Guys, you are so amazing! I got 14 reviews for the last chapter! I'm... overwhelmed! Thank you so much! Also to those who read, fav'd, alerted...

Answer to our question of last week (what does she look like?) can be found at the end of this chapter for all those interested.

Those who aren't interested: I'll stop rambling now, here's chapter 22:


I tossed the Prophet away, repulsed by the news. Three muggles murdered down in Southampton. Another child bitten by a werewolf in Stoke-on-Trent. The giants were out of control. So called 'blood-traitors' and 'mudbloods' were being murdered on a daily basis.

And I knew all too well who was responsible for all of it.

"LORRAINE!"

I jumped up and followed the voice at once as he called for me. "Yeah?"

"Come on in. I want to give something to you."

I frowned. "Like – a present?"

"No."

"Then, what is it?"

He looked up to me and my gaze fell to the small book he held in his hands. It was the diary I had gotten him when we had been in fourth year. It seemed like forever ago.

"I want to give this to you. For safekeeping."

"Haven't you learnt from the last time?"

He seemed a little surprised. "Why, you kept it safe well enough, until I left you. And I'm not going to leave you ever again, so I think it to be quite safe with you."

I swallowed hard and then reached out my hand to take it.

He pulled it back, his eyes boring into mine. "Can I trust you?"

He accentuated each word and I raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course you can."

He nodded slowly and handed me the book. I felt the power pulsing through it and gulped. I had almost forgotten how it felt to hold a horcrux.

"What are you going to do with the others?"

He cocked his head to the side and smiled slightly. "I'm gonna give the cup to the Lestranges. They are to hide it in their Gringotts vault."

I had to swallow down my jealousy again. "Do you tell them? What it is?"

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I won't."

"Well, you told me."

"That's something quite different, don't you think?" He leant forward and quickly kissed me on the lips. "Something quite different."

I smiled brightly at him – there it was, one of these rare moments when he was actually... sweet? – but he was back to normal pretty quickly.

"And once I have made sure they are all safe – I'm going to create the last."


My eyes widened in horror as I listened to what Snape had overheard.

"...and then, milord, I'm sorry, I was found and kicked out, but..."

"Parents that escaped me three times... who? Bellatrix, who?"

Bella stared at him with wide eyes and after a while whispered, "These Aurors, milord – the Longbottoms? And that James Potter – he's got a wife, doesn't he? What about... Sirius Black?"

"Black's not married," I said silently.

"So? And the others?"

"Both women pregnant."

"So what?" he asked. "Which one?"

Snape shook his head, slowly. "I don't know. There's no more hint..."

Tom groaned and started pacing up and down. "There's gotta be more!"

"No, milord, I swear-"

Tom waved his hand impatiently, causing Snape to fall silent at once.

"Fine, then. I'll just have to pick, have I?"

I took a few steps toward him. "Tom," I whispered. "Please – we should... wait. We can't judge like that, can we? We should wait – see their kids develop – we don't even know if it's gonna be a boy or not..."

"Fine," he said. "We can wait until we know that, at least."

"Tom-"

"I WANT TO HEAR NO MORE!"

I inclined my head lightly. Fine, if he wanted it like that, he could have it.


"It's the Potters."

"What? Why?"

Tom shrugged. "They're both boys... I guess it's the Potter's boys, though."

"And why?"

"I don't – I just have a feeling, all right?"

"No, not all right. I still think we should wait..."

"I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT!"

I stared at him, open-mouthed, but pulled myself together relatively quickly. "Yeah? What's the baby gonna do, Tom?"

"I'm gonna finish this before it becomes a real threat."

I shook my head slightly. "You know, Tom, those prophecies only get fulfilled if you fulfil them-"

"That's nonsense."

"No, it's not. Do you honestly think that every prophecy ever made got fulfilled? Of course not! If you'd just leave him alone-"

"Lorraine," he said in a low whisper. "I won't let someone run around alive who could possibly kill me."

"But you can't be killed, Tom," I said. "You're immortal, aren't you?"

"Well, I'd like to think so."

I looked at him, pleading. "Please, Tom, please – don't. It's just a baby... a baby, Tom, you can't-"

"Have you decided, milord?"

We whirled around to see Severus Snape standing in the doorway.

"Yes," Tom said. "Yes, indeed. I am sure that it is that Potter boy."

"The Potter-"

"So, all I need to do is to find them – and kill them. Kill them all, better to have clean break."

Snape paled instantly, but didn't say anything.

"You don't have to kill them all," I said instead. "You don't – please, Tom, please just don't."

He shook his head with a cold, cruel smile. "It's no use, Lorraine. I shall do as I see fit."


"Fidelius Charm?"

"Yes, they put the Fidelius Charm on it..."

"WHO?" Tom bellowed. "Who is their Secret-Keeper? WHO?"

"I-I don't know, milord-"

"CRUCIO!"

"TOM!"

His red eyes flickered to me. "Piece of advice – shut up!"

"I – I bet it's Potter's best friend, milord. Sirius Black. They're very good friends indeed... and Black himself has gone into hiding..."

I swallowed hard. "Wouldn't that be very obvious? Make it your best friend... that's much too obvious."

Tom's eyes met mine. "Maybe you're right. Who would you have picked?"

"Dumbledore," I said without hesitation. "Sure thing he wouldn't be captured. But I don't know that James Potter, maybe he prefers a friend..."

Tom started pacing up and down once again. "I need to know... need to find out..."

Another Death Eater entered the room, bowing slightly. "Milord – Peter Pettigrew wants a word-"

"I don't have time for him."

"He says it's important. Says it's good news."

Tom groaned. "Fine. Fine then, I need some good news."

Pettigrew was a small, rather round man with a face like a rat. He smiled broadly as he entered and bowed. "Milord – splendid news."

"Spill, Wormtail, I don't have all day."

"Milord, I can tell you where the Potters are."

We all froze and Tom's eyes started glittering. "How?"

"They made me their Secret-Keeper."

I groaned. So, James Potter indeed was an idiot – Peter Pettigrew? Everyone who looked at him could see that he was easily broken.

"Wormtail," Tom whispered. "You are right. This is really splendid news."


Tom grabbed his heavy, dark cloak from the chair.

"Please," I whispered. "Please be careful-"

"Honestly, Lorraine, what should happen to me? I'm the most powerful wizard that ever lived."

I didn't quite agree with him there – in my opinion that was Dumbledore – but I didn't dare to argue with him on that.

"Please... just – just be careful, I have a bad feeling about this."

"Would you please calm down? Nothing's going to happen to me."

He had pulled on the cloak and reached out for his wand lying on the table.

"I'm all calm. Still-"

"Lorraine! Smile for me – very good. And wish me good luck. Not that I need it."

"You don't have to kill them," I whispered, my last attempt to change his mind. "Just don't kill the parents-"

"They'll fight."

"Just stun them or something-"

"I promised Severus I'd spare the woman. That's what I'm gonna do... I'll offer her to step aside."

"She won't."

"Why? Of course she will!"

I sighed. "You don't understand – if it's for her child-"

"Why would she choose death over live?" He stood in front of me, smirking coldly. "Is it love again?"

"Yes it is love! Of course she would choose to die if she could protect her son with that!"

He huffed and turned away. "I'll see you later tonight – we'll celebrate."


Well, we all know they won't, right? I'd be very interested to know what you think will happen to Lorraine after Voldemort's downfall - tell me in a review!

As we speak of reviews - I'm - or we are - currently at 94 reviews. I'd like to make that 100 at least! Help me, please! :)

Now on to our question from the last week: I actually have never mentioned ANYWHERE what she looks like ;) I received several opinions, though. Some seem to think that she's got brown hair, and I'd go with that. Someone said that she looks like Salma Hayek - so, for me, she doesn't, but if she looks like that for you, that's fine ;) Someone said she'd have black hair and green eyes - a very Slytherin combination ;) She's no Slytherin, though, so... but again, if you imagine her like that, that's absolutely fine with me. Personally, I'll go with the brown hair and brown eyes option. So, anna, I hope that helped you somehow!