D: Characters (c) JKR. The last bit with James at the end was beautifully written by SarCoops (see her completed Fait Accompli under favorites-you'll be hooked). Thanks to SarCoops and XxWishing_for_wingsxX for betaing this chapter. Title of this Chapter is also a Props to Charles Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities...in part because it works and again because I love Sydney Carton.
There, I think I've covered all my bases. -k.
A Fellow of No Delicacy
Macnair walked into the Dark Lord's presence as though it was the most natural, instinctive action in his existence. A haughty looking Bellatrix Lestrange stood at his Master's side. She was no longer dressed in her Death Eater robes; with her hair pulled back in a pony tail and casual dress, Macnair half expected that she was debriefing her Master before she went on a morning horse ride as she normally had, if it wasn't for the fact that the Lestrange's had emptied their stables to make room for the Dark Lord's purposes. Bellatrix's hand was hidden by the back turned chair and looked at Macnair, at first annoyed and then registering her husbands entrance, her expression softened and she let go of whatever she was holding and extended her hand to the chairs pulled up to the old oak desk.
"It's Walden Macnair, my Lord," Bellatrix announced in her confident, pretentious voice. "As well as my husband Rudolphus, good morning husband."
"And good morning wife," Rudolphus answered, kissing his wife's outstretched hand although he'd probably had kissed more if not for the company. His posture improved as he spoke to the turned around chair. "The House Elf said you had summoned for Macnair, My Lord?"
"That is correct Rudolphus," a voice answered curtly. "I did not however, summon you."
"I know how the House Elf can sometimes bother you my Lord, I didn't want her to bother you," Rudolphus continued, still thinking that he was in the right. "Still has a problem with her R's since our last hexing practice, it can be annoying at time. If she doesn't improve we'll remove the problem."
"Annoyance, my loyal friend, is not limited to those that cannot pronounce letters," the velvety voice continued. "It also extends to those who cannot follow orders."
"Right, well," Rudolphus stumbled. It was obvious to Macnair that Lestrange had not expected this sort of greeting. Despite opening his family manor and some of the family coffers to host the Dark Lord, he must not have been aware he had also offered his spot as head of Manor as well.
"Rudolphus, I still have business to attend to concerning Hyde Park last night. Go to the kitchens and see that the remainder of our guests have departed? It would be unfortunate if the Ministry decided to visit us this morning and found that there were some undesirable quests and artifacts, lying around," Bella ordered, walking around the desk and kissing her husband's cheek before he nodded and departed from the room. The moment he departed Bellatrix pointed to the chair and motioned for Macnair to sit down. She returned to where she had been previous to Macnair's entry, standing loyally at the right side of his Master's chair. "He has left my Lord," Bellatrix said with a soft smile, "It is just Macnair and I."
The chair swiveled round to reveal his master, handsomely dressed in a morning coat with his dark chestnut hair slicked back. His sharp brown eyes darted to Macnair and despite his smile, it didn't extend to his eyes which continued to burrow into Macnair.
"Ah, Young Macnair," the Dark Lord began. "The one who aims for much but has accomplished very little. Bellatrix tells me that you were slow to return to the Manor after you completed your role at Hyde Park."
"Yes My Lord," he agreed, knowing very well how this conversation would run its course.
"And that you did not stumble into the Manor but two hours ago?" Voldemort said pointing to a bottle of amber color Liquid Macnair could only suppose was Firewhiskey or Cannon Cognac. Bellatrix understood the gesture and summoned a single glass which she began to fill.
"Yes My Lord."
"Normally I would find myself crossed at this Walden," he sighed, taking the drink from Bellatrix's happy hand. "We have certain protocols, certain reasons for our ways. If you had not reported and an Auror had apprehended you—If you had been taken in for questioning or sent to Azkaban as dear Crouch likes to do—" he took another drink from the glass and looked on, "—And under such conditions you may have found yourself betraying your Master for sake of freedom."
"Never, my Lord." Macnair answered evenly.
"Never," Bellatrix repeated as she took the glass to refill it.
"As I said, I would normally find myself crossed and you would have to incur my displeasure," the Dark Lord continued. "Especially when I learn that you had the opportunity to capture Lily Evans but failed to do so. But Bellatrix tells me that you were being productive between Hyde Park and your return to the Manor," he paused, leaning over the desk slightly and tightly gripping the glass his voice grew hard. "I'd very much like to learn what exactly you were doing."
"After I failed to bring in Evans, I turned my attention to Alice Lievseley who we have discussed recruiting as well," Macnair began, leaning into the chair and appearing relaxed. "She was busy dueling Blomquist, but before we could bring her in Frank Longbottom, Gideon Prewett and James Potter appeared on the scene and started setting up protection wards on the park. I over heard Longbottom explain to Potter that many of the public Parks had magical protection placed on them during the war with Grindelwald but they had been out of commission since the end of the great Muggle War of the 1940s."
"Interesting, and they haven't yet updated the spells and protection under current circumstances?" The Dark Lord asked raising an eyebrow, "I find my self disappointed," he turned to Bellatrix. "Obviously they don't find us as big a threat as Gridlewauld was. Did Longbottom explain why?"
"After Potter demanded the same question," Macnair continued. "Whoever imperiused Lachausen did a good job. Longbottom said the Ministry 'Hadn't seen a need to do so' as the Muggles are not so much a threat as our own people."
He tried not to leave any detail out, naming Aurors who later appeared. His master pointed out that they were not the standard groupings of Aurors, and decided that it must have been Order approved, "So secretive for their Gryffindor nature. They trust far too easily."
"And love, they love too easily as well," the slippery Servant sneered. "When that love is threatened, they're vulnerable. When Lievesley told Potter she had lost Evans he went all rigid like, started—"
"I don't care if Potter started turning the entire Auror force into teacups, what does this have to do with the Dark Lord's purpose?" Bellatrix snapped, her hand tapping the top of his master's chair.
"Now now Bella, Macnair says he has his the missing piece that will answer our Potter problem," Lord Voldemort reproved, tapping his own pale fingers against the empty glass in his hand. "I'm sure he understands that it would be in his best interest to share the missing piece before I go to feed the snakes their breakfast."
Macnair could feel the danger that lingered in his Master's words. "My Lord, I've suspected this weakness for sometime now. But tonight I realized to what advantage we can use their affection. We need to stop these half heart attempts, hoping to attract them with our power. All we're doing is shaking a stick at them. The only way we're going to bring Potter and Evans under the cloak is by beating them with into submission. We need to use their weak spot—their love for each other—as our biggest strength."
"My Lord," Bellatrix said lightly, turning her eyes from Macnair to her master, her arm laying gingerly on the back of his chair, "In the event we are not able to persuade Evans, may I please be the one to beat her senseless with the death stick?"
"I purpose that you go after them my Lord," the Servant of Death continued, "Or perhaps some of the Senior Death Eaters. They need more persuasion that from their peers."
"The one's that have been half hearted in their attempts—yes," the Dark Lord's eyes seemed to glow, "Yes, there will be consequences for their failure."
"Severus Snape should not be involved with this" Macnair advised, "He was superb in last night's raid, and is a fair Death Eater…but he has been Lily Evans's friend. He's too emotionally drawn when it comes to her fate."
"Perhaps we could use that to our advantage as well?" The Dark Lord proposed, "Bella, get you and Macnair a glass. I think we have another raid to plan."
((*))
It was overcast when Lily woke up the next morning. She changed into her normal clothes and made the bed, trying to leave as little of her presence in the room as possible. She tucked the mirror into her coat pocket and also crammed the shirt she had slept in the night before as she made her way downstairs to see just how well stocked Mrs. Potter's kitchen was.
She still couldn't believe that she had been able to talk to James last night. She forgot just how much she liked hearing the consistency of his voice, even if he was being over protective and vague when she asked certain questions. She hadn't said, but he looked older then he had when he entered the Academy, his eyes now bearing the wrinkles Remus had had since he was thirteen. But his smile was still his own, and she knew it was still hers.
One more month she thought to herself. One more month and he'd be back. She wondered if they really would go on a holiday. They would go to Alice and Frank's wedding, but other then that she could only wonder what plans he had up his sleeves. You're being ridiculous Lily, she thought again, Death Eaters were trying to kill you not even twelve hours ago and you're thinking about running off with James Potter.
But after all they had been through, why shouldn't she think about it? When the world came crashing down, she could only think of one person she'd wish to be with, the boy in the mirror.
She nearly swore when she came down the stairs and turned the corner to see someone sitting at the counter, his back turned towards her with an cup of tea steaming in the empty bar stool next to him. She raised her arm, preparing to stun when she heard the familiar voice.
"Wotcher Evans," Sirius spoke, turning around and throwing her a wink. His eyes examined the wand extended towards him. "Oh, you're not going to fire at me after I made you tea are you?"
"That depends," Lily said casually, flicking her wand. "Where did Sirius Black take me after my Defense against the Dark Arts NEWTs?"
"Bloody security questions, you and Vera are going to give yourselves ulcers." Sirius started only to be interrupted by an Indian Burn Jinx. "Oi— I'm kidding, put the wand down—I took you to the kitchens, and we had some chocolate and I told you I'd start calling you Lily because you wouldn't be an Evans for long."
"And to think that used to make me want to stun you," she set her wand back in her coat and peered at the dainty teacup before her. " You made tea?"
"You'll like this. It's an old Black family recipe," Sirius replied, lifting up his own cup and having a drink, "It's the one thing my father taught me that I still do on a daily basis. Passed down from generation to generation, from one scoundrel father to the next."
She raised her eyebrow suspiciously and took a drink, warm and calming at first before a roaring inferno raged where the comforting liquid had once cooled. "What did you do to this? Aguamenti!" She commanded, sending water at both Sirius and the teacup.
"Two shots of firewhiskey to every bag of tea," Sirius said with a smirk, wiping the water from his face. "Gives you a little extra kick don't you think?"
"And you have this once a day?" she asked, trying to fight back the water rushing to her eyes.
"Usually after work when I read the missing person's portion of the Prophet," he said, a sad look seeming to set in his eyes, in some way like James' had been last night. By the time he looked back at her it was softer and more familiar. "It helps, sort of mellows you out. Besides. Moony says tea is the cure to everything and my dear dad said the same about firewhiskey. It only makes sense to put the two theories together, right?" He took another drink from the cup and set it down. "See, I feel better already."
She looked at his cup and then back at the weary Marauder. "Little early in the morning for a pick me up don't you think?"
"When you haven't really gone to bed it doesn't count," he replied and Lily could see for the first time the heavy wrinkles around his eyes, the ones James had also developed over the past few months. She half wondered if she had wrinkles of her own.
"So seeing how you ruined your cup of happiness, shall we go back to my place and see what sort of breakfast Moony's made up? I left him strict instructions not to undercook the sausages and I think Vera was going to make some waffles or pancakes. Our luck we'll return and she'll have redone the cabinets in batter" he started, waving his wand at the two cups as they cleaned themselves and hopped in one of the cupboards.
"I have something better than a cup of happiness and half done breakfast" Lily smiled, grasping Sirius arm, "Sirius, I talked to him. I talked to James."
She had expected surprise, perhaps even a shadow of the triumphant Sirius that had brought food back to the common room after a Quidditch game but Sirius simply grinned. "Took you long enough to figure out how to work the mirrors. You're not as sharp as you used to be."
"Why didn't you tell me? All those Sundays I came over for dinner, complaining how he was going to return a stranger and you never told me?" she wasn't as angry as her questions sounded, but Sirius was rocking on his heels. "We could've had Sunday chats, the lot of us."
"But if I had presented you with a magic mirror, telling you it would communicate you to James, would you have believed me?" he asked putting on a leather biker's jacket, "And then there's the chance he would've lost focused and come home to you and your doe eyes. He'd never forgive himself for quitting, and you'd never forgive yourself for being a part of James not completing his goal to be an Auror."
He's right. No matter how hellacious the past months had been, she knew he was right. "Did you get to talk to him? Surely you have a magic best friend mirror. "
He opened the door for her and gave her a smile that didn't stretch to his eyes. "I did. And then I gave it to a pesky little witch who stole my best friend's heart."
"You gave me your mirror?" she asked dumbfounded. "Why would you do something like that? He's your best friend." That explains why James was calling for Sirius at first last night…
"Sometimes we do things for the people we love because we know what they need" Sirius murmured, kicking a gnome that was running across their path towards the garden. "Remus edits a lot of James' letters when you ask how he's doing. He's been through hell Lily, and it looks like things are only going to get worse. I figured if you had the mirror, then perhaps when he needed you the most he could find you."
She tucked her hand in his, "You know, people don't give you enough credit Sirius Black."
"My bark's worse than my bite," he chuckled, amused by his own words. "But to answer your question, I didn't see James last night. Just missed him by twenty minutes."
"Then take this," she began rummaging in her pocket for the mirror. It was wrapped in the shirt she had used the night before. Taking it out, she thrusted it towards him. "Go on, you two can chat over tea and breakfast," his hands remained in his pockets. "Oh come on Sirius, talk to him. This is your mirror. He's your best friend. "
His eyes held a heavy gaze, as though he was torn with his own words. "Keep it Lily. It's yours now."
"Well I can share it can't I? We're friends now—I think we've gotten to the stage in our friendship where we can share things in the name of friendship. "
"I heard his patronus notice he sent to the house last night when your mental best friend was waking up everyone in London trying to find where you were," he answered quickly. "I heard his voice, saw the glowing Stag, I'm alright. If I really get sick for the little bugger I know where I can steal a magic mirror."
Lily shirked back, "Vera came by after work last night?"
"Not even two minutes after her shift ended, she's knocking on our door like a banshee yelling that you're missing and if we don't help find you it's completely my fault," he rolled his eyes. "Not Remus and I's, just my fault. It wasn't till we got James' Patronus that she finally went to sleep, and even then we had to give her the slip with a sleeping draught in some tea."
"You should've gotten Snuffles, That would've helped her," Lily chided, trying to dismiss the guilt that came with knowing she had scared her friend. Is that what James would've done if he hadn't gotten a hold of me? She didn't want to think of that.
A genuine smile filled his face, "I should have. Perhaps I'll have Snuffles stay over at your place till her nerves are back in order?"
"He'll have to be a permanent resident then. Until Voldemort's gone, she's going to be on edge. Like you said, you have to think what your friend needs and Vera needs Snuffles" Lily sighed, thinking at just how much her friend's spark had faded over the past few months. "Come on, let's go home and you can all tell me what I missed last night."
"Ah lovely, interrogations over breakfast. Perfect for the digestion. I'm going to have to brew a second cup of tea," he joked. They had stopped behind a shed in the corner of the Potter's plot. Lily could see what looked like a motorcycle and she felt her stomach plunge.
"Sirius, what the hell is that?" she asked in pure dread.
"This would be my girlfriend Bonnie," he winked, pulling out an emerald helmet and setteling in on her head and straddling the seat. "A 1959 Triumph Bonnieville to be exact. I really need to patch her tire but we don't need to worry. It's pretty overcast there's a storm over London so we have nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about? Other than driving across counties on a bum motor bike with Sirius Black?" she strapped the helmet on tightly, "Pity, I survived the Death Eaters only to be killed in an auto accident."
"Oh get on Lily," he ordered over the thunder of the exhaust pipe and roar of the engine. "But if we crash, then James looses his best friend and his girlfriend—" she yelled, but she doubted he could hear her. Reluctantly she got on the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
"We're not going to crash, I'm pretty good at dodging areo planes," Sirius yelled and whatever courage she had gathered over the last twenty-four hours vanished.
Did he just say areo planes—
"Hang on tight Evans!" He yelled and drove the motorcycle at full blast towards the Potter's house, the motorbike lifting off the ground just before they went through the dining room window.
((*))
At the exact time that his best mate was being interrogated by Lily, James sat in quiet contemplation, an indeterminate number of miles away. It mattered not how far it was, the distance was as impassable as if they had been on different continents, rather than in different counties.
Last night had scared James, more than he would ever be willing to admit. Not knowing where Lily was, the sheer terror that gripped him as he refused to entertain the notion that something terrible might have happened to her had been James' very own personal Hell on Earth. And then, knowing she was okay, but not being able to go to her…. He swallowed an oath as he remembered the feelings of helplessness of utter bloody uselessness that such a feeling produced.
He cursed the Auror academy, Lily's own studies, the Dark Lord, everything and anything that kept them apart. Though the end of their separation was within reaching distance, a temporary reunion was not enough, James realized with a sudden clarity. He needed a permanent guarantee of his place in Lily's life.
Downing the last of his now-warm Firewhiskey, James' brilliant hazel eyes glowed with a sudden clarity. As soon as he was free of the bloody Auror academy, and once they had attended Frank and Alice's wedding, he'd ask for Lily Evans hand and whisk her away to make her his wife.
As he rose from his comfortable chair in front of the embers of the fire and made for his bedchamber, some of his old swagger, absent so long from his battle weary body, was present in his walk.
AN: Chapter went through a few rewrites, so I hope you lot enjoyed it. Again, Thank you, thank you thank you to SarCoops and XxWishing_for_wingxX, you two keep me sane and polish this story so well. Thank you to all you lovely readers, adders, and reviewers!
Sorry if this was a bit Death Eater heavy... I really love writing for our evil friends. We're setting the stage for the next few chapters- get ready- we're going to see more confrontations with Voldemort very soon.
Let me know what you thought about this chapter.~KH.
