Rory had never been more scared in her life. Not when she had first kissed Jamie, not when her grandmother had died, not when Harry had been hurt in a raid. Never. Because she was about to come face to face with the evilest wizard in centuries. The darkest of Dark Lords. She shuddered violently.

Jamie half turned his face to glance at Rory. She was shivering, so he squeezed her hand. They were under orders not to talk, and he didn't really want to figure out what happened when they broke orders. He prayed, silently, that his father would understand and send help. Preferably in the form of Dia Lestrange, but it was optional. He thought about who his father would send.

Dia, because she was a brilliant dueler, and brave, but a Slytherin at heart, sly and cunning. She had the added advantage that she was also Bellatrix's daughter.

Rose, because she would fit in at Hogwarts, and because she was the best tactician they had. Her mother's intelligence mixed with her father's tactical abilities made her brilliant.

Then maybe Moira, because she was a wicked dueler as well, but she was also a perfect people person when she wanted to be, able to charm on short notice.

Those were the three he would send if he was his father, but he couldn't be sure. Nothing was ever sure. Especially when it came to the psycho known as Lord Voldy. He mentally steeled himself for a mental onslaught, raising his Occlumency barriers and praying that Rory would think to do the same.

They were brought to the end of a corridor and made to stand before large wooden double doors. They both took a deep breath as the doors swung inwards and Bellatrix and Malfoy led them forward.

"So, here are the defiant. Here are the valiant. Here are the insanely stupid. Death Eaters, I give you Gryffindors. But not just any Gryffindors, oh no. These are the best that their pathetic old fool of a Headmaster could send to us. And they aren't even his to command, because they aren't even from this time. What a pity. Crucio."

Jamie was writhing on the floor in an instant. Rory had to bite back a scream as she watched her love being tortured.

"Bring her to me, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix obeyed the Dark Lord's command and brought Rory forward. Without lifting his gaze from Jamie on the floor, he said to her, "So, you are the great Lorelei Black. How fitting you should die here with a Potter, spawn of the worst of the bloodtraitors."

Rory shivered. Lord Voldemort turned his red-eyed gaze to the girl at last. She stared back at him, defiant and bold, as all Gryffindors were born to be. He smirked at her and ran a long finger down her pale cheek.

"But, my dear, it does not have to be as such. You can live, and so can he. All it takes is a simple yes."

Rory's eyes widen, an action that was barely perceptible, but the Dark Lord noticed. He smirked at her again, an ugly twisting of the lips. So, the girl was surprised.

"Yes, dear. All it takes is for you to agree to serve me, and your love goes free."

"I will never serve you." Her eyes burned with an intense passion.

"Ah, but I believe you will. Or would you rather watch your darling little Jamie tortured to death? Or worse. I believe the Cruciatus curse, when applied long enough, reduces the victim to madness. Do you want to stand here, bird, and watch your Jamie slowly lose his mind to torture? Until he begs for release, begs for death in any way possible, even by his own hand? Or by yours? Would you kill him, bird? Would you end his life to spare him from the pain? Or would your own selfish heart keep you from killing him? Would you allow your own selfishness to destroy his mind until he-"

"Enough," she whispered. Her voice was quiet, but it was steely.

"You have made your decision?"

"I have."

"Rory!" gasped Jamie from the ground, "It's a trap! Don't listen!"

"I'm sorry, Jas," she whispered, "But I won't let them do that to you."

She turned to Lord Voldemort.

"I will serve you. Not willingly, but I will, for the sake of my love. You will let him go free?"

"Do you so swear, on his life?"

"I do so swear."

"No, he shan't go free. But feel proud, bird. You have bought him time. Perhaps enough for the old fool to try to free you, but I doubt it. Now sit."

Rory sank to the floor in front of his dark throne, tears threatening to spill over. She had done it. She had bought them time. Time was what they needed. Surely Harry would send someone to save them before any drastic action was taken. But then, wasn't what she was doing drastic? She wasn't sure anymore, and, as Voldemort conjured manacles to bind her to his throne, she wasn't sure she ever would be.

Dia frowned.

"Something's wrong."

The other two glanced up at her.

"Something's very wrong," she continued, "and I mean, more than what we were expecting."

"What does she mean?" Remus whispered to Teddy.

"Dia has a bit of a sense for these kinds of things. Senses trouble, and all that."

Dia sat in a chair, head in her hands.

"That dope."

Teddy bent by her, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, Di?"

"It's Rory. Something's wrong with Rory. Her aura, it's all changed. It's darker now, got cracks too. We have to save her, and we have to do it fast."

Later that evening, after they had all gone to bed, Peter and Moira were still up, talking.

"My mother was never really around, but my father, my father was a wonderful man," Moira said.

"Yeah? My son?"

"Mmhmm."

"If you don't mind me asking, who was his mother?"

"I knew you'd ask that. I can't remember her maiden name. Actually, I'm not sure I ever even knew it. But her first name was Jade. My eyes are apparently like hers, even though I take after my mother."

Peter smiled. He had a family. A real, loving family, with a wife and a child. And someday, this girl would be his granddaughter. He thought of the war. He hoped that he would live to see Moira born. He would do whatever he had to in order to see his son live a safe life.