Silver Blood
Four: Murmurs in the murk
Summary: Devoid of a memory on how she died, someone came back from the dead to find out – only to find that she didn't die at all. Now she discovers that the love of her life is dead, her friends' lives are in danger, and her worst fears came true.
In this chapter, Dorcas gets a new look and updates herself on what happened in her absence. Finally knowing why Sirius never returned. Oh yeah, and Dung has a little surprise for her.
Disclaimer: Alas, the characters are not in my possession; they belong to J.K Rowling and an assortment of publishers.
Author's Notes: This is my least favorite chapter...but it's very essential so...
____________________________________________
Dorcas woke up the next day in a room in the Leaky Cauldron with a mild hangover. She caught sight of herself in the mirror over the basin. She peered at herself for a moment, gazing at her pallid face, lean built, she told herself that she needed a bit of fattening up to make her look hale and hearty instead of dead and unwholesome. She picked up a hairbrush and stroked her long, wavy, raven black hair with it. She glanced at the bag of gold in her bedside table. Even she knew that even the affluence of her deceased family wouldn't last her a couple of years.
A job might be good for her; maybe it will give her a bit of an exercise. The question was: where can she find one? Her old job in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes might still be good. But a lot of people know that she died. How will she be able to explain to them how she came back from the dead, not knowing how herself?
A new look! Dorcas became excited at the thought. Pulling the dagger off her cloak, which she placed earlier on a chair, she pulled her hair and a swish of a dagger later, her once-long, waist-length hair fell down on her shoulders. She then filled the basin beneath her with water, seized her wand, and changed the water with red liquid. She plunged her hair into the basin and looked up, droplets of dye splattered all over the floor.
She gazed at her dark red hair. It reminded her of Lily Evans. "Not bad," she told her reflection, grinning and dabbing a few of the dye to her eyebrows. "I always wondered how I'd look as a redhead."
After drying her hair with a complementary bath towel from Tom, she put back her cloak and immediately went out into Diagon Alley without any thoughts of taking breakfast.
She strolled along the lively street of Diagon Alley and stopped in front of Flourish and Blotts.
As she entered the store, the manager greeted her with a smile. "Anything you need, ma'am?"
"Erm – yeah," said Dorcas, thinking that her request might seem impossible. "Do you – er – have copies of Sunday Prophet since 1981?"
The manager looked surprised. Dorcas wouldn't find it impossible if he said no. "Why, yes we do. What do you need it for?"
"I'm – er – looking for a couple of articles..."
"Since 1981," muttered the manager. "Might take a few minutes. Excuse me..." He disappeared behind the shelves.
Dorcas looked around while waiting for him. She browsed a book entitled Magical Me, written by a very good-looking blonde wizard with alluring white teeth. Unfortunately, she found the book of no use at all and stuffed it back in the shelves. The manager returned shortly with a box.
"It has an Enlarging Spell, I presume?" she asked him.
"Yes," the manager replied with a grin, handing her the box, which was unusually light. "Also a Lightening Charm. Now, don't forget to return them. They're my only copies, you know."
"You're not charging for them?" Dorcas asked, perplexed.
"I would," the manager told her cheerfully, "but it's the first time I met a customer who turns back time with reading. The latest issue is on top and is dated last week."
"Erm – yeah, sure. Goodbye then," said Dorcas, turning her back and leaving Flourish and Blotts. She went to Madam Malkin's and bought herself a new set of robes and to the Apothecary for ingredients for a Voice Changing Potion she knew by heart.
Dorcas reentered her room in the Leaky Cauldron, which someone tidied earlier, and plopped the box on her bed beside her.
She opened the box and picked up the first copy of the Sunday Prophet dated last week – like the manager said.
It was quite a bore for Dorcas. It just said something about Death Eaters still in Azkaban. Frankly, since she knows the Order isn't operating anymore, she had no reason to worry. The next article was the same, so was the one after that, the one after that and so on.
Still, Dorcas kept on reading. She found the others of no use until she saw the next article, which was dated the last week of June. An article entitled HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS caught her eye. So Voldemort has returned. No doubt the Order was as well.
She browsed through the other newspapers with one thing in mind: finding out what Voldemort was up to. There was an article about Broderick Bode being murdered by a Devil's Snare disguised as a Flitterbloom, and another one which ensnared her attention. MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN, MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS "RALLYING POINT" FOR OLD DEATH EATERS.
"Black?" she muttered. "The murderer? The first person ever to break out of Azkaban? DAMMIT!"
Dorcas didn't believe a word that Sirius was a murderer. Sirius would never do such a thing. This just wasn't him. And what was James doing at that time, keeping hidden with Lily? There was a report that Voldemort's next target was Lily and James. That's why they needed a Secret-Keeper. Sirius wanted to use Peter. But Dorcas knew better. Peter couldn't have kept it for long. He was that unreliable. Dorcas nagged Sirius not to use Peter, but Sirius was always a stubborn ass that didn't want any other way done other than his own.
She was sure Sirius couldn't have murdered them. However, a nagging voice in her head told her, 'but he almost got away with Snape's murder... How hard will it be to kill a lot of Muggles and Peter Pettigrew? After all, you know how fly-by-night he could be...'
He didn't kill them. He wouldn't. I know him.
Dorcas skipped the other newspapers which had no BLACK in it and found out that Sirius escaped from Azkaban just three years ago. 'He must still be alive,' she thought guiltily. Dorcas could only imagine the torment and the anguish Sirius must've experienced. How could she ever suspect him of running around with sluts?
There was another article dated October 1981. THE BOY WHO LIVED.
It was about Harry, her godson, finally defeating Voldemort. And it said that Lily and James are – dead.
Dorcas read no further. She didn't care if Voldemort was standing in front of her. She felt her world fade. Lily and James – dead, Sirius sent to Azkaban, Harry coming to live with Muggles.
With a hell lot of uneasy thoughts, Dorcas fell asleep.
***
"Hello, anybody there?"
Dorcas awoke with a start. She heard loud knocking noises from her door. She wearily stood up, still wearing the robes she wore yesterday, accompanied with bags under her eyes, she opened the door to find Dung standing there.
She knew it was Dung behind the soapy scent, the combed hair, a neat grey cloak, and a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Dung?" she said disbelievingly. "What brought you here?"
"Jus' brough' ye sum flowers, Dorcas," he said with a smile, handing her the bunch. "Ye look amazing."
"Oh thank you. The flowers are beautiful," she said candidly, returning his smile.
"So – you – erm – care to join me for dinner later? M' friend told me to invite yeh to 'is house. 'Is dad's birthday, y'know."
"Oh – er – I suppose so," said Dorcas.
"Tha's great! Pick you up here at six, I will." Dung turned and left.
Feeling a bit odd, Dorcas put the flowers on her bedside table. She stared at the purple lilies, which James sent Lily every Valentine's Day since third year; the yellow daisies reminded her of her first kiss with Sirius. It was in the Forbidden Forest, in the hidden daisy field even Hagrid didn't know existed.
Smiling, Dorcas tidied up and set again for Diagon Alley.
Summary: Devoid of a memory on how she died, someone came back from the dead to find out – only to find that she didn't die at all. Now she discovers that the love of her life is dead, her friends' lives are in danger, and her worst fears came true.
In this chapter, Dorcas gets a new look and updates herself on what happened in her absence. Finally knowing why Sirius never returned. Oh yeah, and Dung has a little surprise for her.
Disclaimer: Alas, the characters are not in my possession; they belong to J.K Rowling and an assortment of publishers.
Author's Notes: This is my least favorite chapter...but it's very essential so...
____________________________________________
Dorcas woke up the next day in a room in the Leaky Cauldron with a mild hangover. She caught sight of herself in the mirror over the basin. She peered at herself for a moment, gazing at her pallid face, lean built, she told herself that she needed a bit of fattening up to make her look hale and hearty instead of dead and unwholesome. She picked up a hairbrush and stroked her long, wavy, raven black hair with it. She glanced at the bag of gold in her bedside table. Even she knew that even the affluence of her deceased family wouldn't last her a couple of years.
A job might be good for her; maybe it will give her a bit of an exercise. The question was: where can she find one? Her old job in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes might still be good. But a lot of people know that she died. How will she be able to explain to them how she came back from the dead, not knowing how herself?
A new look! Dorcas became excited at the thought. Pulling the dagger off her cloak, which she placed earlier on a chair, she pulled her hair and a swish of a dagger later, her once-long, waist-length hair fell down on her shoulders. She then filled the basin beneath her with water, seized her wand, and changed the water with red liquid. She plunged her hair into the basin and looked up, droplets of dye splattered all over the floor.
She gazed at her dark red hair. It reminded her of Lily Evans. "Not bad," she told her reflection, grinning and dabbing a few of the dye to her eyebrows. "I always wondered how I'd look as a redhead."
After drying her hair with a complementary bath towel from Tom, she put back her cloak and immediately went out into Diagon Alley without any thoughts of taking breakfast.
She strolled along the lively street of Diagon Alley and stopped in front of Flourish and Blotts.
As she entered the store, the manager greeted her with a smile. "Anything you need, ma'am?"
"Erm – yeah," said Dorcas, thinking that her request might seem impossible. "Do you – er – have copies of Sunday Prophet since 1981?"
The manager looked surprised. Dorcas wouldn't find it impossible if he said no. "Why, yes we do. What do you need it for?"
"I'm – er – looking for a couple of articles..."
"Since 1981," muttered the manager. "Might take a few minutes. Excuse me..." He disappeared behind the shelves.
Dorcas looked around while waiting for him. She browsed a book entitled Magical Me, written by a very good-looking blonde wizard with alluring white teeth. Unfortunately, she found the book of no use at all and stuffed it back in the shelves. The manager returned shortly with a box.
"It has an Enlarging Spell, I presume?" she asked him.
"Yes," the manager replied with a grin, handing her the box, which was unusually light. "Also a Lightening Charm. Now, don't forget to return them. They're my only copies, you know."
"You're not charging for them?" Dorcas asked, perplexed.
"I would," the manager told her cheerfully, "but it's the first time I met a customer who turns back time with reading. The latest issue is on top and is dated last week."
"Erm – yeah, sure. Goodbye then," said Dorcas, turning her back and leaving Flourish and Blotts. She went to Madam Malkin's and bought herself a new set of robes and to the Apothecary for ingredients for a Voice Changing Potion she knew by heart.
Dorcas reentered her room in the Leaky Cauldron, which someone tidied earlier, and plopped the box on her bed beside her.
She opened the box and picked up the first copy of the Sunday Prophet dated last week – like the manager said.
It was quite a bore for Dorcas. It just said something about Death Eaters still in Azkaban. Frankly, since she knows the Order isn't operating anymore, she had no reason to worry. The next article was the same, so was the one after that, the one after that and so on.
Still, Dorcas kept on reading. She found the others of no use until she saw the next article, which was dated the last week of June. An article entitled HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS caught her eye. So Voldemort has returned. No doubt the Order was as well.
She browsed through the other newspapers with one thing in mind: finding out what Voldemort was up to. There was an article about Broderick Bode being murdered by a Devil's Snare disguised as a Flitterbloom, and another one which ensnared her attention. MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN, MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS "RALLYING POINT" FOR OLD DEATH EATERS.
"Black?" she muttered. "The murderer? The first person ever to break out of Azkaban? DAMMIT!"
Dorcas didn't believe a word that Sirius was a murderer. Sirius would never do such a thing. This just wasn't him. And what was James doing at that time, keeping hidden with Lily? There was a report that Voldemort's next target was Lily and James. That's why they needed a Secret-Keeper. Sirius wanted to use Peter. But Dorcas knew better. Peter couldn't have kept it for long. He was that unreliable. Dorcas nagged Sirius not to use Peter, but Sirius was always a stubborn ass that didn't want any other way done other than his own.
She was sure Sirius couldn't have murdered them. However, a nagging voice in her head told her, 'but he almost got away with Snape's murder... How hard will it be to kill a lot of Muggles and Peter Pettigrew? After all, you know how fly-by-night he could be...'
He didn't kill them. He wouldn't. I know him.
Dorcas skipped the other newspapers which had no BLACK in it and found out that Sirius escaped from Azkaban just three years ago. 'He must still be alive,' she thought guiltily. Dorcas could only imagine the torment and the anguish Sirius must've experienced. How could she ever suspect him of running around with sluts?
There was another article dated October 1981. THE BOY WHO LIVED.
It was about Harry, her godson, finally defeating Voldemort. And it said that Lily and James are – dead.
Dorcas read no further. She didn't care if Voldemort was standing in front of her. She felt her world fade. Lily and James – dead, Sirius sent to Azkaban, Harry coming to live with Muggles.
With a hell lot of uneasy thoughts, Dorcas fell asleep.
***
"Hello, anybody there?"
Dorcas awoke with a start. She heard loud knocking noises from her door. She wearily stood up, still wearing the robes she wore yesterday, accompanied with bags under her eyes, she opened the door to find Dung standing there.
She knew it was Dung behind the soapy scent, the combed hair, a neat grey cloak, and a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Dung?" she said disbelievingly. "What brought you here?"
"Jus' brough' ye sum flowers, Dorcas," he said with a smile, handing her the bunch. "Ye look amazing."
"Oh thank you. The flowers are beautiful," she said candidly, returning his smile.
"So – you – erm – care to join me for dinner later? M' friend told me to invite yeh to 'is house. 'Is dad's birthday, y'know."
"Oh – er – I suppose so," said Dorcas.
"Tha's great! Pick you up here at six, I will." Dung turned and left.
Feeling a bit odd, Dorcas put the flowers on her bedside table. She stared at the purple lilies, which James sent Lily every Valentine's Day since third year; the yellow daisies reminded her of her first kiss with Sirius. It was in the Forbidden Forest, in the hidden daisy field even Hagrid didn't know existed.
Smiling, Dorcas tidied up and set again for Diagon Alley.