70
Lake of Fire
"I really hate History of Magic," Arthur groaned, scowling down at his textbook. He was speaking to his best friend, Nate Grimsby, who had finally caught up on his missed half of a year of school, thanks to a Time Turner and the help of his professors. The two boys, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, exchanged wry grins, agreeing on their most hated subject. They were accompanied by Ravenclaw Misty Fielding, who though shy and quiet, enjoyed helping them with their homework.
It was about a week since Misty's encounter with her cheating Housemate and the two Slytherin accomplices. Since then she had been careful not to go anywhere alone, as per Snape's instructions, but so far neither of the girls had sought revenge on her, or had sent anyone else to do so. The three were sitting in the courtyard of the castle, on small stone benches next to a round table, since the weather was mild and all of them were tired of being cooped up in the castle.
"We have an awful lot of homework in Astronomy this year," said Misty, having just finished her assignment, three feet of parchment on how the conjunction of planets affected one's magic and how the conjunctions varied depending upon the season and the time. She looked quizzically at Arthur. "I can help you with your History of Magic if you'd like. I can quiz you on the chapters."
Arthur slowly nodded. "All right. I hate studying for it 'cause the book is so dry and dull, I wish we had another book to read that made things more interesting. But . . . I guess we'll just have to make do." He handed her his copy of the History of Magic text.
She began to thumb through it, scanning the information rapidly. That was one of her strengths, the ability to read swiftly and comprehend everything she read. It was part of why she had been Sorted into Ravenclaw. The other reason was because she valued books and learning above all else, and would often go without food or sleep to finish a project or learn a new spell. Until that year, books had been her only companions, as she was shy and awkward around most other girls—and boys—her age or older. She was also shy around adults, the one exception to this was her potions teacher, whom she sensed was a kindred spirit and worshipper of the written word in any form. It was odd, but while he could be intimidating as hell to rule breakers, Fielding was not scared of him any longer. He had not torn strips out her for her clumsiness that day which had resulted in him getting badly burned, and he had defended her from the cheaters a few days ago, even those of his own House.
Arthur had also informed her that Severus hated bullies with a passion, and said he liked students who were obedient and worked up to their full potential. Misty had been taught to respect teachers and she never slacked on her studies. Unlike Arthur, who sometimes "forgot" to do his homework in classes he disliked, like History of Magic and Astronomy, and sometimes passed the time doodling in the margins of his notebook instead of paying attention in class.
Nate was somewhere inbetween a scholar and a joker, or at least he had been before the potions accident almost killed him. Now he was more serious, though he did like to tease Arthur on occasion and he enjoyed giving nicknames to people. He had a wicked sense of humor and could be sarcastic if he thought people were making fun of him or of his friends. He was loyal to a fault and would give you the shirt off his back if needed. He called Arthur "Bulldog" for his stubbornness and tenacity and Misty was dubbed "Miss Encyclopedia" for her thirst for knowledge. He called himself Grimskull, a play on both his last name and the fact that he still had some scarring on his face that made some people look at him with pity or revulsion.
Misty had just started to ask Arthur some simple questions about the Goblin rebellion of 1592 when three fourth years, boys from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, bored and looking for an excuse to start trouble came by. They were all rich purebloods, children of privilege who looked down upon any half-bloods or Muggleborns who had the audacity to outperform them in class or any who did not show them the "proper" respect. They were not quite Death Eaters, but they did not disagree with the propaganda that Muggleborns were inferior and any who befriended them traitors to wizardkind.
"Well, well, look who it is," sniggered a tall boy with a shock of golden hair and icy blue eyes wearing the Ravenclaw eagle. "Misty the Menace and her little friends—Stupid Stephens and Grimsby the Grotesque. What are you studying there, Fielding? A book on how to make real friends?"
"None of your business, Torrence," Misty told him firmly. "Now move, you're blocking my light."
"Oooh, so sorry, Miss Mudbrain, I forgot how important it is that you read to your imbecile friends since between them they share a brain and it makes learning anything twice as hard. Right, fellas?" brayed Torrence, his blue eyes glinting diamond hard.
The Slytherin, Ethan Wyverly, was a handsome boy with reddish hair and gray eyes, he played Chaser for the Slytherin Quidditch team. He sneered at the threesome and laughed mockingly. "Haven't you learned to read yet, Stephens? Or does your little doxy do all your homework for you? I've heard Mudbloods are extra stupid, and the only reason Snape took you in was because he felt sorry for you. Poor little baby, he lost his mama and papa and his sisters! Boo hoo!"
Before Nate could grab him Arthur was on his feet, his fist clenched. "Shut your bloody face, Wyverly, you pathetic prat! I've heard you still need alphabet cards to spell with, because your mama slept with her first cousin, and you're the result—all looks and nobody's home upstairs."
"Mind your mouth, you filthy Mudblood!" growled Eustace Pemberly, a Gryffindor who had long brown hair, muddy brown eyes, and a twisted grin. He was tall and broad and had girls sighing over him.
"Pemberly, shut your pie hole!" ordered Nate. "I've heard on holiday you go home to your papa's estate and sleep with pigs when you're naughty. No wonder why there's such a stench!" he wrinkled his nose. "I can smell you a yard away! Peeyew! Guess you forgot to take your weekly bath, and Lord, does it show! Go drown yourself in the lake, Pig Breath!"
Pemberly drew his wand. "Say that again, Grimsby you little troll, and I'll stick your ugly mug into another boiling cauldron and let your face melt off!"
Nate rose, his eyes flashing. "You and what army, you pig's arse?"
"Ooh, looks like Goblin Face is getting a little hot under the collar!" brayed Torrence. "Why don't you cool off, ugly puss?" With that, he sprayed Grimsby with a strong jet of freezing water, soaking the smaller boy and knocking him down.
"Torrence, you . . . you . . . bugger!" Misty cried, outraged. "Leave Nate alone and go boff a tree stump!" Furious, she shoved the book in her satchel and glared angrily at the three boys.
"Tsk. Tsk. Such language!" Wyverly shook a finger at her reprovingly. "Didn't your mother ever tell you ladies don't use words like that, you Mudblood loving tart?" he spun his wand lazily and muttered, "Scourgify!"
Instantly Misty's mouth filled with pink soap bubbles and she began choking.
Arthur saw red. Not caring that Wyverly was older and bigger, he cast a Repelling Hex on the other boy, knocking the shocked Slytherin on his arrogant ass. Then the smaller boy, still in a temper, hurled himself on top of Wyverly and proceeded to punch him in the eye and mouth. "Cancel the spell, you bloody viper!" he screeched. "You want to kill her?"
"Get off me, you crazy bugger!" gasped Wyverly, trying to avoid Arthur's punches. "You gonna bawl if she dies, Gryffie? Like you did over your mum? I heard she gave the Dark Lord's lieutenants a good ride before she croaked—"
Suddenly his mouth was filled with a disgusting brown substance. He began spitting and choking violently.
"Eat dung, you pathetic bastard!" Arthur snarled. "Nobody talks like that about my mother!" He had learned that little gem from Regulus.
Nate had managed to cancel the spell on Misty, then fired off a hex at Torrence.
Misty, sensing that the fight was getting out of control and worried about her friends, raced off to get more help from some other students or even a teacher if she could find one.
Pemberly, seeing that Arthur was getting the better of Wyverly, an unforgivable sin, cried, "Take this, you little freak!" He spoke several words rapidly in Latin, and sparks exploded from his wand, growing into sharp splinters, that impaled the still struggling first year with several large barbed quills from a mystical prickly plant.
Arthur screamed as the six-inch quills buried themselves in his shoulders, back, and buttocks. Not only were the quills barbed, they also contained a poison that caused a temporary weakening of the muscles. Arthur felt his arms and legs suddenly fold up like strands of limp spaghetti.
Wyverly easily heaved the smaller boy off of him, then went to pound Arthur's lights out.
Only to be kicked in backside by Nate, who cast a Body Bind and immobilized the vicious Slytherin.
Torrence was on the ground, bleeding from a split lip and cradling a sprained wrist. The Ravenclaw was unused to physical fighting and Nate had caught him off guard and mopped the ground with him.
"Looks like it's just you and me now, Orc Face," sniggered Pemberly.
Before Nate could reply, someone else did. "Gentlemen, just what in Merlin's holy name is going on here?" demanded Minerva McGonagall, her face was a study in ice cold fury. "More unauthorized dueling? I had thought the Headmaster made it perfectly clear that your wands were to be used strictly for practice and not to harm one another." She cast disapproving glances at Pemberly, Nate, and the rest of them.
Misty, who was standing behind her, gave a soft cry when she caught sight of Arthur, lying still on the ground with the quills protruding from him like an overstuffed pincushion. "Art! Merlin have mercy!"
"Which one of you cast the first hex?" asked an irate Deputy Headmistress.
"Torrence," Nate said. "We were minding our own business studying and they came over and started with us."
"Professor, he's lying," Torrence protested. "I only came over to convince my Housemate that she shouldn't be hanging around the likes of these two riffraff." He gestured to his face and arm. "Look at what that bloody badger did to me!"
"I am looking, Mr. Torrence. Go to the Hospital Wing." She Transfigured some twigs into stretchers and levitated Wyverly and Arthur onto them. "Miss Fielding, Mr. Grimsby, Mr. Pemberly, meet me in my office. Give me your wands first."
They all placed their wands in her hand and she pocketed them. She pointed her own at the stretchers and intoned, "Mobili Corpus!"
The stretchers rose into the air and floated after her as she turned to enter the castle. The three students followed, apprehensive and sullen.
On their way to the Hospital Wing, they met Severus, who was just coming down from the Owlery, posting his weekly letter to Lily. "Professor McGonagall, what happened here?" he asked, his eyebrows rising.
"More brawling, Severus. I believe your ward caught the worst of it," she replied grimly, indicating Arthur.
Severus scowled angrily when he caught sight of the young boy. "Those are prickly plant barbs. Who did that to him?"
"I don't know, but I intended to have some answers soon," Minerva said.
Severus nodded, then said, "Allow me to tend him, Minerva. Those barbs need to be removed immediately, and Poppy is in a meeting over at St. Mungo's. The other two can wait till she returns."
"Very well. But I wish to speak with Mr. Stephens once he's better," Minerva declared. "This is the third time in a month that he has been in a brawl, Severus!"
"I'm aware of it, and I assure you, I intend to speak to him about it." Severus informed her wearily. He knew well about Arthur's new penchant for getting into fights, though to the boy's credit, they usually weren't with magic and weren't instigated by him. Arthur had a quick temper when he saw rich bullies ganging up on someone smaller or weaker than they, and when his blood was up he tended to jump into a conflict feet first. But right then Severus was more concerned about helping his poor ward than he was about scolding him. That could wait.
He waved his wand and the stretcher followed him down the stairs to his quarters. Arthur moaned softly. "Severus . . . it hurts . . ."
"I know. I'm going to do something about it as soon as I can. Just hold on," Severus murmured, trying to sound reassuring. He knew the poor boy was going to be in more pain before he was through and he cursed the person who had done such a thing to the eleven year old.
Finally they reached his quarters, and as soon as they were inside, the professor cast a Privacy Charm over the room, which would prevent anyone from eavesdropping on anything going on. Severus cleared away the magazines and parchment scattered on the coffee table, enlarged it and then settled the stretcher upon it. He then Summoned a pair of needlenose tweezers, a vial of Calming Draught, a Pain Reliever, an antibacterial potion, and some quick-healing salve.
The professor rolled up his sleeves, casting a disinfecting charm over the tweezers. He moved over to the boy, gently lifting his head. "Arthur, listen to me. I'm going to give you a Calming Draught and a Pain Reliever. Those will help take the edge off the pain when I extract the barbs."
"I feel sick, Severus. My head feels fuzzy and my arms and legs don't want to move."
Severus gently stroked the boy's forehead. "That's the poison in the prickly plant barbs, little brother. Now, the sooner I get them out, the better you'll feel. It's going to hurt a lot, I'm afraid. But it has to be done."
The boy turned his head, his eyes wide. "Can't you just . . . I don't know . . . put me under with a potion? So I won't feel it?"
"Ah . . . I wish I could. But any potion I could give you might react badly with the poison and I don't want to risk you going into a coma or becoming permanently paralyzed. So . . . you'll just have to grit your teeth, boy. I promise I'll be as quick as I can."
"How . . . many of the things are there?" Arthur sniffled.
Severus counted. "Sixteen." He gave the boy the potions, then Banished the child's clothing. The flesh about the barbs was already swollen and red. Severus sighed, then unbuckled his belt. Folding it in half, he placed it in front of Arthur's mouth. "Bite down on this, Art, if the pain gets too bad."
Arthur whimpered. "Sev . . . I'm scared . . ."
"Hush. Just relax." Severus soothed. He waited until the boy had placed the belt between his teeth before saying, "Try and focus on something pleasant. Ready?"
Severus pulled out the first barb. "One."
Arthur howled, grinding his teeth down on the leather. Tears dripped from his eyes.
Halfway through the procedure, Severus paused to wipe the tears from the boy's face. "Easy, little brother. I'm almost done."
"Sev, please . . . don't . . ." Arthur sobbed.
"I'm sorry. Here, have some more Pain Reliever." Severus gently removed the belt, wincing at the marks in the leather. He coaxed Arthur to swallow half the vial, then returned to his hated task. By the time all the barbs were out, sweat was trickling down the back of Severus' neck and Arthur was gasping and sobbing hysterically.
"Damn it all!" Severus swore. He hated that he had caused the child so much pain and he still needed to disinfect the punctures. He stroked the child's head. "All right. Relax. They're all out. Now I just have to . . . put some disinfectant on them."
"The . . . purple potion?" Arthur cried. "No! NO!"
"Art, I have to. They're puncture wounds and those tend to get infected more easily," Severus explained.
"No-o! I don't need it!" the child wailed. "It'll make them hurt worse!"
"Only for a time."
"Leave me alone! You're mean and nasty!"
"Do you think I like having to cause you pain?" inquired his guardian softly.
"Yes! Otherwise you wouldn't put that stuff on me."
"Arthur Stephens, it's for your own good. I would never do so unless it was necessary. Now stop fighting me."
"I hate you, Severus!"
Severus ignored that, knowing full well the boy didn't mean it. "Shhh." Then another idea came to him. He turned around and tossed down a handful of Floo Powder. "Dickon Marsh's quarters." He thrust his head into the flickering green flames. "Dad? Are you there?"
"Severus? What's wrong?" Dickon asked sleepily, he had been napping because he had class tonight.
"Dad, I need your help with Arthur . . ."
Dickon listened closely while Severus explained what had happened. "I'll be right over. Maybe I can distract the tyke."
A few moments later, Dickon had come through and was sitting upon the table, Arthur's head in his lap, stroking the boy's hair and murmuring, "There there, lad. You know Sev would never hurt you if he had a choice, don't you?"
"Tell him I don't need the purple potion, Dickon," the poor boy whimpered. "He'll listen to you, you're his father!"
"Ah, lad, I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Sev is right."
"No, he's not! Where's Madam Pomfrey?"
"She's in a meeting, Arthur. And she wouldn't have done any differently than I have," Severus sighed. "Come now, be a brave Gryffindor one more time."
"I . . . I don't want to . . ." Arthur sniffled, his lower lip trembling.
Dickon carded his hair, then said, "Arthur, I have a story to tell you . . ." He began telling a long rambling tale about a comet's travels through the solar system, improvising as best he could, keeping the boy's attention focused upon his voice as much as possible.
Severus quickly swabbed out the punctures while Dickon talked, closing his ears to his ward's cries. As swiftly as he could, he finished the unpleasant task and applied the soothing healing salve. Then he placed a light sheet over the boy and said, "It's over."
Arthur managed to make himself quit crying once he realized the terrible fiery pain was gone. "Sev . . . I'm sorry . . . I don't hate you . . ."
Severus chuckled softly. "I'm glad to hear it. Now, you need some sleep after that ordeal. When you wake up, we'll discuss what happened."
"Severus, am I in trouble?" Arthur queried worriedly.
"Go to sleep, Arthur. We can discuss what kind of trouble you are or aren't in later," ordered Severus.
He picked up the boy and carried him into the bedroom. Arthur was asleep before Severus drew a blanket over him.
"He should be all right after a day or so," Dickon said.
Severus nodded wearily. "By then I'll have spoken with the others involved and gotten to the bottom of this mess." He shook his head. "It's growing worse, this constant fighting among the students. Like it was back when I was in school."
"Aye, lad. I'll watch my back and you do the same." Dickon said gravely.
"I always do," Severus replied, thinking it was time to cast another layer of protective wards over his storeroom and office. "Thank goodness Arthur wasn't hurt more. When I find out who cast that hex, Wyverly better pray it wasn't him, because I'll give him a month's detention. I might just do that anyhow, because of his nasty attitude."
Dickon nodded. "You've got to keep order in your House, Sev. But remember this—a kid like that isn't going to change his mind about purebloods being better than everybody else, he's been raised with that kind of thing his whole life. And he's probably insecure, which is why he feels the need to go around looking down his nose at Muggleborns and half-bloods and anyone calling them equal."
"He's an ignorant lout, for all his precious breeding," Severus sneered. "I know my detentions won't change his prejudiced mind, but they will keep him out of trouble and that's what I need for now. I'll have another talk with Arthur too about staying out of conflicts like this."
"He could have been provoked."
"I have no doubt he was, but he needs to learn to walk away whenever possible. Someday the ones antagonizing him won't be casting to injure, they'll be casting to maim or kill. Then that bulldog stubbornness will get him killed."
"You're right, Sev. Just don't be too hard on the lad." Dickon advised.
Severus snorted. "I'll give him what he's earned, Dad. No more and no less. That hex taught him more sharply than I ever could."
"Aye, I'd say so. Experience is usually the best teacher," said the Astronomy professor. He yawned. "Well, I think I'll go back to sleep for a bit. I had barely shut my eyes before you called me."
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't have woken you if I'd known, but . . ."
"'Twas nothing, Sev. Anytime you need me," Dickon waved off his apology, gave him a smile, then departed through the Floo.
Severus sat down with his head in his hands for a few minutes, gathering his thoughts. Voldemort's influence was growing, like a slowly spreading cancer, it had infiltrated the minds of the young, expressing itself in violence, bigotry, and intolerance for any who were not like themselves. That, to Severus was an even greater danger than the Death Eaters who preyed upon Muggleborns and their friends and allies. Because one could be faced and defeated with so much firepower, but the other crept up unaware and took no prisoners, corrupting minds and hearts.
Severus despaired that any words or actions of his could turn the tide, as more and more purebloods joined Voldemort's unholy cause and their children followed in their wake. Severus did what he could, protected those of his House whose families were not pureblood supremacists, and sought to sway the others to tolerance, but he feared all his efforts would be in vain.
His anger simmering, he rose and headed towards the Hospital Wing to see how his wayward Slytherin was faring, and then he would take Wyverly to Minerva's office and get to the bottom of this current incident.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
After speaking with both Misty and Nate, as well as questioning Pemberly, Torrence, and Wyverly separately, Minerva and Severus came to the decision that the younger pupils were defending themselves against the three older boys. Minerva was especially furious at the harm Pemberly had done to Arthur, and she took fifty points and gave him detention for a month. Severus also gave detention to Wyverly for the same amount of time and took forty points from both his House and Ravenclaw. Minerva suggested Torrence serve the same sentence as Wyverly, and the two teachers split the detentions between them.
"Also, one more incident like this, boys, and you shall all have your wands snapped. This is your final warning. Your wands are mine unless you need to study or are in class." Minerva said menacingly.
All three boys groaned and looked upset.
"You'd expel us over Stephens?" wailed Pemberly. "He started it! And it's not like I killed him, the little baby!"
"What you did, Pemberly, shows you to be a bigot and a coward," Severus interrupted, his voice cold as an arctic gale. "Hex my ward again and I shall take you off the grounds and have you see what it's like to duel an opponent who can actually fight back with magic." His black eyes blazed. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Y-yes, Professor!" whimpered Pemberly, staring at Snape as if he were Lucifer reborn.
"Severus!" reproved Minerva gently, but there was no real censor to her tone. She rather agreed with Snape, though of course she could not say so.
Severus met her eyes and hissed softly, "I meant what I said. No one harms my ward and gets away with it. He is nearly of age and knows better."
Wyverly sneered at the Gryffindor. "Gutless idiot!" he growled. He was afraid of his Head also, but he would never disgrace himself by showing it.
Torrence remained silent, not wishing to draw more of Snape's wrath down upon his head.
"Professor Snape, is Arthur all right?" asked Nate, concerned.
"He will be by tomorrow, hopefully. You may come and visit then, Grimsby. You also, Fielding."
Misty smiled shyly and thanked him. She ignored the single glance of retribution her Housemate threw at her before she departed.
Grimsby glared in return and followed Misty, not wanting her to walk alone.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Snape cottage
Hogsmeade:
Lily awoke with a sense of foreboding hovering over her. Once again she had dreamed of the lake of fire and Regulus and she rowing across in the boat. The dream had been so vivid that she could almost feel the lick of the flames upon her skin and smell the slick oil and burnt stench of flesh rotting. She had woken drenched in sweat, her stomach in an uproar. After vomiting, she had made herself some ginger tea and sipped it. Her nerves were on edge, and she wished desperately to see her husband. But something kept her from Flooing or owling Severus. She knew that the vividness of her vision that day meant it would occur very soon. Perhaps even today or tomorrow.
He has hidden them there, a small knowing voice whispered in her mind. The thought was accompanied by a swift glimpse of a tall dark-haired man, his face handsome and cruel with fathomless eyes, dropping a silver locket and a ring into a basin of silvery liquid. Then the image faded, leaving behind a terrible compulsion.
She had to find those objects and destroy them. But she could not do so alone. She needed Regulus. Regulus would be her guide. He alone knew the way. She moved as quickly as she could, dressing in the special rune-marked tunic and breeches she had made weeks ago with Eileen's help. The outfit was made with flame retardant fabric, black with golden runes upon it for protection, immunity to fire, and resistant to sharp objects . . . like claws and teeth. She took several potions for Fire Resistance and another to repel creatures from the abyss. She packed a small satchel with healing salves and Pain Relievers. Then she tucked her wand in her belt. Her magic was stirring, quivering with the force of her vision.
It was time. Time to find Regulus.
She gently put a hand upon her swollen belly. "Go to sleep, baby. Mama's going to take a little trip and it's best if you sleep through it."
Inside her, she felt the life within turn and squirm before settling down. She Summoned quill, ink, and parchment and wrote a note for her husband, in case he chanced to stop by the cottage before she returned. She wrote a few lines, not mentioning the vision by name but using enough of a euphemism for it that Severus would know what she meant. She knew her husband would not be happy with her decision to go to the dark cave pregnant, but there was no time left.
She had no time to go to Hogwarts, no time to tell him goodbye, no time for anything except gathering what she needed and then fetching Regulus. Urgency beat a terrible tempo inside her head. She Flooed into Regulus' home, giving Regulus' owl a fond smile.
"Reg? Are you home?"
"Yes," came his quiet voice. He walked into the den. He was wearing plain buff colored trousers and a deep green shirt with a tan robe over it. His hair was tousled and he looked as if he had been asleep. "Lily, what a surprise!" he grinned. "What brings you here? Sev all right?"
"He's fine. He's up at the school teaching. How's Cindy?"
"Doing well. She's gone to visit her mum and family. Have a seat." Regulus gestured to the couch. "You seem a little . . . nervous. Is something wrong?"
"Reg, remember the dream I had several months ago? The one about the boat and the lake of fire?"
"Sure. You said I was in the boat with you and we were crossing the lake to get to the island and the stone basin. Why?"
"Because today is when we must fulfill it."
"Today?" sputtered the wizard. "Merlin, Lily! Are you certain?"
"Yes." Before she hadn't been completely sure, but even as she spoke, the indecision vanished to be replaced by utter conviction.
"What does Sev say about this?"
"He knows about the vision. But not that it will be fulfilled today. I . . . I left him a note."
"A note? God, Lily! You could . . . we could be in grave danger and you just left him a note? I'm going to tell Cindy goodbye, at least."
"No!" she grabbed his sleeve, her emerald eyes piercing him. "There isn't time for that. We must go . . . soon! Get the suit I made for you, the one with the runes and take me to the cave."
"Lily, why are you in such an all fired rush? That cave is dangerous. There's no telling what the Dark Lord set to guard that place."
Once again, Lily felt the same terrible urgency pierce her like a lance. "Regulus, we only have a limited amount of time to . . . to do what we must. Hurry! Before it's too late!"
Regulus swore under his breath, but then went and put on an outfit similar to Lily's. He also left a letter for Cindy, praying he would be back before Cindy came home. He wished he could persuade Lily to wait, but knew that was impossible. "All right. I'm ready," he said, returning to the den where Lily was pacing. He had returned to the cave once more with Voldemort, so he was reasonably sure he could Apparate to it with Lily.
Lily turned and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Go ahead, Reg."
Regulus concentrated, fixing the cave in his mind.
An instant later he vanished in a flicker of blue, and Lily went with him.
They arrived on the shore of the underground lake, and shadows hung deeply about the water that lapped up near their toes. The feeling of danger and evil was even more pronounced now than it had been the last time Regulus was here. Beside him, Lily shivered. He hugged her briefly. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Lily smiled. "And I'll protect you." She drew her wand. Then she squinted as she lit it up. "There's a large rock there in the middle."
"I know. That's where the basin is."
"How do you call the boat?"
Regulus was silent for a few moments. Then he put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, perfectly imitating the sound Voldemort had used to call the boat.
Out in the gloom, something stirred.
Then a small boat glided across the surface of the lake, silently, without oars. It was painted a dismal gray and had a dragon prow. It beached itself upon the rocky shoal and Regulus and Lily carefully stepped into it and sat down.
As the boat began to glide noiselessly towards their destination, Lily began chanting softly, activating certain protections. Her voice seemed to echo around the cavern and the shadows stirred restlessly, irritated by the witch's casting.
Before Regulus could tell Lily to be quiet, there came an odd hiss, as if someone had struck a match, and then the whole lake exploded with fire.
Lily shrieked and threw up a hand to shield her face. Flames danced upon the surface of the water, which was slick with oil of some sort. They surrounded the boat and began lick up the side of it. Lily gasped, for the fire was making it hard to breathe.
But before she could speak, several Inferi arose from the flames, their claws outstretched, a low moaning coming from their ravaged throats. One of them grabbed hold of her sleeve and she snarled and thrust a hand out. Power soundlessly surged from her hands and blasted the Inferi, knocking it backwards.
Behind her, she heard Regulus shouting something, then there was a splash as the Inferi fell into the flames. She trained her wand upon the shambling row of Inferi, which were blazing brightly, and hoped her vision would come to pass. Then she began to fight in earnest.
I know it's been a long time, and hope you are still reading! I have been very busy lately, please let me know how you liked this chapter! What do you think Severus will say/do to Arthur? And will Lily and Regulus make it across the lake?