when she looked into a cubicle and saw a picture of Margaret Prewett staring back at her. She forced herself to look away and she found herself facing a cubicle that either belonged to a muggle-born, or a half-blood that lived in the muggle world. In addition to the quills and the photos of suspects and evidence, there was a typewriter, which Persephone was certain made writing much easier, and a motionless picture, obviously a poster, of a muggle woman, barely clad, her name emblazoned across the top, "Cheryl Tieg".

As Sample led her away, she said, "You know, I wonder that the Ministry doesn't make typewriters standard."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Well, my mother said my father used to use one. She said he could write a 600 word letter in five minutes that would take her an hour or more to write, and his hands wouldn't even hurt. The print is so neat and quite easy to read. Say what you may about wizarding superiority, but I think the thing a bloody marvelous invention."

Sample smiled and said, "Hmm. That new lad, Dawlish; he's the one that brought that contraption; he says the same thing. It's certainly worth noting. It would certainly save a great deal of time. I may make a request to the Ministry for consideration."

After a moment, she found herself in a massive room with vaulted ceilings at least as high as the top of the Ministry. There were portable rooms with potion equipment and through the rest of area, what looked like an obstacle course. As she looked more closely, she could see that there were ledges coming out of the wall and some platforms suspended in midair by no visible means of support. On the floor were running courses with inclines, jumps, crawling tunnels, and circled areas labeled as apparation points. There was a running path that she noted led up the wall and onto the ceiling. Looking past the floating platform, there were perches hanging even higher.

Sample said, "Ideally, you'd get a full year training here in the Ministry as an auror. You have two months until it is time to go Hogwarts and receive your special training from Professor Dumbledore. Two months is a good start, but there is no reason we can't continue your training as an auror at Hogwarts. You understand why you need to be trained as an auror, right? You know it's not about you pretending to be a bodyguard for Dumbledore. It's about you pretending to be an assassin for Voldemort."

Persephone felt a coldness creeping up her spine. "Do you expect me to kill?"

"Absolutely not...but he will. You may have to. If he orders you to kill an auror, or a Ministry official, or a member of the Order of the Phoenix, well that's no big thing. We can change the bloke's name and send him to Australia, and we can even provide you proof of the kill if Voldemort asks for it, but if he asks you to kill a Death Eater that doesn't measure up, or a criminal he's doing business with..."

"Then you may not be able to change that situation."

Sample nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. "You knew going in this wasn't going to be easy. It's all going to come down to how far you're willing to go to maintain your cover."

Yes, she knew. She knew from the beginning. "Let's be about our business then. What is this?"

"This is our endurance course. An auror is expected to be in peak physical condition. Over there is our potion lab, and this endurance course is also used to teach dark arts defense, and some dark arts in its own right. Potions: you are expected to be able to identify poisons, and know how to formulate their antidotes. Also, disguises. Polyjuice potion is going to be one that you definitely need to know how to brew. Don't forget potions that alter minor features and details. Weapons and explosives will be a must. You will spend a great deal of time on potions. Transfiguration: you will notice that this course doesn't one hundred percent cater to humans. In your transfiguration class, you are told that animagi are required to register with the Ministry what animal they turn into and their markings. Aurors are admonished not to do so. Ordinarily, being able to turn into an animal is not an absolute requirement, even though we do grade on it. In your case, I want you to have every advantage you can get. I am the only one here who teaches how to do it. Choose an animal you feel a close affinity to and we will be able to start your education in animagecraft straight away. Also, for transfiguration, once again, essential to disguising yourself, also to hiding evidence. Charms: need I even elaborate upon how essential charms are to self-defense?"

Persephone smiled and said, "This is just like school all over again."

"Which is exactly why spending a full year at Hogwarts will not greatly interrupt our schedule. You will learn how to be invisible in every way imaginable. You learn every way that exists to avoid conflict and injury. You will learn to be as dangerous as your adversary and make no mistake, even once the Death Eaters have gone, there will always be enemies aplenty. If you do well, once this is all over, you may want to consider making a career of this."

Persephone considered and decided not to answer. Instead, she asked the next logical question. "Where do I begin?"

He gestured to the course. "Let's see what use you make of the obstacles."

Persephone suddenly felt her stomach clench. Obstacle courses weren't exactly her thing. She was certainly dressed for it, her robe and the pants and shirt underneath were meant for active work. She took off her robe so that it wouldn't get in her way and went to the start of the course.

"What should I do?"

Sample shrugged and said, "Run. If you come to an obstacle, use it as it was intended. Don't worry about creativity. That will come as you learn. It gets really interesting when you've got aurors firing stunners at you. Just one rule: no magic."

That wouldn't be too much of a problem. Though, she was sure she had plenty of magic, but without her wand, she'd be hard pressed to do anything really impressive. She approached the course with the same enthusiasm she had remembered approaching quidditch. Only now, she realized that seekers didn't do a great deal of endurance work. Unfortunately, she didn't even manage to get across the hanging bars. Sample kept making her go back to the beginning of the bars, frustrating her, and leaving her more and more exhausted.

After half an hour of faineant attempts, Persephone sat down in front of the bars, trying desperately to catch her breath.

Sample walked up next to her and said, "Well, it's clear that we're going to have to work on our upper body strength. You know what that means?" He had obsequious smile on his face.

"Let me skip the bars?" asked Persephone hopefully.

"Good, old-fashioned exercise."

"Does this mean pushups?"

"Yes."

"Bloody hell, I hate pushups!"

"Pullups are a must, also."

"I am 4 feet and eleven inches tall. I can't even reach a bloody pullup bar."

"You're the one that want's to take the game to Voldemort..."

Persephone wore a deep frown, and she realized she was pouting. "Your pullup bar better have a step up."

"We don't have to. Nobody's using the course. You can use the hanging bars."

He had a point, and with the ladder, they would be easier to reach. She climbed and grabbed onto the first hanging bar. Making one last attempt to move on to the second bar, she gave up and dangled there for a moment. She tried pulling herself up and felt her shoulders and forearm begin to burn. Her chin was level to her elbows when the burning became so intense she couldn't stand it anymore. Still, she struggled not to drop.

"There is no reason you can't do one." Persephone forced herself higher, feeling like knives were stabbing her elbows. "How on Earth did you manage to kill Niles Clearwater in your condition?" Persephone managed to get her head over the bar. "Finally. Do another, if you can manage it." She hung for a moment, trying to rest her arms, the burning never quite subsiding while her muscles had to hold her in the air. She tried again. This time, she felt the burn in her shoulders and her neck. Her arms were in excruciating pain. Sample was chuckling now. "You know, watching you is actually rather sad." That pushed her to two. "Good. Drop."

Persephone tried to speak, but found her wind was so weak she could only manage, "Ah gah do anuddah."

"No, you're out of shape and you're about to overexert. Give your arms a fifteen minute break." Finally, she did as she was told and while she heaving, Sample said, "Two! We've got our work cut out for us. Look at you. Two, and you're soaking wet."

If Persephone's cheeks hadn't been so red from exertion, she'd be blushing in humiliation. Sample was right, of course.

He patted her on the shoulder and said, "It's not your fault. Our magical education focuses so much on wands that we fail to address the needs of the body. It's a serious deficiency, if you ask me. Did you play quidditch?" Persephone nodded. "Seeker?" She nodded again. "You'll find that many of the same muscles you use to maneuver a broom apply here. You're just using your arms to pull up, but you should be using your shoulders and your back even more so. Go drink some water. When you come back, try again."

Persephone did as she was told. One good thing about this, her mind wasn't wandering to her darker feelings, dwelling on her recent past. It was clear to her how damaging and harmful brooding was, yet still, she felt she would never escape Margaret Prewett's accusing face. Getting water from a pump until she felt better, she went back to Sample, who made her work another hour and a half. Ultimately, she was able to do much better taking Sample's advice, finding her efforts to be much easier, but still, she only managed to do six on her best attempt. Sample assured her that she'd get stronger. Not that it mattered for anything, but Moody returned her wand at the end of the day. It was as heavy to her as a lead weight.

The next morning, her arms were so stiff and sore she could barely move them. That didn't deter Sample, any. Just as he promised, she did pushups and he put her right back on the hanging bars. It was amazing how exhausting two hours a day could be, but then she would spend another six hours each day learning poisons and antidotes with Moody, and various protective and offensive spells and charms from Kingsley. It was nothing like her classes at Hogwarts. These studies were intensive and grueling and Persephone got the distinct impression that these aurors were trying cram a year of training into the coming two months.

After six days of this punishing course, she was allowed the whole day off. She slept most of the day, and when she was up, had an escort take her to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies so that she could get some kind of care for her aching muscles. After her day off, she went into the endurance course feeling much better, and discovered that the pullups were much easier, so much so that she made another attempt at swinging across the bars. She made it halfway across before she tired out too much to continue, and the previous week's regimen resumed in full force. The next week saw her make it all the way across the hanging bars and continuing through course. All of it was muggle inspired: rope net ladders, which were much harder to climb than they looked, tree swings, climbing walls, up to platforms that had barely any room for her fingers let alone her body, requiring Persephone to shinny to the next platform. She fell several times before she finally managed it, learning that a levitation charm activated just before she hit the floor.

Before Persephone knew it, a month had passed and she was already able to run most of the main course without stumbling. She was certain that the magically floating platforms required magic to achieve and the path that went on the walls and the ceiling definitely did. Once she was able to reach the regular mounted platforms, Eugene finally went easy on her exercise regimen, only having her exercise a half an hour before running the course, and then, he cut out her morning exercises entirely, only having her warm up before running the course. "Everyone manages it, eventually," he told her.

If anything, Moody's lessons were just as grueling, even if they weren't as exhausting. Moody impressed upon her the importance of always preparing one's own food and drink and only ever drinking from one's own hip flask. She couldn't just assume it was paranoia, as Eugene insisted that Moody's word was the gospel of survival. Truthfully, poisons and antidotes became a fascinating point of study, if for nothing other than sheer number of deadly poisons that were easily cured by various, readily available, ordinary ingredients. Moody also relentlessly tested her on curses and counter-curses and consistently made favorable remarks about her speed, the sheer number of spells she could cast without speaking, and her wide array of curses and counter-curses.

A week before the school season began, Persephone practiced her disguises and walked with Eugene through Diagon Alley.

"So, Mr. Sample," asked Persephone, "How have I been doing?"

They stopped at a pet shop that specialized in a full range of pets, not just the magical variety, and took a look around.

Eugene said, "Oh, it's really still early to tell. At this point, most of what you know is still thanks to your Hogwarts education. Still, your N. E. W. T.s were more than acceptable. I think you got all Os except for two. There was an E in transfiguration, and I believe a T in History of Magic."

"History of Magic. I don't remember that class..." she snapped her fingers. "Oh, yes. I used that for my midafternoon nap time." She picked up a box turtle and gently stroked his forehead.

Sample snorted. "You're not the only one. Anyway, as I was saying. We won't really know what kind of progress you're making until we're a few months in. If you made me guess now, I'd say you're running about average on the obstacle course, transfiguration, charms, a little slow in poisons and antidotes, and Moody says you excel at curses and counter-curses. Of course, for what you're going to do, none of those are going to be your most important skill, are they?"

"No, I'll be learning that from Professor Dumbledore." She put the turtle back in his enclosure and moved on to an umbrella cockatoo. "They say these birds are smarter than owls. If I could access my account without raising suspicions, I'd buy her. She's lovely, she is."

"You know, it's not too late to change your mind. Crouch was more than happy to let you go free, and with what you've already learned, you could easily disappear."

Persephone fed the cockatoo walnuts from her hand. "You'd let Niles Clearwater's killer go just like that?"

"You're good person, whatever you've done. Quite a few of us have grown rather fond of you. You've quickly become Moody's favorite, and that is saying something."

Persephone smiled. "No, I was in this to the bitter end the moment I decided not to answer Voldemort's call, and you know it."

"Yes, I know it."

"Raven."

"I beg your pardon?"

"My last name. You told me I should learn to be an animagus. I want to be a raven."