A/N: Well, sighs through nose,
to avoid garlic smelling breath
coming out and haunting her nose
forever. This, story, is getting
rather dull woudn't you say?
Reviews please, I need to lap up
in the glory...
Peace-ya-Jade.
Strong Confusion Alert officially placed...
'Wha-?' Sirius panicked, looking around to see them all, in the common room,
Remus rolling over in his sleep, blankets twisted and looped around him in
inexplicable knots, Lily and James quietly talking by the embers of the fire
and Grace sitting there, her chubby face gazing at Sirius.
'What?' he snapped, picking up his blankets and hastily pulling his robes down.
'Nothing' she said, a small smile glinted in her warm, black eyes.
Grace Chandler was a small, tubby and pompous know-it-all Gryffindor who
severely got on Sirius' nerves. She smirked at him, like she knew something
he didn't. Sirius surveyed her, looking at her outsize robes and her wide,
fat feet. Her curly fringe was ruffled, sitting slightly crooked, and her
dark hair was thin and limp around her round shoulders.
'Then stop looking at me,' demanded Sirius.
'Why?' she asked in extremely hauty tones.
'Because it's annoying, don't you have somewhere else to be?' rushed Sirius.
'No, I'm fine where I am thanks…' she drawled. Sirius glowered at her,
knowing she had won.
'Fine' he snapped and stormed away from her, moving towards his pile of
Christmas gifts and mountains of wrapping paper surrounding it, like protection.
'Merry Christmas Sirius!' cheered Lily from next to James. James nodded, his
mouth full of sandwich, which looked like turkey from what was in his hand. Sirius waved back, his mood changing instantly from annoyed to grateful.
'You too Lily, you too James…' he trailed off as a person cut him off from
where she was sitting. It was Grace. Sirius privately groaned, turning
around to face her. She looked extremely irritated and was blushing.
'What?' he asked icily.
'I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas…I'm changing into Hufflepuff, I asked
Dumbledore if the-' she cut off, she choked on a dry, hacking sob which threatened
to make her voice hoarse. 'If the hat was rii-ight' she sobbed into her robes,
not stopping, Remus stirred and woke up and gaped at Grace.
'What did you do to her?' he mumbled at Sirius.
'Nothing! She is…' he trailed off, not wanting to embarrass himself. What
had he done? He had just made a girl burst into tears on Christmas morning...
He looked reluctantly at Grace and felt guilty.
'When are your parents coming to pick you up?' he mumbled softly.
'Eight-t' she choked through her robes.
'Okay, why don't you go up to your dormitory and get ready then?' he suggested,
becoming somewhat hopeful.
'Okay' she whispered, now over her sobs and moved onto the hiccups, and steered
herself dizzily out of the Common room.
'Good riddance' he muttered under his breath.
'What did you say to her?' Lily asked, looking concerned.
'I didn't say Merry Christmas to her…' he said, shooting a defiant look over
his shoulder to Remus, who was now stifling laughter.
'Did she say Merry Christmas to you before that?' she inquired.
'Sort of, she's changing to Hufflepuff…' he answered, mumbling and cursing
himself harshly mentally.
'She likes you Sirius, she has for a while and she was too…enthusiastic.' Lily told.
'Well! She goes around terrorising me and stalking me, talking to me with a
smirk or a drawl on her face and she won't leave me alone! I have to be cold
to her Lily, she won't leave me alone!' he exploded, he paced up and down the
common room, searching his memory for any little sign that she liked him. He
didn't find one, all he found was uncomfortable and galling memories of one
little pedantic and annoying girl who was very overweight, smug and arrogant.
'She does it because she thinks it's flirting.' Lily sighed, but then looked happier.
'She was very smug and ego mad…' piped Remus. Everyone murmered in agreement,
bundled their rubbish and presents into their make-shift bags and went into their
dormitories to get changed into fresh, clean robes.
'So' said Sirius with a meaningful look at James, 'What were you two talking
about when I was asleep?'
James looked at him, suspiciously and continued to get changed. He was doing
his laces up when he finally voiced.
'We were talking about the future.' He said, grunting as her pulled his
shoelace tighter.
'You're getting married!' teased Sirius, eyes wide with imitation surprise and glee.
'No,' we were talking about what we were going to do for work.' James
uncharacteristically snapped. His usually kind, compassionate and honest brown
eyes were looking at him disdainfully, as though he was prying into private mail.
'Okay!' Sirius surrendered, waving his pillowcase like a white flag. James
couldn't help but laugh and Remus joined in too.
'I'm going to the bathroom, I'll meet you down at the Great Hall.' James announced,
heading for the door.
'Okay, see you!' they called after his slouching back.
*
Lily was so happy she could sing, but she didn't. She imagined them in ten
years time in her minds eye. They were standing there, much taller and happier
than today and they had a son cradled, supporting his head carefully. They
were in a British street with single Sirius and Remus sharing a flat, Remus's
insistent neatness driving Sirius mad. They were in a small, tidy house, walls
lined with pictures, far away from their parents. She was having the most fun
Christmas of her life, better than kissing dreary, ancient Aunts on the cheek
and shaking hands with embarrassed cousins. She felt a surge of homesickness,
as she pulled her robes over her head.
*
Lily walked into the Great hall for breakfast. She shrewdly calculated how
many people would be there. She had anticipated that there would be between
forty and fifty students staying. She was wrong, there were only a handful
between all year levels, the Head Boy was staying and some of the prefects
were too, but other than them there were six or seven not counting James,
Remus, Sirius and herself.
'Good Morning!' Sirius greeted as she sat down, still looking at what small
numbers there were around. Sirius saw this, and agreed with her. 'Yeah, not
many hang around for Christmas…' he trailed off as he filled his mouth with
food, chewing contentedly.
*
Voldemort sighed as he looked in the Ministry of Magic. Only one was there,
there would be no point in attacking now, there would be no one to live to
tell the terrifying tale that would haunt them forever.
He wasn't going to waste all those painful transformations for nothing, all
that training for terrorism in the pitiful Muggle army. It had worked though,
he knew more about Dark Arts than any one of his teachers, they all had specific
areas of Dark Magic, they were all hidden in jungles or in China, where no one
would suspect them.
Tom Riddle, ambitious intelligent and handsome had spent the best part of four
years looking for them, tracking them down. He had used his time wisely, going
with previous contacts with who he had searched for previously to track them
down. Tom had quickly learned not to use family in tracing them, they wished
nothing more than to be left alone with the good memories of their sons and
daughter, who they were so proud of erstwhile.
Tom had searched the world, looking for the greatest Dark Wizards, studying
with them, him as their apprentice. He would learn everything they had to
offer. He even asked Professor Dippet, a foolish power-greedy Headmaster at
Hogwarts when he was there. He kept the school running ion a manner not
unlike today, but still it was very shabby compared to Dumbledores recent
hold on the reigns, Voldemort could quickly see its system changing, not greatly,
but enough to make the way Dippet ran it foolish and not thoughtful. The
students were loyal to Dumbledore, loyalty that Dippet had never received from
his students, no matter how charming.
Tom fed on this, sucking up to his Headmaster, and there he was Head Boy.
Voldemort sighed again, when people thought of him as a good boy, model student,
responsible young man with the ability to go anywhere he wanted in life…well
he had almost achieved his goal. The panic was increasing through out the
magic community, he was one of the most feared wizards. He was quickly gaining
numbers to his side, recruiting them or threatening to stalk, slay them or force them.
People saw the quickest way out was to agree with him. He was the magic form
of terrorists, forming their own wars, this war would be won by him. Tom
Marvolo Riddle, now, in 1970 over 44 years old, looked a far cry from what he
used to. No-one recognised him, no-one even knew that plain Tom was gaining
power on him.
'Sir, you never explained to me why exactly you want James Potter on your side.'
Dopur said gently, guiding his Lord to the chairs where now people were sitting;
Xenia Snape, Frangipani Malfoy, Gicham Crabbe and Morual Goyle. They looked at
their leader with interest. Voldemort had a sneer on his face, once smooth and
handsome now fearsome and illegible.
'He will be an auror, like Godric Gryffindor he will be great. He will cause
my downfall if he does all the necessary training and preparation. It is important
that I have no enemies, except Dumbledore.' He murmured.
'But how do you see this?' Dolpur pressed.
'I know it. Don't ask me anymore questions.' Voldemort snapped irritably in
reply. He had been getting moody lately, impatient with his servants and followers,
no one really understood him like some of his old school friends once did.
Voldemort surpressed a sigh, coughing through his nose.
*
'Where are you going?' asked James with great interest.
'No where!' said Sirius, mischief written on his smiling, happy face.
'Okay, do you suppose we should go in the forest?' asked Remus rather nervously.
'No, we'll save that for tomorrow.' James nodded at Sirius, signaling for him
to come down.
'Okay, okay, I didn't know the feast was so important to you…' he grumbled
stepping off the old, spluttering school broom.
'Yeah well, I'm sick of watching you perform basic and primitive tricks on your
broom there.' James prompted.
'Sure, I'm sure you could do better.' Sirius challenged.
'Is that a dare?' asked James good-natured.
'No no,' Sirius weakened, knowing well that James' skill on a broomstick outdid
his own. James had always caught on quickly though.
'Okay,' finished James. 'Are you coming yet Remus?' he asked, waving him over
from observing one of the goal posts.
'Yeah' he said in a tired, flat voice, as though he had just had a very filling
dinner but didn't want to stop. In an unusual silence, they walked into the
Great Hall together.
'Come in!' enthusiastically cried Dumbldore in the process of offering Professor
Erb the end of a Christmas cracker. Sirius looked at James. They had made
their own Christmas Crackers last year, they exploded in everyones face.
James said to Sirius after, that adding four cracking strips wasn't such a
good idea and should've stuck with three.
They sat down, James next to Lily and Sirius, Remus next to Sirius and a pretty
Ravenclaw first year. Other teachers and prefects were at another table along
with some fourth and third years.
'Merry Christmas to you all!' cheered Dumbledore, holding up a goblet that was
filled with what looked suspiciously like brandy.
'Here here,' they murmured. Suddenly golden plates and trays and boats filled
with food, iced jugs of egg-nog and other drinks filled themselves up. Sirius
looked delighted, filling his plate with turkey, ham, potatoes, buttered peas,
bread, anything he could lay his hands on without reaching too far. After his
fifth plate he decided to save himself for sweets. They had Plum Pudding,
trifle and custard and cream. James, Remus and Lily left soon after Sirius
third slice of pudding, dragging him away from the table, though not complaining.
They went up to their common room, very full and sleepy. They got out their
Chess sets, self-shuffling cards and exploding snap decks and enjoyed games.
They finished off with a game of challenge or confess then helped themselves
to the hot chocolate and turkey sandwiches. They grabbed their sets and stumbled
sleepily to their bed, mumbling wistful good byes as they rubbed their sleepy
eyes. They went to bed, not knowing what was to come.
*
It was four O'clock in the afternoon and Voldemort was getting impatient.
Surely they could attack now, there were seventeen people there, all in the
same room, but his tactical 'advisor' had said it still wasn't the right time.
Voldemort, impatient and grumpy strode outside the door, his boots crunching
in the snow, and opened the door of the Ministry of Magic. Goyle, Snape, and
Dolpur followed with Malfoy and Crabbe not far behind them. It was a cold day,
and vapor poured out their mouths as they talked and exhaled.
'Let's go…' Voldemort said quickly before the tactical 'advisor' came over.
He opened the well-lubricated door, pushing it open slowly, and continued down
the hall where all seventeen people were standing. Voldemort and his support
were pushing ears against the doors, all wanting to hear what they had to say.
'-It is a tragedy, but all the same, we must press on in finding Voldemort as
he calls himself. Tom Riddle, I used to go to school with him, one of my best
friends, ironnically we thought he was going to be the best auror, but he is
the opposite of that…such a shame.' A man sighed, he had little empathy in his
eyes, only a burning desire, a gritted jaw of determination and a steely glint
to his eye. He had his fist planted firmly on the table they were surrounding
and was bent over in robes of a deep, inky blue. He looked at his
not-so-enthusiastic members of the ministry, not so convinced to try and catch him.
'The dangers involved, the lives at risk…' someone muttered darkly.
'He will not hesitate to use the Unforgivable Curses on anybody!' pierced a
high shrill voice.
'The biggest risk is to take no risk! Are we just going to stand here fearing
him? Or are we going to fight?' the person from before said, his eyes shooting
furious looks at any one who dared to disagree.
'No, you won't have to any more…you will all be dead!' spoke a deep, horrific
voice from the doorway.
'Battle positions!' barked what appeared to be the leader of the group.
'Why?' sneered Voldemort with a silky, arrogant intensity, looking at them
keenly. Looking at them, fingering his wand with malice glittering in his eyes.
'Wha-what do you want?' asked a panicky old auror, looking as though he might
die of fright.
'To kill you…' he sneered, looking murderous and highly sensitive at that moment.
'All of us?' quavered a timid looking witch who Voldemort would never had
noticed, there under the rounded solid oak table, if she had not of spoken.
'No, I think one shall be spared.' Toyingliy, Voldemort looked around, as if
selecting which member would take it the hardest. He looked at his followers
and nodded at the Minister of Magic, Jakob Wolffe, and muttered to them to let
him live.
The girl, really, was praying hard, her hands clasped so tightly her small,
knobby knuckles went a pale yellow quickly turning to white. She then looked
up fearfully. A wand was pointed directly at her head.
She turned away, shrieking, and crouched into the tiniest ball possible.
'Averda Kedavra' he whispered hoarsely. Green light span out of his wand, a
green mist settled over the room. An old, but stern looking man was enraged.
He thumped his fist on the table and stormed violently towards her killer.
'Why her? She was only a little girl!' he bellowed like an injured elephant.
He was raising his wand when an Averda Kedavra was hissed lightly between
gritted teeth, came from behind him. He swirled around, a fan of emerald
green cloak followed, and faced his killer before slumping to the ground,
limp and lifeless.
The rest of the squad were a little less enraged and hysterical, in battle formation,
most likely for the last time, and shouted incensed threats, not intending to
commit to them. Jakob Wolffe was at the front of the formation, waving his
wand precariously.
'Kill him!' he sneered to the rest of the ministry aurors. 'Show no mercy!'
'Yeah! Show no mercy!' Voldemort jeered, scoffing at the thought of them performing
an unforgivable curse. The rest of his team, spayed casually around the room,
covering all angles, suddenly in formation ducked as hexes and curses bounced
lightly off walls or sending sizzling holes through the walls.
'Dictators' Jakob muttered, as though he was figuring something out. Jakob
scanned his mind for any weakness he had read about dictators. The only thing
he could think of was getting them out of formation, though they weren't in
formation, they were dotted lazily around the room, standing there perfectly
calm and rational. They seemed to be chanting, though this could be a figment
of his delirious and spinning mind. He looked around him, turning his head fast,
it spun around quickly, a feeling of nausea washed over him from dizziness,
and spotted one Death Eater looking around. He quickly attempted to pull out
his wand, it went toppling to the ground. Then he was bending over and stumbling
to the ground.
The Death Eaters made their move, quickly hexing and jinxing and cursing everyone
but him. Time seemed to pass slowly for Jakob, who was taking in every detail,
people he worked with, became second family with, friends with, contacts with,
jealous of were falling to the ground twitching, or still, expressions of horror
on there dead faces.
The Death Eaters slowly filed out, leaving Voldemort alone with Jakob. Jakob
shrank back until he felt the cold body of the girl who was murdered first.
She was limp and light, as though her heavy, tormented soul was out of her, her
ghost was breaching out of her lifeless body.
She was whispering, softy and lightly in a sweet, calm voice;
'He will let you live, tell our tale' over and over, repeating it softly so
only his ears could hear.
'I shall let you live. I'm sure you will want to notify every one, if you do
go to the media, please tell them that I am gaining power with every fleeting
day and I will be at my up most powerful within this next year.' Voldemort
said, wanting publicity to spread more panic across England and indeed the world.
'And if I here of any more 'searches,' I will kill you…' sneered Voldemort
threateningly as he vacated the premises.
'Let's go…' he ordered them, and they all apparated out of sight.
*
James, Lily, Remus and Sirius all had fun on Boxing Day, they ate Lunch outside
in their cloaks and hats and then had a large snowball fight which resulted in
very, very drenched robes. They were shivering but they went down to the lake,
which was frozen. They sat by it, throwing the occasional handful of dirty
snow and talked.
'Let's go sledding' said Remus, suddenly bored.
'Yeah!' shrieked Lily and exclaimed Sirius together.
'Okay,' James agreed grinning widely.
'Okay, I'll race you to that tree!' yelled Remus, working hard to get a head start.
'You're on!' Lily replied, accepting the challenge.
'Okay!' Sirius sprinted forward towards the Whomping Willow.
'Watch out!' hollered James, putting his head down, tucking his elbows in and
sprinting like mad.
A robed flash easily sprinted past Lily and another whooshed by her soon after.
Lily just caught up with Remus, who Sirius and James had just passed. Lily and
Remus stopped to watch them, James was catching up to Sirius, but Sirius wasn't
faltering, he was still sprinting like a rabbit running for it's life. They
ran passed the Whomping Willow almost dead together, now splayed out on the
snow covered grass panting to catch their breath. Lily and Remus jogged together
towards them.
'What's the idea on giving up?' Sirius demanded, thrusting his head up briefly
before allowing it to sink back down again.
'Yeah!' panted James, now standing up and brushing excess snow of his robes.
'We wanted to see who won,' Remus said coolly, offering to help Sirius up.
'Yeah' Lily agreed, looking at passed them. James who was watching Lily, spotted
this and looked behind his shoulder. There stood Hagrid, waving and beaming,
walking with huge strides towards them.
'Hagrid!' James yelled. Hagrid waved again, this time at all four of them, who
had turned around to see what James was yelling at. Sirius beamed right back,
as did Remus, Lily ran towards him, pulling a small package out of her robe pockets.
'I meant to send this to you yesterday' she said breathlessly when she arrived
at Hagrids hip.
They walked back to where Sirius, Remus and James were walking towards them.
'Thanks Lily, you didn't 'ave to do that!' he boomed down.
'I know, but you have been so good to us this term, with James and Sirius with
the forest and all…' she mumbled, blushing slightly.
'How was yeh' Christmas?' he asked them all, now standing high above them.
'Good,' they said, craning their necks to see his head.
'Well' he said cheerfully, 'Best be off then.' They turned to look at Hagrids
tall figure, walking through the fog with ease, and in his cabin door.
*
Voldemort sighed, now safe in Sweden. He looked back on the day's work, picturing
at Jakob's stricken, pale and sweaty face. He felt proud, finally ditching
that stupid git of a tactical advisor and making his first attack in person. He had left shards of evidence there, so even if no one chose to believe Jakob, they could see the evidence and have to believe it. Xenia Snape appeared next to him.
'Would you like to visit the grounds Lord?' she said humbly.
'Yes, I would…' he mumbled.
'Come with me…' she gestured for him to follow her. She took him down the
dank corridor, where a mildew smell seemed to stick to them, and they approached
a large, heavy stone door. Xenia mumbled something and the doors slid slowly
apart. They were standing just in front of the door way, in which the door
was beginning to close. Voldemort looked around, taking in everything. There
were fires on torches every few metres or so, they acted for warmth and light.
There were stone walls, with soft trickled of rain dripping down. It was very
dark, but Voldemort could just make out some sort of mausoleum in the centre.
The mausoleum was light with a few candles and bits of incense, trailing perfumed
smoke lazily through the air in wispy lines. He stepped towards it, not expecting
to see what he did.
'Peter, young one…what are you doing here?' he spoke through the dimness.
'I am here to inform you that James has a weakness, Lord…' said Peter, looking
pleased.
'Don't you think I knew that?' Voldemort sneered coldly, his booming voice bouncing
off the walls, giving a truly haunted effect.
'Lord, I did not mean to-' Peter said, looking taken aback, but still in earnest.
'Well, I knew, I have been keeping a close eye on you Peter, but yet, you still
spy for me, even if you are under a curse…'
'I am NOT under a curse, I was NOT bought up this way, it is my own choice.'
Peter shrieked. He looked very pink in the face, but the dimness surrounding
the room was making his face look orange. The shrieks rebounded lightly off
the walls, they came back to Peter's ears and he realised how much of a fool
he had made of himself. 'I am truly sorry Lord.' He said, humbling himself
and perching himself in a precariously clumsy position.
'Very well,' Voldemort snapped icily, his nostrils pinching and flaring in and out.
'Thank you sire' he whispered.
'Well, what are you waiting for?' Voldemort demanded, warming up slightly.
'Off you go!'
Peter took a pinch of Floo Powder and shouted his house street. He traveled
through the flames until he saw his grid. He got off, dusted himself off and
then appeared normal.
'Do you wish to continue with the tour of the outside Lord?' inquired Xenia
Snape from behind the open doorway.
'Yes Xenia, please continue' requested Voldemort.
'AS you wish' she said hastily leading him towards the Mausoleum. She stopped
at the sight where the incense was burning, sending fragrant fumes out, and
tapped the bowl of sand in which they were up held three times with her wand,
muttering Opekis four times. She then took Voldemorts hand and clapped it against
hers four times and suddenly they were transported to a garden.
Voldemort looked around, taking in the new, lush surroundings. Everywhere you
looked there was foliage of some, exotic form. There was a soft, dappled blue
light shining over them and an eerie green mist was settled above them. The
pathway was soft and squelchy, sinking quickly under their exploring feet.
The smell was peculiar, a fresh smell, coming off the plants no doubt. It was
a forest smell, enchanting and floral, skimming past the slits Voldemort called
nostrils.
Voldemort stared as a small, stag-like creature skidded past him, slipping slightly
in the mud. Finally he understood.
'An enchanted forest…' he murmured to Xenia.
'Yes sir' she murmured back, looking around, her eyes plastered greedily on
the green and lush landscape.
'Very good, the smell is annoying me,' he snapped.
'We shall go now' she said, reluctantly forcing her eyes off the forest. She
led him to a tree, a tall old tree that had several fungal knobs on it. She
touched one gently and it jerked them to a dead, dull landscape. They dry
air filled Voldemorts nose and he sighed. Hot winds brushed past them, drying
their outer shells of skin. Voldemort walked towards the grey-green river,
dull and disheartening. Voldemort cupped some of its water in his hands, smelling
it as he let it trickle out again. It smelt like poisoned drowned rats, and rotting
fish. Voldemort was pumped up by this smell, but thought he may have to go
through the tranquil, annoying forest to get to it. He looked around at the
dusty landscape surrounding him, there were several desert land-forms, mainly
mesas. There was a partial wadi further up the river, with deep trenches in
its grey, crumbly stone. He looked around at the sort of landscape he liked,
dry and deathful.
He thought privately that he would be spending a lot of time here.
He swiftly moved to pick up a desert hare. It bucked in his hands, but his grip
was stronger. He looked at it, with simpering ideas. Voldemort felt strange,
as though he was gaining power from simply holding that rabbit. He felt its
bucking and kicking slowly die down, as though she liked Voldemort. The hare
simply twitched in his arms. Voldemort felt a strange attachment to it. He
whirled around to find Xenia.
'I want to go back inside' he said spoiltly.
'With the rabbit?' she said in disgust.
'Yes'
'Very well…' she said, looking at the hare in disdain. She was wondering why
Voldemort would take such a thing into the retreat.
She clapped her hands onto a small, bull skull that Voldemort didn't notice
before. He looked around, searching for any sign of where Xenia might have gone,
but didn't find her. He waited there for a few dazed seconds before figuring
it out. He eased the rabbit into the front of his cloak and then tapped the
two horns sticking out of the skull. Instantly, he found himself back at the
dark mausoleum, facing the incense bowl. He pulled the rabbit out of the
front of his cloak, gently and focused. He hoisted the hare above his head,
looking at it in the eye. It didn't seem scared. Slightly encouraged by this,
he cradled the rabbit, almost lovingly, in his arms and walked through the
stone door. His shadow the last trace of him in that building, still clucking
to the desert hare.
to avoid garlic smelling breath
coming out and haunting her nose
forever. This, story, is getting
rather dull woudn't you say?
Reviews please, I need to lap up
in the glory...
Peace-ya-Jade.
Strong Confusion Alert officially placed...
'Wha-?' Sirius panicked, looking around to see them all, in the common room,
Remus rolling over in his sleep, blankets twisted and looped around him in
inexplicable knots, Lily and James quietly talking by the embers of the fire
and Grace sitting there, her chubby face gazing at Sirius.
'What?' he snapped, picking up his blankets and hastily pulling his robes down.
'Nothing' she said, a small smile glinted in her warm, black eyes.
Grace Chandler was a small, tubby and pompous know-it-all Gryffindor who
severely got on Sirius' nerves. She smirked at him, like she knew something
he didn't. Sirius surveyed her, looking at her outsize robes and her wide,
fat feet. Her curly fringe was ruffled, sitting slightly crooked, and her
dark hair was thin and limp around her round shoulders.
'Then stop looking at me,' demanded Sirius.
'Why?' she asked in extremely hauty tones.
'Because it's annoying, don't you have somewhere else to be?' rushed Sirius.
'No, I'm fine where I am thanks…' she drawled. Sirius glowered at her,
knowing she had won.
'Fine' he snapped and stormed away from her, moving towards his pile of
Christmas gifts and mountains of wrapping paper surrounding it, like protection.
'Merry Christmas Sirius!' cheered Lily from next to James. James nodded, his
mouth full of sandwich, which looked like turkey from what was in his hand. Sirius waved back, his mood changing instantly from annoyed to grateful.
'You too Lily, you too James…' he trailed off as a person cut him off from
where she was sitting. It was Grace. Sirius privately groaned, turning
around to face her. She looked extremely irritated and was blushing.
'What?' he asked icily.
'I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas…I'm changing into Hufflepuff, I asked
Dumbledore if the-' she cut off, she choked on a dry, hacking sob which threatened
to make her voice hoarse. 'If the hat was rii-ight' she sobbed into her robes,
not stopping, Remus stirred and woke up and gaped at Grace.
'What did you do to her?' he mumbled at Sirius.
'Nothing! She is…' he trailed off, not wanting to embarrass himself. What
had he done? He had just made a girl burst into tears on Christmas morning...
He looked reluctantly at Grace and felt guilty.
'When are your parents coming to pick you up?' he mumbled softly.
'Eight-t' she choked through her robes.
'Okay, why don't you go up to your dormitory and get ready then?' he suggested,
becoming somewhat hopeful.
'Okay' she whispered, now over her sobs and moved onto the hiccups, and steered
herself dizzily out of the Common room.
'Good riddance' he muttered under his breath.
'What did you say to her?' Lily asked, looking concerned.
'I didn't say Merry Christmas to her…' he said, shooting a defiant look over
his shoulder to Remus, who was now stifling laughter.
'Did she say Merry Christmas to you before that?' she inquired.
'Sort of, she's changing to Hufflepuff…' he answered, mumbling and cursing
himself harshly mentally.
'She likes you Sirius, she has for a while and she was too…enthusiastic.' Lily told.
'Well! She goes around terrorising me and stalking me, talking to me with a
smirk or a drawl on her face and she won't leave me alone! I have to be cold
to her Lily, she won't leave me alone!' he exploded, he paced up and down the
common room, searching his memory for any little sign that she liked him. He
didn't find one, all he found was uncomfortable and galling memories of one
little pedantic and annoying girl who was very overweight, smug and arrogant.
'She does it because she thinks it's flirting.' Lily sighed, but then looked happier.
'She was very smug and ego mad…' piped Remus. Everyone murmered in agreement,
bundled their rubbish and presents into their make-shift bags and went into their
dormitories to get changed into fresh, clean robes.
'So' said Sirius with a meaningful look at James, 'What were you two talking
about when I was asleep?'
James looked at him, suspiciously and continued to get changed. He was doing
his laces up when he finally voiced.
'We were talking about the future.' He said, grunting as her pulled his
shoelace tighter.
'You're getting married!' teased Sirius, eyes wide with imitation surprise and glee.
'No,' we were talking about what we were going to do for work.' James
uncharacteristically snapped. His usually kind, compassionate and honest brown
eyes were looking at him disdainfully, as though he was prying into private mail.
'Okay!' Sirius surrendered, waving his pillowcase like a white flag. James
couldn't help but laugh and Remus joined in too.
'I'm going to the bathroom, I'll meet you down at the Great Hall.' James announced,
heading for the door.
'Okay, see you!' they called after his slouching back.
*
Lily was so happy she could sing, but she didn't. She imagined them in ten
years time in her minds eye. They were standing there, much taller and happier
than today and they had a son cradled, supporting his head carefully. They
were in a British street with single Sirius and Remus sharing a flat, Remus's
insistent neatness driving Sirius mad. They were in a small, tidy house, walls
lined with pictures, far away from their parents. She was having the most fun
Christmas of her life, better than kissing dreary, ancient Aunts on the cheek
and shaking hands with embarrassed cousins. She felt a surge of homesickness,
as she pulled her robes over her head.
*
Lily walked into the Great hall for breakfast. She shrewdly calculated how
many people would be there. She had anticipated that there would be between
forty and fifty students staying. She was wrong, there were only a handful
between all year levels, the Head Boy was staying and some of the prefects
were too, but other than them there were six or seven not counting James,
Remus, Sirius and herself.
'Good Morning!' Sirius greeted as she sat down, still looking at what small
numbers there were around. Sirius saw this, and agreed with her. 'Yeah, not
many hang around for Christmas…' he trailed off as he filled his mouth with
food, chewing contentedly.
*
Voldemort sighed as he looked in the Ministry of Magic. Only one was there,
there would be no point in attacking now, there would be no one to live to
tell the terrifying tale that would haunt them forever.
He wasn't going to waste all those painful transformations for nothing, all
that training for terrorism in the pitiful Muggle army. It had worked though,
he knew more about Dark Arts than any one of his teachers, they all had specific
areas of Dark Magic, they were all hidden in jungles or in China, where no one
would suspect them.
Tom Riddle, ambitious intelligent and handsome had spent the best part of four
years looking for them, tracking them down. He had used his time wisely, going
with previous contacts with who he had searched for previously to track them
down. Tom had quickly learned not to use family in tracing them, they wished
nothing more than to be left alone with the good memories of their sons and
daughter, who they were so proud of erstwhile.
Tom had searched the world, looking for the greatest Dark Wizards, studying
with them, him as their apprentice. He would learn everything they had to
offer. He even asked Professor Dippet, a foolish power-greedy Headmaster at
Hogwarts when he was there. He kept the school running ion a manner not
unlike today, but still it was very shabby compared to Dumbledores recent
hold on the reigns, Voldemort could quickly see its system changing, not greatly,
but enough to make the way Dippet ran it foolish and not thoughtful. The
students were loyal to Dumbledore, loyalty that Dippet had never received from
his students, no matter how charming.
Tom fed on this, sucking up to his Headmaster, and there he was Head Boy.
Voldemort sighed again, when people thought of him as a good boy, model student,
responsible young man with the ability to go anywhere he wanted in life…well
he had almost achieved his goal. The panic was increasing through out the
magic community, he was one of the most feared wizards. He was quickly gaining
numbers to his side, recruiting them or threatening to stalk, slay them or force them.
People saw the quickest way out was to agree with him. He was the magic form
of terrorists, forming their own wars, this war would be won by him. Tom
Marvolo Riddle, now, in 1970 over 44 years old, looked a far cry from what he
used to. No-one recognised him, no-one even knew that plain Tom was gaining
power on him.
'Sir, you never explained to me why exactly you want James Potter on your side.'
Dopur said gently, guiding his Lord to the chairs where now people were sitting;
Xenia Snape, Frangipani Malfoy, Gicham Crabbe and Morual Goyle. They looked at
their leader with interest. Voldemort had a sneer on his face, once smooth and
handsome now fearsome and illegible.
'He will be an auror, like Godric Gryffindor he will be great. He will cause
my downfall if he does all the necessary training and preparation. It is important
that I have no enemies, except Dumbledore.' He murmured.
'But how do you see this?' Dolpur pressed.
'I know it. Don't ask me anymore questions.' Voldemort snapped irritably in
reply. He had been getting moody lately, impatient with his servants and followers,
no one really understood him like some of his old school friends once did.
Voldemort surpressed a sigh, coughing through his nose.
*
'Where are you going?' asked James with great interest.
'No where!' said Sirius, mischief written on his smiling, happy face.
'Okay, do you suppose we should go in the forest?' asked Remus rather nervously.
'No, we'll save that for tomorrow.' James nodded at Sirius, signaling for him
to come down.
'Okay, okay, I didn't know the feast was so important to you…' he grumbled
stepping off the old, spluttering school broom.
'Yeah well, I'm sick of watching you perform basic and primitive tricks on your
broom there.' James prompted.
'Sure, I'm sure you could do better.' Sirius challenged.
'Is that a dare?' asked James good-natured.
'No no,' Sirius weakened, knowing well that James' skill on a broomstick outdid
his own. James had always caught on quickly though.
'Okay,' finished James. 'Are you coming yet Remus?' he asked, waving him over
from observing one of the goal posts.
'Yeah' he said in a tired, flat voice, as though he had just had a very filling
dinner but didn't want to stop. In an unusual silence, they walked into the
Great Hall together.
'Come in!' enthusiastically cried Dumbldore in the process of offering Professor
Erb the end of a Christmas cracker. Sirius looked at James. They had made
their own Christmas Crackers last year, they exploded in everyones face.
James said to Sirius after, that adding four cracking strips wasn't such a
good idea and should've stuck with three.
They sat down, James next to Lily and Sirius, Remus next to Sirius and a pretty
Ravenclaw first year. Other teachers and prefects were at another table along
with some fourth and third years.
'Merry Christmas to you all!' cheered Dumbledore, holding up a goblet that was
filled with what looked suspiciously like brandy.
'Here here,' they murmured. Suddenly golden plates and trays and boats filled
with food, iced jugs of egg-nog and other drinks filled themselves up. Sirius
looked delighted, filling his plate with turkey, ham, potatoes, buttered peas,
bread, anything he could lay his hands on without reaching too far. After his
fifth plate he decided to save himself for sweets. They had Plum Pudding,
trifle and custard and cream. James, Remus and Lily left soon after Sirius
third slice of pudding, dragging him away from the table, though not complaining.
They went up to their common room, very full and sleepy. They got out their
Chess sets, self-shuffling cards and exploding snap decks and enjoyed games.
They finished off with a game of challenge or confess then helped themselves
to the hot chocolate and turkey sandwiches. They grabbed their sets and stumbled
sleepily to their bed, mumbling wistful good byes as they rubbed their sleepy
eyes. They went to bed, not knowing what was to come.
*
It was four O'clock in the afternoon and Voldemort was getting impatient.
Surely they could attack now, there were seventeen people there, all in the
same room, but his tactical 'advisor' had said it still wasn't the right time.
Voldemort, impatient and grumpy strode outside the door, his boots crunching
in the snow, and opened the door of the Ministry of Magic. Goyle, Snape, and
Dolpur followed with Malfoy and Crabbe not far behind them. It was a cold day,
and vapor poured out their mouths as they talked and exhaled.
'Let's go…' Voldemort said quickly before the tactical 'advisor' came over.
He opened the well-lubricated door, pushing it open slowly, and continued down
the hall where all seventeen people were standing. Voldemort and his support
were pushing ears against the doors, all wanting to hear what they had to say.
'-It is a tragedy, but all the same, we must press on in finding Voldemort as
he calls himself. Tom Riddle, I used to go to school with him, one of my best
friends, ironnically we thought he was going to be the best auror, but he is
the opposite of that…such a shame.' A man sighed, he had little empathy in his
eyes, only a burning desire, a gritted jaw of determination and a steely glint
to his eye. He had his fist planted firmly on the table they were surrounding
and was bent over in robes of a deep, inky blue. He looked at his
not-so-enthusiastic members of the ministry, not so convinced to try and catch him.
'The dangers involved, the lives at risk…' someone muttered darkly.
'He will not hesitate to use the Unforgivable Curses on anybody!' pierced a
high shrill voice.
'The biggest risk is to take no risk! Are we just going to stand here fearing
him? Or are we going to fight?' the person from before said, his eyes shooting
furious looks at any one who dared to disagree.
'No, you won't have to any more…you will all be dead!' spoke a deep, horrific
voice from the doorway.
'Battle positions!' barked what appeared to be the leader of the group.
'Why?' sneered Voldemort with a silky, arrogant intensity, looking at them
keenly. Looking at them, fingering his wand with malice glittering in his eyes.
'Wha-what do you want?' asked a panicky old auror, looking as though he might
die of fright.
'To kill you…' he sneered, looking murderous and highly sensitive at that moment.
'All of us?' quavered a timid looking witch who Voldemort would never had
noticed, there under the rounded solid oak table, if she had not of spoken.
'No, I think one shall be spared.' Toyingliy, Voldemort looked around, as if
selecting which member would take it the hardest. He looked at his followers
and nodded at the Minister of Magic, Jakob Wolffe, and muttered to them to let
him live.
The girl, really, was praying hard, her hands clasped so tightly her small,
knobby knuckles went a pale yellow quickly turning to white. She then looked
up fearfully. A wand was pointed directly at her head.
She turned away, shrieking, and crouched into the tiniest ball possible.
'Averda Kedavra' he whispered hoarsely. Green light span out of his wand, a
green mist settled over the room. An old, but stern looking man was enraged.
He thumped his fist on the table and stormed violently towards her killer.
'Why her? She was only a little girl!' he bellowed like an injured elephant.
He was raising his wand when an Averda Kedavra was hissed lightly between
gritted teeth, came from behind him. He swirled around, a fan of emerald
green cloak followed, and faced his killer before slumping to the ground,
limp and lifeless.
The rest of the squad were a little less enraged and hysterical, in battle formation,
most likely for the last time, and shouted incensed threats, not intending to
commit to them. Jakob Wolffe was at the front of the formation, waving his
wand precariously.
'Kill him!' he sneered to the rest of the ministry aurors. 'Show no mercy!'
'Yeah! Show no mercy!' Voldemort jeered, scoffing at the thought of them performing
an unforgivable curse. The rest of his team, spayed casually around the room,
covering all angles, suddenly in formation ducked as hexes and curses bounced
lightly off walls or sending sizzling holes through the walls.
'Dictators' Jakob muttered, as though he was figuring something out. Jakob
scanned his mind for any weakness he had read about dictators. The only thing
he could think of was getting them out of formation, though they weren't in
formation, they were dotted lazily around the room, standing there perfectly
calm and rational. They seemed to be chanting, though this could be a figment
of his delirious and spinning mind. He looked around him, turning his head fast,
it spun around quickly, a feeling of nausea washed over him from dizziness,
and spotted one Death Eater looking around. He quickly attempted to pull out
his wand, it went toppling to the ground. Then he was bending over and stumbling
to the ground.
The Death Eaters made their move, quickly hexing and jinxing and cursing everyone
but him. Time seemed to pass slowly for Jakob, who was taking in every detail,
people he worked with, became second family with, friends with, contacts with,
jealous of were falling to the ground twitching, or still, expressions of horror
on there dead faces.
The Death Eaters slowly filed out, leaving Voldemort alone with Jakob. Jakob
shrank back until he felt the cold body of the girl who was murdered first.
She was limp and light, as though her heavy, tormented soul was out of her, her
ghost was breaching out of her lifeless body.
She was whispering, softy and lightly in a sweet, calm voice;
'He will let you live, tell our tale' over and over, repeating it softly so
only his ears could hear.
'I shall let you live. I'm sure you will want to notify every one, if you do
go to the media, please tell them that I am gaining power with every fleeting
day and I will be at my up most powerful within this next year.' Voldemort
said, wanting publicity to spread more panic across England and indeed the world.
'And if I here of any more 'searches,' I will kill you…' sneered Voldemort
threateningly as he vacated the premises.
'Let's go…' he ordered them, and they all apparated out of sight.
*
James, Lily, Remus and Sirius all had fun on Boxing Day, they ate Lunch outside
in their cloaks and hats and then had a large snowball fight which resulted in
very, very drenched robes. They were shivering but they went down to the lake,
which was frozen. They sat by it, throwing the occasional handful of dirty
snow and talked.
'Let's go sledding' said Remus, suddenly bored.
'Yeah!' shrieked Lily and exclaimed Sirius together.
'Okay,' James agreed grinning widely.
'Okay, I'll race you to that tree!' yelled Remus, working hard to get a head start.
'You're on!' Lily replied, accepting the challenge.
'Okay!' Sirius sprinted forward towards the Whomping Willow.
'Watch out!' hollered James, putting his head down, tucking his elbows in and
sprinting like mad.
A robed flash easily sprinted past Lily and another whooshed by her soon after.
Lily just caught up with Remus, who Sirius and James had just passed. Lily and
Remus stopped to watch them, James was catching up to Sirius, but Sirius wasn't
faltering, he was still sprinting like a rabbit running for it's life. They
ran passed the Whomping Willow almost dead together, now splayed out on the
snow covered grass panting to catch their breath. Lily and Remus jogged together
towards them.
'What's the idea on giving up?' Sirius demanded, thrusting his head up briefly
before allowing it to sink back down again.
'Yeah!' panted James, now standing up and brushing excess snow of his robes.
'We wanted to see who won,' Remus said coolly, offering to help Sirius up.
'Yeah' Lily agreed, looking at passed them. James who was watching Lily, spotted
this and looked behind his shoulder. There stood Hagrid, waving and beaming,
walking with huge strides towards them.
'Hagrid!' James yelled. Hagrid waved again, this time at all four of them, who
had turned around to see what James was yelling at. Sirius beamed right back,
as did Remus, Lily ran towards him, pulling a small package out of her robe pockets.
'I meant to send this to you yesterday' she said breathlessly when she arrived
at Hagrids hip.
They walked back to where Sirius, Remus and James were walking towards them.
'Thanks Lily, you didn't 'ave to do that!' he boomed down.
'I know, but you have been so good to us this term, with James and Sirius with
the forest and all…' she mumbled, blushing slightly.
'How was yeh' Christmas?' he asked them all, now standing high above them.
'Good,' they said, craning their necks to see his head.
'Well' he said cheerfully, 'Best be off then.' They turned to look at Hagrids
tall figure, walking through the fog with ease, and in his cabin door.
*
Voldemort sighed, now safe in Sweden. He looked back on the day's work, picturing
at Jakob's stricken, pale and sweaty face. He felt proud, finally ditching
that stupid git of a tactical advisor and making his first attack in person. He had left shards of evidence there, so even if no one chose to believe Jakob, they could see the evidence and have to believe it. Xenia Snape appeared next to him.
'Would you like to visit the grounds Lord?' she said humbly.
'Yes, I would…' he mumbled.
'Come with me…' she gestured for him to follow her. She took him down the
dank corridor, where a mildew smell seemed to stick to them, and they approached
a large, heavy stone door. Xenia mumbled something and the doors slid slowly
apart. They were standing just in front of the door way, in which the door
was beginning to close. Voldemort looked around, taking in everything. There
were fires on torches every few metres or so, they acted for warmth and light.
There were stone walls, with soft trickled of rain dripping down. It was very
dark, but Voldemort could just make out some sort of mausoleum in the centre.
The mausoleum was light with a few candles and bits of incense, trailing perfumed
smoke lazily through the air in wispy lines. He stepped towards it, not expecting
to see what he did.
'Peter, young one…what are you doing here?' he spoke through the dimness.
'I am here to inform you that James has a weakness, Lord…' said Peter, looking
pleased.
'Don't you think I knew that?' Voldemort sneered coldly, his booming voice bouncing
off the walls, giving a truly haunted effect.
'Lord, I did not mean to-' Peter said, looking taken aback, but still in earnest.
'Well, I knew, I have been keeping a close eye on you Peter, but yet, you still
spy for me, even if you are under a curse…'
'I am NOT under a curse, I was NOT bought up this way, it is my own choice.'
Peter shrieked. He looked very pink in the face, but the dimness surrounding
the room was making his face look orange. The shrieks rebounded lightly off
the walls, they came back to Peter's ears and he realised how much of a fool
he had made of himself. 'I am truly sorry Lord.' He said, humbling himself
and perching himself in a precariously clumsy position.
'Very well,' Voldemort snapped icily, his nostrils pinching and flaring in and out.
'Thank you sire' he whispered.
'Well, what are you waiting for?' Voldemort demanded, warming up slightly.
'Off you go!'
Peter took a pinch of Floo Powder and shouted his house street. He traveled
through the flames until he saw his grid. He got off, dusted himself off and
then appeared normal.
'Do you wish to continue with the tour of the outside Lord?' inquired Xenia
Snape from behind the open doorway.
'Yes Xenia, please continue' requested Voldemort.
'AS you wish' she said hastily leading him towards the Mausoleum. She stopped
at the sight where the incense was burning, sending fragrant fumes out, and
tapped the bowl of sand in which they were up held three times with her wand,
muttering Opekis four times. She then took Voldemorts hand and clapped it against
hers four times and suddenly they were transported to a garden.
Voldemort looked around, taking in the new, lush surroundings. Everywhere you
looked there was foliage of some, exotic form. There was a soft, dappled blue
light shining over them and an eerie green mist was settled above them. The
pathway was soft and squelchy, sinking quickly under their exploring feet.
The smell was peculiar, a fresh smell, coming off the plants no doubt. It was
a forest smell, enchanting and floral, skimming past the slits Voldemort called
nostrils.
Voldemort stared as a small, stag-like creature skidded past him, slipping slightly
in the mud. Finally he understood.
'An enchanted forest…' he murmured to Xenia.
'Yes sir' she murmured back, looking around, her eyes plastered greedily on
the green and lush landscape.
'Very good, the smell is annoying me,' he snapped.
'We shall go now' she said, reluctantly forcing her eyes off the forest. She
led him to a tree, a tall old tree that had several fungal knobs on it. She
touched one gently and it jerked them to a dead, dull landscape. They dry
air filled Voldemorts nose and he sighed. Hot winds brushed past them, drying
their outer shells of skin. Voldemort walked towards the grey-green river,
dull and disheartening. Voldemort cupped some of its water in his hands, smelling
it as he let it trickle out again. It smelt like poisoned drowned rats, and rotting
fish. Voldemort was pumped up by this smell, but thought he may have to go
through the tranquil, annoying forest to get to it. He looked around at the
dusty landscape surrounding him, there were several desert land-forms, mainly
mesas. There was a partial wadi further up the river, with deep trenches in
its grey, crumbly stone. He looked around at the sort of landscape he liked,
dry and deathful.
He thought privately that he would be spending a lot of time here.
He swiftly moved to pick up a desert hare. It bucked in his hands, but his grip
was stronger. He looked at it, with simpering ideas. Voldemort felt strange,
as though he was gaining power from simply holding that rabbit. He felt its
bucking and kicking slowly die down, as though she liked Voldemort. The hare
simply twitched in his arms. Voldemort felt a strange attachment to it. He
whirled around to find Xenia.
'I want to go back inside' he said spoiltly.
'With the rabbit?' she said in disgust.
'Yes'
'Very well…' she said, looking at the hare in disdain. She was wondering why
Voldemort would take such a thing into the retreat.
She clapped her hands onto a small, bull skull that Voldemort didn't notice
before. He looked around, searching for any sign of where Xenia might have gone,
but didn't find her. He waited there for a few dazed seconds before figuring
it out. He eased the rabbit into the front of his cloak and then tapped the
two horns sticking out of the skull. Instantly, he found himself back at the
dark mausoleum, facing the incense bowl. He pulled the rabbit out of the
front of his cloak, gently and focused. He hoisted the hare above his head,
looking at it in the eye. It didn't seem scared. Slightly encouraged by this,
he cradled the rabbit, almost lovingly, in his arms and walked through the
stone door. His shadow the last trace of him in that building, still clucking
to the desert hare.