This is the last "real" chapter, guys. I'll post the epilogue tomorrow. I'll thank you all in greater detail then :)

For now, thanks to all those who read, fav'd, alerted and especially to the amazing people who reviewed!

The most original answer to our question from last week (What will happen to her?) can be found at the end of this chapter for all those interested.

For those who're not: Here's Chapter 23.


I screamed. The pain in my arm was just too much – it had started there and

now filled my whole body. I barely felt that my legs gave in and I crashed

to the floor – and then it was gone. Over. There was no pain anymore... only that inexplicable emptiness... my eyes found my arm where the mark should have been – only there was barely any sign of the mark. It looked like a scar more than a mark – whereas it had just shined in bright black, it now was barely visible.

My eyes filled with tears as I realized what the numbness meant.


No one had bothered to sit down. Lucius Malfoy and Igor Karkaroff stood in the middle of the room screaming at each other. I watched them for a little while and then said, not even bothering to raise my voice: "Silence."

Everybody looked at me, eyes fixed on what was closest to an authority, their Lord's mistress. Only Lucius and Igor didn't hear me, they still screamed and I forgot my calmness. "I said SILENCE!"

They jumped and turned to face me.

"Idiots. Your fighting doesn't help anybody." I took a deep breath and whispered: "We have suffered a great loss."

"Is he gone for good?" Yaxley asked, his voice barely a whisper.

I stared at him. Of course he was not gone for good. But if he ever returned, he would surely kill me if I told anybody about his horcruxes. "What do you think, huh? The Dark Lord, killed by a baby?"

Lucius sighed. "So what do we do?"

"Try not to get yourselves into Azkaban; it was foolish enough of the Lestranges to do so."

"They are convinced he's coming back to free them..."

I shrugged. That surely wasn't his top-priority. My eyes travelled throughout the room and I found the only sitting person. Severus Snape, staring at the wall with a blank expression, he didn't seem to hear anything. And then suddenly, a tear escaped his dark eyes.

"Severus," I whispered.

He suddenly regained conscience; he looked at me and blurred: "She's dead!"

The other Death Eaters stared at him.

I met his gaze and said: "You are all dismissed. We shall not meet again."

Severus didn't move while all the others exited the room and I sat down next to him.

"I am sorry."

"He promised to save her."

"Oh, I beg you. He promises a lot of things."

Severus looked at me tears in his eyes. "How can you be so calm?"

How could I be so calm? I couldn't know if it had worked, didn't know where he was, what he was. It was official now; I would never get back the Tom that I had always loved. Maybe I wouldn't even get Lord Voldemort back.

"I don't know. I just try to... Severus, we both suffered..." I swallowed. "If I were you. I would do anything to keep the boy safe. You see, she lives on in him."

"She's gone."

"Do you really believe the one's that we love ever leave us for good? They don't, they stay, they..."

"She didn't love me, she never did."

"That doesn't make it any easier, Severus." I tried a sympathetic smile.


I had pulled my cloak deep in my face as I moved through the thick rain. I reached the gate in front of the Manor and had to stop.

"What is it that you desire?"

"I am Lorraine Riley. I want a word."

The gate swung open and I started walking once more, hurrying up to the house. As I reached the entrance hall, Narcissa Malfoy came hurrying toward me, carrying her little son.

"Lucius is up in the library – you should be dry before though-"

I quickly muttered a spell and felt warmer at once.

"You know the way, don't you? Shall I accompany you?"

"That won't be necessary. Thank you, Narcissa."

I climbed up the great staircase and passed a few doors before I reached the door to the library. I didn't bother to knock.

Lucius obviously waited for me already. He sat in a chair, his book lying open next to him on a table, and he was staring at the door. He got up as I entered.

"Lorraine. What can I do for you?"

I pulled off my cloak and sighed. "I heard you were cleared off all charges."

"Indeed. A little money always helps-"

"Don't smile! I know that you said to have been forced – I know that the word Imperius Curse fell from your lips as well as regret. You've betrayed the Dark Lord."

Lucius went paler than he usually was. "I – I never – you told us to keep out of Azkaban."

"Ah, Lucius, but at what cost?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words were coming out.

"However, I am glad that you're free in a way, Lucius – I have something important to give you."

I reached into my bag and pulled the diary out.

"This is a device that could open the Chamber of Secrets... the Dark Lord planned on bringing it back to Hogwarts somewhen – as it stands, though, I need a reliable place... a place where it is safe."

"Why – why don't you keep it?"

"They're after me, I am afraid... they're just waiting for the right moment to capture me. I need it safe. Will you keep it safe, Lucius? For the Dark Lord."

"The Dark Lord is dead."

"Do you want to rely on that? I want you to hide it away! Keep it safe! And never give it away."

Lucius' eyes were fixed on me as he reached out and took the diary from me. "You have my word."


The bell rang throughout my flat and I got up from where I had hidden myself with my tears and strode through the rooms to open up the door.

I froze as I saw two Aurors with their wands raised. "Good evening," I whispered carefully.

"Miss Riley?"

"Yes."

"We have to ask you to accompany us."

"Sorry, what?"

"We ask you to accompany us. You are hereby arrested."

I took a step backwards. "What for?"

"For being a Death Eater."

I laughed and even to me it sounded hysterically. "I never was a Death Eater!"

"That is not our ability to decide."

"I'm not going to Azkaban."

"Please, be reasonable. If you don't accompany us voluntarily, we'll have to..."

I took another step back into my flat. "No. No, I won't..."

"Miss Riley..."

But I had my wand in my hand and pointed at them. "Don't you dare come any closer-"

"I beg you-"

"Petrifi-"

"STUPEFY!" one of the two yelled and I fell backwards into nothingness.


I tried to sit straight in my chair, even though the chains were holding me and I wanted nothing more than to give in and slump into the chair. But I couldn't. The wizards and witches of the Wizengamot were watching me and I wouldn't give in.

"So, do you deny that you have a Dark Mark?"

"No, but-"

"And do you deny that you have been very well acquainted with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"No, but-"

"So, how can you claim not to be a Death Eater, then?"

"If you would just listen – the Dark Lord and I-"

"Aha! The Dark Lord! Only his followers will call him that."

I tried to take a deep breath. I wasn't a Death Eater! I wasn't Tom's follower! I shouldn't go to Azkaban for crimes I had never committed!

"Mr Crouch, please – I am not a follower of You-Know-Who! He and I were friends since we were in school and we were..."

"So, you've always served him? Been one of the first to receive the Mark?"

"That, yes, but-"

"I think I have heard enough."

I shook my head. "Mr Crouch, please let me explain-"

"SILENCE! Enough, I said. Now, let's vote. Any in favour of punishment in form of an imprisonment in Azkaban?"

I saw hands rise and couldn't manage to find one that didn't vote for that.

"Very well. It is decided. You are to be arrested in Azkaban."

I felt the by now familiar coldness of the dementors creeping towards me, but I decided to fight one final time.

"Have it your way, Crouch, but I warn you! There will be a time when you regret turning the innocent against you! The Dark Lord will return and then you'll see - you will see!"


I know a lot of you didn't want her to end up in Azkaban. But seriously, guys, what do you expect? I'm not saying she deserved it, but people have gone to Azkaban while being even more innocent (see Sirius) and we all know wizards don't have the best legal system, right? ;)

Now, the most original answer came from "Ryah Ignis" who suggested Lorraine should change her name to Charity Burbage and teach Muggle Studies. You had me laughing so hard...

So... in lack of question who'd be relevant to anything on this story, I'm simply going to ask you: How are you doing?