(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)
Chapter Thirty One
"Would you care to join me on our current task?" questioned the Dark Lord.
Requillo looked up and smiled sardonically. "Do I dare to refuse?" he asked back.
Voldemort grinned inwardly, but said, "Do as you please, but when I return, you will do as I command. It is you I must have with me to control the Seer, understood?" The other man shrugged and walked out. Voldemort shook his head and snapped his fingers. Immediately, Janice and Rick were at his side. "You've got the information?"
They bowed. "Yes, master."
"Good, let us take our leave."
~*~
Hallie walked off stage amid the eruption of applause. Sirius ran backstage and was there to greet her with a bright smile. A reddish tinge appeared on her cheeks and he hugged her. They separated. "You did a great job," he said softly, touching her cheek tenderly.
She smiled up at him. "I still think they should have chosen you." He blushed and laughed. They walked back to where the rest of their group was.
~*~
It was about midnight.
Dumbledore shared a look with Professor McGonagall. The skies above had gotten darker and something seemed to be out of place.
All of a sudden, there was a deafening crash from in the hall. The two doors slammed open and a band of hooded figures stood in the doorway. The first one whispered a command and the others flew off into the air, mounted on brooms. Girls shrieked and boys hollered. Everything was in chaos. Janice dived and pointed her wand at the redheaded girl in the green dress. "Stupefy!" Lily fell unconscious but Janice caught her and flew off. James ran after her but Rick stupefied him too and swooped low to catch the boy. Voldemort grinned in spite of himself and gave the command in, which told the others to follow him. And then they flew off.
~*~
James blinked his eyes open and heard a groan that seemed to be some distance away. Slowly he sat up and rubbed his head. It was only then that he found that the groans of pain were coming from him. He closed his mouth and felt a searing pain run up his shoulder all the way down to his ribs. Cautiously, he lifted his shirt to see a long and somewhat deep scratch. He shut his eyes and carefully lowered his shirt back down.
When his focus was back, he found he was in a dungeon, no, a tower, but it looked familiar. There was also that feeling that he had felt once before. Slowly, he made his way to the window and found that he was gazing out of an extremely high tower overlooking a colossal yard. He was at Slytherin Castle. The boy took a seat against the wall and sighed. Beads of sweat formed on his brow from the pain on his side.
A door seemed to appear in the wall across from him and he blinked thinking that he was hallucinating. The man was of medium height, only a bit taller than James, and had straight white/blonde hair. His eyes were bright and filled with intelligence and compassion though that part of him was sealed off with a cloud of nothingness as if it was part of something he once was but wasn't anymore. He was built well, but the expensive looking robes he wore sagged on him for he seemed as if he hadn't eaten in a while. His face was gaunt and sunken. The man walked in, his walk filled with confidence and authority, but with modesty as well.
James watched him carefully. Something about this man filled him with familiarity. The man stole a glance at him and tucked his wand into his robes. "Awake, are you?" he asked. James shrugged but then winced in pain. The man's expression changed to one of concern, but he quickly composed himself and looked around as if he felt that someone was watching. "Get up," he ordered in a voice near a whisper.
James looked at him for a short while and tried to, but found he couldn't. The last time took a while but this time was unbearable. The man walked over and helped him up. He took out his wand and aimed it at the boy. He muttered something and a flash erupted from the end of his wand. James gave a holler of surprise and thought the other man was trying to do him harm. He stumbled over himself trying to move away. The man advanced and held him up. James fought out of his grasp and was surprised to find that the ache on his side was gone. Filled with wonder, he looked under his shirt.
His wound was gone.
When he looked up, the man had a small grin upon his face, which he quickly wiped off when the boy gazed at him. "Who are you?" asked James in a husky voice.
The man took a step backwards. "Requillo."
That name was so familiar to James. He knew he had heard it beforeā¦but from where?
"Where am I?" he inquired.
The man looked at him for a short while and then at the portal which he had created earlier. "In a tower at Slytherin Castle." James knew this but was trying to make conversation. Requillo smiled. It was handsome smile, but one filled with something like sorrow. "Yes, you knew, but you don't know why you are here." James shook his head. "Follow me." The boy did as was told for he strangely felt that this man would do him no harm.
"Why did you fix my sore?"
Requillo felt something sweep through him and sighed. "You will need all your strength in Voldemort's presence. I wanted you to start afresh." James felt a shiver of hatred run up his spine. "Do not anger him with words, it will do you no good," added Requillo.
The man led the boy into the grand hall in which another man sat on something like a thrown. James saw two people conversing with Voldemort. They bowed and turned to leave. Requillo walked up and held out a hand to tell James to stay where he was.
"James Potter, master," said the man.
Voldemort's eyes lit with an internal fire. He seemed to say something to Requillo with his eyes, but the man stood firm. A mirthless smirk came to the Dark Lord's face. "Are you not going to bow to your sire, Requillo?"
Requillo laughed inwardly and his eyes threw darts of anger at Voldemort. "I don't know, shall I?" James watched the procession in amusement. Was Requillo defying his master?
"Leave me with the boy," commanded the master.
Requillo shook his head. "You need me, remember?"
Voldemort's face contorted to one of aggravation. "I've tolerated you, now leave me be. I wish to speak in private with him. I will have someone call you in when you are needed. Now go." His voice was filled with venom and Requillo shot a glance at James.
"Do you not trust me, my lord?" asked the man. For some reason, James felt that Requillo was saying all he was for his sake.
Voldemort made a sound of irritation. "So be it! Just stand aside, do not interfere, and do not speak a word unless ordered to, understood?"
"Indeed, master." And then he stepped to the side.
The Dark Lord's sinister gaze fell upon James who glared at him with hatred he had never felt before. "Hello, Mr. Potter. You are probably wondering why I wish to have you in my abode?" James nodded. "You are the Seer, are you not?" The boy's stomach turned. Everything always happened because of that part of him and he despised it greatly. He nodded again. "Well, I've found a prophecy by a woman named Sibylline. Yes, she is a teacher at your school. The prophecy is of my downfall." He laughed. "Downfall, what a harsh word for one who believes in naught. I'm all powerful and still gaining power. How could one such as I befall defeat?"
James was filled with contempt for this man and opened his mouth to spit words of hatred at him, but Requillo quickly spoke up. "You cannot befall defeat, master," said the man in a clipped voice with a stern glance at James. Voldemort looked at him as if noticing Requillo for the first time.
"Thank you, my servant." At this statement, Requillo paled slightly, but then regained his composure. "Fetch the prophecy, will you?" The man did as was told and came in a short while later. He handed a piece of parchment to Voldemort who took it with distaste written all over his face.
"So comes the night
The Seer sees
The Rogue is vanquished
The dame set free.
The star, the dog,
Set thee immune,
So chanted the song,
So chanted the tune.
Right turns to wrong,
Wrong turns to right,
Come hence it forth
Henceforth the fight.
One will be true,
One will perish,
One will turn
Another will fall in anguish.
A downfall, a murder,
A death out of place,
Not and innocent lives
Sacrificed at waste.
He who reeks disaster
Is to whom defeat will befall,
The brave, bold, and valiant
Will conquer all.
The hero will defeat him,
The Dark One will be gone,
And here ends Fate's story,
Fate's story will be done."
Voldemort rolled up the parchment. Requillo stole another glance at James who had a strange look in his eyes. That prophecy was the same in which he had summoned from the fire the night Rogue was vanquished, but there was more to it now. He looked at Requillo who was looking out the window with a longing expression on his face, and then the man looked at his master, then to the boy. Their eyes locked.
"You see, it does predict my downfall, and that's why I need you," said Voldemort.
James looked at him. "What am I supposed to do about it?" he asked gruffly.
The Dark Lord gazed at him squarely. "I need you to change the future."
"But I can't do that!"
The other man laughed. "Oh yes, you can. I've been watching you and you have unique power, you can do many things for you are the Seer of our century. There will be no other like you in a very long time.
James shook his head. "I won't help you, I will do nothing for you." Requillo looked at him. This boy was filled with a strong will.
"You say so now," said Voldemort menacingly, "but your mind will be changed by the time I am finished with you." He raised his wand. "Crucio!"
~*~
Hallie looked at Sirius in disbelief. He hugged her tightly. "I've got to go," he repeated.
She shook her head. "Not by yourself you won't," she said to him resolutely.
He sighed. "Hal, you're not coming with me, I forbid it."
She looked at him indignantly. "You can't forbid me to do anything. I can do whatever I want."
"I'm going via broomstick," he said.
She paled. "I don't care, I'm going with you."
He smiled inwardly and held out his hand. She took it and mounted behind him. He felt her squeeze his waist tightly, and just as he was about to take off, four voices halted him. Peter, Gwen, Remus, and Lydia rushed in at once, each holding a broom. "We're going with you," said Remus, his eyes alight with determination and fierce will. Sirius smiled at them and nodded. Together, they took off into the night and could be seen flying towards the horizon where arrays of brilliant and bright colors were starting to appear.
~*~
James' breathing was hoarse and labored. He rolled over and slowly sat up. Every inch of him was in pain but he glared at Voldemort still, filled with a desire to defy him more. Voldemort smirked. "Still not changing your mind?" he asked with a mocking note in his voice. James shook his head resolvedly. The Dark Lord grinned. "All right then, Requillo, go get the other prisoner please." Requillo walked out with a glance at James who looked at him in question. The other man pretended to ignore it but shot the boy a look which said, 'just wait and see'.
He came back in moments later, carrying in a limp figure. She had red hair and a green gown on. James' eyes widened but he quickly composed himself and fought the urge to race to her. He turned his gaze upon Voldemort. "What did you bring her for?" he asked, trying to feign contempt. The evil man's expression of triumph faltered a bit.
"Is this not the girl you adore?" he wondered.
James stole a glance at Lily and then back to Voldemort. "Adore? The girl I adore?" he asked in what he hoped was incredulity. "Don't you mean despise?"
Voldemort glared. "Bring in Janice and Rick," he ordered rancorously. Requillo placed Lily carefully on the ground and then left once again to fetch the other two servants.
He came back leading the two desired servants who had dread written all over their faces. "Yes, master?" asked Rick with a trembling voice.
"Are you sure you got the right girl?" he demanded fiercely.
Both took steps back and ran into Requillo who urged them forward with a glare. Janice said, "Yes, master, we're sure. After our surveying them and asking questions, we're sure we got the right one."
"Asking questions?" asked the Dark Lord.
"Yes, master," responded Rick. "Remember that student servant you have in Gryffindor?" Voldemort looked at him expectantly. "Remember Gwendolyn?"
(Author's Note: Thank you to Myanda, Harry's Hunny, and Quack Quack 88 for your reviews! Thanks so much! If any of you guys have any questions or anything about the story or just whatever, feel free to email me or put it in the review place! Thanks!)
