Chapter Fifty-Four: The Dark Lord and Betrayal

Dumbledore had everyone stay seated, even though breakfast was supposed to be over. It wasn't apparent why until the owls came swooping in late, with lots of copies of the daily prophet and the cheerful atmosphere soured immediately as newspaper after newspaper was picked up.

"Wizard Killed in Wiznogts!" Read the heading in large flashing print. Underneath a picture of a smiling young couple stared back at Remus who read with horror that last night the two were killed in a wizarding neighborhood. Apparently they had been targeted and killed by a group calling itself Death Eaters and an anonymous source has confirmed there was one wizard leading their "movement."

"Dark Lord? What's sort of name is that?" Remus heard Frank ask uneasily. James leaned close to Remus to read over his shoulder.

"It's an alias."

"He must be a complete nutter."

"Shhhh I heard over break he's one of the most powerful wizards in the world?"

"More powerful than Dumbledore?" Ripples of discontent ran along the length of the table, and across other tables. Everyone who didn't have a subscription to the Daily Prophet was sharing with friends so that soon the whole of Hogwarts had read the article.

"What do you think it means?" Peter asked his voice high pitched with fear.

"Changing times," Sirius muttered darkly snatching the Daily Prophet away from Peter.

"My dad was telling me about it over the break. Apparently this Voldy guy, that's his real name I guess. He's been terrorizing Muggles for the past two years or something. But no one could pin it on him and the death eaters. But now ...well I guess they are closing in on him so that's good. This won't go on much longer since the Aurors will stop him." James announced quite confidently, but Remus noticed the way his gaze kept going back to the article, and he had a rather tense smile on his face.

"You'll see. This won't last long at all." He assured Peter who hung on James' words with relief. Remus wasn't so sure. He realized that it was about time he had that talk with Severus.

"Lily, are you planning to study in the library tonight?"

"Yeah." Her anger at the four of them had disappeared once the paper came and she looked rather pale. Remus was pretty sure a lot of students looked pale, especially those with muggle parents or parents involved with muggles back home. Remus desperately wished he had seen his father over the break. He wanted to make sure he was okay, his father had a low position in the ministry but he had married a muggle and Remus wasn't entirely sure how this Dark Lord or Voldy or whatever he was called was choosing his targets.

By the end of breakfast, it was all anyone was talking about and the Slytherins returned to the hushed conversation about who this organization was.

"Bet half of that lot's parents are Death Eaters."

"James that's a terrible thing to say." Remus gasped, scolding his friend before Lily could, who looked ready to go off on him before he cut in beating her to the punch.

"Potter's got a point though. I think half is being generous." Frank muttered shooting a dark look over to the Slytherin table, all the students settling back into their freshly replaced food with varying degrees of anger on their faces. Most glares were sent to the Gryffindor table and the Slytherins all held themselves with exaggerated pride, in an attempt to recover their dignity.

Then breakfast was over, and Remus had only enough time to grab a piece of toast, having been too overcome with worries to eat before the food vanished.

"Before you all leave I would like a word," Dumbledore announced his voice booming across the Great Hall as he stood at his little podium. Even the Slytherins fell quiet, the unusualness of the gesture was a bit unnerving.

"I understand that many of you are afraid of what you read in the Daily Prophet. I do want everyone to take this seriously but also to remember that these are just wizards, like you and I, and not monsters that they will be portrayed as. They have done terrible things but they are not fictitious monsters which would be much harder to defeat then mere men." A few nervous chuckles at this and Remus watched the Slytherin's faces darken.

"The man behind all of this is a man named Voldemort. We must not fear him to the extent not to use his name. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." Remus jumped remembering a similar conversation regarding Greyback. Now mutters were rising from the Slytherin table, he heard someone call Dumbledore a rather nasty name loudly under their breath and a few more disrespectful mutters.

"Furthermore, I understand that many of us will be subjected to our family's values concerning this matter." Dumbledore's eyes quickly swept the Slytherin table.

"While Hogwarts is open for all students it is a place that will remain safe and I will not tolerate any support of Voldemort within it's halls. This is a place of learning our own ideas of the world and I encourage each and every one of you to come up with their own opinions about what is occurring, rather than falling upon what others might wish you to believe. Times are changing but we can all choose whether this change becomes a good thing and fuels unity within these halls or a bad one. Now off to class, everyone, let's fill those talented minds with more pleasant subjects." Dumbledore finished in a pleasant tone, but there was no twinkle in his eyes and he had his hands behind his back in a pose of utter seriousness.

"He should just expel the lot of them," James muttered and Sirius nodded in agreement, though he shot a look at the Slytherin table with a look of anxiety rather than anger, his gaze lingering on his two younger cousins.

"How are we supposed to go to class after that?" Peter pouted his arms crossed tightly around his chest as if worried some death eaters might swoop down and drag him away.

"You heard Dumbledore, Hogwarts is safe. Though I for one think we should forgo classes for the day and homework for the week."

"How about homework and classes for the week! I could use a real vacation mate." Sirius lamented dramatically. Remus wondered dryly if there was anything those two could take seriously for more than a few minutes.

"What I want to know is how we are just now learning about this!" Lily huffed from behind them.

"Did we say you could join in on our conversation?" James muttered giving her an irritated look before turning quickly back around, his cheeks slightly pinker than they had been prior.

"It's because they are afraid," Dorcas answered simply, falling in step behind them. Normally they would all be walking in their separate groups, but all the Gryffindor first years were clustered together, and it seemed only the Slytherins didn't feel the need to have safety in numbers at the moment.

"My dad said that they were trying to keep it from the kids."

"My mom works in the ministry and she says that they have suspected it for the past eighteen months but they were all sneaky about it up until recently. Apparently the group is growing in numbers."

"Well, my da says that it's all rubbish. That they are tying these muggle murders together but that muggles die all the time."

"That's terrible! You better not think it's true!"

"Well I never said I believe my da….that's just what he said…"

"I heard that The Dark Lord has three heads and can't be killed!"

"Don't call him Dark Lord that's what his followers call him. You heard Dumbledore his name is Voldermort." James cut in loudly, all eyes turning to him.

"But ...I heard over the break that any muggle who knew about wizards and said Voldemorts name was killed." There was a long silence and many students cast worried looks to their friends. James looked stuck for a second before he spoke up again, sounding even more confident than before.

"Anyone who is too scared to show their face is nothing but a coward! I bet he's not even that powerful, that he just has a bunch of Death Eaters doing his dirty work for him!"

"Potter! Five points from Gryffindor for your sheer stupidity. Dumbledore just said this is a serious matter so don't go running your mouth." Called Lucius, the Slytherin prefect, from slightly down the hall. James and the other first-year Gryffindors shot irritated looks, but no one dared to speak up against such a notoriously mean and unfair prefect.

"Yeah but I have a point."James continued in a lower tone once Lucius and a few other sixth-year Slytherins he had been walking with were out of sight. There was another silence as people seemed to consider this. Remus figured the point of Voldemort keeping himself hidden was more strategic than cowardice but he wasn't about to say that, as James had successfully calmed down most of the first years, even despite Lucius' interference.

"In fact, I'd like to have a go at him myself! Adults always think they have the answer to everything but they shouldn't be the only ones having all the fun." He grinned, his chest thrown out in his confidence.

"Fun? Maybe Lucius had a point in taking points. You ought to take this seriously! James people are dying!" Lily snapped her hair matching the color of her face as she glared at James.

"I didn't mean it that way. Well, I just want to fight them. I want to help!" James replied indignantly, and Remus knew a fight was brewing if the two of them weren't pulled apart soon.

"Help! What can you do? You're just a cocky eleven-year-old! You'd get yourself killed!"

"Would not!"

"Would too!"

"WOULD NOT! And I'm twelve now you git." Remus was sure James was going to get hexed, but instead, Lily's face grew even darker red.

"You're positively insufferable Potter!" She shouted and stomped off followed closely by her friends. Leaving the Gryffindor boys in a group and the girls farther ahead.

"Don't worry Potter I think you'd have a real chance!"

"Yeah especially on a broom." A few boys laughed but James still looked troubled, his eyes on Lily's back now quite a distance ahead of them all.

"I don't know. If James can't even outsmart one girl how can he take down a full-grown wizard." Sirius teased and James went rather pink and said something nasty that Remus didn't catch because he had just spotted Severus hiding behind a corner.

It seemed he had been trying to get Lily's attention but her rushing forward ahead with the first-year girls had ruined his plans. Remus slowed down falling behind the group of boys then walked over to Severus who flinched as if he expected Remus to hit him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Shut up Lupin! It's none of your business!" He flinched at Severus' cool tone and sighed. It seemed like everytime Severus treated him with a little warmth it didn't last long. Still, he noticed the way Severus was favoring one of his legs over the other and remembered the milder reaction he had to a bunch of burning insect bites, and reminded himself the angry boy probably didn't have a good Spring Break either.

"Sorry. I'd just like to talk to you if that's ok?" Severus' anger was replaced by surprise and then hardened into a clear distrust.

"Right now?"

"No, I have to get to class. But perhaps we could meet in the library?"

"Do you think I'm dumb Lupin? Why would I trust you?" He gave Severus a sincerely confused look. Perhaps Severus thought, and rightly so, that Remus had something to do with the fire ants. But he had the feeling he was missing something.

"I just want to talk. I'd really like to hear your side of everything before I consider telling Lily." He didn't mean it as a threat, telling Lily would be out of concern for Severus and her both and not to get him in trouble. But Severus didn't seem to realize this and he went a bit pink glowering at Remus as if he had just told him he'd personally see to it to ruin his and Lily's friendship.

"You think you have the right to threaten me! Don't forget I'm keeping a secret for you too!" He snarled and Remus felt himself go cold, all the color leaving his face. Severus looked as surprised by his reaction as he had initially been over Severus'. It looked like he was about to say something but then Sirius called loudly for Remus wondering where he went and the Slytherin boy shut his mouth, shot Remus one last dirty look, and left before Remus could decide if he wanted to stop him or not.

…..

Remus had History of Magic to let his worries run wild and his usually neat and detailed notes were absent afterward. He would have asked Lily later but as he glanced at her towards the end of their first class he found she hadn't touched her quill either. Herbology at least was more active but it seemed everyone had a hard time focusing. Professor Flitwick got them moving around in a game that required them to use multiple charms they had learned so far which seemed to get eveyone a bit back to normal. Remus particularly enjoyed when James seemed to trip up paired against Lily and had shouted out a growing charm instead of a softening charm and caused his stool to grow up to the ceiling. Professor Flitwick hadn't been sure whether to deduct point form their teams, girls vs. boys, or give him extra marks for successfully carrying out a charm learned next year.

But even with it's more amusing moments it was a long day and Remus still hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in a long time. He almost didn't go to the library but he wanted to get away from James and Sirius' loud banter back and forth of how they'd capture Voldemort.

He didn't expect Severus to show, not after how badly their interaction went. Plus, he was scared of what secret Severus had been talking about. It left him awfully jumpy, even over the faint notion that Severus might suspect what he was.

His only consolation was realizing if Severus knew what he was he'd no doubt have told the whole school by now. Perhaps he was waiting, for evidence of some sort, he'd have to be extremely cautious around the boy. He wasn't sure what had given him away to the Slytherin who didn't even appear to pay him any attention, but he'd somehow have to convince Severus whatever theory he had formed was wrong.

However, Severus did appear, sulking behind a bookshelf for a while. Remus pretended not to notice him, forcing himself to re-read the same page over and over, not able to focus on it at all. Finally, Severus came over sitting across from Remus with a determined look in his cool eyes.

"You better not tell Lily! Or I'll tell her about that letter Bellatrix repeated to me." Remus relaxed, so he had only meant that secret. Still not ideal, but much less dangerous than the other one. Severus noticed the relief on his face and his eyes went wide.

"How many secrets do you have Lupin? You better stay away from Lily!" Remus felt a twinge of irritation, he wasn't the one in danger of hurting Lily. He took great lengths to make sure he'd never hurt any of his friends. But Severus was involved with a group of Slytherins that seemed like bad news. Remus didn't like to judge but if any of the Slytherins' parents were Death Eaters he figured it was the group Severus hung out with.

"I'm not going to stay away from her she's my friend too and you don't control her!" He knew he should be patient with Severus but he was sleep-deprived and honestly sick of his possessiveness over LIly.

"She was my friend first! So ...SO...stay away from her!" Severus spluttered surprised Remus was talking back to him.

"It seems like you should stay away from her. You're hanging out with Slytherins who make their views on muggle-born witches and wizards very clear!" He shot back and Severus grew angrier rising from his chair and drawing his wand. But Remus was faster, this time.

"Silencio!" Severus' eyes went comically large as he tried to speak, but couldn't. Remus let out a breath forcing himself to calm down, he couldn't believe he just did that. He felt rather guilty but at least now Severus would be forced to hear him out.

"I wasn't going to tell Lily to get you two fighting despite what you might think. I'm concerned for you,...both of you! You said you'd explain to me why you hang out with them but unless we are with Lily everytime I see you you're nasty to me. I'm sick of it Severus I haven't done anything to you and I've tried to be patient. But with this Voldemort or whatever his name is, starting some sort of war I want to make sure none of my friends get hurt!" He finished, his voice rather loud for the library, thoroughly exasperated with Severus.

The boy went from glaring, to a wide-eyed expression again, and had finally settled on looking at Remus as if he'd just grown horns out of his head. Remus waited until Severus seemed to calm down some and released the spell half expecting the boy to immediately go off on him.

"You really think we're friends?" He asked skeptically after a long while.

"I think we can be. You're very smart and a diligent student and you can be pleasant when you're with LIly." Remus answered honestly. Something close to guilt flashed in Severus' eyes.

"Even after what we did to you?"

"You mean at James' party? It didn't seem like you wanted any part of that…."

"No on the tower!"

"At the owlery?" Remus was beginning to feel nervous. What had the Slytherins done to him? Had they really caused his coma? Severus seemed to think Remus was playing dumb just to get him to admit it and looked annoyed but after a few tense seconds gave in.

"On the tower where you fell!" Remus tried to stay calm, he still couldn't remember but he wasn't about to let Severus know that, not when he could give him answers.

"Why would that prevent us from being friends?" He asked carefully, trying to keep his tone as nonchalant as possible.

"Because it's my fault! I lured you there. They wanted me to prove ...prove my allegiance and the only one I could get alone was you. But you don't seem to hate me like Sirius and James and I don't know why." Severus snapped a definite amount of guilt in eyes now. Remus felt stunned, he wasn't sure what to expect but it wasn't this.

"I thought it was a coincidence…"

"Then you're really dumb….wait." Severus sat up straighter comprehension dawning on him. He pointed an accusatory finger at Remus looking torn between victory and horror.

"You didn't remember! You still don't do you. Probably hit your head so hard…. I wondered why you didn't say anything. We thought you probably didn't have a backbone!" Then Severus went pale realizing he had just revealed at least some of the truth to Remus, who sat there gaping at him.

It's not like him and Severus had really been friends, still, he couldn't help but feel betrayed by this revelation.

"why …..why do you care what they think?" He heard himself asking unable to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"You don't understand! They already…..are saying I can't hang out with Lily….I can't just be ostracized by my entire house! Besides it brings prestige to my family, I can't pass that up." Severus seemed to be struggling with himself staring at his hands as if he could find the answer for his actions there.

"I don't owe you an explanation!" He snapped then stomped away muttering to himself about how Remus had no right to judge him. Remus watched him go still stunned feeling an ache in his chest at Severus betrayal, even though he still couldn't remember anything about that night.