Danny McKinnon had spent his evening pleasurably - smoking a joint out the window of his dorm room with his roommates. They'd charmed the entrance so that no smells could sweep through and stocked up thoroughly on snacks. So, at two in the morning, when the door flew open and in walked James Potter, the entire room was reasonably alarmed.

"Merlin - I didn't realize you Ravenclaws had it in you," James confessed when first assaulted with the scent. "Good work on the smell charm as well."

Danny was about to fess up to being the one to perform the charm when he noticed James' expression. James had never come to visit him. Perhaps once, in first year, as a kindness when he was homesick and lonely. Something wasn't right.

"So, um, I'm here to bring you to Professor McGonagall's office," James announced, staring directly at Danny, whose mouth slipped open. All eyes were suddenly on him.

"Why?"

"Come on," James motioned with his head towards the corridor. "Let's speak in private." Danny followed him - mostly because he had known James all his life and (despite his Head Boy status) he had never known him to be a snitch.

"What are you doing here?" Danny asked directly once they were alone.

"Something has happened." Danny's stomach sank. He knew, just by the tone of James' voice, whatever came after that would be more serious than any disciplinary action for smoking a little pot in the dorm room. "Marlene...she's missing."

" Missing? " Danny choked on the word. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means, she, Lily and Alice went to Hogsmeade to sneak some alcohol back into the castle and they haven't returned-"

"How?" Danny couldn't understand it. The castle was under close guard, it was impossible for students to get past the main gate or apparate off school grounds. How could she possibly have made it all the way to Hogsmeade?

"This doesn't matter, not right now. Your parents are here, Danny, they're in Professor McGonagall's office."

James didn't even offer Danny the chance to change into clothes after that. He began to descend the staircase and Danny was forced to follow, stunned by the news. Marlene was one of the strongest people he knew. She protected him, she'd defended his honour in quite a few fights, and she took no ones shit, not ever. How could Marlene be the one to go missing? The cautionary tale.

In nothing but his slippers, Danny followed James into the Transfiguration classroom. They moved through the empty room, which felt much larger without its desks filled with students. In the back of the room, and up a short staircase, was Professor McGonagall's office. Her office was spacious, with a balcony window that looked over the courtyard and plants along the windowsills.

Sitting on the couch in the corner were Mr and Mrs McKinnon - his parents. His father embraced him first, holding Danny tight. His mother was by his side afterwards. She took him in her arms after his father.

"It'll be okay," she promised him before he had a clue what was really going on.

"Can someone explain what is going on?" Danny asked. His voice was hoarse, a lump forming in the back of his throat. He could see it in everyone's eyes - this was bad. No one had a bloody clue where the girls had gone.

"She and her friends snuck out tonight." His mother explained, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Maureen McKinnon did not cry. Danny could count on one hand the number of times he caught his mother in tears. "Some of his followers-"

"Whose?"

"Voldemort's," his mother said, wincing as the name was spoken. "They've been trying to uncover a group in Hogsmeade that are working against Voldemort."

"We don't know for sure," Professor McGonagall cut in, "if they were the ones to take the girls." Danny had hardly noticed her, leaning against the front of her desk wearing her black robes. Danny didn't think Professor McGonagall ever slept. Beside her, arms crossed, eyes facing the floor, was a tall, dark-haired man who looked to be in his early twenties.

"Henry works for Dumbledore," his mother explained when she caught Danny's gaze. "He saw your sister and her friends before the incident."

"So what's the plan from here?" James interjected, all of the adults in the room turning to look at him.

"You can leave that up to us, Potter," McGonagall said, her gaze pointed. Don't go messing with our plans , was what that face said.

Danny too wanted to know what they planned to do, whether they would begin sending out search parties tonight or wait until they had more information. He would've been out there, searching the streets for Marlene if he could. He would've done anything for her - his big sister, his Marley.


Marlene tried to use her happiest memories to get her through the hours of isolation, trapped in darkness, cramped into a tight space she believed to be a broom closet. Memories of her and James getting into trouble as children, teaching Danny how to ride his first broomstick...then there were the memories with Sirius. Late nights together, sneaking about when no one else had a clue what was going on between them, the first time they'd ever kissed…

James ended the practice after an hour of torrential rain. Marlene had felt her hair frizzing out as she whizzed around the Quidditch pitch. It hadn't helped either that Sirius had been a Quaffle hog the entire practice. Marlene could count on one hand the number of times he'd actually passed the bloody thing to her. What the hell was the point in nearly getting Pneumonia if she wasn't going to get the chance to make a shot?

Nor did it improve Marlene's mood when she made it last into the change rooms and found every shower occupied, or that by the time it was her turn the water had gone ice cold. She resigned herself to wringing out her frizzy hair and taking a shower after dinner. The final nail in the coffin was really when Sirius came over while she was getting her bag together and started advising her on her weaknesses during practice. She had to restrain herself from smacking him across the face.

"Can we do this later?" She finally snapped.

"Just trying to help," Sirius grumbled in response.

Marlene pulled her sweatshirt on, head emerging just in time to snap, "what would help is if you learnt how to pass the fucking Quaffle."

The room was empty by that point - for the most part at least, sans a few under years and James, who looked up from across the room, eyebrows raised.

"Excuse me?" Sirius turned back to look at her - with the audacity to appear offended by her statement. Was he really that self-involved?

"Are you two going to kill each other?" James asked once the rest of the team was gone. He was standing by the door, bag slung over his shoulder.

"It would make my life a lot easier," Sirius answered.

"Well, that makes two of us." She could never let him have the last word.

"Well then, I'm heading back to the castle for dinner. Sirius - you know the charm for the door." James made to leave but paused before he did, turning to face them once more. "Marlene is right you know, you could learn to share, and Sirius isn't completely off base Mar - you're a bit rusty." He grinned after the last part, knowing how much it would annoy her. Marlene wished she had something in her hand to throw at him before James disappeared out the door.

"You weren't getting close enough for me to pass, not without fumbling and allowing the other team to intercept."

"Oh please. That is absolute shit. You liked that you were making every shot and impressing Lainey Peterson." Lainey was their new Keeper.

"Lainey Peterson would be impressed by me if I'd missed every one of those shots," Sirius shrugged arrogantly. Merlin, she hated that smug look he would get on his face.

"It's because I'm a girl, isn't it?" She demanded, blood running hot. "You think that you're a better player than me because I'm a girl?" She was right up in his face, trying to look as fierce as she could be half a foot shorter than him.

"Of course not! When have I ever said that?"

"Sexism isn't always explicit," she schooled him, "in fact-"

"Oh piss off McKinnon. You know I'm not a bloody sexist."

"Prove it," she shrugged. Marlene expected him to hunch his shoulders and walk away - perhaps to snap something back at her about what an idiot she was being. Sirius would never do what she expected though, nor what she wanted. It would be too easy.

He took a step towards her, practically filling the gap between them. "I think you're the most impressive person I've ever met." He reached out when he said it, stroking her cheek. It was such a tender gesture, the last thing she would expect Sirius to do. "Man or woman." Then she did it - she closed the gap and kissed him with all her might. They practically went toppling to the floor, his arms holding her close.

Marlene had wondered many times what kissing Sirius might be like - when they were drunk and shared a quiet moment alone, when she remembered the night he arrived at the Potters' after running away from home...nothing came close to reality, to the heat that seemed to radiate off of them when they were together. She hated him and yet, she wanted him more than she'd wanted anyone in her life.

Marlene came to - gasping for air, soaked in water that had been thrown over her head to wake her up. Her neck ached - as it should, considering she'd fallen asleep on the hard floor.

Standing in front of her was the same man who had captured her - a fat, balding wizard with a few missing teeth in the top row.

"Ready to talk?" He asked, his face difficult to make out in the darkness. All night they'd been asking them for information about a resistance movement. None of the girls had a bloody clue what they were talking about. Of course, with hours in isolation and lots of time to think, Marlene was coming to see that Henry Fawley might know the answer...

"I don't know," she moaned. Her capture stepped into the cell, pausing over her for a minute before kicking Marlene in the gut. She gasped, rolling over in pain.

"If you want it to stop you'll give me some fucking answers," he demanded, kicking her once more.

"I DON'T KNOW!" She screamed over and over again, the pain transforming into a dull ache. "It was an accident, we shouldn't have been there-"

"Aye, but you were," the man spat, the stench of his breathe carrying down to Marlene. "So tell me why?"

"We snuck out of the castle to steal Firewhiskey from the bar cellar."

"Liar!"

"It's the truth!"

"You think I'm stupid enough to believe that the McKinnons just happened to be in the right place at the right time?" he shook his head. "You're not fooling anyone darling." He stepped back after that, bored with his torture, and slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Marlene alone in the dark once more.


Frank Longbottom did not need much - he kept a close circle, took care of his mother, and tried to excel in his studies. What he did need though, more than anything, was to know that Alice was safe. That was impossible, of course, seeing as the sun was up and the girls still had not returned from their "mission."

The other boys were asleep, James was alone in his room (lucky bastard) and Frank was left awake, staring at the top of his canopy, praying that he would wake up and discover Alice was back - it had all been a terrible misunderstanding! Frank couldn't help feeling like he wanted to blame James for planting the idea in their heads in the first place.

Frank was rational, more ration than most some would say, but he struggled when it came to losing Alice. He loved her. He felt like he'd been in love with her forever and suddenly she was gone, missing, lost and potentially in grave danger. He wanted to ram his fist through a wall - not that it would do any good.

"Frank," came a quiet whisper. He rolled over and there was Remus, gazing at him from across the room, his face just distinguishable by the light coming through the window. "Are you awake?"

"I never fell asleep."

"Me neither. Not really at least." Frank believed him - only because the snoring in the room had been minimal. "Can I join you?"

"Fine." Frank didn't mind the company. Remus was easy company, anyway. He was a good listener and he had a good heart, even if his friends could be real shits sometimes.

"Are you scared?" Remus asked. He settled on the end of the bed, legs crossed.

"Yes." Frank had to close his eyes and wish the thoughts away - the dark imagery of Alice, tied up to a chair somewhere hoping for rescue. Heshould be doing something.

"I'm so sorry Frank, I can't help feeling responsible…"

"Believe me, no one feels more responsible than me." Frank had let her go. Alice told him the whole plan and he'd missed it - every fucking red flag. The recent rise in Death Eater attacks, the earlier curfews, the fact that they were on the brink of a bloody war. He was an idiot.

"Stop it." It was as if Remus was reading his mind. "You can't think like that."

"I can't help it."

"Well try. Nothing good ever happens with an attitude like that."

"Yeah? How would you know?"

"Because that is my attitude and my life sucks."


Mary was not a smoker. Well, that was a bit of a stretch - she enjoyed the rare cigarette at a party, or while sitting by the lake with her friends. This afternoon though, as she stood beneath a tree, just beyond the courtyard, her cigarette was pure relief. It wasn't even noon and the day was a mess. Waking up to realize that Alice, Marlene, and Lily were gone and knowing that they were most likely in harm's way…

Mary took a heavy drag, desperate to wipe the thoughts from her mind. Dumbledore was on it. The girls would get back safely. They had to.

"You stole my spot." Mary looked up and there was a guy in Ravenclaw robes, blonde hair curled up at the front. It took her a few seconds to recognize him but then it clicked. Alice had pointed him out in the Great Hall a while ago after she'd told Mary about their "accidental" kiss.

"You're Everett?" She blurted out. "Aren't you?"

"Who's asking?" He was already lighting a cigarette, making himself comfortable. Mary couldn't see how Alice could date a guy like Frank and be attracted to Everett in the slightest.

"I'm a friend of Alice Griffith's." His face changed, intrigue coming across it.

"Oh, Alice ," he said, in that tone of voice only used when you've seen someone naked, "yeah, we're good pals." That was a twist she hadn't been expecting.

Mary tried to keep her composure, desperate not to let Everett catch her off guard, and tossed her cigarette away. "You're disgusting." She strode away, throwing up the hood of her robe up.

"Tell her to come visit me sometime!" he called after her. "It's been too long since we last caught up." Mary would have punched him in the face except for the fact that it would lead to questions that - if answered - would ruin Alice and Frank's relationship.

Oh Alice, what have you done? She knew her friend had been struggling, her whole world had been flipped upside down only a few months ago, but Mary had not imagined her becoming this self-destructive. How many times had she slept with Everett? Once? Twice? He seemed to suggest they were on a rather friendly basis…

Mary spent her entire walk back up to Gryffindor Tower contemplating every worst-case scenario. If Alice ever returned she would have to face the consequences, sooner or later, and Mary feared she might not be able to handle it, fragile as she was with the passing of her mom.


Alice was being kept in the basement - that much was clear. She could tell just by the musky smell, even before they took off her blindfold. There was a locked gate at the bottom of the staircase and the basement itself was no larger than a small sitting room, it didn't take long for Alice to feel claustrophobic.

She spent most of her time trying to see if she could make out her hand in front of her face if she squinted hard enough - she couldn't. It was too dark and it was beginning to smell like piss. Alice was responsible for that but she hadn't been able to help it - she had the tiniest bladder in the world.

Light filled the space followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. It was the first anyone had come to speak to her since she'd been dumped in the room. He came over, crouching before Alice though his face was still difficult to make out.

"Alice Griffith is it?" He was sweating, she could see that much, though she didn't know why. She was bloody freezing.

"Yes." It was difficult to get the word out when her throat was so dry. He stared at her for a while, too close for comfort, breathing heavily right in her face.

"What are you?" He reached out and before Alice could turn away his hand gripped her roughly under her chin.

"Griffith. It's a pureblood name. You can check." Alice detested having to prove herself worthy. She wanted to spit in his face or tell him to breathe through his nose, but instead, she simply sat there, pressed back into the wall as far as she could get.

"Are you a believer?" He lifted her head up forcefully so that he could look down on her. "Do you follow the Dark Lord?"

She could have lied - perhaps it would have made things easier - but Alice knew what she had to do. She knew the answer that would make her mother, or Frank, proud.

"No. I don't believe in blood cleansing nor do I think Voldemort should be in power-" He smacked her across the face so hard she tasted blood.

"You dare to speak his name in vain?" He reached out, as though hoping to catch a handful of hair (perhaps forgetting that Alice's hair was non-existent compared to her friends). When he grasped at nothing Alice took her opportunity and slammed her head against his, pushing him off of her as he clutched his forehead in pain. The effort was for nought of course, considering she had no clue how to open the gate or where the hell her wand had gone.

He bound her to one of the columns in the basement after that, kicking her before he left, the room masked once more in darkness. Alice was alone, her stomach wheeling from the blow, the side of her mouth oozing blood, and she couldn't help thinking it was karma coming to get her.


It was half-past one in the afternoon, James was meant to be in Potions. Instead, he was in his dorm room, smoking a cigarette out the window. He didn't care if Slughorn gave him a detention for it later - there was no point in going to class when he couldn't bloody think. They wouldn't know - any of them - what had happened. Perhaps not even Slughorn would fully understand the kind of danger the girls were in.

James hadn't slept. He'd stayed up all night, staring at his ceiling, wondering what the hell he was going to do. His stupid plan had put in jeopardy two of the women James cared most about in his life. He knew Frank felt the same about Alice, though James would've wagered he didn't skip all of his classes because of it. No, Frank was too perfect to be that reckless.

There was a knock at the door. James tossed his cigarette out the window. "Who is it?"

"Wormtail!" James pulled his wand from his back pocket and unlocked the door, Peter stepping inside. His face was rosy which meant he'd come in quite a hurry.

"What's up?"

"I noticed you didn't come down for breakfast," he explained, "so I brought you some things from lunch…" Peter proceeded to place his book bag down on James' bed and pulled out a napkin full of ham and swiss sandwiches - James' favourite. "And," Peter added, eyes twinkling with joy, "look what they had for dessert." He pulled out another napkin this one with a treacle tart.

"You really didn't have to do all this, Peter."

"It was nothing. I knew you wouldn't feel like coming down..." James smiled. Leave it to Peter to worry about whether he was getting enough to eat. It was the kind of thing he imagined his mother might do or Marlene, but Peter too could be a nurturer.

"How're you doing?"

"I feel like shit," James replied honestly. "I don't think I'll stop feeling that way until they're all back safe."

"It hasn't been twenty-four hours," Peter said, trying to be reassuring. "My mum always says you can't start to panic until twenty-four hours have passed." James thought that was a stupid rule but he knew better than to tell Peter that. Instead, he smiled and nodded.

"Thanks, Wormtail."

"No problem." Peter closed his bag and swung it back over his shoulder. "Well, I promised Remus I'd come back to class, so that he doesn't have to work alone."

"Have you seen Sirius?" James asked before Peter could disappear out the door.

"Nope."

James found it strange, that Sirius hadn't checked in all day. Of course, everything felt strange that day and so he didn't pay the thought much mind. Instead, he devoured the sandwiches that Peter had left for him, savouring the treacle tart last. He hadn't eaten all day and his stomach had been furious with him for it - though the cigarettes had helped with that.

I'll nap and when I wake up they'll have news , James told himself, over and over again. I'll wake up and she'll be home, she'll be lying next to me...he couldn't lose Lily, not when he'd only just got her in his life for good, not when he loved her (although, he'd known that for quite some time).

He wanted to be the one, out there, searching for them, making his mistake right. They'd never allow it though - McGonagall, his parents, Dumbledore for that matter. Everyone would tell him he was too young, too invested to be involved. When he closed his eyes he could pretend that he saw her, somewhere, unscratched, calm, assured that rescue was coming. That was naive of course, to believe such a thing could be true, but at seventeen, James still had some faith in the world.


"Where the hell have you been?" Remus demanded, sitting down on the bench beside Sirius. He'd blown his classes off for the day and instead spent it in the Room of Requirements, where he entered a library filled with every book he had ever wanted to read, every author he loved, and a variety of comfy couches and chairs. It was the perfect space to brood. He tried to read but mostly sat curled up in an armchair by the fireplace wondering where the fuck the girls had gone.

He knew there wasn't a chance in hell they would have gone without a fight. So they were outnumbered? Taken by surprise? Sirius could imagine every scenario there was but none of it would bring comfort, nothing would until they made it back safely.

Sirius was aware that James likely wanted his company for the day but he couldn't bear it - pretending that he wasn't also grieving for someone he cared deeply about. He couldn't remember what he'd said last to Marlene. He couldn't even quite place when the last time he'd seen her was. He felt terrible for that.

Sirius felt terrible about a lot of things where Marlene was concerned. Top of the list was the fact that he allowed them to carry on when he knew very well what James' feelings were on the matter.

"I just needed some space," Sirius replied to Remus, shrugging his shoulders. He knew that Remus, of all people, would never pry. He took the statement at face value, reaching for the peas rather than asking any questions. Peter joined them soon after that, then Mary and Emmeline and - to everyone's surprise - just as they were finishing up their food, James appeared.

Sirius and Remus made space for him between them where a new plate appeared on the table. They watched him silently as he began filling his plate with roast beef, roasted vegetables…

"I cannot standing another minute of this," Mary said with gritted teeth. "We deserve to know what the plan is. Their our friends. We know them better than anyone."

"What do you suggest we do then, barge into McGonagall's office and demand answers?" James asked her sceptically.

"Why not?" Mary shrugged. "She's a reasonable woman, you just need to know how to make a solid case for yourself." So James finished his dinner, with minimal small talk in between, and the whole group of them made their way to McGonagall's office afterwards. Part of Sirius hoped they would step in there and find all three girls sitting in chairs before McGonagall's desk, safe. Fuck he was a sucker. He knew how unrealistic that hope was, how damaging it would be if reality turned out differently, as it usually did in his case.

The door to her office was opening, light pouring forth from within. Mary walked right towards it, purpose in her step, and nudged the door wide open.

"Professor McGonagall, we need to speak to you-" Mary froze, the rest of them coming up behind her, "oh."

Professor McGonagall was there, sitting behind her desk, but so were others - Alastor Moody stood, cross-armed, leaning against the wall across the room, on the couch were a man and woman in Auror robes.

"Well, then Ms McDonald? Out with it."

"We want to know what the plan is," Mary finished, "concerning Alice, Lily and Marlene."

"As I told Mr Potter-"

"You can't expect us to just sit here, waiting, with no idea what is going on." Sirius was shocked by how easily Mary could challenge McGonagall - he'd never seen anyone do it with such ease.

"Let them hear it, Minerva," Moody grumbled. "Soon enough-"

" Alastor ," she snapped, giving him a meaningful look that shut him right up. She turned back to face them. "This is Alastor Moody," she explained, motioning towards him, "he's the head of the Auror department. These two," now she motioned towards the couch, "are Aurors who have been tasked with locating the girls." Both Aurors rose to face the group.

Sirius recognized one of them - the man - Kingsley Shacklebolt. Caroline had been involved in his training process and thought he was one of the most impressive wizards she had ever met. It was high praise in Sirius' books. He introduced himself to the group with a small wave, the woman beside him stepping forward.

"I'm Dorcas." She was petite with sleek black hair drawn back into a ponytail and eyes that felt like they could see straight into your soul.

"We don't believe they were taken on Voldemort's orders," Kingsley told them. "It seems more likely that they were taken by a few rogue Death Eaters or, like-minded individuals."

"We are raiding every known meeting place," Dorcas added, "we will find them."

"No doubt in my mind," Kingsley agreed.

"Sadly, there is nothing for you lot to do from now until then. Do you understand me? Dumbledore himself is searching for them, they will be found." The finality in McGonagall's voice made it clear it was time to go and so they exited the office.

They'd just entered the corridor when James came up beside Sirius. "Peter told me I'm not allowed to start panicking until they've been missing for twenty-four hours."

"What does Peter know?"

"I can hear you!" Peter snapped from a few feet behind them, where he was chatting with Mary.

"It's my fault this happened to them." Sirius stopped in his tracks, turning to face James.

"Never think that."

"It is…"

"No James," Mary stepped in, "they chose to go. No one blames you."

Sirius knew that James wouldn't believe it though, not until the girls returned safely.


Lily was stuck in an attic. Once the door at the bottom of the staircase was shut the room was pitch black. She kept hoping in vain that her eyes would adjust but they never did. After a while, it became difficult to differentiate between her eyes being open and shut.

There had been no chance to fight back. Before any of them had known it they'd been apparated away. When they'd landed their wands were immediately confiscated and they were blindfolded. All Lily knew was that they were behind a house, though it was difficult to make out its details in the dark.

"Make no mistake, you'll tell us the truth," one of the men threatened them. Lily had known the second Marlene changed her name what the deal was - these were followers of Voldemort - Death Eaters perhaps? - and they believed that the girls knew something about the resistance growing against them.

"We're only students," Marlene would remind the men time after time. At some point though, after entering the house, Lily couldn't hear the others anymore. Only the sound of her own footsteps and her capture's breathing in her ear. He stunk of sweat and alcohol. It was in stark contrast to the smell of James' lightly minted shampoo. God, he always smelt so good…

Lily had practically fallen flat on her face when she was shoved right into the attic stairwell, no warning at all. Without her sight, she stumbled up, step by step, her capture occasionally shoving her when she moved too slow. He didn't speak much - which Lily didn't mind. It made things easier in some regards, she could do her best to pretend he wasn't there.

He pushed her down to the floor by her shoulders and bound her arms behind one of the beams. "They'll be back for you," he told her, the blindfold over her eyes vanishing. He was already descending the stairs.

"Wait!" Lily cried out after him. "I swear - we don't know anything!" The door slammed shut behind him and there she was, alone in the darkness.

It felt like hours had passed when the door finally swung open again. Lily had dozed off a few times, wondered whether anyone had yet figured out they were missing, and done her best to gather whatever courage she had left and face what came next. When she heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs she sat up straight, chest puffed out.

It was a man, lanky, with a hook nose and shaggy hair. From what she could make out about him he looked to be in his late thirties - early forties perhaps? He stepped towards her, his wand visible in his right hand.

"Marlene McKinnon, huh?" He twirled the tip of the wand in the palm of his hand. "I heard the McKinnon family was all blonde."

"We are, except for me. Red hair is a recessive gene you know," she took pride in the irritation her statement clearly caused him.

"What were you doing in Hogsmeade, huh?" he crouched down in front of her, wand pointed right at Lily's chest. With his face so close to hers she could make out his beady eyes and the large scar across his right cheek. Lily made sure not to look away. "Now don't go telling me you just happened to be there right at the same time we heard there was a meeting of traitors."

"I don't know what to tell you. We snuck out to Hogsmeade to steal alcohol from the bar cellar. Nothing more. Why on earth would three seventeen-year-old girls have anything to do with plotting a resistance?"

Lily wasn't stupid - she knew what these men likely thought of them, three teenage girls mucking about in Hogsmeade. They were foolish, out without a man to protect them.

"Honestly, I don't know anything about this whole...resistance."

"You expect me to believe the daughter of Alfred and Maureen McKinnon knows nothing about the traitor's movement?" He scoffed, striking Lily hard across the face. "Do you think I'm a fool?" He demanded, raging now, his spit flying in Lily's face. He took a handful of her hair, gripping roughly.

"The things I could do to you right now," he whispered menacingly in her ear, pulling her head against his chest. "You'd never have a chance…" Lily couldn't help whimpering when he yanked hard on the ends of her hair, head aching.

When he released her there were tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. "You will tell me the truth," he insisted, "and if you don't I will kill you. All of you."

Lily leaned back, as far away as she could get from him, her face turned away, eyes squeezed shut. He left after that, thankfully, slamming the door shut behind him, and Lily let loose the tears she had been trying so hard to hold back, knees drawn into her chest. James had been right - she would have much preferred following the rules to this.