Disclaimer: I didn't create Harry Potter. I wish I had. It would've been fun and cool…but alas all I have created is this plot and Broder. Please don't steal either without my permission…
"There's isn't anything we can do," Broder said, "we'll already be punished for not convincing them to come back under their own free will, we can't make it any worse." With that, Broder turned and began walking toward the cottage they had been assigned to.
Reluctantly Percy followed. Once they were inside Broder took out his wand and mumbled something to it, a red light streaked out and vanished. Percy stared for a minute, disconcerted. He recognized the spell as nearly the same one he used to send messages to Dumbledore.
"We might as well get some sleep." Broder said, "They'll arrive in the next few hours… we have a long night ahead of us." A shadow passed over Broder's face. He looked like he was about to say something, but instead he lay down and turned towards the wall.
Percy lay down on his own bed. In the darkness of the room he began to form a plan. "I need to use the loo."
Broder mumbled something incomprehensible as Percy got out of bed and headed for the door.
Once he was outside, he began walking quickly towards the center of the village. He needed to warn them… to tell someone. He considered Professor Lupin, but he quickly disregarded that idea. Lupin would be sure to tell his parents that he had warned him about the attack… he wasn't ready for them to know that he was anything but wholly committed to the Dark Lord. He also considered going right to Torstan, but he was wary of that option. If the werewolves were captured Torstan would be the first one tortured for information – Percy couldn't chance him knowing anything either.
Finally it hit him, he felt like an idiot for not thinking of it before. Rikke was standing not more than 20 meters away. He quickly walked toward her. She looked startled but didn't get a chance to say anything before he reached her.
"Do you have anywhere we can talk privately?" He asked her urgently.
"What?" She asked, startled.
"I need to talk to you." He was getting impatient… any moment Broder would notice he was missing.
"Yeah…sure." She said, she began walking to the outskirts of the village. Finally they stopped outside of a moderately sized cottage, "This is my home," she said, "We can talk in here." She shoved open the door and walked in, motioning Percy in after her.
Percy glanced around to see if anyone was watching before ducking inside. Rikke had her wand out and was lighting lamps around the room. "So what is it that's so urgent?" She asked, turning to face him.
Now that he was standing here he didn't know how to tell her. "You have to get your people away from here." He said.
"What? Why?" She asked alarmed, "What's going on?"
"Broder sent a message to the Dark Lord, telling him of your father's reluctance to serve him again. More Death Eaters will be showing up tonight to attack this village. They'll force you to join them."
The alarm was still evident on her face, but she was looking at him suspiciously, "Why are you telling me this?" She asked, "You're with them…"
"It's not that simple." Percy interrupted – this was taking too long! He began moving toward the door, "Just get your people out of here and don't tell anyone that I told you about this…not even your father. Please."
She was still suspicious but she nodded. Percy opened her door a crack to make sure no one was watching before slipping out into the night.
Hours later Percy was sitting in the darkness of the cottage, his heart was pounding. He hoped that Rikke had enough time to move everyone out. The Death Eaters still hadn't arrived.
Broder hadn't gotten much sleep. He'd only been lying down for about an hour before he got up and started pacing restlessly. They hadn't said anything; the silence between them was tense and anxious.
Finally, about an hour before dawn, the cottage resounded with several sharp cracks. Suddenly the small space was filled with Death Eaters. Percy immediately jumped up.
"It's about time you got here…" Broder started furiously. He stopped in mid-sentence and gasped as Lucius Malfoy separated himself from the crowd and turned toward them. Percy shifted his weight, uncomfortably remembering the last time he'd been in Malfoy's presence.
Malfoy seemed to be trying to keep his face expressionless, but his mouth was curved into a smirk. "I see your mission has failed, Broder." He said his voice haughty and cold. "I told the Dark Lord that entrusting a mission of this delicacy to the two of you was foolhardy, and now you've proven me correct."
Broder's face darkened in fury, his hand was near his wand, he looked ready to draw it and curse Malfoy into oblivion. Instead he swallowed hard and planted a fake smile on his face, "Shall we get down to business then, Malfoy?" He asked in a strained voice, "It is nearing dawn; we need the cover of darkness if we are going to do this thing."
Percy's stomach lurched in nervousness – he desperately hoped Rikke had had enough time. Lucius was now moving toward the door. His apprehension mounted as he followed them out of the cottage.
Once he was outside he stopped and stared in amazement. They were surrounded what looked like all the werewolves in the settlement all with their wands out and pointed at the Death Eaters. Torstan was standing in front with his daughter on one side and Laila on the other they were glaring fiercely at Broder. Professor Lupin was there as well, his wand was out, but he was only looking at Percy. That same look of disappointment was there, but now it was laced with anger.
"We should've known that you would not simply leave us in peace," Torstan rumbled his eyes flashing.
Lucius rounded on Percy and Broder, "Are the two of you completely incompetent!" He asked incredulously.
Broder shifted uncomfortably and muttered something about having no idea how they found out.
"I heard you talking!" Rikke shouted. Her eyes were flashing in anger; "You cowards were planning to attack us while we slept!" Percy breathed a sigh of relief he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Leave now." Lupin said calmly, "You are outnumbered and surrounded; you have nothing to gain by fighting us."
Malfoy's eyes flickered around for a second; Percy realized that he was counting how many werewolves surrounded him. Percy did the same. He counted 40 werewolves to only 20 Death Eaters. It would be foolish to attempt to fight those odds.
Lucius seemed to agree, "Very well." He said coolly, "But you are unwise to anger the Dark Lord. That cannot go unpunished." At his signal the Death Eaters began apparating. Percy was about to apparate out with them when he saw the look in Malfoy's eyes. He froze.
Suddenly Malfoy pointed his wand at Rikke and cried out "Avada Kedavera!" A horrified look came onto her face, but before she could respond the spell hit her. She fell to the ground, her eyes open and lifeless. The terrified expression frozen forever on her beautiful face.
"Rikke!" Torstan cried, falling to the ground and cradling his daughter. "You bastard!" He screamed at Lucius, he pointed his wand at Malfoy, but before he could get out a single spell Malfoy disapparated with a smirk on his face.
Percy surveyed the scene in front of him. Torstan was still holding Rikke's body, staring vacantly at the space that Malfoy had just been in. Percy suddenly was very aware that he was the only Death Eater left in the werewolf settlement. Laila was pointing her wand at him, tears streaming down her face. Lupin was looking at him with a shocked expression. Percy felt sick, but he gave him a little smile and wave before disapparating.
He reappeared inside Lord Voldemort's chamber. He stumbled to the ground, tears prickling in his eyes. He'd told her to leave! He'd told her to get her people out of there and leave! Why had she stayed!
He didn't have long to think about these dark thoughts before he felt a jarring impact to his stomach. Pain shot through his system, he screamed out, but the agony only intensified. Finally when he felt like he couldn't take anymore, the pain abruptly stopped. He found himself lying on the ground. There was a strange coppery taste in his mouth, it took a second before he realized that he'd bitten his tongue.
"You have failed me again!" The Dark Lord hissed in anger. Broder was on the ground screaming and writhing in torment. Malfoy wasn't far away, and in no better condition. Voldemort's eyes found Percy, he was still lying on the ground, trembling in pain and fear.
"Crucio!" The Dark Lord cried, pointing his wand at Percy.
Agony enveloped Percy again, some part of his mind registered that this didn't compare to Malfoy's torture, but the rest of it was blank in pain. The torment went on for hours. The pain only let up temporarily just when Percy was sure that he couldn't take anymore, Percy didn't know if Broder and Malfoy were still there, he couldn't even remember if it mattered. Finally after what seemed like years of the torture finally ended.
Percy's entire body felt like it was made of rubber. He couldn't move his arms or his legs, images kept cascading through his mind… for a long frightening moment nothing made any sense. He kept seeing an image of a girl with a scar across her eye falling lifeless to the ground, he couldn't remember if he'd killed her or not, but somehow he knew it was his fault. As the pain in his body slowly abated, his awareness of his surroundings and what had happened finally began to come back.
"Stand up." He heard a low voice say. He automatically tried to obey. At first his arms and legs wouldn't move, but slowly he brought them under control – they wouldn't stop trembling, but now he could stand. The Dark Lord sat above him on his shining silver throne. Malfoy was gone, but Broder was standing next to him. Broder looked as bad as Percy felt, his face was haggard, he could barely keep himself upright.
"You have failed me again." Voldemort said coldly, "Get out of my sight. Do not return to this place until you are summoned." He pointed his wand at them, "Go!" he commanded. Percy felt himself painfully jerked backward, it felt like a fish hook had caught his spine and was pulling him through the walls.
The room faded away into the distance and Percy found himself leaning against a wall in an alley. He looked around in amazement, he'd never heard of a spell that could do that. A wave of dizziness hit and he was forced to lean back against the wall until it passed. Broder was lying at his feet, unconscious.
Percy had a moment to worry about him before Broder slowly stood up and looked around. "Knockturn Alley." He said in puzzlement, "How did we get here?" Percy shook his head and immediately regretted it as another wave of vertigo hit him.
"The Dark Lord used some kind of spell," he muttered, waiting for his head to clear. "I don't know any more than that." He looked around curiously, he had never been in Knockturn Alley before, "Where are we going to go?" He asked anxiously, "I don't even have a flat anymore."
"I have one." Broder said, beginning to slowly walk forward. "We can stay there until we are summoned."
Slowly they made their way up the alley. They were each half supporting the other. For Percy each step was painful, his muscles didn't want to work and he was constantly afraid that his legs would dump him onto the pavement.
They were nearing the end of the Alley when two shapes, nothing but shadows against the bright light coming from the mouth of the alley, came into view.
"Well if it isn't our big brave brother…" A voice sneered.
Percy looked up in surprise and squinted against the glare. Standing, with their wands pulled out and murder in their eyes were Fred and George Weasley.
A/N: I love cliff hangers… don't you all just love cliff hangers. (grins evilly) Oh, by the way, in case anyone is wondering why the werewolves didn't just kill/capture the Death Eaters; they were trying to remain neutral. They didn't want anything to do with the war… I'll update again soon, I promise. I have a few more chapters to go and approximately 7 days….
Rutu: Your reviews always make me smile. I'm glad that you are enjoying this story so much. As you can see he decided not to go to Lupin. I couldn't have Lupin running back and telling his parents what a nice guy he is now could I?…
Muses: Everyone was so sure it was going to be Remus that he told… that you for your review… they always mean a lot to me.
Zoran: Here it is! The next chapter. As you can see unfortunately one did die… but it wasn't as bad as it could've been….
Thank you everyone who had reviewed. I have been watching with fascination as the hit counter on this story keeps going up and up… who are you ghost readers who are not reviewing? Please review! I'm paranoid.. I think that people who read it and don't review don't like it (sniffles).
There… that's my beg for the day….. (runs off to write the next chapter)