Chapter Nineteen:
Alina revelled in the soft sensation of moss between her toes. With her nose she inhaled deeply, savouring the sweet scent of woodland aroma and as she opened her eyes she gasped as the familiar surrounding was revealed to her.
Once again she found herself transfixed at the sight of the Godly Temple before her, and she immediately felt the enticing pull from deep within her, coercing her to approach it.
'No' she whispered to herself, remembering what had happened to the Death Eater before.
'That will not happen to you'
It wasn't until she heard the voice that she realised she was not alone, and she span around in alarm to find a familiar face…a serene, unearthly face…
'You only have one chance to enter Eternity' a celestial man stood before her, his face so beautiful it was almost painful to gaze upon 'you can either spend your existence hiding, or enter the sanctuary of your own race, of your ancestry'
'But Sirius' she whispered, frowning as the words left her mouth for they were not her own.
'He does not possess our power. He may not enter.'
'But what if –' once again the words left her mouth before she knew what she was saying.
'Death will fall upon him upon his attempt No mortal may pass. If you wish eternal safety for yourself and your daughter, if you wish to join those you are destined to be with, you may pass now. The barrier is open for those who know where to seek. Your power is the key.'
'Can I not return to him? Ever?' something clicked in her mind, she had heard these words before…it was as if an old record was replaying in her mind…
'You may enter Eternity once, you may not return. It is the price of eternal sanctity.'
Alina awoke with a jolt, startling the sleeping form beside her.
'Sirius!' she hissed.
'Wha –' his sleepy voice groaned, rolling over and back into a slumber.
'Sirius!' she raised her voice.
'Hmm yeah, yeah' he mumbled.
'Sirius!' she combined her shout with a sharp dig to his ribs and smirked slightly as the heavy frame beside her yelped and sprung upright.
'Ouch!' he moaned 'what's the matter?'
She paused for a moment as she watched the tiredness flitter away and for concern to cloud his eyes.
'I had a dream'
'Erm…okay?'
'It was exactly the same as the vision I saw in my mum's mind…but I was in my mum's place…and…and…oh I don't know, I'm probably just being silly.'
Sirius pulled himself up and turned to her, leaning on his elbow for support and taking one of her hands into his own.
'But you didn't feel like it was just a dream' it wasn't a question, and she shook her head.
'It felt so real' she frowned, and looked up at Sirius 'I need to find that Temple'
'We need to find that Temple.' He corrected her, lowering his face and gently bringing his lips to meet her own.
Her stomach lurched at the sensation, and she felt herself melt into his arms. It did not matter that so many years had passed, that he was no longer the handsome, carefree boy she had fallen for as a teenager, as soon as his lips touched her own she was thrown back to the seventeen year old girl she had been when they had first begun.
The years had been harsh to them, they had taken their friends, their youth, their trust and often their sanity, but one thing had remained through it all, one thing had never wavered or diminished; their love.
Their love remained unconditional.
Sirius entered the dining room, tucking the letter he had just received from his daughter into his pocket, his eyes sparkling slightly with humour.
'I knew she wasn't a normal Hufflepuff' he announced brightly, causing Alina to frown and Molly to tut.
'She's where she's supposed to be, Sirius' Arthur told him steadily, earning a smile from Alina.
'Well she's got herself her first detention!' Sirius grinned.
'What!' Alina gasped, trying to imagine how her placid daughter could have already earned a punishment, and held her hand out for the letter.
'Oh if Fred and George have something to do with this…' Molly muttered darkly.
Alina snatched the letter from Sirius' outstretched hand and scanned it quickly, frowning as she read her daughter's words.
'Oh, come on Alli! In seventh year we got a detention on our first night!' Sirius continued to grin.
'That's because you were being a massive idiot!' she snapped, her lips twitching 'but it just seems a bit strange, she's far too vague in this letter…it doesn't seem right.'
Sirius sobered at her words.
'What do you mean 'it doesn't seem right?'' he demanded.
'I don't know' Alina shook her head 'I just think there's more to this Umbridge character than she's letting on…'
'Umbridge, did you say?' Remus interrupted.
'Yeah, she's working at Hogwarts – the new D.A.D.A teacher, why? D'you know her?' Sirius asked.
'Know her? She's big on the anti-werewolf side of the 'fair treatment' argument. Hates 'half breeds'' he replied bitterly 'Why she would be working at Hogwarts, I don't know.'
'Hmmm' Alina pondered, pursing her lips.
'Well we can ask Eve next time we speak to her…or Harry' Sirius reasoned, although his expression was one of agitation 'but for now…let's get down to business.'
They all made sounds of agreement, and the group, Sirius, Alina, Remus, Molly and Arthur, all turned to the wooden table and crowded around the large map of the world that was spread across its surface.
'Are you ready for this?' Remus asked, turning to Alina, who nodded with an expression that was far more confident than what she was actually feeling.
'I'm ready' she told him 'oh, and I thought this might help…'
From her robes, she pulled out a small velvet bag, out of which she poured a pair of earings into her hand.
'They're my mother's' Alina explained 'What? It's not like she's going to be using them' she added.
'Alli…why would you –'
'Apparently it helps to have something connecting you to what you're searching for when you Scry…after I saw that memory in her mind…well she's our only connection to that Temple' she shrugged 'and we need to get to that Temple before Voldemort gets whatever it is he wants from it…'
'What do we need to do?' Molly asked her.
'Nothing really' Alina replied, studying the map. 'Just keep your eyes open…I'm going to take a minute to concentrate, I'll hold the earings in my hand and scan it over the map…I'm hoping I'll pick something up.'
'So if you hover over a particular area...we mark it, right?' Remus clarified, and Alina nodded.
'Okay let's do this' she breathed, holding the diamond earings tightly in the palm of her hand.
She closed her eyes, concentrating on her breathing.
In, Out, In, Out…
She pictured her mother's face, so similar to her own. She remembered her mother's memory, the angelic face of the beautiful stranger...
Slowly, she guided her hand over her map.
She remembered the feeling of the moss on her feet, the smell of the nature surrounding her and the compelling attraction of the ancient Temple.
In, out, in, out.
Suddenly a sharp electrical pulse shot through her fingers, causing her to gasp in surprise, but she did not lose her concentration, instead she focused on that small vibration.
She relaxed her entire body and allowed the miniscule vibration, barely detectable now in her fingertips, to lead her hand, guiding it forward…to the right…
It's too weak…I can't feel…
She concentrated on the memory of the Temple, the sound of her mother's voice, of the stranger's calming tone…it was as if she were once again standing in the Rainforest…
A powerful jolt shot her hand to the opposite end of the map, her eyes flew open and she no longer found herself in Grimmauld Place, but instead directly before the Temple, in the company of the familiar stranger.
She gazed in awe, and fear, as the golden stranger extended his hand towards the commanding doorway.
'Don't touch that!' she cried, suddenly terrified for the stranger.
The man simply smiled at her, his eyes shining and his aura exuding a bright glow.
'Your power is the key'
She was unsure whether he had spoken the words himself, for they seemed to entwine in the very air surrounding them, caressing her like a warm breeze…she was unsure whether she had even heard them, for it was as if she had felt them, deep within her…
'Are you all right? Alli?'
The dull wooden panels and ancient portraits dusting the room caused a shiver of disgust to run through her in the wake of the beauty she had just witnessed.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
'Alli…is this the place?' Arthur asked gently, and she stared in surprise at her extended arm, held steadily out in front of her, and hovering directly above a tiny speck on the map.
'Huh' Molly breathed, her eyebrows raising.
'What is it?'
'Frayne's Island' Molly informed her 'located in the Bermuda Triangle…well I suppose that does make sense…'
'Make sense?' Sirius frowned.
'Honestly, Sirius, you'd think you were a first year!' Molly shook her head.
'In case you weren't aware Molly, there was a full scale war surfacing whilst I was at school…not to mention being part of that war from the age of seventeen' he snapped.
'Let's get back to the topic' Alina interrupted archly.
'The Bermuda Triangle is an area of incredibly strong magical heritage, philosophers have been researching the area for years to establish where the power source originates from – many of the islands there naturally repel Muggles, whilst others even hold repelling magic against Witches and Wizards…so it would make sense for something which appears to hold intense magic. –'
'- to be in an area of intense magic' Sirius nodded, thoughtfully.
'So…Frayne's Island.' Alina spoke slowly, raising her eyes to meet those before her 'what do you bet that's one of the ones that repels Witches and Wizards as well?'
The grimaces were enough to confirm her suspicions.
'We need to call Dumbledore to arrange and Order meeting' Arthur stated.
Finding Frayne's Island was not going to be easy.
'Are you sure you need to go, dear?'
'Mum, I'm a Curse Breaker, I need to go more than anyone!' Bill sighed, shaking his head at his mother.
'Molly, he'll be fine' Arthur tried to appease his wife, to little success.
'I've arranged the Port Key – it will leave in one minute, as soon as you arrive it is essential that you apparate onwards so as not to be caught – an unarranged cross boarder apparition will not be welcomed by the Bermuda Ministry.' Dumbledore informed them, holding out a tattered looking book to Mad-Eye.
As everyone placed a hand on the book, they turned to Dumbledore who was watching them gravely.
'I wish I could tell you exactly what to expect, but this magic is ancient, and unknown' his eyes flickered across their faces 'but I know you will be fine, you all know the plan – good luck!'
The last thing they saw was the concerned expressions of the Order members, before the world span around them and they were pulled harshly from their feet.
Alina landed gracefully in a heap on the ground, letting out a winded 'oomph' and groaning.
'Nice one' she heard Sirius grin 'come on, we need to move on'
She bit back an acid retort, and scrambled to her feet, nodding to her companions before turning on the spot and once again disappearing with a unanimous CRACK.
'Is everyone here?' Moody's voice growled, and a chorus of disgruntled 'yeses' replied.
Alina, this time having managed to land upright, gazed around at their surroundings.
The greenery was outstanding, a disarray of colours entwined amongst one another almost coating each of the colossal tree trunks with their lush vibrancy, the ground was rocky, signalling that they were not deep in the clutches of the rainforest, and this was supporting by the distant sound of crashing waves.
But it was not the beauty of the location that struck Alina, instead it was the sensation. The air was thick with electricity which seemed to flow in tendles across the surface of her skin, causing her hairs to stand on end, tickling slightly. She could almost see the waves of magic gently flowing around them in a kind of dance.
Despite the heat of the mid-morning sun bearing down upon them, it was a different warmth that seemed to spread from the very ground they were standing on and up into her chest.
'Can you feel that?' Sirius whispered.
What a stupid question, of course I can feel it…
'It feels –'
'- wonderful –'
' – horrible –'
Alina's eyes flickered open and she stared in surprise at her companions as three voices contradicted her own.
'Horrible?' she questioned with surprise.
'Can't you…can't you feel that, Alli?' Sirius shuddered, and Alina examined the three faces before her, all of which were strangely pale and clammy.
Even Moody looked uncomfortable as his mouth pulled into a deep grimace and his scars seemed to protrude hideously.
'Of course I can feel it…it feels nice!' she replied, confused.
'Well at least that supports Dumbledore's theory' Bill stated soberly, his jaw clenched 'Alina's accepted here…we on the other hand –'
'- are not' Sirius completed.
'We're not even on the right island' Bill continued grimly 'we better get moving to the shoreline'
'Which way, d'you think?' Sirius asked.
Which way? Alina blinked Is he being serious?
'I'm not too sure' Bill shrugged 'most likely in that direction…it looks as though the jungle is thinning out a little –'
Alina frowned again as Bill pointed in the direction of a trail which was a tangled abyss of plants.
'Erm…are you joking?' she finally asked, waiting to see the humour in their faces, instead they all blinked at her.
'This is neither the time nor place for jokes, Blake' Moody growled.
'But surely that's the worst direction to go in?' she argued 'it's way too thick, we could barely get through! And anyway you can literally hear the ocean from over there!' she pointed in the opposite direction.
'Alli – what the hell are you talking about? There's no way in hell we could get through that wa –' Sirius began to argue.
'- Alina, what do you mean you can hear the ocean?' Bill interrupted.
'I mean what I said, I can hear the ocean just over there…can't – can't you?' she questioned.
Their blank expressions told her that they couldn't and her forehead creased with confusion. Bill's face, however, had entirely lit up.
'Brilliant' he muttered 'absolutely brilliant!'
'What's brilliant, boy?' Moody demanded, growing restless.
'The magic…their magic!' Bill announced 'to repel Muggles, Witches and Wizards!'
When nobody appeared to understand his meaning Bill sighed and began to explain.
'When we arrived here we felt discomfort, and cold, and danger' he looked at Sirius and Moody who nodded 'but Alina felt 'wonderful'…we can see a clearer path in that direction' he indicated to his left 'but Alina can hear the ocean over there! It's magic! The island is trying to repel us! That's what the horrible sensation is and it's why we can't hear the ocean, the island does not want us to find it – but Alina –'
'- isn't a normal Witch' Sirius nodded, finally understanding 'so the island isn't repelling her it's- '
'-welcoming her' Bill summed up.
They fell silent for a moment.
'Well come on then, Blake' Moody piped up in a gruff voice 'lead the way!'
The turquoise waves lapped at the rocky shoreline and Alina gazed in awe at its beauty as the ocean sparkled under the sunlight.
'Amazing!' she beamed, raising an eyebrow at the apprehensive looks on her companions faces.
'If you say so' Moody muttered, eyeing the ocean warily.
She didn't bother to respond, realising that they were unable to see the beauty that the island truly held, and she carefully scrambled over the rocks until she stood on a tiny bay, a small wooden rowing boat lodged neatly beside a rock on the white sand.
In the distance she could see the vague silhouette of another island, and the hypnotic pull it seemed to hold on her was enough to confirm that it was Frayne's Island.
'It's there!' she called out, pointing at the island.
Sirius groaned out loud as he looked in the direction she was pointing. The grey sky, the ominously choppy waves that were crashing against the rocks and the distant mist left every atom in his body screaming that it was a bad idea.
He looked at Alina's sparkling eyes, her wide smile and relaxed stance.
'Okay then' he replied tightly 'and how are we going to get there?'
'The boat of course!' Alina called.
Sirius groaned once again, this time simultaneously to Bill, as both of their eyes followed Alina to the wreck of what appeared to be a makeshift raft.
'Come on!' she called.
'You better be right about this' Sirius muttered to Bill.
'Why are you sitting like that?' Alina asked curiously, looking at the three men who were huddled tightly in the middle of the boat.
'So we don't fall out!' Sirius replied, gritting his teeth as a wave caused them to lurch.
Alina rolled her eyes, the boat was perfectly sturdy around them.
'How long do you think this will take? Are we close?' Bill asked Alina.
'We're getting there, we're nearly half wa – ARGH!'
Almost as if the boat had hit an invisible barrier, everything around them suddenly changed.
The blue sky and the beaming sun were replaced by jet black, furious clouds. A cacophony of thunderous crashes erupted above them and the sky almost seemed to open up, as torrential rain launched itself down on them, the thick drops almost piercing their skin.
'WHAT THE FU –' Sirius' voice was muffled as a humongous wave nearly swallowed the tiny boat, causing Alina to scream out in terror.
'DO SOMETHING!' she screamed, to no one in particular.
'I THINK IT'S A TEMPEST CURSE – BUT – BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE THIS POWERFUL –'Bill cried, his wand firmly gripped in his hand as he began to mutter a complicated flurry of spells under his breath.
Another wave hit them and even Moody cried out as the boat tipped dangerously, only barely regaining its balance.
'WHAT SHOULD I DO? I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO?' Alina screamed helplessly, as she clutched to the side of the boat.
Amongst it all, Bill stood tall, grasping Sirius for support as he held his wand above his head, his muttering never ceasing, and his eyes wide with unadulterated fear.
'Pluvia Ararita, absque omni strepito, terrore, clamore et foetore'
Alina watched in desperation as Bill began to sway alarmingly, his face, if possible, paling even further and his arm trembling violently.
'Descedo, Abeo, Abite!' his entire body shuddered as another wave attacked their boat 'ABEO PROCELLA!'
At his final cry something changed; for no more than a second, the wind fell quiet, the rain faltered and the constant rumbling of thunder ceased.
And then it was back.
With Vengeance.
It was as if they had angered the storm.
'BILL DO IT AGAIN…IT WAS WORKING!' Alina cried, as a particular powerful gust of wind threw her to the floor of the boat with a painful crunch as her skull connected with the wood.
'I – I – I'M TRYING' Bill yelled back, but his voice was weakening, his knees were trembling and his lips were a blackish-blue 'A-ABEO PROCELLA! A-ABEO…ABEO…'
A sob choked in Alina's throat as she watched as Bill's knees threatened to give way beneath him, this was their only chance…and he had no energy…no more power.
'Your power is the key.'
The words crashed around her as if part of the storm, and her eyes flew open.
'SIRIUS! WE NEED TO HELP HIM' she screamed 'MOODY, COME ON!'
She dragged herself towards Bill, who appeared in danger of falling overboard, the boat launching to the side almost causing her to roll off of the edge.
She reached the red- headed man, pulling herself to her knees she clutched his free hand and extended her wand.
Bill's eyes shot to her own, the fear and panic mirroring her own.
'TOGETHER!' she screamed, and he nodded as a sob left his throat.
We will not die here.
Sirius' voice entered her mind, and she clung to the connection, the part of each other's soul that they possessed as their own like a lifeline.
We are stronger than this.
'EVERYONE TOGETHER!' Moody bellowed.
Alina felt Sirius' hand clutch her shoulder and she knew that Moody was in the same way connected to him.
'ONE…' Moody cried.
'TWO…' a tremendous clap of thunder followed his shout.
'THREE!'
Together, their voices barely audible under the wrath of the storm…
'ALBEO PROCELLA!'
Salty tears mixed with the rain on her cheeks as the excursion of the spell tore away her remaining energy and her eyes widened as a huge pulse of energy surrounded their boat and expanded outwards, stretching out into the wildness of the storm.
There was a terrific eruption of thunder, and an almighty flash of lightning, and then silence.
The darkness lifted from around them, the sea fell tranquil and still and the rain stopped falling.
Not one of them spoke. For how long they lay, collapsed against the wooden bottom of the boat, they were unsure of. All that could be heard was the sounds of heavy breathing, spluttering and the cries of sea gulls.
Alina flinched as the sunlight invaded her eyelids, burning into them with its cheery falseness.
'I-Is everyone all right?' Bill finally breathed.
'Bloody Storms' Moody cursed, earning a slightly hysterical laugh of agreement from Sirius.
'Erm…what was that?' Alina called, as with a tiny bump, the boat appeared to connect with something solid and fall to a stand still. She pulled herself upright and allowed her eyes to roam around them.
'I think we're here!'
The scrambling of the three men caused the boat to rock slightly and they all stared in silence at the nearing shore line.
'Frayne's Island'
A/N: I cannot apologise any harder for how long this has taken to update! Basically, somehow the first ten chapters of Unconditional were replaced with the first ten of Timeless - which obviosly would not only make no sense but would ruin the ending of Unconditional for any readers! The laptop I wrote Unconditional on is entirely no more, so I had to re-write the first ten chapters! And then the last ten chapters had all muddled up :S! So basically I had to return to the very beginning and that is why this is SO late!
I hope you enjoy the chapter, let me know you're still here and what you think!