Black Night
Part Seventeen
Rated R
Narcissa/Lucius, Bellatrix/Remus
Three hours and eleven filed entries had passed. Five chairs were drawn up around the image of Andry now. Sirius sat on the floor closest, his knees curled up to his chest. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her.
"June thirtieth, nineteen seventy-seven. I am getting more and more frightened by the strange inner workings of the Khasti's circle. Ever since my strange promotion, ever since I began working their strategies, I have been worried that I will be found out and I know that if that happens, they will kill me.
"Strike after secret strike failed before they took out the previous strategist. I don't know what had happened to him, but he had gone almost two years before Igor and Vladimir tired of his failures. Perhaps I can do better - I know that my plans can be, but how do I make sure that they fail without failing myself?
"The only thing I can imagine I could possibly do is use the Imperius Curse on one of the key strike members, to make sure that they screw up." Sirius drew in a sharp breath. Andry's holographic eyes filled with tears and her voice rose. "But I am afraid that they will kill whoever I do this to! If one of the members causes one brilliant failed plan after another, I know Igor will not stand for it. And he has been making advances on me again. . .that man frightens me beyond anything else in the circle. Even his brother is not so bad as he. And I am afraid of breaking the law so much. . .already I'm doing a great deal that I should not without Mr. Rookwood's permission. For instance, I met Vladimir today in the pub downtown. He doesn't seem to understand about secrecy, he almost hexed one of the Muggles and I'm sure that Damein suspects something. . .oh, I IhateI not telling Ted, I hate this secrecy, I hate it all. But I can't turn back now. The Khastis are for life, and so I must continue until I am able to make my move and turn them all in." She sighed. "Unfortunately, I believe at the rate I am going it will be a good five more years before this is possible. Spikey is getting more and more anxious. I'm glad I have someone to talk to. He's very understanding about everything. I tell him about Nymphadora's progress - she had her first literate sentence today! It's quite surprising it took her this long. Most children - well, in any case, she asked Ted for her milk this morning, just as I was leaving. Papa, I want milk! And then she waved at me and said Buh-bye, Mama! I'm so afraid of something happening to her, something. . .There isn't much time. We're planning another strike tonight and I have to make it fail, or three children are going to die. . .it's our attack on the Weasley family today, and I have to sink it. I know all of their names, and I've seen them sometimes. . .Molly was a prefect when I was in my first year, and Arthur was the top of his class in Muggle Studies, although he was always terrible at getting the names right, it's always fellytone and eckeltricity. Molly's eight months pregnant with twins, and she has three sons, Percy, Charlie, and Bill. . .they're a family very close to Dumbledore. Perhaps I can go to the Headmaster for help! I have to go, quickly." Her image flickered and there was a temporary silence while it switched to the next file.
"I know the Weasleys," Remus said quietly. "Not very well, but. . ." And Lucius was nodding, although looking very distasteful.
"I remember the attack on their house," Sirius said in a choked voice. "Someone tipped us off. Someone from the Department of Mysteries. They didn't say who, but they sent a memo. It must have been Andry. I - it was one of my first training missions. And one of the attackers - we thought they were Death Eaters - he had terrible aim, and he hit one of the others with a Stunner. . .but we never caught any of them."
The image of Andry flickered back. "July twenty-fourth, nineteen seventy- seven. Our strikes are growing more frequent. . ."
And fifteen minutes later, "August twentieth, nineteen seventy-seven. I'm so frightened that I'm going to be caught. I can't tip off the Aurors every time, and I don't always want to. . .it's so hard, if I know the attack is going to be vicious and I know that Sirius is there, or someone else. . ."
Another twenty minutes or so, and something extremely startling came up in the September fifteenth file. "We have a new initiate to the Department. I don't think I'm going to get to know him very well - he's working with the prophecies with Merilili, the poor boy, but I heard his name and just about jumped out of my seat. It's that boy who's Sirius' best friend, James Potter -"
At these words, Sirius leapt to his feet, eyes wide and shaking all over. Remus too was looking shocked, he had half-risen from his chair and slowly stood the rest of the way, laying a hand on Sirius' shoulder.
October's file flew by with mounting worry and some tears, and then they came to the last file, from early November. It was dated from a week before.
"I think I've been found out. They know my loyalties are divided. I have to get out, I have to go to someone for help. I'm afraid for my family. They know my name, my true name!" Andry was pale and shaking all over. "And I'm meeting Vladimir in the pub again, sometime soon, he said he'd owl me for my terms. They asked me about Nymphadora. They know she's a Metamorphmagi. . .damn this! Damn it all, I don't care anymore, they're talking about my IdaughterI, and Sirius too, everyone knows how good he can be. . .I don't care about secrecy, I don't care about what's logical or even legal. I'm doing what I have to to save my family, to save two of the people I love most. . .I can't do this anymore. I'm speaking to Dumbledore this afternoon -"
"Dumbledore was out that afternoon," Sirius whispered. "He was at the Auror Department, talking to Mad-Eye. . ."
"- if I can get in touch with him. This isn't going to work. The operation is a failure, and I think I might. . ." Her voice was tearful. "I'm only sorry that I might not be able to say goodbye to everyone. . .maybe Spikey can tell Ted and Sirius and everyone. I don't know. I don't know at all." A pause. "This information is all that is crucial if anyone watches this. The Khasti Revolution means to join Voldemort. They are to give him offerings of people in power, people who can be brainwashed or used - like my daughter. Like Sirius. They also plan to try to brainwash Bartemius Crouch's son. And they know, somehow, that Voldemort has spies, spies everywhere, and that he is searching for more. . .a way to get to the important families, the ones who support Dumbledore and his secret orgainization. The spies must be found and the targets kept secure and in hiding. If anyone ever sees this, ever, tell my family I'm sorry. I think this will be my last entry."
The image flickered then, and died. Sirius let out a muffled sob. There was a long, long silence.
Then, "James," Remus whispered. "Oh, God, Sirius, did he know? Did he know and not tell us?"
"She was right," Lucius said quietly. He hadn't spoken or moved for some time. Sirius turned to look at the man, a fire blazing in his eyes that Remus had never seen before.
"I think it's time for your explanation, Malfoy," Sirius whispered venemously.
"I was. . .at a meeting place. Two men, brothers by the names of Igor and Vladimir Karkaroff, Apparated in front of me, holding a woman. . ." He trailed off for a moment, his eyes haunted. "Holding Andromeda. She was. . .still alive. Barely. Unconcious, bleeding, but breathing. They had tortured her for information. After she met Vladimir at a pub - The King's Best Radishes - she had tried to attack him. He overpowered her and took her to his older brother, Igor, and they tortured her for information on her daughter. And you." He met Sirius' eyes, but Sirius shuddered and looked away. "They were bringing her as an offering, hoping to find someone at the meeting place where I was who could help them. When. . .I found out who she was. . .and who they were, I. . ." He was faltering, looking around at all of them, his eyes darting, nervous. "I told them to hand her over to me, and I would deal with it. I. . .I knew who she was, and. . .but they refused, and I attacked them. One of them punched me, in the face, and I fell. . .they had dropped her, and I think Igor shot an Avada Kedavra at me, but. . ." He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "It missed," he said quietly, helplessly.
He didn't explain. He didn't have to.
"And then I Apparated immediately to Narcissa and Bellatrix's flat," he said quietly. "I was going to tell them. I was." He opened his eyes again and looked at Narcissa. She was crying - they all were, except for Snape, who was staring silent and stony-faced. "But I couldn't. I knew that it was too late anyway, and that you would find her. I'm sorry. I swear, I never meant for it. . .I'm sorry." And Narcissa was nodding, crying, but still nodding in understanding, and even Sirius didn't look angry. Narcissa wrapped her arms around him, and he looked up at Bella, as if asking for permission for something.
And Bella nodded.
Lucius hugged Narcissa back, hard, and Bella was crying harder now and she buried her face in Remus' arm. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, looking doubtful - Sirius was looking at the two of them with a strange, closed expression, even with tears running down his cheeks.
Snape Disapparated, and after a while Lucius and Narcissa followed suit, and Bella did the same a silent moment later, glancing at Andry's body and then at Remus.
Leaving the two of them to stare at each other.
"I can't believe James would do this without telling us," Sirius whispered, looking anywhere but at Andry. "I just can't. There must be a mistake -"
"No," Remus said slowly. "I think he tried to tell us once. But he couldn't, and so he left it at that. He wasn't supposed to - we aren't supposed to know any of this kind of thing."
At these words, as if summoned, Spikey appeared at the doorway, without a pop, as if he had been there all along.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but you had better go. I think, technically, you aren't supposed to be here, and. . .it would just make things harder."
And Remus and Sirius nodded.
"If you want. . ." Spikey took a deep breath. "I could take her body to her husband. I have to explain everything to him in any case. And I. . ."
Sirius nodded again. "Would you do that?" he asked. "I - I don't think I - Ted is - is at number twelve, Grimmauld Place - but I'll have to give you the passwords, first -"
"That won't be necessary," Spikey said with a small smile. "I know things and do things. I - I'll be in touch."
"Thank you," Sirius whispered. Spikey nodded, and soon he and Andry's body were gone.
Sirius turned to Remus, and they both nodded once, decisively, as if carrying out a pre-made plan.
They Apparated, and to Sirius, the predawn shadows that covered the grounds of the Potter Hall seemed darker than they ought to have been.
Three hours and eleven filed entries had passed. Five chairs were drawn up around the image of Andry now. Sirius sat on the floor closest, his knees curled up to his chest. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her.
"June thirtieth, nineteen seventy-seven. I am getting more and more frightened by the strange inner workings of the Khasti's circle. Ever since my strange promotion, ever since I began working their strategies, I have been worried that I will be found out and I know that if that happens, they will kill me.
"Strike after secret strike failed before they took out the previous strategist. I don't know what had happened to him, but he had gone almost two years before Igor and Vladimir tired of his failures. Perhaps I can do better - I know that my plans can be, but how do I make sure that they fail without failing myself?
"The only thing I can imagine I could possibly do is use the Imperius Curse on one of the key strike members, to make sure that they screw up." Sirius drew in a sharp breath. Andry's holographic eyes filled with tears and her voice rose. "But I am afraid that they will kill whoever I do this to! If one of the members causes one brilliant failed plan after another, I know Igor will not stand for it. And he has been making advances on me again. . .that man frightens me beyond anything else in the circle. Even his brother is not so bad as he. And I am afraid of breaking the law so much. . .already I'm doing a great deal that I should not without Mr. Rookwood's permission. For instance, I met Vladimir today in the pub downtown. He doesn't seem to understand about secrecy, he almost hexed one of the Muggles and I'm sure that Damein suspects something. . .oh, I IhateI not telling Ted, I hate this secrecy, I hate it all. But I can't turn back now. The Khastis are for life, and so I must continue until I am able to make my move and turn them all in." She sighed. "Unfortunately, I believe at the rate I am going it will be a good five more years before this is possible. Spikey is getting more and more anxious. I'm glad I have someone to talk to. He's very understanding about everything. I tell him about Nymphadora's progress - she had her first literate sentence today! It's quite surprising it took her this long. Most children - well, in any case, she asked Ted for her milk this morning, just as I was leaving. Papa, I want milk! And then she waved at me and said Buh-bye, Mama! I'm so afraid of something happening to her, something. . .There isn't much time. We're planning another strike tonight and I have to make it fail, or three children are going to die. . .it's our attack on the Weasley family today, and I have to sink it. I know all of their names, and I've seen them sometimes. . .Molly was a prefect when I was in my first year, and Arthur was the top of his class in Muggle Studies, although he was always terrible at getting the names right, it's always fellytone and eckeltricity. Molly's eight months pregnant with twins, and she has three sons, Percy, Charlie, and Bill. . .they're a family very close to Dumbledore. Perhaps I can go to the Headmaster for help! I have to go, quickly." Her image flickered and there was a temporary silence while it switched to the next file.
"I know the Weasleys," Remus said quietly. "Not very well, but. . ." And Lucius was nodding, although looking very distasteful.
"I remember the attack on their house," Sirius said in a choked voice. "Someone tipped us off. Someone from the Department of Mysteries. They didn't say who, but they sent a memo. It must have been Andry. I - it was one of my first training missions. And one of the attackers - we thought they were Death Eaters - he had terrible aim, and he hit one of the others with a Stunner. . .but we never caught any of them."
The image of Andry flickered back. "July twenty-fourth, nineteen seventy- seven. Our strikes are growing more frequent. . ."
And fifteen minutes later, "August twentieth, nineteen seventy-seven. I'm so frightened that I'm going to be caught. I can't tip off the Aurors every time, and I don't always want to. . .it's so hard, if I know the attack is going to be vicious and I know that Sirius is there, or someone else. . ."
Another twenty minutes or so, and something extremely startling came up in the September fifteenth file. "We have a new initiate to the Department. I don't think I'm going to get to know him very well - he's working with the prophecies with Merilili, the poor boy, but I heard his name and just about jumped out of my seat. It's that boy who's Sirius' best friend, James Potter -"
At these words, Sirius leapt to his feet, eyes wide and shaking all over. Remus too was looking shocked, he had half-risen from his chair and slowly stood the rest of the way, laying a hand on Sirius' shoulder.
October's file flew by with mounting worry and some tears, and then they came to the last file, from early November. It was dated from a week before.
"I think I've been found out. They know my loyalties are divided. I have to get out, I have to go to someone for help. I'm afraid for my family. They know my name, my true name!" Andry was pale and shaking all over. "And I'm meeting Vladimir in the pub again, sometime soon, he said he'd owl me for my terms. They asked me about Nymphadora. They know she's a Metamorphmagi. . .damn this! Damn it all, I don't care anymore, they're talking about my IdaughterI, and Sirius too, everyone knows how good he can be. . .I don't care about secrecy, I don't care about what's logical or even legal. I'm doing what I have to to save my family, to save two of the people I love most. . .I can't do this anymore. I'm speaking to Dumbledore this afternoon -"
"Dumbledore was out that afternoon," Sirius whispered. "He was at the Auror Department, talking to Mad-Eye. . ."
"- if I can get in touch with him. This isn't going to work. The operation is a failure, and I think I might. . ." Her voice was tearful. "I'm only sorry that I might not be able to say goodbye to everyone. . .maybe Spikey can tell Ted and Sirius and everyone. I don't know. I don't know at all." A pause. "This information is all that is crucial if anyone watches this. The Khasti Revolution means to join Voldemort. They are to give him offerings of people in power, people who can be brainwashed or used - like my daughter. Like Sirius. They also plan to try to brainwash Bartemius Crouch's son. And they know, somehow, that Voldemort has spies, spies everywhere, and that he is searching for more. . .a way to get to the important families, the ones who support Dumbledore and his secret orgainization. The spies must be found and the targets kept secure and in hiding. If anyone ever sees this, ever, tell my family I'm sorry. I think this will be my last entry."
The image flickered then, and died. Sirius let out a muffled sob. There was a long, long silence.
Then, "James," Remus whispered. "Oh, God, Sirius, did he know? Did he know and not tell us?"
"She was right," Lucius said quietly. He hadn't spoken or moved for some time. Sirius turned to look at the man, a fire blazing in his eyes that Remus had never seen before.
"I think it's time for your explanation, Malfoy," Sirius whispered venemously.
"I was. . .at a meeting place. Two men, brothers by the names of Igor and Vladimir Karkaroff, Apparated in front of me, holding a woman. . ." He trailed off for a moment, his eyes haunted. "Holding Andromeda. She was. . .still alive. Barely. Unconcious, bleeding, but breathing. They had tortured her for information. After she met Vladimir at a pub - The King's Best Radishes - she had tried to attack him. He overpowered her and took her to his older brother, Igor, and they tortured her for information on her daughter. And you." He met Sirius' eyes, but Sirius shuddered and looked away. "They were bringing her as an offering, hoping to find someone at the meeting place where I was who could help them. When. . .I found out who she was. . .and who they were, I. . ." He was faltering, looking around at all of them, his eyes darting, nervous. "I told them to hand her over to me, and I would deal with it. I. . .I knew who she was, and. . .but they refused, and I attacked them. One of them punched me, in the face, and I fell. . .they had dropped her, and I think Igor shot an Avada Kedavra at me, but. . ." He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "It missed," he said quietly, helplessly.
He didn't explain. He didn't have to.
"And then I Apparated immediately to Narcissa and Bellatrix's flat," he said quietly. "I was going to tell them. I was." He opened his eyes again and looked at Narcissa. She was crying - they all were, except for Snape, who was staring silent and stony-faced. "But I couldn't. I knew that it was too late anyway, and that you would find her. I'm sorry. I swear, I never meant for it. . .I'm sorry." And Narcissa was nodding, crying, but still nodding in understanding, and even Sirius didn't look angry. Narcissa wrapped her arms around him, and he looked up at Bella, as if asking for permission for something.
And Bella nodded.
Lucius hugged Narcissa back, hard, and Bella was crying harder now and she buried her face in Remus' arm. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, looking doubtful - Sirius was looking at the two of them with a strange, closed expression, even with tears running down his cheeks.
Snape Disapparated, and after a while Lucius and Narcissa followed suit, and Bella did the same a silent moment later, glancing at Andry's body and then at Remus.
Leaving the two of them to stare at each other.
"I can't believe James would do this without telling us," Sirius whispered, looking anywhere but at Andry. "I just can't. There must be a mistake -"
"No," Remus said slowly. "I think he tried to tell us once. But he couldn't, and so he left it at that. He wasn't supposed to - we aren't supposed to know any of this kind of thing."
At these words, as if summoned, Spikey appeared at the doorway, without a pop, as if he had been there all along.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but you had better go. I think, technically, you aren't supposed to be here, and. . .it would just make things harder."
And Remus and Sirius nodded.
"If you want. . ." Spikey took a deep breath. "I could take her body to her husband. I have to explain everything to him in any case. And I. . ."
Sirius nodded again. "Would you do that?" he asked. "I - I don't think I - Ted is - is at number twelve, Grimmauld Place - but I'll have to give you the passwords, first -"
"That won't be necessary," Spikey said with a small smile. "I know things and do things. I - I'll be in touch."
"Thank you," Sirius whispered. Spikey nodded, and soon he and Andry's body were gone.
Sirius turned to Remus, and they both nodded once, decisively, as if carrying out a pre-made plan.
They Apparated, and to Sirius, the predawn shadows that covered the grounds of the Potter Hall seemed darker than they ought to have been.
