{A/N: So apart from the standard disclaimer- I don't own anything you recognise, JK Rowling does- I also don't own any of the quotes from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Richard O'Brien does. And I personally think anything that incorporates my love for Harry Potter and Dr Frank N Furter... well, let's just say it was a pleasure to write.}
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN 'Madness Takes It's Toll...'
The rain that minutes ago had pelted against the restaurant's windows, was now settling on a slight drizzle.
Sirius and Ophelia walked hand-in-hand down the stone sidewalk, while unbeknownst to them, their friends tailed them a short distance behind.
"My hair is frizzing." whined Lily, "May we please go home?"
"Not yet." replied Remus. "After what happened at dinner, this can only get worse. Besides, you don't have to stay with us."
"Yes I do. I don't know the way back."
"I do." answered James hopefully. "I could take you home."
"You're obviously enjoying yourself here, I wouldn't want to spoil that."
"Nah, I'm getting bored." he shrugged. "I'll take you home."
"Thanks P--James." Lily stopped herself. "Be careful that they don't see you, they'll be furious."
Remus dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Good night."
James and Lily left the others and headed back down the street.
Only Pete, Talia and Remus were left, to slink after their friends.
Meanwhile, for the second time that night Sirius was having trouble with his Muggle money.
He handed the attendant a hundred dollar bill.
Ophelia shook her head and took out her own wallet. "You paid for dinner. I'll get this." she offered, paying for the tickets.
They stood in line for the some sweets.
"Do you think they have chocolate frogs?" he whispered, leaning into her.
"Sorry, I think Muggles would get scared when their candy hopped all over the place."
"Dammit. What about Butterbeer?"
"Nope. We could just order soda."
"Never had soda before."
"If your mother ever found out, what a scandal that would be." giggled Ophelia.
Sirius grinned. "Which reminds me; I'm going for my things in three weeks."
"I can't believe you're really doing this..."
"I should have done it sooner."
She shrugged and linked her arm through his. "Better now than never."
"James is helping me move my stuff into his house."
"Well you can't have that much stuff still at Grimmauld." she said, shuddering at her memories of the place.
"Only my broomstick, some old clothes.. and photos.."
"Photos?" she repeated. "Of what?"
"Moony, Prongs and us when we were younger, some of Andromeda and Alphard." he scrunched his face up as he often did when he was thinking. "That's about it."
"Do you want me to come?" she volunteered. "I can't do any heavy lifting, but I've been told that I'm an excellent packer."
"I would never ask you to subject yourself to my mother."
"Er, could we get two small cherry sodas and a large popcorn?" Ophelia handed the attendant the money, before turning back to Sirius. "But I'm offering. Come on, it'll be my entertainment for the day."
"You call watching my mum blast me off the crest entertainment?"
She handed him his drink. "Yes, it would certainly make me laugh. What are we seeing by the way?"
"Lily recommended it. It's supposed to be funny." he explained. "About some man named Rocky Horror. Apparently he created film."
"Hmm, and it's supposed to be funny?"
"That's what she told me."
They entered the darkened theater and took their seats near the back, both awe-stricken at the what they were seeing.
A carton of sweets was dancing across the screen, singing some song about the concession stand.
"Looks just like our new elf Kreacher." remarked Sirius.
Ophelia glanced round, the theater was nearly empty save for a few other couples. She sank contentedly against Sirius and closed her eyes, savouring the moment.
"Are you alright?"
"Perfect." she replied.
A pair of lips appeared on the screen, painted a bright red. "Michael Rennie was ill. The day the earth stood still. But he told us where we stand."
"I'm guessing the lips belong to the Horror man." Ophelia frowned.
Sirius chuckled. "Most likely."
The movie continued, and they discovered that it was in fact not a documentary on the inventor of film, but a group of singing visitors from the another planet.
"I don't understand." she said, "Is that.. person, a man or a woman?"
A chorous of giggles sounded from behind them, followed by strained whispers.
"Should I tell the people behind us to be quiet?" Sirius asked, severely annoyed.
She giggled. "Take out your wand, that'll shut them up."
"Stop it!" hissed another voice.
"Did that sound like.."
"Talia?" he finished.
They both craned their necks round to see Remus, Pete and Talia cowering in their seats.
"What do you think you're doing?" cried Ophelia.
"Is that you Phe?" replied Talia, squinting. "And is that... hullo Sirius."
"Im-Imagine running into the two of you here." Pete stuttered.
"I think it's less of a coincidence than you would have us believe." growled Sirius.
"Sshhh!"
"You're spying on us?" Ophelia snapped, ignoring the rest of the audience. "Why am I not surprised, Remus?"
A theater attendant made his way down the aisle. "Would you please refrain from talking during the movie? Otherwise I will have to ask you to leave."
"You don't need to." she answered, getting to her feet and leaving the theater, with Sirius on her heel.
It was raining once more outside, as they slid onto the slick walk.
Talia and the others skidded after them.
"I only came to make sure you got... this out of your systems." explained Remus.
"There's nothing to get out of our systems!" snapped Sirius.
"You liked each other, you went on a date, now it's over with. We can go back to the way things used to be."
"We haven't just gone on a date, Remus! Not that it's any of your concern!" hollered Ophelia.
"What do--"
It suddenly became eerily quiet, but much more than quiet. It was a complete absence of sound, that soon became deafening.
"Wh-What the hell is that?" quaked Talia
They looked into the night sky, where a a fierce green light was hurtling upward, forming a kind of image.
"The Dark Mark." Remus muttered.
The bright emerald light swirled around itself, forming a sick skull. It continued to curl out until a gleaming green snake protruded from the mouth.
They instinctively huddled closer together.
"What does it mean?"
"It means we should have been home ten minutes ago." he answered, grabbing at Ophelia's arm. "Come, we have to go. Now."
She felt like a child again, as she allowed herself to be led away by her big brother.
Sirius reached for her hand, and together, the five of them hurried away from the Dark Mark, and back to the Manor.
Ten minutes later, their hearts pounding in their chests, they closed the heavy door behind themselves.
James and Lily were startled out of their game of chess.
"What's happened to you all?" demanded Lily, as she shuffled into the foyer.
"D-Death Eaters.." Sirius gasped, "In Edinburgh..."
"Here?!" she cried.
Ophelia shook her head and sat down on the stairs. "A few blocks away. Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"You've been reading the Prophet, haven't you?" said Remus.
"No more than usual."
He sighed impatiently. "That Dark Mark we've just seen, is a sort of signal that those inside have been killed."
"Why would he kill them?"
"Because they've...got in his way."
"Or that they're Muggle-born." answered Lily bitterly.
"People.. died?" The full meaning of what they were telling her hit Ophelia fully. She clutched the banister for support, her eyes beginning to mist over.
Remus and Sirius both made to step forward but Remus bowed his head, allowing his friend to sink down on the stair next to her.
"H-How many have died?"
Talia clutched her stomach and headed to her room.
"Not counting tonight?" replied Remus. "So far there have been fifty-three deaths deemed attacks by the Death Eaters."
"Why haven't they been caught by the Aurors? Why aren't they in Azkaban?"
"Few have been sent away. But V-Voldemort has plenty of followers that he's never felt a huge blow."
"So this... this is serious, then?" frowned Ophelia. "I thought it just would pass..."
"The Prophet says he's taken measures to ensure he is immortal." James continued. "He's going to be here for a while."
"And he's going to keep killing innocent people." Lily cried, her shoulders starting to shake. "No one's safe."
James put an arm around her shoulders, and whether it was due to their pact, or the topic at hand, she let him.
