FALLING WITH GRACE
by shiiki

CHAPTER NINE

The Tangled Web of Misunderstanding

August, 1979

Someone was stroking Lily's cheek with a cold finger. Three light strokes, and then a stinging slap across Lily's face caused her eyes to fly open in shock. There was a raucous laugh from behind her.

'Wakey wakey, little Mudblood,' someone taunted. 'Someone's here to meet you.'

She was in an enclosed room lit only by a pin-prick of wand light. Bound to a chair with ropes strapping her feet and arms and even her neck, Lily couldn't even twist her neck to see who was behind her. She was forced to stare straight ahead at the leering face of the Death Eater who must have slapped her.

The glow from the Death Eater's wand illuminated her face, twisted in a sadistic smile, and Lily was able to recognise her alabaster complexion and platinum hair.

Drucilla Malfoy. And as the Death Eater behind her gave another cackle, Lily thought she knew who her other captor was as well: Bellatrix Black.

'Bring her in, Regulus,' commanded Drucilla. Lily heard a door behind her scrape open, and there was a scuffling of feet.

'Let me go!' cried a high, terrified voice. A moment later, Petunia, her wrists bound and a blindfold covering her eyes, was flung onto the ground in front of Lily. 'What do you want from me?'

Bellatrix laughed again, sending a chill up Lily's spine. Drucilla smirked as she said, 'It's what we're going to get from your darling sister that's more important.'

'I've got nothing to do with her! I've got nothing to do with your world!'

'Glad you know it, Muggle,' said Bellatrix coldly. 'Neither of you belong in our world.'

'Let me go, then!' snarled Petunia. 'If you don't want anything to do with me, why the hell have you brought me here?'

'Oh, dear innocent Muggle,' sneered Drucilla. 'Well, uncover her eyes, then, Regulus, and let her see for herself why she's here.'

Someone moved forward from behind, entering Lily's field of vision to remove Petunia's blindfold. Lily hadn't seen him for several years, but Regulus Black looked too similar to his brother for her not to recognise him instantly. Regulus whipped off the blindfold and quickly moved back. Petunia's eyes landed on Lily and narrowed.

'You – I told you to tell your people to leave me alone!'

Lily opened her mouth to explain, but she found that she must have been hit by a Silencing Charm, because not a sound could she make.

'Pity,' said Drucilla. 'You wouldn't be here if your darling sister hadn't meddled in things that don't concern her … or if she'd simply stayed out of a world she doesn't belong to. Isn't that right, now, Evans?' Lily's inability to answer seemed to amuse her, because she grinned. 'Finite Incantatem. Why don't you tell your sister just what you're up to that's landed her here?'

Lily realised that she couldn't speak; Drucilla and Bellatrix had enticed her here simply to draw whatever information they could out of her. They must have found out that she was part of the Order. They had obviously traced Petunia. How much had they discovered already? Did they know about her work on the Death Shield?

'Speechless, Mudblood?' said Bellatrix from behind her. Lily felt the point of a wand prod the nape of her neck. 'A taste of pain, then. I find that most effective.'

Lily's muscles tensed immediately; pain could only mean the Cruciatus. Bellatrix was going to torture her, put her through that same insufferable agony that she'd just felt earlier. Until she broke and told all her secrets – all the Order's secrets. Fear gripped her heart at the thought. How many minutes of the curse could she stand before she caved in?

But the firing pain she was anticipating didn't come.

'No,' said Drucilla.

'Getting soft, Dru?' barked Bellatrix.

'Not on the Mudblood, Bella. Crucio is all well and good, but mental torture works wonders you wouldn't believe.' Lily realised with horror what Drucilla was suggesting.

'No! Don't –'

'Crucio!' said Bellatrix, and the room was filled with Petunia's screams.

'Stop!' pleaded Lily. 'Please – she's got nothing to do with this at all! Leave her alone!'

'What did I tell you?' said Drucilla in satisfaction. 'Let up, Bella.'

Wracked sobbing emanated from Petunia, as she gasped and coughed as though she were fighting for breath. Drucilla couldn't have found a more effective way to drive a knife deep into Lily's heart.

'Ready to spill, then, Mudblood? We're going to start with an apology.'

Lily stared at her blankly. What was she meant to apologise for?

'Save your little vengeances for later, Dru,' snarled Bella.

'They aren't little vengeances,' hissed Drucilla. 'She got me expelled –'

'And you should have been proud to have left school on behalf of the Dark Lord!'

'I could have been powerful, like Lucius, and a greater help had the Mudblood not interfered!' There was a sulky edge to Drucilla's voice.

Bellatrix barked out a harsh laugh. 'You can be useful now, by asking the Mudblood the right questions. You can do what you like with her later.' She leaned close to Lily, so that her lips were almost brushing Lily's ear as she said, 'You can tell us whatever you know, or you can watch your sister suffer. And I promise you, I can make her die slowly.'

'I know nothing,' Lily said as convincingly as she could.

'I know nothing,' mimicked Bellatrix. 'So the Mudblood can lie.' She came around to stand in front of Lily, such that Lily had a clear view of her dark, striking face before Bellatrix lashed out without warning.

It was Lily's turn for the Cruciatus Curse, and constrained by her bindings, she felt as if she would explode at any moment; the ropes were cutting her skin, as if they would slice her into pieces …

And after what seemed an infinitely long time, Lily realised that it had stopped, and the intensity of the pain was abating.

'That's how you and your sister will die,' said Bellatrix. 'Her first.' She raised her wand at Petunia, who cowered on the floor.

'No!' The cry tore hoarsely out of Lily's throat. Bellatrix couldn't subject Petunia again to what she had just put Lily through! Having just felt the burn of the Cruciatus, Lily felt even more tortured to think that Petunia was going to go through that now.

'Well, then, it's very easy, Mudblood. You know the magic words,' said Drucilla.

'I –' It was simple enough to appease Drucilla, wasn't it? It wouldn't cost Lily to cough out an apology … not if it would help Petunia. 'I'm sorry you were expelled, Drucilla.'

Pleased, Drucilla smiled smugly. 'Now, that wasn't so hard, was it, Mudblood?'

Bellatrix laughed derisively. 'And that wasn't so useful, was it, Malfoy? Get some real information, will you? What Dumbledore's up to, for one. Ready to share, Mudblood?'

'He's running Hogwarts, as he always has,' said Lily.

'Insolence won't help your sister, Mudblood. Crucio!'

Again, Petunia's screams reverberated throughout the room. Lily clamped her eyes shut, unable to bear watching her sister writhe and scream as though she was having a seizure.

'Stop it!' she yelled.

'As you wish,' said Bellatrix, sounding almost amused.

'Every mistake you make, Mudblood, and she'll get that again,' threatened Drucilla. 'I'll try another question: what plans have Dumbledore's little resistance group got?'

'Lily,' croaked Petunia, reaching a hand feebly towards Lily. 'Please, Lily, just do what they want.'

'Listen to the Muggle beg, now! Better do as she asks, Mudblood.'

'I … I don't know,' Lily whispered. Pet, I'm sorry, she thought.

'Wrong answer.'

'No – don't … take me instead!' Lily hastened to plead before Bellatrix could cast the curse.

'You were warned, Mudblood,' said Drucilla mercilessly.

'Reducto!'

Lily screamed then, thinking Bellatrix had simply blown Petunia up, but the spell had been cast by someone outside the room. From the sound of it, the door had been smashed in, knocking Regulus Black backwards roughly. His head knocked against Lily's as he stumbled, so hard that Lily saw stars.

'Crucio!' yelled Bellatrix, but her wand was pointed at whoever had just barged in. Lily allowed herself to hope then – was help imminent? She'd thought it was helpless; no one had known she was going to meet Petunia. Had the Order managed to find her anyway?

'Expelliarmus!'

'Stupefy!'

The air was thick with flying curses; their sizzling trails left a charred smell in the air. One errant curse sliced the back of her chair, cutting the ropes holding her tight to snap. Freed from her bonds, Lily leapt out and ran to Petunia, who was curled up into a frightened ball, her arms over her head.

'Avada Kedavra!'

The dreaded killing curse arched from Bellatrix's wand, straight towards one of their rescuers. With a jolt, Lily recognised Liz. 'Watch out!' she screamed. Liz ducked at the sound of her voice, and the green light streaked harmlessly over her head, travelling across the room to meet Drucilla Malfoy's turned back.

Drucilla collapsed instantly; she was dead. Lily felt rooted to the spot, shocked.

There was movement behind them; deprived of her wand, Lily could only swing her arms wildly, hoping to punch whoever it was …

Thankfully her swing failed to connect; Moody avoided her fist neatly and grimaced at her.

'Watch it, girl!'

'Let's get out of here, come on,' said James's voice, and Lily looked up to see him pulling at her arm. Next to them, Moody was helping Petunia to her feet. Liz ran from her duel with Bellatrix and together, they made for the door, ducking the curses that rained one after the other from Bellatrix's wand.

'Impedimenta!' cried Moody and James simultaneously. One of their hexes must have hit target, because Bellatrix's footsteps slowed, and there was a pause in the flying jinxes. Through a series of corridors, they dashed along, until they reached a large front door which must have been blown inwards earlier on.

'Sirius!' yelled James. To Lily and Petunia, he gestured to an enormous motorcycle parked just by the (now non-existent) door. 'Get on,' he said urgently.

'What?'

'Get on!' he repeated. Sirius came dashing out of the door, followed closely by Regulus Black.

Liz and Moody gave Petunia a boost up onto the bike and Lily swung a leg over behind her. Sirius clambered on and stuck his wand where the ignition key should have been. The motorbike roared to life.

'Wait!' Regulus Black, gulping nervously, held out a wand. Lily's heart leapt. Her wand.

Sirius leaned sideways and snatched it from his brother's fingers. Regulus took a step backwards, looking frightened as Moody trained his wand on him.

'Reg, come –' started Sirius, but Bellatrix burst out of the house just then, screaming like a banshee and firing curses at top speed.

'Go!' said James, and Sirius accelerated the bike. Liz, Moody, and James Disapparated right away (although Moody paused a second to Stun Regulus).

'Blood traitor!' screeched Bellatrix, flinging a curse after Sirius, Lily, and Petunia. The beam of light flew straight for them, Lily tightened her grip on Petunia in front of her, but the motorbike lurched upwards, gaining height, flying them away from Bellatrix, to safety.

---

James wasn't sure what to say to Petunia Evans. She lay in the Hogwarts infirmary, picking at imaginary lint on the sheets, staring determinedly away from him.

On one hand, he was sorry for her; she'd been kidnapped and held against her will for a matter which shouldn't have involved her; on the other, she had previously refused help to guard against such an eventuality.

When he thought of how that refusal had nearly cost Lily her life – what had Lily been thinking, too, running off like that without a word to anyone? – James felt as though he could justify that Petunia deserved what she got.

The infirmary door opened and Liz walked in. 'How are you feeling?' she asked Petunia kindly. Petunia pursed her lips and pretended she hadn't heard. Undeterred, Liz continued, 'I've been to see your husband, and I've informed him that you're safe and will be back home with him soon.'

Petunia finally turned to look at Liz. 'Is Vernon safe?' she said anxiously.

'Yes, he is. He's not too happy with the measures we took to ensure his safety, but I'm sure you'll understand it's for the best.' Liz smiled pleasantly, but Petunia didn't return it.

'And I'm supposed to thank you for messing up our lives, I suppose,' she said bitterly.

'Messing up your lives?' said James incredulously. 'Look, I'm not sure if it's occurred to yet, but if we hadn't stepped in, you'd be dead.'

Petunia finally faced him then. 'I didn't ask to be dragged off by your lot and you know it. This war of yours has nothing to do with me or Vernon. Why can't you leave us alone?'

'Alas, Mrs Dursley, war is indiscriminate in choosing its victims.' Dumbledore had joined them. 'No one regrets more than I that innocents such as yourself have been subject to situations which you cannot understand.'

'Save your fancy words,' sniffed Petunia.

'What would you like us to do, Petunia?' said Dumbledore gravely.

Petunia stared at him as though he was crazy. 'Isn't it obvious? I want you to leave Vernon and me alone. We're normal.'

'That is possible, but you will need to accept our help first.'

'What sort of help?' Petunia narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

'Help which you slammed your door at when we first offered,' James couldn't help putting in. Dumbledore held up a hand to silence him.

'Magical protection. We can guard you against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.'

'And none of you will try contact me?'

'As far as is reasonably possible.' Petunia's lips pursed again at this, but after a moment of deep thought, she agreed.

'Very well, then,' said Dumbledore. 'I expect you wish to speak to your sister before you go –'

'No,' said Petunia so emphatically that James was shocked. 'I don't want …' Her voice wobbled a bit and she stopped to catch herself. Then, she said monotonously, 'She's not my sister.'

'Petunia, this has been hard for you, but surely …' began Liz gently.

'I'm sick and tired of being dragged into her business!' interrupted Petunia. 'If she wants to go to hell, that's her lookout; she can bloody well keep me out of it!'

James took a step forward angrily. 'She nearly got herself killed running in to save you –'

Petunia laughed coldly. 'Please. I'm not an idiot. She wasn't willing to do anything. Even when I begged her.' She ran a thin hand over her face. 'I lost my sister years ago. Don't try to tell me otherwise.' Turning to address Dumbledore, she said, 'I want to go to Vernon now.'

Dumbledore stared piercingly at her a few seconds, but Petunia didn't back down. There was something in the determined tilt of her chin that was vaguely familiar to James. Finally, Dumbledore nodded.

'Miss Ollivander, Mr Potter, would one of you be so kind as to escort Mrs Dursley home?'

Petunia immediately moved towards Liz. 'Not you,' she said pointedly to James.

Shrugging apologetically to James, Liz showed Petunia out. 'Have you used Floo Powder before, Petunia?' he heard her ask as they left.

'Lily should be out in a moment, James. Alastor still had some words for her when I left.'

'Oh – OK, Professor. Thank you.' James sat back on one of the hospital wing beds to wait.

No sooner had Dumbledore left did Lily come in, her face tired and downfallen.

'Oh, James,' she said when she saw him. She glanced around the room, searching. 'Where's Pet?'

'She … left …'

'Left? Where did she go?'

James shrugged, not knowing exactly if he ought to tell Lily that her sister had wanted to return home without acknowledging her. It would only hurt her to know it.

'I've got to go find her then, I need to explain.' Lily turned to go, but James caught her arm.

'No, don't. You look dead on your feet; you'd better take a rest.'

'I'm fine, James.' Lily jerked free. 'I need to talk to Pet –'

'Lily, you can't –' He reached for her again.

'What's the matter with you?' said Lily, sounding exasperated. 'I have to find my sister; let me go!'

'She doesn't need you to!'

Lily drew back as though he had struck her. 'You don't understand,' she whispered, shaking her head. 'They tortured her, James. Because they wanted information from me. I have to tell her –'

'You owe her nothing!'

'She's my sister, James! If she needs me, I'll –'

'You'll what? Walk straight into a bloody Death Eater trap and almost get yourself killed?' James felt furious suddenly, remembering just how Lily had got herself abducted. 'What the hell were you thinking, Lily?'

'Save the lecture, Moody's already given it.'

'Well, you obviously need it! Did you even think about how sick we'd be worrying about you?'

'Stop it.'

'You didn't, did you? No – it was all about Petunia, all about you running around frantically to save her single-handedly so you could make it up to her somehow, wasn't it?'

'James, stop.'

He didn't stop; he was gathering steam like the Hogwarts Express, and the words came tumbling out of his mouth without inhibition. 'Why do you even bother, Lily? You've got nothing to answer to her for! She's at fault, not you! She –'

'Enough!'

'– doesn't deserve everything that you keep doing for her!'

'Shut up, James!'

'For Merlin's sake, Lily, she doesn't care about you!'

She slapped him, hard. James reeled backwards, his hand flying to his cheek.

'That's not true,' Lily said. Her voice was trembling slightly.

'Would I lie to you about that, Lily?'

She didn't answer, and James felt even more frustrated. 'Damn it, Lily,' he said roughly. 'While you're busy running circles around her, do you even care about the rest of us who actually love you?'

Lily opened her mouth to answer, but James found that he didn't want to hear any more protests or excuses from her.

'Forget it,' he said, and he swept past her and out of the infirmary.

A/N: This chapter was written some time back over a long, long journey in Germany, while accompanying my coach to ferry boats on trailers up the autobahn. So I suppose I'd better thank the boredom of the long ride for providing inspiration! :)