Author's note: I'm in a terrible hurry, so I don't have time to answer all the reviews personally. Very sorry, I'll make it up to you next time, but have to leave in 5 minutes and I wanted to post this before I leave. DollFace080, SexeiAlexeiGurl, Katy, Darklady5289, Messr-Paddifoots-love,hpandfriendsruletheworld, Wendela400 and MsPadfootVerona, wonderful reviews as usual! You always make me smile and keep me going :) Hope you like the next chapter!

p.s. Am I sensing a little anger towards Sirius here and there...?


Battle

Well, at least Lily doesn't have to worry about me losing weight anymore, I thought, patting my stomach. All the food at the Christmas parties had taken care of that. Speaking of Christmas parties…

Annabelle Dangerley.

I was surprised at my own Occlumency skills at Gideon and Fabian's party. I had not tortured or killed anybody in rage. A sarcastic little voice told me I should be proud of myself. Nobody had noticed that single comment from Peter had hit me with incredible force. And now, while being protected by Occlumency, it didn't even hurt. Everything was hidden under a thick blanket.

I stretched lazily on my couch and put my book on the floor. Though using Occlumency permanently had many advantages, it seemed that I had lost my love for reading. I couldn't sympathise with the characters or envision the settings anymore. I sure was glad to have a night alone. The New Year's reception at the Lestranges' had been two days ago, the last in a long parade of parties and dinners.

Since my initiation I had been summoned twice. The Mark would burn black when the Dark Lord wanted his Death Eaters with him. There had been talk of attacking members of the Wizengamot during these meetings.

The Dark Lord's plans to rule the wizarding world had thus moved to a different level. Up to now only Muggles and Muggleborns had been attacked. Now Voldemort had decided it was time to take out those who opposed him no matter what bloodline they were from. The Dark Lord's fierce hatred of Dumbledore had brought him to the decision to attack members of the Wizengamot, as Dumbledore was a respectable member of the organisation and had many friends there.

I had warned Dumbledore about the pending decision on who would be attacked. He had ensured me the Ministry had taken extra caution to protect the Wizengamot. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, would do everything he could.

The Wizengamot consisted of fifty witches and wizards, often elderly and always highly respected in the wizarding world. Though not as powerful as the Law Council, the Wizengamot still had a lot of influence and prestige. An attack on the members would come as a huge shock to wizarding society.

I got up from my couch to make myself a drink. I had just put the kettle on the stove when I felt an uncomfortable tingle in my arm. I sighed and waited for the Mark to burn black, gritting my teeth against the pain. I drew my wand and pointed it to my bedroom. "Accio cloak! Accio mask!" After I had turned myself into a Death Eater I Disapparated to the graveyard and took my place in the circle.

"My Death Eaters," the Dark Lord greeted us. We sank to our knees, bowing our heads. Voldemort waited until we had all kissed his robes. "Lothair and Griselda Marchbanks."

I recognized the names. An elderly couple, both in the Wizengamot. Lothair was a pure-blood, but known for his averse against Voldemort. His wife, Griselda, was a half-blood.

"Mulciber?" the Dark Lord said.

A Death Eater stepped forward. I fixed the name in my memory. Mulciber's deep voice spoke, "I placed their gardener under the Imperius Curse and forced him to tell me details about the house. Their bedroom is on the second floor, first door on the right. They always go to bed at nine thirty. Lothair has placed magical alarms around the house, though nothing uncommon."

"You've done well, Mulciber. You may go," the Dark Lord hissed.

Mulciber bowed deeply and Disapparated. I looked around the circle where everyone had their own place. Only eight others were present. It was the usual group I was with. Lucius, Evan, Rowan, Severus, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Patrick McDougall – a school friend of my brother's – and my twenty-three years old cousin Naoise Carden. I had found out he was a Death Eater too only a few days ago, though I had to admit it did not surprise me. Naoise was almost a reincarnation of my dark ancestors.

"You will carry out my orders. The Marchbankses die tonight. Lucius, you're in charge. Don't disappoint me." Voldemort's voice held a deadly threat.

"Never, master," Lucius said.

"Go."

One by one the Death Eaters Disapparated, after bowing to their master. So did I. I Apparated to my apartment, quickly sent a message to Dumbledore through my Patronus, and Apparated to the Marchbanks' house.

Dumbledore would alert Crouch and the Aurors, who no doubt were already standing by.

The group of Death Eaters moved closer to the house, after Naoise had opened the gate with a flick of his wand. No magical alarms were set off, but just because we couldn't hear them, didn't mean they weren't there. With caution we walked to the front of the door.

Lucius beckoned me and Rowan to do a search for alarms around the door, while two others examined the windows. Attacking wizards was an entirely different matter from attacking Muggles. Rowan and I found two alarms and disabled them with a simple Confundus Charm. It was obvious wizards did not expect to be attacked.

Lucius went through the front door first. The stairs were on the right and he motioned us to get inside. "Rabastan, Severus, guard the door," Lucius hissed. "Naoise, kill the gardener. The rest of you go upstairs with me."

The cracking sounds of Apparating wizards filled the otherwise silent hall. Nine Aurors had materialised around us. "Drop your wands!" a female voice demanded harshly.

It was Dorcas Meadowes. I stared incredulously at the witch. Only she would give Death Eaters a chance to surrender. Not that any of them would take it. They had started casting spells and curses the moment she opened her mouth. I quickly regained my wits when I had to duck from a Stunning Spell from an Auror. I returned the favour and was rewarded with a loud thump when the Auror dropped to the floor.

"Get upstairs!" Lucius shouted. "Kill them."

Conjuring up a shield I made a run for the stairs, followed by Bellatrix and Evan.

"GET THEM!" an Auror roared.

I sped up and was about to jump on the stairs when I flew forward and hit my forehead on a step. "DAMN IT!" I shouted, feeling blood trickle down my face under the mask. A simple Trip Jinx. Shields didn't protect you from that.

Evan yanked me to my feet just before an Impedimenta Jinx hit me. Instead it chipped a piece of wood from the stairs. We ran upstairs.

Bellatrix blasted the bedroom door to smithereens and dashed inside, only to be blasted back outside by a Stunning Spell. Four more Aurors waited for us in the bedroom with Lothair Marchbanks. There was no sign of Griselda. She was safe, but it seemed Lothair had refused to leave.

"Inverto!" I yelled when an Auror aimed a bright blue flash at me. It bounced back and hit the Auror in the chest. He sank to the ground in an unconscious heap of clothes and limbs.

"Back away," Evan growled. I walked backwards out of the room, keeping the shield in front of me. Evan moved behind my shield and pointed his wand at Bellatrix. "Enervate!"

Bellatrix's eyes fluttered open and she scrambled to her feet. The Aurors and Marchbanks moved in on us, looking for a way around the shield.

"We have to get back downstairs, tell the others and get out. Too many Aurors to get to Lothair and Griselda is already gone," I hissed at my cousin by marriage.

"Not before I take down at least one Auror," she growled back, her eyes glinting maniacally behind the mask.

The sounds of the battle downstairs grew louder and multicoloured flashes reached our eyes. The Aurors' eyes were fixed on us in concentration.

Bellatrix chuckled. "What's the matter? Can't get around a simple shield?" Suddenly she pushed me aside and made a slashing move with her wand. Blood red light flew from the tip and hit the Auror who was in front. Choking and coughing he fell to the ground. He did not get up.

Bellatrix's shove had made me drop my shield and the other Aurors tried to Stun us immediately. I ducked and ran down the stairs.

I recognized Naoise and Rowan, being the tallest of the Death Eaters. They were duelling three Aurors, covering each other's back. The spells they fired and evaded followed each other so quickly they were surrounded by a blur of light.

Severus and Rabastan were still at the door, keeping the entrance free from the advancing Aurors. "Watch out, they're using Anti-Apparition Spells!" Severus yelled at me. I nodded my thanks and blasted an Auror off his feet. The idiot had turned his back on me.

The attack turned into chaos. Lucius was intent on taking out as much Aurors as he could as well as try to get to Lothair before telling the Dark Lord he had failed to kill at least one Marchbanks. His punishment would not be light. Soon it was impossible to see who fired spells at who. They were coming from all sides. An Auror lay on his back, eyes closed and blood slowly dripping from his mouth. I could not see if he was dead. I had lost sight of Dorcas as well.

I screamed in shock when pain erupted from my shoulder. Some sort of curse had burned my robes and skin, leaving a raw and bloody mess. I could not hold back a whimper when I looked at the horrible wound, swaying as the pain flooded me.

"On your feet," a Death Eater hissed and grabbed my good arm. I had not even noticed I had fallen to my knees. "Can you fight?" Naoise asked.

"Yes. It's not my wand arm." But Merlin, the pain was killing me. Naoise grumbled and muttered a spell to numb the pain. "Thanks."

Naoise had already disappeared into the battle, which he revelled in. I leaned against the wall for a moment and spotted Dorcas that second. She sent a golden string of light at her opponent that wrapped itself around him. The Death Eater roared in protest and broke free. He knocked her off her feet with a nasty Crush Curse, which could break a full-grown man's ribs and spine when properly aimed.

Fortunately for Dorcas the Dark Curse only grazed her, because the Death Eater had to defend himself from another Auror. Nevertheless, she cried out in pain and staggered backwards. The Death Eater was Stupefied. The Auror turned to Dorcas, yelling furiously at her. "Do it! Give the order. Crouch has given you permission."

"No!" Dorcas snapped.

"They've already killed Jones. Don't make me overrule you in this, Cassie."

"It'll make us the same as them!" Dorcas growled.

Before I had time to decipher what that was about a curse hit the wall next to my head. I jumped aside, shielding myself from any following curses.

"REDUCTO!" the attacking Auror roared and my shield broke apart in tiny pieces.

"Fervefacio!" I immediately shouted. The blonde Auror screamed when his body began to heat up. The Curse was not lethal, but incredibly painful to endure.

"Finite incantatem!" another Auror roared and she immediately sent a Stunning Spell at me. My Invertio Charm bounced the spell back, but she evaded it.

"Crucio!" Evan roared to my right. A third Auror fell writhing to floor, screaming in agony. "Watch your back!" Evan shouted at me.

I jerked my head back to the Auror I was fighting. "Incretio!" Black smoke coiled around her arm when it began to shrivel up. In shock and disgust she dropped her wand. Foolish woman. "Stupefy!" I roared, but Evan was quicker. A bright green flash hit the female Auror and she fell to the ground, instantly dead.

"Come on, we're leaving! Lucius killed Lothair." Evan shouted. "We have to get out of the house. They've put Anti-Apparition protection on it." Defending ourselves from the outraged Aurors we slowly began to retreat to the front door, still guarded by Severus and Rabastan.

Rowan appeared on my other side. "You all right?" he asked, looking at my shoulder. I nodded. "Just hold on a little longer. We'll get them next time," Rowan growled.

I didn't answer. My eyes fell on the Auror that had been shouting at Dorcas earlier. His face was contorted in hatred when he pointed his wand at my brother. I saw him move his lips. The moment I recognized the Curse I screamed. "Rowan, duck!"

Rowan looked away from the Auror he'd been jinxing. His eyes widened when he noticed the incoming curse. He flew backwards, hit square in the chest by all too familiar green light. I cried out in shock and dropped to my knees, looking in vain for a pulse.

It refused to sink in that the Auror had used Avada Kedavra on my brother. My hands searched frantically for a sign of life. Rowan couldn't be dead, he was my brother. I trembled uncontrollably and pain, hatred, and nausea suddenly washed over me. The Occlumency walls were down.

God, it hurts… I groaned in pain, still trying to find a pulse that I knew wasn't there. I doubled over in agony. "Please, Rowan," I choked. "Please." My brother didn't move.

My head shot up to look for the Auror. Something snapped when I saw his triumphant face. Hissing furiously, I grabbed my wand and scrambled to my feet.

"Leave it. He's dead," Evan said, trying to hold me back. I shook him off and giving a loud cry of rage I stormed at the Auror.


Headquarters

Sirius yawned widely. He would never get used to early morning meetings. There were a few other members, looking as awake as he was. Except Remus of course, who was a morning person and annoyingly cheerful in the morning. The meeting was supposed to start at seven, but at twenty past seven Dumbledore still had not begun, looking increasingly worried.

"What's going on, Albus?" Corbin Morton asked concerned.

"Niamh was summoned last night. She managed to send me a message that the Marchbankses would be attacked that night. I passed the information to Dorcas, who was on duty with her Aurors. Niamh was supposed to come in to report today, but I have not heard a word from her. Nor from Dorcas."

Sirius's stomach turned into a tight knot. If something had happened to her… He felt immensely guilty.

Not that she would care that he felt guilty. Merlin, if only she was all right so that she could not care. He couldn't blame her after Annabelle Dangerley. It had taken him only five minutes to realise it was Niamh he was seeing in front of him, not Annabelle. Niamh he wanted in his arms. Niamh who sat next to him and smiled at him and talked to him. Red-haired, blue-eyed, tiny, curvy, stubborn Niamh.

Why the hell he didn't deny Peter's statement immediately he didn't know. Possibly because he wanted to hurt her, after looking at her impassive face. He rested his head in his hands, trying to calm himself. There was no need to overreact. She could have just overslept.

That moment Frank Longbottom burst in. "Albus, Dorcas is in St Mungo's. Unconscious as of yet. There was an attack on members of the Wizengamot last night. Four Aurors are dead. And three Death Eaters. Lothair Marchbanks is dead too. Nothing more is known yet. It's chaos at the Ministry."

"Four Aurors!" Lily gasped. "Have we heard from Gideon and Fabian yet?" she continued with a panicked edge to her voice. The Prewett twins were both Aurors.

James placed a soothing arm around her shoulders. Sirius looked at her. "Gideon was at Dangerley last night. Yesterday was Fabian's only night off. He couldn't have been at the raid."

Lily sighed in relief, but began worrying again. "What's keeping Niamh so long?"

Sirius put his head in his hands again, beginning to feel desperate. Three Death Eaters dead. And not a word from Niamh. She was never late. Grumpy, muttering about ridiculously early meetings, and looking sleepy, yes, but she was always on time. His heart pounded loudly in his chest in fear.

He jumped from his chair when the door opened. Mundungus Fletcher stared in surprise at the anxious people in the room. "G'mornin' to you too."

"Merlin's beard, Dung," Remus sighed, plummeting in his chair again.

"Wha's goin' on?" Mundungus asked suspiciously. "I reckon this go' somefing to do with las' nigh', don' it? Word on the stree' is tha' there's been a massive figh'."

"What do you know?" Dumbledore asked.

"Nothin' much. I ain't no Rita Skeeter. I jus' know tha' lots of wizards go' killed," Mundungus shrugged.

A soft moan left Lily's mouth and she gripped James' hand tightly. James was only in his first year of Auror training and could not be send on missions yet, but the thought that it could have been James terrified her.

"Rita Skeeter," Remus breathed. "Has anyone read the Daily Prophet yet?" Everyone shook their heads.

Dumbledore stood. "I will go to the Ministry to see what I can find out." He disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"I'll get a paper," Caradoc said and bolted out of the house so he could Apparate to his home. Two minutes later he was back. He dashed over to the table and smoothened the paper.

Sirius got up and stood beside him, the feeling of dread swimming in his chest. There it was. Front page.

DEATH EATER ATTACK ON WIZENGAMOT

Last night a large group of Death Eaters attacked Lothair and Griselda Marchbanks, both respectable members of the Wizengamot. Aurors were there in time to help Griselda escape, but Lothair stayed to fight the servants of You-Know-Who and was hit by the killing curse while defending his house.
In the fight that ensued four Aurors were killed in action. To this point it is not clear who they are. Several other Aurors have been taken to St Mungo's, but an anonymous Healer from the hospital tells that they are recovering quickly.
The Aurors fought bravely and have taken out three Death Eaters. They were killed in the fight by killing curses. This information indicates that Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, has made the important decision to fight Death Eaters with their own weapons. "We need to do everything we can to protect wizards and witches," was his response when asked. Unfortunately the identity of the Death Eaters is not yet known, but a reliable source has informed us that at least two members of the influential Carden family are involved. The third Death Eater remains unidentified, but…

"Two members of the Carden family…" Caradoc whispered. "That can only mean…"

An anguished groan came from Sirius and he tore his eyes from the paper. "She's not dead," he said, walking backwards from the paper.

"Sirius…" James began.

Sirius backed away from him and looked at Remus, who was staring wide-eyed at the paper as if he could not believe what he was reading. Lily clasped her hand in front of her mouth to stop her sobs and turned away from the paper.

"I'm sorry, Padfoot," James said softly, enveloping Lily in his arms.

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!" he screamed.

Lily's sobs grew louder. Sirius raked his hands through his hair in panic, not knowing what to do. He felt his insides squirming in dread and terror. His eyes flew from James to Lily to Peter and finally to Remus. They all seemed to be in shock.

"We have to wait for Dumbledore. We don't even know if it's true," Remus said seemingly calmly, but the way he leaned on the table for support gave him away.

Sirius stared disbelievingly at his best friend. Wait? How the hell was he supposed to wait? Without a word he turned around and ran out of the door.

Sirius, wait!" James shouted. "Where is he going?" he asked, turning his head to look at Remus and Peter.

Remus was silent for a moment. "Her flat. He's going to her place. Come on," he then said. The three Marauders stormed out of Headquarters.

Sirius had Apparated to Niamh's apartment and was now running up the stairs to the fourth floor, taking three steps at once.

He pounded on her door. "NIAMH!" he bellowed. "NIAMH! OPEN THE DOOR!" There was no answer. "NIAMH! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"She's not here, Padfoot," Remus said softly, his throat tightening at the sight of his distraught friend.

Sirius leaned his head against the door. "She's not dead. She can't be dead," he repeated to himself. "This is not happening. She just can't be dead." He took a step back and looked at his friends, who stood helplessly by his side.

Remus's heart cringed when he saw the despair written clearly over Sirius's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Sirius clenched his jaw. "No!" he said decidedly and resumed his pounding on the door. "NIAMH! OPEN THE GODDAMNED DOOR NOW!"

Still no answer. With a snarl Sirius drew a knife from his pocket and began picking the lock.

"Don't you think she'll have protected her door against that?" Peter asked hesitantly.

"This knife works against all the common locking charms," Sirius growled and indeed, a minute later the door sprang open. Sirius burst inside. "NIAMH! Are you in here?"

Panic now taking over him, he searched her living room. Merlin, he could smell her. Being an Animagus had given him a keen canine-like smell. Her scent was faint; there was no one here. He dashed into the kitchen, which was also empty.

The others had followed him inside, waiting for their friend to come to his senses. He brushed past them back to the hall to look for the bedroom.

"NIAMH! Where are you? Are you in…Oh Christ!"

James, Remus, and Peter exchanged shocked looks and ran to the bedroom. Sirius stood in the middle of the room, swaying on his feet. Niamh sat on the floor, huddled against her bed and knees tucked under her chin. A black cloak lay next to her. Her shirt was torn and singed, revealing a ghastly burn on her arm and shoulder. She had several cuts on her face and her eyes were red and puffy.

Remus thought his friend was going to collapse right then and there. Sirius staggered over to her and dropped to his knees, extending a trembling hand to touch her. "You're alive," he breathed. Niamh didn't respond.

When his fingers brushed her cheek, she slowly turned her head to look at him. "Sirius?" she croaked.

"I'm sorry," Sirius choked. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'm a bastard and an idiot. I thought you were dead."

Niamh's lip trembled. "He's dead. Rowan is dead. They killed him with the Unforgivable."

Sirius's hand cupped her cheek. He wiped her tears away with his thumb. "I'm sorry. I thought you were dead too. The paper said two Cardens…"

Niamh shook her head. "Naoise, my cousin. They got him too. And Patrick McDougall. They used Avada Kedavra, Sirius. Aurors used Unforgivables."

"I know. Crouch gave them permission."

"And I…" Niamh closed her eyes in horror, tears leaking from her lashes. "I was so angry. I don't know what happened. I hated them. They killed my brother. I hated them so much it hurt. And I just wanted to kill them." Niamh's voice hitched when she opened her eyes. "I killed an Auror, Sirius."

Sirius's heart sank to his shoes.

"I don't know what to do," Niamh moaned desperately. She pulled her knees even closer to her in an attempt to hide.

"Shh," Sirius soothed. "You didn't kill him. Righteous anger can't make you do an Unforgivable."

"It wasn't righteous anger," she said. "It was hate. Pure hate. I meant to hurt him and kill him. And I did." She moaned again. "It's taking me over, Sirius. They're turning me into a real Death Eater." She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned her forehead on her knees.

"No," Sirius denied, his voice breaking. "No, they're not. They can't. This is not your fault."

Niamh looked up. Her eyes were wide with fear. "Help me," she pleaded. "Please help me."

Sirius grabbed her good arm and pulled her close to his body in a tight embrace. She clung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck, sobbing hysterically.

"I'm sorry, Niamh," he said softly. She didn't answer, but crawled in his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist, her body shaking with sobs. Sirius moved one of his hands up to weave through her hair and tightened his other arm around her. "I'm sorry," he whispered in her hair, repeating it while slowly rocking her back and forth.

"I thought I lost you. I've been a complete fuckwit and an unbelievable bastard, but I love you. Forgive me," Sirius pleaded. "Please forgive me. You're not alone in this. Not anymore."

Niamh didn't say anything, but just held on tighter. After a moment he could feel her lips moving against his neck. "I love you."


A/N: The unfamiliar curses come from Latin and Romanian.