The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infrigement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK.
--Lady Lestrange
Special thanks to my beta, ennui de mort who always does such a good job being my extra muse as well as proofreading, moral support and just plain fun. I miss your constant attention and hope her schoolwork load eases up soon. I need you …
15 reviews: I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 15 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story.
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down.)
Up to this Point: Alternate 5th year book. Voldemort was uncertain which was the prophecy child, Samara or Ginny so he kidnapped them both. Beatrice made a mad dash after them in her animagus form. She has been since crucioed and rescued and returned to Hogwarts still in her bunny animagus form.
Harry, Ron and Hermione struggle to figure out how the prophecy might aid them. The trio travels to Hermione's house, Samara's house, the Riddle house and eventually the Snow Castle in search of the girls.
Ginny, who has a Dark Mark, is torn between the visions of Tom in her head and what to do to stay safe from Voldemort at the Snow Castle. Snape is an unexpected help to her.
Voldemort meanwhile has some unpleasant Christmas surprises in store for Harry and Neville. Neville's grandmother ends up in the hospital and the Dursley's are dead, leaving Snape as Harry's guardian.
Back at Hogwarts, the trio tries to ascertain how they will save the girls. They enlist Draco and Lauren's help.
Voldemort has some trouble within the ranks and sends Ethan to learn with Narcissa and Gloria. Meanwhile, the trio works out some differences with Draco, and miss a chance to save the girls. Now, Snape gives some timely advice and Harry invites Neville to their little planning gatherings, which ends in an altercation between Neville and Draco.
Voldemort sets his plans in motion by giving Samara the Dark Mark, but she is far from defeated by this. Ginny on the other hand is ready to give in to save her family. The plot continues as Volemort sets family members upon family members in a quest to destroy all who might thwart him.
Meanwhile, Harry considers the meaning of curcio and tries to puzzle out what Voldemort is doing by reading his scar pangs.
Ethan and Edward prove their worth to Voldemort and Beatrice is finally released from the bunny animagus.
Ginny, under polyjuice potion, is impersonating Madam Amelia Bones. She is following direct orders from Voldemort who is speaking to her in parseltongue from the small snake animagus she is carrying. She saves both her father and her brother, but what about herself? Stay tuned to see what happened to Draco.
Valeriana and Narcissa guard their Master's back. The battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort is engaged and Lady Lestrange fulfills her fantasy by rewriting the Sirius/Valeriana battle, Lestrange style.
For further discussion, visit: YAHOO GROUPS, TheSeersTruth
And now, on to the story…
The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 27 A Mistake of DestinySirius dared not leave his Animagus form. He sulked through the dementors, searching for the scent of the Headmaster. There was no trail to follow since Dumbledore had used the floo, and Voldemort's scent was everywhere—every floor—everywhere—in the Ministry. Sirius was filled with frustration. How could he help the Headmaster if he couldn't find him?
And then, the sound of a packmate in danger, in pain, assaulted his ears. Remus! Sirius turned and ran for the sound. He galloped along the corridor, desperate to get to his friend, when suddenly the scent of Auror Sturgis filled his nostrils. "Help me!" cried Sirius as he rapidly transformed. "Remus has been hurt." He wouldn't allow himself to believe that his friend was dead.
Sturgis nodded and followed Sirius as he headed unerringly to the scent of Narcissa and Valeriana. Before he could surprise them, Sturgis had his wand out and fired. "There! Sirius," he cried. "The Dark Lord is in that room!" He shot a single spell that went impossibly wide and fell short of Narcissa. Valeriana turned towards the doorway where Sirius stood with Sturgis.
So much for stealth, thought Sirius.
The volley of spells continued and Sirius was hard put to keep himself whole. At last he maneuvered himself behind Sturgis and spoke, a cool voice in Sturgis' ear. "I don't remember you being so poor a shot in dueling club," said Sirius. "Unless you don't want to hit your target."
But instead of answering, Sturgis wheeled. "Avada—" he began but a growl grew in Sirius throat and he changed to his Animagus and attacked, getting under the spell with the quickness of his change.
Sturgis shoved the stick of his wand into Sirius mouth, rapping him across the nose and pushing him away so that he had the distance to get a spell off, but he was not quick enough. Sirius bit down on the man's arm, tearing his robe and drawing blood. Sturgus wrapped his good arm around Sirius neck and used his torn robe as a muzzle. With a quick and effortless flick of his wand, the material knotted, stopping Sirius from biting. "It took you long enough to figure it out, Mutt—always chasing poor Severus," said Sturgis as he shoved the dog's body off of him. "Who else knows I am the spy?"
Sirius changed back into wizard form and had his wand out before Sturgis could get another spell off. "Who else indeed," drawled Sirius, as the material dropped from his face since he no longer had a snout. "I may have to apologize to Snape for putting him in such bad company." Sirius threw a spell which bathed Sturgis in a soft blue light and with a little cry Sturgis crumpled unconscious.
Valeriana's voice reached Sirius from the opposite end of the corridor. "Oh Bravo, Sirius! Look at you, walking around as if you were a free man," she taunted. "Crucio."
Sirius Disapperated and Reapparated, avoiding her spell. "And you as if you were a free woman, Cousin."
"I thought you still knew the meaning of blood," Valeriana taunted as she circled, looking for an opening.
"He's nothing but a filthy blood traitor," said Narcissa.
"What do you know about family?" asked Sirius as he danced aside of their spells. "If you understood family, Andromeda would still be alive. Even your children are only a notch of your achievements. Ha! If your boys weren't the perfect Death Eaters—"
"But they are perfect," interrupted Valeriana. "Perfect Dark Angels, Sirius. I'll see you in hell! Avada—"
He dodged the spell from Valeriana and fired at Narcissa when he caught Lupin's scent from the doorway. He hesitated, in fear for his friend's life, and then everything happened too fast for him to stop it. Narcissa was on him before he could think. The scent of two others, Dumbledore and Voldemort, in the next room, caught his attention, but there was nothing he could do for the Headmaster. Valeriana and Narcissa took all of his effort. Multiple spells were thrown in quick succession, followed by Crucio.
Sirius couldn't think. He warded Testudo automatically, but his brain was racing with the succession of events: the Apparition, the spell, the sound of his friend falling.
"Expelliramus!" roared Narcissa just as Valeriana threw Sectum. Blood spurted from Sirius wrist but he didn't lose his grip on his wand.
"Do you think I am useless without my wand?" Sirius taunted. "I'm still a Black."
Fire crackled at Valeriana's fingertips. "Let's make this fun," she cooed.
"Valeriana!" snapped Narcissa. "We need to watch the Master's back. Let's just finish him." She snatched up her sister's left hand.
"No," said Valeriana, pulling out of her sister's grasp. "Sirius is mine. You watch the Master's back and then go and get Lauren. I'll follow you when he's dead." She smiled a feral smile and turned back to Sirius. Narcissa nodded and without taking her eyes from Sirius, backed out of range, Moving to the room where Dumbledore and Volemort fought she allowed Valeriana to take her place with Sirius. Valeriana and Sirius circled like two well matched predators, both Blacks, both deadly, both ready for the challenge. The buzz of spells in the next room, from Dumbledore and Voldemort virtually ignored as they concentrated on one another.
"This is how it should be cousin—just you and me," said Valeriana. "I'm going to kill you now." She advanced on him with deadly intent, growling at him as she dodged his spell. "You left me there, cousin," Valeriana shrieked, recovering herself. "You came to your freedom, Sirius, but you left me there in that hell hole for another two bloody years!" Her voice rose to a screech. "We were family! And you abandoned me! Crucio!"
His Animagus reflexes moved him out of the way of her spell. It spattered on the wall spraying the room with angry Elemental fire. "You belonged in Azkaban," smirked Sirius. "And I'm still family." He transferred to his wand to his left hand and drenched Valeriana in Elemental water with his right. The water hissed and steam billowed as Valeriana brought back her fire. Blood dripped from Sirius' injured wrist.
"Tell me when to Quit," she said with a smirk.
"You are Tom Riddle," Dumbledore said, advancing on Voldemort. "Possessed by the spirit of Salazar Slytherin," continued Dumbledore. "The question is," he threw another spell causing Voldemort to back up and then attack. "What are we going to do about it?" Dumbledore Apparated out of Tom's line of fire and turned, attempting to disarm him.
Voldemort laughed, never missing an opening to throw a spell at Dumbledore, he circled as he spoke. "Getting soft on Slytherins after all these years, Albus? I confess I'm disappointed. Of course it's a little too late now that we are at the Ministry instead of Hogwarts."
Likewise, Dumbledore did not let the conversation distract him from the volley of spells. "I've always tried to treat all of my students fairly, Tom. It's you that didn't appreciate my efforts. You may not have noticed, but I've always cared for my students."
"You never cared about me-about any of the Slytherins. You didn't care that we were playing with the dark arts. You only cared when we became dangerous and threatened you and your precious Gryffindor's. You abandoned Slytherin long ago. Even now, do you think withholding Avada is merciful? Is it merciful to capture my purebloods and feed them to the dementors? Opps—you don't have the dementors anymore." Voldemort laughed.
"You won't get away with this. You can't take down the Ministry."
Voldemort paused. "Are you blind? The only thing in the way of my success is you. And in a few moments that obstacle will be removed." The black haze of Voldemort's spell congealed around Dumbledore, but he threw it off.
"You can't win," said Dumbledore.
"Of course I can. Even you have to believe that." Voldemort switched to parseltongue, with the intention of a spell, clear as green fire flew from his hands "(Sisshausss!)I have the Prophecy Child. "(Sisshausss!) I covered all the bases. I took them both," he smirked, and ducked Dumbledore's return volley.
"Ginny Weasley is regrettable, but—"
"Regretable?" repeated Voldemort. "You hold them so cheaply," he said.
"You couldn't Mark Samara while she was immersed in the Elementals," Dumbledore continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. He threw a spell to emphasize his words. "She belongs to herself."
"Is that what you hoped for Old Man when you damned near killed her with the Night of Living Death?
"The spell was thrown at Nott—"
"Through her shield! Did you not realize she is an Empath, or are you just stupid?"
Dumbledore answered only with the speed of his spells.
"Don't worry," said Voldemort returning the fire in turn. "The Dark has some advantages over the Light. I wasn't bound by moral constrictions of whether it was her destiny to die or not." He threw a spell, which once again was blocked.
"She doesn't seem to like you very much Albus. Of course, I can't say I blame her. What were you thinking, putting an Empath in the Chamber of Chains? Tsk Tsk."
"Heroes," Albus corrected absently. "And I never meant to hurt her. She knows that."
"She does?" questioned Voldemort mockingly. "Is she a Legilimens too? I've seen no indication of that and believe me, I've been close enough to tell—"
Dumbledore growled, momentarily letting his anger get away from him. "I didn't know the Chamber of Heroes would be that traumatic for her."
"You didn't know? Well, I'm sure there are things you don't know about Hogwarts, Old Man, and that shall be your downfall."
"But it didn't say she would be an Empath in the prophecy," said Albus throwing a spell.
It struck Voldemort's hastily conjured ward. Since both of the combatants were equally matched, in curses, in wards and in Legilimency, dominance was fleeting. The question was who would make the first mistake.
"You're right," said Voldemort "But I never thought of any prophecy as the Truth itself." Voldemort circled, trying to get in a good position to attack. He taunted Dumbledore, hoping to distract him enough to get a spell through his guard. "What Seer would recognize truth if it stared them in the face? Least of all Silly Sybil," he guffawed as threw the spell, and continued speaking as he drove Dumbledore back. "She's probably still having nightmares about the Chamber of Secrets like she did in her first year. Tell me, does she still see snakes every time she looks into a fire like she did when I opened the Chamber? Is she still predicting doom for every green-eyed student who passes her walls? I can't believe you rely on that loon to give you the Truth."
"As if you would know what Truth is, Tom," said Dumbledore calmly.
"You need to recognize deception before you can see the Truth," Voldemort retorted, his voice was low, seeking to anger Dumbledore into some rash Gryffindor action. "You can babble on about Truth and righteousness all you want, but you and the other Muggle-lovers have allowed the vermin to breed into the wizarding community. That is the Truth. You pretend everything is in order, though it is not. That is the truth. The Magic is corrupting as we speak. That is the truth, but you will not see it because you would rather not have to deal with the consequences of your mistakes. It is easier to lay blame—"
"I blame no one," said Dumbledore, refusing to be baited.
Voldemort changed tactics. "It is easier to try to kill one man, but you are too late. I am no longer a man, and if you believe in the prophecies, you know it is over."
"No Tom. You may have Ginny, but Samara will not be yours."
"I beg to disagree. She is already mine. You drove her straight to me." Voldemort wondered if it was possible that Dumbledore did not know—he was sure his spy had let that little tidbit drop. Well, thought Voldemort, If Dumbledore did not know, perhaps the shock of discovery would open a path for the killing curse. "I gave her the Mark yesterday," Voldemort smirked as Dumbledore paused to give him a cold stare.
"And she's so strong," Voldemort continued, softly taunting,. "She's already recovered. Do you want to know how many aurors she killed today?"
Voldemort paused to let that thought sink in before he said, "She is now completely mine – even bonded to the side of Darkness. Do you know what it will take to sever a Life Bond? Tell me Dumbledore, do you really want to kill her too? And to think, I have to thank you—and Godric—for sending her to me." Voldemort bowed in a courtly manner and then Disapparated to avoid Dumbledore's furious spell. He reappeared behind Dumbledore.
"She escaped the Chamber of Heroes," said Dumbledore softly. "She was unhurt—"
"Unhurt?" whispered Voldemort, incredulous. "So your spy didn't tell you Albus that she lay in a coma for a week—immersed in the Elementals. All the healers said she would die—all of them—useless! But she fought her way back from the Elementals. She conquered death." He punctuated each word with a spell, as he said, "Just—as—I—did--She's taken the first step—towards immortality," finished Voldemort softly. "You wanted to cage her," Voldemort taunted. "I want to set her free."
Dumbledore stumbled, visably shaken by Voldemort's news, and Voldemort immediately took advantage, delving into Dumbledore's mind with his legilmency.
"Legilimens!" Spat Voldemort, determined to rip the Order plans from Dumbledore's own mind, but he couldn't get a grip on them. He felt the Old Man's uncertainty for a brief moment. He tried to access the man's doubts--his insecurities. He had made mistakes. There were so many mistakes, but Dumbledore kept the specifics hidden.
"Only a true heir of Gryffindor could defeat the Chamber of Heroes—" muttered Dumbledore, before he yanked himself free of the contact with Voldemort.
Voldemort laughed. "And which prophecy says that?" he asked, as he returned Dumbledore's fire, but to no avail.
"Well, no prophecy," said Albus, still somewhat befuddled from Voldemort's legilmens spell. "but it's obvious. Only a handful of students have ever been able to get the entrance open—none since Godric's time--except the Doogle sisters."
"Slytherins," said Tom. "Do you think they tell you everything, Albus? Anyway, for the first hundred years, every Gryffindor who graduated conquered that Chamber, but the magic is different now. Like I told you, there is much you do not know about Hogwarts. Unfortunately, you Muggle-lovers have diluted the magic to the point where it is almost unusable. As you have said, only a few have opened it. I doubt even the great Harry Potter would be able to conquer it today."
Dumbledore regained his equilibrium and danced aside as he fired several spells, pushing Voldemort back. Crabbe and Goyle took that moment to awake from their Stupefied slumber and moved in to protect their master.
Voldemort expected Dumbledore to attack them and he pulled Elemental fire, holding his hands ready for the counterattack. When Dumbledore's wand was turned away, Voldemort thought, he would attack. But the wand never turned.
Without taking his wand from Voldemort, Dumbledore attacked each in quick succession with Legilimency, causing both Crabbe and Goyle to crumple, unconscious.
"Oh, Tsk, Tsk. That was not sporting," said Voldemort releasing the fire at Dumbledore. "Hardly a Gryffindor move at all. They had no chance to block that attack. How will it look on your record: the great and powerful Dumbledore using Legilimency against a completely defenseless wizard? Two of them in fact—as if they had any power of mind."
Dumbledore drenched Voldemort's flames in Elemental water, but some few of them licked up the curtains at the edge of the room. "Give up, Tom. Your cronies are defeated. You have no one to stand with you now."
"Is that so?" spat Voldemort, "You seem to have forgotten one important piece of information."
"What's that," asked Dumbledore.
"You've lost. You're beaten Old Man – give up." Voldemort pushed him back towards the growing fire with an inexorable volley of spells. "I have the Prophecy Child, my basilisks, and now the Ministry. Avada Kedavra
Once again Dumbledore Apparated out of range of the spell and then both Dumbledore and Voldemort paused, instinctively looking up as the Apparition wards suddenly crumbled. "Fuck, the Auror's can Apparate out," snapped Voldemort, looking around for his Minions. "Narcissa! Valeriana!"
Dumbledore took that moment to fire a spell, and Voldemort barely got out of the way.
"Here, Master," called Narcissa from the corridor, between him and Sirius. Voldemort spun around, blocking a spell from Dumbledore and immediately crashing down the wall between him and Narcissa with Reducto. The increased air acted as a chimney, and the flames in the corner burst to new life..
"Where's Nott?" Voldemort asked and then immediately, without waiting for her answer, he fired a spell at Dumbledore, and ordered, "Naricissa fire the Mark and then go to your business at Hogwarts. We shall use the downed wards to our advantage."
"Yes, Master."
"You'll not go to Hogwarts," shouted Dumbledore, turning his spell towards Narcissa, but Voldemort blocked Testudo for her.
"Would you keep a Mother away from her son?" Voldemort mocked. "An Aunt away from her niece?"
The moment between Dumbledore and Voldemort was shattered by the nearby volley of Sirius' and Valeriana's spells.
As Narcissa fired the Mark, the dementors began to move. Within seconds, Eldon Nott had Apparated next to Voldemort. Dumbledore fired at him, but he warded. "Testudo Don't be an idiot," shouted Nott as he directed the dementors towards Dumbledore. Pinning him between their cold dark maw and the hot Elemental flames. "If you destroy me, all the dementors in this box are free. What is to keep them bound?"
"I will," said Dumbledore.
Nott scoffed as he defended his Master's back. "Are you a Child of Chaos?"
Dumbledore was forced to produce his Patronus. A silvery golden griffin which flew like a whirlwind, dispersing the Dementers, but as Dumbledore held the Patronus he could not throw another spell, he could only dodge. "Avada Kedavra!" called Voldemort.
Dumbledore dodged, his face intense.
Voldemort realized that Dumbledore was counting spells. He laughed, sweat and the Elementals marring his usually immaculate robes. "That may have worked with Grindlewald," he taunted. "But not with me, Old Man."
"And how would you know what worked with Grindlewald?" spat Dumbledore.
"Are you a Legilimens or not?" asked Voldemort, moving closer to Nott and his Box. "You've forgotten I have the Prophecy Child and all the power of the Death Eaters through my Mark." Voldemort fired off two more Avada spells, pushing Dumbledore back towards the Elemental fire as he called the numbers of his spells, spells he should not have been able to do, "Five! Six!"
In the adjacent corridor, Sirius' attention was on Valeriana, but he when the wall exploded with Voldemort's reducto, he glanced quickly back at the combatants in the next room. Remus was stretched silent and still on the floor beside the prone bodies of Crabbe and Goyle. Flames were licking near his feet. Bits of the wall have fallen on them from the Reducto spell, but they didn't move. Narcissa stood guard over the bodies and watched Voldemort but she was poised to strike. He didn't trust her to stay out of their fight. He realized quite clearly that if it looked as if their Master would lose to Dumbledore, she would step in to save Him. He was sure that if it looked like he was besting Valeriana, her sister would come to her rescue. He moved warily against Valeriana, more like a feral cat than a dog—more like a Grim—and then once again he was a wizard, speaking. "Valeriana," he said as he danced out of the way of her spells. "I am your cousin. Be reasonable."
"I left my reason in Azkaban," she sneered.
"As you said, we are family," Sirius protested.
"Family!" spat Valeriana as she blocked. "Is that how you treat family, Sirius? Deserting them? Dementers damn you!" As she spoke, a flurry of spells seared around him. A sectum caught above his left shoulder and sliced it open, narrowly missing his throat.
"You bitch!" roared Sirius as he attacked, but Valeriana coolly avoided his wrath.
"Considering that you are a dog animagus, Sirius, I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered," she said with a smirk.
He dove at her, a spell in his wand and Earth magic in the other hand. The heaviness of the Earth magic toppled her, and she fell dirt and mud billowing up around her as he released the Earth magic and she dug and crawled her way forward until she turned her wand properly in her hand. "Reducto!" she shouted and the Earth exploded, throwing bits of dirt and rock everywhere. The room and the corridor blurred together with the avalanche of dirt and flames.
Sirius ducked, momentarily turning his head from the blast.
"I felt your fur beneath my hands as you left," muttered Valeriana as she clenched some of the soil that Sirius had conjured. "A handful of fur clung to my hand when I touched you and I waited. I touched it—I touched that fur—night after night—I thought—Sirius will help me. I touched that fur every night—until—until Rookwood took it."
"I thought you were waiting for the Dark Lord to save you," sneered Sirius. "You didn't need me."
"No. I didn't. He came," said Valeriana as she drew herself to her full height. "He's my family now."
"And did you berate him for his tardiness, or did you just kiss his feet?" asked Sirius. "Stupefy!"
"I could block that from you when I was ten," said Valeriana. "Are we actually going to duel, or are you trying to bore me to death, Sirius? Crucio!"
"Don't you know any other spells?" Sirius taunted, his eyes twinkling with a moment of mirth, soon forgotten as he dodged her next spell.
"None that will make you hurt like you've hurt me," Valeriana returned.
"I've never done anything to you, Valeriana. I've never offended you. I'm trying not to hurt you now—"
"Oh, but you have offended me," said Valeriana. "Your living offends me. You should have died in that hellhole. I intend to right that little mistake of destiny. I should have killed you years ago when you were a child. Did you know I sought to destroy you right after I realized that Albus Dumbledore would not intervene. Are you a Black or not?"
"What are you talking about?" snapped Siriius, confused, he stumbled, nearly hit by her spell, and warded against the open air.
"Remus," said Valeriana simply.
"When Remus—" He couldn't think of Remus now. "The werewolf event? With James?" he asked. "When we were children?"
"Ah yes. Why do you think Severus pestered you? Who do you think peaked his curiosity? It was I," Valeriana threw another spell that sliced through his shield and laced his wand arm with pain. He deftly switched hands and threw Elemental water to block her fire. "Just like it was I who seduced your little friend, Peter," continued Valeriana. "I, who was the true Black, although it was you who carried the name. I thought having an Animagus as tiny and unobtrusive as a rat would be an asset to our Lord. I was right."
She laughed as she threw another Crucio but her fervor was interrupted as one of Voldemort's spells flew over her head when Dumbledore side stepped it.
Again, Sirius danced out of the way of the spell, aware that if hit with it, Valeriana could follow with an Avada before he could possibly recover, but if she missed, perhaps two more times, she would start to tire and Testudo would hold the spell. With that in mind, he taunted her. "I didn't know Azkaban affected your eyesight, Valeriana, or perhaps you can't hold the wand steady enough for a curse anymore," he questioned. "Is that why you are addicted to wandless magic? Do your hands shake on the wood of your wand?" His voice deepened and softened. "Do you still see the black wraiths? Do they still haunt your dreams and make your hands shake? Do they come for you at night?"
True to form, she dove at him, casting a flurry of wandless spells: "Sectum! Curtus!" and then turning her hand to a different angle to get under his shield spell, she directed the flame to his chest. "Crucio!"
"Testudo!" warded the first two but the third was at the edge of the shield spell and went through it, hitting Sirius with intense pain, his very life's blood bubbling up inside of him. He felt the boiling pain of his organs grinding and splintering against the bone and he couldn't breathe through the pain. He couldn't think, and she focused her spell, holding the spell steady, watching him suffer, her black eyes intense, but in the last minute he managed to catch her arm and yank her off balance, breaking her concentration, the magic crackling between them as he pulled her close, letting the magic flow through him as he did when they were children. As he fell, rolling, falling on top of her and pinning her to the ground, she managed to pull her wand from her robe.
"Quit?" he asked, and she growled at him, struggling for supremacy in the wandless flow of magic while scrambling for her wand.
Sirius was still panting for breath, spitting blood. His body was still shaking from the aftermath of her spell, and he was uncertain if he could throw a spell of the magnitude necessary to down her, instead, he wrenched her wand arm up to her neck and placed the wood of it against her windpipe—pushing—pushing and suddenly it was cold—and immense cold with which he was intimately familiar. He nearly choked with fear.
His body involuntarily began to shudder with pure terror. His very thoughts turned to ice, and the magic in his hands seemed to splinter and fall to the ground, unusable. Valeriana beneath him began to squirm like a mad woman to get free, to run, to hide. Whimpering like a tortured child, her cries rose to shrieks of terror as she clawed to get free. He felt blood and fire against his face as her fingers dug into his flesh. She pounded on him, spewing flames and screaming a name, over and over again: "Rookwood! Rookwood! Rookwood!"
He could suddenly hear the dementors, just like he did in Azkaban. He agonized over the moment when he told James to let Peter be their Secret keeper. He could hear James' accusing voice in his head. "You were the coward Sirius. You didn't want to be the Secret Keeper. You knew Voldemort would come for you. You knew, and you passed that job off to Peter. Weak, spineless Peter. You knew Peter couldn't do the job, but at least he had the guts to try. You did betray me Sirius. Just as surely as Peter did, you betrayed me. You are just as weak as he was."
Sirius was then back on the cold rock in his mind and magic was out of his reach. They were coming to suck out his soul. In the distance he could imagine the screams of the Muggles that died that night and the laughter of Peter Pettigrew as he muttered the spell—Peter, his friend. Peter: the Secret keeper, The Betrayer. The accusing dead eyes of James Potter as he lay cold and silent in the ruins of Godric Hollow. Lily's lifeless body, half concealing young Harry as if to try to save him. Blood and magic seeping from Harry's newly made scar. The infant Harry was crying in cold and in fear. "I will save him," Sirius muttered, like a mantra. "I will save him. I will—" and somewhere in the midst of the terror and the cold and the pain, another voice was screeching.
"Get off of me Rookwood. Put them back in their box. Put them back. You know I have no soul! If they take me, I swear they will take you. I swear it. You don't have the box." She was clinging to him like a leech, her fire magic crackling, and for a spare moment he remembered the lonely call of her childhood magic, a spark of heat in the frigid cold—his cousin! Suddenly, she fell limp, drawing her arms away from him, and latching on to the wand at her throat.
He was vaguely aware of the woman beneath him, and then abruptly she was gone. He apparently had loosed his hold on her wand and she had Disapparated. It sounded like a good idea—if the magic would work on this forsaken rock. Without thought of Lupin or Dumbledore or Voldemort, Sirius raised his wand and Disapparated. He was sure he had Disapparated, The corridor looked different, but the dementors were still everywhere. There was no magic here. It was hopeless. The guards of Azkaban had told him so—showed him the mangled remains of those who did not believe the guards. He lowered his wand, hid his face in his hands and wept. The sucking cold came, and the terror that burned inside of him increased, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, "I'm sorry, James, and Lily and Harry and—"and then a fiery white light of a Patronus broke the cold – a Patronus made of pure light. Firm arms wrapped around him like a child and the wizard took him to a place of warmth and light.
Voldemort knew that Dumbledore was trying to catch his eye, to use his Legilimency to bring him to bear, but he would not look at the Old Man—would not touch him. The dementors were getting too close and although the Old Man's Patronus was strong enough to hold for quite some time, Voldemort could see there was no point. Dumbledore couldn't get a spell off, and it was only a matter of time before he hit the Old Man with something or pushed him into the growing Elemental Fire. He struggled to do it soon before Dumbledore thought of some Gryffindor trick to throw him off balance. Voldemort shot off a barrage of spells, doing his best to hit the old codger, but Dumbledore was nimbly dodging dementors as well as spells. He was sure to tire soon. He was no young man. He couldn't drop his Patronus to fire a spell. He couldn't hold the Patronus and pull on Elemental water to put out the growing Elemental flames, and the dementors were thick upon him. It couldn't be long now.
Somewhere in the distance Voldemort could hear Valeriana's screams of terror. He gave her a moment's thought—she should have been gone before the dementors came. Crazy though she was, he hated to lose her.
In the next instant, Dumbledore maneuvered himself next to Lupin's prone form, scooped up the man, dropped the Patronus and Disapparated.
Voldemort howled in rage as he left. He wanted Dumbledore. He wanted the werewolf. "You're a Gryffindor!" Voldemort shrieked. "You're supposed to fight to the death, damn you!"
Voldemort whipped around to Crabbe and Goyle, Ennervating them both and glaring at Narcissa. "Find out who let the Aurors get the fucking Apparition wards down," He said in cold fury. "And bring them to me—I want to annihilate them." He strode through the corridor, herding the wizards roughly in front of him, surveying the damage and the assets. Nott's dementers, felt his fury and with it a promise of feasting to come, they followed him, gliding like a cold, silent wall of shadow. With a growl of frustration, Voldemort reached out and grasped Goyle's arm bringing his finger against his Dark Mark. "Severus Snape," he said as the Mark burned black.
"Poppy!" shouted Dumbledore. "Take Lupin. I have to go back for Sirius!"
Hurriedly, Poppy put down the flask of skele-gro she was holding and pulled a curtain around Draco Malfoy and his cronies. She moved to take Lupin.
"No need, Albus," said Snape, who stepped into the room with the limp body of Sirius Black in his arms. Sirius was twitching and shivering uncontrollably, blood and burns covered his face, but he was alive.
"Severus, you can speak!" said Poppy.
"Brilliant observation," he said dryly as he placed Sirius on one of the hospital cots, and turned towards Lupin.
The werewolf's face was pinched and gray. His mouth hung partially open. His tongue lolled and he did not move. Dumbledore laid him on the bed adjacent to Minerva McGonagall who was still unconscious and covered with orange burn goo.
"Minerva?" said Dumbledore softly. He looked at Poppy. "What happened to her?"
"Floo shock," said Poppy. "She tried to follow you, but the floo was sabotaged; it exploded. She'll be alright in a few days. I hope to keep her face from scarring."
"Snape set a silencing charm around Draco Malfoy's bed, and then hurried to help the Headmaster and the mediwitch. "It wouldn't due for the young Slytherins to hear any sensitive conversations," said Snape softly.
Dumbledore nodded and gestured to the two new patients. "Get them some clean clothes and try to get some liquids into them, Poppy," said Dumbledore.
"Dementers?" said Poppy as soon as she examined Sirius.
Dumbledore nodded. "And various curses."
"Chocolate for Sirius as soon as he can eat," added Snape. As if that was a cue, Sirius sat bolt upright and clasped Dumbledore's arm, staring sightlessly at Severus.
"Spy!" he croaked. "The spy—at the Minis-stry."
"It's alright, Sirius," said Dumbledore, patting his arm. "I trust Severus."
Sirius lay back down shivering, tormented by memories of dementors and Poppy passed him a plate of chocolate. He just stared at it. He didn't attempt to eat it even when Poppy put it into his mouth. It dribbled uselessly down his chin. Poppy melted it and directed a small stream into his mouth with her wand.
"Don't forget Remus' Wolfsbane," admonished Snape. "It's in my office."
Poppy looked at Snape blankly, her eyes straying to the lifeless man on the bed and back to Snape as she lost her aim and dribbled chocolate over the front of Sirius' robes. She obviously thought Snape has finally gone mad. "But—" Poppy paused with the chocolate and passed her wand over Remus just in case, but no magic remained in his body. "But, Severus, he's dead," Poppy whispered.
"Until the full moon," Dumbledore corrected as he headed for the door.
"He's a werewolf," Snape growled. "Idiots! I live in a castle full of idiots," he continued to mutter as he followed Dumbledore to the doorway. "Did you see a wound, Poppy? Did you see a single silver bullet?" He shook his head. "And she calls herself a healer, Albus."
"She doesn't have much call to deal with werewolves," said Dumbledore as he hurried to the door, "Oh Poppy, have Filius make a list of any student who's missing dinner tonight. Hurry Severus—we haven't much time," Dumbledore said as he raised his wand and Apparated closer to the edge of Hogwarts' grounds.
"No," Severus muttered, looking at his timepiece. "You are wrong Albus. There is no time at all." It was already twenty minutes after five. He had only fifteen minutes to complete his task. He raised his wand and Apparated after the Headmaster.
Answers to Reviewers:
Mahangelfrumheaven: No comment on the Remus killing to all of your Remus lovers out there. Smirks. Sorry. I just had to do it.
Ammarine: Glad you like the confrontation. Lots more action to go. As far as the floo at Hogwarts being down, it wasn't. Volde planned the little "accident" as no one could follow Dumbledore. Divider-free is not the way I planned it. I had dividers in when the POV changed, but for some reason, FF deleted them and I didn't realize it. Give Snape some time. He's going to be "snarkier" than you can imagine.
Mistrunner: Lady Lestrange wipes your tears.
Little Red Rabbit: No I didn't have to kill him.
JamToeMan: The best fanfic you have ever read! Wow!
Wormtail: More Draco at your request.
Raptors galore: Remus and Tonks are completely different. Maybe he's not dead, she says. Yeah. Someone is awake.
My Life is Orange: More cliffies to come.
Ellen is my middle name: Glad you are happy
FieldOfGold: Of course I will keep writing. You just keep reading and reviewing.
Sprite-Fire16: I promise more G/T is coming soon. It's a surprise.
Cronenus: Welcome back.
Jager: More T/G is on the way.
Kemenran: Yes. More at your request.
Chernobyl: Now, are you disappointed in this chapter? Intense is my speciality. Please tell your friends. Everyone, go email a friend and tell them about my story. Imperio!
DraginLover: Yes, well, I do disturbing well. I can't help it. And yes, there will be a little more Draco/Samara. Lots of Draco in the "rescue" which is coming soon.. Sorry, you don't get to know what Snape is up to yet. Soon tho. Very soon.
Silverfox1: My dear faithful fan, thanks for sticking with me so long. If you haven't read MY NAME IS SEVERUS, BY SILVERFOX You are missing a great story. Go read it. Right after you review this one. Thank you for the questions for the chapter at the yahoo group, TheSeersTruth, see the link on my bio page. I have to admit your questions are a little sparse, but at least you are trying. Can anyone help her? I really can't do my own questions because I would lead you, and I don't want to do that. I miss Ennui's questions too, but I really am appreciative that you have stuck with me. And your questions are great! Try to think of a few more of them. Maybe, one per page? Smiles.
Please be a responsible reader and review.
15 Reviews, people. You know you are getting good at this review stuff, finally…After you review, I have a request. Silverfox is working very hard on the yahoo group (see my bio page for the link), and she could use your help. Please go to the site and tell what your favorite chapter is and why, or just ask a few questions of your own.