Chapter 1 - Black Lace and Dark Shadows

The room shook as though it was crumbling from beneath. Lucien staggered slightly to regain his balance. His footsteps were slow and careful on the linoleum floor and he knew that he had only a matter of seconds before the battle downstairs reached this room. He strained to see in the darkness, and found what he had been looking for. Even as his heart pounded against his rib cage a strange calm fell over him. He momentarily forgot the chaos below as the light flaring from his wand illuminated the dark corner in view. He could only stare in awe at the prone figure that lay curled at his feet. In her limp hand she clutched a crumpled piece of parchment. He bent down and eased it from her clasped fingers, unfolding it. The green ink that stained the paper formed elaborate calligraphic writing that glittered in the moonlight pouring in from the bare window. So she knew, he let out a sigh, crumpling the parchment into the inside pocket of his robe. The room shook again and Lucien once again momentarily lost his balance. Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck. He looked down at the girl, who was clearly still in deep sleep, unaware of the chaotic happenings around her. She was as Lucien had always pictured. Midnight black hair fell around her gaunt, pale face and she had the thin lips and high cheekbones that had once made her mother so beautiful.

Remus has barely out of the way as a spark of green light shot passed his shoulder - missing him by inches. Instinct had kicked in and he twisted to send a beam of red light at the nearest hooded figure. He was overwhelmed with noise and confusion and he could barely see in the pitch darkness. A piercing shriek told him that Carvey was dead. He was on his own. A hooded outline had lunged at him and a shot of adrenaline fuelled his counter-attack. He twisted and threw his weight against a door that gave way. Goddamit! That was too close! Oh man, Carvey was gone!

Meissa stirred, the hard floor beneath her making her head spin as it shook. There was noise, so much noise… Then a cold hand touched her face…

She jerked upwards in shock…

Her eyes snapped open in horror to find that the rumbling ground had not been part of her dream…

There was a figure sitting over her…

She found her voice…

…and screamed…

A hand clamped over her mouth… she was being pulled roughly to her feet and dragged backwards. Lucien backed into the corridor, unwilling to push the girl first. Shadows stirred in the darkness ahead of them and he retreated until level with the next door along. There was nowhere else to go. He kicked it open and shoved the girl through. Sparks shot past the empty space where he had been standing moments before. The girl was screaming and twisting away from him. He grabbed her shoulders and wrenched her round to face him, seeing the terror in her eyes. 'Ssh… be quiet!' he hissed, knowing they were trapped. With only minutes to spare, he drew his wand and turned to the door. They would have to kill him to get her. Just then a blast crumpled the ground below his feet and he crashed through the falling debris.

Lucien stirred, blinking as dust rose around him from the heap of broken wood he had landed on.

'Remus! Man, am I glad to see you' he choked. 'Meissa - come with me!' Remus had stepped over Lucien as blasts thundered somewhere close. 'How -do-you-know-my-name?' she girl screamed. Lucien caught sight of her crouched near him, covered in dust from the broken debris and staring wild-eyed at Remus.

'Come on! We've got to move this way!' Remus shouted, seizing her arm and dragging her up.

'Where's the way out? And where are the others?'

Remus wrenched the door open ahead of them and cold wind billowed through the wrecked doorway. They staggered out into the dark night. 'Albus! The others… they're still in there!'

The silver-haired wizard held up his hand to silence them 'Where is she?' he asked in a low, solemn voice.

'She's…here' Remus was gasping for breath, pushing the dazed girl into the streetlight. She was attempting to brake free of his grasp.

'I need you both back at headquarters… now'

'No, we can't leave the others' Lucien shouted at once, though it was taking all of his effort to keep standing.

'Lucien. Do as I say' the silver-haired wizard's eyes were stone cold as he surveyed the younger man. Another blast brought panic into his eyes and brushed past Lucien, his midnight-blue robes flailing in the wind as he started towards the house. 'Albus - No!' Lucien shouted, unwilling to let the older man enter that house. Remus has grasped his shoulder as Albus whipped round, his stern face glaring at Lucien, his eyes flashed like fire.

'Get-Her-Away-From-Here' Albus thundered, and Lucien let Remus pull him down the cobbled pavement into the road. Remus was struggling to regain control of the girl, one hand clamped over her mouth even as she struggled to scream. Lucien ripped something from the inside pocket of his robes, something that flashed silver in the streetlights, with one last look back at the crumpling house, he flicked the lighter as Remus gasped the sleeve of his robe and the street faded…

Meissa stirred on the soft mattress, which sank comfortably as she shifted her weight. Bright orange light seared her vision as she opened her eyes. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage and her breathing was harsh and ragged. The ceiling was spinning above her. She pushed herself up on her elbows, struggling to gain her balance as the mattress sank with this shift. She reached out a hand to push back the gold drapes drawn around the bed. The bed? Her mind was blank, unable to contemplate for a second what she was seeing. She had never set eyes of this room before, yet it was undoubtedly the most beautiful room she had ever seen.

Her vision clouded with disorientation as she swung her legs to the floor and pulled herself up.

Faraway voices drifted in from the open door. Such a grand, beautifully chiselled door. She concentrated on the voices ' Have you got in touch with Dumbledore yet?' it was a deep yet gentle voice. 'No… not yet… he's busy with the order' replied an even gentler, slightly hoarse voice.

'Is she awake?'

'I'm not sure…'

Meissa forced herself to remain calm as the door slowly opened…