Dedications
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Chapter 10
: The PotionPeter Pettigrew hurried nervously down a limestone walkway leading to a very large, very imposing castle. It made an island of itself, built into an enormous chunk of rock near the shore of the beach. He'd come from a thick forest just under two-hundred feet behind him. This was his first summon to Maison Serpent, the abandoned castle claimed by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Everything about the castle made Peter fear entering it. For one, the walkway on which he presently stood had no railing, which didn't make the fifty-foot climb to the main entrance any more comforting; and sharp rocks jabbed upward from the sandy shore. The green, triangular tops of even the smallest towers stood at least eighty feet over his head, and the way the vines of ivy coiled around the architecture reminded him of strangulation.
Peter decided he didn't like Albania.
"Lumos," he whispered, and his wand brought light to his dim surroundings.
"Pettigrew," hissed a female voice.
Peter gasped and whirled around. The face of Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in the wand light.
'She's very pretty,' thought Peter. 'If only she wasn't newly married...oh, why do I bother?'
"I've been waiting for you," she said, slowly circling him and frowning. "You're late." She slowed almost to a stop; Peter's hands trembled. With an expression suggesting he wasn't worth her effort, she continued walking. "Our master has a very important job for you. Mind you, if it weren't for the circumstances, you would have been his last choice. You're not exactly handy, Pettigrew."
"The circumstances?" he repeated, ignoring her insult. They headed further into the castle.
She smirked. "I'll leave the explanation to Lucius and our master. Merlin knows Lucius has been waiting for this..."
"Lucius? Since when does he give orders?"
Bellatrix frowned at his petulant tone. "Who asked your opinion on the workings of the Death Eaters, Pettigrew?"
He made no reply, only scowled.
Bellatrix lifted a cloaked arm to open a large, old-fashioned wooden door. She entered first, her cloak billowing behind her as she went, and Peter shuffled meekly inside in her wake. Both inclined their heads toward their master, Peter following Bellatrix's motion. Lucius stood beside where Voldemort sat, eyes following the two as they drew closer.
Voldemort made no move to lower his hood, as his three Death Eaters had.
"Peter," said Voldemort, by way of greeting, "Lucius and I are very pleased to see you."
"You are?" Peter felt pleased, too, to hear this.
"Certainly," replied Voldemort. "You are the only willing person"--Bellatrix coughed--"who could conduct this job inconspicuously."
Lucius grinned at Peter; he looked more frightening than cheerful. "Yes, old chap. You're doing me quite the favor. Us," he corrected quickly, glancing at his master. "Doing us quite the favor."
"What am I doing, exactly?" asked Peter uneasily. He wrung his hands.
Voldemort dipped his long-fingered hand into his robe pocket, withdrawing a test-tube sized vial of clear liquid. "You are to slip this into Lily Evans's drink. I don't care how you manage it, just do it without being seen." He handed Peter the vial. "Don't let it break. If it breaks, you will make a new potion by hand."
Peter nodded and swallowed. Potions was his worst subject at Hogwarts. He turned to leave, but faced his master again a second later.
"Master? What does the potion do?" he questioned.
"It won't kill her, not that you should care," he said, seeing through his question. "It will render her...easier to deal with."
"Yes, master," nodded Peter, for lack of something better. He started again for the door, frustrated at his master's response.
"Bella." Voldemort spoke unexpectedly. "Accompany Pettigrew to the beach."
"Of course, master."
Peter and Bellatrix left the room.
"What is all of this about?" asked Peter. "Aren't I to be given any explanation?" Fleetingly, he regretted accepting his invitation to join the Death Eaters. More respect, his toe.
"Nobody thought you'd be needing one," said Bellatrix coolly. "Aren't you aware of the December nineteenth trial? And the occupants of cell twenty-seven?" Peter shook his head. "My lord, Pettigrew. Do you not speak at all with Lucius?" She didn't wait for his answer. "Lily Evans got Lucius in quite a lot of trouble in court. Suppose that's what he gets for screwing around with a Mudblood. Anyway, he felt she needed to be taught a lesson. Shown who's boss." She brought her index finger to the vial. "That's Obedience Potion."
- - -
Lily scrutinized the woman as she walked Officer Mediro's desk. She stood several inches taller than Lily, who--admittedly--was not the tallest creatures ever to walk the planet, and walked in a confident, although not pompous, manner. A floral summer dress covered her slightly overweight figure, and a large-rimmed straw hat half-hid her red curls. She glanced at Lily when she passed; the woman had James's eyes, with not the slightest of differences.
"Hello," she said pleasantly to the policeman. "I'm Erin Potter. I've come to pick up my son James and his friends."
This news delighted Officer Mediro. "Please sign here, madam," he nearly sang, placing an official-looking document on the desk, "as a record of their release."
Mrs. Potter scribbled her name and turned toward the teens. She eyed James, Lily, and Sirius. "Ready to head home?" She didn't appear to notice Dinah.
"We can't go just yet," said Lily. "What about Dinah?"
"Who, dear?" asked Mrs. Potter.
"Me," said Dinah, standing in her chair.
Mrs. Potter smiled at the child. "Is this your sister?"
"No," replied Lily. "She's not my sister." She braced herself for the reaction.
Mrs. Potter's eyes widened a tad. "Well, she couldn't be your--"
"Mum!" James cut in abruptly. "How about a stroll through Little Whinging?" He tossed his arm about his mother's shoulders and lead her toward the door.
"Lily." Dinah snagged the collar of her jacket. "I can't leave. I have to wait for Mrs. Vermaat to come get me."
Lily nodded at her. "James!" she called.
James's head snapped in her direction. "Yeah?"
She beckoned him back into the office.
"Change of plans, Mum," he announced, leading the amused-looking woman back inside.
"What's going on?" she inquired of her son.
He started to explain, but another person came through the door.
"I came as soon as I could," said Mrs. Vermaat apologetically to Officer Mediro. She glanced reproachfully at Lily. "Come, child," she said to Dinah, extending her hand. "Let's go home."
Dinah crossed her arms. "I'm not going back to the orphanage."
"Oh?" said Mrs. Vermaat. The corners of her mouth curled slowly into an amused smile. "And where, pray tell, do you plan to live?"
Dinah leaned into Lily. "With Lily. And James."
James's mother nudged him and hissed, "You've got some explaining to do."
"I will not place you in the care of that irresponsible girl," said Mrs. Vermaat, staring sourly at Lily.
"Lily takes good care of me!" cried Dinah in protest. "She buys me dinner and takes me on vacation and she let me keep Max!" She pointed to her kitten. "She tells me stories and hugs me a lot! Lily loves me!"
"Enough of this," ordered Mrs. Vermaat. "Come with me now."
"No!" Dinah shouted. "I won't go!"
Lily had no idea how to react. What could change the woman's mind?
Mrs. Vermaat, clearly fed up, snatched Dinah from the chair and dragged her, kicking, screaming, crying and hitting, toward the office door.
"Lily!" yelled Dinah. "Save me!" She reached her free hand toward Lily.
If Lily grabbed for Dinah, the city would be even less open to Dinah's adoption. But if she didn't try and wrench her from Mrs. Vermaat's grip, she might lose Dinah for good.
Lily darted forward and seized the child's outstretched hand. The suddenness of the new weight startled the old woman and Dinah rolled into Lily's arms; they fell to the floor.
"Young lady!" barked Officer Mediro, rising from his chair. "What the devil do you mean by this?"
Lily inched into a standing position, hindered under Dinah's weight. "You can't take her away," she said to Mrs. Vermaat. "I need her. I love her. She makes me happy. Why would you force a wanted child to return to an orphanage? Aren't orphanages supposed to give children to loving families?" Lily thought she'd made a good point. She hoped it would convince the woman.
"Yes," said Mrs. Vermaat, sneering. "We give children to loving families. Not young, orphaned teenagers who can barely support themselves. And definitely not to people who run off with children to other countries! Living with you is not in the child's best interest."
James moved beside Lily. "We have plenty of resources to take care of Dinah, thanks," he said coolly. "And this," he gestured to Lily, his mother, and Sirius. "Isn't this a family?"
"She's a criminal!" cried Mrs. Vermaat.
"Cleared!" Sirius said loudly. "She was cleared of all charges! And the situation was explained to you!"
"She is nonetheless irresponsible! And not yet eighteen, besides."
"I am," said James. "I'm eighteen."
The teens stared at the old woman in determination. Mrs. Potter stood in anxious confusion. Mrs. Vermaat's fierce countenance was cracking slowly. She had no other point to attempt.
"Very well," she said stiffly. "The papers await downtown."
Lily shrieked in happiness, grinning, and embraced Dinah, overjoyed at their luck.
"You're going to be my mother!" Dinah squealed.
- - -
During the cab ride to the orphanage, the teens filled in Mrs. Potter on the last two days. She told them, in turn, that Dumbledore owled her about the arrest shortly after arriving at the airport. He'd assured her everything was under control, that James's involvement was probably a misunderstanding, and had asked her to come so she could escort the boys back to Chatham.
The idea of her son adopting a child made Mrs. Potter uneasy, at first. She didn't feel he was quite ready to take on the myriad of responsibilities being a parent entailed. She also didn't like that he and a girl to whom he was not married were to raise the child together. Or so they made it seem. But still she invited Lily into her home. She had nothing against her personally, after all, and was glad to see her getting along so nicely with James, who had told his mother countless times about beautiful, red-haired Lily Evans.
Signing Dinah's papers took only a few minutes, as Mrs. Vermaat was eager to get Lily and James out of her hair. James became her legal guardian, and was told that he had the options of joint guardianship with Lily once she came of age, and simply handing full guardianship over to Lily. Before Lily could open her mouth, James agreed to the latter.
Mrs. Potter insisted they go out to dinner to celebrate. Everyone heartily agreed, as they hadn't eaten anything all day. They dined at a restaurant in the well-to-do segment of Little Whinging, a place foreign to Lily. She much preferred the casualty of a burger joint. She said nothing, of course. James would probably laugh at her. Eating in fancy restaurants seemed an everyday thing for him.
'Look how easily he makes small talk with the...rather attractive waiter,' Lily observed. 'And the folded napkin in his lap! Oh,...oh, God. He even lifted his pinkie finger when he sipped his tea! Sirius too! When did they acquire such manners?'
Lily nearly laughed aloud when Sirius dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. She snorted into her tea to conceal the laugh. James chuckled at Lily from across the table.
'Was that a mock?' she wondered. 'Is he laughing at me? No, why would he? It was only a bit of tea. Can't have been funny. Must have just been happy. Right.' Lily frowned slightly. 'Why do I care so much what he thinks of me? Let him laugh! I really don't...care.'
But she found she did. She wanted James to like her, to think her well-mannered and intelligent. She certainly didn't want him laughing at her! They had to respect each other now! Treat each other with dignity! They were, after all, caring for the same child.
Or were they?
Lily's heart took off in a frenzy. Had he only adopted Dinah out of...politeness? Worse, she considered, out of pity for her...
She excused herself from the table without a second thought, upsetting a glass of water in her rush. Blushing and babbling her apologies, she scooped the cubes back into the glass, set it upright and made for the French doors to exit the restaurant. She thought she heard Mrs. Potter mutter, "Odd girl" to her son.
Cold not from the weather--which would have been absurd--but her thoughts, Lily pulled the flaps of her jacket closer and seated herself on a stiff, concrete bench two shops from the restaurant. She gazed blankly across the street as the sky took on the pale hues of evening.
What if James didn't do it at all out of affection for her? Maybe he'd been trying to avoid another bout of tears and hastened to...no, James wasn't like that. He really did care for Lily. He said so himself, didn't he? And he seemed sincere enough...
Would he expect something in return? Did Lily now owe him a favor? What could she possibly do for him? James had everything already. What more could he require?
A dangerous thought crawled into Lily's mind: would he expect sex in return?
Her hand blanketed her mouth. Certainly not! He knew very well Lily's previous sexual experience--how could he even dream, even imagine something like that to--
'He didn't,' she reminded herself. 'He never even implied--'
A figure in dark clothes caught her eye from across the street. He walked with his hands in his pockets and glanced at Lily when he passed her. From under the rim of his hat, Lily glimpsed his face--pockmarked, as though he'd had acne in his teens. What was she thinking? He was still a teen! Come to think about it, he looked quite familiar to her...
His name came to her with a gasp; Augustus Rookwood, a friend of Malfoy's. She'd once seen them together in the Forbidden Forest shooting down deer and small animals at their leisure. But what was he doing here? Rookwood didn't live in Little Whinging! It simply wasn't possible. Didn't all such foul creatures, she mused, reside in Transylvania?
Rookwood's presence in her hometown alarmed her. And he was watching her.
'Don't be stupid!' she chided herself. 'Watching me. Surely not. He probably just recognized me, that's all. No reason to worry.'
Reassured, she rose from the bench. She allowed herself one last peek at Rookwood; to her surprise, he vanished without a sound, unnoticed by passersby. Lily shook her head in disapproval.
'At least he left. See? Worried for nothing.'
She decided as she reentered the restaurant not to mention what she saw to James or Sirius. Having them think her silly or paranoid was the last thing she wanted; things were getting on so well now.
Grinning out of pure, newfound bliss at the sight of Dinah, Lily slid back into her chair as a slice of cake coated in rich, chocolate frosting was placed before her.
O O O
I'm so excited about writing the next chapter! I have no comments of importance to make about this one, so let's move on to thanking the reviewers so I can post sooner!
Ricky! Why did you wait so long to submit your review?
nastygurl-- Oh! That's right. You're flip-flopped. Haha, that's so cool. I wish it was winter here. -swelters- My cousin has the same school schedule as you.
Damia - Queen of the Gypsi's-- Oh, but cliffhangers are so wonderful! (When you're not the one waiting for the next installment). That's a very frightening thought, me being the daughter of Voldemort and the Wicked Witch of the West. ...I wonder if my skin tone would be a pale green, because of the white mixed with the darker green. Hopefully I would have been conceived when Voldemort was human, so my looks won't be so dreadful. XD Just one question: I know what fast paced is, but what is "without dodging"?
ChiefOfWeird-- I enjoyed my evil ending very much!
tigerwhisper-- Good theory, but Dinah's mother is really dead. Dinah had her facts straight. Dead as a doorknob.
LJstagflower4e-- Thanks! And I know you all think my cliffhangers are evil, but I know deep down you are fond of them. Gives you something to ponder over!
Piper Of Locksley-- If I did ask you before, it must have been a long time ago. I didn't remember the explanation. I did read the last two chapters, I just didn't review, because I read them during the site's three-day glitch. They were entertaining. All right, about the Greek goddess thing: In the dedications, the text right beside the word 'dedications' describes what's below. A muse is a Greek goddess. There are nine, which you probably already knew. That bucket of yours...scares me.
Cometchick-- Also a good theory, but James doesn't have a girlfriend, not technically, even now.
nerdysunny-- Haven't seen you for a few chapters! Yeah, James did come off as mean, because firstly, he was angry with Lily about the seventh year misunderstanding, and once that was solved, in came the problem of the arrest, which he perceived, at the time, as her fault. Anybody would have been angry in that situation. He didn't know too much about the circumstances with Dinah, and when told that she'd been "kidnapped" he grew angry at Lily for allegedly being stupid beyond words. And Sirius is always cool. : D
Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI-- Thanks! Lily definitely does deserve a little slack.
Whew! I've been working on transferring this chapter to a document all morning! Oh, forgot to mention this a few chapters back, but the story has official made it into its second spiral notebook and is nearing the 1/3 point!
Megan
