Thanks to my growing mob of groupies. I'm eternally grateful for the wonderful reviews. I'd be even more grateful for some well-constructed criticism-I'm working on improving my craft for much more than just fanfiction. Pointing out my faults is the best way to help me do that.

Note to Joyce: It's rated PG-13 for a reason. And it's not over yet.

CHAPTER NINE: Lucius Malfoy's Revenge

By dinnertime, the Great Hall buzzed with whispered rumors and wild speculation. The Hufflepuffs were certain of a werewolf attack. The Ravenclaws heard that a unicorn had gored someone. The Gryffindors, though still not able to say for certain what had happened, at least knew who the victim was and debated heatedly over whether Roxanne survived or not. The Slytherins ignored everyone else and sniggered coldly at their table.

Harry spent the day in hiding from the relentless stream of questions that Dumbledore had asked him not to answer. Sirius had asked that he not leave the castle. Under the circumstances Harry was more than willing to comply. He, Ron, and Hermione hid in the one place they knew no one else would venture-Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

The three of them, having finally emerged, entered the Great Hall for dinner, waded through the hushed whispers, and took their seats just as Professor Dumbledore stood and called for everyone's attention.

"Before we begin this evening," he began heavily, "I feel it necessary to explain events of this morning." The hall was totally silent, all eyes on Dumbledore. "A student has been attacked. We are certain the attack was perpetrated by a gathering of Death Eaters deep within the Forbidden Forest. The victim is alive, but still in very grave danger. Your parents have been notified. It is likely many of you will be leaving us."

The hall hummed with whispers. Dumbledore held up his hands for silence to return.

"Be assured that those who leave will be welcomed back after the danger has passed. Hogwarts will remain open," he said firmly before sitting down. Dinner was hushed, plates left mostly full, the food only picked at and shoved around on the plates.

At the back of the Slytherin table Draco Malfoy and his gang seemed to be celebrating, doing their best to keep the volume down--only out of deference to stern looks from the head table--and eating hungrily. Ron glared at Draco. "He's got something to do with this," he hissed. "I'll bet my chess set on it."

"I think so, too," whispered Harry.

"Well it's obvious, isn't it," said Hermione testily. "Look at him. I wouldn't be surprised if he was there!"

Fred leaned over. "He wasn't there."

Harry started. "What do you mean?"

"George and I saw him last night. When Bill and Roxanne left. Draco followed them. So we followed him. We figured he was up to no good."

"Have you told this to Dumbledore?" whispered Harry.

"That's what George is doing right now," he said pointing to the head table, where indeed they saw George talking quietly with Dumbledore who nodded gravely at George's words.

"Did he go into the forest?" asked Ron.

"No. We followed him all the way to Hogsmeade. He had that ugly eagle owl of his on his arm. He's such an idiot, he never spotted us. He waited until Roxanne started back for the school, then sent that owl off. It was too dark to see which way it went. It must've gone into the forest, though. Draco went back to the Slytherin common room after that."

"He could have snuck out later," observed Hermione.

"I don't think so," said Fred. "I heard Draco complaining to Crabbe this morning -seems Crabbe overdid it at the feast last night. Kept Draco up all night. Serves him right, the git."

George came up and sat heavily next to Ron. "We should've said something last night," he said pounding his fist on the table.

"There's no way you could've know something like this would happen," said Harry.

"That's what Dumbledore said," George replied. "But I just can't help thinking we could've stopped it."

"They'd have just found another way; someone else even," soothed Hermione.

"There's only one thing to do," said George after a pause. "We'll have to keep a close eye on Draco Malfoy from now on. You with me?"

The others nodded determinedly.

"Definitely," scowled Ron.

**********

"Roxanne. Roxanne, try to wake up." Roxanne's eye fluttered open. Her lids felt heavy and she blinked slowly several times, Her eyes refused to focus and she felt too weak to move or speak. Her mind struggled to clear itself, but the only result was pain, blinding pain that consumed her like wildfire.

She trembled. A tear rolled down her cheek. She longed for the bliss that unconsciousness had been, but a voice kept calling her back to the world, to the pain.

"Roxanne. It's Professor Dumbledore. You must drink this." Dumbledore gingerly slid his hand beneath her head and lifted it slightly, pressing the cool glass of a vial to her lips. "Drink this, Roxanne-all of it."

He poured a shimmering, pearl-white liquid into her mouth a small sip at a time. It felt cool and soothing on her tongue, and seemed to quench the fire within her as it passed into her bloodstream and flowed swiftly to her aching limbs and into her foggy brain. With a deep sigh she closed her eyes again and slipped into a deep sleep.

**********

The hospital wing was brightly lit with sunshine streaming in through the high windows when Roxanne woke. She could see Madame Pomfrey bustling about in her office, but the curtain that still stood at the other side of her bed hid the remainder of the hospital wing. Most of the pain was gone, as long as she didn't move. Her back burned. Her muscles ached. Her hands were tightly wrapped in thick bandages. Movement made the pain nearly unbearable. So she lay still and closed her eyes again. But her mind instantly filled with flashes of a terror-filled night in the forest.

She thought of the man with the silver hand, his small rat-like face, balding head, beady eyes. He was not a big man, but the silver hand was strong and he refused to release his grip on her throat. She fumbled frantically for her wand, but he forced it from her hand as she coughed out an unpracticed jinx, the weak bolt of red light shooting uselessly into the ground. He said nothing to her, but went about his task as if anxious for it to be done.

Despite her desperate struggle, he'd managed to drag her a few steps into the forest where he met another. She was thrown to the ground, gagged, wrists bound tightly in front of her, the rope cutting into her skin as she worked to free herself. She could see the lights of Hogwarts flickering through the trees. The more exhausted she grew in her fight, the more desperately far away the castle seemed.

The silver handed man gave Roxanne's wand to his new companion.

"You are not worthy of this wand," he said venomously. "Nor was your father. This is the wand of a Slytherin-it is better destroyed than defiled." And he snapped the wand in half and flung the pieces into the forest.

They dragged her deep into the trees, kicking her viciously when she tripped in the dark tangle under her feet. They walked on and on, Roxanne breathing hard in her ever-rising panic, through dense brush and black trees, the low branches slashing at her face and pulling at her cloak. Her legs felt numb and trembly. She knew if she fell again she'd get another beating. So she did her best to keep her feet. But the longer they walked the more she seemed to stumble.

Finally, she caught a glimpse of light ahead-a cold flicker of white firelight. Silhouetted against the fire she saw tall black figures in a small clearing in the trees, a column of acrid blue smoke rising into the blackness above. The black figures stood waiting in a ring around the fire. Her two captors pushed her through the ring where she tripped forward and fell heavily. The man with the silver hand followed, picked her up roughly, removed the gag and backed into a gap in the circle. A cauldron bubbled, spitting something black that hissed in the fire below.

There were at least thirty of them, all with ghostly white masks, all with wands drawn. Roxanne circled the cauldron, struggling to keep her feet, looking into the blank menacing faces with wide panicked eyes.

"Wh-Who are you!?"

A tall slender wizard strode slowly toward her and stood in front of her with his feet set wide apart.

"We are called Death Eaters. We serve the Dark Lord," he said coldly.

Roxanne's eyes grew wider. She knew that voice though she'd heard it only once before.

"Malfoy," she breathed.

"Very good, Miss Stewart," he said removing the mask and smiling sinisterly at her. "I cannot tell you how delighted I am that you could join our little party." He circled around behind her, reached up and stroked her hair-once, twice-as she tensed against the cold touch. Swiftly he took a great handful of it, entwining his fingers in the long strands, yanked her head back, hard, exposing her neck, and leaned very close until his lips touched her ear. "I intend to finish this tonight," he whispered, drawing his wand tip across her throat.

"But first," he said stepping back and raising his voice for all to hear, "you should know your purpose here. Our master desires to extend his power to all corners of the wizard world, and you have been chosen to deliver a message for him."

Malfoy snapped his fingers in the air.

"Crucio!" bellowed a voice from behind her. And before she could turn to at least face her attacker, a bolt of white-hot blinding pain pierced her body, knocking her off her feet and leaving her writhing on the ground. She couldn't breathe to scream, not that it would have done her any good trapped so deep in the forest-outnumbered, defenseless.

The pain stopped abruptly. She lay gasping, afraid to move, hoping desperately to wake up, to find it had been some insanely terrifying dream.

Malfoy snapped again.

"Crucio!" bellowed another voice.

Again and again they attacked, taking turns, talking and laughing as if they were having drinks at the club. Roxanne struggled to rise each time, determined now to die standing. Blood was streaming down her hands as the ropes cut deeper into her wrists. Cold and exhausted she shivered uncontrollably, but stubbornly struggled to her feet again, standing defiantly between each onslaught on unsteady legs.

Malfoy moved in front of her again, his wand tapping lazily against his leg. "I'd have wagered you'd be begging for mercy by now," he drawled.

"Wh-What good would it do me," she stammered quietly.

"So, you can read minds as well, eh?" he said strutting around her, surveying her mockingly. "Perhaps if you crawled at my feet and kissed the hem of my robe, I would spare you more pain."

"Perhaps I would get my knees dirty for nothing."

Malfoy laughed. "Perhaps. But I do so wish for you to bow before me." Malfoy raised his wand, placing the tip directly over her heart. "Imperio!" he snarled loudly.

A feeling of peaceful bliss filled her mind and body. The pain disappeared, the shaking and cold melted away. She could think of nothing but a distant voice, which said, "Kneel before me. Kneel before me. Kneel before me." It resonated throughout her body.

"No!" she heard herself shout. And the pain and shaking returned with a rush. She fell to her knees. 'Thank you, Professor Moody," she thought, then stood again defiantly and steadied herself. Steeling all the courage she had left, she looked coldly into Malfoy's eyes and spit in his face.

Roxanne knew what was coming next. She was ready to die. Malfoy wiped the blood-tinged sputum from his face with the corner of another Death Eater's robe. The veins throbbed in his neck and forehead. His face was red with rage. His eyes flickered dangerously as he circled once around her and faced her again. Quickly, before Roxanne had a chance to steel herself, he drew his hand back and smacked her with all his force, leaving a jagged cut on her cheek.

She spun and fell heavily to her hands and knees. Malfoy was on her again, in two long strides. He stepped on her still-bound wrists, pinning her to the ground with his heavy healed boot, pressing his weight into her already raw flesh, crushing the bones in her hands. Roxanne screamed through gritted teeth. She tried to ignore the taunts flying at her from all around. The Death Eater's excitement rose with each passing moment, as if her pain fed their malice. They were thirsty for blood, eager to inflict pain, hungry for death. Their whispers became louder. They shouted suggestions to Malfoy, each more vile than the last.

But Lucius had his plan, approved by his master of course, and he was bent on fulfilling it. He scowled down at her, a wicked grin playing at his mouth.

"That's better," he sneered, as Roxanne's struggles weakened and she finally lay still under his foot.

"Crucio!" she heard him bellow, and the pain in her wrists and hands was lost in the agony that swallowed her. She struggled to breathe, tried to will the curse away, tried to let her mind drift. But the pain won, consuming her every thought, eating at her mind. She retched, vomiting up a pool of bile and blood. On and on it went until at last her body could take no more, and with a rushing sound that filled her head, she slipped into oblivion.

**********

Roxanne could feel herself being lifted, felt her cloak and robe being ripped from her body, felt herself being dragged, hung, bound. She could feel the rough bark of a tree on her face and chest, could feel her arms stretched tightly around the massive trunk, with ropes snaking around her neck and shoulders and legs. Her crushed hands felt as if they were being torn slowly from her arms. Even if her body had been capable of responding to her commands, she could not have moved against the tight cords.

She felt hands testing the ropes, felt the pull as they were tightened even more. She opened her eyes and swallowed against the bitter salty taste of blood in her mouth, straining to see around her. A Death Eater standing nearby edged closer, pulled at the ropes again and began to whisper low, so the others couldn't hear.

"Roxanne. It's Snape," he said quickly from behind the mask.

Roxanne's eyes grew wide with shock and surprise. She opened her mouth to speak, to curse him, but he hissed urgently, "The end is near. You must understand, I could do nothing to stop this." He glanced furtively around him. "But I promise you, I will do all in my power to save your life."

He disappeared behind her. She struggled uselessly to see where he had gone, to assure herself that what she'd just heard was real. But he was gone and now Lucius Malfoy was there pressing himself against her, grinding the side of her head into the tree.

"What did he say to you?" he whispered threateningly into her ear.

Thinking as fast as her sluggish mind would allow, Roxanne guessed that Snape could be in danger if Malfoy knew that he planned to help her. Roxanne stammered weakly, "He-He said, he couldn't wait for it to be-to be his turn."

Malfoy smiled. "Really? Well, we shall have to let him have his turn, then." He stepped back so she could see his sneering face. "Wormtail! Bring the cauldron," he commanded someone outside her view.

The cauldron was brought, by the man with the silver hand, and placed at Malfoy's feet. Malfoy reached into his robes and withdrew a long silver dagger-shining and sharp, its cold steel kris blade snaked from the silver handle molded in the form of a snake's head with tiny glimmering emerald eyes.

He smiled at her look of fear and pressed the blade against her cheek, cutting into her skin.

"Enjoying yourself?" he taunted, pressing the dagger deeper into the flesh. "I know I am."

He withdrew the blade quickly, stepped back and snapped his finger again. A wizard came forward and took the dagger from Malfoy, dipped the blade into the horribly black liquid in the cauldron, then stepped behind Roxanne. She felt the pull and heard the ripping sound as her shirt was torn open at the back, the cold of the night lifting the tiny hairs on her skin. She shuddered and gritted her teeth, waiting for the blade to run her through, hoping she would die quickly, forgetting Snape's promise in her panic.

She felt the blade touch, stinging and burning as it sliced into her skin in a long snaking curve down her back. She felt the blood begin to stream down, heard Malfoy call for another, saw him come forward and re-dip the dagger, heard herself screaming, begging for them to stop, calling into the blackness for help she knew would not come, until the blackness closed in and swallowed her.

**********

The sun still streamed in through the infirmary windows. But its warmth could not take the chill from Roxanne's heart. She shuddered, tried to clench her useless fists, grimacing with the pain, forcing her mind away from the images and memories pressing in upon her. She tried to rise, but every movement brought agony, and she cried out in her pain and frustration.

Madame Pomfrey rushed to her, followed by a gaunt looking wizard who'd appeared from inside her office.

"You must be still, Miss Stewart," she commanded gruffly. "Remus, fetch me some pillows." The wizard silently did as he was told, then helped Madame Pomfrey gently prop Roxanne up on them as she gasped at the pain, crying out for them to stop, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Madame Pomfrey bustled around her, checking her pulse, peaking under her bandages, feeling her forehead, wiping her face soothingly with a cool cloth as Roxanne panted heavily. Remus, who had stepped away for a moment returned with a steaming cup of broth and a spoon.

Finally Madame Pomfrey disappeared behind the curtains and could be heard leaving the hospital wing. Roxanne's breathing slowed. She watched Lupin stirring the broth, waiting for her to relax.

"Here we go," Remus said holding the spoon to her mouth. "You must be quite hungry."

Roxanne shook her head but sipped the broth obediently. It tasted good after all, washing the foul taste from her mouth. She didn't know how long it had been since she left Bill at Hogsmeade. And as her anxious thoughts subsided, she became aware of her keen hunger.

She emptied nearly half the cup before closing her eyes to rest a minute. Remus gently wiped away drops of broth from her chin and waited patiently until she was ready for more. She drew a deep painful breath, then opened her eyes and looked at him. He was young despite the gray in his hair and had a kindly look about his face.

"Excuse me," she whispered, "who are you?"

He looked at her, surprised. "Sorry. I'd forgotten we've not actually met. Remus Lupin. I'm a friend of Professor Dumbledore."

Satisfied for the moment Roxanne took several more spoonfuls, staring at the ceiling, before speaking again.

"Who found me?"

He looked at her carefully, considering how much to tell. "Hagrid and Sirius and I," he began slowly. "Harry played a part as well. Hagrid'll be happy to see you awake-he hasn't been able to teach his classes he's been so worried."

"Thanks," she said quietly, looking him squarely in the eyes. But that was all she could manage before looking away and swallowing hard, fighting to keep the ache in her heart from bursting into sobs that she knew would cause more pain. Remus wiped her face with the cloth again and went silently back to feeding her.

**********

Madame Pomfrey returned with Professor Dumbledore and another wizard Roxanne did not recognize. He was handsome, but fierce-looking, like a cornered wolf, and looked gravely at her as he came around the screen. Roxanne noted the contrast between him and Lupin. She could almost imagine the newcomer out there in the forest tormenting her, but decided he would never have been cowardly enough to hide behind a mask.

Hagrid came as well, his head bobbing well above the top of the screen, relief washing over his face when he saw her awake and alert. "I brough' summat fer ye," he said producing a large bunch of flowers, dwarfed by his huge hands, from behind his back.

"Thanks Hagrid," she said, "for everything."

Hagrid nodded, eyes glistening. "Don' you make me have to do summat like that again, young lady," he said sternly, pointing a sausage sized finger at her.

"I don't imagine she plans to, Hagrid," said the Headmaster. "Nevertheless, I believe this will help. He held up a long gold chain with a small crystal globe suspended from it. The globe was threaded with thin lines of gold that coiled from the top to the bottom. Inside the globe sat a tiny object that resembled a top. "It's from Professor Snape."

"Snape? Is he here?" she asked anxiously.

"No. I'm afraid not."

"I saw him. He said he would save my life."

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you've said."

But Roxanne couldn't remember telling Dumbledore anything. Her last recollection was falling into darkness and feeling the tickle of blood trickling down her back. She looked at the ball again. "What is it?"

"A Sneakoscope. I've never seen one so small-or so beautiful. Apparently it is meant to hang around your neck, so you can have it with you always. I have several myself-a useful little invention. It spins and lights up when it senses deception nearby. It seems Severus means to keep you alive now that he's saved your life," Dumbledore smiled, placing it over her head.

"Roxanne," he said pointing towards the fierce-looking wizard, "I'd like to introduce you to Sirius Black." Black nodded curtly. "I see you've met Remus." Lupin nodded pleasantly.

Dumbledore sighed, his expression shifting from pleasant to grave. "I regret asking it of you, but it is important we hear the entire story."

Roxanne closed her eyes. She couldn't escape the images that swam in her head. In a way, she felt that if she spoke of them they would come charging into the room and drag her back into the forest, to finish the job the Death Eaters had started. But Dumbledore was there. He would protect her. He could fend them off. She nodded once and began.

Dumbledore, Lupin and Black sat transfixed, carefully absorbing every detail, asking questions and clarifying Roxanne's uncertainties, waiting patiently for her to re-gather her strength at frequent intervals. They filled in events that Roxanne had missed while in the forest. She learned of being followed to Hogsmeade by Draco Malfoy and explained that she felt he had been following her around the school for quite some time. Dumbledore nodded at this, but said nothing.

Hagrid paced the floor, fuming quietly, gasping and grumbling at the particularly horrible spots. Roxanne learned of Harry's dream, her rescue, and the white potion-another gift sent to Dumbledore by Professor Snape. It had weakened the effects of the black poison that still threatened her life hours after the rescue. Finally, reluctantly, Dumbledore told of the Dark Mark carved into her back, the blackness seeping permanently into her flesh, visible despite the ugly red scars. Nothing Madame Pomfrey knew of would remove those scars, or the pain. The poison, though no longer life threatening, still seemed to interfere with Madame Pomfrey's magical remedies. She would have to heal slowly, on her own. No one knew for how long.

Roxanne trembled, staring at the ceiling as tears rolled into her hair. She'd heard enough, said enough. She was drained. But she felt relieved to have it said-as if the telling transferred part of the burden to the listeners. They shared it all now. She did not need to carry it alone. The pain in her back became distracting and she whispered hoarsely, "Please. No more."

Dumbledore nodded. Lupin's shoulders sagged. He stood and walked a few steps away, his back turned. He seemed more heavily weighted by his share of the burden than the others. Sirius went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Remus?"

"I can't help thinking-what if it had been Harry?" Lupin whispered.

"It wouldn't have been. Harry's smarter than that. He would never-" But Black knew he was wrong before he'd gotten it all out.

"Wouldn't he? He hasn't got the best track record for staying out of trouble, has he."

"He's just like we were-just like James," Sirius reasoned.

"Yes, but the world's not exactly the same as it was then. Harry's not as free to be like we were," Lupin said slowly.

Sirius nodded. "I know. But really, Remus. This never would have happened if she'd stayed in America where she belongs." He looked at Roxanne as she swallowed the last of the dreamless sleep potion Madame Pomfrey offered hopefully.

Lupin turned and looked into Black's eyes. "She belongs at Hogwarts as well as any of us, Sirius," he said firmly.

Black knew of Professor Dumbledore's policy of providing a chance at Hogwarts to anyone who showed talent, of his willingness to give anyone a chance to prove, or redeem, themselves. Because of Dumbledore Remus had gotten an education and eventually taught at Hogwarts. Sirius Black himself owed Dumbledore his very life. Hogwarts had become a refuge for many who had nowhere else to go.

But Sirius' concerns were for his godson, Harry. To him nothing but Harry's safety mattered, and he viewed Roxanne's presence there as a threat to that safety. He felt that valuable time and resources were being wasted on her, and that she had brought trouble with her that threatened them all.

But Remus was firm. "She belongs here."