When Warned...
The putrid smell of fear and suspicion had permeated Headquarters. Despite Dumbledore's insistence that we were only as strong as the trust between us, nobody trusted anyone anymore. We weren't absolutely sure there was a traitor. I never heard the Dark Lord mention it, which of course was a sign to Benjy that I was the traitor. Why else hadn't I been brought before Voldemort yet?
"One would think you'd like to have me brought before the Dark Lord, Benjy," I drawled nastily.
"Niamh, enough," Dumbledore sighed. "And you too, Benjy."
"What can you tell us, Niamh?" Dorcas Meadowes asked.
I swallowed the mouthful of coffee I had put in my mouth to prevent myself from sneering at Benjy. "Voldemort is planning a series of giant attacks on villages in the north of Scotland. Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan have been sent there. Travers, Lucius, and Evan have been assigned to persuade more Ministry officials to the Dark Lord's cause, because of their recent successes." I spat the last two words out bitterly. The gloating reports they gave to the Dark Lord were more than enough to make me sick. "So have Severus, Mulciber, and I."
Sirius cursed under his breath. "What is it with you? If you don't get paired up with Evan bloody Rosier, you skip about the land with that slimy git."
I gave him a stern look. "I'd a hundred times rather be with Severus than with Evan. No matter how much you loathe him, I've known him for years. At least I can be sure that he will watch my back – instead of hump it."
Sirius's face darkened immediately; and soft mumblings could be heard throughout the room. Evan's unrelenting interest in me was the cause for quite some concern. Dumbledore was insistent that I saw Sirius and went to Headquarters as little as possible, in case Evan was following me.
I had thrown a vicious temper tantrum after that, shouting that the day when someone told me not to see my husband had yet to come. I suppose I was a little on edge.
"Keep us informed about any names you hear," Dorcas requested. "We'll do what we can."
"Of course."
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Remus, Benjy, Emmeline, I want you to head north. See what you can find out. I'll ask Aberforth to keep his ears open for giant rumours as well."
"Yes, Albus," they nodded.
"Good, if that is all? I must return to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said and rose from his chair, followed by the others.
"I have to get to work," I told Sirius, lifting my face to him for a kiss.
"Will you come over tonight?" he asked, before leaning into me and brushing his lips against mine.
"No," I mumbled. "Have to work late. Quinn is forcing me to come to this lecture on PR."
"You know you love it," he chuckled.
"It's just fascinating to see Quinn do his thing. He's like a walking, talking phial of Amortentia. Everyone falls in love with him and does whatever he wants."
"Well, enjoy yourself. Don't forget to send me a message."
"I won't. Tomorrow night?"
"Definitely."
I gave him a wicked smirk. "And perhaps I will tell you what Amortentia smells like to me."
"Ah, very intriguing," he murmured, his grey eyes darkening a little.
I pushed him away from me and got to my feet. "I'll tell you now that it's not wet dog."
Sirius let out his loud bark-like laugh. "Get going, tease."
I grinned and walked out of Headquarters, waving at James and Peter while stuffing my hair under a hat and putting on my heavy auburn cloak. "Good luck, Remus. Be careful," I called out to the werewolf.
Late that afternoon the reason why one should not wear high heels while going on excursion with Quinn Baldric had imprinted itself firmly into my head. When my boss had stopped introducing me to people long enough for me to slip away, I headed to the bathroom and transfigured my high-heeled shoes into a more comfortable pair.
Finally, finally, I could go home at midnight. Quinn tried to convince me into pub-crawling, but I told him he needed to have his head checked. "I have to get up at six thirty tomorrow. Besides, you don't need me around. You are perfectly able to seduce that man you've been eyeing all day yourself," I added, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Touché," Quinn admitted fairly. "Well, goodnight, love."
"Have fun," I winked.
"Don't I always? Mm, especially that time when I…"
"Too much detail, Quinn!" I groaned and hurried off, covering my ears.
I had been home for about five minutes when the doorbell rang. "Damn it, Sirius. I'm dead tired," I muttered and hopped on one leg to the door, trying to undo the strap on my other ankle.
"Didn't I tell you I was – what the hell are you doing here?"
"Tell me what?" Evan frowned.
"Never mind that," I snapped. "I asked you what you were doing here?"
"I came to check if you were all right. You weren't home all night."
"Excuse me?" I huffed. "Are you spying on me?"
"Who did you think I was?"
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, remaining pontifically in the middle of the doorway, determined not to let him in.
Where's my wand? Quietly and stealthily I slipped one hand in the pocket of my robes. I closed my hand around the comforting polished wood.
"You were expecting someone else. Who?" Evan pressed.
"I have no idea what you mean," I insisted stubbornly. "Please leave now, I'm tired." I made to close the door, but he put his foot in between.
"So that's why you refuse me," he said, narrowing his eyes. "You have another man."
"Evan, you're delusional. Now go away."
"Who is it?" he frowned. "Is it that Devon Malfoy?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" I snorted.
"Who then? Gareth Donovan, George Fairfax, Antonin? Or is he married and that's why you won't tell – good God, tell me it's not Lucius."
"Lucius? Are you insane?" I sputtered incredulously.
"WHO IS IT THEN?" he roared suddenly, his face twisting.
I stepped back in shock. Evan took advantage by pushing my door further open and brushing past me into my house.
"I don't recall inviting you in," I said heatedly, following him into my living room. My hand was still clenched around my wand.
One move and I'll hex you into oblivion, I vowed silently. No matter what the consequences are.
"I don't suppose he's here," Evan sneered, looking about him, "given the way you just called out to the door."
"There is no 'he', Evan," I snapped.
"Where have you been all night?"
"Oh, come off it!" I rolled my eyes. "Not that it's any of your business, but I was out with Quinn. You remember him, my boss? The squeaky clean one, fond of designer robes, about as straight as a Quidditch hoop? You needn't fear about my virtue."
"I don't appreciate being mocked," he hissed, stepping closer to me.
One more step, you prick… I glared viciously at him.
Evan's face twitched. I felt it too. The Dark Mark was burning.
"We will continue this later," he said forcefully, before he marched outside and Disapparated.
Swearing and cursing under my breath I dressed myself as a Death Eater and Disapparated too. Still stewing I took my place in the circle, gritting my teeth.
"Something displeases you?" Lucius asked dryly.
"Shut up," I growled and sent a fierce look at Evan who had just appeared.
"Let's hope they did it right this time," Severus mumbled as he walked past us. "I, for one, am not looking forward to dealing with another failure."
"Did what right?" I mumbled back.
"Honestly, Niamh," Severus sighed. "Focus, please. The Prewetts? It's about time they were taken care of, by the way. Traitors."
I forgot to breathe. "Fabian and Gideon?" I choked.
"The Aurors, yes," Severus said impatiently.
Stop asking, stop asking!
"Ah, right," I murmured weakly.
"Something wrong?" Lucius asked.
"No, I just have a lot on my mind lately," I excused myself, taking the opportunity to shoot another set of glowering looks at Evan.
My heart pounded in my chest. There was no way I could get away to warn somebody of the Order – and by the sound of it, it would be too late anyway. The attack had already taken place. Why hadn't I known? What the hell was going on?
I was cut off when the Dark Lord swept into the circle, pacing to and fro impatiently, waiting for news.
Four loud cracks almost made me jump up.
"Tell me," the Dark Lord hissed. "Dolohov!"
"They're dead," Antonin panted. "Both of them. Wilkes is dead too. They got him. Fought like madmen. We had no choice but to leave him. The Ministry had been alerted by then."
"There were many witnesses?" Voldemort enquired, red flashing in his eyes.
"Yes, master," Antonin nodded.
"Excellent work, my friend. You've shown that no one who resists the Dark Lord shall go unpunished."
"Thank you, my lord."
I didn't think I could move. Rooted to the spot I listened to Antonin's elaborate report and Voldemort's high cackling laughter. Gideon had been visiting his brother's house at the time of the attack. They had managed to fight the five Death Eaters off for a while, but were overpowered eventually. Wilkes had suffered the brothers' rage though.
The sight of the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord grew misty. I had to blink back my tears. These were my friends they were gloating about. My friends! Gideon and Fabian with their ridiculous antics; Fabian who you could always count on having a witty remark to brighten things up; Gideon, who had created that lethal flying motorbike with Sirius…
Stop it! I told myself. Stop it right now!
While the Dark Lord praised Antonin and the others – no one said a word about Wilkes – I desperately tried to get myself back under control.
"The world will know that this is what happens to blood traitors," the Dark Lord hissed. "To all of them."
I didn't dare go into Headquarters. Guilt was tearing me up inside. How was it possible I hadn't seen this coming? I should have picked up their names somewhere – I should have pried more – I should have known! Gideon and Fabian… With lead in my shoes I walked up to the front door. I was almost too ashamed to lift my head when I entered the kitchen.
"Niamh…" a familiar voice said. Sirius stood, his chair scraping the floor.
"I didn't know," I whispered. I looked up at the grave faces in the kitchen. "I didn't know."
"How's that possib – how could you not – didn't you hear…?" Dorcas asked in a strangled voice.
"No one told me. I don't know…" I choked, stiffening when Sirius took me by the arm and led me to his chair. "They – it was Antonin Dolohov. And Wilkes is dead, he said. Is that…?"
"Yes, that's true," Dorcas nodded. "We found his body. Next to…" She cleared her throat.
I could hear someone sobbing in a corner. My own eyes were stinging too. Sirius's hand was a heavy weight on my shoulder. "I didn't know," I whispered again.
I had to make for the loo when I could not uphold my Occlumency walls any longer. Sobbing and retching, I leaned my elbows on the toilet seat, until my body stopped heaving. Sirius had come after me and held my hair from my face, but he did not say anything. He helped me up and walked me back to the kitchen, where I could rinse my mouth.
Shaking slightly I sat down at the table again. I looked around me. Some rested their head in their hands, others leaned against a wall or the kitchen sink, their arms crossed and their faces tense and haggard. I rubbed my hands over my face and locked gaze with Dorcas.
"Dumbledore has gone to tell Molly and their parents," she answered my unspoken question.
And so we waited. I could feel them – wary and distrustful eyes. Sturgis's, Elphias's, Dedalus's. I suppose I was lucky Benjy was still in the north with Emmeline and Remus.
I swallowed a sob. I could really use the my calm friend's presence right now.
Numbness threatened to overtake me. I could still not grasp how I hadn't known about the impending attack on Gideon and Fabian. I had warned them time and again to lay low, that they were a prestigious target, that sooner or later someone would be sent after them. But when it mattered, when it came down to it, I had not paid enough attention. And now they were dead. Murdered. Overpowered.
Dumbledore entered quietly. His eyes swept across the room, taking in the crushed faces. With a swish of his wand a bottle of Old Ogden's flew from a cabinet and poured whisky into glasses. I grabbed the glass that hovered in front of me and took a sip, grimacing when the liquid burned my throat. Next to me Sirius threw his head back and downed his whole glass.
There was silence for a while – a defeated silence. Gideon and Fabian had been the spill of the Order. Brave, funny, hopeful… It was brutal that they were taken from us in such a way.
"Niamh?" Dumbledore asked.
I knew the questions would come, but I wished I could hide. I was so ashamed. "Nobody informed me," I croaked. "It was Antonin, and Wilkes, and probably Nott, Avery, and McNair – they were missing from the circle when I arrived. But I didn't know. The others – they knew – but I somehow missed…" I bit on the inside of my cheek. "I'm so sorry."
"Thank you, Niamh," Dumbledore said. "I think it's best if we all tried to get some sleep, seeing it's half past three in the morning. Alastor is at Auror Headquarters. He says he has everything under control, but perhaps, Dorcas, you could…?"
"Of course, Albus." Dorcas rose from her chair and left.
"Please, everyone, return home. We'll meet tomorrow night."
The kitchen emptied quickly, soft murmuring coming from the Order members.
"Niamh," Dumbledore called. "Was Evan Rosier any trouble?"
"No," I denied, shaking my head. "No trouble."
Really, as if he doesn't have enough to deal with. Besides, Evan won't be anymore trouble. The next time he so much as looks at me the wrong way, I'll curse him into the next world.
I turned back and leaned against Sirius as he wrapped his arm around me. "Will you be all right?" he mumbled in my hair.
"Yes," I answered stonily. "I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
After a hurried kiss that landed somewhere near his mouth I took off, Apparating home and tumbling into my bed.
After the next day's meeting Dumbledore spoke to me privately. He warned me to be careful.
"What is going on, sir?" I frowned.
"Certain things don't add up," he explained. "I cannot be sure – these are perhaps just an old man's worries…"
I gave him a sceptical look.
"…but perhaps they are not. As many among the Order, I suspect there is some leak – whether that is here, or at the Ministry, I don't know. However, it means that you will need to practise the utmost caution. Should you feel that you are in any danger of any kind, I want you to come to Headquarters immediately for your own safety."
"A leak?" I repeated. "A traitor?"
"There is that possibility, yes."
"Who?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. I don't even know if I'm correct. There are a few tiny things." He looked at me over the rim of his glasses. "Do you suspect anything? Are you already in danger?"
"No," I answered. "I haven't a clue. And I don't think I'm in danger – nothing has been out of the ordinary lately, so…" I shrugged.
"Very well," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "It's always possible that I'm mistaken, but, Niamh, at the slightest hint of anything seeming wrong, go to Headquarters. I don't want you taking any risk."
"Yes, sir."
A/N: Yay, such great reviews. You guys make my day :D. Yes, Messr-Paddifoots-love: 1981 is that year. I have to agree with all of you, expecially you, Katy: Evan is the epitome of scariness to me, because he's so good at deceiving and so easily underestimated. Nobody knows what's going on inside his head, but it ain't pretty.
So, since this chapter and the next ones lead up to the end, and I'm really not at all sure if they're any good, please let me know what you think of them. I could really use some constructive criticism!
