Chapter 96

"Poppy, can you tell me what poison was used?" Professor McGonagall urged.

"I'm sorry Minerva, but I'm not absolutely sure. All I can tell you is that they have used a deadly amount of belladonna. Every human would have been dead within seconds but fortunately the giant blood saved him from the worst outcome"

"You should involve Severus in that. I'm sure he can determine what ingredients have been used. We want to do everything to get our gamekeeper back on his feet, don't we?" the headmistress said sternly.

All that was getting too much for her. Not for the first time, she wanted to storm the ministry and beat some sense into Fudge. Sacking Albus had been the greatest mistake he had ever made and that were quite a few. Madam Pomfrey shot her a look of utter indignation. How could anyone assume that she wouldn't do everything in her power to better the condition of her patients?

Just then the mediwitch pushed past McGonagall and out of the office.

"I have to insist that you leave now. He needs his rest" she said pointedly and shooed the two wizards out the infirmary. McGonagall followed them, hoping that Severus would be able to find out what had poisoned the half-giant.

Lily woke up in a strange place. The room was dimly lit by torches on the wall and at first she thought that someone had brought her to the dungeons. She tried to sit up but immediately recognized that she could barely move her arms and legs. The witch tried harder and heard the rattling of metal over her head and where her feet were. I struck her that she most likely was chained to something. The surface beneath her was smooth, hard and cold as stone.

She had no idea how long she'd been here. Her rear was numb, her arms and legs hurt terribly, but that didn't concern her very much. Anxiously she watched out for any pain in her abdomen. Thankfully she couldn't recognize any.

Righteous anger welled up inside her. How dared they!

She was determined to get out of here alive and her unborn would be safe. Groaning in pain, she tried to shift her body on the uncomfortable surface. Just then she heard the distant mumbling of voices that came closer and closer. Closing her eyes tightly, she tried to listen to the conversation, but it they were still too far away. Hoping against her better knowledge that they were here to free her, she tried to relax.

Then the voices came closer and she could hear that it was a man and a woman arguing.

"Why can't I have my way with her? We had to be idle for too long and I'm tired of it" she heard the man complaining.

"You've heard what the master has said. We need her to get to Potter, but I'm sure the Dark Lord will let you play with her later, Dolohov"

The name rang a bell and her blood went cold. She had heard enough terrible stories about that man and what he was capable of doing. Then she started praying to every deity who might listen to get her out of there unharmed. The door opened and she kept her eyes firmly shut trying to maintain the impression of unconsciousness as long as possible. A hard cold hand connected with her cheek and her eyes popped open.

"Nice to see that you're awake my dear" the sickening sweet voice of Bellatrix Lestrange pierced her brain.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself so far"

Lily just glared at the witch and remained silent.

With the flick of her wand, Lestrange detached the chains from Lily's makeshift bed and the auburn-haired witch was finally able to bring her arms from over her head.

"Just enjoy your stay here, my dear. We're already waiting for your husband and his friends to arrive"

Lily sighed inaudibly at the thought that Lestrange's characterization of James wasn't far off. He would surely come to her rescue and rush into his doom. Dolohov, who had been lurking in the shadows, now walked up to her and ran a hard calloused hand over her cheek. Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear "I can't wait to play with you. I will make sure you remember as long as you live"

That won't be long, I'm afraid, Lily thought and tried hard to not swat the deatheaters hand away.

Just then Lestrange rushed to the door.

"Watch her closely" she snapped and left Lily alone with the wizard.

Lily groaned inaudibly and tried not to panic. If she would give in to his advances, he might not kill her before Lestrange returned. As much as she had heard from Severus, Dolohov was about the only one who didn't put Voldemort's wishes before his own. Just then she felt a gloved hand on her shoulder, slowly moving down over her collarbone. She swallowed hard at the thought where this hand might wander when she felt the other hand around her waist. With a little shock she recognized that this hand was bare and moving south.

She stiffened and managed barely not to gag.

"Don't be so frigid" he growled in her ear and then anger replaced the shock.

What did this imbecile expect? This was not far from rape and he wanted her to enjoy it?

No way... if she'd get out of here she would make sure that he suffered.

His foul breath brushed past her face when he started nibbling on her earlobe. Just when she started to pray for Lestrange to return, she heard again mumbling in the distance. This time however there were more voices and she relaxed ever so slightly when they came closer. She didn't care if they would torture or even kill her; everything was better than being fondled by that lunatic. The door opened but Dolohov didn't move. He continued stroking part of her she wanted nothing more than to scrub until they bled.

"Dolohov, get your hands of her. What did I tell you?" Lestrange barked and pointed her wand at her fellow deatheater.

He grunted with annoyance but backed away.

Lily then dared to have a look at who else had entered the room with Bellatrix. Eight deatheaters had accompanied her, but only three weren't wearing their masks. Although it had been a long time since she had seen deatheaters, she clearly recognized them.

There was Mulciber, Voldemort's Imperius specialist, standing close to the door with his wand drawn. Nobody would have ever expected a deatheater behind his handsome features, but she had heard that he was very brutal. Standing close to Bellatrix, was her husband Rudolphus with the same insane glimmer in his eyes. His brother Rabastan was watching Dolohov, obviously making sure that he was paying more attention to the task at hand. Then a thought struck her. Why were they all so tense? She recognized a mixture between nervousness and anticipation among the deatheaters. But why?

Lily didn't dare to get her hopes up when Bellatrix nonchalantly walked up to her.

"If you don't want to die on the spot, you better be quiet now"

Lily was about to shout at her when she heard distant tapping sounds that sounded like wood on stone. Her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth to scream when she felt Bellatrix wand on her chest.

"Don't even think about it" the witch hissed but Lily didn't care.

"ALASTOR"

"Avada –"

Just then Rudolphus clutched a hand over his wife's mouth. "Don't do anything rash, dear. We need her alive"

Bellatrix nodded and he released her mouth. Lily was struggling against her chains and tried to call out for the old auror again. The tapping sound of his wooden leg was now more clearly audible. He was coming closer. Unfortunately, Rabastan had casted a silencing charm on her but the rattling of the chains should also manage to lead him into the right direction. Rudolphus looked with annoyance at her efforts to draw attention on her position.

"Mulciber, get her under control" he barked and his fellow deatheater obliged.

"IMPERIO" he growled and Lily felt suddenly at ease.

No more stress, just contentment and she relaxed completely.

When a voice in her head ordered her to remain quiet and not to move, a little part in the back of her head wanted to protest, but not for long. Then she heard the rustling of robes and footsteps outside the door and she wondered who that might be. The uncomfortable feeling of somebody else in her head started to annoy her now. One part of her mind knew that the feeling of ease was not real and that she should be doing something different. When the voice told her to take the wand she obliged but wondered why they would give her one in the first place.

Then the door burst open.

Sirius felt his knees go week for a moment when he apparated to the bleak island. It had just been 2 years since he had fled this very place in his dog form. Fortunately for him, there were no dementors present, because he knew that then he wouldn't have been able to go through with it. Jones and Shacklebolt had apparated next to him and then Podmore, Vance and Tonks arrived as well and finally Moody. The old auror assembled the little group around him and gave final instructions before they'd enter the fortress.

"Jones and Podmore, you're going to clear the coast and locate Lily. Black and Shacklebolt will be right behind you, back you up and join the fight. Vance and Tonks will watch out for possible threats and eliminate them. Constant vigilance"

With grim expressions on their faces, they stepped closer to the huge gates, which once had been guarded by dementors. Sirius turned his face towards the grey and cloudy sky and breathed deeply, hoping the fresh scent of the sea could help him over what he had to face. The dark-grey building behind the gates had been the reason of his never-ending nightmares. When Jones and Podmore had efficiently dropped the wards, he followed them inside. A hand on his shoulder startled him and he turned his head. He was face to face with Moody.

"Sirius, I know you can do this. Take this advantage to leave your past behind you"

The distorted face of the old auror twisted into something that was supposed to be a smile.

"We won't find Voldemort in there, my boy. Not this time. Concentrate on your task and remember what I've taught you. Lily's life might be depending on you"

Sirius gave him a curt nod, determined not to let his friends down in times of need.

"Here, have a drink and then we have work to do"

With that he thrust his flask in Sirius' hand and he took a big gulp.

With long strides he followed into the fortress, relieved to see that the cells on the main floor had been changed into a large sitting area. Podmore and Jones casted their own wards on the doors and on the fireplace, adding an anti-apparation charm to make sure the deatheaters that were present couldn't call for back-up.

Shacklebolt had already advanced to the next lower level, followed by Sirius and Moody. Tonks and Vance were staying back to make sure they wouldn't get ambushed. They weren't sure where they would hold her captive, so they had to search methodically for any unusual signs of activity. On the third level, the heard voices behind doors, but a quick check made sure that this wasn't Lily's cell. They could hear two deatheaters talking about the attack that was planned for Hogwarts.

Moody beckoned Emmeline Vance to take position in front of the door, noting all the informations that might be useful. Silently they moved forward. Moody tried hard to conceal the tapping of his wooden leg, but he couldn't totally avoid making a sound. They jumped back into the shadows, wands drawn and ready when they heard footsteps from a group of people coming quickly down the steps.

9 deatheaters rushed past them and Sirius could see his cousin Bellatrix along with her husband and brother-in-law.

He balled his hands into fists and growled lowly. He hoped from the bottom of his heart that he could make an end of his cousin's unworthy existence. Assuming that they would lead them to Lily, the aurors followed closely, carefully not to lose track.

Then Sirius could hear Lily's voice calling from the distance "ALASTOR"

When they came closer to the end of the long and gloomy corridor, the spare torch light reflecting on the damp walls, they saw a door shutting quickly. Alastor Moody, once again assembled his group, now short of Vance and Tonks, who was standing a bit further back in the corridor.

"We're 5 aurors against 10 deatheaters." With a grim look at the wizards and witch next to him, he pointed his wand at the door.

"Now go in there and hex as many to oblivion as possible. Cast unforgivables if necessary, I don't care. It's time that we extinct this scum from the face of the earth."

Then he turned to Hestia Jones.

"You are responsible for getting Lily out of harms way as fast as possible. Sirius here will cover you and Shacklebolt and Podmore will cause enough confusion to get her out here safe. That's our major priority"

Without further ado or waiting for any agreement from the others, he pointed his wand at the door. As soon as the door was burst open, Shacklebolt and Podmore ran inside, hurling curses at the assembled deatheaters. Sirius followed Jones, who was trying to stun Rabastan Lestrange and Mulciber. When her curses were deflected, Sirius came to her aid and disarmed both of them with ease. Moody took out one of the masked deatheaters who had tried to attack him from behind.

Bellatrix Lestrange shouted a command at Mulciber and then the black-haired wizard found himself in front of Lily, her wand pointing at his chest.

"Lily, what are you doing?" he shouted, looking at her with wide, unbelieving eyes.

"CRUCIO" she yelled and a terrible pain shot through his body, forcing him on his knees.

Just then Hestia managed to grab Lily's wrist, who wasn't moving and wrenched the wand from her. With a flick of her own she stunned Mulciber in a heartbeat and pushed lily towards the door. As soon as the effect of the Cruciatus curse had subsided, Sirius opened his eyes and recognized Rudolphus pointing his wand at Lily's back. The black-haired wizard thought about another woman who had once been on the receiving end of Rudolphus' curses and that increased his anger even more. He wanted this man to die before he could do to Lily what he and the rest of his family had done to Alice.

Sirius wanted to make sure that this man would never harm another person again and if he could have his way today, his terrible wife would follow him to hell as well. He was tired of seeing the ones he loved being taken from him and he knew it would destroy Harry and James if Lily should die. It was impossible that his wrath could be topped when the deatheater started to speak the words of the killing curse. However, before the deatheater could get through with his curse, Sirius had reacted.

"Avada kedavra"

His voice was reverberating in the cold stone cell and the lifeless body of the attacker hit the floor. He heard his cousin's painful yells when she rushed to her husband's side, her eyes glowing with rage. She pointed her wand at him but before she could do anything, Moody urged him to follow when the rescue part withdrew from the battle and made a quick escape. From the 10 deatheaters, 2 were dead, 5 stunned or otherwise effected by a spell that wouldn't allow them to follow and 3, Bellatrix Lestrange was among them, were chasing the aurors and Lily down the corridor.

Tonks and Vance had joined their friends and were successfully holding the three deatheaters back to ensure Lily's rescue. Shacklebolt was limping - a large cut on his left leg was the reason - supported by Tonks, who was still hurling curses over her shoulders when they reached the gates. Sirius heard the ragged breath of their followers coming closer when they assembled in front of the gates.

The last he saw before he apparated was his cousin's face, distorted in fury and heard her screaming "You will pay for that I swear"

James was sitting once more in Minerva's office, trying hard to concentrate on a book on his lap, but his thoughts only revolved around Lily. More than two hours had passed and still they haven't heard anything. Minerva and Albus looked at the wizard who was slowing losing his last bit of sanity. They couldn't allow him to walk around in the castle. The short trip to the hospital wing and his walk to school with Sirius had been dangerous enough. The headmistress was seriously considering casting a concealment charm on him when the door burst open and Sirius stumbled inside. James rushed to his friend, who was panting heavily, wrapped his arms around him asking the same question over and over.

"Is she ok? Tell me that she's ok"

Soon, Sirius was settled on a chair next to the fireplace, sipping on a glass with firewhiskey why he recalled the short version of what had happened. Tears were running down James' cheeks while he listened to his best friend.

Then he wiped his face with his sleeve and sniffed a last time before he insisted "I want to see her now."

With a quick flick of her wand, Minerva casted a Disillusionment charm on him.

"I trust you find the way" she said with a twinkle in her eyes that was much like Dumbledore's. She was more than relieved that Lily was rescued, but she wouldn't show it openly.

While James rushed to the infirmary, McGonagall informed Harry about his mother's return.

Sirius wanted to join them but thought that it would be better to give his friends some time alone, besides, he didn't trust his legs at the moment. After his mad run from the gates to the office, he still felt quite shaky.

Severus was pacing in his study. He had been informed that Lily had been safely returned to the castle, but still he was uneasy.

What would happen to him now?

Only a deatheater would have known that the Dark Lord was using Azkaban as a lair. He was sure that he wasn't even there at the moment. His former master would leave it to his bootlickers to take care of it and present Potter before him. Most likely Lestrange was in charge now. If he would only know who he had in the ministry; the aurors could corner him, and take him out. The Dark Lord would believe that this person would have finally cracked under the double pressure and gave up. He ran his hand through his hair and groaned before he chanced an accusing glance at the Slytherin's portrait.

"It's not my fault, boy" the portrait's inhabitant suddenly snapped. "I didn't raise him that way"

Severus ignored the off-hand comment and searched his mind for any clues about the secret spy. Deciding that some tea might help him think, he conjured a cup and sat down in his chair.

Lily and James were sitting in Sirius quarters later that afternoon, enjoying the fact that they still were together. Lily had been released from the hospital wing after a thorough check-up from Poppy. The mediwitch had not been happy about it, but after dinner Lily had insisted on being freed from the starch prison. Sirius had forced her to lie down on the couch while they once again recalled what had happened and how exactly.

The fact that Remus had involuntarily shown Bellatrix the way on the grounds was disturbing for both. They had no idea if the changes, Albus had made on the wards, would be able to keep the deatheaters out. They had all agreed that they would tell everybody to be highly alert at all times. The students had been lectured at dinner and Harry and his friends had to endure another more personal lecture by Lily and McGonagall. They had all groaned but the witches' sharp look had brooked no argument.

Lily was sipping her tea, absorbed in a nice conversation with Lady Tanya when a tapping on the window interrupted them. Sirius opened and a brown barn-owl swept inside. Obediently it held a leg out to Sirius and he unfastened the scroll. Lily spotted the ministry seal and stifled a sigh. That wouldn't promise anything good. The wizard broke the seal and read the letter carefully. Then his eyes went blank and the letter dropped from his shaking fingers.

Then James was also alert by his friend's sudden change of behaviour. He looked like the man on the picture in the Daily Prophet right after his escape two years before. The haunted look that had almost faded from his eyes was back and his face was almost as white as his shirt. James picked up the letter from the floor and read. He read it once and then a second time.

Then he banged the letter on the table and shouted a string of profanities on the top of his lungs.

Lily and Lady Tanya both stared in confusion at James. "What is it dear?" his wife asked calmly, but James ignored her question.

With one swift move he was in front of Sirius and grabbed his shoulders.

"THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, PADFOOT. I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT HAPPEN!"

Lily, scared about her husband's outburst leaned over and snatched the letter from the table.

"Oh my god" she gasped and handed the letter over to Lady Tanya who broke out in tears instantly.

For once James didn't pay attention to his Lily but continued to rant. He grabbed the letter once more and frantically waved in the air in Sirius direction.

"This is the final proof that Fudge is off the rocker. Accusing you that you've killed Vorlost Goyle is just ridiculous. Moody killed him and had a right to do so. This is all insane. When they come here to take you I will fight them"

Sirius face had been blank the whole time and even now he didn't react on his best friend's profession. He moved over to the window sill and looked outside when the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the Forbidden Forest. Lady Tanya was sobbing against Lily's shoulder, her face covered by a curtain of dark hair.

"I knew Fudge would find a way to finally get me back into prison. It might not be Azkaban this time, but I'm not going to give up my freedom for a murder I didn't commit." Sirius said oddly calm.

"They can't lock you up in a cell at the ministry. YOU DIDN'T DO IT GODDAMMIT."

"They can't but they most certainly will. James, you have to understand that I'm not going. It would drive me insane within one day" Sirius said, his voice catching in his throat.

"They are coming"

James dashed forward and glared out of the window.

Down on the lawn he could see five little people rushing towards the castle.

"I'm not going to let them take you" James all but cried and his face was a mixture of anger, sorrow and loss.

"They won't get you"

"No they won't"

James wrapped his arms around his best friends and they both cried silently for a moment. Then they heard footsteps coming down the hallway, still in the distance, but they all knew they only had a few minutes left. Sirius pulled away from James and stepped towards Lily.

"Take care of those little once"

The witch nodded mutely and wrapped her arms around Sirius' neck.

Tears were streaming down her neck and all kind of scenarios about Fudge's painful and slaw death played in her mind. Finally Sirius knelt down in front of Lady Tanya, who had buried her face in the arm rest of the couch.

"Please look at me, dearest" he said with a calm and steady voice. "You know that I love you and that you'll be in my heart wherever I go now. Please take care of yourself and don't cry about me. I'll be alright"

Lady Tanya's head perked up and Sirius looked in her puffy, dark eyes, a steady stream of tears running down her cheeks. He pulled her then into a tight embrace and she clung to him with all her might, never willing to let go.

"I love you too" she mumbled in his ear and then kissed him fiercely, trying to put all her emotion into these last remaining moments.

"I don't want you to go"

"I don't want to, but I have to"

The footsteps outside were coming closer and Sirius took a deep breath. Carefully he detached himself from her and pulled something from the pocket of his robes.

"You know that I have to do it" he said when he saw the shocked and helpless look on James face. "I just wish I could have said good bye to Harry and Remus and Albus"

Then Lady Tanya identified what Sirius was holding in his hand; she dropped to her knees and screamed.

"NO SIRIUS NO!!! DON'T DO THAT...WE WILL FIND A DIFFERENT SOLUTION"

The black-haired wizard looked at his love pitifully and tried to pull her up from her position at his feet. She followed reluctantly and he kissed her again with as much passion as possible.

"Good bye my sweet" he whispered.

Then when he heard the footsteps in front of the door, he looked at his best friend, who was holding Lily in a comforting embrace, and then at the witch next to him who stared at him with pain and love mingling in the dark, teary pools of her eyes. He took a deep breath and then without further ado, he raised the vial he was holding in his hand to his mouth and swallowed the content.

James flinched hard when Sirius eyes grew wider and he grabbed his throat. There was no pain on Sirius expression when he held onto the backrest of a nearby armchair for support. Lily turned her head away and buried it on her husband's chest, trying to silence the sobs. James' gaze stayed locked with Sirius' until his eyes went blank and his body slumped to the floor. Lily pulled up the last bit up her strength that was left and looked up to James.

"You've to go dear. They shouldn't see you"

When she recognized his concerned expression, she assured him "I'm going to be ok"

Lady Tanya's knees gave away and she flung herself over Sirius' limp body, sobbing heart rending, when James disappeared in the bedroom.