Chapter 14
She needed to tell the Order what had happened; she needed to tell them what Voldemort was looking for, except that she didn't exactly know. She only knew that he wanted something within the Department of Mysteries. She also needed to tell Sirius what had happened in the Ministry of Magic. Should I go to Hogwarts first, or go to Grimmauld Place? She constantly thought to herself. I can't get into Hogwarts alone, it is protected. I'll have to go to Grimmauld Place first.
On the doorstep of Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Sira waited. The chill in the air from the clearing seemed to follow her. The door opened and Tonks, whose hair was bubble-gum pink and spiky, stood in the door way. "Hello, Tonks," Sira said kindly.
"Hello, Sira," Tonks said, "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, too," Sira stated as she entered the house. "Is anyone else here, today?" I believe I have found something important."
"Yes, Remus is. What did you find?" Tonks asked as she followed Sira into the living room. Footsteps came from the staircase and Sirius was with them in an instant. He walked over to Sira and pulled her close. Her nervous body relaxed a little in his arms. Lupin walked into the room from the kitchen.
"Everyone," Sira called," can we, please, head into the dining room? I believe that I have found something very important to the Order while with the Death Eaters." Sirius released her and followed her into the dining room, along with Lupin and Tonks. She took a seat at the far end of the table. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and pressed her folded hands against her forehead. She dropped her hands as everyone sat.
"Three days ago, I was called from this house to receive a task from the Dark Lord." She paused and ran her hand through her dark-brown hair. "He gave all the Death Eaters tasks; some were in groups of two or three. I was in a group of two, partnered with Lucius Malfoy. We were to go to the Ministry of Magic to find the location of a department." She paused again, watched Sirius' face, and closed her eyes. "We went into the Ministry through the visitor's entrance and searched the Ministry for the department in question. Lucius found the door to the department as I gave a distraction, during that time, I found the door too. We reported back to the Dark Lord and we were dismissed. Now, the department that the Dark Lord sent us to locate was," she said flatly as she opened her eyes, "the Department of Mysteries. I have been trying to figure out what the Dark Lord wants within that department and I can't seem to figure out what he would want."
"No one truly knows what is within the Department of Mysteries," Tonks stated. "It could be anything." Stress pumped through Sira's body like a deadly poison. Sirius noticed her stress and looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"Is there any way I can contact Dumbledore? He needs to know," she sighed as she pressed her folded hands to her forehead again. You have to tell him this time, she thought fiercely. You did to tell him what Lucius did.
"We can try," Lupin said hopefully. "Right now at Hogwarts, the Floo Network and the owls are being monitored, so those are out of the equation. We may be able to arrange a portkey though."
"Please do," Sira said quickly. "Can you, Remus, and you, Tonks, please leave the room for a moment? I need to speak with Sirius in private." Lupin and Tonks got out of their chairs quickly and left the room. Sira was almost shaking with stress and guilt as she stood up. Sirius stood, too, and went to her, to comfort her. He pulled her into his chest and held her. A hint of stale drink came off of his body. She couldn't seem to find the familiar comfort in his arms; her tears streaked down her face.
"Sira," he whispered softly into her ear, "what's wrong?" His voice held concern.
"Sirius," she quietly sobbed, "I'm sorry. I did something terrible… I'm so sorry." She couldn't look into his face so she buried her face in his shirt.
"Sira," he whispered again, "what did you do?"
"I allowed Lucius Malfoy to kiss me," she sobbed into his chest. "He tried once before and I forced him away." Her stomach churned violently with each word; her guilt was eating her alive. "At the Ministry, he tried again and he did kiss me. I was stunned that he even tried and didn't do anything. I just stood there and dug my fingernails into his arms. I'm sorry, Sirius. Please forgive me." Tears poured from her eyes as she looked up into Sirius' face. Sadness spread across his face.
"Oh, Sira," he whispered kindly, "You didn't kiss him, it's not your fault." He gazed into her sad, blue eyes. "I forgive you, Sira. I love you." His lips met hers in a sweet kiss. The chill that followed her was retreating and her stress seeped away. She needed him in her life to give her the strength to continue on. Hopefully, she gave him strength, too. Their lips parted and they held each other close.
"I can't live without you, Sirius," Sira whispered as she buried her face in his chest. She needed him. How could she continue on like this; constantly being away from him, being with the darkest people in the world?
"You are my world, Sira, my whole world," he whispered to her. "I knew it from the day I met you. I need you in my life and every day without you seems like a lifetime." She looked up into his eyes; they were filled with hope.
"I finally realized that I'm not only fighting for the Order, Sirius," she said quietly. "I am fighting for us to be together every day for the rest of our lives. It is what keeps me going." She rested her cheek against his chest as he ran his finger through her hair.
"Filthy half-blood, running around the house like she owns the place," a voice mumbled. She knew it was the house-elf, Kreacher. "Flirting with Master, who does she think she is?" The mumbling stopped as Kreacher left the room. She was just glad that Sirius didn't shout at the house elf, he didn't even seem to notice.
"Sira, the portkey is ready," Tonks said proudly as she entered the dining room. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Sirius released Sira slowly.
"You didn't interrupt," Sirius said flatly.
"Thank you, Tonks," Sira said smoothly as she moved away from Sirius a bit. "I'll be there in a second." Tonks nodded and left the room. "After I speak with Dumbledore, I will come back as long as I'm not called to the Dark Lord. I promise, Sirius," she whispered as she gazed into his grey eyes. "I promise." She turned away from her and left the room. She walked into the kitchen to find Lupin and Tonks waiting for her. There was an old, wooden cup on the table.
"Are you ready to leave?" Lupin asked calmly. She nodded and he offered her the cup, she took it quickly. "On three, one… two," the cup started to glow, "… three." She felt as if something was pulling her from behind her navel as she spun.
In a second, she landed on the grounds of Hogwarts just outside the main entrance. She walked quickly to the doors and pushed them open. Once inside, she headed straight for Dumbledore's office, hoping that she would run into a professor along the way. "Hey, you there," a voice called, male and young. She turned towards the sound and saw a boy with white-blond hair approaching her.
"Yes," she said quickly. She recognized the boy. He was Draco Malfoy, the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and showing the same arrogance that hovered around his father.
"You're Sira Volkov, right?" Draco sneered. "The new Death Eater?"
"Yes, I am," she replied coldly. She didn't like him; she had never like him much.
"Prove it," he snarled coldly. She dragged him to a dark concern of the hallway and rolled up her left sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark. He nodded in approval. Totally arrogant, she thought to herself.
"How did you know, Draco?" she snarled quietly.
"My father told me about you," he said proudly as he lifted his chin higher. "Are you looking for Snape?" he asked quickly. She gave him a little smile.
"Yes, I am looking for Snape," she lied smoothly. "I need to have a word with him." Draco led her through the hallways down to Snape's office. He even walked with arrogance. As they moved through the halls, Sira wondered how Draco remembered what she looked like. She was surprised that he remembered her at all. They finally reached Snape's office and she knocked on the door.
"Volkov," Snape snarled as he opened the door, "what are you doing here?"
"I need to have a word with you, Severus," she hissed coldly as he smirked at her.
"Step into my office, Volkov, and run along, Draco." She walked into his office as Draco headed back the way they came. "Now," Snape growled as he passed her and sat in a chair behind his desk, "what do you need, Volkov?"
"I need to talk to Dumbledore, Severus. Can you please help me? I think I may have found something important for the Order," she stated quickly and quietly.
"Have you already contacted the Order?"
"Yes, I went to them first because I knew I wouldn't be able to get into Hogwarts alone," she said quickly. "Will you help me?"
"Sure. How many times have I saved your hide already? Why would one more time change anything?" he hissed as he stood and headed to the door. "Follow, Volkov," he snarled to her. She obeyed. They walked back the way she came with Draco and finally reached Dumbledore's office. "Fizzing Whizzbees," he growled to the gargoyle. She headed up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. Once she reached the door, she knocked.
"Come in," a voice called from within. The voice belonged to Dumbledore. She pushed the door open and walked into the office. "It's good to see you, Sira," he said kindly as she closed the door and sat down in the chair directly in front of his desk.
"It is good to see you, too," she replied.
"You're a Death Eater now, correct?" he asked. She nodded as she rolled up her left sleeve enough to show the Dark Mark on her forearm. "Good, now, why are you here, Sira?"
"During a task that I was performing with Lucius Malfoy for the Dark Lord," she explained, "I believe I found something important. We were sent to the Ministry to find the location of the door to the Department of Mysteries. That's all we had to do and we were successful. My question is what does the Dark Lord want from the Department of Mysteries?"
"Thank you, Sira, for informing me of this." He stood and went to watch an instrument whirl. "That is the question, isn't it? What does Voldemort want from the Department of Mysteries? I believe I may know what it is he is after but I'm not completely certain."
"I just wanted to let you know," she stated as she stood and started to head to the door.
"Wait, Sira," Dumbledore called. "Have you informed the Order yet?" he asked as he returned to his chair.
"Yes," she stated as she turned to face him, "I contacted them first because I knew that I wouldn't be able to get into Hogwarts alone."
"Good." He paused for a second. "Sira, may I ask something of you?" She nodded and returned to her seat. "I want you to stay near Grimmauld Place for the time being. Only leave if it's for the Death Eaters or if it is an emergency. Got it?" She nodded once more.
"She is just going to snog my great-great-grandson," a portrait stated angrily. It was Phineas Nigellus Black. She starred fiercely at the portrait. "Oh, don't give me that look. I know what you to do," he hissed at her.
"It's none of your business what Sirius and I do," she barked at Phineas. She completely forgot that Dumbledore was in the room. "I love him and he loves me!"
"Do you know how much it tortures him when you are not there? He spends hours locked in a room and is drinking constantly," Phineas shouted. Sira stood and glared at him, her eyes filled with fury.
"I know it tortures him because it tortures me! Do you know how hard it is to be away from the one you love? Do you?" she snarled angrily.
"That's enough, Sira," Dumbledore ordered. She sank back into her chairs. "Go back to Grimmauld Place, Sira, and stay there." She stood quickly and left the room, furious.