His Greatest Wish, by AndromedaMarine
Curses, Curses
It delighted Sev to no end that whenever he saw Lily, he also saw the golden chain around her neck, meaning she never took off the phoenix and garnet necklace he'd given her for Valentine's. His own matching necklace rested always beneath his robes, hidden from view but comfortable against his chest. The same would work for him: if ever his life was in danger, he could press the garnet and instantly be with Lily. A sort of artificially-induced Portkey. He'd gotten the idea for it after his conversation with Lily back in early December about her worry over possibly losing him. Now they were never more than a second or two away from each other.
It was almost Easter holidays before Professor McGonagall sent summons to Sev and Lily. When the two arrived at her office several evenings before the train would take students back to London for the holidays, they were surprised to see James waiting outside the door as well. They exchanged no words, but James acted significantly more mature than Sev was used to. A moment later the door opened, and McGonagall stepped out, looking each of her students in the eye momentarily. "Follow me," she said tightly. "Tonight it is up to the Headmaster."
Dumbledore stood behind his desk silently, his blue eyes colder than Lily had ever seen them and the lines of his old, wizened face chiseled and unmoving.
Laura Kingsley sat between her mother and father in three chairs in front of the headmaster's desk. With a wave of his wand Albus conjured three more, setting them on one side of his desk. Sev took the seat in the center, forcing James on the side closest to Mr. Kingsley, since Lily was nearest to their Head of School. Professor McGonagall stood in between the seated Lily and the Headmaster. She looked down at Laura, clear anger etched on her face.
"I am most disappointed in your actions, Miss Kingsley," Dumbledore said softly in disappointment. Sev saw and recognized the shiver of discomfort that ran down Laura's spine in response; most students wished for yelling instead of a calm discourse. "Through thorough investigation we have determined that your daughter," he now spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley, "has performed a weak Imperius Curse upon poor Mr. Potter here, in an attempt to force Miss Evans away from Mr. Prince…so she could have him herself. It seems that in October she overheard Mr. Potter make a comment that he wouldn't stop trying to win Miss Evans's affection, and she realized he was the perfect opportunity to implement her plan."
In that instant, everything became clear to Severus.
Dumbledore continued speaking. "The Unforgivable Curses are exactly that—unforgivable. Students are taught that the use of any one of them results in a one-way trip to Azkaban prison. This is unacceptable behavior for a student of this school, and I never would have suspected that this came from Gryffindor. You cast poor light upon our quality as teachers."
Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley sat stony-faced.
Albus studied them for a moment. "Ah…but there's the rub…you never expected your daughter to be sorted into Gryffindor, did you, Christophe, or you, Linnea? As Slytherins, you expected nothing less than 'the best' for your own daughter. I expect it came as a surprise she was Sorted into Gryffindor, did it not?"
Christophe spoke. "We want only the best for Laura. A bloodline as pure as the Princes is sure to continue a powerful line of magical beings."
At this, Severus stared at Mr. Kingsley, disgust written across his face. Lily slipped her hand into his and squeezed, hard.
"Surely you know I'm a half-blood," Sev commented icily.
Linnea looked round at him. "Your Muggle heritage is of no consequence."
"Ah. So she's after my money."
Lily squeezed harder.
Dumbledore cut over Mr. Kingsley's attempt at a retort. His voice was sharp now, no trace of soft disappointment there anymore. "Blood purity is a tradition of intolerant wizards who do not believe in any type of equality but that of their elite. I assure you that Lord Voldemort, who incidentally is a half-blood himself, would not forgive you if you let your daughter marry anything less than a pureblood, Christophe. He is weak, and will only become weaker.
"Your daughter, Mr. Kingsley, has broken Wizarding law. Your daughter, Mrs. Kingsley, is guilty. It is my only choice, therefore, to expel her from Hogwarts."
News of the Gryffindor fourth-year's expulsion spread like wildfire the next morning at breakfast. James was the one starting off the chain reaction as Sev and Lily knew well, but the only students who seemed extraordinarily upset over the whole thing were Mary and Tess. Neither would eat any breakfast, and when asked to perform a simple charm, both failed and prompted Professor Flitwick to assign them extra homework for the Easter holidays.
Regulus joined the Circle of Seven at the Gryffindor table the morning the train would take some students home for Easter. Severus and Lily had opted to remain at Hogwarts, as did Peter and Remus, who still looked a little pale from the last transformation, but Frank had invited Sirius to his house and Alice was going on a trip with her parents.
"Staying?" he asked Sev. When the older boy tipped his head Reg continued: "Excellent. Me as well." He pulled a plate towards him and started piling on breakfast. Sev looked over Reg's head at the Slytherin table on the far side, and saw several of the boys in his and Regulus's year glaring over at them, clearly angry that one of their own had betrayed them for Gryffindor.
"How are things in Slytherin?" Sev asked quietly, so only Lily, Reg, and Sirius could hear him. Alice was too busy kissing Frank and Remus and Peter were engaged in a discussion about Transfiguration. "Your bunkmates over there don't seem too happy about all the time you're spending with us."
"Well," Reg replied between bites, "the wards you taught me help since I put them up every night. I don't talk to a majority of them and the ones I do are just as unhappy with Slytherin's reputation as I am." He swallowed. "And it's another four years before I never have to see any of them again."
"I'm proud of you, little brother," Sirius said in complete honesty. Regulus gave him a long look before giving a little grin and returning his attention to the plate before him.
As Sev's attention crossed the Great Hall, he saw the school barn owl he'd selected the day before to post a letter for him. It fluttered down towards the Ravenclaw table, to a small second year with straw-colored hair and a shocked expression that he was getting any mail at all. Sev watched as Barty Crouch Junior untied the letter and slit it open, the young boy's eyes widening with each line of slanted script.
To Mr. Barty Crouch, Jr.
You may know me, you may not, but it is a clear and true fact that I know…or rather, knew several years ago, your father. I write to you now with one purpose: to warn you. Your father is a strict and unforgiving man, and you feel as though he does not appreciate you. I know you have heard several things—both good and bad—concerning your father; as of now his position as Head of Magical Law Enforcement makes him particularly targeted for his practice regarding suspected Death Eaters and others who support Voldemort.
You are young, only twelve, but your youth does not change what I believe you already want in your heart.
You wish to rebel. You wish to cause your father grief for how he has treated you. You wish to punish him by pledging yourself to a wizard whose dark power can be the means to your father's end.
It is my wish—my hope—that you abandon that goal, because to give yourself to Voldemort would help nothing but Voldemort's regime of terror. He is weak, becoming weaker. Your presence on the side of those fighting Voldemort is crucial, because the fewer supporters he has…the more likely it is that we will all live safe, carefree lives.
Your friends are not the students who look down on you with cold indifference, or those who seem unconcerned for you. Your friends are the people who will stand by your side and fight with you—for you. Look closely and carefully, and search…for friends, true friends, are hard to find—but even harder to lose. Do not doubt that they are around you, waiting to be found. If you truly wish to be different from your father, be different by gathering people around you.
If you try to reply to me, you will go unanswered—for reasons that you cannot comprehend. You will never know who I am or how I know these things, but trust this—and this alone: I am on your side.
Sincerely,
A Friend.
Sev was talking to Lily when Barty Crouch looked up and around the Great Hall, his eyes lingering on the tall, black-haired Gryffindor fourth year. Sev forced himself not to let his eyes meet Barty's, in the chance that a silent connection would help Barty realize the author. He did not look at the Ravenclaw again.
Lily, Sev, Peter, Remus, and Regulus walked Frank, Sirius, and Alice to the Entrance Hall, where they parted ways.
They sat on the floor at the top of the Astronomy tower, alone for the first time in several days. Sev's spine was pressed against the stone wall, and Lily sat between his legs, her back leaned against his chest with her knees drawn up and her head resting comfortable beneath his chin. With their breathing synchronized, Sev felt closer to Lily than he had in a long time. He took in a deep breath, her sweet-smelling hair overwhelming his senses.
The sun peeked out behind some clouds, illuminating the stone in front of them. Lily curled up more against his chest, her eyes getting a little heavy.
Sev kissed the top of her hair and let his fingers slide gently up and down her arm as he thought about how the next few months would pass. The summer before their fifth year during his previous life had been fraught with tense weeks and secret letters between himself, Avery, and Mulciber about the Dark Lord, and he'd worn himself thin keeping it all from Lily. He knew he would have absolutely no problems with that this time, but even in Lily's calming presence he felt increasingly uneasy—because two and a half years had passed since Voldemort had gone into hiding.
A deep sense of foreboding he knew so well was rising up again, cutting into his mind.
Voldemort did not sit still for long.
Lily shifted, her head falling back against his shoulder. She looked up at him with a sleepy smile, her red hair cascading down his arm. Eager to drive away the twisting in his gut, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.
When he pulled back, Lily saw something in his eyes. "What's worrying you?" she asked quietly.
"What else?" he replied. "Voldemort. He is a wizard who doesn't sit still for long, and he's been quiet for an unprecedented length of time. Two and a half years, Lily. I've never known him to be that uneventful even during his off years."
"You're the only one worried, though. You're the only one who really knows what he could be up to."
Sev jerked his head in a way that meant he'd rather not be the one who knew.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, placing a kiss on his chin.
"Dumbledore should be worried as well. But he hasn't said anything to me, and that doesn't sit right. Something's wrong, I just know it."
Lily wrapped her arms tightly around his chest. "You need to relax. Being tense doesn't suit you."
"Oh, Lily," he chuckled, "I've been tense almost my entire life. Only with you am I at ease."
"That's flattering, Sev, but that's not fair to you." She kissed the hollow of his throat. She could feel the tightness of his muscles start to dissipate, so she kissed him again.
He tilted down and softly kissed her forehead. "I know it's not fair. But life isn't about being fair. It never has been, at least not to me. I'm the only one worrying about it because, like you said, I'm the only one who would know. And you know what, love?" He moved his lips to her ear and breathed, "I'm scared."
Titus Rosier cowered before his master. The cold red eyes stared down at him with fury burning in them. Marc Avery and Richard Mulciber stood behind Voldemort against the stone wall of the house, their dark faces impassive as they watched their only fellow Death Eater. Thanks to Dumbledore's Order and the work of the Ministry, almost no one was supporting their Dark Lord anymore.
"You dare defy me, Rosier?" Voldemort said dangerously. His voice was like poison, and Titus stepped back a little bit. "You dare suggest that we abandon this plan I have been perfecting for the past two years? Surely you place a greater value on your son's life."
Titus managed not to flinch at the threat to murder Evan Rosier. "No, my Lord, I merely wished to explore other avenues which may lead to events more in our favor."
"More in our favor than a plan your master has spent countless months and hours preparing? You overestimate your worth, Rosier."
Mulciber stepped forward a pace. "My Lord, we are short-handed as it is. If we dispose of Rosier the plan will not be feasible to enact."
Voldemort did not take his eyes off his insubordinate officer, but his words were for Richard. "I am well aware of the wizard-power required to make this work, Mulciber. Perhaps you too need a reminder that to defy me is to deny life?"
"No, my Lord." He retreated.
Avery, who had remained quiet for several hours before all this, glanced among his companions. He was in a precarious position, because over the past several months his confidence in his lord had gone from absolutely unwavering to as unstable as possible. He knew that if he defected he wouldn't live longer than a day; Voldemort had his avenues of destruction when it came to disloyal subjects. The only way this mad plan of his would work was if everyone, including Rosier, was involved and stuck to his part. If anything, Avery had to stay in the thick of it to protect his child at Hogwarts.
The loss of Bellatrix Lestrange had been a deep blow to Voldemort, especially since he couldn't find that extraordinary level of loyalty in anyone else, even the three who'd accompanied him in the mad rush from Grimmauld Place almost two and a half years ago. Avery couldn't understand how Bellatrix and Rodolphous had been among the killed that night, especially since it should have been second nature for the queen of torture to remain by Voldemort's side as his best and greatest lieutenant. But fate had dealt a cruel hand to the Dark Lord by weakening his soldiers.
"We start tonight, as planned," Voldemort continued. "The time has come to remind the Wizarding world of my power."
Easter break ended on an ominous, terrifying note. Sev woke that morning with a sick feeling in his stomach, instinctively knowing something was wrong. When he descended into the common room Lily was waiting for him with the Prophet already in her hands, her red hair messed up and tear tracks down her cheeks. Sev immediately moved to her and drew her into his arms. The Prophet fluttered to the floor.
"What happened?" he asked in a soothing but worried tone.
Lily pointed down at the newspaper. "Three Muggle families were found dead in their homes, and so was the family of a Muggleborn here."
Sev's throat tightened right along with his arms. Voldemort was back. "How far from Nurren?" he barely managed to ask, more than a little worried for Lily's parents and his mother.
"Nothing less than a hundred miles, but still, Sev…what—what if—"
He cut her off. "Don't think that. They are strong people and if we get them all to my mother's house she can protect them, at least for a little while. There's not guarantee Voldemort has his eye on your family. Dumbledore has to know about this." And right then, he sent his doe Patronus to the headmaster, requesting that the Evans family be given protection.
When the Hogwarts Express arrived that afternoon, the entire student body was silent as they returned to their common rooms; even the Slytherins kept their voices down and virtually unnoticed. Sev and Lily stood to the side on the marble staircase, their fingers laced, scanning the crowds of students for the returning members of the Circle. Regulus joined them a few moments later, his face still as though etched in stone. Severus had never seen him so serious.
"Rosier, Mulciber, and Avery don't look too pleased," Regulus whispered to Sev and Lily as a group of Slytherins peeled off from the main group of students to descend to their common room. "We all know their dads were involved with what happened last night."
Lily looked sharply at their friend. "What do you mean?"
Regulus waited for some Hufflepuffs to pass. "Their fathers were the three who escaped with You-Know-Who a couple years ago. Because it's been widely publicized, the Ministry already knows who was behind the attacks besides You-Know-Who. Those three want the targets off their backs."
"Where did they go for Easter holidays, then, if their fathers are all with Vol—"
Regulus cut Lily off from saying the name. "Their mothers, obviously, Lily. They were at least smart enough not to get branded with the Dark Mark. And please don't say his name…it just feels, well, a little taboo."
Sev was about to protest to this when Frank, Alice, and Sirius came straight for them. "Where's Rem and Pete?" Frank asked.
"Waiting in the Room of Requirement," Regulus said. "We all need to talk about what happened last night." He exchanged a glance with Sev. "Some of it was too close to home."
Nobody said anything in response to Regulus's grave statement. The Slytherin had just turned fourteen, but acted more mature than many of the sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts. Deep inside, Severus felt pride for the boy, mixed with an uneasy sensation that he couldn't identify. The word taboo made shivers run down his spine. The group moved as one as they went up the seven floors until they reached the Room of Requirement, where Remus and Peter were waiting for them.
"It's not right," Lily whispered to no one in particular as they entered the hidden room. "It's not right that he still has so much power even though most of his followers are in prison."
"He's an incredibly powerful wizard, Lily. Just because he doesn't have more than three loyalists doesn't mean he isn't capable of killing Muggles."
Lily met Remus's eyes and held his gaze for several long seconds. She looked down first. "I'm sorry, Rem." Nothing in her power or anyone else's could take away Remus's curse of lycanthropy. Feeling Sev's hand at the small of her back, she walked forward until they got to the table at the center of the room, where they all sat.
No one spoke for almost a minute, before Sirius broke the silence. "Even though we don't want to believe it, we all know it… Now that he's back…he isn't going to stop."
Severus's voice was strong, filled with a power Lily hadn't heard in a very long time. "Not unless someone stops him."
"Not us," Alice cut in. "We're just kids—"
"Obviously not us," Frank added. "You-Know-Who's got more spells up his sleeve than all of us put together—"
"Dumbledore." It was Regulus's voice that calmed the growing din in the room. "Dumbledore could do it."
"Albus Dumbledore, Sev. The only man Vol—You-Know-Who has ever feared."
Irritated, Sev replied, "I wish you'd just use his name, Lil. Or else call him Riddle. This You-Know-Who business is ridiculous!"
"Makes the hairs stand up on the back of my head," Regulus said. "I don't like it. I haven't felt shivers before when I say the name…but now, I do."
"Regardless, it's his name and we should use it. And do we really think Dumbledore would duel Riddle?"
Lily stared at Sev. "Of course. He's the only one strong enough to do it."
I am, Sev thought to himself, knowing that Lily could read the words in his eyes. But I'm limited by my adolescent body. "The only one willing, you mean. We all know how powerful Riddle is. It won't be an easy task to defeat him." And I'm speaking from experience here.
"We're not saying it will be," Frank said.
"How do we know Dumbledore isn't already planning to take him down?" Remus asked. "Why should we assume that the greatest wizard of our time doesn't already have it in his time book to destroy the darkest wizard of our time?"
"Remus, you don't just put something like killing the Dark Lord into a day planner. It's not like they're going to coordinate schedules to duel to the death," Sirius said with a sarcastic tone to his voice. Alice wasn't sure whether to laugh or not.
"Well, what can we do about it besides sit here arguing about dueling procedures between warlocks?"
"Nothing," Severus said with a note of finality. "We've done everything we can do, at least from here. And even at home we won't be allowed use of magic, not until we're of age. And that isn't for another two years, three for Reg. We can do nothing."
It was silent for several moments.
"Well, aren't you a right old pessimist," Regulus sniped.
"I may be a pessimist but at least I want to live," Sev shot back. He felt guilty when a hurt expression crossed the younger Black's face.
"I want to live too, Sev. That's why I want to fight."
"We all want to fight, but we're not trained in anything but, well, charms and transfiguration! We don't have a proper, consistent defense professor. I want to learn how to fight," Peter said, and everyone looked at him. "What?"
"Hear, hear!" Remus said, and clapped Peter on the back.
"Sev, you're best at spells," Lily said, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye that he'd seen coming from a mile away. "You should teach us."
Sev put his face in his hands. "I get the feeling I won't have a choice."
Lily grinned. "All in favor of having Sev teach us defense?"
Sev didn't have to look up to know everyone had their hands up. "Fine. Fine! But we'll do it my way—and that means we'll all be adept at dueling by the end of the year, all right? So that if we need to defend ourselves this summer we'll be able to."
"Agreed."
"I say we start right now," offered Frank.
Sev stood up after a minute. "Okay then. The first thing then, since we all know Expelliarmus fairly well, is to maximize the shield charm…"
By the end of two hours, Peter was blocking Sev's stunning spell with so much power that Sev was knocked off his feet.
A/N: So begins the journey of month-plus-long updates. Engineering students have no lives, so just the fact I've made it this far through the story this quickly while being one is surprising. Never fear! This story is far from its end. I've been toying with the idea of Sev leading a version of Dumbledore's Army, except just encompassing the Circle. And yes, at this point Regulus is considered a member of the Circle of Seven despite the fact they have eight members. Seven is a magical number, and changing the name would be, well, kinda lame. This story has had its share of fluff so far. From here out, at least for several chapters, the darker themes will move in again. Voldemort is back with a vengeance, and lives are in danger. Readers of my previous work, you might have seen this coming. Who might I be killing off in the next few chapters? Brownies and brownie points to whoever guesses right.