Chapter 8

Flight

"Come in," Dumbledore called out to his visitor on the other side of the door. "Ah, Severus, thank you for coming."

Severus sat down opposite Dumbledore's desk.

"Why is it you called for me Headmaster?"

"Sirius has informed me of some of his new discoveries, one of them being that a group of Death Eaters have been meeting regularly at a pub in London."

"That is not unusual," Severus said coldly. "Holding meetings in pubs gives them another excuse to get drunk and cause trouble."

"Sirius thinks this would be an ideal opportunity to find out some information; all he has to do it find a decent vantage point where he could overhear any plans."

"So? If that is Black's plan then what do you want me for?"

"I have a plan of my own for you Severus." Dumbledore grinned. "While Sirius only expects to hear what or who the Death Eaters plan to attack next, I hope to get clues on possible horcruxes."

"So you want me to be your spy?"

"How bright you are Severus!"

"What are you thinking of? Polyjuice potion? I hope it works because the Death Eaters will tear me apart if they catch sight of me."

Dumbledore shook his head.

"Polyjuice potion is kids stuff." He opened his desk drawer and stood up, holding something out for Severus to see.

"A blanket?" Severus asked frowning.

"An invisibility cloak." Dumbledore said. "It belonged to James Potter. I had borrowed it from him shortly before he was killed."

"Does Lily know you have it?"

"Yes, she knew I borrowed it. I dare say though that given recent events, it has probably slipped her mind."

"So now you expect me to spy on Death Eaters in a crowded pub while under a blanket?"

Dumbledore said nothing, simply smiled knowingly. Severus sighed, defeated, and took the cloak from him.

An assortment of shady characters sat scattered about the Hanged Man pub in the heart of London's East End. Several gloomy looking men sat alone, staring into pints of beer, while others sat in small groups playing card games or talking loudly.

The door to the pub swung open as a few people entered, then closed again. When it opened again a short time later, there was no one on the other side. The door stood ajar for only a few seconds then closed. Severus, hidden beneath the invisibility cloak, scanned the bar. It was dark and smoke-filled from cheap Muggle cigars.

Severus knew this was the ideal environment for Death Eaters to hang out in. As he looked around the room, Severus heard a voice he recognised – Lucius Malfoy. The well-groomed Malfoy sat at a small table with three other men Severus also recognised as Death Eaters, slurring as spoke. He was obviously making jokes that had his companions laughing loudly. Under the shield of the cloak, Severus edged closer to the group, careful to stay flat against the wall so as not to risk being exposed.

"The Dark Lord believes that the Ministry will be his within the month," Malfoy boasted.

"Ah, Lucius, do you really think we should be talking about him where people can hear?"

Malfoy frowned.

"The Dark Lord trusts me, depends on me; why shouldn't I be proud to let these drunks and losers know with whom they share their company?"

One of the Death Eaters, a heavyset man, rolled his eyes.

"The Master depends on no one, he relies on no one," he said.

"Shut it!" Malfoy snapped. "I have reasons to believe how much the Master trusts me."

All three of the Death Eaters sitting with Malfoy began laughing.

"I doubt it," one of them said. "You're just the same as the rest of us – mules who do his bidding."

"Hardly," Malfoy scoffed. "The Dark Lord has given me something of his, something special to keep safe for him."

"Like what?" a short man with a long thin moustache asked.

"A possession that belonged to him as a boy," Malfoy said. "Obviously something very precious to him."

"If it was so special then why'd he give it to you?" asked the heavy-set man.

"Where do you think the Dark Lord would keep it? He hardly has a mailing address. He chose to leave it with someone he trusted."

"I think you've had a few too many firewhiskies," the moustached man laughed.

"Don't you laugh at me!" Malfoy warned pointing a finger in his face.

"So what is this thing then?" asked a young Death Eater with blonde hair, asked. "Some sort of weapon?"

"Maybe a family memento?" the fat Death Eater asked.

Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"It is a book," he said. "Just a book."

"Wow," said the young man, suddenly impressed. "It could be a book where he writes all his most powerful spells!"

"Just imagine what we could do with a book like that," the heavy Death Eater said rubbing his hands together. "Let us see it Malfoy."

"Not a chance! Do you think I would be so foolish as to betray the Master by letting a bunch of buffoons like you ogle his prized possession? The book is locked away safe at my home."

Several feet away, at the entrance to the pub, no one noticed the door opening and closing by itself.

Dumbledore, Severus and Lily sat in the Headmasters office by the fireplace. As soon as Severus had returned from the Hanged Man, he had rushed to tell Dumbledore what he had overheard. Dumbledore, in turn, had summoned Lily and filled her in.

"It could very well be a spell book," Lily said. "It could contain the darkest of dark magic, things you couldn't find anywhere else."

"Like how to create a horcrux," Severus added.

Dumbledore shook his head.

"I doubt it is a spell book. Remember that Malfoy did say that it had been Voldemort's as a boy."

"Do you think it could be a horcrux itself?" Severus asked.

"It may well be, considering it was left to be guarded by Lucius Malfoy."

"Lucky for us then that Malfoy is as boastful as he is," Lily smiled.

"Even if it turns out not to be a horcrux, I would very much like to get my hands on it," said Dumbledore. "The question is where would Malfoy keep such an item?"

"Malfoy has every reason to expect his manor is safe enough to keep it there; it is practically impossible for anyone to get into that house uninvited," Severus informed them.

"But where in the manor?" Dumbledore asked.

"Malfoy usually keeps all of his own important documents and possessions in his office," Severus said. "Either in there or his library; he never lets anyone into either rooms."

Dumbledore clasped his hands together happily.

"Well then, that gives us somewhere to start."

"You're forgetting something," Lily said. "Just how do you plan for us to get into Malfoy's house?"

"He always hosts an extravagant Christmas party at the manor each year," Severus said. "He believes it is a good opportunity to try and impress the cream of the Wizarding community."

"That Malfoy is a disgusting cad," Lily complained. "The way he plays gentleman by day and Death Eater by night. I hate that he gets away with it!"

"All in good time," Dumbledore mused. "In the meantime our first priority is to find Voldemort's book. Using the Christmas party as a cover is just the break we could use."

"So who goes then?" asked Lily.

"Something tells me you'll be making us go."

Dumbledore smiled.

"I suggest you find yourself a dress my dear."

On Christmas night, Severus stood at the foot of the Grand Staircase tapping his foot impatiently. He was dressed in long black dress robes of silk and wrapped in a thick black cape that reached the ground. He held his simple green and silver masquerade mask in his hand as he watched Lily emerge from the dungeon in a low-cut gown. Her long red hair hung loose around her shoulders, the green gown bringing out the colour of her eyes. A mask covered half her face; a delicate white porcelain with gold and red feathers.

At the first sight of her, Severus held his breath. Lily stopped in front of him, waving her hand in Severus' face to get his attention.

"Wake up Professor," she said. "This is a mission, not a date."

Severus shook his head.

"Sorry, I was just… thinking. Thinking about… about the book."
They walked to the entrance and Severus held open the door for Lily. She stepped out, knowing that Severus would be looking at her tight backless dress; she grinned at the thought.

* * *

When they arrived at Malfoy Manor, Severus and Lily easily walked through the front doors unnoticed. Inside the main hall were dozens of people, all dressed in elegant robes and wearing masks. Groups of people were standing together, laughing and talking, and helping themselves to drinks from servants who weaved in and out between the guests.

Several guests greeted Severus and Lily with curt nods and smiles as they ventured deeper into the hall. Severus drew Lily's attention to Lucius Malfoy who stood at the centre of the large room. The only person not in a mask, Malfoy was talking loudly to a small group of enthralled guests, gesturing grandly with his hands as he spoke.

Severus led Lily to a long white marble staircase. They looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching, started upstairs. As soon as they reached the top, they ducked quickly out of sight behind a life-size marble statue of Lucius Malfoy.

"We should start in the library," Severus whispered.

"Wait!" Lily called, holding onto his robes.

As they watched, a tall man Severus recognised as a Death Eater came up the stairs. He scanned the hallway then headed down the hall past the statue where they were hiding.

"He must have seen us come up," Lily said. "We have to hurry."

"The library is the other way; if we go quickly he will not see us."

Severus slid out from behind the marble and moved down the hall, Lily close behind. He stopped at a thick wooden door and pushed it open; inside all four walls were lined ceiling to floor with shelves full of books. To one side sat a small fireplace with several chairs positioned around it. No sooner had they entered the library when the door flew open behind them and the tall Death Eater charged in.

"Whattya doin' in 'ere?"

Severus threw himself onto Lily and pulled her into a tight embrace. He leaned in and pressed his lips firmly to hers.

"Oh," the Death Eater mumbled. "I'll leave you to it."

He left the library and pulled the door shut behind him.

When Severus let go of Lily, she slapped him hard across the face.

"Would you have preferred to explain to him what we were really doing in here?" Severus complained rubbing his red cheek.

Lily pointed a finger at him.

"Don't you ever touch me again," she warned.

"I did not do it for the pleasure of it!"

"I've already made my feelings for you perfectly clear Professor, and that kiss was totally uncalled for."

"Just how much worse do you want me to feel?" Severus said through clenched teeth. "As remorseful as I am now I cannot change the past. Do you think that your continued hatred for me will bring your family back?"

Severus started out of the room, leaving Lily alone. She stomped her foot against the floor in frustration and ran out after him. She followed Severus into what looked like an office. In the centre sat a large desk made of a thick, dark wood. Various ornaments lined even more bookshelves and an empty fireplace sat off to one side. Severus pulled off his mask and began rifling through the desk drawers. Lily took off her own mask and started reading the titles of the books on the shelves.

"We don't even know the name of this book of Voldemort's," Lily complained. "How are we supposed to find which one would be his?"

Some of the books were so old and worn that Lily could not even make out the title on the spines. In frustration she began pulling random books out to see them better. When she pulled one book free from the shelf, she heard a faint click that was followed by a scraping noise as a section of the bookshelf slowly slid aside to reveal a deep crevasse.

Severus looked up in surprise; he left the desk and moved to the bookshelf as Lily reached into the crevasse and pulled out a small, thin book. Something was printed on the front cover of the tattered black book – diary.

"You did it!" Severus exclaimed.

Lily ran her finger over the golden lettering on the cover then opened it and began flicking through the pages.

"There's nothing written in here," she said frowning. "It's all blank. Why would Malfoy be hiding a blank diary?"

Severus took it from her and looked it over; inside the front cover was a carefully handwritten name – T. M. Riddle.

"Riddle," Lily said reading over his shoulder. "This has to be it!"

Suddenly the door behind them burst open and Malfoy stood in the doorway. His eyes first went to Severus and then at the diary in his hands; fury burned his face.

"Avada Kedavra!" Malfoy yelled, his wand in hand.

Severus pushed Lily aside and dove out of the way as Malfoy's curse hit the bookshelf behind them.

"Bombarda."

It was Severus' turn to fire a curse back but Malfoy weaved out of the way.

"Bombarda," Severus yelled again. "Lily, get to the window!"

Lily, clutching the diary tightly, ran to the window, ducking to narrowly avoid another of Malfoy's blasts.

Severus cast a protection spell and Malfoy cursed loudly from the other side of the room.

"You're dead traitor!" he called.

Severus ran to the window and pulled Lily to him, holding her tightly to his chest as he pushed backwards against the glass. Broken glass showered down on them and Lily's screams pierced Severus' ears as they began falling. As they fell, Severus pointed his wand towards the ground that was quickly rising to meet them.

"Levicorpus!"

Instantly they froze in mid-air, hovering merely inches from the ground. Severus let Lily go and they both dropped lightly to their feet. As they ran off across the grounds, Malfoy's curses could be heard from the manor.

* * *

As they approached the front steps of Hogwarts, Severus and Lily took their time. They walked slowly through the large double doors into the Entrance Hall and Severus bid goodnight as he started up the staircase.

"Professor… Severus…"

He turned.

"Thank you for getting us out of there."

Severus pursed his lips together tightly and gave her a curt nod. Lily held out her had to give him the diary.

"Do you want to take it to Dumbledore?" she asked.

"No, you hold it. After all, you found it. We can see Dumbledore tomorrow."

Severus turned once more and trudged wearily up the stairs.

"Severus," Lily said again. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Lily."

As soon as she was back in her quarters, Lily sat on the end of her bed and begun to flick through the empty diary. She wondered again how it could be a horcrux. She stopped at a random page and watched in shock as writing suddenly began to appear as if penned by an invisible hand.

Hello.

As Lily stared at the word, she sensed something she couldn't describe, couldn't quite understand, coming from the diary. It felt as though some strange energy was leaving the book, crawling up through her fingertips, her hands, her arms, until she felt completely immersed in it.

With the energy from the book filling every cell of her body, Lily was unable to define what thoughts were her own and what belonged to the diary. She felt overwhelming anger and hatred radiating throughout her body but didn't know if those feelings were her own or not.

New words began to form on the pages of the diary.

Kill him.

He deserves it.

His death will set you free.

Do it now!

Do it!

Lily's eyes glazed over. She stood up, the diary in one hand, her wand in the other, and left the room. She walked, trance-like, out of her quarters in the dungeon and made her way into the Entrance Hall and up the stairs.

* * *

The knock on Severus' door startled him. As he started to the door, ready to open it, it flew open. Lily stood on the other side. She stared straight ahead, right through Severus; her face void of any emotion.

"Kill him…" Lily said in a voice that was not her own. "Avada Kadava!"

Severus lunged across the room and out of the way just in time, pulling his wand from his pocket and casting a spell as he fell. His spell instantly bound Lily tightly in ropes, the diary falling from her hands to the floor. Severus pointed his wand at the book and a spark flew from his wand, the diary bursting into flames. The instant the book was alight Lily started blinking, shook her head and looked around her in horror. The flames on the diary soon died down, leaving no trace of any damage.

"I-I don't know what came over me," Lily spluttered. "The diary… it-it… I could feel it inside me."

Severus waved his hand and the ropes binding Lily fell to the floor.

"I think it wise to take the diary to Professor Dumbledore now," Severus said coldly.

In the Headmaster's office, Lily sat on her usual chair facing Dumbledore's desk. On the desk sat the diary; Dumbledore and Lily watching it carefully as if expecting it to suddenly jump up and do something.

Severus stood by the window, looking out across the dark grounds.

"So you say the book made you try to kill Severus?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled.

"I don't say it Albus, that's what happened!"

"And these words that appeared, it looks like they have now vanished."

"They weren't just written," Lily said, tears forming in her eyes. "I could hear a voice in my head. I felt its hatred consume me."

Dumbledore shook his head slowly.

"There is no doubt this book is a horcrux," he said. "The amount of power contained within… I wonder if for a brief time you could have been somehow possessed by the part of Voldemort's soul in the diary."

Involuntary shivers travelled through Lily's body.

"The thought of Voldemort's soul… inside me… I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep again."

Lily cast a glance over to Severus who still hadn't moved from his place by the window. She stood and stepped over to him and tentatively placed a hand on his arm.

Severus' first instinct was to shrug her off, but he hesitated a fraction too long and the moment passed.

"I can't believe I let this happen… I actually cast an Unforgivable curse at you," Lily said.

"And luckily for us all Severus was fast enough to avoid it," Dumbledore added.

Severus remained staring out the window, his jaw clenched tight.

"When I held the diary I think it somehow grabbed onto my own feelings of anger; but I let it get inside my head, let Voldemort violate me and I'm ashamed of that. I realise I've been so wrapped up in my own anger, depression even, and how detrimental that has been."

Lily gripped Severus' arm tighter.

"Please give us the chance to start again," she continued.

Dumbledore looked each of them, smiling kindly. Severus' reflection in the window softened and he lowered his head. He turned around slowly to face Lily and gave her a thin-lipped smile. Lily sighed and returned his smile.

"Well then," Dumbledore said standing up. "We have some work to do."

Behind his desk, secure in a glass cabinet, sat Gryffindor's golden sword. Dumbledore reached to pull it down; he tilted its tip to the diary and slammed through it.

Horrible pained shrieks echoed from the book; a human voice screaming loudly. Lily's grip on Severus tightened and he placed one of his own hands on the top of hers reassuringly.

When the noise from the diary had finally died down, Dumbledore, Severus and Lily looked at the sword. It stood upright, projected out of the diary like a mast.

Dumbledore put his hands on his hips.

"Perhaps I struck it a little harder than necessary," he said and winked at them.

He placed his hands on the sword and tried to pull it back out; it didn't budge. Dumbledore cleared his throat and tried again; this time the sword slipped out easily. The diary remained on the desk, a gaping hole in its centre.