A Little Bit of This

"What's wrong with him?" Ashley asked, looking down at his best friend, Angelus Wilkes, who lay on one of the med-beds in a curse-induced stupor.

Mulciber didn't answer his brother as he fussed with a number of potions in a med-case. He peered into Wilkes' eyes, considering the dilated pupils before dosing out several potions into a syringe.

"Theodore, what did they hit him with? Will he be alright?"

"It's a customized Stupefy, who ever came up with it thought they were mighty clever. Don't worry; a little bit of this, and he'll be back to normal in an hour."

Anything But That

There had been a time when Antonin didn't hate aurors. That time ended on a stifling afternoon. They must have thought his sister knew something about the Organization. Otherwise, why would they interrogate her, torture her? He had come onto the scene by accident. Barely in his 20s. Still a boy. He had frozen in the doorway, not understanding why an auror was standing over his sister with a wand out while her body twitched. Twitched…then lay still.

It was then he understoof and, in a surge of grief, shouted the two words that changed his life forever – "Avada Kedavra!"

Not For Nothing

Eleanor. Black dress, accusing eyes. Tony would never forget how she looked the night her brother died. Even worse – he felt responsible.

"Tell me, Monsieur Dolohov, was it worth it? Was my brother's life worth it?"

"Eleanor…you must understand. Anatole fought for a cause. We are all fighting. We all could die…"

"Do you believe it's a cause dying for?"

"Yes. And so did your brother. His death was not in vain. We need brave boys like him. One day, when the wizarding world is finally free, you will see that he did not die for nothing. I promise you."

Everything Else

Tom stood in front of a congregation of the Organization. He stood with shoulders back, chest out, hands spread out before him, palms up. "My friends," he began. "The war is coming. The war that will purge the wizarding world of all that diseases it, of all those who weaken us and do not belong. We'll have to sacrifice a lot. Our long-indulged plans, our attachments, our comforts, perhaps our freedom or even our lives. But we must always remember why we are here – our cause. The Cause, my friends, must stand above everything else if we are to win."

What Matters Most

"She hates me now," Snape sulked, crushing his spannati roots for the potion they were to make with a force that was rather excessive.

"Who?" Avery asked.

"Lily."

"Why?"

"Because I called her mudblood. She won't forgive me. I asked her again, and again…she won't listen."

Evan shook his head. "Come on, Sev, it's not the end of the world."

"You know how I feel about her," he growled. "What does she want me to do?"

"She wants you give up," Evan said seriously. "Give up on what matters most."

"And what's that?"

"The Cause."

Snape looked unconvinced.

"Our friendship."