I'M BACK BITCHES!
Man, everybody's probably forgotten about this story… fuck.
I'm pretty sure it's got to the point in this story where every chapter ends in some sort of a cliff-hanger.
I am a cruel person. And I'm not even sorry. Actually I am really sorry. This chapter was just SO DAMN HARD TO FUCKING WRITE FOR GODS SAKE JESUS HAVE MERCY.
(it's not my best writing, I'm warnin' you now… I need ta' get into the swing of shit again)
I've been listening to Radiohead a lot lately, and Florence + the Machine.
NOW ON WITH THE STORY! *jumps on black stallion and charges into battle because (as Chuck would say) writing is hard*
"We feel nothing so jump into the fog,
You know that we hit the ground upright,
We feel nothing so jump into the fog,
I just hope it's your bones that shatter not mine,"
–The Wombats 'Jump Into The Fog'
Chapter Forty-Three:
"Where've you been?" Lily questioned me. I jumped a little, the question startled me – I was still reeling over my fight with Arianna, but mainly her words that relayed over and over in my head.
"Well then, you've obviously never seen how he looks at you,"
… There's also the fact that's no matter what the circumstances if you walk into a room and there's two people who are identical to yourself, it's freaky.
I began thinking over the plan, getting ready to shift myself into an old hag – greasy grey hair and winkles included. I must admit it's not my most flattering of bodies I've created but it did the job well.
The other two couldn't completely morph so they stuck with changing the little features until they could no longer be recognised as themselves, but if somebody knew who they really were, that person could probably tell.
Leaving Lily to conjure some less than flattering clothes, James and I kept watch at the mirror above the fireplace where we'd be making a depart.
"Kingsley and Arthur should be here any minute," I muttered to myself, anxiously fiddling with my.
James turned to me, "You okay? You've been acting weird since you got here… nervous?"
"I'm not nervous," I snapped, eyes cold, "I'm fine,"
"Hey, it's all cool. I didn't think so, I've never seen you nervous anyway… but still, you're wired and jumpy… this hasn't got something to do with Sirius does it?" he asked cautiously, realising her was walking on egg shells with this topic of conversation.
I let out a bitter snort, "Sirius. The fuckwit. Quite possibly. He seems to be the cause of majority of my deeply rooted issues lately."
"You run into him on the way here or something?" James questioned.
"Nope. Although I was ambushed by his lovely ex, who may or may not have hinted on the fact that he loves me even though the fucker refuses to acknowledge my existence. How in hell does that even work?" I vented, throwing my hands up in the air.
James shrugged, "Well, he did say you're name earlier and look at you. That's progress,"
I gave him a stale look, "You're funny. Real funny."
He shrugged, "Hey, I dunno what goes on in his head, but I know you mean a lot to him and you always have and you always will,"
"I guess, it's just confusing. Why can't we just be normal?" I sighed in frustration.
James smiled slightly, amused, "Because then you wouldn't be you and he wouldn't be him and the world would be a less interesting place,"
"You know, you've become a very good feelings counsellor since you became a girl," I joked and he went red.
"I… I try not to think about it… it's weird as fuck…" He looked quite conflicted.
I smirked with a slight snigger, "And here I thought you'd be perving,"
Blood rushed to him cheeks and he stuttered, "What? No, that's… no. You're like a sister to me and I don't wanna see your… no, okay – just no, that's sick, okay?"
"Your face… priceless…" I said in-between bouts laughter.
"It's lovely to see you find my discomfort so very hilarious," he spoke dryly, folding his arms across his chest. At least he still kept his own voice, which made it easier to remember he's not me.
Lily poked her head around the corner, "I'm done, guys… what are you cracking up about?" she asked me with a raised eyebrow and I composed myself.
"Oh, nothin', don't worry," I smirked.
She eyed me in suspicion but continued walking into the room, throwing us a set each of ragged clothing.
"Well, isn't this flattering…" I muttered as James and Lily started stripping, I frowned in annoyance, "Hey if it was your body you wouldn't be changing in front of each other,"
They shrugged, "Suck it up, they'll be here any minute,"
With a sigh I turned around, unbuttoning my flannelette shirt and pulling down my jeans to pull on some dirty trousers, plain black button down shirt and patched trench coat that were much to baggy for my current body. Morphing into the body of a raggedy old man with dead eyes and tufts of white grey hair sticking up at strange angles accompanied by uneven stubble and yellow teeth, I turned back to the others.
They took longer to morph; Lily stared with aging herself, making her bright red hair dead and oily, changing her bright emerald eyes for a dull grey. She hunched herself over wearing a black dress that resembled a body bag and a knitted shawl, "Okay, this is weird,"
James first changed himself into a man, as he could picture that better when trying to morph and then following in the stead of Lily and I, he aged himself with wrinkles and rough skin. He made his hair longer and a lighter shade of grey and darkened his brown eyes.
"We ready?" He asked, pulling the strap of his overalls over his shoulder.
Before either Lily or I could answer we heard a door open – Kingsley and Arthur walked into the Main Room dressed in similar disguises as us. We watched silently from behind the mirror above the doubled fireplace as they walked forward.
It was almost as if they could see us, although that was impossible.
Kingsley reached forward to pinch the powder from a small bowl on the mantle and stood in the fireplace, "Cracked Pot Tavern, Knockturn Alley," he spoke plainly and we watched as he vanished in the green flames.
I gave the other two a nod, committing the name to memory and we turned back to watching through the mirror.
As the flames died down Arthur stepped forward, taking a handful of Floo Powder in his grip and speaking clearly the words, "Deviant Drapes, Knockturn Alley," and he disappeared in the fire.
"What? That's not right..." James mustered, looking to us in confusion.
Lily looked not as nearly concerned, "It's probably just a precaution; they'll meet up most likely,"
"Okay then; you guys follow Arthur, I'll take Kingsley, then," I said seriously.
"We shouldn't split up… Knockturn Alley's dangerous…" Lily started.
I sighed, "You're the one who said they'll meet up, plus I can look after myself, Lily. If we don't find each other within half an hour, I'll return to the Cracked Pot Tavern and wait for you to return,"
"It'll be fine, Lil'," James nodded in agreement with me.
She bit her lip, "Fine… but don't take unnecessary risks,"
I saluted her with a wink as she stepped into fireplace, clutching Floo Powder in her hand, "Deviant Drapes, Knockturn Alley," and she was gone. James followed suit, clapping me on the back as a goodbye before bursting into wayward fire.
Watching the flames die down into the coals, I took a deep breath in and out, stepping forward towards my fate. A handful of powder in my palm, I threw it down, making sure not to slur my speech, "Cracked Pot Tavern, Knockturn Alley,"
I felt a strange tug at my navel and momentary weightlessness before gravity once again took hold and my boots crunched down in the ashes of another fireplace.
The heads of the dead eyed men and women sitting at the tables didn't turn to look at me as I made my way across the room and to the door, as quickly as possible, hoping that he hadn't walked away entirely before I arrived.
Passing an empty table, I clutched an old newspaper and unfolded it before me, pushing the door open with my back and taking a look in my peripheral vision up and down the street. Luckily enough I spied a figure and the flying of Kingsley's cloak around the corner and I speed-walked to catch up.
People moved with a certain sort of grudging fierceness along these black stone streets. People didn't look each other in the eye. They shuffled along, muttering with their heads down. I tried my best to mimic their stature and demeanour as I stalked Kingsley.
I knew that it was risky business, following an Auror, I knew that well. It seemed to be a habit of his to constantly check over his shoulder and let his eyes scan each and every person who walked past. I had to keep my distance, a great distance that being, to avoid attention and notice.
Slowly after many twists and turns, I was entirely unsure where I was, losing track of where I'd come from – but still I pursued Kingsley. The streets became thin and people scarcely seen aside from flutters behind closed curtains, and hunched men with hooded eyes and greasy hair crouched on stone steps, hands outstretched.
But then, he was gone.
Kingsley had disappeared.
In slight panic I forced a few deep breaths, forcing myself to continue, knowing he had to be somewhere.
Unless he disapparated, I thought to myself grimly, then you're entirely screwed.
Still, I pushed forward trying to remain totally calm although I was beginning to worry that I'd lost him, when suddenly somebody or something grabbed my hair, sharp nails pressing into my neck as they pressed a cloth to my face and I felt my mind slipping into darkness. The last thing I remembered was a bag being thrown around my head and a sudden disapparation.
A bucket of ice cold water was splashed over my head.
"Fucking hell!" I yelled at the sudden wake up, almost leaping out of my seat, or well, I would have if I hadn't been tied by enchanted rope.
As my blurry vision cleared I saw a woman and a man clad in black. The man was thin with milky white skin, and dark brown eyes that appeared to be lost in deep thought. His thin lips were curled into a snarl. The woman on the other hand was young and pale, with a mess of mattered black hair and coal black eyes, she grinned wickedly at me, twisting her wand between her fingers. She seemed familiar but I couldn't pinpoint from where.
I felt chills run through my body and I stiffened in fear, eyeing myself I realised that I'd accidentally morphed back to my usual state while sleeping. Soaking wet and wearing clothes double my size, I looked even scrawnier and weaker than usual. Unsure or yet whether that was a good or bad thing in this situation, my eyes dated up to my two captors.
"'Bout time you woke up, darling…" she cackled, leaning down to pinch my cheek and I growled, "What's an ugly thing like you doing all pollyjuiced up and wandering around Knocktern Alley? That scar… hmm, quite distasteful," she spoke, tracing a finger nail down the jagged line
The man stood rigid and sharp; eyeing his partner with displeasure, "Bella…" he warned.
"Yeah, yeah," Bella twirled her hair with her wand; taking a step back she shot me a look with her crazed dark eyes.
Attempting to remain calm, my heart betrayed me, racing like a hummingbird in my chest.
"What'd you do with my wand?" I asked.
Bella's head snapped around, "The nerve… all tied up and thinking you have the right to ask questions? I've killed for less than that you filthy half-bre–"
"Silence Bellatrix! Control yourself!" the man snapped and she whimpered ever so slightly, stepping back, lips curled into a snarl.
He knelt down before me, tongue flicking out over his lip like a nervous twitch every once in a while, "So, what I want to know, is why Dumbledore is sending little mutt children after us, some new scheme? Requiting werewolves, hmm?"
In slight surprise I realised they thought me a werewolf, given my scar.
"I don't know w-what you're talking about," I tried to keep my face expressionless as possible, pressing myself back into the chair in an attempt to remain as far away from the man as possible.
"Where is your partner? The tall dark man in the robes?" he hissed with a tongue flick.
"Go fuck yourself," I deadpanned and received a sharp slap right across the face.
Bellatrix screeched, "Do not disrespect us, you filthy half-breed!" pushing the man to the side she raised her wand, looking manic as she screeched, "Crucio!"
I screamed, as I felt all my bones snap like feeble twigs and flesh bubble as white hot flames burned me from within. My skin forcibly peeled away, maggots worming their way through my muscle tissue, and nails ripped from their rightful place; I felt the pain all in a single moment that seemed a lifetime long. A pain like fire, and ice, and smelted metal being poured into my skull.
I didn't hear the man when he halted the cackling dark witch, the ringing in my ears too loud as I drifted into blissful unconsciousness.
When I woke I was alone.
My body ached and my skin was rubbed red raw from the ropes pinching at my wrists and ankles, and I wondered the time, unknowing in the dimly lit basement. But going by the stiffness in my limbs, growling hunger in my stomach and the dampness of my clothing, I guessed it'd been at least an hour or two.
Surveying the room as my eyes adjusted, it was quite empty aside from a table across the way where my wand, knife, lock-picks and other assorted items sat.
Raised voices grew closer and thinking quickly I resumed the position of being knocked out.
"… should we call him?" the woman hissed.
The man replied although I only caught snippets, "… no… the risk… only a girl… investigate…"
Suddenly the door burst open and I did my best not to flinch as they strut past me, turning on their heels. I felt another blast of cold fresh water on my face.
Okay, so maybe pretending to be asleep wasn't the best idea. I was drenched again.
I glared as Bellatrix who gleefully kicked the bucket to the corner, but then something silver and sharp manifested in her hand, sliding right out of her cloak sleave, and my gaze faltered. Seeing my fear she grinned wickedly.
The man, who was casually leaning against the back wall watching, abruptly stood, "If you'll excuse me,"
The woman's gaze darted and the hissed with a curl of her lips almost tauntingly, "Weak stomach?"
"Better things to do," he replied icily with another dart of his tongue over his lips and left without another word.
Flicking her eyes back as she leered over me, I felt myself shrink before the dark witch, "Now let's have a little chat shall we, mut?"
I tried not to show fear but it was hard given my shaking.
"What was an ugly little wolf like you doing following high class witches and wizards like us?"
"Hardly high class from what I see," I spat, and she stabbed the knife into the chair, right between my pointer and middle fingers.
"Do not disrespect the noble and most ancient House of Black!" she shrieked.
I tried to contain my sudden shell-shocking realisation. House of Black. As in, Sirius and Andromeda Black. That House of Black. And I saw it, behind her matted hair and crazed eyes, the resemblance. Andi's dark eyes and Sirius's pale skin, warped and stretched into that of a monster.
"Oh how I would love to Curicio you, mutt, but I cannot have you passing out on my again. Ruins the fun, and the interrogation. Such a shame. It was rather enjoyable," she smiled down at me like a shark would its prey, and in her grip I spied a knife with the sharpest of edges.
With sudden movement and wild unkempt ferocity, she clasped her hand around my throat, holding back my struggles as she ripped away my sleeve. The witch laughed manically as she cut, little by little, edging letters into the sensitive pale skin of my forearm.
HALFBREED.
"You ready to talk yet?" she laughed like a school girl, so in her element.
"Never, you bitch!" I choked out with a scream.
And again, slower, deeper.
HALFBREED.
It was a different kind of torture from before; it wasn't blinding pain that made you beg for death… this was slow, and delicate, and intricate. I could feel my skin being sliced, each stinging maddening rip of flesh – but it wasn't just that. It was humiliation. It was shame.
HALFBREED.
Even though I wasn't a werewolf – metamorphmagus are still classified as such. Not entirely human. Mutations prone to constant mutation. Unstable. Cursed.
"How about now, sweetie? Now are you ready?" she hovered the blade dripping with my scarlet blood above my skin, and skill I shook my head with clenched teeth, "Well aren't you a brave little mutt,"
HALFBREED.
There, for the fourth time. Deeper. Scrawled all up my arm. I moaned and writhed. Blood rushed in my ears. My vision blurred.
Then the screaming of a spell.
Then a shriek.
And suddenly the pain was gone.
And somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered where it had went.
And the darkness… it called me… and my eyelids drooped lower…
"Stay with me, Riley," I heard a voice – a familiar voice. But I just couldn't… remember… why couldn't I remember?
I felt the ropes be cut and my body slump forward, but somebody familiar caught me and I was lifted away.
Who was it? Who was it? Who was it?
"Keep your eyes open," the person said, lifting me over their shoulder. Low voice, male voice.
My eyes fluttered, and I witnessed everything in flashes. My blood pooled on the floor. The evil woman on the floor. The footsteps – then the man. Roared spells. Screaming. And the man fell. And the darkness sang to me. And a voice told me to resist. And I did because somehow I knew that voice.
And my blood left a trail, all the way up the stairs to the fireplace.
And suddenly everything was green.
And then nothing was real for a moment.
And my body was thrown onto a hard surface – a table.
A candle flickered.
Two more voices. A scream. A shout. A stinging sensation of liquid being poured into a wound.
"Oh God Riley, please hold on," the boy in the glasses spoke. He held the red-haired girl while the scared boy leaned over me.
And darkness.
It hit like a wave, a tide dragging me down.
Because I couldn't refuse it any longer.
I'm pretty sure Riley/James is my ultimate brotp right now.
PLEASE REVIEW BECAUSE IT EQUALS LOVE AND I CHERISH EACH ONE AND THEY INSPIRE ME TO WRITE MORE AND UPDATE MORE FREQUENTLY!