Disclaimer: Away with the suing!
A/N A REMINDER: I got some funny reviews, telling me things didn't go with the fifth book. Not trying to sound rude, but this ISN'T an AU story for nothing. This was written mostly before OOTP even came out. As of now nearly every single thing in this fic goes against that book...Just ignore it, for my sake. Please?
I did read some reviews, just now--and one practically told me every big detail that was in OOTP, I laughed really hard, because I already knew all that stuff, without reading the fifth book...Don't ask. Sierra's on strike against reading that book...Maybe she'll read it after she finishes this story.
School started the 20th of August for me, and I'd been in England for 3 weeks before that. It all totally through me about, and I work every weekend all day long and only have evenings free these days...but I'm on Christmas break now, and I've finally gotten past this wretched Writer's Block..
I redid this chapter, and took it from a different approach. Since my beta-reader said well--"that it wasn't up to my usual standards" so, I decided that while I knew it sucked in the first place, that it must really, really suck now. Thus, I decided to start the chapter somewhere else, and hope for the best.
There's a lot of stress on my head right now, so I'm not really with it. I'm near ready to say "I quit" and drop everything, but I promised myself and you all that I would finish this. I don't even know if anyone remembers anything about this story--hell, I hardly do! I had to skim the chapter titles so I could get stuff in order and entirely read the last chapter.
So, I'm sitting my ass down, and I won't get up--well, maybe for a Diet Coke--I will listen to LOTR music to get me in the mood, and I will write until this is done. I will reread it for mechanical errors, to hell with sense and post it.
And trust me, I've just gone through Creative Writing I, and I'm aware that--my style may have changed a bit...
Dedicated To the fans who have stayed with me over this long, long wait, they are very patient fellows. And to my last second beta--thank you A Rose by Any Other Name. Read her Worthy Friends and Worthy Adversaries stories! I love them to pieces!!
~*~
Flirting With the Enemy
by
Sierra Sitruc
Chapter 31 Yours, Mine, His
"Yeah, I haven't really known what's been going on now though...I just have a feeling it sure isn't good." Darcy sighed, "I sure hope I can give one of them a real good kick before I die though."
"You won't have to worry about dying Darcy, I'll make sure of it," James told him determinedly. "No one's going to die today or tomorrow. Not as long as sticks and stones don't hurt you and names do."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if you can overcome the physical pain of torture, and withstand the mental--you can survive. I've lived through every one of my encounters with Voldemort, because he didn't try and mess with me head, he just beat up on me. But--" Lily "A woman I know, she was strong--the strongest person I'd ever met...She could handle any pain that man through at her, mental and physical... He tinkers in her head, tortured her God knows how much-- and she never cracked. She didn't die under his hands...She's the example we need to follow."
"You're talking about Lily Evans aren't you? That...ex-Death Eater?" Azalee asked, curious.
"Ex?" The gruff voiced man questioned.
"Well, after what she did for James--I haven't heard many calling her a Death Eater anymore, not if--not if she would go to save an Auror." Azalee defended.
"Yeh, but hadn't she been in Azkaban? She was ruddy mad, no doubt. She might've just been looking for a fast way out," The man argued.
"Shut up!" James hissed, "I don't want to talk about that--Just--Azalee," He addressed the woman, "How'd you get here?"
Azalee's voice had an almost offended tone to it, "I was doing some work for Dumbledore...My neighbor was a Death Eater, I'd been watching him for weeks--I got enough proof so we could turn him in. A house-wife was hardly something You-Know-Who had thought to be worried about, and I suppose it really infuriated him that I'd gotten one of his Death Eaters arrested."
James laughed, almost humorously, "I can imagine that really bruised his ego."
It was quiet for a brief moment, and then another shriek echoed, this time vibrating through the trees. The creature, beast, whatever it was, had nearly arrived upon their little huddle in the forest.
"What do you think it is?" One of the more quiet persons there spoke; this one had more of an Irish accent. The man seemed eerily calm in the face of impending doom.
"A Vampire." A man said, he had been silent the entire time they'd spent there, and his accent was thick--foreign.
"A vampire, of course." The two voices sounded exactly alike, but they came from two different directions to James. They had to be related, he decided, and they had to be French.
"Who are you two?" James demanded, he had a feeling in his gut exactly what they were, but saying 'What are you two?' just didn't seem polite.
"I'm Jacques Meunier, and that is my brother, Sérge."
"The Meunier Brothers...I've heard of you." The Irish accent man, said. "Vampire slayers, I'd heard they'd been helping Dumbledore, but I'd dismissed it as a rumor."
"Dumbledore is a good man," Jacques said, his English strained, "We promised to fight to the death for him."
"What is a vampire doing out here?" The Hysterical Woman spoke up, the first to voice the question on everyone's mind.
Darcy was the first to spot the dark creature, with his sharp canine-like eyes. Red, frantic eyes locked with the boy's own amber ones.
"Werewolf." The vampire hissed, "What brings you to my forest? I can smell your stench a mile away."
"Voldemort brings this werewolf here." James answered, sliding the Vampire's attention from the young boy. The Vampire's eyes cringed at the name of the Dark Lord.
"You-Know-Who is conversing with werewolves as well? And here I thought Vampires were the only ones being bothered by that reeking thing."
"Would you be willing to help us?" James inquired further. The Vampire studied the seven prisoners, and licked his lips, his fangs revealed.
"For a price."
"No blood will be touching your vile mouth, Vampire." The gruff voiced man told the creature.
"Oh, no, not that kind of price, I have already eaten tonight. I was speaking of an exchange. For your release, you rid my forest of the hooded Death Men that have been leaving non-wizards bound to the trees."
"What? Non-Wizards--bound to the trees?" It was Azalee who spoke.
"Yes, for all of this past week, I've found more and more of those muggles; you call them, bound to the trees just as you are. The Death Men have been doing it, it's quite an easy dinner for me--but I doubt that the plan of those Men was to feed me...Well, I doubt it now that I see you, werewolf. Everyone knows Vampire's don't touch the likes of you." The Vampire explained.
"We'll do that for you, but you must release us." James urged, quickly.
"Fine." The Vampire waved his hand at each of the prisoners, and the trees binding branches whipped up and away, until the tall Oaks looked normal once more.
James immediately collapsed to the ground, and he could hear the Vampire sniffing his blood. "Sweet, fresh blood, Wizard. Why do you tempt me so?" The long, white fangs lengthened as the Vampire prepared to feast.
"I'd watch your back, Vampire." James growled, causing the dark creature in question to turn around, only to be caught in the chest by a wooden stake, courtesy of Sérge.
"Thanks mate." James said, struggling to stand, while watching the Vampire die on the ground.
"Je déteste ces bêtes." Sérge said, shaking his head in disgust. Jacques thumped his brother on the back proudly.
"We need to get out of here; Voldemort will no doubt be showing up very soon." Azalee whispered, her eyes darting around the dark wood.
"Anyone know how to get out of here?" Darcy asked, his high tenor setting him apart from the mutterings of the others in the crowd.
No one knew, they had all been taken here while unconscious and had no memory to use to recollect the way to leave. James could only remember being put under the Cruciatus Curse, and then waking up here. It served him no good.
"I think we need to separate." James instructed. "Pair up-- Jacques and Sérge, You--" He pointed to the gruff voiced man, "Would you take Azalee as your partner?" The man nodded, as did Azalee. "And you--" he gestured to the Irish man, "Take Darcy."
"What about you?" Darcy asked in concern, "Don't tell me you're going alone?"
James hesitated before speaking, "I have to--we have an odd number--and three is just too bulky a group." He paused before adding, "Besides, I'm injured and would only slow you down."
"I don't believe that, not for a minute Potter!" The gruff voiced man said, "My name is Xavier Shelton--I've been working in the Ministry for five years, and for the past few months, you've been a great topic of conversation--'ah that James Potter wants to do You-Know-Who in if it's the last thing he does. He's quite the Hero Type, that James Potter. Always running head into danger. The only way he'll let himself go down, is by the wand of Lord Voldemort, himself.'" Xavier looked James right in the eyes, "You're not going to even attempt to leave this forest. You're going to wait for the Dark Lord, and make sure it's him that kills you."
"So what if I am?" James asked, "Is it wrong to want to be put out of your misery? My World has been hell since I graduated from Hogwarts and I'm sick of it."
"We're all tired of this James, but if everyone gives up then He wins." Azalee said softly, "There would be no future for our children, for anyone..."
"What difference do I make in this War? None. It seems to me I've only fucked it up--making the situation worse." James sneered.
"You guys need to get out of here before He shows up." James muttered, settling down on the ground; even if he'd wanted to, he couldn't walk away from this forest. He was too weak to walk.
"Fine, stay here and die. I don't care." Xavier told the young man, "Come on Azalee, we have to survive this hell--and send some help."
James watched as the three pairs left in opposite directions, and while watching their silhouettes disappear into the darkness, he finally allowed himself to lean his head back against the tree and closed his eyes.
~*~
"Are you sure the trees held them, sir?" Crabbe asked of his leader Lucius Malfoy.
"Those woods are empty; none were armed with a wand--I do expect they are just as we left them. Now, get ready to Apparate; it is nearly one o'clock and the Master will not want to wait for us."
~*~
"To the right I'm supposed to see a forest that is settled behind a little cottage." Remus mumbled to himself as he took in his surroundings, "But there is no cottage, and no forest. Dumbledore must've had faulty sources."
He reread the letter's directions, and searched from his place on a fern covered hill. Feeling lost and helpless, and very much alone.
A soft popping sound made him duck under the brush in a vain attempt to cover himself.
"Who's there?" A familiar voice called out, and a wand was brandished in the other man's hand. Remus felt a cautious relief flow through him.
"It's me, Remus." He called out tentatively.
"What are you doing here?" The darker haired man asked.
"I'm afraid it should be me who asks you that." Remus retorted, "I haven't seen you in months and suddenly you show up at quite an inopportune time."
"I'm an Unspeakable, Moony, what did you expect?"
"Maybe a goodbye, at the very least, Sirius." Remus huffed, before making his way down the large hill.
"Be reasonable, did you really think I would stick around--after that deal with Evans?" Sirius questioned, haring after the other man.
"Don't speak ill of the dead Sirius, it's bad luck." Remus said nonchalantly.
"Ah, and that's another reason I didn't stick around to say goodbye--I don't think Evans is really dead." Sirius whispered, catching up to the werewolf.
"What?" Lupin asked, setting his glowing amber eyes on Sirius' pale ones.
"I said, I don't think she's dead."
"Sirius--I saw the body. She's buried in the dirt near Surrey; she's as dead as her parents now."
"That's where you're wrong. You of all people should believe me when I say that. You've come back to life yourself haven't you Lupin?"
"Yes, but that had to be within twenty-four hours, and it's been over two months since she died." Remus explained, exasperated.
"Listen to my other reasons, Remus --please." The Unspeakable begged.
"Fine, go on ahead. I'm listening." Remus said stiffly.
"Voldemort isn't completely immortal yet...Evans had to die for the process to be complete, didn't she?" Remus nodded, "In addition to my Unspeakable duties, I've been researching this...Looking at every detail revolving around her death. And it should have worked--for everything Voldemort did, he should have complete immortality. But I've heard whispers--whispers about him bleeding. I looked at the ritual he did, I spoke to Dumbledore about it...and it all makes perfect sense. Lily can still be saved--somehow..."
"That doesn't make any sense, Sirius!" Remus cried, looking about the hill, and deciding to go back up and try the other side.
"I read books Moony, complex books, Dark books, ancient books--looking for some way that made it so Lily was still living--partially or not. Her body may be dead, but her soul--her soul that Voldemort should have complete control of...is somehow in someone else's power too."
"Whose, though?" Remus asked, looking up at the nearly full moon; he'd stopped walking by then and was just standing and listening to Sirius. The wind blew through his hair and sent a chill down his spine. And he caught a scent.
"I'm not sure on that yet, at first I thought it might be you--it had been the two of you together who had nearly died and been brought back after all. But then--all the theories I had on that were thrown out. None could work."
Remus nodded in agreement on this, his head turning towards that familiar scent he'd found.
"I thought about Isabella, Patrick--Snape even--but they didn't work either. I kept circling around one man, and one particular night...And I thought back to the very, very first time we'd encountered Evans since Hogwarts. The night she'd been captured during a Death Eater meeting."
"You mean James, don't you?" Remus asked, the question nearly rhetorical.
"Yes, James...It makes perfect sense! I remember him telling me about how he'd fared with her through it all, keeping her under control--and he mentioned a Binding Charm...I'd thought nothing of it then, but now..." Sirius excitedly grabbed his friend by the shoulder.
"Binding Charm...?"
"Binding Charms are discouraged of use with enemies, but James--as we all know--had a certain amount of trust in Lily. So he'd thought it safe to put one on her...Why, Remus, why do they discourage the use of Binding Charms on enemies?"
Remus looked at Sirius' panicked eyes; wide with excitement, and Remus closed his own eyes so he could think. He'd always been a bookworm as a child, and during Hogwarts he had always researched Charms they were doing in class--sometimes heavily so.
In fourth year, they'd learned the binding charm--he'd found a book in the library with a complete chapter about the charm. It had a history of the charm, a list of its uses, and most importantly--its dangers.
Remus' eyes widened in realization, "Oh Merlin!"
"Yes! I don't think James meant to--but he had been under a lot of pressure, and he must have forgotten to take it off. He probably left that Charm on between them for more than a day--the limit is three hours!"
"Lily's--James'--their souls--" Remus couldn't manage to get the thought out, it was so absurd.
"Not only does our little friend Voldie have a piece of Evans' soul--but James as well." The two men stared at the waxing moon, as if it held all the answers, in silence for a few minutes.
Remus' thoughts were racing wildly through his head, the possibilities with this--were endless. Lily's soul wasn't completely gone--it had merged with James'...Her soul could be saved, unless--.
"Padfoot?" Remus asked, interrupting the quiet.
"What happens if James dies?"
Sirius' eyes were overcome with despair, "We don't let that happen. Or else Voldemort has not only Lily's soul giving him Immortality, but James' as well...We'd be damned."
~*~
A/N Yes! I'm done! I hope that was worth the overly long wait.
Did that make any sense whatsoever?
Review if you believe this story can LIVE!!!!
--Sierra