'You cannot run you cannot hide, for evil has its dark design.
I have reason to believe there is power in the signs.
Look, she turns ghostly grey...the dark one has arrived.'
"Body snatcher" – Billy Idol
Friday, 2nd June 2000
Sirius was busy preparing supper for them in the kitchen, and Rose lay on the sofa watching the setting sun through the window. She still couldn't really take in all that had happened in the past week...it was a dream come true. Everything had occurred so quickly, but she didn't regret it. She was so glad that she'd been bold, and taken the chance with Sirius that night.
They were feelings that she'd been holding in for so long, because she hadn't been certain he felt the same way. But he did, and she still couldn't quite believe it! It wasn't like her to make the first move, and she would never usually have let things happen so quickly with a man, but it felt so right. And why not? She'd known Sirius for several years, and they had become closer since Harry's death, supporting one another through the horrors those years had contained.
Since she'd turned sixteen, her life had been turned upside down, and placed on hold. Voldemort, and the prophecy had cut short her education, forced her to go into hiding, and be separated from her family and friends. He had interfered with the natural progression of her life, and she'd had to live hiding in the shadows. The only good thing about this was that she had met Sirius; it would have been unlikely they'd have met otherwise. She'd had enough of just existing, and wondering if each day would be the one day that Voldemort's darkness finally descended upon her. Life was unpredictable, and you had to grab at the chances of happiness when they came your way.
Rose pushed away thoughts of Voldemort, and ignored the guilt she felt at the pleasures he'd given to her in her dreams. Instead, she focused on the love, passion, gentleness and wonderful happiness that Sirius created within her. She smiled to herself for the thousandth time, and thought about the pleasures of the early hours and the rest of the day.
xox
After making love, they had lain on the floor wrapped in one others arms for some time, sated and satisfied, 'I love you,' he had whispered into her hair and kissed her head.
Before they knew it they had both fallen asleep. Rose had woken some time later to find Sirius carrying her up the stairs. She had given him a hungry, loving kiss and he had smiled at her so lovingly.
He had taken into his room and laid her onto his bed and then joined her, pulling the covers over them both. They had kissed languorously and began to explore one another's bodies gently, less frenzied and hurried than earlier. She had cried out in pleasure when Sirius entered her again, and their bodies had moved together together in unison until they came.
Rose had woken this morning to the sun streaming through the window. She smiled at the sight of Sirius' arm wrapped around her. Gently extricating herself from his hold, she had pulled the covers from her and got out of bed, stretching her body, and enjoying feeling the sun on her face. What a day, she had thought to herself. She'd turned to looked back at Sirius' sleeping form, and grinned. What a night!
She had picked up his shirt and pulled it on, breathing in his scent on the collar. Tiptoeing downstairs, she had gone to make breakfast for them both. Singing to herself, she had been lost in her own little world, and hadn't heard him come up behind her. She had felt him though! He had placed his hands around her waist, and planted kisses on her neck. She had laughed and leant into his body, feeling his hardness.
'Mmm, I wondered where my shirt was. It suits you.' He'd growled into her neck, kissing it and she had laughed. 'There's life in the old dog yet I see!' He had pulled her around and looked at her grinning. 'Oh yes! You make me so horny, my little wild flower!' He had kissed her deeply, his hands roaming underneath the shirt and exploring her naked body. She had moaned in pleasure, but broken the kiss when she'd smelled burning toast,
'Down boy,' she'd said, laughing and patting him on the bottom. She'd not been able to help looking him up and down as she rescued the toast. Oh God, she'd said inwardly as she looked over at him leaning against the table. He'd been wearing only his trousers, and she'd not been able to take her eyes off his lithe body with the tattoos decorating his upper chest. His hair was ruffled and his eyes looked at her lustfully. He looks like a sexy rock god, she'd thought, and had felt herself becoming aroused.
The toast had been forgotten, as she'd launched herself at him. 'Whoa', he had said, laughing, 'What about breakfast?'
'I think I'd rather have you for breakfast, Mr Black!' She'd kissed him hungrily, and had squealed in delight as he'd picked her up in his arms. 'As you wish, my little wild flower. It will be my pleasure to ravish you again!'
They had eventually surfaced from bed a few hours earlier, hungry for something other than one another! They had spent the time relaxing in the living room, snuggled up together, kissing, talking and enjoying one another. Reality seemed so far away right now, and she hoped it would stay away a good while longer.
xox
Rose started at the sound of something breaking in the kitchen. She chuckled to herself. What was he doing in there? At the sound of a pan clattering to the floor, Rose got up from the sofa and decided to go and help Sirius. She walked along the corridor to the kitchen and as she neared the entrance called out, 'Don't worry, the cavalry's here to the rescue! You're such a klutz…'
She stood in the doorway, and felt herself rooted to the spot. Her eyes widened in shock and fear at the scene before her. In the large and airy kitchen, Sirius was knelt on the stone floor, his hands behind his back. A masked Death Eater held him by the hair and pointed a wand at his temple. Sirius' face was contorted in pain and anger. Another three masked Death Eaters stood around the kitchen, their wands raised. Lucius Malfoy was the only one without a mask. His cold grey eyes scrutinised her, and a cold, triumphant smile flickered onto his face.
She glanced to the kneeling figure at the side of Lucius. Alvin Muggleton, his face bruised, had his head bowed. He raised his head slightly and looked at her, his eyes full of sorrow, fear and shame. 'F-forgive me….they h-have Drusilla.' Lucius turned and scowled at the man. 'Silence Muggleton! Did I give you permission to speak?' Alvin became silent at the rebuke from Lucius' haughty voice.
The grey eyes fixed upon her once again. 'So Miss Greenwood, we meet at last. My master is eager to be acquainted with you, as you are well aware.' Rose almost wanted to laugh at Lucius' silky greeting. Despite the hint of disdain in his voice, he addressed her as she imagined he would one of his pureblood acquaintances at a society party. But she didn't laugh. Instead she stood rooted to the spot, her shocked mind trying to figure out what to do.
Rose tried to focus her thoughts on a place of safety. Once this was in her head, she tried to apparate herself. But she couldn't! It was if an invisible force was blocking her. She tried a second time and still she was unable to apparate. She heard the mocking laughter of Lucius. 'You can try all you want to apparate girl, but you will be wasting your time. Do you not think we have considered that in our plans?' Rose returned the disdainful look he gave her with a look that she hoped conveyed defiance, and did not show her fear.
'Run, Rose!' Sirius forced out the words and his captor yanked his head back and pointed the wand at his neck. Lucius laughed, 'I would not advise such foolishness girl, it would be entirely futile.' Rose's adrenalin kicked in, and she turned and fled down the corridor, making for the stairs. Where the hell did I leave my wand?
She came face to face with a Death Eater appearing before her in a swirl of smoke. She heard mocking laughter behind the mask. 'Run little mudblood!' The man's voice taunted her, and he allowed her to run up the first flight of stairs and onto the corridor. She was being toyed with, like a hunter with it's prey.
She was halfway up the second set of stairs when she stopped. Black smoke billowed at the top of the stairs and emerged into a figure. Bellatrix Lestrange. The dark haired, wild eyed witch stood smiling at Rose. She held her wand pointed to her cheek and Rose's wand clutched in her other hand.
'Looking for this mudblood? Bellatrix said in her breathy, girlish voice, waving Rose's wand in the air. Rose turned around and saw the two Death Eaters at the bottom of the stairs. 'How pathetic! Thinking you could run from us, you stupid mudblood bitch!'
Rose turned to face Bellatrix again. As scared as she was, she felt the rage sear her insides. 'Well it's hardly a fair fight. You've got my wand and two lackeys to assist you. Make it fair and we'll see who's the better sorceress, you pureblood, psycho bitch!'
'Crucio!' Rose screamed in agony as the curse hit her. She fell down the stairs and into the arms of one of the Death Eaters. "Release her," Bellatrix screeched and fired the curse at Rose's body again. 'Insolent bitch! You dare to suggest you are a better witch than me! Filthy, mudblood scum that you are!'
Rose writhed in pain on the landing floor. It felt like a thousand red hot knives were piercing her skin. She let out an involuntary scream. Please God, please stop, she thought. 'Enough Bella!' Rose heard Lucius Malfoy's command through the receding agony, as the curse ceased. Rose winced in pain. Her ribs felt sore, she must have hurt them in the fall. 'Our master will not appreciate the girl being brought to him bloodied and bruised.' Bella opened her mouth to protest, 'The bitch dared to suggest she was…' Lucius silenced her, 'I don't care what she said Bella. Our mission is to capture the girl and bring her to him unharmed.'
Bella huffed furiously and pouted as Lucius cast a healing spell over Rose and the injuries from her fall vanished. 'Now girl, get up and we will depart. I told you it was futile to try to escape. Obey and submit to your betters and this can be concluded quickly and pleasantly.' Rose, now on her knees, looked up at him and laughed.
Betters?' She shook her head, 'You Death Eaters really are deluded aren't you? You all need sectioning, along with your master, for a full psychiatric evaluation! How are you better than me exactly? C'mon, explain it to me!' She couldn't believe that she was challenging four Death Eaters about their beliefs and sanity in the midst of them trying to abduct her! But the searing anger coursing through her was in full flow.
Lucius dealt her a stinging slap across her face that shocked her into silence and her anger into fear. 'Be quiet you stupid girl!' He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet. 'I suggest you make that your final tirade or else I will let Bella continue where she left off.' Rose stared into his cold grey eyes. 'Do we understand one another girl?' Rose's instincts counselled her. Now is not the time to fight, choose your battles wisely, her instincts advised. She met Lucius' gaze unflinchingly. 'Yes, I understand you.'
Lucius smirked at her. 'Good.' He turned to Bellatrix, 'Go with Dolohov and assist the Carrow's with the apparition of your cousin and Muggleton. McNair and I will take charge of the girl.' Bellatrix pouted, 'Yes Lucius.' Bellatrix shot a poisonous, hate-filled stare at Rose, who returned it with equal measure. Bellatrix and Dolohov apparated downstairs as ordered.
Lucius returned his attention to Rose, who was ignoring the lascivious stare of McNair eyeing her up and down. Lucius smirked. 'I wouldn't let our master catch you doing that, McNair.' McNair grinned, 'I can see why our master is so keen to acquire her. She's a beauty, even if she is a mudblood!'
'Enough McNair,' said Lucius, looking in disdain at the other man's lechery. 'Now girl, take my hand and we will depart. Do not try anything stupid.' Rose put her reluctant hand into Lucius' and he pulled her to him. They were both stiff and rigid, each of them detesting the enforced closeness to one another. 'Ready McNair?' Lucius' voice spoke above her. The other man nodded in affirmation.
Rose gasped as the apparition began and felt the familiar sensation, as if a hook pulling at her insides. In seconds it was over and Lucius released his hold on her, pushing her onto a cold stone floor. 'Stay quiet and on your knees girl. Our master will be here presently.' She stole a glance at him and he looked at her exultantly. She could sense relief from him. He gave her a disdainful stare and then turned away and she turned her head back to the floor in front of her. She listened to the sound his boots made on the floor as he walked to the other side of the room.
Stay calm, stay strong. Her mind repeated the mantra, trying to drown out the pervading fear that was creeping through her. 'Our master will be here presently.' Lucius' words had chilled her to the bone. The day she had dreaded for five years was here. She fought to control the fear. She needed to focus, stay calm.
She began to study the room. The walls and floor were made of grey stone, with large pillars in each corner. There were large mullioned windows, framed by drapes of dark green. Torches flickered on the wall and a large chandelier hung from the ceiling. The room was sparse of furniture apart from a chair at the other end of the room. The chair was made of a dark wood. It was high backed and ornate. She couldn't be certain but she suspected that the carvings on the chair were serpents. It's like a throne room, she thought.
Rose heard a cough from the other side of the room. Its tone was achingly familiar. She glanced in the direction of the sound. Sirius was knelt on the stone floor; his face was bloodied and bruised. Her heart constricted at the sight of him. Bellatrix was stood over him, looking at him in disgust. 'Quiet!' she screeched at him, dealing a blow to his head, Sirius did not flinch or respond. Bellatrix began pacing the room expectantly.
Sensing that someone was looking at him, Sirius inclined his head. Thank you sweet Merlin, he said inwardly, she's unharmed. Their eyes locked for what was only seconds, but felt like forever. They both read the messages their eyes contained. I love you. Stay strong. Don't look at me again. They mustn't know about us. They broke the connection of their eyes and focused on blotting each other out of their thoughts. Rose felt a sensation within her as she returned her gaze back to the floor. Her head began to feel all muddled. She shook it, trying to clear away the sensation.
There was a sudden rush of wind in the room, as if a window had been opened and the night air had invaded. She wished that was all it was. Her heart began to pound in her head as she heard the sound of bare feet and the rustling of a trailing robe on the stone floor. These sounds were accompanied by the sound of slithering and the low hiss of a snake. She heard a gasp of breathy delight emit from Bellatrix and the murmurs of "My lord" around the room.
The sound of feet, robe and snake became louder as they moved in her direction, until finally they replaced her view of the stone floor. Nagini looked at her. The snake's cold eyes glistened, its tongue flickered and the hissing continued.
'Look at me girl.' Rose's insides felt they had turned to ice. She continued to stare at the pale feet before her. She had heard that cold voice in her dreams so many times, but now it was in her reality, and it made her shiver. She tried to force her head to do as the voice commanded. But her mind, suffused with fear, and a hint of rebellion, would not obey.
A few seconds later long, pale fingers clutched at her chin, the long nails digging painfully into her flesh. 'I said, look at me girl!' The voice was slightly louder now, with a note of anger at her failure to respond to the first command. The hand pulled up her head to meet the face of its owner.
Her stomach flipped over as her eyes met those she had seen in her dreams. She shivered again in terror. Voldemort's lips curved into a smile of pleasure when he saw this. As vivid as her dreams of him had been, nothing prepared you for the sight of him in the flesh. 'Well girl, we finally meet at last. You've eluded me for some time now, and I don't like being deprived of that which belongs to me.' His fingers dug into her skin even harder and his eyes bored deep into her. 'You will have to atone for your defiance. Now, what would appease me?'
He looked upwards as if deep in thought. Then his lips curved into that cold, cruel smile again. 'I have it. You will start your atoning by completing the request I made of you last week'. She stared at him. 'You remember girl. You almost said it, before the dream ended.'
He smiled exultantly at the recollection in her eyes. 'Now, say it. And don't think of disobeying me, or I will punish those in this room who helped you evade me.' Rose took a breath as he continued to smile at her. 'Don't keep me waiting girl. I'm a man of my word.'
