Notes: I lied. It's not much longer. :P I'm having mental blocks.
* * * *
Sirius stared over the vast desert they were about to cross and he felt his stomach twist uncomfortably. Moony, he thought, this was all for Moony. Dust blew across the sand dunes and he shielded his eyes from the blowing grit. They certainly weren't prepared for a two day trek across a desert, but he didn't see how they could turn back to the nearest village and attempt to prepare now. They were standing on the brink and there was nowhere for them to go but forward.
He shifted his pack slightly and turned back to where Snape was glaring angrily at Cassandra who was staring back with equal anger simmering in her eyes. Siruis let his eyes roam over her and for the first time he realized how weak and tired she really looked. Her hair was tied back in a tight pony tail, only accentuating all the bones and shadows in her face. It amazed him that she had been able to come as far as they had without a total collapse. With a smile, he supposed she was doing it for the same reason he was. Remus was really all that mattered to her.
"You're going," Snape said loudly, finally catching Sirius' attention. "That is the end of this argument."
Cassandra raised her eyebrows. "You're the only one arguing here. I'm not going anywhere because if I go out I risk all our lives."
Sirius frowned and stepped over to them. "Cass, if you don't go Remus could die."
She turned her eyes on him pleadingly. "Not if I tell you where to go."
"Cass, we can't go without you."
She sighed deeply. "But it's stronger here."
Sirius looked out at the desert. "Those visions?"
She nodded. "If I go in there none of us will make it out alive."
"It's just sand," Snape said sharply.
"Watch it," Sirius growled at him.
"This is ridiculous," Snape continued. "She takes us this far and then expects to abandon us on the edge of an endless desert? No. She's going in if I have to tie her to my waist and drag her."
Cassandra stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide, then she smiled slightly. "If he wants me to go that badly I guess I have no choice."
Snape held her gaze for a long time, inwardly debating how sarcastic she was being when she made the statement. Eventually his black eyes slid off her face and he stared at the ground.
"Ready?" Sirius asked, breaking the tension.
Cassandra gazed out at the sand and shrugged deeply. "Why not?" she murmured, then shouldered her pack and began to walk away. The others followed her slowly, Sirius watching her carefully as she faltered, then stumbled slightly.
"Cass?" he called cautiously, walking over to her quickly. "What is it?"
Her breath caught in her throat and Sirius watched her face as her eyelids fluttered. She seemed to be having trouble breathing as she reached toward something that wasn't there. Her mouth worked as if she was trying to say something and Sirius reached for her just as she blinked and stared at him.
"Remus," she whispered.
"What about him?" Sirius asked.
"He's going to kill someone," she murmured. "As the wolf."
"Who?" Snape asked sharply.
Cassandra shook her head. "I don't know . . . I couldn't see." She regarded the other two carefully. "If anything happens and he gets loose, we have to restrain him somehow. I don't want either of you ending up dead and we can't let him go through that."
Sirius nodded. "We'll do that, don't worry."
Cassandra nodded and straightened, shifting her pack carefully. "Let's keep going," she said, then continued their long walk into the desert.
* * * *
Lucius watched Peter fidget with cold eyes before turning his gaze over the enormous land mass which they were staying under. Cape Three Point, a known area of Takoradi used in ritual of witchcraft and other religious ceremonies. Lucius didn't believe in anything as ridiculous as witchcraft, but only because he knew better. Witches didn't light candles and chant, they pulled out their wands and did the damage themselves. Yet, Voldemort had insisted they stay under Cape Three Point, he promised that the area would be useful to them in the long run when they were to finish Remus Lupin off for good.
"I don't like this place," Peter murmured.
Lucius arched an eyebrow. "Oh no?"
Peter shook his head and stared out over the points. Not a single point was very large, but each hung precariously over a churning ocean and Lucius wondered how much weight they could really hold before the earth crumbled and it dropped into the sea. At the apex of the three points was a huge stone with a faded Latin inscription that Lucius couldn't interpret. The words were far too worn for anyone to be able to see what was once set in stone.
"Why don't you like it, Wormtail?" Voldemort spoke from behind them, stepping out into the fading sun.
Peter glanced at the Dark Lord nervously. "There's an energy," he said slowly. "It's heavy and . . . something's not right about it."
Lucius caught Voldemort's eye and he smiled very softly. There was a look in the man's red eyes that told Lucius everything he needed to know. It was time to explain to Peter exactly what was going to happen.
"Wormtail," Lucius began, his fingers sliding to the inner pocket of his robe and touching his wand. "There is a lot that you don't know yet, much of it having to do with that . . . energy, is that what you called it?"
Peter nodded, staring at Lucius.
"Well, that energy you sense is an ancient entity, a being created for one reason only."
Peter swallowed hard. "What is that?"
"This being has the ability to transfer personality traits from one body to another," Lucius continued. "But it can also transfer things such as . . . power, or intellect."
"What does that have to do with Remus?" Peter asked.
Another smile crossed Lucius' face. "Not just Remus, but you and Sirius Black as well."
Peter frowned. "Me?" he practically squeaked.
Lucius nodded. "Yes, Wormtail . . . you."
"Why me?"
"You are an animagus, correct?" Lucius asked.
Peter nodded. "Yes, you know that." He glanced at Voldemort. "What's going on?"
Voldemort just kept his eyes on Lucius, waiting for Peter to look back over and listen to the rest of the story. Peter stared at Voldemort for a moment longer, looking as if he were debating asking another question or running as fast as he could into the desert, but eventually he sighed and turned his eyes back to Lucius.
"Sirius Black is also an animagus," Lucius said. "Remus Lupin is a werewolf."
Peter nodded again. "I know all this, why are you telling me?"
Lucius ignored his question, but tightened his grip on his wand. "In order for this being to transfer powers of animagi, one must be an animagi himself."
Peter brightened visibly at this. "You're going to let me take in the powers from Sirius and Remus."
Lucius finally turned on him, his wand extending. "Imperio," he growled, then waited for the spell to take hold. When Peter was unable to move, Lucius smiled again. "No, you silly man. Don't you understand yet? That's why I've been turning in Potter, to use his powers. When the full moon comes and Lupin turns into the werewolf, we'll have you and Black at our disposal and James Potter will take in everything. Every little bit of humanity left inside you will belong to me."
Lucius stepped closer to Peter and ran his wand along the side of his face. "You'll have nothing left inside of you . . . you'll be mad." He smiled, revelling in the fear that radiated off Peter. "Completely mad, as will the men you once betrayed and I will possess every little bit of power they own."
He turned away and waved his hand. "Not to mention the fact that having Lupin out of the picture will be a great blessing indeed. He's worth more as a wolf than he ever would have imagined."
Voldemort stared at Peter for a long moment before glancing over at Lucius. "Take some Death Eaters and go find Severus and the others. Bring Sirius Black back to me."
Lucius nodded. "What do you want us to do with Cassandra Harvey and Severus?"
Voldemort shrugged. "Kill them."
Another smile crossed Lucius' face. "I'll see to it personally that it's done correctly. Come, Wormtail. We have a cozy cell waiting just for you."
He began to walk away and Peter followed obediently as Voldemort watched.
"Betrayal has a way of coming full circle, doesn't it, Wormtail?" he called after them, then watched as the sun turned blood red and the sun slipped over the water.
* * * *
* * * *
Sirius stared over the vast desert they were about to cross and he felt his stomach twist uncomfortably. Moony, he thought, this was all for Moony. Dust blew across the sand dunes and he shielded his eyes from the blowing grit. They certainly weren't prepared for a two day trek across a desert, but he didn't see how they could turn back to the nearest village and attempt to prepare now. They were standing on the brink and there was nowhere for them to go but forward.
He shifted his pack slightly and turned back to where Snape was glaring angrily at Cassandra who was staring back with equal anger simmering in her eyes. Siruis let his eyes roam over her and for the first time he realized how weak and tired she really looked. Her hair was tied back in a tight pony tail, only accentuating all the bones and shadows in her face. It amazed him that she had been able to come as far as they had without a total collapse. With a smile, he supposed she was doing it for the same reason he was. Remus was really all that mattered to her.
"You're going," Snape said loudly, finally catching Sirius' attention. "That is the end of this argument."
Cassandra raised her eyebrows. "You're the only one arguing here. I'm not going anywhere because if I go out I risk all our lives."
Sirius frowned and stepped over to them. "Cass, if you don't go Remus could die."
She turned her eyes on him pleadingly. "Not if I tell you where to go."
"Cass, we can't go without you."
She sighed deeply. "But it's stronger here."
Sirius looked out at the desert. "Those visions?"
She nodded. "If I go in there none of us will make it out alive."
"It's just sand," Snape said sharply.
"Watch it," Sirius growled at him.
"This is ridiculous," Snape continued. "She takes us this far and then expects to abandon us on the edge of an endless desert? No. She's going in if I have to tie her to my waist and drag her."
Cassandra stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide, then she smiled slightly. "If he wants me to go that badly I guess I have no choice."
Snape held her gaze for a long time, inwardly debating how sarcastic she was being when she made the statement. Eventually his black eyes slid off her face and he stared at the ground.
"Ready?" Sirius asked, breaking the tension.
Cassandra gazed out at the sand and shrugged deeply. "Why not?" she murmured, then shouldered her pack and began to walk away. The others followed her slowly, Sirius watching her carefully as she faltered, then stumbled slightly.
"Cass?" he called cautiously, walking over to her quickly. "What is it?"
Her breath caught in her throat and Sirius watched her face as her eyelids fluttered. She seemed to be having trouble breathing as she reached toward something that wasn't there. Her mouth worked as if she was trying to say something and Sirius reached for her just as she blinked and stared at him.
"Remus," she whispered.
"What about him?" Sirius asked.
"He's going to kill someone," she murmured. "As the wolf."
"Who?" Snape asked sharply.
Cassandra shook her head. "I don't know . . . I couldn't see." She regarded the other two carefully. "If anything happens and he gets loose, we have to restrain him somehow. I don't want either of you ending up dead and we can't let him go through that."
Sirius nodded. "We'll do that, don't worry."
Cassandra nodded and straightened, shifting her pack carefully. "Let's keep going," she said, then continued their long walk into the desert.
* * * *
Lucius watched Peter fidget with cold eyes before turning his gaze over the enormous land mass which they were staying under. Cape Three Point, a known area of Takoradi used in ritual of witchcraft and other religious ceremonies. Lucius didn't believe in anything as ridiculous as witchcraft, but only because he knew better. Witches didn't light candles and chant, they pulled out their wands and did the damage themselves. Yet, Voldemort had insisted they stay under Cape Three Point, he promised that the area would be useful to them in the long run when they were to finish Remus Lupin off for good.
"I don't like this place," Peter murmured.
Lucius arched an eyebrow. "Oh no?"
Peter shook his head and stared out over the points. Not a single point was very large, but each hung precariously over a churning ocean and Lucius wondered how much weight they could really hold before the earth crumbled and it dropped into the sea. At the apex of the three points was a huge stone with a faded Latin inscription that Lucius couldn't interpret. The words were far too worn for anyone to be able to see what was once set in stone.
"Why don't you like it, Wormtail?" Voldemort spoke from behind them, stepping out into the fading sun.
Peter glanced at the Dark Lord nervously. "There's an energy," he said slowly. "It's heavy and . . . something's not right about it."
Lucius caught Voldemort's eye and he smiled very softly. There was a look in the man's red eyes that told Lucius everything he needed to know. It was time to explain to Peter exactly what was going to happen.
"Wormtail," Lucius began, his fingers sliding to the inner pocket of his robe and touching his wand. "There is a lot that you don't know yet, much of it having to do with that . . . energy, is that what you called it?"
Peter nodded, staring at Lucius.
"Well, that energy you sense is an ancient entity, a being created for one reason only."
Peter swallowed hard. "What is that?"
"This being has the ability to transfer personality traits from one body to another," Lucius continued. "But it can also transfer things such as . . . power, or intellect."
"What does that have to do with Remus?" Peter asked.
Another smile crossed Lucius' face. "Not just Remus, but you and Sirius Black as well."
Peter frowned. "Me?" he practically squeaked.
Lucius nodded. "Yes, Wormtail . . . you."
"Why me?"
"You are an animagus, correct?" Lucius asked.
Peter nodded. "Yes, you know that." He glanced at Voldemort. "What's going on?"
Voldemort just kept his eyes on Lucius, waiting for Peter to look back over and listen to the rest of the story. Peter stared at Voldemort for a moment longer, looking as if he were debating asking another question or running as fast as he could into the desert, but eventually he sighed and turned his eyes back to Lucius.
"Sirius Black is also an animagus," Lucius said. "Remus Lupin is a werewolf."
Peter nodded again. "I know all this, why are you telling me?"
Lucius ignored his question, but tightened his grip on his wand. "In order for this being to transfer powers of animagi, one must be an animagi himself."
Peter brightened visibly at this. "You're going to let me take in the powers from Sirius and Remus."
Lucius finally turned on him, his wand extending. "Imperio," he growled, then waited for the spell to take hold. When Peter was unable to move, Lucius smiled again. "No, you silly man. Don't you understand yet? That's why I've been turning in Potter, to use his powers. When the full moon comes and Lupin turns into the werewolf, we'll have you and Black at our disposal and James Potter will take in everything. Every little bit of humanity left inside you will belong to me."
Lucius stepped closer to Peter and ran his wand along the side of his face. "You'll have nothing left inside of you . . . you'll be mad." He smiled, revelling in the fear that radiated off Peter. "Completely mad, as will the men you once betrayed and I will possess every little bit of power they own."
He turned away and waved his hand. "Not to mention the fact that having Lupin out of the picture will be a great blessing indeed. He's worth more as a wolf than he ever would have imagined."
Voldemort stared at Peter for a long moment before glancing over at Lucius. "Take some Death Eaters and go find Severus and the others. Bring Sirius Black back to me."
Lucius nodded. "What do you want us to do with Cassandra Harvey and Severus?"
Voldemort shrugged. "Kill them."
Another smile crossed Lucius' face. "I'll see to it personally that it's done correctly. Come, Wormtail. We have a cozy cell waiting just for you."
He began to walk away and Peter followed obediently as Voldemort watched.
"Betrayal has a way of coming full circle, doesn't it, Wormtail?" he called after them, then watched as the sun turned blood red and the sun slipped over the water.
* * * *
