ARC I
- 09 -
Limbs
"A-a-arm," gasped the man on the ground. Regulus' eyes were unfocused, his body shivering from the effects of the Cruciatus. "A-a-a-arm, o-ff."
Sirius flew to his brother's side, calming him down through his tears. "Reg, speak to me my brother. Kreacher, what happened?"
"Master Regulus called for me." The house elf stated wringing his hands.
"What happened to Regulus?" Sirius asked through clenched teeth as Regulus seemed to cling and claw at him as if seeking warmth, safety or both.
"B-b-bad men, Master." Kreacher cried. "Mistress is calling for me!"
"No, Kreacher, stay!"
"Cannot Master! Mistress!"
With a pop the house elf disappeared and Sirius growled in frustration. James was assessing what had just happened, summoning blankets to the room and even going as far as making tea. Lily at this point had sprung into action to get a hold of the only healer conveniently nearby. Perhaps it was fate or some benevolent deity who ensured Alice was there visiting. It also helped that the Longbottoms had been visiting with their son for tea. She quickly walked into the nursery where her friends were sitting on cushions reading books to their sons who seemed all but content to watch them.
"Alice, Alice we need your help!" Lily exclaimed breathlessly. She only had a brief moment to see Frank waving his wand about over the stuffie toys in the room. In his other hand he held the Muggle book Clint had got them about rabbits. It had surprised all of them that the American was a sucker for Beatrix Potter and The Wind in the Willows.
"Go ahead love, I'll keep them entertained." Frank murmured. "Alright boys, this is the tale of Benjamin Bunny. One morning a little rabbit sat on a bank."
Harry sat beside Neville, the Longbottoms' son who had been born a day before Harry. The green eyed nearly two year-old was sitting enchanted, leaning forward, his eyes completely focused on the swirling bunny toy in the air before him. Neville in the meantime was leaning backwards, his eyes crinkled in a smile with an ear of a pillow in his mouth. It was a moment to take with the two women as they hurried back down the corridor to the lounge.
"Alice, Regulus has been attacked." Lily hurried to explain in hushed tones. "We thought he was dead."
"He is not as I can tell. Accio medi-kit." Alice uttered. The smaller brunette quickly grabbed hold of the zooming leather bag from the nursery they had just left. The two women entered the lounge, not a moment too soon. The younger Black was now facing a lit up fire place, blankets surrounding his curled up frame as he lay there still pale and drawn. Sirius and James were in a loud argument.
"I have to go back James," Sirius cried. "Kreacher knows things we do not; their side has the advantage and it was only through my family."
"Padfoot, I will go with you but first let us treat your brother."
"It may be too late Padfoot."
"It may be but we have to look to the present, to the now."
"Gentlemen, please." Lily uttered. Alice paid the ongoing drama no mind. She immediately went into Healer mode and began speaking to Regulus in quiet, calm tones.
"Mr. Black," she murmured. "I will be helping you through this, what curse has been uttered your way?"
"A-a-a-arm. O-o-off." Was Regulus' only response as he feebly clawed at the blankets about him, his right hand struggling to pull up the sleeve of his left. Alice quickly assisted her patient as she assessed his condition with her eyes. There were a couple of curses that could affect a person this way. There was a type of freezing curse that could cause frost-bite and hypothermia if applied a certain way. She had had to deal with that one because of flesh that had been nearly frozen off Mad Eye's hand. That had been gruesome. Then there was the Cruciatus. Based on the warmth she felt from Regulus; it had to be the latter.
Once the sleeve of his left arm was rolled up; she nearly recoiled when she saw the dark mark leering up at her. Magical tattoos were heavily linked to the blood. This was not something that could be easily taken off. Ink had a way of staying in the bloodstream depending on how long ago the tattoo was put in.
"Alice," Sirius whispered hoarsely. "What is going on?"
"He wants his arm off Sirius." She responded tersely. "This is a cursed mark. Should I press it; it could summon the very demon we are all trying to avoid."
"Is there any way to remove it?" James asked immediately.
"Not without severely harming Regulus." Alice replied.
"W-w-way," Regulus mumbled. He made a slicing motion on a part of his arm and everyone looked at him mortified. "A-a-arm o-o-off."
"Alice?" Lily asked softly seeing her friend going extremely pale.
"That has never been done. I'm not a curse breaker; I wouldn't know what to do to contain the most likely even that this backfires." Alice muttered, blinking. "Shit."
Regulus looked up with unseeing eyes to the healer. "O-o-off, p-p-p-please!"
"We don't know what the effects will be if we go that route." The brunette was going to near hysterics. She had never had to do an amputation before, even though she had a willing patient.
"If Regulus wants his arm cut off, who are we to deny him?" Sirius asked. He looked at his brother, calmer now than before. The need for vengeance was still there. However, James was right – he didn't have all the facts. And while time was of the essence; any moment someone could attack them here, in this place. Nowhere currently was safe. Wait a moment, safety.
James heard a ping. He whipped his head to the mantle. There was a clock that he and Lily had installed that could be easily purchased in Diagon Alley. This one however had been built between him and Lily. It wasn't a usual clock; it was one that was designed to show how much danger they were in and in how much time did they need in order to get away.
"We have to leave." Both husband and wife were staring at the same spot in horror. Sirius stared at the quaking healer who was doing more diagnostics on Regulus in this time. The younger man was pleading both for his life and for his mind.
The diagnostics did nothing to reveal much on the mark. She couldn't very well take it off and have repercussions. Sirius on the other hand had an idea of some of the darker protections that could have been placed into the ink.
"The only protections that could be placed on the ink are for the curses imbedded in the ink to burn whoever dares to take it off alive. We just need for the curses to naturally think that the host is dead." Sirius said looking at Regulus' arm without any more emotion. He had gone into a pale sort of numbness that came when one was in that strange emotional state between apathy and rage. He was now in the state where anything could trigger him and he would snap. Everyone who knew him, knew that this was the most dangerous space for Sirius to be in.
"It would mean killing the limb." Alice uttered. "Severing the arm in such a way to safely heal him is a whole other matter.
"Whatever you decide, do so in one of these," Lily spoke up to the duo. Both she and James had been busy in the time Alice and Sirius were speaking. They had summoned a couple of magical trunks that held most, if not all their worldly possessions and a few surprises.
"Here, get in all of you." James mentioned as he opened one.
"What?"
It would have been funny if it hadn't been such a delicate situation. Which was why Sirius was the one to catch on to Padfoot's meaning. "Ah, into the trunk Alice and Reg – come along."
With that he bespelled his younger brother, blankets and all as he made way for the now opened trunk at James' feet. "Be careful with us mate." Sirius murmured as he passed by James.
"Will do, keep your cool mate." James replied. "We'll get them."
The pair stared briefly into each other's eyes before with a nod; both Black brothers disappeared into the trunk. Alice blinked momentarily before going after them. The clock chimed.
"Five minutes." Lily sighed. "Emergency stone?"
"Always, I even got two of them." James chuckled.
"Your sense of humour denies all sorts of appropriateness." Lily mumbled. "I've got Frank and the boys." She gestured to the trunk beside her.
"Right that leaves us with the other side. Together?"
"Together."
With that they disappeared just as the last chime fell. There was a blast of spell fire which erupted from the fire place in green heat and the wards of Prongs' Estate fell. The Death Eaters that would have cursed them all to death tore apart that home in rabid vengeance. Bellatrix Lestrange herself was mightily angered that their prey had escaped.
000
January 13, 2001 – 02:07
Longbottom's Requiem
Unknown, UK
Alice winced wide awake at the memory of blood. Her husband pulled her in close, his large eyes and kindly old face set within a youthful body blinked at her.
"Darling," he whispered. "I love you."
Alice sighed, closing her eyes. She didn't speak, preferring to burrow her way into his arms. She couldn't get the image out of her mind. Whilst in the trunk, between the stutters of the younger and the insistence of the older; she had been convinced that amputation was the course of action.
It was thought by most Death Eaters within the Dark Lord's inner circle that there is no way to get rid of a dark mark throughout the war. Regulus had found out prior to being attacked that the mark affected the body yes, through the spells in the ink of the tattoo. Sirius who had had a couple of magical tattoos of his own; was aware of some of the magic that went into the tattoo. Alice was also correct that the mark the younger Black bore was cursed. While she wasn't a curse breaker; she knew they would still need Lily.
Upon reaching The Clay Hut in some unknown location in the middle of the briny ocean; they sorted out the procedure. The fact they did the deed with the possibility of dying should the curses in the tattoo react poorly under less than ideal conditions. The fact Regulus remained alive and the cursed limb contained successfully had been a bloody miracle.
The images would terrify her for the rest of her life.
"We are safe." Frank whispered into her hair for comfort. "They're safe. Our son is safe. We are safe."
Yes, indeed, for now.
000
February 3, 2001 – 20:07
The Clay Hut
Unknown, UK
Lily was seriously considering transforming their last remaining trunk into a safe house. It was perfect for it; seeing as it was exactly the size they would need to keep all of their worldly possessions and important documents. Since the last escape, a lucky thing to be sure – she wondered if their luck would be running out.
"The dimensions would have to be adjusted and we would have to illegally get through the no-more-expanding-the-expansion-charms rule." Lily murmured to James who was eying her illustrations critically. They couldn't stay long in this location but their other safe house wasn't ready yet. They had also decided they would be going under Fidelius prior to that new location for added protection upon Dumbledore's recommendation.
"It's possible though. Barring that, should anything happen to us, we can give this trunk to Hawkeye or Padfoot. They could use it and pass it down to Harry." James remarked. Harry was happily sitting in his seat beside his parents, "eating" porridge. Well, more like eating and throwing the meal on the floor. It was a good thing they had placed an anti-splatter shield on the table for such incidents. Magic was a beautiful and wonderful thing.
"Yes or our other little one." Lily hummed. She paused a moment, heat creeping up her skin when she felt hazel eyes on her.
"Lils."
Green met hazel. Hazel seemed to roam across the redhead woman's body before resting on her stomach. James' eyes widened when he saw the tell-tale sign. There wasn't much time to theorize after that. They kissed passionately and happily. For a few seconds fear was kept at bay.
Yet like all things, not for long.
000
February 23, 2001 – 18:07
The Clay Hut
Unknown, UK
The felly-tone held some fascination for James as he spoke into the receiver. Hearing Clint's voice on the other line was incredible and without the use of a floo too! Less mess, less stress as the American usually said.
"Incredible, so you have a new partner?"
"Accidentally picked her up from Russia," the American replied wryly. "Long story; how are you holding up?"
"Holding on," James remarked. "Prongslet just found out the wonders of crawling. He has been zooming around the place."
"Ha," Clint chuckled. "Kid is in the high percentile isn't he?"
"Of course, my little fawn is in the high percentile!" James exclaimed. "I'm his father after all! Please do not ever compare my son to a goat again."
The two men chuckled at James' odd humour. It was good to laugh slightly. The British man sighed. The mirth dying as thoughts quickly turned to more solemn things.
"That said how is our one-armed wonder doing?"
"Well enough, all things considered." Clint replied. "He hasn't said much but he's getting around."
"I wouldn't doubt it in the least. They're quite a pair, these brothers." James stated.
"If Padfoot decides ever to leave your shores, he's in good company." Clint said. "Same would go for you and yours."
"Possibly," James pursed his lips. "I don't trust America all too much though."
"We're paranoid," was the obtuse response. "Not unhospitable."
The pair continued to chat for the next few minutes before Clint told him he had to go. Apparently they had spoken too much for comfort.
"Phone lines can be tapped and even though we haven't said much, we still said too much."
"Indeed."
James hung up the felly-tone with a click before getting up to see what his wife was doing. The open trunk in the middle of the living room was an indicator where she was. He clambered down the ladder going into the make shift lab she had arranged. Since the last incident, she had gotten most protective of her work. The trunk was a reasonable space to conduct her research. Plus, Harry seemed to like it well enough. Lily looked up with her newfound glasses in the slightly dim but not to dim light she had over her papers. Their son resting for once surrounded by his stuffed animals of a stag, dog, wolf, bird and more cushions than could be thought possible to fit in the small space behind the ladder.
Quietly he went to his wife who reached out for him. He needed her and the comfort she provided. In the safety of the small space, the dim light and the quiet huff of his son's sleeping figure. James felt tears crowd the corner of his eyes.
To her credit, the redhead woman said nothing as she held her husband as he quietly cried. Despite the quick and good conversation with the friend he had. He knew, he knew deep down in his being that everything he had, he had sparingly. Time was running out – he felt this within. Whether it was for him or his family; he didn't know. Yet he knew. He knew and this caused him to breakdown at the hopelessness he felt.
Lily stood up from her seat and wrapped him up in her arms. They stay together like that for some time.
000
March 27, 2001 – 14:07
12 Blackstone Way
Unknown, UK
Uncle Mooney was scary. 9-month-old Harry looked up at the normally calm and stoic man with the lines on the face. He did not like the man at all; he clung to his godfather.
"Harry, it's just Uncle Mooney. Want to say hello?" Sirius asked. Harry didn't dare. No, something odd was wrong with his Uncle Mooney. He didn't know how he knew. He was a baby, he didn't have many thoughts or words or much of anything. He just knew that something was wrong with the other man. Something he didn't like.
"He's usually not like this with you." Lily murmured.
"I am getting close to the time of the Full Moon." Remus sighed tiredly.
"That just passed Mooney a week ago." James pointed out.
"Indeed. I am more tired than I thought."
000
April 27, 2001 – 14:37
12 Blackstone Way
Unknown, UK
Harry still did not like his Uncle Mooney. Perhaps that's why his magic reacted in such a way to glow red every time the man came around. It was like a warning beacon against the man.
000
May 27, 2001 – 13:13
12 Blackstone Way
Unknown, UK
"He bit me." Remus looked incredulously at his finger.
"That's a first!" Sirius chuckled as he wrapped the finger around.
"Right," The werewolf sighed. "At least he didn't break through and spill any blood."
There was a momentary pause of awkward silence. Granted Mooney had just gotten bit by the little munchkin with verdant green eyes. The usually stoic wizard was not always like this. The war; it had to be the war.
000
June 27, 2001 – 16:07
12 Blackstone Way
Unknown, UK
James sighed as once again Harry disappeared from his Uncle Mooney. This was going beyond simple dislike. The little boy was purposely escaping any chance to be in the same room as the other Marauder.
"Perhaps it is best we meet elsewhere?" Remus finally asked, commented resolutely. There didn't seem to be much escaping the red tinge to his skin tone, compliments of accidental magic displayed by Harry.
000
July 27, 2001 – 16:27
3 Albatross Drive
Unknown, UK
"Don't want!" Harry yelled. He flung the ugly stuffed lamb away from him, glaring at the man who had bestowed such a gift. "No lamb. No man!"
Well, that's what the nearly one year old yelled per se in his mind. To his parents it was more of a gurgled shout and string of syllables. The blonde man was resolved. The child did not like him.
"I do not know what to say Mooney." James sighed. They stared as it took Lily and Alice to calm Harry down whilst Neville watched. The two little boys seemed to calm a little.
"Say nothing at all James."
000
September 27, 2001 – 13:13
12 Blackstone Way
Unknown, UK
"We're going into hiding Mooney." James finally said. There was for once a moment of calm. The two Marauders stood together at the doorway of the lounge watching Lily, Sirius and Clint play with Harry who was not interested. In fact the little boy was watching both James and Remus with solemn eyes. His brows were puckered at the intensity of his stare. Or in Remus' case glare.
Remus jolted his head James' way.
"We need your help." James whispered. "We're planning on undergoing the Fidelius. Our safe house is ready."
"Indeed."
"Indeed."
There was a moment of charged silence. James perceived the blonde man knew what he was requesting. The blonde man remained his usual calm and cool.
"Harry may not like the idea." Remus muttered.
"Harry is nearly one."
"Indeed."
000
October 13, 2001 – 14:07
Unknown
Northern UK
"You have done well my servant. Go, see to my guest. It is a brilliant ploy to use a lamb in wolf's clothing for this deceit."
Peter was ecstatic. He had succeeded in causing Regulus to die despite the House Elf's intrusion to his grand scheme. This now was another success despite Bellatrix Lestrange's obvious dismay. He now had another honour, one too delicious to give up.
Darkness had twisted the once Gryffindor. In a cage made of silver and iron; the real Mooney no longer knew his name.
Author's Note: See, told you I'm on a roll! Thank you once again for the follows and favourites. The action is going to be happening fairly soon.
To PappyOldGuy – you are the one of the best with these reviews! Thank you for the encouragement and I'm glad you're thrilled. I know I'm still exploring where this story is going and trying to keep up with all the things I've written in previous chapters. Got some more twists coming up; necessary before we see more of the Avengers.
To Guest – I'm going to guess you're "birdy" – I know, I'm being cruel to wards that character. I'm also cruel to another character. Partially because I have other plans…so; WE SHALL SEE!
To Lw117149 – L33T names are awesome! Thank you and I'm working on it too. Yeah, I'm not excited for this upcoming chapter but at the same time I am because - spoilers!
As you can see, I do respond to reviews. Hint. Got it? Good, do you need a nudge? Nope? Great! À la prochaine!