A/N: Hey everybody! I can believe the number of reviews! Thanks so much! I'll answer your individual reviews at the bottom of the page!
Ok guys, I had a bit of writer's block, but during it, I did a lot of brainstorming, and I've got the next three chapters pretty well planned out, so they should come out soon, except for a small factor – I'm starting college this fall! But I'll still update whenever possible.
Ok, one thing… I'm not sure if there really is a room provided for the head students at Hogwarts… but I made one up for my story. I figure, if there can be a prefect's bathroom, there can be a room for the heads… you'll see what I mean.
A big GRACIAS to my new beta-reader, p3charmed! Couldn't have done it without her British input!
THE BEWITCHMENT OF JAMES POTTER
Chapter 10: Young Blood
Five figures in dark robes made their way down the old cobblestone street, their black cloaks flapping behind them in the brisk wind. Each step they took was in perfect unison, and loud taps resonated off the abandoned buildings with each black-booted stride. This was one of the uglier parts of London – an old street near the docks of the lower Thames, the kind of street where dodgy businessmen meet outside abandoned warehouses to conduct their dodgy businesses.
The wizards arrived in front of one of the more rundown facilities. Their leader indicated the alley to its left; the wizards followed, ignoring the rats and other large rodents that scurried as they approached. When they reached a side door, the one who had pointed out the alley took a step forward and knocked.
A sllit opened at the top of the door. "Identify yourselves!"
The one who had led the other wizards here procured a piece of parchment from the interior of his robes and passed it through the viewpoint.
The small opening slammed shut.
Seconds later, the entire door slid open.
Two witches were standing a few feet behind the doorway. Their heads and faces were covered by a dark veil that made them look like the attendees of a gothic funeral. The only lighting came from two torches each witch held in a shrivelled, claw-like hand.
"Don't light your wands," said one of the witches. Her voice was raspy and high-pitched, the voice of an old woman's.
"Follow us," commanded the other witch in an identical voice.
"And don't stray away."
"For there are things that lurk in the dark corners."
And with that, the two witches, moving with surprising agility, led the five wizards through a maze of dirty, musty corridors, floors littered with debris and empty bottles. They went down a set of rickety stairs that were probably held up by magic, and arrived at a long corridor.
At the end the corridor they beheld a door tall and wide enough that a large giant could have fit through without having to stoop. The door was set into a stone wall, contrasting greatly with the cheap wood and old brick that had prevailed through out most of the warehouse. However, its size was by far not the most remarkable thing about it.
The door was wrought entirely out of solid silver.
The witches placed their torches on the hooks on the wall on either side of it. The flames' reflections flickered across the shiny polished surface, and a shelf was visible just above the torch on the right. On the shelf was a row of skulls masks. The one marking that interrupted the door's perfection – a single snake was engraved into the silver in the place where one would normally expect a doorknob to be.
Just then, the door opened noiselessly, but the others were unable to see just what was inside it – it was pitch black past the torches. A tall wizard came out of the doorway, his face completely covered by a silver skull mask.
The wizard dismissed the pair of witches with a wave of his hand; they left without another word. The new wizard proceeded to speak to the wizard who had led them to the warehouse.
"Any trouble on the way?" he asked, his voice cold and sharp.
"None," replied the other, bowing his head – it was obvious that the tall wizard outranked him.
The tall wizard nodded. "You may go now. Tell them to call a meeting on the Dark Lord's orders."
The lower-ranking wizard bowed again and walked up to the door - and then it was as if the wizard had simply disappeared within it.
The tall wizard addressed the remaining four wizards.
"The four of you have had the honour of being asked to join the noble Brotherhood of Death Eaters. The four of you are what we call 'blood-brothers' – a group of four wizards admitted at the same time. The only names of our members that you will probably ever know are those of your blood-brothers. Before you were extended an invitation, you went through a thorough background investigation. The Dark Lord wanted to know who you were and whether you were worthy of his recognition. It may have taken you years to gain our acceptance. It may have taken you weeks. It depended entirely on your merits."
He sized them up, shaking his head slightly as to let them know that they were substandard.
"So let us begin. Each of you will lower your hood to reveal your face, and then you will state your name clearly. Once all of you have done so, a book will appear; sign your name. You may then enter the silver door, but before you do so, select a mask from the shelf. You are to wear hoods and masks all the times here, as secrecy is the key to your survival!"
With that warning in place, he too disappeared behind the humongous silver door.
The four remaining wizards turned towards each other, all hesitating, all waiting to see who would be bold enough to go first.
After two minutes of this, one of them became very impatient.
"For fuck's sake, what are we, a bunch of infants? I'll go first then." The wizard stepped forward, and as he faced them he pulled down his hood. "James Potter," he said, in a loud, clear voice that rang off the walls.
James had a right to be impatient. It had been two months since Lily was kidnapped. There had been no sign of Lily. The one thing that had spurred James on was that the bodies of all the other witches and wizards that had been captured with her had all turned up - in secluded woodlands, left drifting upriver, in deserted alleyways, it didn't matter, they had all been found. James knew she had to be alive - or, rather, he wouldn't allow himself to think of the alternative - and knew that he had to get to her before they could change that fact.
After making his plans with Crouch and Lupin, it had taken Sirius and he this long to be invited to join the Brotherhood of Death Eaters, as they now knew the organization was called by its members - although, even James had to concede, six weeks was a ridiculous short amount of time relative to the time it took the average Dark wizard to merit admittance. James, however, was no average wizard. He had given them gold. Lots of cold, hard gold.
He glared at the other wizards, and turned to the wizard that had been on his right. "Come on Padfoot, don't sissy out on me."
The other wizard shrugged and stepped forward, standing next to his best friend. As he pulled down his hood, he said his name in a quieter voice than James had. "Sirius Black."
The other two wizards finally decided to follow suit and removed their hoods as well.
Sirius sucked in a sharp breath, immediately recognizing one of them.
"Evan Rosier, III."
Although James had never met Rosier, he had met Evan Rosier, the Second, and had been introduced Rosier's sister Elphaba in the hopes of a match. Although they had certainly had their fun together, it just hadn't worked out.
Rosier looked quite like his father and sister: high cheekbones, a head full of dark brown curls, and a set of pale green eyes. He was much shorter than Sirius, but only about two inches less than James, and looked like the fresh graduate of Hogwarts that James knew him to be.
James turned his eyes away from Rosier and glanced at the other wizard. He saw immediately what had caused Sirius's displeasure. James had only seen this wizard twice before, but the family resemblance was obvious, and he knew exactly who it was.
"You've been here exactly two months."
"You've got to be joking."
Lily closed her eyes briefly. She had been in this hellhole, held captive by Dark wizards, and forced to relieve her worst memories over and over again. For only two months?
It had seemed more like two years. And yet - the fact that she was here, at all, wasting her life away...
"Damn it!" she yelled, and kicked the ceramic mug from which she had been sipping tea off the bed.
"Behave yourself," snapped Councillor Four as he fiddled with the bottles and vials on Lily's bedside table. "You are the one who insisted on knowing."
"If you didn't keep me constantly doped up and unconscious, I would be able to keep track of time myself."
As usual, he ignored her.
Lily rolled her eyes and lay back against the bed.
She had been relocated to this room after her first week in captivity. This large dank room was clearly at least in the cellars of the place, possibly in what used to be dungeons. It included a small, molding twin bed and termite-nibbled bedside table for Lily, but most of the room was reserved for Potions paraphernalia. The walls were covered in shelves that held jars containing a variety of ingredients. Long tables were set all around the perimeter: one was used specifically for chopping herbs and plants, another was exclusively for parts of magical animals, and so on, all around the room, except in the far corner where, instead of there being yet another long table, there were five portable fireplaces set up. They were constantly in use, making different potions simultaneously.
The smell was yet another element that made Lily's life in the room a living hell – she could identify the stench of a Port-a-Potty, the irritating fragrance of the powdery perfume old ladies seem to prefer, and the reek of rancid skunk road kill. All at once.
Lily shuddered to think what she smelled like after living there for two months.
She knew that she was in a rather dark place, psychologically speaking, very depressed. There had been not a single opportunity for escape in the entire two months she had been there, much as she had tried. She had even dared to hope that the French Ministry of Magic or at least the British Ministry would send someone to find out what happened to her. Surely they had noticed that all the other bodies had turned up, but that she was still missing.
And why hasn't Eduard sent someone to get me? He said he loved me, he said he wanted to marry me. That means he would want to spend the rest of our lives together… wouldn't he want to get me out of here so that I can do that? Merlin knows he has the resources. Not that I would expect him to succeed – this place seems like a bloody fortress. If I'm ever going to get out, it's going to have to be up to me. I'll just have to find the opportunity - besides, what kind of feminist waits around for the men in her life to take charge? What kind of Gryffindor expects others to save the day?
I can and will get out of here on my own.
But still… two months, and nothing. No word about Edoaurd. I've heard nothing about him. Doesn't he even care?
Lily closed her eyes tightly as a tear of pure frustration threatened to leak out.
I will not bloody cry. I'm a strong person. I kick ass in duels. I can get myself out of this place, or at least stay alive as long as possible. Even if no rescue mission comes, when the Ministry finally discovers this place and arrests all the Dark wizards, they'll have to let me out. I certainly don't mind having my life saved as an afterthought!
There was another person Lily's mind other that Edouard. A dark-haired, hazel-eyed, long-nosed somebody…
But Lily pushed the thoughts of James out of her mind. James was my first boyfriend, yes. Edouard is my future.
Her conscience wasn't quite willing to let her by that easily, and the little voice in her head nagged at her: what with Councillor Four's preferred torture method, isn't it true that you already spend far too much time thinking of him than is appropriate for a woman engaged to another man?
The scraping noise of the dungeon door interrupted her thoughts.
A small creature that looked like a small friar in his dirty brown potato sack tied in the middle with a piece of rope came in with a wooden tray, which it deposited on one of the empty tables.
"Anything else you desire, your Councillor-ness sir?" the house-elf squeaked.
"No."
The house elf bowed, his nose scraping the floor, and he exited, the door creaking shut behind him.
"Evans. Lunch."
By now they had established a mealtime routine. The cords that confined her disappeared, and Lily walked over to the table where the decrepit house-elf had left her tray. Chains wound their way around her ankles and waist, immobilizing her lower half and binding her to the floor. Sighing miserably, she began chewing a kind of dark meat that was mercifully unrecognizable.
She had learned in her first few days that it was better not to ask what she was eating. The answers had been disturbing enough to curb her appetite.
And I have to eat. I have to survive this.
Councillor Four sat down on the far end of the table and quietly watched her eat.
After a few minutes, Lily looked right at him. "Do you mind?" she said loudly. "I can't eat if you're staring at me."
He abruptly stood up, knocking over his chair. It hit the floor with a loud bang.
"I assure you, Evans, that nothing gives me more displeasure and utter disgust than ever having laid eyes on a repugnant Mudblood such as yourself!"
And with that, he walked over to one of the cauldrons and began vehemently stirring the potion. Lily rolled her eyes, accustomed to his outbursts.
When she had finished eating, he looked up at her and snapped, "Time for another dose."
"Looking forward to it," said Lily, smirking, although her hand trembled as she poured herself a little bit more juice.
As the chains unfolded from around her, she got up and walked over to the bed. As she lay down, he handed her two vials.
She downed them both without complaint. Even nightmares provided an escape from the dungeon.
We were in the Head Boy and Girl's Room – a room provided for us that included two large desks, bookcases, and other things to help us with our studies and student leader duties.
Except that we rarely did much actual studying there.
James was sitting in his chair at his desk… and I was sitting on James.
Our eyes were almost level, give or take a few centimetres.
As usual when we were alone, we were kissing. Really kissing.
But unbeknownst to him, I was actually saying goodbye.
James broke off and looked into my eyes. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing… I was enjoying this kiss – every second of it." I tried to keep from blushing. James and I hadn't been the most verbally expressive couple before my parent's death, and we tended to balk from touchy-feely stuff, so my saying this was different.
"I love it when you kiss me and we're together like this," I continued, my eyes connecting with his. I wanted to say more, so much more, but I didn't – to protect him, to keep him from hurting as long as possible. I knew it would be bad for him when I left the next day without telling him. But this way, in my own way, I was. I was saying goodbye on my own terms.
"Of course you do. It's me you're kissing, after all," said James in a jokingly cocky way, one eyebrow raised and everything.
I smiled and brushed my lips on his softly. "Especially since no one's around. No Sirius!"
"He does tend to stop us from getting hot and steamy. Like now, when you're talking about him instead of kissing me."
Just as he was about to capture my lips and bring me into a deep kiss, I pulled back. "I love kissing you."
James smiled back and his eyes lingered on my lips softly. "Mmm. I kind of like it too... a little. Okay, a lot. Now can we stop talking about kissing and actually kiss?"
I smiled back at him and his hand moved from behind my shoulder and drifted down to the small of my back.
And then James kissed me.
Every one of the kisses James had ever given me was an experience in itself. Sometimes the kisses were rough and invigorating, and at other times they seemed gentle and searching, but the way our lips were touching, feeling, and exploring each other's right then… is simply indescribable.
His lips lifted from my mouth, but not from my skin. "I love every minute I spend with you," said James, his voice hot against my cheek and neck. "I love the way you taste."
"Taste?" I repeated, trying to keep from squirming. I knew why I was being so mushy, but why did he have to go and say that kind of thing?
"Oh yes. Taste." He illustrated his point by running his lips along the sensitive skin under my jawbone, his tongue tickling my flesh. "And I love the way you smell, and I love the way you drive me insane." The hand at the small of my back pulled me closer; his other hand was on the side nape of my neck, his thumb tracing its curve.
"Insane?" How I wished he didn't turn me into such a puddle of mush that I couldn't even respond but for repeating his last words!
"Uh-huh, insane. And, I love to touch you."
"Ow!" I exclaimed softly. He had bitten the nape of my neck.
His hazel eyes widened innocently as he looked up at me. "Sorry. I couldn't resist."
A little fire ignited inside of me.
"Well, if you can't resist… then maybe I shouldn't either," I whispered, my voice playful and purring.
Something in my words and tone made James straighten up immediately. "No objections here!" he exclaimed, his eyes bright with excitement.
"Good." I reached for his hands, the hands that were making me melt in place.
I closed my eyes, took one last deep breath, and opened them, taking in James: his dishevelled hair, his hazel eyes . . . all of him.
"I'm ready," I said in what I dearly hoped was a sultry tone.
His eyes widened as he knew what I was saying. "Are you sure?"
I kissed his eyebrows, his nose, then let my hands wander south. "Positive."
"Nooooo!"
Someone was screaming.
James's face. His hands, warm and solid, held in hers.
It was all was blurring in and out of focus, and everything was hazy.
Lily realized it was she who was screaming.
The Heads' Room had vanished and she was in the cold stone dungeon of Councillor Four again.
She woke up in a cold sweat. He was leaning over her, examining her. I can't tell him, not about that memory!
"No!" she screamed again, and before she could stop herself, she tried with all her strength to punch him on the nose.
Much to her shock, she was right on target, and socked him so hard he staggered back.
He reached a hand under his mask, and when he pulled it back out, his fingers were bloodstained.
"Bitch!" he snarled at her, as he pulled out his wand. For a second Lily was sure he was going to curse her.
Instead, when he flicked his wand, he enchanted the chains to imprison and immobilize her once more. He had made the mistake of forgetting to chain her hands and feet once she had returned from eating lunch at the table.
"Sorry, I'm just no good at being a damsel in distress," spat out Lily, wishing she could rub her bruising knuckles. "But then again, you never know… I could get the seven dwarfs and eat the poisoned apple."
"Poisoned apple? Don't tempt me!" he hissed as he pressed a cloth under his mask to his nose. "You're lucky that you're a valuable research creature. If not, I'd have disposed of you a long time ago."
"So that's all I am, an expensive guinea pig?" Lily could feel her face getting hot in anger.
"Not really expensive – there are more Mudbloods where you came from. I just enjoy using you."
Lily smiled. Well, you couldn't really call it a smile – more like she bared her teeth at him. "I knew that you had some affection for me… deep down."
"Not affection. I enjoy hearing your pain. Your moans. Your screams. It's perfect revenge for your insulting behaviour."
A chill washed through Lily as she realized that he was speaking the truth. He enjoyes torture. He revels in the way my memories cause me suffocating pain. "Somebody needs to get a life," she said, fighting to keep the tremor out of her voice.
Ignoring her yet again, he walked over to one of the cauldrons and began adulterating the contents.
Lost in her thoughts, Lily began pondering what had taken place when she had taken the potion. One second she was reliving a memory, and the next she wasn't… and the memory itself was brief… briefer than usual…
"You're building a resistance to the potion," he said loudly, answering her unasked question. "This isn't unusual, considering how many times you've taken it. What is interesting is why the resistance appeared during this particular memory."
"As to that, I have absolutely no idea," said Lily quietly.
Oh Merlin, please let him not think too much about that memory.
"Speak only when spoken to, Mudblood."
"Unless you were talking to your damn cauldrons, I can only assume you were talking to me, bastard."
The Potions Master breezed past her insult. "I am merely speaking out loud as to sort out my own thoughts."
"Indeed? And have you any?"
"I find it curious that most of your memories dwell on James Potter… and in none of them do you mention your fiancé."
"If I haven't dreamed of him, it means he isn't been in my darkest memories," Lily said loudly and defensively, and her intention of feigning disinterestedness evaporated. "I should think that would be a good thing."
"I must say, it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself." His voice was pure honey – sweetly sickening, and Lily could feel his smirk as he said this. He reached out for a thin glass vial.
"Oh, do me a favour and shut the hell up!" Lily yelled crossly, her eyes flashing a brilliant green in her anger. "You're a bloody pervert, that's why you're doing this - you must be getting off at listening to my schoolgirl memories!"
He emitted a throaty growl, and Lily could tell she had struck a nerve - although he tried to conceal it, she could tell he had crushed the vial in his hand at her words. Hope it hurt, bastard.
He retrieved another vial and filled it with some of the cauldron's contents. "Let me tell you what I am about to do to you." When the Councillor continued, his voice was so syrupy with satisfaction that it told her that her next round of the Treatment would be even more painful, and therefore, more enjoyable to him. "What I have done, you despicable little Mudblood, is add several drops of Veritaserum to the original potion. I expect the consequences shall be quite interesting. Veritaserum is mostly used to–"
"I know what Veritaserum does," snapped Lily, entirely unhappy with this recent turn of events.
Oh shit… there is no way he should ever, ever find out about that memory… it was James' and mine. Ours only.
"Then you know that it'll virtually erase any sort of resistance that you and your subconscious have devised."
He walked over to her bedside and handed her two more vials, keeping his nose as far away from her as possible so as not to present the same target. When she noticed this, Lily didn't bother to contain her laugh, but it was as cold and mirthless as Councillor Four himself.
She looked around wildly for something, anything, she could use to prevent him from giving her the potions.
There was nothing.
"Cheers." She accepted the vials, but before she could empty the contents onto the bed, or throw the vials to the floor (options she was considering), the door opened and a masked head popped inside.
"Lord Voldemort has called for a Summit Meeting in ten minutes."
The masked head disappeared, and the door closed again.
Thank Merlin!
"What is it with men and not knocking?" said Lily in mock-outrage. She had relaxed now that she knew that he would be busy for the next two or three hours, and her secret was safe. For now. "I mean, what if he had walked in and heard me spilling my deepest, darkest, girliest secrets!"
Councillor Four turned towards her, his masked face looking right at her. She knew that if she could only see his eyes from beyond the shadows his hood created over the mask, she'd receive a petrifying glare.
"Shut up Mudblood. I have an important meeting to attend." He checked his watch, and nodded. "Don't go anywhere." He flicked his wand at her, and the chains incarcerated her even more strictly than before. "I'll be back in one hour."
"I won't be missing you… bastard."
The door slammed shut – or would have, had the hinges not been so rusty. It was actually more of a loud, door-versus-stone-floor scraping sound, with a slight bang at the end.
Sighing, Lily resigned herself to the fact that she was now alone, with nothing to do. So, she spent the next hour trying to figure out a way to escape.
It was entirely unproductive.
The wizard that James had recognized closed his eyes and stated his name in a shaky voice.
"Regulus Arctucus Black."
The younger Black brother had inherited the family's good looks, yet he was scowling in a particularly unattractive way at having recognized his sibling.
"Oh, shit," swore Sirius immediately. Facing his brother was not something he did often, nor was it something he enjoyed doing, yet even though he had not much affection for him, he still did not want his young brother - barely seventeen - to become a Death Eater.
James knew exactly what Sirius was thinking, but decided to wait till later to touch on the subject.
"Isn't this nice?" said Rosier, one of his eyebrows raised. "A set of actual blood-brothers is in our group."
"Oh, yes, nice, lovely, BLOODY PERFECT," shouted Sirius, glaring at his brother. "What could be better than my little brother playing grown up?" he spat out, eyeing his brother with avid contempt. Grey eyes met grey eyes, and the brothers were scowling at each other as if there was nothing that they would rather do than whip out their wands and duel.
James stepped on Sirius's foot, breaking the stare, and nodded to Rosier. "Yeah... they don't really get along."
"Shall we?" said Regulus, pointing at the door. He clearly did not want to be in this passageway with his brother for longer than absolutely necessary. James could see beads of sweat on his upper lip, and his forehead was glistening.
He's nervous about Sirius being here.
"Right."
A heavy black book had appeared on a pedestal directly in their way of the door. It opened, pages flying by until it came to a blank one.
James walked up to it first, and he attempted to turn one page back, but it was as if the pages were made out of lead; it was impossible to turn it.
The other wizard wasn't kidding about maintaining secrecy.
He signed his name with the provided quill, watching his name etched into the book in the permanent dragon blood ink.
Truthfully, he had never really wanted to come as James Potter, as himself. He had originally wanted Marlene to give Sirius and him some Polyjuice Potion, and they could have come as one of the wizards who were already part of the organization… or as new ones joining it. But Marlene, smart witch that she was, had pointed out that that would be more dangerous – the Death Eaters as they called themselves, probably had defensive measures to rival Gringott's.
So they had come as themselves, albeit reluctantly. They had come to the conclusion that once they got Lily out, she would give them plenty of evidence – enough evidence to destroy the group and eliminate the threat that they constituted.
He waited for the others to sign the book. Once they had all signed, James faced the door. How does it work? As soon as had he had the thought, he felt a force stronger than him try to pull him into the depths within. He grabbed a mask from the shelf and hastily put it on at the last second. He then felt a sudden hook tug him forward from behind his navel, and knew that this door was not really a door… but some sort of Portkey.
He managed to keep on his feet as he landed, and moved quickly out of the way as Sirius, Rosier, and Black arrived right behind him, masked and hooded.
What they saw shocked them.
The room they were in reminded James of the headquarters of the Wizengamot – a large stone room, a small arena. But that's where the resemblance ended.
They were standing at the very back of the room. Rows and rows of seats were set as in an ancient amphitheatre, easily accommodating the fifty or so people already seated.
The tall wizard who had given them instructions earlier made his way to them now – he had clearly been waiting for them.
"This is a summit of the Brotherhood. Sit together, as close to the front as possible. There are four others who are also new; they were admitted yesterday and are already seated in the first row. Lord Voldemort won't be here for the meeting, but you are each going to have an opportunity to speak with him at your official initiation ceremony, tonight at midnight. Now, move quickly."
With that, he left them to find their seats.
James gestured to Sirius to follow him, and they headed down the stone steps until they reached the second row. They and the two others sat down there, with Sirius on James' left, who was flanked by Rosier on the right. Regulus Black took the seat to Rosier's right, succeeding in being as far from his brother as possible.
Once they had been seated, one of the wizards at the Four chairs stood up and walked to a podium placed in front of the High Seats. He looked short to James, and portly, although with the hoods and thick layers of robes, almost anyone could have looked overweight.
"Fellow conquerors of death and lovers of blood, I salute you! To those of you who have just been inducted into the Book of Brothers," he gestured at the front row, and then at where James was sitting, "I am Councillor Three. Tonight we gather here to acknowledge you. Know this: we expect great things from you. A word to the wise – do not disappoint us."
As fascinating as James found the speech, his attention wavered, and he promptly began retracing his, Sirius', and Marlene's steps over the past couple of months.
..
James and Sirius had gone over to Walden Macnair's home the day their planned future infiltration of the Death Eater's began; they had chosen Macnair's because of the tips that Remus had given them. Macnair had taken the bait, and had gotten them to the next level up, and through their well-reputed names, especially the Potter name (and gold), they had made it to where they were now. Another major advantage that they had was that they were both Aurors. Aurors being Dark-wizard catchers, it was in the Death Eaters' best interest to have as many of them on their side or payroll as possible.
Marlene was a different story. She was originally going to linger behind, to be their back-up in case anything went wrong, and also report any of their findings directly to Head Auror Barty Crouch.
Their plans had changed. During one of the activities prior to their admission to this meeting of the Death Eaters, an acquaintance had let it slip that there was a group performing experiments on Muggles and Muggle-borns, psychological experiments involving potions, and that they had had some interesting results with a certain female Mudblood. When Marlene heard this, she insisted on infiltrating the Death Eaters personally. James had had to agree – what with the shortage of Potions Masters in Britain, they all knew that she would be accepted immediately.
It had worked. Marlene was in the other blood-brother group, and they were anxious to meet up with her.
..
Sirius elbowed James sharply in the ribcage, and James was brought painfully back to reality… and the long boring speech that seemed to have no end in sight.
"For the past few years, our mission has been simply to grow and find others who share the same ideals. We shall conquer death, together! We believe in the purification of our blood, to rid the world of the likes of Mudbloods, half-bloods, and blood-traitors. Our success at the Welcoming Ball proved our power, and put it on display for the world to see. We are the iron fist, slamming down on the insignificant, destroying our opposition. We are the Death Eaters, and our mission is that – to devour death, to destroy it. We have never been defeated; we cannot be defeated, not now, not ever!"
The room erupted with deafening cheers and feet stamping on the stone in agreement.
James and Sirius clapped right along with the others, of course.
"Would it be overkill if I whooped and whistled?" hissed James sarcastically into his friend's ear.
The man bowed, and headed for a door behind the raised seats. The three other witches and wizards who had sat at the thrones at the front followed him out the room, and the rest of the room began standing and making for exits.
"They say they haven't been defeated?" hissed Sirius out of the corner of his mouth as he stood up.
"We'll just have to break their winning streak," was James' reply, his voice as low as Sirius's had been, determination and resolve sewn into each word.
One wizard came up to them. "The four of you shall have the rare honor of meeting the Dark Lord himself tonight! In the meantime, you shall wait until all is ready."
"Thanks," said James, bowing his head slightly.
"I have to take a piss," whined Sirius suddenly, discretely stepping on James's foot.
"Bathrooms are over there, through that door." The voice sounded slightly offended at Sirius's disrespectful tone.
"Come Prongs." Sirius gripped James's shoulder and dragged him off.
Once they were in the aforementioned bathroom, luckily empty, Sirius turned to James. "Okay… let me guess! First thing we do is find Lily. And Marlene, of course."
"Wrong," said James bluntly. "That would be stupid…I'm going to ask to meet with this Lord Voldemort alone. Then I'm going to make him an offer, one he can't refuse… which will succeed in getting Marlene closer to Lily."
"How will you do that?"
"I have a plan. It's a good plan. It's called improvisation."
"Sounds good." Even though James couldn't see Sirius's face because of the mask, he could just tell that his best friend was grinning - grinning at the thought of danger, damsels in distress, and outsmarting the bad guys. I just hope he remembers what's at stake.
Sirius removed his mask and scooped up water from the sink. He splashed it on his hair and slicked it back. "Oh and James?" he called, examining himself in the mirror.
"Yeah?"
"We've got to get rid of Rosier. He seems quite dangerous."
James gave his friend an utterly disgusted look. "He's eighteen. He's an intern at the bank. We're Aurors – you know, Dark Wizard-Catchers?"
"He's dangerous!"
It dawned on James what was causing his friend to immediately dislike Rosier. He coughed heavily to stifle a laugh. "Padfoot, you just don't like him because you've heard that some witches think he's prettier than you."
"No, he's not! I am much prettier than he is!"
A look of horror crossed Sirius's face as he realized what James had tricked him into saying. "I mean I'm more handsome, in a manly, macho, Robert Redford kind of way!"
"No, you're just prettier." James ducked just in time to dodge Sirius's half-serious punch. "Now, put your mask back on and cover that gorgeous face."
As they were leaving the bathroom, another thought occurred to James. "Who the hell is Robert Redford!"
"He's considered the Sexiest Man Alive. Clearly the judges hadn't met me yet."
"I shudder to think how you would know that."
"People, the magazine, of course."
James really did shudder then.
"What?" Sirius retorted loudly, "there's nothing wrong with People. I read it when I was waiting at Lily's apartment!"
"Whatever you say, Padfoot."
"You – You aren't going to tell Remus about this are you?"
"Ten galleons and I won't."
"Deal!"
"Keep your gold - that's a promise I know can't keep!"
Lily had thought that reliving her worst memories was hell… but this level of boredom was even more depressing. Usually she was able to just sleep it out – the memories were emotionally draining and strangely physically exhausting.
But this mention of a Lord Voldemort… their leader.
If I found out more about him, then maybe she could find a way of telling the outside world… even if I don't get out, the information would help others.
The door screeched open.
"You're late," shouted Lily. "It's been more than two hours!"
The wizard who was unmistakably Councillor Four was standing in the doorway. Lily could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears as he thundered his way across the room.
He took two of the cauldrons off the fire and banged them on a brick covered surface.
He slammed two more cauldrons on the fire.
"Bad day at the office?" commented Lily, observing Councillor Four's fascinating behaviour. It was such a pleasant change, seeing him furious at someone other than herself. "I think you're being quite ridiculous," she said, unwilling to to resist the urge to tease him.
She could almost feel Councillor Four's eyes pierce through her at the very posture hinted of underlying danger. "You said I'm being ridiculous. Explain."
Any other wizard would have retreated with his tail between his legs, apologizing profusely.
But not Lily.
"Yes, you're being ri-di-cu-lous," stated Lily, enunciating each syllable. "You're acting like a PMSing woman – banging the pots and pans together after the children misbehaved. Or was it the hubby this time, this Lord Voldemort, who misbehaved? Did he come back with a mistress?"
In one quick movement, he had crossed the room, his hands and long thin fingers grasping her throat in a death grip.
"Go on, do it," Lily managed to cough out. "Make Lord Voldemort proud."
His hands tightened around her neck almost as if he was obeying her. "Do not speak his name!"
"Lord Voldemort!" exclaimed James, bowing slightly. "I am James Potter."
"I know who you are." The cold voice immediately made James think of Siberia – harsh, violently cold, full of prisons.
The all-powerful wizard was sitting on a throne – it could be described as nothing less. It was high, gilded, and intimidating to any wizard that came before it. He was dressed in robes of serpent green, a thick silver medallion decorated with ancient runes hung from his neck – but this was not his only ornament.
A great snake, probably about twelve feet long, brownish-grey in colour with a head shaped like a coffin, was coiled around the evil wizard's neck and shoulders.
James uneasily recognized it as a black mamba, the deadliest snake on the planet.
But James had a purpose here, and he knew that he couldn't let himself be intimidated, by the throne or by the snake. He had to act arrogant and just as important as this Lord , more importantly, focus his mind on that story only. To sell it, he had to believe it himself.
"It is an honour to meet you," continued James, ignoring the snake.
"Is it." His chilled voice indicated that the feeling was not reciprocated. His face was unmasked, but his hood was up, and his face was completely hidden in its shadows.
James, unaffected, continued. "I have always taken an interest in investing in new ventures that ally with my personal philosophy. My extensive wealth is a testimony to my business talents. I see an opportunity to create a company to conduct experiments on Muggles and Muggle-borns. The results we can later apply to our cause. Let me personally examine the facilities," he said, "If I find them up-to-scratch and well-staffed with sufficient, qualified Potions Masters, I shall consider making the investment. Even if I decide not to invest, I'll of course remain dedicated to our noble cause; this is merely something for me to sink my teeth into."
There was a prolonged silence for a couple of minutes while the Dark Lord weighed his options. James was merely praying that the wizard wouldn't throw the snake at him – he knew that it was entirely possible.
"You may visit the facilities," said Voldemort finally.
"Good." James nodded his head, but then made his voice sound concerned. "I really do hope I find it in keen conditions, however, in order to maintain the possibility of investment."
"You're a Death Eater. In service to me!"
"And I shall serve you with honour, my lord."
"Someone will take you to the dungeons to see the experiments. You may withdraw."
Without thinking twice about it, but concentrating a lot on the snake, James turned to leave. "Thank you, Lord Voldemort.:
"Do not speak my name! You'll learn to fear it soon enough."
"Voldemort," she repeated in a raspy voice, ignoring the pain surging through her as Councillor Four added pressure around her neck.
Suddenly, he placed his right index finger and thumb on each side of her windpipe. His fingers jabbed deep, and blinding pain crossed her throat.
"Give me a reason to and I'll snap your trachea between my fingers, Mudblood."
Lily couldn't speak, but instead she fixed her gaze onto him. She could see his dark black eyes now, so close was he to her. Her gaze turned to a cold, defiant glare, and even when her eyes watered from the pain, she refused to look away.
She looked into his eyes trying to find the trace of an emotion.
Just then, a low knocking on the door startled them both, and he abruptly released her.
A coughing fit overcame Lily as she felt the pressure cease. She wanted to reach a hand up to massage her throat, but no sooner had she tried to move it than a chain dug into her wrist, preventing her from doing so. She writhed around the bed for a few seconds, waiting for the coughs to abate.
Once her eyes stopped tearing up and the violent coughing had ceased, she glanced around the room wildly to see Councillor Four.
"I don't give a damn what they told you, I don't need you here," he was saying, his voice loud and indignant.
The source of his anger and annoyance was apparent. A witch dressed in dark red robes, her face hidden by a mask, was standing in front of him, her hands on her hips. Her very presence had an open air of defiance.
"I have my orders sir, I am to observe your activities, and assist you in any way possible," the witch was saying.
"You can assist me by removing yourself from this room before I remove you personally."
"I'd like to see you try." The witch crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly.
"Ah, a witch after my own heart," a hoarse Lily said as loudly as her sore throat allowed. "I'm glad to see feminism has entered the Dark wizarding world."
They both turned to see her immediately, an aura of fury around the Councillor.
"This is the Evans Mudblood?" asked the witch, her voice calm and steady.
"Yes, it is," Councillor Four answered shortly, "now leave."
"I have my orders. There appears to be a wizard who wants to give us the gold we need for these experiments, and so they sent me to make this place look even better. He's going to come later tonight."
"I don't need any bloody help, least of all from a bloody witch!"
Lily swallowed hard and raised her voice again. "Always the mysogynist… I'll bet she could beat your sorry arse at potion-making."
"Silencio!" cried the Councillor, pointing his wand at Lily.
Unable to speak, Lily decided to at least observe this new addition to the staff, as she would probably become a semi-permanent character in her daily hell.
"You want to stay and work for me? Fine," snapped the Potions Master. "Make a batch of the Draught of Living Death."
Lily doubted that he really needed that potion. Not only was it expensive to make, but she couldn't see how it would be useful to him, not when the Cruciatus Curse was an more effective torture tool. No, instead, she knew he was doing it just to annoy the new witch – the potion called for especially nasty and hard-to-handle-without-vomiting ingredients.
Huffing, the witch headed over to a cabinet and began by taking a pair of muskrats off the hooks on the inside doors. She laid them out on the table and unceremoniously chopped off their heads and began to skin them. Blood splattered onto the witch's sleeves, but she appeared not to care.
Councillor Four noticed the look of disgust on Lily's face and laughed humourlessly. He wiped his hands on a towel.
"Evans, your next session is going to be in three hours, due to our distinguished guests. I suggest you sleep," he said as he slowly stirred one of the cauldrons.
"Aw, Number Four, I didn't know you cared… I think I'm all a 'twitter," said Lily out of pure reflex, completely forgetting that she had been Silenced. Now that she remembered, she realized that he must have muttered the counter-curse.
He continued speaking as if she hadn't interrupted him. "May I remind you again that since I have to force past your resistance, it'll be more painful for you than the other memories."
Lily's face turned stormy. "Yes, since it's an absolute picnic to remember the day my parents died."
"Quit moaning about your pathetic Mudblood parents and get some bloody rest, you silly girl, or I'll give you a Sleeping Draught before you can say 'I want my mummy!'"
Rage made Lily's pulse race as adrenaline surged through her. She tried to yell out her anger, but the curses and insults were stifled by another fit of coughing, and she soon realized that she would have to just relax, and add that cheap quip about her parents to the list of things she would make him pay for one day.
The Councillor realized that there was no way she was going to fall asleep, and so forced a sedative down her throat.
After his brief meeting with the Dark Lord, James had met up with Sirius in the room that had been set aside for the new recruits to wait in.
Sirius leaned closer to James, whispering in his ear. "Something's up, and whatever it is, it's big. All the Death Eaters that have come in and out of this room have been agitated about something. What's more, they're also excited."
James raised his right eyebrow in surprise – not that anyone could see it with his mask on. "Do you have any idea what it is?"
Sirius shook his head. "No, but I can smell their adrenaline."
Right then, the door opened, and a member of the Council stepped inside.
"I have an announcement."
All the other wizards stopped talking immediately.
"Your ceremony of admittance into the Brotherhood of Death Eaters has been postponed. It will be tomorrow night. You may go to your own homes tonight. Make any necessary arrangements so that you can be here tomorrow at eleven sharp. Do not be early, do not be late, or the silver door will not open for you. As for your departure tonight, someone will come for you shortly and return you to the outside."
With that, he nodded at a group of about a dozen Death Eaters in the center of the room, and they followed him out.
James turned to Sirius. "You were right; something major's happening."
"Told you," whispered Sirius back, "A lot of them will be busy. This could be our chance."
A small masked figure entered the room.
"Who are the wizards interested in investing in the laboratory?" the witch called out, addressing the wizards in the room.
James and Sirius stood up.
"Follow me," she said shortly, and walked out of the room.
They rounded a couple of corners and then she unlocked a door. The men had to stoop to enter – the doorway was incredibly low.
The room was a broom closet.
"Lumos!" she whispered, and light was cast upon them all. She pushed off her hood, and slid her mask back.
The others followed suit.
"Right, before you say anything," Marlene started, cutting off James as he opened his mouth, "you owe me. Big time."
James smiled slightly. "I know. Both you and Sirius. I know this mission was crazy, but really, thanks for joi–"
Marlene interrupted him again. "Look, you don't know the half of it."
She took a deep breath and reached for her right sleeve, pushing it up past her elbow.
And there it was.
"They give you a special tattoo with membership." Marlene tried to make her voice nonchalant, but James could see that she was shaken up.
A skull with a snake slithering out of the mouth glared out at them from her right forearm, its black lines contrasting loudly with her pale skin.
Sirius reached out a finger to touch it, but Marlene quickly covered it up again. "It still stings," she whispered, her voice not bitter, not self-pitying, just explanatory.
James was struck by the meaning of that brand. "Oh god, Marlene, I'm so sorry. We had no idea."
"Yes well… as a Potions Master, they were anxious to admit me."
Sirius was looking at her with a stunned expression in his face; James could see that his best friend was admiring the brave way she was dealing with the situation. He picked up her hand and kissed it; she didn't resist.
"We'll find a way to get it off," Sirius promised her.
A brief smile crossed her face, but then her expression changed. "Well, I didn't show it to you to get pity. There's a good side to this ugly thing. I've been relocated to a new part of this rotting castle – the laboratories."
James looked at her sharply, his eyes intent and narrowed.
"I saw her James. I saw Lily."
'I saw her James. I saw Lily.' The words echoed in James's head again and again as he digested their meaning.
Sirius, seeing his friend's speechlessness, asked Marlene the important question that he knew was first and foremost on his friend's mind, but one that James was too afraid to ask. "Is she okay?"
Marlene gave him a crooked smile. "Alive and kicking. Still got her rapier wit – the wizard in charge of her, the resident Potions Master, is just about fed up with it, actually; she knows exactly which comments get on his nerves."
Lily's fighting him. Good girl!
James heart was ready to burst with pride – and anger towards the Potions Master.
Marlene continued with her descriptions. "He keeps her tied up and bound most of the time. She's fed once or twice a day, so she may be a little weaker and a little paler than normal, but she's doing great considering the circumstances. The other Muggle-borns lost their minds within the first couple of treatments, and so had to be discarded. Luckily, she's stronger."
"How tight is security there?" asked Sirius – James' face had contorted with fury when he had heard the bit about the other Muggle-borns.
What if that had happened to Lily?
"Not very hard to get through at this point. It's just the two of us. The Potions Master, Councillor Four, won't let anyone else get near her, and he only leaves to go to Summit meetings and to sleep – but his room is right next to where he keeps her."
"And once we get her out of there, how is the rest of the way out?"
Marlene's eyes glittered mischievously. "Normally, it would be nearly impossible to get out without being seen… but tonight, as you may have heard, most of the Death Eaters are going out on a raid. Before you ask me, I have no idea as to where exactly they're going, but they should be leaving in exactly ten minutes."
James finally spoke, his voice thick with emotion."So we're getting Lily out tonight?"
"Yes, James. Tonight."
...
A/N: Hope you guys liked the chapter, please R/R!
Here are my replies to each one of the wonderful reviews you guys sent me for Chapter Nine!
AnNiE bAnAnie: thanks for the review, I'm sorry some of it made you cry… but the drama was necessary! Let me know what you thought of this one.
Penny: sorry it took me a while to update, what with me going off to college in three days, I've been kind of busy… thanks for your review, hope you like this one!
Aieka: "One of the most mature and nicely written fics I've ever read," is what you said in your review… aw shucks, I'm speechless, and blushing like mad! I hope you enjoy this one as much as the other one. You also said: "I hope you update (and finish?) soon." As to that, there's still a lot left to go in my story… I can tell you now that Lily's imprisonment is brief, and she'll be out and about… so expect much more controversy and angst and exterior conflict to happen! This story is not ending anytime soon!
JamesGurl19: I'm very pleased that you thought that was my best chapter, it was also one of my favourites!
Lena-Jade: Sorry to disappoint you with my last chapter… according to your review, you thought that Lily was OOC… I disagree, I believe that anyone could momentarily fall apart when they find out about a loved one's death… but I'll agree to disagree ; -) You're right, I did misspell 'mum' (I wrote 'mom'), but that was merely a typo, one that has been corrected. Oh, and about Marlene… GO FEMINISTS!
Holly-Evans: well, here you go girl, I updated, I hope you liked it! Review and tell me what you thought of it!
Katherine: well, James didn't save Lily in this chapter… but I'll let you in on a secret… Councillor Four is really - ah, you almost got it out of me that time! Hehehe, thanks for saying my story rocks, it is reviewers like you that motivate me to update faster!
Spikora: Thanks for the correction on the knitting/crocheting bit… I can play Beethoven on the piano, but when it comes to handiwork, I'm all thumbs, and therefore clueless on the differences… I've corrected the mistake, thanks again!
Jommoov: Yup, Ch 9 was History of James and Lily 101… there'll be more background info in later chapters, I just love writing about Hogwarts!
Littlx1: your review was short but oh-so-sweet! I had to pinch myself when I read "it's really one of the best I've read." :D
Greenleafchic127: Oh no, I did it to you AGAIN… another cliffie… please forgive me for that, but it just had to happen!
Dimpi: I updated quickly between Ch 8 and Ch 9, but it took me a while on this one, I know… sorry about that, it couldn't be helped! "Gloomy, sad, depressing," is how you described Ch 9, that's great because that's exactly what I was going for! Thanks for the review!
Man eating plant: hahaha I love your nickname! Glad you liked my chapter, please let me know what you thought of this one!
Erywen: Wow. Seriously wow. Your review was really inspiring to me as a fanfic author. You said that you felt like you were there. I hope I was able to convey the same feeling to you in this chapter. Thanks for your wonderful review – I agree, I also liked James and Remus talking in the Leaky Cauldron.
Andromeda Tonks: To answer your question "what happened to Lily's fiancée?" well, as you read in this chapter, she's beginning to wonder the same thing! We'll all just have to wait and see what happens… R/R!
Tomecia: "genius with words" you said… I nearly fell out of my computer chair when I read that! Don't worry, I won't let it get to my head : -) Thanks for your flattering review! About Edouard and Lily… well, their story is semi-complicated, most of it will be known soon… Edouard is very much alive, however.
Lolua: The Remus bit of my last chapter was in indeed just for you! AND I must give credit where credit is due – thank you for the great idea you gave me – about including Regulus Black in this story. It added just the edge that just chapter wanted!
The girl at the rock show: I'm glad you liked it! seriously, thanks for the compliment!
Lily Natalia Evans: I'm glad that my last chapter gave you some ideas, let me know when you upload it so that I can check it out!
Marauders Magelet: I think all of us are interested in what'll happen when James finds out about Edouard… hey; I'M interested in finding out what happens! I'm glad you liked it, I hope this lives up to Ch 9!
Canadian Blueberries: The rescue is clearly well underway… but I promise a few surprises before she's out... winks We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but there is more to this story to come after her imprisonment… a lot of plot left to unravel, in fact.
CrazyWomanLovesYou: Awwwww thanks for the nice words! I know, a lot of angst in Ch 9, a bit more here, and you can expect more of it – a lot more of it – before the story is over.
P3charmed: My dear beta reader, thank you soooooo much for helping me out! You were a wonderful help!
CherryChalk: awwww, you teared up? That's sweet, thanks for the lovely review, please R/R!
THANKS, ALL OF YOU, PLEASE R/R!