Chapter 24 – The End of the Beginning (Part Two)

Sirius was in a flurry of fearful emotions. He was hell bent on finding Snivellus before he could hand Raine over to Theo. Black had sworn he would die before that would happen and he meant every word. Raine was too sweet to be caught up in the evilness of He Who Must Not Be Named. He was beginning to understand why James vowed never to see any harm done to Lily – it was because Prongs loved Lily flower with all his heart.

Sirius realised from the moment of reading the note that he loved Raine totally and completely and although he noted that it was out of character for him. He did love her and was somehow happy that it was the last thing she had said to him.

However he wanted to have the opportunity to return the feeling and was willing to do anything! He had searched the Gryffindor common room thoroughly and there was no sign of her. Checked several classrooms on his route, had peeks in broom cupboards and closets, went to the Room of Requirement and stayed there for five minutes and gave up and now he was heading towards where the Slytherin common room was. With all his praying, he hoped she was there.

Bang! Sirius' face meets full force with a painting full of fruit.

"Sirius, said a surprised voice, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Ball? Where's Raine?"

Shaking his head slowly to see if anything was broken and touching his nose gentle, he glared at Zelda. She looked completely confused at his appearance.

"I'm looking for Raine," aid Sirius unintentional harsh, "Snape had got her."

"You say that if he is planning something evil to Raine", Zel laughed.

"He is", shouted Sirius, "look at this."

Sirius handed over the letter which was the only proof he had of Snape being in league with the Death Eaters and Voldemort, himself.

Zelda looked over the note and paled considerable, slightly shaking after she returned it to Black. "I think your wrong, Sirius," she stated, "that note could be referring to anyone who's female. Why would Raine be important to Voldemort?"

Sirius patient was near breaking point. "It's not He Who Must Not be Named but Theo, her brother, who wants her for his own evilness. I know that you don't want to blame Snape since you two are now so cosy together," he said very spitefully, glaring at her with rage.

"You have no idea what's truly going on", Zelda thought to herself disappointed in her best friend. She just stood there in silence giving Black a black expression, not taking in his jibes.

Black cursed himself inside for his temper. "Look I don't have time. I need to find Raine before midnight. You're her friend! Help me!", he was desperate. "Can you look outside for me? Check the grounds?"

"I can't."

"What the Merlin's bread not?" exploded Sirius. "Don't tell me this has something to do with you and Snivellus!"

"And what if it is!", shouted Zelda back at a stunned Sirius. "YOU don't have a clue what's really going on!"

"I DO SO!" Sirius said scathingly back at her. "I heard Snape and Theo talk about her kidnapping in the Three Broomstick! Tell me that you don't believe that Syltherin slime ball over your best friend for years!"

There was a pregnant pause. Zelda eyes went off colour as she began to debate in her mind what to do. Do I trust Snape enough not to believe Sirius? What if this whole idea of his for me to be in tower is a diversion? I can't let Padfoot down like I did my family. What does it matter, anyway if I live or not? There is nothing here for me. Even Sirius is moving on with his life. I have nothing.

"I'll look outside then, she said quietly to Sirius and walked passed him without another word.

For a second, Sirius was regretful to his treatment of Zel. She didn't need to be the one to hear his rant and anger. Severus Snape should have been the target. However the idea of catching up with her and apologising was at the back of his mind. I'll sort it all after I find Raine!

Black was now again searching the giantantic castle on his own and after waiting outside Slytherin common room for half an hour, decided that the best course of action would be to head back to the hall and meet up with the rest of the Marauders.

Before reaching the Great Hall entrance, cursing under his breath the stupidity of himself and the several things that he wanted Snivellus to experience, he spotted them.

Raine and Snape.

Talking.

Raine was nodding at whatever Snape was saying to her. Black made a wild dash to them and shouted, "Snape stay away form her!"

Both, Raine and Severus turned round to face a very pissed off Black who was now pointing his wand at Snape's chest.

"Sirius", Raine said, "what are you doing!"

"Saving you Raine," stated Black. "He and your brother are planning to kidnap you tonight. I overheard them in the Three Broomsticks and here's a note to prove it."

As Raine took the note from Sirius' hand, Severus just glared at Black with pure hatred and spoke, "Well, well…the idiocy of you Black," he spat out, "really doesn't do you justice."

"Shut it Snivellus," Sirius interrupted with spite, "you're the one who has to face the consequences now. You're not going to harm Raine without a fight. "

"I promise you at Potter's stupid Ball that I would never see Raine become a Death Eater", Replied Snape nastily at Black, "unlike you I keep my promises. You have failed so many times already."

"Why don't you….!", Black was about to cursed Snape into anything when Raine put a hand on his shoulder.

"Sirius," she said softly, "you've got it all wrong. It's not me that He Who Must Not be Named but…"

"But who?" grounded out Black, "I know what I heard. Don't trust him, Raine." He looked at her pleadingly.

"It's Zelda." Raine stared into Sirius' eyes. "She's the one in trouble. Severus told me everything just now so I could warn the rest of you. The Dark Lord wants her. Her Sight makes it a worthy risk to attempt a kidnapping at Hogwarts plus being the only Ravenclaw heir left." Raine paused slightly staring at Sirius before saying, "and I believe him Sirius."

"But her family is alive," said Sirius disbelieving Raine. "She would have told me."

"She never once in her years of friendship with you revealed her heritage to you for a good reason", Raine stated, "She could have kept her family being murder a secret too."

Black was racking his brain to prove Raine wrong but all he could find was the missing pieces to a puzzle which had been annoying him for a year. Zelda's free spirited character had changed over the whole year: she was daydreaming less in classes especially the DADA and seemed to be focused on something, she never once mentioned her family which was weird as she usually chatted about them no stop and the mysterious name of Phenoix kept cropping up. And hadn't he left her minutes ago, paled and frighten after reading the note.

Sirius face resembled a ghost as he realised what he had done.

"At least she is safe", voiced Snape, breaking the staring competition of Black and Raine. "Not even Theo can reach her in the Ravenclaw common room."

"What's wrong Sirius," asked Raine in deep concern.

"Zel is out in the grounds," confessed Black, "I made her go. I made her go and look for you! I've sent her straight into He Who Must Not Be Named!"

"You are a fool!" snapped Severus. "The power that Zelda has will mean that the Dark Lord will be indestructible! And you handed it to him on a silver platter!"

Pull yourself together girl! I mean really, jus because its dark, there no one with you and the Avenging Angel is after you, does not mean that you can jump at every little sound.

Zelda was not a Gryffindor and at this moment in time did not have any courage whatsoever but Raine might be out here. Although Zelda was sure that Snape would never harm her – he loved Raine like a sister. Zelda could feel deep down inside that Sirius was wrong but she obey him for the simple reason that she would do anything for her friends. Loyalty is what bonded Sirius and Zelda together when they first became friends.

Snap!

Zelda twirled round quickly to glance behind her with her wand poking out from underneath her robes. She was about to enter The Forbidden Forest as she had check everywhere else for Raine. She surveyed the area and saw no movement or figures lurking behind trees. "Zel, get a grip!" she whispered and turned her head forward again.

"Welcome Zelda MacGregor to your doom".

How original! Zelda stared straight into the eyes of her family's murder, who stood there, smirking at her as if this was a funny game to him. Before she could even speak or use her wand, she felt rather than heard, her body being lifted into the air and her back slamming painfully into the back of the tree.

Darkness entered her mind.

"Typical of Snape to run off", voiced Sirius as he and Raine made a sprint to the grounds of Hogwarts.

Raine just glared over her shoulder at him for a response.

What a great night this turned out to be! Sirius said sarcastically to himself. Not only have I annoyed my girlfriend, got my best friend into a life and death situation but I had to admit that Snape was right for once. What in Merlin's beard in happening to the world!

Unbearable pain coursed through Zelda's already bruised body. She was semi conscious but still that Theo had placed the Cruio Curse upon her which would explain the loud screaming that she now identified as hers. And then the throbbing stopped just as suddenly as it had started. Slightly dazed, Zel can not gather her wits around to do something, anything about the situation she now faced.

Her ears strained to catch the words which Theo was laughing out as he found delight as seeing her form crumpled on the ground. Listening to his voice, it suddenly became clear what Theo was discussing – her family. Zelda body was on fire as the words become sentences that were very descriptive about the process of his technique in murdering.

It was only after hearing her mother and father's deaths that Zleda had any strength to raise her head and glare at the tall Death Eater. Her anger was clearly displayed and Theo laughed at her attempt.

Bending down, he lifted her chin further up so that their eyes meet and continued, "But best of all was your little brother, who being the foolish young boy…. tried to defend himself," he threw his head back and brought a chilling laugh to the forest, "with his father's wand…an eight year old. What a challenge!"

Zelda's eyes burned with fury as well as salty tears escaping. The warm weather turned quickly to a growing storm. Theo raised his eyebrows as he noticed the wind picking up. "Now, we can't have you trying to escape," he said smoothly and wiped the tears of her cheek before licking them, "so no weather magic, my dear."

As he stepped back, he pointed the wand at Zelda's figure. "You could help yourself if you help the great Dark Lord with his plans."

Through the searing pain in her head and everywhere else she gasped out, "Never!"

"Well, I'll just a little fun until you reconsidered", Theo stated and fixed his eyes on Zelda's figure, contorting in absolute agony.

Raine and Sirius had just reach the opening where the screaming was coming from. Sirius was shivering from the pure terror that could be distinguished from that noise. It scared beyond belief. How could I have been so stupid! Please let Zel be alright!

Peeping through the branches both of them clearly saw Theo or the Avenging Angel totally engrossed with something on the floor of the Forbidden Forest. It wasn't unitl Black's dark eyes reached the ground that he saw a very black and blue Zel, twisting and turning in every direction as if she was being ripped apart from the inside by a monster with large claws.

Sirius took a step forward with his wand already out. His handsome face was darkened with unsuppressed rage. At that moment as Raine glanced at him, she felt scared for own safety. It was a clear reminder that Sirius was very loyal to the ones who he loved but could be a terrifying enemy if you were on the wrong side. Raine gingerly lifted a hand to his arm and whispered, "Don't do anything rash."

His mood changed for a second back to the playful Black. "Why, I didn't know you cared!"

Raine's face fell into a mask of sorrow. "Whatever happens Sirius I love you from the bottom of my heart and promise me that if it's between you and my brother…I want to come back to me, ok?"

"I'll protect you whatever happens now," he whispered back and lightly kissed her on the lips. Before she could ask for the plan, Sirius out of their hiding spot and confronted Theo.

"Leave her only", Black bellowed at the back of the most fear person after Voldemort.

"I knew that Snape would let me down," said Theo is a distained voice. "Can not do anything right." He turned to face a very handsome but pissed off seventh year and he snidded at him, "Of course it would have to be a Griffindor…such brave people but foolish."

And before Sirius could blink, he found himself unarmed and flying across the opening and met the face pain as Zel had early and was knocked out by a large oak tree.

"What a waste of time." Theo muttered as he returned to his captured prize.

"Not quite Theo", a soft reply, "you will leave Zelda alone. She's not going with you."

Surprised Theo spun round now to face his sister who he hadn't seen for ages but stopped when he noticed the wand being trained on his chest.

"What's this sister?", Theo smirked, "are you gong to fight against me?"

Although quivering inside, Raine remained calm and void of any emotions. "Yes I am, if I have to."

"Well," he commented, "I can't be shocked at this new attitude of yours. Snape told me all about your involvement with the hopeless git Sirius Black." His eyes darted to the motionless figure of the young man and it dawned on him. "He really it quite the useless."

"He's not!" shouted Raine. "Don't you dare talk about him as if he was filth!"

"Just making the observation," he said dryly, "I see that you are here not to join my master then, mmm?"

"Never!"

"Poor disillusion," Theo shook his head in laughter, "that's what her answer has been too," he pointed to Zel's body which looked like she was dead although the raising of her chest said she was alive, "but I'm breaking her like I'll break you!"

He took a menacing step forward but Raine was one step ahead of him and placed a protection charm around her.

"I see that you have been hard at your studies", remarked Theo as he tested the shield with a few spells. "It doesn't matter, I always succeed where others have failed."

He lowered his wand and simply stared into Raine's innocent eyes. At that moment, in the deadly silence which filled the air, Raine felt something pull inside her brain. It was like other voice telling, insisting her to follow. She didn't know what she was following but it felt…it felt wrong and tried to break away by shaking her head but the voice became stronger.

"No one can stop the great man that the Dark Lord is!"

Raine heard the statement and wanted to retaliate with something like, if he was so great, why does he get his servants to do the dirty work. But her mouth would not function as again the pull inside her brain stopped her. She was confused she needed to hurt Theo to get Sirius and Zelda to safety but her body was doing something quite different.

She was slowly walking to the lying figure of Sirius, who was beginning to stir as he waking up from the black out. Her wand was raised.

What am I doing! What the hell! Stop Raine, stop it now! Can't you see it's Theo. Hes doing some kind of mind trick. Break free damn it! Break free before something happens to Black.

Raine started to struggle as her arm was lifted higher and more focused on Sirius.

"Stop it," she yelled at Theo. "Stop it, I won't kill him!"

"You don't have a choice", he sneered, "he is not worthy of you. He has rejected the correct ways about pure bloods. You will follow my command – I am you elder."

"NO!" Raine cried out loud and tears sprung from her eyes down her face. "I won't…I can't…no."

Her protest went unheard as Theo became oblivious to his surrounding as he went inside Raine's mind to gain control over her actions. She could feel him in her mind, coaxing her hand to lift her wand and for her lips to voice those deadly two words. Aveda Kedrva.

Tears were now streaming down her face. Her hair was being blown around her face as the weather became increasingly stormy. Thunderclouds rolled into the sky rapidly and Raine barely made out the clapping of thunder and lightening spreading across the dark sky.

Everything spoke of the impeding doom for Sirius.

Leave him alone Theo. He's nothing to you.

But he's something to you…and when everyone finds out that you murder him then you will have no one except me.

I will never join…never.

Never is such a long time. You were always so wilful but the Dark Lord will see to it that you obey. He has many ways to bring out loyalty to those who serve him.

Leave Sirius alone.

The Dark Lord will be proud of me – someone this important to the Potter's family…the reward he will give me

The wind began to howl around Theo and Raine like a mini cyclone. It was now raining heavily yet Theo did not notice as he furthered penetrated his sister's mind.

As Raine's wand finally stopped between Sirius' eyes, Black opened them and Raine was faced with confusion as he saw the wand.

"What the…"

"Now Zelda…do it NOW!"

Lightening appeared from the sky and struck the standing figure of Theo. His body met the full force of the fork of lightening, and slumped loudly to the ground. It laid very still with burn marks displayed on his face.

Raine's body also crumpled downwards but was caught by Sirius just in time. Her mind was suddenly free from the spell which Theo had effortless weaved upon her came as a shock as well as the immense relief of a living Black staring at her.

Zelda blacked out as all her life force had gone into releasing Raine from Theo's mind game. Wandless, due to Theo, Zelda had embarked on controlling the weather which was a visible Ravenclaw heir trait. She was unsure who called to her but she was grateful as before the blackness covered her totally she saw Sirius hugging a living Raine.

XXXXX

Should I leave it at this? I'm thinking about it. I know that some of you won't like it but this wasn't supposed to be a happy story. I hope I tried to fit it with Rowling's writing. I probably will write another chapter to explain things a bit better. Tell me what you think!