This is the last chapter. The song featured in this chapter is called Running Away by Midnight Hour. Thank you!
Where I Stood
Epilogue: Changed Destiny For a Very High Price
It was nearing June, and both Thorn siblings were on edge, always looking over their shoulder whenever they hear a noise. They knew that if one thing (like Regulus helping Sileni and the Order) can change the course of the future, what are the chances that it can backfire and kill them all now? It was even worse for Sileni as she was to go on another mission the week before graduation (Lily scolded the other teen for not studying or the lack of sleep she will get when she had to 'go out.').
This mission, however, had the siblings fighting constantly, the group of friends or professor trying to split them up. Sileni wanted to be there–needing to be there to face the vile snake before the battle showed up at the school. She didn't know what it was, but she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she was supposed to be with that group; not hiding away until graduation. Luke didn't understand this, of course, but Sileni didn't care. She had the final say on the things she does with the Order, and that was that (pissing her brother off was just a bonus).
Finally revealing her inside source to the Order, Regulus was beside himself. He doubted himself and tried to back down so many times, but neither Sirius nor Sileni would let him. It was all Sirius doing that had both Sileni and Regulus standing before the headmaster door. Sirius wanted to come, but Sileni didn't think the Order would like that other teens know of their organization so had asked him to stay back.
"Breathe, Regulus, you'll be fine." Sileni told him, smiling softly.
Regulus took in big gulps of breath, but was not calming down at all. The older teen chuckled quietly, placing comforting hands on the boy's shoulder. He looked up at her, his eyes wide and scared, Sileni giving him a sympathetic smile.
"Honey, you will be fine. I promise nothing is going to happen to you, ok? Now, what would you like to be called?"
Regulus sighed, looking up at the stone wall. "Rab,"
Sileni raised an eyebrow but smiled at the irony. "Very well, you ready?"
Regulus took a deep breath and nodded. Sileni smiled softly and nodded in return, placing a hand on his cheek. Turning to the door, Sileni opened it and walked in, smiling to the group all ready waiting for the two of them. To protect Regulus Sileni had performed a glamour on him when they met up in an empty classroom. Once the door closed, Sileni rubbed a hand on the younger teens back, trying to lend him strength to speak in front of so many people.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present you Rab."
Many wizards raised an eyebrow at this, Regulus chuckling nervously. Sileni gave a look to a young wizard when he questioned the name. Regulus flushed in embarrassment, wishing he had picked another name.
"A name to protect his identity; as is the glamour I placed on him."
"How can we trust him? He can decide to betray us? We do not know how he looks like." A witch in the back asked.
Sileni set her jaw, but understood their concern for they were so close to the end. "He won't betray us, I trust him. Besides, hasn't the information he gave us in the past several months correct?"
"I know you understand our questioning, Phoenix," Kingsley spoke, stepping forward. "But I believe he should step forward once all this is over so we may thank him properly; as your true name as well."
Sileni looked over to Regulus, who nodded softly. "Very well, we will do that."
'Even though when I'm dead you will get my true name from my brother.' Sileni thought grimly.
"Good, now tell us what you know." Dumbledore told Regulus reluctantly.
Taking a deep breath, Regulus turned to Sileni before looking at the group around them. Thus, he told them of the meeting at the Riddle house in a week, who was to attend, and what time it was going to be.
He told them of the wards that would be protecting the ground and the house, the exits that are hidden from those that do not know the property, and the password to pass through the door to enter the house should all else fail to protect those inside. Everyone took this in, the silence in the room thick.
"How many Death Eaters would there be?" Mad-Eye finally asked.
"There's a little over sixty followers, including vampires and werewolves."
The room sprung to a murmur amongst everyone as Sileni rubbed at her neck and collar bone where the female vampire had struck her several months back. Fabian gripped her shoulder once before dropping his hand and looking towards Dumbledore, as did everyone else, to see what they should do now.
"We will continue to go with our plan of attack, only with more cautious after this information."
"Will you be there, Rab?" The wizard who questioned his name asked.
"No, he is going to give an excuse as to why he can't go. That way he won't be forced to show you all his true form." Sileni answered, giving the young wizard a look that quieted him quickly.
Everyone looking to one another, Dumbledore excused them all, wanting to figure out who exactly Rab was. He had tried to look into his mind, but found a block around it. The headmaster looked over to Sileni, but she was not paying him any mind, rather, she was speaking in low voices with Rab and Fabian. He wondered if someone else had placed that block around the unknown wizard's mind because they knew he was going to try and find out who this person was. Or perhaps someone would have tried to figure it out.
Either way, the block around Rab was strong, and without knowing who the source was, there was no way of bringing it down. Schooling his face, Dumbledore spoke to those that walked over to him, trying not to let others what he was thinking–not that anyone could figure it out anyways.
4545454545
Luke was pacing in the common room, his anger radiating off of him. Sarah, who was led inside by Lily and James, watched in concern, not knowing what to do to calm her boyfriend. Severus was there too, with the help of Luke earlier in the day. It was the night of the mission, and Luke was even more on edge. Then he stopped, looking towards the girl's staircase, the others looked in that direction as well. Sileni walked down the stairs and stopped on the last step, looking towards her brother.
It was an hour and a half before midnight and they were the only ones still awake; which is what Sileni wanted–needed–in the first place. The group felt the tension between the siblings and wondered what they could do to break that.
"Damn it Sileni!" Luke cried, shoving a hand through his hair.
"Andi would have let me know if something were to happen tonight." Sileni argued.
Luke turned away, than sharply turned to her, eyes glowing with anger and fear. "Like the mission where none of the healers could figure out the spell that had you in a coma for several hours?"
Sileni closed her eyes in remembrance, hating the fact that her brother had that over her head. Luke sighed sharply and turned to the window, looking out to the dark sky with no light but the stars. Even then, the star's light wasn't bright enough to give someone away, which was good on the Order's side as they needed the darkness to cover their tracks.
"Luke..." Sileni trailed off in a strained voice.
"Just go," Luke muttered, not looking at his sister.
Sileni stepped forward, but stopped, sensing the anger and tension on his shoulders. She needed to keep her emotions on check or she will be a wreck for the mission–something she cannot afford to do. However, how badly did Sileni wanted to ease her brother's fear and ease the hurting he was feeling at the moment. Though, Luke wouldn't want to go near her unless she promised not to go on this mission–which was not happening. With a shake of her head, the seventeen year old turned and walked out of the Tower, not once looking back.
Taking a deep breath, Remus quickly stood and ran after the girl, the others looking on in sympathetic to either him or Luke. The werewolf quickly caught up to Sileni, stopping her with a hand on her arm. Sileni sighed, turning to her ex-boyfriend, needing to go meet the others before the mission started in a half hour.
"Sileni, he's just worried." Remus started, "we're all worried."
Sileni sighed, "Remus, I have to go. I'll be fine; goodnight."
Jerking her arm from his grip, Sileni jogged the rest of the way, needing to get away from all the emotions that were in the air. Remus stared after her, his own emotions on over drive. With a shake of his head, the werewolf turned back to return to his friends, concealing his fear so he can be strong for Luke.
4545454545
–Riddle House–
Sileni moved easily with Fabian and Gideon on either side of her. The group of dozen had broken through the barrier to the grounds; now it was only a matter of time to get inside the home. At the side of the house, Sileni and the twins looked around them, making sure no one has heard them yet. Inhaling softly, Sileni crouched next to the basement window and held out her hands, feeling the strong magic vibrating against her palms.
Biting her lower lip, Sileni took out her wand and started to perform a complicated spell Regulus had taught her.
"I have good reasons that He-Who-Must-Be-Named would use this on the windows."
The younger teen's voice echoed in her head with words of the night before. With a last, sharp, of wand movement, the trio noted the window glow bright blue before dimming quickly. With a smirk, Sileni replaced her wand back in her holder and slowly opened the window. She slid in first, looking about in the darkness of the basement, getting chills down her spine.
The Prewett twins jumped behind her silently, adjusting to the darkness quickly. Knowing they cannot light their wands, Fabian took the front and Gideon the rear. They made their way towards the stairs, silencing their footsteps. Reaching the door, Fabian unlocked the door and listened quietly. So far, Regulus had told them were all true.
With a signal from the group that came through the front door, Fabian opened the door nodding to Mad-Eye. The large group made their way to the staircase. Taking deep breaths before following, Sileni was immediately surrounded by Kingsley, Mad-Eye, the Prewett twins, and an older wizard she has yet to remember the name. Though, glad to steal some of their strength, Sileni hated that they thought her fragile after what happened the last mission.
Taking another breath, the group charged in a battle starting up quickly within seconds. Sileni were quickly separated from those that tried to protect her, fear rising a bit, though she did not show it. Even with the knowledge of spells and dueling, the young witch used her fists on those that were close enough and not paying attention. She had gotten a few scratches from some of the vampires and a deep wound around her waist from a werewolf.
Suddenly, Sileni's air rushed out of her when something large and heavy fell on top of her. Opening her eyes, she saw Fenrir Greyback snarled at the witch below him, bearing his teeth while still in his human form. Despite some of the stories and facts in this world and that in the Muggle world, werewolves in the Harry Potter world are able to transform at well–only at the night of the full moon are they not able to return to their human form and the transformation more painful.
"Any last words, witch?"
Sileni smirked, grabbing hold of the dagger hidden from sight at her waist. "Yeah, I'm glad you came to me; revenge for the Lupin's family."
Sileni plunged the dagger in the werewolf's neck, pushing away the dead (surprised) body from her. With a sigh of relief, Sileni quickly stood and rushed back into battle, hexing or killing those that were trying to do the same to her. Seeing a familiar book on top of a desk, Sileni sent an explosive spell, hearing a snarl from somewhere behind her.
As she was turning to look, she saw another item exploding and another cry. Grinning, the teen turned only to gasp. Nagini was standing ready to strike her. But a green spell hit the snake, followed by a sword slicing the head. A cry of despair could be heard, Voldemort and the few followers Apparating away. Sileni sighed, smiling at Mad-Eye still holding his wand like a sword.
"You just love falling into the line of trouble, don't you Phoenix?"
This caused Sileni to start laughing, the others following slowly. Knowing that the danger was now gone, they needed some relief of the stress this mission had on everyone. Mad-Eye grinned (though it looked like he was scolding), shaking his head.
"You damn trouble makers take her back to school." He ordered the twins.
"Thank you Alastor." Sileni whispered, placing a hand on his right cheek.
Kissing his left cheek, Sileni turned to the twins, not mentioning the faint pink upon the crazy wizard cheeks. She walked with them back to the ground and pass the area where the wards were once, not taking any chance that they might be tracked back.
4545454545
–Gryffindor Tower–
Sileni stumbled inside the common room, inhaling deeply. Still up was her brother standing by the window and her friends by the fireplace. Turning to face her, Sileni noticed that her brother's eyes were red from either crying or holding back his tears. Without saying a word, Luke rushed towards, hugging her tightly once he reached her. Sileni buried her face into his shoulder, letting the fear and the rush she still had after the mission that night.
Despite it being successful, there was the matter of graduation. It's possible that her brother might know of what she was planning, but it would be so deep in the back of his mind that Luke doesn't want to believe it.
"How'd it go?" Luke whispered hoarsely, clearing his throat.
Sileni shook her head. "We got over another two dozen followers; however Voldemort escaped with a few others." She whispered in returned.
Leaning back, Sileni saw a tear or two falling down Luke's cheeks. She smiled softly when he sniffed loudly, wiping them away furiously. Their bond so strong since they started this journey, Sileni was almost sorry she was to break it for she could see that he was always trying to be as tough as she was.
Though he needn't to be as Luke was always the strong one between them; the outgoing one that would challenge life at full head.
"Get some sleep, Luke, you look like hell."
Luke laughed, letting his sister go. "You look worse than I do. Take a shower, too; you need it."
Sileni held back her tears when Luke kissed her forehead, squeezing her arms in either comfort or strength. She walked towards the girl's staircase, not acknowledging her friends as all Sileni wanted to do was sleep forever. Luke exhaled deeply, not able to stop staring at the empty staircase his sister disappeared to. He turned to Sarah, who had walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm. Placing an arm around her shoulders, Luke brought his girlfriend closer and kissing her forehead. The older teen felt her shudder and gripped his shirt in response.
"Let's go to bed." He whispered, looking at nothing ahead of him.
They walked over to the boy's staircase, both bidding goodnight to the group. James, Lily, and Severus wondered what they should do as questions were not answered, their confusion not satisfied. The couple and the Slytherin looked over to Sirius and Remus to see them both frowning at different directions.
"Let's go get some rest, you guys. See you all tomorrow." James told them.
He and Lily were going to go escort Severus to Slytherin common room before going back to the Head boy and girl's tower. The other two Marauders looked after them before staring at one another. Without saying a word, both boys made their way to the stairs. They were quiet, both deep in their thoughts.
"You still love her, don't you?" Sirius asked Remus quietly.
Remus smiled ruefully at his best friend as they stopped before their door. Sirius stared at him intently, wishing that he can hear all that he was thinking.
"I never stopped loving her, Padfoot; I never stopped."
Sirius watched him enter the room first, his frown deepening further. With a sigh and a shake of his head, the older boy went to his bed, erasing the thoughts he was thinking moments ago from his mind. He walked inside and straight to his bed, not bothering to change out of his clothes.
4545454545
–Next day–
Grateful the day was Saturday, Sileni stayed in her bed, listening to her music. It was mid-day and a gray day, the promise of rain in the breeze that came through the open window. The seventeen year old stared at nothing, softly singing along with the song. Sileni had showered and changed into jeans and a shirt when she entered the room last night, knowing she wasn't going to be able to sleep. The mission had given her too much energy to not settle down.
She had read over the Harry Potter books once more, noting the story has changed entirely; not just when she read the Order of the Phoenix a couple months before. Right about dawn (after finishing the seventh book), Sileni had wrote nine letters to her friends and brother, only finishing about an hour ago. The girl only wanted to be alone, to think over everything that she and her brother have been through–and why Andi hasn't spoken to her in such a long time. The door suddenly opened, a blushing sixth year girl poking her head inside.
"Phoenix, a Fabian Prewett is here to see you?" The girl questioned because of the name.
"Tell him I'll be down in a minute." Sileni told her, sitting up and taking out her earphones.
She walked over to the desk, closed the window, and grabbed hold of the stack of letters. Sileni slowly made her way down and to the smiling Fabian, knowing the amount of girls looking at his way and giggling silly. Sileni ignored her brother and friends, wanting to get this visit over with as soon as possible. Fabian's smile faltered when he saw her. He reached a hand to skim his fingers under the dark circles Sileni did not try to hide.
"You didn't sleep?" He accused.
"No. Now come on, I have a favor to ask you."
She walked towards the portrait hole, Fabian following closely behind. They were quiet as Sileni led him to the bridge that she truly loves, the scenery making her calm and at peace. She stopped in the middle and handed the letters to the older wizard before leaning on the railing, closing her eyes against the breeze with the scent of rain.
"What are these?"
"Letters that I need you to send out after graduation," Sileni turned to face him, leaning back. "The top one is for you to read out loud to those in the Order."
Fabian frowned, looking at the teenager sharply. "Why don't you give them out?"
Sileni smiled softly, sadly. "Just in case, I want you to hold on to them."
Fabian went to say something but Sileni shook her head. "Don't, just... don't."
The older wizard saw the exhaustion and defeated look, and sighed. "All right, Phoenix; just in case."
With a nod, Sileni turned back to lean on the rail, looking out to the river and mountains before her. How she wished she had more time to explore this world, to know the people and learn more of the magic. She had already heard that both Severus and Damocles have started to get somewhere with the Wolfsbane potion. She prayed that they will continue to work together and find a possible cure for those that truly want to be normal again.
Don't lie and say that it's OK,
It's alright if there's nothing more to say,
So I'm running away,
I'm leaving this place,
Yeah, I'm running away,
I'm running away,
"You better get going; Dumbledore wouldn't like word spreading quickly about you being here." Sileni suggested, not looking back.
Fabian nodded, knowing the girl couldn't see it. "All right, I'll see you on the day of graduation so we can go over the plan once more."
Sileni nodded, holding back her tears. She heard him walking away, not daring to look back at him–to remember. It was already painful that she wasn't telling them the truth, that she was killing herself behind their backs. It was going to hurt them, but Sileni wanted to save them–needed to save this world she has fallen in love in real life and in the books. She laughed to herself, watching the rain to start pouring down to the earth. How many times have she thought that? That this life and the books are so separate yet so real at the same time?
With a shake of her head, Sileni walked away from the castle and to the other side of the bridge, wanting to feel the rain fall down upon her and feel like a kid again. Something she has been messing for the last three years.
4545454545
–Graduation–
Sileni stared intently into the desk in front of her, not listening to a word Mad-Eye and Gideon were saying. She already knew the plan by heart; this was just precaution and reminder so things wouldn't go wrong. But she had her own plan to follow through with. Just the night before she had finally gotten a hold of Andi, and told her what it was she needed to do and when. When she asked why Andi hasn't contacted her in the last couple of months, she understood why.
Andi has helped Sileni so much in the begging of the year that the power of the magic was draining from her and needed to rest. If Andi didn't, what Sileni were asking would never have been possible to do.
"Okay, so we got that?" Mad-Eye growled, bringing the teenager out of her trance.
Everyone nodded or voiced out their opinion, straightening out their clothes. Sileni inhaled softly, rolling her neck from side to side and focus on her plan. The others gave her words of comfort or a small laugh, trying to ease the tension and the weight this mission had on everyone.
'If only they knew.' Sileni thought sadly. 'You ready Andi?'
'No, but I can't stop you from doing this.' Andi told her truthfully.
Sileni smiled ruefully, shaking her head. Wanting to say her goodbyes quickly, and discreetly (as there was only two hours before the graduation ceremony started), Sileni went around to speak with those she had come close with; giving advice, hugs, and kisses on cheeks. Hopefully peace will come to them quickly after her death; they needed it.
Don't tell me I'm the one to blame,
It's too late for you to make me stay,
No, I won't stay,
So I'm running away,
I'm leaving this place,
Yeah, I'm running away,
I'm running away,
The two hours were spent with having Sileni spending time with those she had came to care greatly, swamping stories of the last three years they had met. This was the most animated the group had seen Sileni become; Luke more suspicious than anything else. Of course Sileni tried to ease him, which worked for a while.
Throughout the ceremony Sileni kept her mind wondering to what was to come. Several times her brother kept elbowing her to pay attention, but the seventeen year old just kept repeating the plan over and over again in her head. The time was coming; she felt it rather than knowing. Something about Voldemort's presence nearby gave her chills down her spine. Only a second before the two kids had gotten their diploma did Andi confirmed it.
'He's here, Sileni. Get ready for the fight of the history.'
As soon as Dumbledore congratulated the graduates, Sileni stood from her seat, yelling out to Andi. Andi sent out strong surge of magic to surround the entire population within the Great Hall and placed them outside its grand doors. Just seconds before Voldemort and the last of his followers appeared, looking around in confusion and suspicious.
"You want me, Voldemort?" The Death Eater's and the snake man looked towards the entrance to see Sileni. "Then come get me!" She shouted, sending a nonverbal spell without giving the snake a chance to answer or speak.
The spell hit one of his followers (the group surprised with shock) and Sileni sent another, trying to minimum the threat to herself and the others once they are to enter the hall. But she doubted she would be able to hold them off enough to minimize the threat as she wasn't as strong or experienced in fighting with wands and spells.
'Don't let them in, Andi; don't let them in just yet!'
4545454545
—Outside—
And faster than you can follow me,
From this lonely place,
And farther than you can find me,
I'm leaving,
Yeah I'm leaving today,
The Hogwarts' staff, the Marauders', Lily, Sarah, and Severus were all trying to open the doors to the Great Hall, wondering what happened. Shouts and shattering glass could be heard from within, Luke realizing what was happening. He realized the distraction and the anxious look in his sister's eyes and movement throughout that whole day and during the ceremony.
"Andi! Open these doors!" Luke shouted, trying to pry open the doors.
'I am sorry, but I cannot do that. Not yet,' Andi replied sadly.
Luke growled in desperation. "Damn it, Andi! I'm not going to let my sister die! Now, open these damn doors!" He cried, pounding on the door at each word.
'Remus, follow her advice; do not live in denial.' Andi spoke to the werewolf.
Remus was taken aback by a voice in his head, wondering who or what it was. Suddenly the doors were thrown open, the group standing in shock at the sight. However, they quickly recovered and ran into battle, Remus running towards the injured Sileni in the middle of the hall. She was still fighting a wizard before she killed him. Though she was tackled to the ground by a vampire, that was quickly hit by a spell by someone behind the werewolf and was flown off of the girl.
And I,
I'll never let you find me,
I'm leaving you behind with the past,
No, I won't look back,
And I don't want to hear your reasons,
Don't want to hear you tell me why I should stay,
"What the hell were you thinking?" Remus scolded, helping Sileni stand.
"Know I'll always love you. That there are others that love you for who you are, not what you become every full moon. Live your life, Remus; let the people into your heart." She whispered, seeing Voldemort turning towards them with hatred. "Goodbye."
She pushed Remus away with all her strength, turning to face Voldemort, just as he sent the killing curse. Sileni saw the satisfaction on the snake's face and eyes, a snarl upon his lips. Nearly everyone saw this with shock surging through their system, not able to believe what they were seeing. Those in the Order were furious when they found themselves locked outside the Great Hall with Sileni fighting the evil creatures all by herself.
Right then they knew that she had planned this from the beginning. It was only confirmed when Luke and started to yell to some Andi about not wanting to let his sister die.
"No!" Several people, along with Remus, cried after the shock had quickly passed.
And try,
And try to understand me,
And try to understand what I say,
When I say I can't stay,
I, I'm moving on from this place,
I'm leaving and I won't quit running away.
Sileni had managed to smirk right before the killing curse had killed her, feeling herself at peace right away. Despite what the books have said or searched on the internet, the last and deadly curse did not take effect right away–but it was painless.
"Sileni!"
With the last of her strength, Andi covered Sileni with the magic she had left, taking the young girl's advice to her ex-boyfriend–among other reasons that Hogwarts only knew. Andi had decided this a long time ago; mostly around when Sileni had decided to kill herself several months back. With all that she has done and seen, Andi didn't believe it was the young girl's time to die. To not have a life like the one Andi has seen so many times, over and over again. So before Sileni's body landed, dead, on the floor, it disappeared into thin air.
I'm running away.
I'm leaving this place.
Yeah, I'm running away.
I'm running away.
4545454545
–Unknown–
Sileni appeared in a dining room, crashing down hard upon a set table with a cry. She rolled off to the side, falling to the floor in pain. Footsteps could be heard, Sileni placing a hand to her stomach as she tried to push herself up a bit, looking up painfully. Before her stood an older Sirius Black, a look of shock and recognition on his face. Others stood behind him, but they weren't able to get pass him as he was standing right in the doorway.
"Oh my Merlin, Sileni?"
"What the hell did you do, Andi?" She asked before passing out in pain.
A/N: All right you guys, PLEASE review and give me your thoughts on the story thus far; thanks!