Disclaimer: JKR owns everything and I don't.

Chapter 2

"Avada Kedavra!" Alexander watched with grim satisfaction as the dirty muggle fell unceremoniously to the ground. He sighed and pushed the strands of his dark, curly hair out of his eyes.

"Time to go?" Cassius Warrington asked as he joined Alexander in the alley behind the muggle hospital they had just attacked.

"Round-up everybody…I'll cast the mark. We'll meet back at headquarters," he answered curtly. Cassius nodded and turned to gather the other Death Eaters. Montague threw his wand up and murmured, "Morsmordre." The Dark Lord's mark roared to life over the Hospital, shining eerily in the night sky. Sighing again, Montague touched his Mark and apparated back to the castle.

After meeting quickly with Lord Voldemort, Montague returned to his home to relax. The large Edwardian manor was empty, save a few houselfs. His parents had relocated to France, as his father was in charge of fighting insurrection abroad. Making his way to the library, Alexander slipped off his outer robes and mask and dropped them on the floor. Pouring himself a liberal serving of firewhiskey he recollected over the past few months.

Ever since he had walked out of Ismene's cell, he had thrown himself full force into his work. Tonight had been the 23rd raid he had led in the past 40 days. He was rising rapidly through Voldemort's ranks, due to his diligence and extreme dedication, but Alexander didn't care. He just wanted to stay busy, for when he was idle, all he could think about was her.

Alexander sat in his favorite armchair by the fire and leaned his head against one of his hands. Gods, he missed her. She haunted him day and night. He had tried so hard to hate her, to put her from his mind for good, but it was to no avail. Ismene was always there, and he found himself often lapsing into a meditative silence, imagining her and remembering all of the time they had spent in each other's company…all but the last time. Alexander groaned inwardly. Her words had hurt more than undergoing a thousand Crucios. He had actually felt tears well up in his eyes! So disgusted with his weakling behavior, he had forced himself to undergo a rigorous and relentless training program, reserved for only the most qualified Death Eaters. It had almost killed him, but he pulled through and finished. The only thing he did not succeed in was eradicating her from his mind.

The flames in the fireplace crackled loudly and took on a greenish hue. Alexander looked up to see Adrian Pucey's clean shaven face looking out at him. "Mind if I come through?" he asked.

Alexander shrugged and within seconds, Pucey stepped out from the marble fireplace and dusted himself off. Helping himself to some Ogden's, he chatted easily. "I heard tonight was a success."

"Yeah, it went fine."

"Well, aren't you going to tell me about it?" he drawled.

"Listen Adrian, I'm not really in the mood for chit chat."

Adrian Pucey looked long and hard at his friend. He had known Montague since they were both in short pants, constantly trying to get their little hands on their fathers' wands. Over the years they had formed a close friendship, but recently something had changed. Over the past few months, Montague had been slowly distancing himself from everyone. Adrian had never seen him this troubled before. That's why he knew he had to tell Montague the news.

"Their going to kill Ismene," he said simply.

Alexander's head snapped up and he gazed unflinchingly at Adrian. "What? Who?" he sputtered.

"In a couple days." Alexander was still staring at him incredulously, so he continued. "I got the orders this morning. The dungeons are going to be cleaned out in a few days. All muggles are to be killed. Mudbloods and other inhabitants that are still alive are to be brought to the Dark Court for auction." Adrian turned his eyes from the fire to the face of his pale friend. "You know one of them is bound to recognize her. You said yourself she was the spitting image of her mother's picture."

Alexander nodded slowly, the news cutting deep into his heart like a freshly sharpened blade. "Bellatrix will want her revenge," he added quietly.

"Yes. She'll take her grudge against Cassandra out on Ismene."

"And Ismene will die."

"Yes." Adrian watched with interest as Alexander turned his focus back to the dancing flames of the fireplace. The silence in the room remained unbroken except for the quiet crackling of the fire.

"I have to get her out of there."

"Are you sure you are prepared to do that? It's a huge risk you would be taking."

"I can't stop thinking about her, Adrian. She plagues my every waking thought and every dream at night. I've tried to leave her behind, but I can't. I need her. I love her."

"Then we better hurry up and get scheming," Adrian said as he clapped his friend on the back and got up to help himself to more firewhiskey.

"Scheming?"

"You don't think I was going to let you pull this off alone?" Adrian chuckled. For a brief moment, Alexander grinned and Adrian saw a bit of the man that had disappeared.

Ismene coughed hard and pain ripped through her dislocated shoulder. Tears dripped down her face slowly mixing with the pool of snot and blood. She tried to push herself upright on the mattress, but her strength was gone and she collapsed, utterly exhausted. Slowly, her eyes closed and she prayed for death.