The Plan


Ella

I couldn't go back to the house, and return Caleb to his normal state – he would have killed me immediately. I had to give Sirius his whereabouts. My mind is in such turmoil. I don't know what to do. I didn't even think this thing through. What if it all comes crashing down on me? I spend the night at a muggle motel, waiting for the night to pass. But I can't sleep. I haven't slept in so long. I think it is a curse of joining the dark side: restlessness, and sleepless nights.

I need to think about it. I need to come up a plan, something that the Dark Lord will accept. What if I pretend that we were caught? What if I pretend that Caleb was caught and…what about you, Ella – the coward who ran away?

I ignore the voice in my mind which had made its presence known a lot more lately. This could work. Caleb taught me so many things…what if they hurt him? What if they kill him? He is a killer, he bathes in the dark arts but underneath it all, I think he's alright. But maybe that's just the dark side of me speaking? Maybe they ought to kill him.

What if they don't? What if they keep him alive and he tells them about you? I gulp at the thought of Lily and Sirius finding out. It will crush them. I remember Sirius' face, his haunted eyes. It will crush him, maybe even destroy him. Why does he love me like that?

I turn on my bed, a solitary tear sliding down my face.

What should I do? Someone, anyone, please tell me what to do?

I scream as a familiar, sharp pain grips my left shoulder, immobilizing it. It's the Dark Lord. He's calling us. I feel something pinching me, first in just my arm but then it spreads to my entire body. I feel like someone is trying to pull the very skin off of my body. I close my eyes and pain, and when I open them, I find myself, not in the hotel room but in a huge dark hall – the Malfoy Manor. I haven't been in here in almost a year.

The Dark Lord sits on his throne at the top of the table where once I was suspended upside down. I take my place next to Malfoy, with Snape sitting opposite me. It had not surprised me one bit to find both of them working for my master. I can't believe that Lily used to defend Snape at school.

"I have brought you here today to discuss some important matters." He hisses, "I have a plan to overthrow Dumbledore and his precious Order. I require your assistance. Priestley, you will be our espionage. I want you to infiltrate the Order. They are more likely to accept you back as one their own. Snape and Malfoy, you two will set up a trap for them. Lure them, so they can see for themselves that I no longer require Priestley's services."

With that one order, he waves his hand, bidding us to leave. I have a cold, dead feeling in my heart. I can't do this. I wanted to return to them, but not like this. Oh, Merlin, not like this.

"Not you, Priestley. I want you to stay." I gulp. What does he want? I shield my thoughts from him, with just the two of us alone, he is bound to read them and…I can't risk that.

"Come here." He hisses, after Snape and Malfoy have gone.

Hesitantly, I walk over to where he is sitting, my breath irregular, and my heart beat – fast. He turns his bald, pale head to look at me, and instantly, I feel the same pricking sensation pulling me down till I'm on my knees. Clearly, the idea of simply asking me to sit seemed too ridiculous to him, too beyond him. He grabs my left arm, his thin slender claws digging in my skin, squeezing it till all the blood circulation in my arm stops. With his wand hand, he rips my sleeve, till the arm is bare, the Dark Mark can be seen tattooed on my upper arm, shining even in the darkness.

"I can't have the Order doubting your intentions." He holds my arm even tighter, and then he presses his wand to the mouth of the skull. The tip of his wand is cold, dead cold, rather like him. It's only a mere touch but it makes the hair at the back of my neck stand on end. He mutters something incomprehensible and then excruciating pain sears in my arm and I feel like he is sawing my arm in two, cutting it off altogether. I scream, begging him to stop. He neither raises his head, nor does he stop: it's like he didn't even hear me. When I look, the Mark is glowing red, and I can feel something wet trickling down my arm. I try to pull away but that only makes his grip tighter.

And then he stops, but he maintains his firm hold on me. The pain is still there. I look down, and shudder. It is blood. My entire arm is covered in my blood.

"I have made my Mark invisible but only to those who don't bear it. You can go now." He says, letting go of me. I fall backwards, as I gasp. I bow, trying to hide the pain that must be etched all over my face. I stand up, walk a bit away from him, bow again and apparate. They must have gone to Snape's house.

"What did he want?" Lucius asks as soon as I appear in front of them.

"He made the Mark invisible to them. Only we can see it. I show my arm. Snape waves his wand and the blood disappears off my arm, leaving no sign of the assault and torture that my bones had just suffered. But the Dark Mark is no longer black, but a deep crimson red. Like my blood, I think, sickeningly.

"Thanks," I say weakly to Snape who leaves to get me a drink. I collapse on the sofa.

"I hope you're not thinking of double crossing the Dark Lord, Ella." Malfoy says, in his usual sharp, curt tone.

"Of course not." I whisper. The screaming and the pain seem to have zapped me of my energy. I feel like there is no life left in me.

"Good. Because you know that anyone who betrays the Dark Lord can never survive." He moves closer, his face only inches away from mine. He places his hand on my left arm, right where the Mark is. "Because the Dark Mark is not just a Mark." He says harshly. I look at Malfoy, trying to hide my fear. I have no choice. I have to do this. If I don't, I die for sure. I have to do this. They won't be able to see it, and I won't be able to tell them. I have to lie to the people that once loved, to the people that I still love, I think. I feel a tight feeling in my chest, like someone is squeezing the life out of my heart.

Sirius

James barges in the room. He has his wand out, and there is an urgent look on his face. "Death Eaters." He doesn't need to say anything more. I get up on my feet, get my wand out, and we both apparate to the site. Ever since I got the letter, I have been haunted. My dreams plague me at night and my thoughts during the day. There is no rest. She is out there somewhere. Alive. She is not a Death Eater. Why else would she have sent us that letter?

We apparate in a dark alley. The air is filled with screams of pain and pleas of help. I recognise that voice. My heart skips a beat: It's Ella. I look at James. We follow the screams. We leave the alleyway for the road ahead.

"Lumos" James whispers, looking around. And then we see them, at the end of the lane. There are two of them. One has long platinum blond hair: Malfoy, and the other is just a figure in black. When we get closer I recognise him: Snape. I want to kill them both right there and then. Lying, bloody and weak at the bottom of the wall is Ella. Her hair is caked with blood; there are scratches all over her face.

"Stupefy!" I yell, pointing my wand at Snape. Malfoy moves forwards, a shot of blue light escapes his wand, but James shoots a counter spell back at it.

"Sirius, get Ella and leave! I'll follow you in a minute." My wand, pointing at Malfoy, in case James need any help, I move over to where Ella is lying, now unconscious. I summon her wand, and then holding her hand tightly, I close my eyes and apparate outside James' House.

"Headquarters of the Order of Phoenix may be found at the Potter Residence." I say, loud and clear, my voice shaking only slightly as I stand, waiting for the house to materialise, holding Ella's body in my arms. As soon as the House appears, James apparates next to me, and we both enter together.

I lay Ella down on the sofa gently so as not to hurt her anymore. My face is grave as I look at the blood all over her. She is in a far worse condition that I had first imagined her to be. Lily rushes in the room.

"Oh, my God!" I hear her yell and then soon after, she leaves the room again. She returns with Dumbledore close behind her.