She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…
Marauder's Phase
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Pain Redefined
I started shaking, as soon as I laid eyes on the three Death Eaters and, as I gazed at each of them in turn, I found myself saying their names out loud. "Rosier," Evan Rosier's father jerked his head forward, indicating a nod. I turned to the next one. "And Nott…" He smiled an evil little smile at me. "And…oh God no, not you…"
Lestrange smirked.
"Oh, you two know each other?" Rosier asked, in mock tones of pleasantry.
"We've met." I replied shortly, my eyes quickly shifting all around me, looking for exits…if I could just transform…I could turn on the dime and bolt, faster than you could say 'Quidditch'.
"Leaving so soon?"
I gasped, because Lestrange had Apparated to a spot just behind me, and had his wand pointed at the back of my neck.
"Aww, but we were just getting acquainted." Nott said, stepping forward. He and Rosier also had their wands pointed at me and, at this point, I began to wonder how I was going to make it out of this situation alive.
"What for?" I asked, stalling for time, and trying to keep the nervousness out of my face and tone. My hands felt cold and clammy, my stomach like I'd swallowed a great big block of ice – I wouldn't have been surprised if a Dementor had suddenly strolled up. My breathing came out short and sharp.
Lestrange chuckled darkly from behind me. "Our Lord," He said, and I felt body stiffen despite myself. "Requests your company at present time, so to speak…he has learned of the means of your…arrival…"
I flinched. "V-Voldemort knows about me?"
The three Death Eaters stiffened at the sound of their master's name and, somehow, that gave me strength and courage, to see that I had made them uneasy.
"Afraid of hearing your master's name?" I said, slightly tauntingly, clenching my wand tight in my hand, which was shaking. "I know that's what he likes – to invoke fear among everyone, even his own followers, whom he expects to die in the war…" I was cut off suddenly.
"Crucio!" Lestrange said, sharply.
My screams echoed up through the trees, as pain beyond anything I had ever imagined tore through my body. I felt like I had been set on fire, from the inside out, and my very insides were scorching hot.
Having the wolf tear into my throat. That was nothing. That was lying on the down pillows in the Room Of Requirement. I'd take that a hundred times over now. I'd take it, and be grateful.
Having to fight against Remus, to stop him from forgetting who he truly was. That was nothing. That was relaxing in the warm waters in the Prefects Bathroom. I'd take that a hundred times over now. I'd take it, and be grateful.
Every ache, every break, every bruise or injury I'd ever gotten – I'd take them all a hundred times over, and be so grateful I could cry.
I was crying now.
The pain ceased suddenly, and I fell to my knees, clutching at the cold, cool ground, tears dripping down my face as the Death Eaters laughed softly to themselves, and their amusement fuelled the fire that was my anger.
From where I was kneeling, I could see a little pathway underneath the bushes, that was just the right height for me when I was in my wolf form, but a human could not get through there.
My wand, which was still lit, was the only light in the small glade we were in. The moon was behind a cloud, and when my wand went out, there would be no light whatsoever.
I glanced once into the faces of all three Death Eaters, and was filled with a hate so strong, an anger so powerful, that I realised that this was the reason I was here – to fight against the Death Eaters, if I could.
But not now…I was too weak…too sore…
I had to get back to the castle.
I took a deep, steadying breath, aware that I had only one chance to do what I was about to do, and that it would be near-on impossible. I calmed myself down, forced myself to think of all my friends back up at the castle, if they could forgive me for being such an emotional girl.
I would need all of my Gryffindor bravery for this, if Gryffindor was where I truly belonged.
One breath…and two…
"Nox." I whispered, and my wand extinguished itself instantly.
"What the-?" Nott muttered.
"Quickly!" Lestrange shouted. "Lu-…"
"It will take more than that." I quoted a brave woman from an old war movie, before I transformed and flung myself into the bushes, sprinting away through the undergrowth.
"FIND HER!!" I heard Lestrange shout, which only made me run even faster.
***
No One's P.O.V:
A stag, a dog and a rat came to a dead halt when they heard the scream that reverberated through the forest, and transformed instantly.
"That sounded like…" James began.
"Emma!" Peter squeaked.
Sirius' face was covered with dread. Emma's scream had been one of agony, one of someone who is being tortured by means of…the Cruciatus Curse. Emma in pain…Emma was in pain…pain beyond anything else imaginable…
And he, Sirius, had as good as caused it.
Lily's words echoed about in his mind. 'If anything's happened to her, then it will be your fault, Sirius Black!'
And now…something had.
Emma was never going to forgive him for this, he was sure of it.
"Well," He said suddenly, taking out his wand. "The very least I can do for her is save her life – Point Me!" He said, and his wand pointed south-east into the thicker parts of the trees.
Sirius, James and Peter began to run in that direction, Peter feeling a lot braver than what he should, James and Sirius just filled with determination.
Suddenly, something big and very white jumped out of the bushes in front of them, saw them, and placed itself between them and something else.
They just had enough time to glimpse it's crescent tail, when it transformed into Emma, and a shout was heard: "I FOUND HER!!"
And a jet of dark purple light shot out of the trees.
"Protego!" Emma shouted, raising her wand and conjuring up an unusually shiny blue shield, which caused the jinx to bounce away from them, and ricochet off a nearby tree.
Emma was tense, her whole body was shaking, as the three Death Eaters stepped out of the trees and into the light cast by James' wand.
"Remember what the Dark Lord said," Lestrange said to the other two, who nodded. "Kill the spare."
The three Death Eaters raised their wands.