Home Safe. . . Hogwarts.
The little girl, Lenore Nightshade was laid gently down on the ground.
Being as this was a mission of great importance and danger, only the senior
experienced Aurors were taking part. The girl's story about coming from
Hogwarts was a little baffling though, for they had to be half a country
away. The only reason that the girl wasn't completely discounted as a liar
was that many had seen the picture of Sebastian Nightshade's family.
Before they went into the combat he set word, by a magic mouth message to Sebastian, in case none of the Aurors survived to revive the girl. He would get the message in the morning. Moody reasoned that by then the danger would have moved past here.
The Aurors cloaked in silence and invisibility surrounded the gathering of Death-eaters. Unfortunately, their silence prevented them from hearing what the Death-eaters were saying. They did not know that Lord Voldimort was present himself, nor which one he was. They did not know that the woman with the dead-white eyes, was a seer, that she could see them coming.
The first spells, went from the Death-eaters, Crutious Curses. Those Aurors, who tried stun spells, realized that the Death-eaters had put up shield. Shields were soon no good, as both sides went to heavier, stronger spells that cut them like a hot knife through butter. Hexes and curse of many types flew about the cave.
Soon spells weren't the only problem. The cave became unstable. Rocks started falling. The air was thick with smoke from magical fires, the scent of blood permeated the smoke around them. It was nearly impossible to see more that five feet away from ones self. There was nothing but chaos. The noise of screams, bits of spells, but overtop it all came an eerie laughter. Psychotic and maniacal laughter that chilled everyone to the bone. It had no source that any could determine.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. All sound stopped. Even the most experienced Auror was unprepared for this event. Then in the stilled room, came a non-voice "Then to overshadow them all, the Devil's favourite child came in. Silence!" The room began to shake, without a sound.
Neither Death-eater nor Auror could move from where they were. Some were not sure if they were still breathing. *Out, must get out!!* screamed the voice in the back of the mind of Moody. He was not the only one who fought against the strange paralyse filling them.
Aurors being the *white hats* tried to grab their friends/enemies once they could move. The Death-eaters were freed of such moral obligations by virtue of being the *bad guys*, simple appearated out of the cave. There was no- body close to him, that freed him from that responsibility, then he remembered the girl lying helpless in the tunnel.
He seriously thought about just leaving. No one would blame him for leaving the girl behind. No body would know, except him. Sebastian Nightshade came to his mind. The young man was very courageous. He'd saved two of his fellow cadets and even come to Moody's aid during his field trial. How could Moody turn around and leave the girl behind, especially helpless as she was. *Damn morals!* He thought.
He head up the tunnel to the girl. He felt his limbs were leaded, and he was running in water. His mind was clouded with an overwhelming desire to rest. The rocks fell around him, and on him slowing his progress even more. He reached where the girl was hidden and grabbed her. He removed the stun spell. A half second later his body erupted in burning pain.
"Stay and play!" The non-voice commanded him. "You shouldn't leave yet." Moody couldn't see anything but a sea of black. He could no longer hear anything. All was black and still to him. He couldn't remember what he'd been doing, or where he was.
"Expelious!" The voice of a little girl called. The darkness seemed to recede from Moody's senses. He looked to see a Death-eater standing by him, and a little girl.
"Inflamios!" The Death-eater yelled. Fire jumped from the fingertips toward the little girl. Fortunately for her, she was quick and flexible and able to dodge out of the way of the flames. While the Death-eaters attention was concentrated on the little girl, Moody regained his senses and attacked him.
"Blitz!" Moody threw a lightning blot at the Death-eater. It hit him squarely, causing him to smoke, and fall motionless to the floor. Moody collapsed to his knees, and turned to look at the girl. Her eyes were wide with fright. She looked between him and the body on the cave floor. "We have to get out of here." Moody ordered.
She was frozen for a moment longer, then nodded. "Are you strong enough?" She asked. Moody tried to stand, but his body didn't want to comply. She bit her lip in a moment of indecision than grabbed him and appearaed them out of the tunnel to a wooded clearing.
"Where are we, girlie?" Moody asked cautiously. Looking around, and noting that there was no-body about.
"The safest place I could think of." She replied. "My house is just over the hill there."
"Now, where did a little thing like you learn to do that?" He asked. She looked sheepishly for a moment. Then down at her feet, but keep quiet. Moody chuckled, she likely didn't want to get the other person in trouble. "I won't tell you appearaed, if you don't tell that a kid just save my skin. Deal?" She nodded brightly. "Your parents home kid?"
"Ummm, I don't think so." She said. "I have a name you know."
"Yeah, whatever." Moody again tried to rise. This time although his body protested, it grudgingly complied. "Let's go."
"Ummm, Sir?" She asked as they started to walk. "Where was there? How'd I get there?"
"There was the hollow of Hadrian. Left as a refuge from the Roman time." Moody told her. "As for the other, good question, girlie."
"Sir? How am I going to get back to school?" She asked timidly.
They reached the Nightshade residence in five minute. Just as she said, her folks weren't there. She unlocked the door, not with a key or spell. She turned to look at him and shrugged. "I was forever losing my keys." She offered as an explanation. Moody was too sore and tired to bother questioning her.
She fell asleep a short while later. Moody, hated to sleep anywhere but his safe spot. To that end, he'd developed an ability to cat nap, when he was away. He looked at how peaceful the girl looked, how innocent. How long since he'd been that way? Had he ever?
He cast a message-mouth to tell Sebastian that the girl was safe and where they were. The boy would likely want to know. For he was sure that by then the entire Auror force would be jumping about to recover from the loss, and to locate all those missing. Moody was starting to relax, when the girl began mumbling in her sleep.
"Stop! Please Stop!" She mumbled. "Drake??? But .he can't be!" Moody listened intently. Perhaps she'd heard something. She started to struggle against an unseen foe. She began to cry out and blotted upright. "What's happening? Where am I?"
"At your home." Moody replied dryly. He thought about taking her to the gates of Hogwarts, but knew that Dumbledore hated to be woken up. Besides what would he tell him? He looked at the girl again, she was crying silently.
"Sir?" She asked hesitantly. She waited until he met her eyes. "Did you . . . that is did you really need to . . . to do that?"
"Do what?" Moody asked coarsely.
She blinked a few times. She looked so scared. "Did you have to . . . kill that person."
"Yeah! Wouldda killed us without a thought." Moody told her coldly. "Don't you think different. It was kill or be killed."
"Is that what you are teaching my brother?" She asked. He saw the signs that her temper rising. She was using to cover her fear. Moody applauded her. She might make an Auror, if she grew a tougher skin, she was too damn emotional.
"Hey girlie, don't kid you're self. If half of us tonight hadn't seen Nightshade's picture of his family you'd have been the first tonight." Moody told her.
"Are you trying to scare me?" She snapped. "Because, after tonight, I don't think that it could get any worse. And if you're trying to threaten me, just do make sure to do it right. 'Cause if you don't I'll get you."
"You got spirit girlie." He smiled at her. She looked at him like he was insane. "You going to tell me your name?"
"Lenore." She replied. She didn't know how to take him. He saved her, but threatened to kill her. "But then I think that you knew that." The man half smiled at her.
"You're quick." He replied. He could see actually liking this kid. "Do you know who I am?"
"Not exactly. But I could make a guess." Lenore replied. He nodded for her to continue. "You know my brother. You came back for me, and you are very Machiavellian. So you're either, Moody or Tiage." She stated, watching for his reaction. "Now I'm guessing that you're likely Moody." He raised a brow to her.
"And why, pray tell, would that be?" He asked, impressed by her deductions.
"Well, among other things, you were willing to overlook a minor legal infraction in the sake of your pride." Lenore replied with more bravado than she really felt.
"Good. Good. Never give everything away." He replied, nodding approvingly at her. "You'll do great things, girlie." At Lenore's scowl he chuckled. "Lenore."
The sun was barely up before Sebastian came in. Len looked at him so shocked by his presents that she was speechless. He hugged her tightly. "You alright?" He asked looking her over and hugging her again. Moody had seen him coming up to the house, he wasn't at all surprised to see the boy. It was really no secret that Sebastian adored his siblings, especially Lenore.
"Morning boy." Moody grumbled.
"Morning to you also." Sebastian Nightshade replied, still holding his sister. He kissed her forehead. "I was so worried, when the other Aurors started to come back."
"I'm fine." Len replied, making not attempt to get away from him.
"I've told you before Boy, you should never show a weakness like that. Someone will use it against you." Moody scolded the display of affection. "Constant vigilance."
"Yes, sir." Bas replied meekly letting Lenore go. He turned to look at her. "Len, what were you doing there? You should be at school, how'd you get half way across the country?"
"I don't know. Really!" Len said, she sounded like she was going to cry. "I was upset and I headed to the Library. But I wasn't thinking and kind of wandered, they next thing I knew I was lost." Len told her brother, thinking that he would believe her, it was the truth. He had to, right?
"We should head out, take her back to the school. She's likely been missed by now." Moody commented.
"You believe me don't you?" Len asked. Moody gave no response. Neither did Bas. Her heart sank, until Bas gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze. She looked up at him, he smiled at her.
"I'll take her back. You go back to base." Moody ordered Bas.
"Sir, Perhaps I should go with you." Bas started. Moody looked at him questioningly. "Just if you wish to ask her anything, I might be able to get it out easier." Lenore looked at her brother, she guessed that it was really he wanted to protect her.
"I think I'll manage." Moody told Sebastian. Bas had no chose but to nod in agreement. "I never asked, why the clearing behind the house?"
"Oh, it's a Muggle community sir. Less likely to be seen. Besides my- that is Mr. Nightshade put up wards so apperea-ing was blocked within the house." Sebastian replied. They walked back to the clearing and dispearaed to their respective sites, Moody taking Lenore along this time.
Outside the gates of the school the stood a moment later. Moody lead the way up to the steps and into the school. He headed straight for Dumbledore's office. He paused at the gargoyle. "Damn, what has he used for the password this time?" Moody mused.
"If - if I may sir?" Lenore asked in a near whisper. The Auror looked down at her in surprise for an instant then nodded. "Acid Pops." The stairs began to rise.
"I wasn't aware that Dumbledore was giving out his password to students these days." Moody commented. "You get into trouble a lot I see."
Lenore looked at him, indignantly. How exactly could she contradict him on that point? She decided to let it drop. Once at the top of the stairs Moody knocked sharply on the door, and walked into the office without waiting for a reply.
"I seem to have found something that you lost." Moody commented to Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked up and smiled at Lenore.
"Good to see you are safe and in one piece." He smiled with twinkling eyes. Lenore looked down sheepishly. "Please sit dear. From what I've heard you've had some night." Lenore took a seat across from Dumbledore, Moody continued to pace the office.
"Lenore, I want you to think. How did you get there?" Dumbledore asked softly.
Len looked at him then at Moody, who was now looking out one of the windows. "I was upset, and started to walk through the school. I got lost. So I tried to cast a spell to find my way. I walked for, at least an hour, maybe two before I decided that it wasn't working. Then I heard voices and headed to see, hopefully get some help."
"Why didn't you just call to them?" Moody asked sharply. Lenore turned to look at him.
She shrugged. "I don't know. It didn't occur to me." She thought for a moment. Then shook her head. "I - I don't know sir." She pleaded with Dumbledore. Lenore knew that if she was thought to be a death-eater, or sympathiser that she could easily find herself in Azkaban.
"Lenore, what happened? Did you hear anything?" Dumbledore asked her.
She looked at him, tears filling her eyes. She really didn't want to think about last night. "I couldn't make out what they said at first. But then . . ."
"What did you hear before we grabbed you?" Moody snapped losing what little patient he had. The girl was a cute kid, but he didn't have time to play with kids.
"Not much." She blinked the tears away. She hugged her knees. "They were talking about my friends." She said sadly.
"Friends?" Moody asked. "What they say?"
"I don't know. The . . . lady, said something about them being trouble." Lenore replied quietly. "That they were going to stop the plans of the dark lord or something." At that both men turned to look at her sharply.
"What friends?" Moody snapped at her. This caused Lenore to jump, she was more scared now than she'd been the night before. Dumbledore cast him a vicious look, then looked back to Lenore, in his kind way.
"Lenore, it's very important that you remember they exact word of what they said." He told her. Lenore looked at him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a memory trick she used during her exams to help her recall the need information.
Then as if on auto-pilot she began; "*That girl is dangerous Lord. I see around her, trouble for your plans. From her, from the Marauders. They will bring you doom.* the lady said. *Those children?* I think, that is that was they one they called Lord. *Do not trouble our Lord with that. They are nothing. Your sight fails you crone.* Sir, I'm sure that was Professor Drake's voice. Then the leader, the Dark Lord said . . . *Silence fool. She is more valuable than you've proven to be.* I think that he cursed him, with - with an unforgivable curse, sir." Tears started to fall from Len's closed eyes. "That's when I was grabbed."
"Do you know what her they were talking about?" Moody demanded. Lenore shook her head *no*. She intently studied the floor. She wouldn't look up.
"Here drink this." Dumbledore handed her a goblet. Lenore thanked him and drank the contents. "I don't think that there is any reason to keep Miss Nightshade." Dumbledore replied. Moody nodded. "Lenore, you can head to class. I need not tell you that this should not leave this office."
"No sir." Came a quiet reply. "But sir, Shouldn't the Marauders know?"
"When we know more, we'll tell them." Dumbledore replied quietly. "Until then, no sense worrying them. Now off you go."
Lenore nodded and left the office. Moody waited until he was sure she was gone. "Bright Girl. Not bad for a kid."
"I've known many Aurors who would have done worse." Dumbledore replied. "We suspected that they had a real seer. Did she make it out?"
"Couldn't tell ya." Moody replied. "I couldn't see nothin'. It was a debacle. I can't believe that we came so close, but missed. Do you know of what girl they could have been referring to?"
"Well, if the she was associated with the Marauders, it would likely be, Lillian Evens. However it could be, Maia Crestwing, or Lenore Nightshade. They've both become very close to them as of late." Dumbledore thought, for a moment. However it could have been any girl he realized.
"What'cha gonna do about Drake?" Moody asked.
"If he made it out alive, and dared to return here. I'll make sure you get him for questioning." Dumbledore replied in an unusually cold voice.
Review Lenore headed to her first class, Arthmacy. She wondered if anyone had missed her. She wasn't left wondering long. Lenore was suddenly wrapped in a bear-hug from behind. She looked back to see it was Remus holding her. Then the other Marauders smushed her in the middle of a group hug. Even Lily and Maia were in on the hug.
"Air! Please!" Lenore called. Happy for all the affection, but the need to breathe being an imperative thing. They let go of her, but stayed close.
"We were so worried." Lily replied.
"When you missed diner I checked your bed." Maia told her. "I couldn't find you, so I enlisted some help."
"We started to search the entire school." Sirius hugged her more gently this time.
"From top to bottom, and then some." Peter added.
"Trust us. We looked everywhere." Remus stated in a matter-o-fact tone.
"Even checked out Hogsmead." Sirius whispered in her ear.
"We told Dumbledore when you were nowhere to be found." James informed Len. "He told us not to worry. Like he already knew where you were."
"What happened? Where'd you go?" Maia insisted. Pushing Sirius away to hug Len.
"I didn't think that you'd get that upset." Lily replied. "I'm sorry."
"No, it wasn't that." Len replied. How could she explain to her friends what happened, with out telling them? She'd promised Dumbledore that she wouldn't. But she didn't want to lie to them either. "I ummm . . ."
"I'm sure that whatever you seven are discussing, can wait until after class." Professor McGonagall's voice came from behind them. "Off to class, or you'll all be late."
"Yes, Professor." They all chorused. They headed off to class.
Lenore spent most of the review class thinking about what to tell her friends. Fortunately this was one class that Maia had trouble with thus didn't pester Len with questions. *Think girl.* Len scolded herself. *There has to be a way to dissuade them from asking, without lying to them.*
Len watched as two girls were getting yelled at for whispering to each other. "What could be so important, that it would supper-seed my review?" Professor Vector demanded. "Neither of you are in such good standing that you should miss this information."
*That's it! Gossip!* Len brightened. She would distract her friends with the news of Drake being a Death-eater. That bit of news would undoubtedly take their minds off her whereabouts last night. Len thought for a moment if that would break her word to Professor Dumbledore. She decided, likely because she had no other ideas, that it didn't.
Len had barely left the room before she was again swarmed by the Marauders, Lily and Maia.
"How did you. . ."Len started to say. "Wasn't you're class like of the other side of the school?"
"He told you that we looked everywhere." Sirius smiled. "We know this school pretty well."
"So, tell us what happened?" James insisted. The surrounded her.
"We really have to get to class." Len replied evasively.
"That's not an answer." Remus commented moving closer. "Spill! What happened?"
"It's a good thing that I'm not claustrophobic." Len replied. "Look, I'll tell you at lunch alright? I don't really want to be overheard." Of course this got their full attention. Lily looked around then nodded to a wall. Len and Maia were escorted into a secret passage.
"Hey, how come you never told me about this before?" Maia demanded.
"It was on my to-do list." Lupin shrugged.
"Anyway, we won't be over heard here." Lily replied. "So, spill."
"Alright, well, I'm not really supposed to say. But I found out that Professor Drake's a Death-eater last night." Len replied. "I spent the night with an Auror." It was true, sort of.
"A Death-eater???" Peter asked. "You sure?"
"Ohhh, yeah." Len commented. Well after all she'd seen him talking to the Dark Lord with her own eyes, not that she was forth coming with that little tid-bit of information.
"Well, you always said that the man was evil." Maia commented stunned.
"So, you told Dumbledore. That's why he knew where you where but didn't want to say." Sirius replied. "He didn't want the school to fly into a panic."
"See, why I couldn't say in front of anybody?" Len insisted. They all nodded. "You can't mention this to anyone."
"Dumbledore's not going to let Drake stay is he?" Sirius sounded indignant at that thought.
"I'm sure he won't." Lily said softly. She put a comforting arm around Lenore. "You poor thing. You must have had a horrible night. It's no wonder you don't want to talk about it."
"Why'd you have to come to class?" Maia asked.
"So as not to worry you all any further." Lenore replied quietly. "Speaking of class, we're going to be late."
"No we aren't." Sirius said off handed. "Ladies." They were led down the passageway, and emerged from the painting right beside their room. Len and Maia looked at each other shocked. They turned to the boys. "Your welcome." Sirius smiled.
Dumbledore took over Drake's classes, and finals. His absence was dismissed as *personal leave*. Whether that meant that he'd died in the fight, or was in the hands of the Aurors, Len didn't care to know or think about. Dumbledore decided, in his whimsical way that the final would be, both written and practical and the marks averaged.
"Well, at least with him, you know it'll be fair." Maia suggested.
"But Maia, I'm still going to fail." Len replied. "Assuming I manage to get perfect on the written, and assuming I manage not to blow up the practical. Let's say by some miracle it even works, and the marks average into a C. This only counts fro 40 percent and I'll still fail the course." Len stated. "I'm domed."
"So, why don't you get some extra tutoring sessions?" Maia suggested blandly. "We still have two weeks before the final. And it's helped, a lot." Lenore looked at Maia viciously, then around them to make sure that they were alone.
"You swore that you'd not mention that." Len insisted in a whisper.
"Get off it Hun." Maia smiled. "The entire school knows that you're getting potions tutoring. Just no-body knows who. Truth is that most of us are thankful, that something's finally helping."
"Fine. But it's not fair that I should trouble . . . my tutor for anymore help." Lenore replied.
Maia leaned in and whispered. "He's likely the only person in the school who studies as much as we do. He likely has time. It's just getting him to agree."
That night Lenore sat staring into the fire trying to think of what to do. Maia was playing chess with Chad, who was rather good. Len wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around her. Her mind was filled with problems. She decided to head up to bed.
To go on a date with Sirius? *Officially* Lenore corrected herself, most of the school believed them to be together already. Len huffed, contemplating her options. Coming to no immediate conclusion others thoughts started to arise.
Like what was she going to do about potions? Which led to questions of Severus. Was it fair to ask him for more help? Would he agree? She liked to think of him as a friend, but . . . She was confused. She hadn't really seen that look it his eyes the last time she hugged him? The one that mirrored Sirius' when she looked at him after he'd just tickled her. Sirius? Severus? She was so confused. Then the nagging feeling of wanting to tell her friends about everything that happened last night.
Len buried her head in the pillows, and pulled the curtains not really wanting to be disturbed by anyone. Her mind rolled over the possibilities of what she should do, but nothing seemed right. Finally she gave up on sleep, she peaked her head out and noted that it was too early for any of the others to be up. She quietly got up, and headed out of the dorm, and down to the kitchen to get fresh pastries that she and Maia could share upstairs.
Len paused briefly, thinking that it might be nice to visit with M. Pomfrey. Little know fact, was that M. Pomfrey was actually Sebastian's aunt, by virtue of being his mother's sister. Despite the break-up of her sister and Len's Dad, she'd always been kind to Lenore. Len laughed, *okay so she's probably one of Bas' spies*. Len stood in the hall a moment longer before heading to the kitchen.
As she headed back to her dorm, she felt better, although still having no answers. She, sat on her bed and read until Maia decided to get up. Lenore felt great for not having slept the prior night. Maia harassed her about going for Sirius. Lenore laughed it away, "Maia, didn't you tell me that girls didn't ask guys out?"
"Well, all you have to do is give him a green light, he'll ask." Maia insisted. Munching on the flaky pastry. Maia turned to look at Len, who was lounging on the bed. "I'm thinking of having a pool party this summer. What you think?"
"Since when'd you get a pool?" Len asked. She'd visited Maia's house many times, no pool.
"Dad suggested that he was going to put one in. You know that he hates the heat." Maia commented. "Think it'll be a muggle one, or not?"
"In-door, or out-door?" Len asked Maia shrugged. "I think that'll be a key feature." Len giggled. "Let me guess, you what to invite Remus so he can see you in your bikini?"
Maia smiled. "Am I that transparent?" Len nodded *yes*.
"But then I know you." Len giggled.
"Len, you know that you'd look sooo good in one too." Maia replied.
"Except for two little things. One, I move too much, to stay in one properly, and two Bas would be trying to cover me with a towel, and staring down any guy that came within like ten meters of me. That would kind of spoil the party for me." Len laughed.
"I don't know. I think I know at least one guy that would still try and talk to you." Maia teased.
"Doesn't say much for his intelligence." They were in a great mood heading to class, with plans of summer swimming around in their heads. They were in such a good mood not even potions class could bring them down. They were doing review potions, meaning that they had been done before. The class groaned loudly. The silence potion, was assigned.
Len couldn't resist jesting. "Sir, does this mean that you want new windows for the entire school?" Most of the Ravensclaws giggled at her comment.
"Miss Nightshade, if you somehow manage to do THAT again," Dumbledore sounded all serious for a moment the Ravenclaw quieted, fearful that the headmaster was in a bad mood. "I'll pass you and you won't have to take your final." He laughed, with the twinkle in his eye.
Lenore looked at him in disbelief for a moment. "Sir?" Was all Len managed to get out.
"You heard me. If you can do THAT again, on purpose, I'll pass you, and you won't have to take the final." Dumbledore challenged her. Lenore smiled, and seriously thought about it, then of course her mind found the flaw with the plan.
"And what if it doesn't?" Len asked tentatively.
"You will have to take the final." Lenore shrugged at that, that wasn't so bad. "Oh, and of course, if you try and it doesn't work, you will lose the marks for this review class."
Lenore thought about it. Heck what was 5%, she'd likely get the potion wrong anyway, she should go for it? But, after quick mental calculation, she realized that that 5% would change her odds of passing for, nil to slim.
Before they went into the combat he set word, by a magic mouth message to Sebastian, in case none of the Aurors survived to revive the girl. He would get the message in the morning. Moody reasoned that by then the danger would have moved past here.
The Aurors cloaked in silence and invisibility surrounded the gathering of Death-eaters. Unfortunately, their silence prevented them from hearing what the Death-eaters were saying. They did not know that Lord Voldimort was present himself, nor which one he was. They did not know that the woman with the dead-white eyes, was a seer, that she could see them coming.
The first spells, went from the Death-eaters, Crutious Curses. Those Aurors, who tried stun spells, realized that the Death-eaters had put up shield. Shields were soon no good, as both sides went to heavier, stronger spells that cut them like a hot knife through butter. Hexes and curse of many types flew about the cave.
Soon spells weren't the only problem. The cave became unstable. Rocks started falling. The air was thick with smoke from magical fires, the scent of blood permeated the smoke around them. It was nearly impossible to see more that five feet away from ones self. There was nothing but chaos. The noise of screams, bits of spells, but overtop it all came an eerie laughter. Psychotic and maniacal laughter that chilled everyone to the bone. It had no source that any could determine.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. All sound stopped. Even the most experienced Auror was unprepared for this event. Then in the stilled room, came a non-voice "Then to overshadow them all, the Devil's favourite child came in. Silence!" The room began to shake, without a sound.
Neither Death-eater nor Auror could move from where they were. Some were not sure if they were still breathing. *Out, must get out!!* screamed the voice in the back of the mind of Moody. He was not the only one who fought against the strange paralyse filling them.
Aurors being the *white hats* tried to grab their friends/enemies once they could move. The Death-eaters were freed of such moral obligations by virtue of being the *bad guys*, simple appearated out of the cave. There was no- body close to him, that freed him from that responsibility, then he remembered the girl lying helpless in the tunnel.
He seriously thought about just leaving. No one would blame him for leaving the girl behind. No body would know, except him. Sebastian Nightshade came to his mind. The young man was very courageous. He'd saved two of his fellow cadets and even come to Moody's aid during his field trial. How could Moody turn around and leave the girl behind, especially helpless as she was. *Damn morals!* He thought.
He head up the tunnel to the girl. He felt his limbs were leaded, and he was running in water. His mind was clouded with an overwhelming desire to rest. The rocks fell around him, and on him slowing his progress even more. He reached where the girl was hidden and grabbed her. He removed the stun spell. A half second later his body erupted in burning pain.
"Stay and play!" The non-voice commanded him. "You shouldn't leave yet." Moody couldn't see anything but a sea of black. He could no longer hear anything. All was black and still to him. He couldn't remember what he'd been doing, or where he was.
"Expelious!" The voice of a little girl called. The darkness seemed to recede from Moody's senses. He looked to see a Death-eater standing by him, and a little girl.
"Inflamios!" The Death-eater yelled. Fire jumped from the fingertips toward the little girl. Fortunately for her, she was quick and flexible and able to dodge out of the way of the flames. While the Death-eaters attention was concentrated on the little girl, Moody regained his senses and attacked him.
"Blitz!" Moody threw a lightning blot at the Death-eater. It hit him squarely, causing him to smoke, and fall motionless to the floor. Moody collapsed to his knees, and turned to look at the girl. Her eyes were wide with fright. She looked between him and the body on the cave floor. "We have to get out of here." Moody ordered.
She was frozen for a moment longer, then nodded. "Are you strong enough?" She asked. Moody tried to stand, but his body didn't want to comply. She bit her lip in a moment of indecision than grabbed him and appearaed them out of the tunnel to a wooded clearing.
"Where are we, girlie?" Moody asked cautiously. Looking around, and noting that there was no-body about.
"The safest place I could think of." She replied. "My house is just over the hill there."
"Now, where did a little thing like you learn to do that?" He asked. She looked sheepishly for a moment. Then down at her feet, but keep quiet. Moody chuckled, she likely didn't want to get the other person in trouble. "I won't tell you appearaed, if you don't tell that a kid just save my skin. Deal?" She nodded brightly. "Your parents home kid?"
"Ummm, I don't think so." She said. "I have a name you know."
"Yeah, whatever." Moody again tried to rise. This time although his body protested, it grudgingly complied. "Let's go."
"Ummm, Sir?" She asked as they started to walk. "Where was there? How'd I get there?"
"There was the hollow of Hadrian. Left as a refuge from the Roman time." Moody told her. "As for the other, good question, girlie."
"Sir? How am I going to get back to school?" She asked timidly.
They reached the Nightshade residence in five minute. Just as she said, her folks weren't there. She unlocked the door, not with a key or spell. She turned to look at him and shrugged. "I was forever losing my keys." She offered as an explanation. Moody was too sore and tired to bother questioning her.
She fell asleep a short while later. Moody, hated to sleep anywhere but his safe spot. To that end, he'd developed an ability to cat nap, when he was away. He looked at how peaceful the girl looked, how innocent. How long since he'd been that way? Had he ever?
He cast a message-mouth to tell Sebastian that the girl was safe and where they were. The boy would likely want to know. For he was sure that by then the entire Auror force would be jumping about to recover from the loss, and to locate all those missing. Moody was starting to relax, when the girl began mumbling in her sleep.
"Stop! Please Stop!" She mumbled. "Drake??? But .he can't be!" Moody listened intently. Perhaps she'd heard something. She started to struggle against an unseen foe. She began to cry out and blotted upright. "What's happening? Where am I?"
"At your home." Moody replied dryly. He thought about taking her to the gates of Hogwarts, but knew that Dumbledore hated to be woken up. Besides what would he tell him? He looked at the girl again, she was crying silently.
"Sir?" She asked hesitantly. She waited until he met her eyes. "Did you . . . that is did you really need to . . . to do that?"
"Do what?" Moody asked coarsely.
She blinked a few times. She looked so scared. "Did you have to . . . kill that person."
"Yeah! Wouldda killed us without a thought." Moody told her coldly. "Don't you think different. It was kill or be killed."
"Is that what you are teaching my brother?" She asked. He saw the signs that her temper rising. She was using to cover her fear. Moody applauded her. She might make an Auror, if she grew a tougher skin, she was too damn emotional.
"Hey girlie, don't kid you're self. If half of us tonight hadn't seen Nightshade's picture of his family you'd have been the first tonight." Moody told her.
"Are you trying to scare me?" She snapped. "Because, after tonight, I don't think that it could get any worse. And if you're trying to threaten me, just do make sure to do it right. 'Cause if you don't I'll get you."
"You got spirit girlie." He smiled at her. She looked at him like he was insane. "You going to tell me your name?"
"Lenore." She replied. She didn't know how to take him. He saved her, but threatened to kill her. "But then I think that you knew that." The man half smiled at her.
"You're quick." He replied. He could see actually liking this kid. "Do you know who I am?"
"Not exactly. But I could make a guess." Lenore replied. He nodded for her to continue. "You know my brother. You came back for me, and you are very Machiavellian. So you're either, Moody or Tiage." She stated, watching for his reaction. "Now I'm guessing that you're likely Moody." He raised a brow to her.
"And why, pray tell, would that be?" He asked, impressed by her deductions.
"Well, among other things, you were willing to overlook a minor legal infraction in the sake of your pride." Lenore replied with more bravado than she really felt.
"Good. Good. Never give everything away." He replied, nodding approvingly at her. "You'll do great things, girlie." At Lenore's scowl he chuckled. "Lenore."
The sun was barely up before Sebastian came in. Len looked at him so shocked by his presents that she was speechless. He hugged her tightly. "You alright?" He asked looking her over and hugging her again. Moody had seen him coming up to the house, he wasn't at all surprised to see the boy. It was really no secret that Sebastian adored his siblings, especially Lenore.
"Morning boy." Moody grumbled.
"Morning to you also." Sebastian Nightshade replied, still holding his sister. He kissed her forehead. "I was so worried, when the other Aurors started to come back."
"I'm fine." Len replied, making not attempt to get away from him.
"I've told you before Boy, you should never show a weakness like that. Someone will use it against you." Moody scolded the display of affection. "Constant vigilance."
"Yes, sir." Bas replied meekly letting Lenore go. He turned to look at her. "Len, what were you doing there? You should be at school, how'd you get half way across the country?"
"I don't know. Really!" Len said, she sounded like she was going to cry. "I was upset and I headed to the Library. But I wasn't thinking and kind of wandered, they next thing I knew I was lost." Len told her brother, thinking that he would believe her, it was the truth. He had to, right?
"We should head out, take her back to the school. She's likely been missed by now." Moody commented.
"You believe me don't you?" Len asked. Moody gave no response. Neither did Bas. Her heart sank, until Bas gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze. She looked up at him, he smiled at her.
"I'll take her back. You go back to base." Moody ordered Bas.
"Sir, Perhaps I should go with you." Bas started. Moody looked at him questioningly. "Just if you wish to ask her anything, I might be able to get it out easier." Lenore looked at her brother, she guessed that it was really he wanted to protect her.
"I think I'll manage." Moody told Sebastian. Bas had no chose but to nod in agreement. "I never asked, why the clearing behind the house?"
"Oh, it's a Muggle community sir. Less likely to be seen. Besides my- that is Mr. Nightshade put up wards so apperea-ing was blocked within the house." Sebastian replied. They walked back to the clearing and dispearaed to their respective sites, Moody taking Lenore along this time.
Outside the gates of the school the stood a moment later. Moody lead the way up to the steps and into the school. He headed straight for Dumbledore's office. He paused at the gargoyle. "Damn, what has he used for the password this time?" Moody mused.
"If - if I may sir?" Lenore asked in a near whisper. The Auror looked down at her in surprise for an instant then nodded. "Acid Pops." The stairs began to rise.
"I wasn't aware that Dumbledore was giving out his password to students these days." Moody commented. "You get into trouble a lot I see."
Lenore looked at him, indignantly. How exactly could she contradict him on that point? She decided to let it drop. Once at the top of the stairs Moody knocked sharply on the door, and walked into the office without waiting for a reply.
"I seem to have found something that you lost." Moody commented to Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked up and smiled at Lenore.
"Good to see you are safe and in one piece." He smiled with twinkling eyes. Lenore looked down sheepishly. "Please sit dear. From what I've heard you've had some night." Lenore took a seat across from Dumbledore, Moody continued to pace the office.
"Lenore, I want you to think. How did you get there?" Dumbledore asked softly.
Len looked at him then at Moody, who was now looking out one of the windows. "I was upset, and started to walk through the school. I got lost. So I tried to cast a spell to find my way. I walked for, at least an hour, maybe two before I decided that it wasn't working. Then I heard voices and headed to see, hopefully get some help."
"Why didn't you just call to them?" Moody asked sharply. Lenore turned to look at him.
She shrugged. "I don't know. It didn't occur to me." She thought for a moment. Then shook her head. "I - I don't know sir." She pleaded with Dumbledore. Lenore knew that if she was thought to be a death-eater, or sympathiser that she could easily find herself in Azkaban.
"Lenore, what happened? Did you hear anything?" Dumbledore asked her.
She looked at him, tears filling her eyes. She really didn't want to think about last night. "I couldn't make out what they said at first. But then . . ."
"What did you hear before we grabbed you?" Moody snapped losing what little patient he had. The girl was a cute kid, but he didn't have time to play with kids.
"Not much." She blinked the tears away. She hugged her knees. "They were talking about my friends." She said sadly.
"Friends?" Moody asked. "What they say?"
"I don't know. The . . . lady, said something about them being trouble." Lenore replied quietly. "That they were going to stop the plans of the dark lord or something." At that both men turned to look at her sharply.
"What friends?" Moody snapped at her. This caused Lenore to jump, she was more scared now than she'd been the night before. Dumbledore cast him a vicious look, then looked back to Lenore, in his kind way.
"Lenore, it's very important that you remember they exact word of what they said." He told her. Lenore looked at him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a memory trick she used during her exams to help her recall the need information.
Then as if on auto-pilot she began; "*That girl is dangerous Lord. I see around her, trouble for your plans. From her, from the Marauders. They will bring you doom.* the lady said. *Those children?* I think, that is that was they one they called Lord. *Do not trouble our Lord with that. They are nothing. Your sight fails you crone.* Sir, I'm sure that was Professor Drake's voice. Then the leader, the Dark Lord said . . . *Silence fool. She is more valuable than you've proven to be.* I think that he cursed him, with - with an unforgivable curse, sir." Tears started to fall from Len's closed eyes. "That's when I was grabbed."
"Do you know what her they were talking about?" Moody demanded. Lenore shook her head *no*. She intently studied the floor. She wouldn't look up.
"Here drink this." Dumbledore handed her a goblet. Lenore thanked him and drank the contents. "I don't think that there is any reason to keep Miss Nightshade." Dumbledore replied. Moody nodded. "Lenore, you can head to class. I need not tell you that this should not leave this office."
"No sir." Came a quiet reply. "But sir, Shouldn't the Marauders know?"
"When we know more, we'll tell them." Dumbledore replied quietly. "Until then, no sense worrying them. Now off you go."
Lenore nodded and left the office. Moody waited until he was sure she was gone. "Bright Girl. Not bad for a kid."
"I've known many Aurors who would have done worse." Dumbledore replied. "We suspected that they had a real seer. Did she make it out?"
"Couldn't tell ya." Moody replied. "I couldn't see nothin'. It was a debacle. I can't believe that we came so close, but missed. Do you know of what girl they could have been referring to?"
"Well, if the she was associated with the Marauders, it would likely be, Lillian Evens. However it could be, Maia Crestwing, or Lenore Nightshade. They've both become very close to them as of late." Dumbledore thought, for a moment. However it could have been any girl he realized.
"What'cha gonna do about Drake?" Moody asked.
"If he made it out alive, and dared to return here. I'll make sure you get him for questioning." Dumbledore replied in an unusually cold voice.
Review Lenore headed to her first class, Arthmacy. She wondered if anyone had missed her. She wasn't left wondering long. Lenore was suddenly wrapped in a bear-hug from behind. She looked back to see it was Remus holding her. Then the other Marauders smushed her in the middle of a group hug. Even Lily and Maia were in on the hug.
"Air! Please!" Lenore called. Happy for all the affection, but the need to breathe being an imperative thing. They let go of her, but stayed close.
"We were so worried." Lily replied.
"When you missed diner I checked your bed." Maia told her. "I couldn't find you, so I enlisted some help."
"We started to search the entire school." Sirius hugged her more gently this time.
"From top to bottom, and then some." Peter added.
"Trust us. We looked everywhere." Remus stated in a matter-o-fact tone.
"Even checked out Hogsmead." Sirius whispered in her ear.
"We told Dumbledore when you were nowhere to be found." James informed Len. "He told us not to worry. Like he already knew where you were."
"What happened? Where'd you go?" Maia insisted. Pushing Sirius away to hug Len.
"I didn't think that you'd get that upset." Lily replied. "I'm sorry."
"No, it wasn't that." Len replied. How could she explain to her friends what happened, with out telling them? She'd promised Dumbledore that she wouldn't. But she didn't want to lie to them either. "I ummm . . ."
"I'm sure that whatever you seven are discussing, can wait until after class." Professor McGonagall's voice came from behind them. "Off to class, or you'll all be late."
"Yes, Professor." They all chorused. They headed off to class.
Lenore spent most of the review class thinking about what to tell her friends. Fortunately this was one class that Maia had trouble with thus didn't pester Len with questions. *Think girl.* Len scolded herself. *There has to be a way to dissuade them from asking, without lying to them.*
Len watched as two girls were getting yelled at for whispering to each other. "What could be so important, that it would supper-seed my review?" Professor Vector demanded. "Neither of you are in such good standing that you should miss this information."
*That's it! Gossip!* Len brightened. She would distract her friends with the news of Drake being a Death-eater. That bit of news would undoubtedly take their minds off her whereabouts last night. Len thought for a moment if that would break her word to Professor Dumbledore. She decided, likely because she had no other ideas, that it didn't.
Len had barely left the room before she was again swarmed by the Marauders, Lily and Maia.
"How did you. . ."Len started to say. "Wasn't you're class like of the other side of the school?"
"He told you that we looked everywhere." Sirius smiled. "We know this school pretty well."
"So, tell us what happened?" James insisted. The surrounded her.
"We really have to get to class." Len replied evasively.
"That's not an answer." Remus commented moving closer. "Spill! What happened?"
"It's a good thing that I'm not claustrophobic." Len replied. "Look, I'll tell you at lunch alright? I don't really want to be overheard." Of course this got their full attention. Lily looked around then nodded to a wall. Len and Maia were escorted into a secret passage.
"Hey, how come you never told me about this before?" Maia demanded.
"It was on my to-do list." Lupin shrugged.
"Anyway, we won't be over heard here." Lily replied. "So, spill."
"Alright, well, I'm not really supposed to say. But I found out that Professor Drake's a Death-eater last night." Len replied. "I spent the night with an Auror." It was true, sort of.
"A Death-eater???" Peter asked. "You sure?"
"Ohhh, yeah." Len commented. Well after all she'd seen him talking to the Dark Lord with her own eyes, not that she was forth coming with that little tid-bit of information.
"Well, you always said that the man was evil." Maia commented stunned.
"So, you told Dumbledore. That's why he knew where you where but didn't want to say." Sirius replied. "He didn't want the school to fly into a panic."
"See, why I couldn't say in front of anybody?" Len insisted. They all nodded. "You can't mention this to anyone."
"Dumbledore's not going to let Drake stay is he?" Sirius sounded indignant at that thought.
"I'm sure he won't." Lily said softly. She put a comforting arm around Lenore. "You poor thing. You must have had a horrible night. It's no wonder you don't want to talk about it."
"Why'd you have to come to class?" Maia asked.
"So as not to worry you all any further." Lenore replied quietly. "Speaking of class, we're going to be late."
"No we aren't." Sirius said off handed. "Ladies." They were led down the passageway, and emerged from the painting right beside their room. Len and Maia looked at each other shocked. They turned to the boys. "Your welcome." Sirius smiled.
Dumbledore took over Drake's classes, and finals. His absence was dismissed as *personal leave*. Whether that meant that he'd died in the fight, or was in the hands of the Aurors, Len didn't care to know or think about. Dumbledore decided, in his whimsical way that the final would be, both written and practical and the marks averaged.
"Well, at least with him, you know it'll be fair." Maia suggested.
"But Maia, I'm still going to fail." Len replied. "Assuming I manage to get perfect on the written, and assuming I manage not to blow up the practical. Let's say by some miracle it even works, and the marks average into a C. This only counts fro 40 percent and I'll still fail the course." Len stated. "I'm domed."
"So, why don't you get some extra tutoring sessions?" Maia suggested blandly. "We still have two weeks before the final. And it's helped, a lot." Lenore looked at Maia viciously, then around them to make sure that they were alone.
"You swore that you'd not mention that." Len insisted in a whisper.
"Get off it Hun." Maia smiled. "The entire school knows that you're getting potions tutoring. Just no-body knows who. Truth is that most of us are thankful, that something's finally helping."
"Fine. But it's not fair that I should trouble . . . my tutor for anymore help." Lenore replied.
Maia leaned in and whispered. "He's likely the only person in the school who studies as much as we do. He likely has time. It's just getting him to agree."
That night Lenore sat staring into the fire trying to think of what to do. Maia was playing chess with Chad, who was rather good. Len wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around her. Her mind was filled with problems. She decided to head up to bed.
To go on a date with Sirius? *Officially* Lenore corrected herself, most of the school believed them to be together already. Len huffed, contemplating her options. Coming to no immediate conclusion others thoughts started to arise.
Like what was she going to do about potions? Which led to questions of Severus. Was it fair to ask him for more help? Would he agree? She liked to think of him as a friend, but . . . She was confused. She hadn't really seen that look it his eyes the last time she hugged him? The one that mirrored Sirius' when she looked at him after he'd just tickled her. Sirius? Severus? She was so confused. Then the nagging feeling of wanting to tell her friends about everything that happened last night.
Len buried her head in the pillows, and pulled the curtains not really wanting to be disturbed by anyone. Her mind rolled over the possibilities of what she should do, but nothing seemed right. Finally she gave up on sleep, she peaked her head out and noted that it was too early for any of the others to be up. She quietly got up, and headed out of the dorm, and down to the kitchen to get fresh pastries that she and Maia could share upstairs.
Len paused briefly, thinking that it might be nice to visit with M. Pomfrey. Little know fact, was that M. Pomfrey was actually Sebastian's aunt, by virtue of being his mother's sister. Despite the break-up of her sister and Len's Dad, she'd always been kind to Lenore. Len laughed, *okay so she's probably one of Bas' spies*. Len stood in the hall a moment longer before heading to the kitchen.
As she headed back to her dorm, she felt better, although still having no answers. She, sat on her bed and read until Maia decided to get up. Lenore felt great for not having slept the prior night. Maia harassed her about going for Sirius. Lenore laughed it away, "Maia, didn't you tell me that girls didn't ask guys out?"
"Well, all you have to do is give him a green light, he'll ask." Maia insisted. Munching on the flaky pastry. Maia turned to look at Len, who was lounging on the bed. "I'm thinking of having a pool party this summer. What you think?"
"Since when'd you get a pool?" Len asked. She'd visited Maia's house many times, no pool.
"Dad suggested that he was going to put one in. You know that he hates the heat." Maia commented. "Think it'll be a muggle one, or not?"
"In-door, or out-door?" Len asked Maia shrugged. "I think that'll be a key feature." Len giggled. "Let me guess, you what to invite Remus so he can see you in your bikini?"
Maia smiled. "Am I that transparent?" Len nodded *yes*.
"But then I know you." Len giggled.
"Len, you know that you'd look sooo good in one too." Maia replied.
"Except for two little things. One, I move too much, to stay in one properly, and two Bas would be trying to cover me with a towel, and staring down any guy that came within like ten meters of me. That would kind of spoil the party for me." Len laughed.
"I don't know. I think I know at least one guy that would still try and talk to you." Maia teased.
"Doesn't say much for his intelligence." They were in a great mood heading to class, with plans of summer swimming around in their heads. They were in such a good mood not even potions class could bring them down. They were doing review potions, meaning that they had been done before. The class groaned loudly. The silence potion, was assigned.
Len couldn't resist jesting. "Sir, does this mean that you want new windows for the entire school?" Most of the Ravensclaws giggled at her comment.
"Miss Nightshade, if you somehow manage to do THAT again," Dumbledore sounded all serious for a moment the Ravenclaw quieted, fearful that the headmaster was in a bad mood. "I'll pass you and you won't have to take your final." He laughed, with the twinkle in his eye.
Lenore looked at him in disbelief for a moment. "Sir?" Was all Len managed to get out.
"You heard me. If you can do THAT again, on purpose, I'll pass you, and you won't have to take the final." Dumbledore challenged her. Lenore smiled, and seriously thought about it, then of course her mind found the flaw with the plan.
"And what if it doesn't?" Len asked tentatively.
"You will have to take the final." Lenore shrugged at that, that wasn't so bad. "Oh, and of course, if you try and it doesn't work, you will lose the marks for this review class."
Lenore thought about it. Heck what was 5%, she'd likely get the potion wrong anyway, she should go for it? But, after quick mental calculation, she realized that that 5% would change her odds of passing for, nil to slim.