A/n: Hey! I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed this story. I am
greatly appreciative and I beg you to continue doing so. Your comments and
opinions mean a lot to me! I won't be doing reviewer notes this chapter.
Today is my birthday! Yay! I am now 17 years old. Oooh... scary. Still,
November 8 is a beautiful day, isn't it? *smiles* Neways, I am going to
party tonight but I wanted to update before. I don't have much time, I
haven't even checked my email! I just came straight here, updated, and I'm
going straight off. So thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed! Please don't
hesitate in doing so again. Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
--
The day's that followed the news were highly uneventful. James and Lily were always surrounded by member's of the Order and there was no sign of Voldemort coming anywhere near them. Dorcas thought of this odd and discomforting uninterest as she leaned in her office chair at Auror Headquarters. She was chewing her thumbnail, staring at nothing, trying to decide exactly what Voldemort was up to. Normally a new target would be killed immediately.
Sighing in frustration she sat up and dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, rubbing the end off on the bottle slowly.
"Dorcas!"
Dorcas jumped and her hand slipped causing her to accidentally wipe ink all over her palm. Cursing she turned to see Sirius with his eyebrows raised, standing behind her. "Jumpy, aren't we?"
Dorcas glared at him as she grabbed a piece of cloth and began dabbing the ink away. "What?"
"I need some help on this last Death Eater, then I'm done for the day."
Dorcas sighed and moved her seat over so Sirius could sit next to her. "Who is it?"
"My brother."
Dorcas frowned, looking at him in surprise. "You sure you should be researching this particular Death Eater?"
"Nothing would be bring me greater joy than to see my brother thrown into Azkaban."
"Well, you already know he's a Death Eater. What can I do?"
"I know he is but I don't know how important he is. I don't know the type of work he does."
Dorcas sighed, chewing her thumbnail again. She was about to answer when Lily and James stuck their heads around the corner. "We're going to the leaky Cauldron, you ready?"
"I just need to find this out, can you wait?" Sirius asked quickly.
"We're going, we can stay around them until you finish up," Frank Longbottom said as he and his wife, Alice, came up and stood next to Lily and James.
"Great, we won't be long." Sirius said.
Before they could say anything else the two couples Disapparated.
--
"We have something to announce," Alice said happily, gripping Frank's hand while sipping a butterbeer in the dim light of the Leaky Cauldron.
"We wanted you to be the first to know." Frank said, smiling.
"What is it?" Lily asked curiously, stirring her drink carelessly.
Alice took a deep breath and said, taut with excitement, "I'm pregnant."
Lily shrieked and nearly upset the table as she hugged Alice tightly. James grinned and shook Frank's hand. "Good job mate." He said as seriously as he could manage.
Lily stole a glare at her husband before turning back to Alice whose face was flushed with excitement. "When did you find out? How did you know?"
Alice sipped her butterbeer again, still grinning. "I've been feeling sick and today Frank took me to St. Mungo's."
With that, Lily and Alice took off in excited conversation. James rolled his eyes but he was smiling too. "You hoping for a boy?" he asked Frank.
"Definitely." Frank agreed, nodding his head.
"I would too."
Suddenly the room went deadly silent. It was as if someone had turned off the volume completely. Lily and Alice were still talking until they stopped abruptly looking to see what James and Frank had already seen. Lord Voldemort was standing in the doorway, framed by the night sky and the pouring rain.
"Well, well," his cold, emotionless voice said, stepping through the doorframe. A dozen cloaked and hooded Death Eaters followed him and with a single glance from his red eyes they moved throughout the Leaky Cauldron, pointing their wands at deathly pale people. Women were whimpering and even the most strong of men were quaking in fear. Six Death Eaters created a circle around the couples' table, aiming their wands directly at them.
Voldemort strode in through the doorframe, spinning his wand idly through his spider-like fingers. He came slowly and calmly. He wasn't afraid of anything or anyone. He seemed to be relaxed, as if seeing people terrified unto death was an everyday thing.
James and Lily stood up, as well as Frank and Alice.
"James and Lily Potter, I presume?" Voldemort asked, stopping before them. Lily was shaking behind James but she held her head high and tried to look him in the eye but failed. James was just as terrified. His wand was already drawn and he held it in front of him quite still. Alice and Frank stood together off to the side, not about to fail their jobs as guardians as they drew their wands out quickly. The entire pub was completely silent as terrified people watched the very man that haunted their dreams every night.
"That would be us." James replied icily.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Voldemort."
"You've got to be kidding," Frank ventured sarcastically and rather bravely. Voldemort slowly shifted his eyes to the second couple who stared defiantly back.
"And who might you be?"
"Obviously not Lord V-Voldemort." Frank answered back, stuttering over the name that everyone so carefully avoided saying.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed in anger. "Brave man, aren't you? Still you cannot even say my name without faltering." He carelessly flicked a piece of dust off his wand. "You have just made an enemy out of me and that is certainly not a wise idea."
Voldemort than turned his cold gaze back to Lily and James. "I'm afraid this will be your last night alive. Have you anything to say?"
James, always so reckless and brave, took a step forward bravely. "I don't think I agree with you at all."
Voldemort looked mildly shocked. "I can't decide whether you are a completely stupid or recklessly brave group."
"Do I look afraid?" James whispered. His face was deadly pale but his eyes held determination unlike Voldemort had ever encountered. It was rare that a man could so callously daunt him without shivering violently in a fear so potent that Voldemort could nearly smell it.
"You should be," Voldemort replied softly.
James than did something that completely took Voldemort off guard. He performed the Cruciatus Curse. What surprised him was the fact that the Dark Lord did not even flinch. Instead, he laughed loudly and threw back his head. "You want pain." He raised his wand and aimed it directly at James' chest. "Here is pain."
The next thing James knew was pain unlike anything he had ever experienced. He screamed and fell to his knees. Everything turned into a blinding hot white light and all he wanted was to die. Nothing was worth this. Then, as quickly as it had come, it had gone. James stood panting on the floor, Lily next to him, tears streaming down her face as she cradled his head in her arms. For the first time she realized that she and her husband were faced with the prospect of death.
Voldemort then turned to the other couple. Frank stood in front of Alice protectively. He realized that in her body there were two people to save.
"You have made me very angry, Frank Longbottom." Voldemort whispered.
Frank looked surprised. Voldemort noticed this and smiled coldly. "Lord Voldemort knows the names of all his enemies."
"Imperio!" he cried. Frank slowly turned around and faced his terrified wife. Slowly he raised his wand and pointed it directly at her face. His eyes were blank.
Alice began sobbing. "N-no. Frank, I-it's m-me."
Voldemort suddenly withdrew his wand and Frank stopped. When he realized what position he was in and saw the terrified look on his wife's face he dropped his wand and fell weakly to floor. Voldemort was playing with them. There were Death Eaters all around the room and so they couldn't Disapparate. They knew they were doomed.
"And how about James?" Voldemort asked turning back to James and Lily who were standing up and glaring at him, wands at the ready. James would not go down this time without a fight. Voldemort rolled up his sleeve and touched a tattoo on his forearm, then dropped it again, taking James and Lily into consideration. "I tire of our little game. Perhaps one last dose of pain before death?"
James gripped his wand tightly, watching Voldemort's every movement. But then suddenly his wand had flown out of his hand; Lily, Frank, and Alice's too. Four Death Eaters stood from the shadows, twirling the wands through their fingers.
The couples were now defenseless. Voldemort raised his wand and muttered "Crucio!"
James closed his eyes, waiting for it to hit him. After a moment or so of not feeling anything he opened his eyes. On the floor in front of him was none other than Dorcas Meadowes. She was writhing in pain, her mouth wide in a silent scream. Sirius grabbed onto James, "Dissaparate!" he shouted.
"Our wands!" James cried. Sirius spun around, called the summoning charm, got all four wands and quickly tossed them to their owners.
Quickly, before anyone could realize what was happening (for everyone was greatly confused) and before they could figure it out for themselves, James, Lily, Frank, and Alice Disapparated. They had escaped Lord Voldemort for the first time.
--
The day's that followed the news were highly uneventful. James and Lily were always surrounded by member's of the Order and there was no sign of Voldemort coming anywhere near them. Dorcas thought of this odd and discomforting uninterest as she leaned in her office chair at Auror Headquarters. She was chewing her thumbnail, staring at nothing, trying to decide exactly what Voldemort was up to. Normally a new target would be killed immediately.
Sighing in frustration she sat up and dipped her quill into a bottle of ink, rubbing the end off on the bottle slowly.
"Dorcas!"
Dorcas jumped and her hand slipped causing her to accidentally wipe ink all over her palm. Cursing she turned to see Sirius with his eyebrows raised, standing behind her. "Jumpy, aren't we?"
Dorcas glared at him as she grabbed a piece of cloth and began dabbing the ink away. "What?"
"I need some help on this last Death Eater, then I'm done for the day."
Dorcas sighed and moved her seat over so Sirius could sit next to her. "Who is it?"
"My brother."
Dorcas frowned, looking at him in surprise. "You sure you should be researching this particular Death Eater?"
"Nothing would be bring me greater joy than to see my brother thrown into Azkaban."
"Well, you already know he's a Death Eater. What can I do?"
"I know he is but I don't know how important he is. I don't know the type of work he does."
Dorcas sighed, chewing her thumbnail again. She was about to answer when Lily and James stuck their heads around the corner. "We're going to the leaky Cauldron, you ready?"
"I just need to find this out, can you wait?" Sirius asked quickly.
"We're going, we can stay around them until you finish up," Frank Longbottom said as he and his wife, Alice, came up and stood next to Lily and James.
"Great, we won't be long." Sirius said.
Before they could say anything else the two couples Disapparated.
--
"We have something to announce," Alice said happily, gripping Frank's hand while sipping a butterbeer in the dim light of the Leaky Cauldron.
"We wanted you to be the first to know." Frank said, smiling.
"What is it?" Lily asked curiously, stirring her drink carelessly.
Alice took a deep breath and said, taut with excitement, "I'm pregnant."
Lily shrieked and nearly upset the table as she hugged Alice tightly. James grinned and shook Frank's hand. "Good job mate." He said as seriously as he could manage.
Lily stole a glare at her husband before turning back to Alice whose face was flushed with excitement. "When did you find out? How did you know?"
Alice sipped her butterbeer again, still grinning. "I've been feeling sick and today Frank took me to St. Mungo's."
With that, Lily and Alice took off in excited conversation. James rolled his eyes but he was smiling too. "You hoping for a boy?" he asked Frank.
"Definitely." Frank agreed, nodding his head.
"I would too."
Suddenly the room went deadly silent. It was as if someone had turned off the volume completely. Lily and Alice were still talking until they stopped abruptly looking to see what James and Frank had already seen. Lord Voldemort was standing in the doorway, framed by the night sky and the pouring rain.
"Well, well," his cold, emotionless voice said, stepping through the doorframe. A dozen cloaked and hooded Death Eaters followed him and with a single glance from his red eyes they moved throughout the Leaky Cauldron, pointing their wands at deathly pale people. Women were whimpering and even the most strong of men were quaking in fear. Six Death Eaters created a circle around the couples' table, aiming their wands directly at them.
Voldemort strode in through the doorframe, spinning his wand idly through his spider-like fingers. He came slowly and calmly. He wasn't afraid of anything or anyone. He seemed to be relaxed, as if seeing people terrified unto death was an everyday thing.
James and Lily stood up, as well as Frank and Alice.
"James and Lily Potter, I presume?" Voldemort asked, stopping before them. Lily was shaking behind James but she held her head high and tried to look him in the eye but failed. James was just as terrified. His wand was already drawn and he held it in front of him quite still. Alice and Frank stood together off to the side, not about to fail their jobs as guardians as they drew their wands out quickly. The entire pub was completely silent as terrified people watched the very man that haunted their dreams every night.
"That would be us." James replied icily.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Voldemort."
"You've got to be kidding," Frank ventured sarcastically and rather bravely. Voldemort slowly shifted his eyes to the second couple who stared defiantly back.
"And who might you be?"
"Obviously not Lord V-Voldemort." Frank answered back, stuttering over the name that everyone so carefully avoided saying.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed in anger. "Brave man, aren't you? Still you cannot even say my name without faltering." He carelessly flicked a piece of dust off his wand. "You have just made an enemy out of me and that is certainly not a wise idea."
Voldemort than turned his cold gaze back to Lily and James. "I'm afraid this will be your last night alive. Have you anything to say?"
James, always so reckless and brave, took a step forward bravely. "I don't think I agree with you at all."
Voldemort looked mildly shocked. "I can't decide whether you are a completely stupid or recklessly brave group."
"Do I look afraid?" James whispered. His face was deadly pale but his eyes held determination unlike Voldemort had ever encountered. It was rare that a man could so callously daunt him without shivering violently in a fear so potent that Voldemort could nearly smell it.
"You should be," Voldemort replied softly.
James than did something that completely took Voldemort off guard. He performed the Cruciatus Curse. What surprised him was the fact that the Dark Lord did not even flinch. Instead, he laughed loudly and threw back his head. "You want pain." He raised his wand and aimed it directly at James' chest. "Here is pain."
The next thing James knew was pain unlike anything he had ever experienced. He screamed and fell to his knees. Everything turned into a blinding hot white light and all he wanted was to die. Nothing was worth this. Then, as quickly as it had come, it had gone. James stood panting on the floor, Lily next to him, tears streaming down her face as she cradled his head in her arms. For the first time she realized that she and her husband were faced with the prospect of death.
Voldemort then turned to the other couple. Frank stood in front of Alice protectively. He realized that in her body there were two people to save.
"You have made me very angry, Frank Longbottom." Voldemort whispered.
Frank looked surprised. Voldemort noticed this and smiled coldly. "Lord Voldemort knows the names of all his enemies."
"Imperio!" he cried. Frank slowly turned around and faced his terrified wife. Slowly he raised his wand and pointed it directly at her face. His eyes were blank.
Alice began sobbing. "N-no. Frank, I-it's m-me."
Voldemort suddenly withdrew his wand and Frank stopped. When he realized what position he was in and saw the terrified look on his wife's face he dropped his wand and fell weakly to floor. Voldemort was playing with them. There were Death Eaters all around the room and so they couldn't Disapparate. They knew they were doomed.
"And how about James?" Voldemort asked turning back to James and Lily who were standing up and glaring at him, wands at the ready. James would not go down this time without a fight. Voldemort rolled up his sleeve and touched a tattoo on his forearm, then dropped it again, taking James and Lily into consideration. "I tire of our little game. Perhaps one last dose of pain before death?"
James gripped his wand tightly, watching Voldemort's every movement. But then suddenly his wand had flown out of his hand; Lily, Frank, and Alice's too. Four Death Eaters stood from the shadows, twirling the wands through their fingers.
The couples were now defenseless. Voldemort raised his wand and muttered "Crucio!"
James closed his eyes, waiting for it to hit him. After a moment or so of not feeling anything he opened his eyes. On the floor in front of him was none other than Dorcas Meadowes. She was writhing in pain, her mouth wide in a silent scream. Sirius grabbed onto James, "Dissaparate!" he shouted.
"Our wands!" James cried. Sirius spun around, called the summoning charm, got all four wands and quickly tossed them to their owners.
Quickly, before anyone could realize what was happening (for everyone was greatly confused) and before they could figure it out for themselves, James, Lily, Frank, and Alice Disapparated. They had escaped Lord Voldemort for the first time.