Chapter 35:
11th February 1977, Wales, Llanfairpwll gwyngyllgogery chwyrndrobwll llantysilio gogogoch:
Jessica looked at the street sign with an incredulous expression.
„Who the hell names their towns by smashing their heads on a typewriter?" she asked the group around her incredulously.
„The Welsh have a habit of giving their towns unusually long names sometimes but even I have to admit that this absolutely takes the cake." an amused Mario said.
„Since I have been in this area before I can tell you that most just pronounce the first eight letters" Lori Baxter mentioned while looking around, smiling at the familiar sight of the town.
„Then why even include the other three hundred?" Michelle asked sarcastically.
„Don't ask me, I am not the one who named this town" Lori said shrugging her shoulders.
**Scene Break**
The anticipation was palpable as the White Rose gathered under the cover of darkness, hidden in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse. They had been waiting for this moment for so long, and finally, the time had come to strike back against their enemies, to show them that muggles and muggleborn were not helpless animals.
Michelle's heart raced with excitement and fear as she watched the White Rose prepare for the counter raid. The air was charged with tension, and everyone's wands were at the ready. They knew it wouldn't be an easy battle; the Death Eaters were formidable opponents and they had superior numbers.
The orders were given, and they apparated to the town center of Llanfair. As they arrived, chaos erupted all around them as the death eaters recognised them based on their appearence. Spells flew in every direction, illuminating the night with bursts of light and color. She searched for Jessica, among the chaos, making sure to stay close to Mario Pelligrini, her trusted ally.
More death eaters appeared out of the surrounding areas but their coordination was unimpressive. It was evident that while they had been preparing for this just as much as the White Rose had, they lacked discipline and a common string to pull on. Spells collided, and the ground trembled under the force of the magical duels. The death eaters fought fiercely, fueled by their loyalty to the Dark Lord and the desire to survive this night.
As the battle raged on, the White Rose lost several comrades to the well-aimed spells of some of the more experienced death eaters. Fear crept into Michelle's heart as she realized the price they were paying for this counter raid.
Both sides pushed forward, unwilling to back down. Michelle and her allies fought for their beliefs, for the promise of a new world where the purebloods no longer had a monopole on power. The night was long, and the battle was brutal, but they held their ground, refusing to surrender.
**The same scene from Margaret Dingleham's POV**
She had never been so terrified in her life. As a Death Eater spy for the White Rose, she was used to danger and darkness, but this raid was different. For she had a secret, a dangerous secret that could get her killed if anyone found out. Since she was spying for the White Rose she had to be cautious not to reveal her true loyalties. Why was she so terrified? This would be the first time she actively sabotaged the death eaters while they were on a raid. She wouldn't be disguised so she would need to be careful when she acted against her orders from Rockwood.
As the Death Eaters gathered in the abandoned warehouse, her heart pounded in her chest. She watched them with a mix of fear and disgust. They believed in the Dark Lord's cause, but she knew the truth – his vision was twisted, his methods too ruthless.
„Perhaps if he hadn't slowly become more brutal and insane over the last 8 years I would not have accepted Jessica's proposal... perhaps" she muttered before realising she couldn't afford to utter such thoughts out loud. You never knew if somebody was near and listening after all.
'Though Jessica and Michelle are also quite ruthless... but they're the best chance I got in stopping the death eaters from destroying society. I can always betray them to the ministry afterwards' she thought with a grimace. The two sisters had grown on her over the months and she didn't like the idea of betraying them even if it proved to be necessary.
'Merlin knows what they'll do once the Dark Lord is gone' she thought.
The raid began, and she tried her best to avoid any direct confrontation. She kept to the shadows, using Disillusionment Charms and careful steps to avoid attention. She couldn't risk anyone recognizing me, not while she was still gathering information for the White Rose and she really didn't want to take part in the torture, murder and rape of muggles. How the so called nobles of the magical world could condone, yes even take part in such behaviour was beyond her.
The clash of spells and the cries of pain filled the air, and she felt sickened by the violence and pain of innocent muggles surrounding her.
Her fellow White Rose members appeared suddenly, Apparating into the midst of the battle. Their arrival was swift and unexpected for the death eaters, and they fought with a precision and unity that the Death Eaters lacked. They seemed to be everywhere at once, and to any intelligent observer it would have been clear that the enemies of the death eaters were acting on inside information, said death eaters were however a little too occupied to notice this.
Yet, despite the initial excitement of the death eaters who were eager to put this new nuisance back into the ground, it soon became clear that the White Rose was not an enemy to be underestimated. They were skilled, organized, and determined unlike the death eaters.
Death Eaters and members of the White Rose fell on both sides, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for the lives lost. She had to remind herself that she was doing this for a greater purpose – to bring down the Dark Lord's regime and restore peace to the wizarding world.
As the battle continued, she saw two figures who she presumed to be Jessica and Michelle Blackmoore fighting alongside the other White Rose members. On the other end of the battle she saw Bobby Rosier and Melinda Firewheel. Margaret's heart ached for them; they were once her friends, and she hated seeing them caught up in this darkness. But she couldn't show weakness or hesitation, not now. She had to stay focused on my mission.
She tried to keep her distance to the chaos, to avoid any direct confrontation with either side. Her priority was to gather information, to learn how the Death Eaters would respond to an enemy they had stumbled into before. The fear inside Margaret grew with every passing minute, but she knew she had to remain strong, to keep her secret safe.
When the battle finally subsided, she felt a mixture of relief and sorrow. The White Rose had achieved a victory of sorts, but the cost was high – lives had been lost on both sides. She slipped away into the shadows, unnoticed and invisible, and made her way back to Lestrange Manor before anyone noticed she wasn't there.
In the end, the raid had shown the true horrors of war, and it only strengthened the resolve of many to continue to fight for their idea of a better world which was far from over, and everyone knew they had a crucial role to play in the weeks, months and even years to come.
**Scene Break**
12th February 1977, England, Lestrange Manor:
The dimly lit drawing-room of Lestrange Manor was the setting for todays's meeting between Augustus Rockwood and Lucius Malfoy. The air was tense as they settled into their seats, ready to discuss the outcome of the previous raid and plan their next move.
"I trust the raid went according to plan," Augustus began, his eyes locked on Lucius.
Lucius straightened his posture, his cool demeanor never faltering. "The raid itself was executed well, but there were unforeseen complications. Our new adversaries, the ones in the white robes with black masks, appeared again and proved to be more formidable than we expected."
Augustus raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the mention of this new nuisance. "Interesting, tell me more."
"They appeared out of thin air, Apparating directly into the midst of our associates," Lucius explained. "Their skill in dueling and their coordinated efforts caught us off guard. We lost several loyal Death Eaters in the clash aswell as quite a few unmarked grunts, but they must have suffered casualties as well."
"It appears we have a formidable foe on our hands," Augustus mused, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "Perhaps we should be cautious in our future raids."
Lucius nodded in agreement. "I would advise against another raid for some time. We need to find out who they are and where their base of operation is. It would also be prudent to assess their strength and devise a more strategic plan. Instead, I suggest we focus on increasing our recruitment efforts. The more followers we have, the greater our chances of overcoming this new opposition. We also cannot ignore the fact that we lost more than enough associates in the past few month. "
Augustus leaned back in his chair, considering Lucius' words. "You may be right. We cannot afford to be reckless and risk losing more of our forces. I will put more resources into recruiting new followers and ensuring their loyalty."
"I believe that is the best course of action, Rockwood," Lucius said with conviction. "With the right number of devoted supporters, we can build a force that will not be easily defeated."
"I shall make it a priority," Augustus replied, his mind already formulating plans for the future. "We must show these foold that they are no match for the might of the Dark Lord and his followers."
Lucius nodded, a gleam of determination in his eyes. "Together, we shall crush our enemies and bring about the reign of purebloods once more."
The two men continued their discussion, strategizing and planning for the challenges that lay ahead. They knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but with their cunning and power, they believed they could overcome any obstacle in their path. As the meeting drew to a close, both Augustus and Lucius were filled with renewed determination to fulfill their dark ambitions and secure the supremacy of Lord Voldemort and his followers.
**Scene Break**
12th February 1977, Wales, Wrexham, Blackmoore Safehouse:
The candlelit room in the hidden headquarters of the White Rose was filled with a mix of tension and determination as Jessica Blackmoore and Mario Pelligrini sat facing each other. Their faces were etched with the weariness of recent battles, but their resolve remained strong.
"We gave the Death Eaters a run for their money in that last raid," Mario began, his tone heavy with concern. "But I fear our losses have taken a toll on our members' morale."
Jessica nodded solemnly, knowing the weight of responsibility that fell on their shoulders as leaders of the White Rose. "Indeed, the loss of our comrades has hit everyone of us hard. We must allow our members the time to recover, physically and emotionally."
"Our cause is just, and they know that," Mario said, "but we must also show them that we have a plan, a path forward to victory."
Jessica's gaze was steady, her mind already working on the next steps. "We need to bolster our ranks, to show our strength. More members will not only give us more power, but it will also lift the spirits of our existing fighters... though were could we get more? I doubt we will attack any wizarding family any time soon.. not until the Dark Lord comes back.."
Mario leaned forward, his hands clasped together. "I suggest we turn our attention to Hogwarts. It is a place of great influence and has produced some of the most talented witches and wizards in our world. If we can recruit from within its walls, we will have a significant advantage."
A spark of excitement lit up in Jessica's eyes. "Hmmm it certainly won't be easy but you're right. Hogwarts could become a recruitment center for the White Rose. We have sympathizers among the students and perhaps even the staff who may be willing to join our cause."
"We need to approach this carefully," Mario warned. "The Death Eaters may also have their eyes on Hogwarts, and we don't want to put the students and staff in danger."
Jessica nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "It is almost certain they have so I agree. We will be discreet and try to set up contacts within the school to identify potential recruits."
Mario leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We also need to consider the long-term impact of this war. We must prepare the next generation to carry on the fight, to continue the resistance against the Dark Lord."
"You're right," Jessica said, her voice firm. "Our battle may be ongoing, and we must ensure that the White Rose endures even beyond us. Hogwarts can be the foundation for that. Do you have any suggestion on whom we could approach?"
Mario looked down for a moment before his eyes looked into Jessica's once again. „I might just have the person" he said in a mysterious person.
As they continued their discussion, Jessica and Mario worked out the details of their recruitment plan. They knew the risks and challenges ahead, but they were committed to the cause and to each other. The fate of the wizarding world rested on their shoulders, and they were determined to build a strong and resilient resistance to stand against the forces of darkness. With renewed determination, they prepared to face the challenges ahead and lead the White Rose into a new era of resistance and hope.
**Scene Break**
15th February 1977, England, London, Diagon Alley:
The dimly lit Whimsik Alley, avside alley of Diagon Alley, seemed to close in around Cygnus Black as he found himself cornered by a group of five masked individuals, their dark robes billowing ominously in the faint breeze. He recognized the sinister aura that surrounded them, unmistakable signs of Death Eaters.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of the Death Eaters sneered, his voice laced with malice. "A little Black running errands for his pureblood family? I thought your lot had better sense than to do it personally."
Cygnus stood his ground, his expression calm and determined. He knew better than to show fear in front of such ruthless individuals. "Let's talk business. I have no interest in joining your ranks," he replied firmly. "House Black has always stood on its own, and we answer to no one."
Another Death Eater stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Don't be foolish, boy. The Dark Lord has plans for your family, and you would do well to align yourselves with him."
Cygnus' eyes flashed with defiance. "My family's allegiance is to our traditions, not to any dark lord or ministry puppet. We will not be swayed by your empty promises or threats."
The Death Eaters exchanged amused glances, clearly not expecting such resistance from the middle aged Black. "You think you can defy us? You're just a child playing at being a pureblood lord, not that you'll be one anytime soon." one of them taunted.
Cygnus' jaw clenched, but he remained steadfast. "Child? Boy, both of my daughters are married and I will be a grandfather soon. I know where my loyalties lie, and it's not with you or your twisted ideology. My father has taught me better than to be fooled by Voldemort's propaganda and it is said to see that your fathers failed in that regard."
The leader of the Death Eaters stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "Your father can't protect you and your family forever, Scion Black. If you refuse to join us, you'll regret it."
Cygnus smirked, a glimmer of confidence in his eyes. "I have no doubt that I can handle myself. But I don't see any reason to fight you. My answer is no, and it won't change no matter how many of you come after me."
The Death Eaters seemed taken aback by his boldness, but they were not about to back down. "You'll regret this decision," one of them hissed.
Cygnus shrugged nonchalantly. "Time will tell. But remember, House Black never bows. Not to Dumbledore, not to the Ministry, and certainly not to Voldemort."
With that final statement, Cygnus turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the dumbfounded Death Eaters behind. He knew the danger he was facing, but he refused to compromise his principles or his family's legacy. As he made his way back into the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his defiance. House Black may be facing dark times, but Cygnus was determined to uphold its traditions and honor, no matter the cost.
The Death Eaters he left behind had momentarily though of teaching him a lesson but they knew they'd be punished most severely if their Lord suddenly saw the Blacks opposing him instead of joining him.
As Cygnus walked away he thought about the entire situation. Was it truly wise to continue this farce? Sure he didn't really like how the death eaters just attacked anyone but was it worth risking his life for his father's stubborness? He felt unappreciated by Arcturus as he had been loyal since his birth and yet... and yet his father had hosted a mudblood and a half breed in their home not just once but multiple times, a sacrilege to any proper Black. Toujours pur was the family motto after all. Something would have to be done, Cygnus knew that Cousins Pollux and Cassiopeia atleast felt the same way and he was certain that Uncle Regulus was also unhappy with the current stance on blood purity of their Lord, now only he needed to gather his allies on this topic and convince uncle Regulus to return to Britain.
A/N: For anyone wondering. Cygnus doesn't recognise Andromeda as his daughter anymore and thus Nymphadora also not as his granddaughter and he doesn't know about Delphini.
**Scene Break**
18th February 1977, England, Black Manor:
Arcturus Black sat in his study frowning at the letter on his desk. Cygnus had apparently been harassed by Death Eaters in London, something Arcturus didn't appreciate. Besides his son's sometime extreme views on blood purity he was somewhat dear to Arcturus. Still, it was difficult sometimes to feel genuine love for his family as Arcturus' only goal in life was to maintain if not grow his family's power even if it came to the detriment of a few members. He hoped Leo wouldn't be as emphatic as Sirius or as blind as Regulus and truly follow Arcturus' motto of Familia Primum.
„Archie, Your brother has finally come home!" Melania's elated voice suddenly came from the outside. Regulus had come home? Why now? Arcturus frowned again. His relationship with Regulus aswell as Cassiopeia and Pollux for that matter had never recovered after the three had joined Grindelwald and they were the most outspoken against him allowing Ms. Evans and Mr. Lupin into the Manor. How they couldn't see that those two had massive potential, especially Evans, was beyond him but it didn't matter too much as neither of them had the power to throw the youngsters out. Arcturus got up and left his study, after a while he found his wife in the dressroom.
„Ah, leaving for the girls?" he asked Melania who shook her head in response.
„No, Regulus has invited all adults with the name Black to his cottage in France"
„I thought he had returned?" Arcturus asked his wife with a raised eyebrow
„He is still not coming back to Black Manor necessarily but he apparently won't go around looking for adventures all the time anymore. Long story short he says we'll see a lot more of him in the coming so I have been told." She said shrugging her shoulders, you never knew with Regulus who, after his 3 month sentence in Nurmengard, developed a habit of suddenly disappearing for months if not years.
„I see.. well I guess I will see my brother after a long time again." Arcturus said, uncertain whether his brother's return was a good or a bad thing.
20 minutes later and Arcturus and Melania found themselves in Regulus' cottage. Every living adult with the surname Black, except Sirius and Regulus of course, was here. Arcturus and Melania of course, his brother Regulus, his sister Lycoris, his uncle Phineas, his son Orion, his cousins Pollux, Cassiopeia and Marius and Pollux's sons Cygnus and Alphard. Irma, Pollux's wife, and Druella, Cygnus' wife, were the last two attendees of the meeting. As soon as Arcturus and Melania came out of his brother's cottage's fireplace they knew something wasn't quite right and Melania and him instantly raised their guard. They glanced wearily at eachother as Regulus came into the room.
„It's a pleasure to see you two again but I am afraid I won't quite apologise for my long absence but you probably already knew that. Will you come with me? The others have already arrived and are in the garden." he said grinning and Arcturus and Melania relaxed a little as pleasentries followed. During that conversation he found out that uncle Phineas too had chosen to attend the meeting.
'Curious, I haven't seen the old tosser in years, wonder what has happened to bring him out of his beachhouse in Spain.' he wondered silently.
As Regulus walked them through the cottage to the garden he remained silent only choosing to speak up once they neared the back door.
„Listen Arcturus, though I followed the general events in Britain I am not really up to date in things so I can't really tell what's going on but... argh let's just say many don't seem to be very happy" Regulus said with a grimace. Arcturus frowned as they walked into the garden. Indeed especially Cygnus and Pollux were glowering at him while the others had either a neutral or friendly expression when they looked at him. As he and the other two approached them he ignored Regulus and Melania's small talk. What could have happened? They arrived at the large pond where the others had gathered and Regulus tried to start the evening but he was insantly interrupted by Pollux.
„It's nice for you to join us cousin... or should I say, my Lord?" he asked provocatively.
„What's the matter Pollux?" Arcturus asked raising his eyebrow. Pollux had never dared to provocate him in this manner before.
„It's very simple dear cousin of mine" Cygnus added to the conversation and just now Arcturus noticed the sarcastic smile on the man's face. „Just a few days ago I had a very nice encounter with our friends..." Cygnus said so sweetily even Umbridge would have gotten green with envy (not that he knew who she was) but his voice instantly lost the false sweetness during the next sentence „eh I will just say the truth. I was accosted by death eaters and nearly lost my life due to your genius plan of offending the Dark Lord. Why can't we just do the reasonable thing and support him? It's not like the Ministry or Dumbledore's lackeys will win against him anyway" Cygnus continued saying while Arcturus just mentally shook his head. It was very relieving to know that Cygnus had little to no chance of ever becoming Lord Black, a proper black wouldn't be scared into submission by a little intimidation tactic by some terrorists.
„Furthermore you have allowed our manor, the home of Blacks for nearly 7 centuries now, to be desecrated by a mudblood" Cassiopeia spoke up scornfully. Arcturus turned to her „I assume you mean Ms. Evans? If yes then I Indeed have allowed a mudblood into our home but said mudblood has incredible potential and said mudblood, if I am guessing correctly which I believe I do, will soon marry young James Potter. If we groom her out of her mudblood beliefs now and into a proper young lady then we will soon have a powerful and intelligent ally within the Potters. Considering her son will become Lord Potter one day, we might be able to use our connections to his mother aswell as his father to convince him to join our faction." Arcturus spoke passionately but Pollux only scoffed.
„As always everyone is just a chess piece for you. Don't you care about our traditions? Our beliefs? Our very identity as purebloods?" Cygnus spat hatefully.
„Let's get to the point Arcturus. Too long have we allowed you to disgrace yourself as a Lord with your actions and we as your proteges and members of the house demand you to throw the mudblood and the werewolf while we're speaking off it out and order your heir to cut his associations with said werewolf and mudblood." Pollux said with a raised chin looking very pretentious.
Arcturus turned to him and looked Pollux deeply in the eye „And if I don't follow your demands?" he asked slowly. His answer was a spell cast by Cassiopeia and his eyes widened as he sidestepped the clearly deadly curse that would have beheaded him.
„Are you out of your mind Cassiopeia? Stop this foolery this instant" he shouted, ducking under another spell thrown at him by Cygnus.
He threw himself out of the way again as Pollux cast a sickly purple-greenish curse at him that would have liquefied his bones. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Melania paralizing Irma who had raised her wand at him while Phineas threw a spell at Lycoris that caused her to scream as she went down burning. Only later would Arcturus realise that his sister had died catching the curse for him.
The battle then intensified as everyone chose a side within the next twenty seconds, Arcturus and Melania back to back, panting as they battled their own family. Arcturus had only seconds to dismay at the fact that his family was tearing itself apart and thus harming House Black's reputation and power before he had to shield Melania from a bone breaking curse courtesy of Druella who panted in exhaustion, not used to or experienced in the fighting, before she too went down after she was hit with a spell cast at her by Marius.
He heard Melania screaming out in pain as her left arm was ripped apart from her body and Arcturus saw red, throwing a cruciatus at Cygnus who had dared to harm his wife. The curse connected and he saw Cygnus screaming out in agony as the curse activated every single pain receptor in Arcturus' cousin's body.
„Careful brother, we don't want you to land in Azkaban, do we?" Regulus asked besides him, panting slightly from the exertion. It had been a while since he had last been in battle and it showed as he had become rusty during the last few decades. Arcturus had no time to respond as he was forced to quit torturing Cygnus before tackling his brother to the ground saving Regulus who would have been killed by Cassiopeia had Arcturus not acted quickly enough. The crazy woman cackled in joy at seeing her hated cousin on the ground and sent another blood boiling curse at the two brothers. Arcturus managed to get away but Regulus could only look death in the eye before he was hit and cried out in agony, dying painfully within the minute with Arcturus unable to help him.
Arcturus couldn't handle all this stress and he sent the killing curse at Cassiopeia who dodged the curse easily.
„Look at this Arcturus, look around us. Can't you see that your actions is causing your precious house to fall apart?" she taunted him but he didn't give in to the temptation and simply threw spell after spell at her. An intense duel began and neither was willing to give an inch.
Meanwhile Orion was fighting for his life as he tried to shield his aunt who he had managed to douse with water. He wasn't sure if she was still alive but he had not time to think about it as great uncle Phineas sent spell after spell at him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Alphard and Marius fighting Pollux who was easily fighting them to a standstill.
'Of course it's our two most skilled fighters who choose to betray the family' Orion thought scornfully referring to Pollux and Cassiopeia. The three duels continued for a while, neither side managing to get the upper hand before Orion finally got an idea, surprising Phineas with an overpowered lumos. The dazed Phineas had no time to recover before his wand arm was cut off by a severing curse from Orion.
Orion sighed in relief as he looked at Phineas for a second. He quickly thought if saving his great uncle's life was worth the trouble Phineas would undoubtedly get Orion into somewhere down the line, before deciding that no it was not and ending Phineas' life with another severing curse, this time to the head.
Arcturus in the meanwhile saw himself forced more and more in a defensive position as he tried to outwit his cousin. He just simply wasn't able to however as Cassiopeia outclassed him both in skill and battle experience not to mention power. He dodged and ducked but there was no escape.. until his son suddenly appeared and distracted their cousin.
Seeing an opening he sent multiple stunners at Cassiopeia who had already managed to overwhelm his son and send Orion into a tree with a blasting hex. Cassiopeia, surprised and not facing Arcturus, was just barely able to throw up a shield in time which saved her from the stunners but not from the follow up shield breaker and rotting curse. Agony rippled through her body and she died painfully within the next minute while Arcturus simply looked on, satisfied with the result.
That is until he saw a spell soaring at him from the corner of his eye. Barely managing to dodge the blinding curse before swatting away the blood boiling curse he saw Cygnus, who was still shivering from the cruciatus, conjuring four large rocks and sending them towards Arcturus. He dodged the first two, ducked under the third and cut the fourth in two with a gesture of his wand, stepping through the two halfs before answering with a chain of stunners, blasting hexes and shield breakers.
The barrage of spells quickly overwhelmed the heavily weakened Cygnus and he was eventually hit by one of Arcturus' blasting hexes. Cygnus was thrown into the pond and was thus unable to escape when Arcturus promptly started freezing the pond with a glacius. Arcturus looked at his cousin without any sympathy in his eyes and just watched on as Cygnus froze to death as Arcturus held up the Glacius until he was sure his cousin had died. He then shattered the ice with a bombarda before turning to the last occuring battle.
He saw Marius tripping and getting incapacitated by a bone breaking curse from Pollux so Arcturus quickly went into action. Before Pollux had any chance to force Alphard onto the defensive he was forced to dodge a blood boiling curse rushing at him from behind. He snarled with rage as he saw Arcturus running towards him casting a spell chain of stunners and shield breakers. He threw himself to the side, conveniently dodging a beheading and a bone breaking curse from Alphard at the same time, before shielding against another bone breaking curse from Alphard and deflecting a cutting curse from Arcturus.
He threw up another shield and summoned a group of poisoned arrows which he cast at Alphard while simultaniously conjuring a whip of flame which he flung at Arcturus. Arcturus dodged the whip and he decided he couldn't understand his cousin's actions. Sure those spells were powerful but they also quickly exhausted you so why would his cousin choose something so flashy?
He saw Alphard transfiguring rocks into massive hornets and sending them towards Pollux who effortlessly burned them with his whip before the whip fizzled out when it was hit by large amounts of water that Arcturus had conjured. And so the duel went on for a while until Arcturus noticed that Pollux was slowly tiring.
Apparently Pollux had also noticed it and decided he had already lost the battle as Pollux screamed out „Fiendfyre". A huge bora consisting of hellfire appeared and instantly enveloped Pollux. Arcturus could hear his cousin screaming out in pain for a second before he simply burned to ash in the heat. It took the combined efforts of Arcturus and Alphard minutes to wrestle the hellfire into submission and another twenty seconds before they managed to finally put out the fire. Arcturus sighed and wiped the sweat off his forehead, panting in exhaustion.
He may be regularly dueling Fleamont Potter but the two never fought to the death like Arcturus had been forced to do today... and against his own family.
He then remembered something very important. He ran to the spot where Melania layed and made sure she was still alive. She was losing a lot of blood but he sighed in relief when he noticed she was merely unconscious and not dead.
„Kreacher!" he called out with more than just a little panic. Kreacher appeared after a few seconds and the elf's eyes widened as he took in the destruction and bodies around him. But Arcturus had no time to explain the situation
„Bring Melania to St. Mungos immediately. Then proceed to do the same with Regulus, Lycoris, Orion and Marius in that order. Also as of now Phineas, Druella and Irma are considered traitors to the house and I will deal with them accordingly."
A/N: For anyone curious, the sides in this battle were:
Arcturus, Alphard, Melania, Orion, Lycoris, Marius, Regulus I vs Cassiopeia, Pollux, Cygnus, Druella, Irma, Phineas.
The survivors are: Arcturus, Alphard, Melania, Orion, Marius, Druella, Irma
**Scene Break**
19th February 1977, Scotland, Hogwarts, Great Hall:
Black Family in crisis after family meeting escalates in battle for power causing the deaths of 6 family members!
Lord Black survives and promises revenge on those he deems responsible for the treachery of his family members!
This was the headline that greeted the magical population of Britain on the following day. In Hogwarts all students immediately began to whisper and many, especially the purebloods, looked at Sirius and Regulus who were visibly affected by the headline. More owls came in and noone was surprised to see the two brothers retreating with their respective letter but the fact that Sirius' friends and Lily Evans got letter with the Black family crest aswell gained a little attention amongst those sitting on the Gryffindor table.
Opening their letters the four were notified of the brief events and that they were to tell noone of the contents of the letter. The three remaining Marauders in the Great Hall sticked their heads together and promised eachother to help Sirius through this time of crisis.
**Scene Break**
21st February 1977, Scotland, Hogwarts:
The air was crisp and cool as Severus Snape walked towards the edge of the Hogwarts grounds where he had arranged to meet Lily. He couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety that gnawed at him. He knew he had to talk to her, to convince her to go along with his plan, but he dreaded the thought of hurting her and their friendship along with it in the process. He could feel the weight of the impending conversation pressing upon him, knowing that he had to convince Lily to pretend to have a fight. It was a difficult request, but he couldn't bear the pressure from his fellow Slytherins to end his friendship with her while also not wanting to really end their friendship.
As he approached their usual spot by the lake, he spotted Lily sitting on a rock, her red hair shining like a beacon in the sunlight. He took a deep breath to steady himself and walked up to her.
"Hey, Sev," Lily greeted with a warm smile, but it quickly faded as she noticed the seriousness in his eyes. "Is something wrong?"
Severus hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin. "Lily, I need to talk to you about something important," he finally said, his voice low.
"Okay, go ahead," she replied, concern evident in her eyes.
Severus took a deep breath and started to explain. "You know how we've been friends for years, right? Well, there are some people who are starting to pressure me to... distance myself from you. Okay that's only a half truth, they have been doing that for years but they've become very insistent as of recent."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise and hurt. "What? Who would want that?... Wait it's your so called friends, isn't it?" she asked with narrowed gaze.
Severus looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "..Yeah It's the other Slytherins. They think that my friendship with a Gryffindor is making us weak, that we should be focusing on our own house and our own kind. That you are a muggleborn makes it even worse in their eyes."
Lily's expression hardened, and she crossed her arms defensively. "And what do you think, Sev? Do you agree with them?"
Severus hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. "No of course not but... Lily, I need you to do something for me," he began, his voice shaky.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself. "I... I need us to pretend to have a fight," he admitted, looking down at the ground.
Lily's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?" she asked, confusion and hurt evident in her voice.
Severus met her gaze, his own eyes full of pain. "If we pretend to be enemies, they'll leave me alone," he explained, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. "But Sev, I can't just pretend not to care about you, even worse to hate you.." she said, her voice trembling.
Severus reached out and took her hand, his grip firm yet gentle. "I care about you too, Lily. More than anything but I just can't handle the pressure anymore. We can still send eachother letters with false names you know?" he whispered, his heart breaking at the pain in her eyes.
She squeezed his hand, her resolve firming. "Okay, Sev. If this is what you need to do, I'll do it. I don't like having letters be the only way to contact you but I'll do it" she said firmly though sadly.
Severus nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. They both knew it wouldn't be easy, but they were willing to endure it for the sake of their friendship.
A few days later, in the bustling hallways of Hogwarts, Severus and Lily found themselves in the middle of a heated argument, their voices raised as they exchanged hurtful words. Lily had taken a potion that made her more emotional, causing her tears to flow freely, and it added an air of authenticity to their performance.
As the other students looked on with glee at the drama, believing that Severus and Lily were truly at odds, the two friends stole glances at each other, their eyes filled with unspoken emotions. They knew that their act was necessary, but it didn't make it any easier.
In the days that followed, Severus and Lily continued to exchange letters via owls, signing them with false names to keep up the facade of their supposed animosity. It was a painful charade, but they clung to the hope that one day, the pressure from their peers would ease, and they could be friends once more.
But even in their secrecy, the bond between Severus and Lily remained unbreakable. And deep down, they both knew that no matter what happened, their friendship would endure.
James Potter didn't know that however, he assumed he had secured Lily firmly for himself now that Severus was out of the picture. He couldn't have known that Lily had never held any romantic interest towards Severus.
**Scene Break**
22nd February 1977, England, Malfoy Manor:
Malfoy Manor was a place of elegance and refinement, but amidst the opulence, a sense of excitement filled the air as Narcissa Malfoy, heavily pregnant, reclined on a plush couch her husband had recently bought in France. Lucius Malfoy, ever the devoted husband, sat beside her, his eyes filled with adoration and concern.
"Narcissa, my love, you must take care of yourself," Lucius said, gently placing a hand on her belly.
Narcissa smiled softly, resting her hand on top of his. "I will, Lucius. But I cannot help but feel anxious about the future."
"We will face it together," Lucius assured her. "Our child will be raised with the finest of traditions from both the Black and Malfoy families. They will learn the importance of power, purity, and ambition, but also the value of loyalty, family, and honor."
Narcissa nodded in agreement. "Yes, a blend of both traditions. I want them to be proud of their heritage but also embrace the values we hold dear."
Lucius leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Our child will be strong and formidable, a true heir to our legacy."
A few weeks later, Narcissa found herself in the bustling halls of St. Mungo's, the pain of labor drawing nearer. With Lucius at her side, she faced the challenges with unwavering determination.
In a private room, surrounded by the soothing presence of her healer, Narcissa labored with grace and resilience. After what seemed like an eternity, her cries of pain were replaced by the soft cries of a newborn.
"She's beautiful," the healer said, wrapping the baby in a warm blanket.
Narcissa looked down at her daughter with awe and tenderness. "Alissa. Her name shall be Alissa."
Lucius held his daughter in his arms, a look of sheer joy on his face. "Welcome to the world, Alissa Malfoy."
A few days later back at Malfoy Manor, Narcissa and Alissa were resting in a beautifully decorated nursery. Lucius stood by the window, watching the setting sun casting a warm glow over his family.
"Narcissa, my darling, you and Alissa are my everything," Lucius said softly, approaching them.
Narcissa smiled, looking at their daughter with a mother's love. "And you are everything to us, Lucius. I cherish these moments with you and Alissa."
He took a seat next to them, gently cradling Alissa in his arms. "Our Lord's absence grants us this precious time. I want to be here for every moment, every smile, and every step she takes."
Narcissa rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his love surround her. "And I cherish every second of it. Our time together is a treasure, and we will make the most of it."
As the days passed, Lucius kept his promise, spending every free moment with Alissa and Narcissa. His love for his family grew with each passing day, and he vowed to protect them both, even as dark times loomed on the horizon.
In the midst of uncertainty and danger, the Malfoy family found solace and strength in each other, and the bond between Lucius, Narcissa, and Alissa only grew stronger.
**Scene Break**
25th February 1977, Wales, Blackmoore Safehouse:
In the dimly lit room of the White Rose safehouse, Jessica and Mario sat across from each other, their faces reflecting the weariness and gravity of recent events. The raid on the muggle town had shaken them, and Mario knew they had to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety and secrecy of their organization.
"Mario, I think we need to talk about what happened during the last raid, rumours are spreading and I don't like the tone of them." Mario began, his voice tinged with concern.
Jessica nodded solemnly, her gaze never leaving hix. "Yes, it was a close call, and we lost some valuable members. I fear that we might have a spy among us, leaking information to the enemy."
Mario sighed, running her fingers through his dark hair. "While that is reasonable we have carefully handpicked our members so far and I can't imagine anyone of them acting against our group, we have started to spread our recruitment efforts as agreed and I can see a spy issue arising in the future. We can't afford to be complacent. If we want to continue fighting against Voldemort and his death eaters, we need to establish a stronger system of trust and loyalty within the organization."
Jessica leaned forward, her expression serious. "I was thinking the same thing. We should implement a magical secrecy and loyalty contract for all new members. It will ensure that they cannot betray us without facing severe consequences."
Mario's eyes lit up with understanding. "That's a brilliant idea. With such a contract in place, we can be more confident in the loyalty of our members and eliminate the risk of spies infiltrating our ranks."
"Exactly," Jessica agreed. "We'll make sure that anyone who joins the White Rose fully understands the importance of our cause and the need for unwavering loyalty. They must pledge to keep our activities secret and commit to the fight against Voldemort with all their heart and soul."
"But we have to be careful," Mario added cautiously. "We can't force anyone to sign the contract. It has to be a choice they make willingly, out of their own belief in our cause."
Jessica nodded in agreement. "Of course. We must make it clear that the contract is meant to protect our members and the greater good, not to control or manipulate them. Though I say we obliviate anyone who doesn't agree to sign the contract."
„That's a good suggestion" Mario agreed with Jessica, nodding briefly „I will also talk with Joel and Alba about setting up a seperate contract ensuring secrecy for all existing members to sign. I know some won't like it but they will quickly see the need for it considering one of us could always be tortured to reveal information. It is just necessary in my opinion."
Jessica leaned back in her chair, feeling a sense of relief. "Agreed... I'm glad we had this conversation, Mario. Establishing the contract is a crucial step in strengthening the White Rose and ensuring our success in the future."
Mario smiled, reaching across the table to grasp Jessica's hand in a gesture of support. "We're in this together, Jessica. With our determination and the commitment of our members, we will prevail against Voldemort and his dark forces."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, they found solace in each other's unwavering resolve. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Jessica and Mario knew that the White Rose would stand strong, united by their shared purpose and the magical secrecy and loyalty contract that would bind them together in their fight for justice and freedom.
**Scene Break**
28th February 1977, England, Poole, Central Plaza:
The night was dark, and a sense of anticipation hung in the air as Adolphus prepared himself for his first true raid as a Death Eater. He felt a mix of excitement and fear, eager to prove himself to the others while dreading to fight the organisation against them that had recently surfaced. As the group apparated to Poole, he couldn't help but notice how much more urban the area was compared to how his associates had described previous targets. Surely the muggles had aurors stationed here, right? This almost looked like Diagon Alley though the streets were far wider.
They appeared in the Central Shopalley, surrounded by shops and stores, and the fountain in the center of the square added an eerie glow to the scene. Adolphus tried to steady his nerves, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head.
As the Death Eaters began causing chaos, Adolphus clumsily attempted to cast spells, but his aim was off, and his attacks sometimes even hit his fellow associates. Panic washed over him as he realized his mistakes. He had hoped to impress his fellow Death Eaters, but instead, he was making a fool of himself.
"Whoever you are watch where you're aiming, you idiotic bastard!" one of the more experienced Death Eaters scolded, pulling him out of the line of fire.
Adolphus felt his face burn with embarrassment and he was really glad for the mask right now, but he tried to push through and do better. He stumbled through the darkened streets, struggling to keep up with the skilled Death Eaters around him. It was clear that he was in way over his head, and he desperately wished he could apparate away from this nightmare. He needed to train a lot more... A night of fun with Jennifer was something he really needed right now.
**Scene Break**
Peter Hardsteel was on duty that evening, patrolling the streets of Poole with his fellow police officers. As they approached the Central Shopalley, they heard the sounds of chaos and commotion. They had no idea what was happening, but they knew they had a duty to protect the innocent.
„What do you think's happening there?" he asked into the round.
„It's probably the punks again, god knows how many times we've had to deal with their long ass hair in the last years" one of his buddies scoffed.
Drawing their pistols, they cautiously approached the scene. The sight that greeted them was beyond anything they could have imagined – black-robed figures with white skull masks were wreaking havoc, throwing lights at innocent bystanders and the shops around them. Things exploded, other things caught fire and people screamed in fear as they desperately tried to run away from these weird terrorists.
„It's demons!" Paul Bretin behind him screamed in a vibrant, afraid voice before opening fire.
"Open fire!" Peter shouted somewhat needlessly, and the officers began shooting at what some believed to be terrorists while others deeming it to be people possessed by Satan.
Amidst the chaos, Peter noticed one of the black-robed terrorists flinch as a light from one of the other terrorists hit close to them, revealing their inexperience. As he continued to fire, he made a mental note to look up terrorists known for wearing black robes and white skull masks. It was a bizarre sight, and he couldn't help but wonder what these attackers wanted.
„Damn I have never seen these kinds of weapons before" he said, panting slightly, to his cousin Michael who was besides him.
„Don't know if those sticks they hold could be considered weapons. Who knows? Maybe Paul is right and we're truly dealing with demons" Michael laughed out sarcastically.
The firefight was intense, and some of Peter's fellow officers fell in the line of duty. It was a harrowing experience, but they managed to repel the attackers after what felt like an eternity. The black-robed figures disappeared, leaving behind a massive chaos of several dead bodies, many injured people and devestated shops.
As the adrenaline subsided, Peter was left thoughtful and concerned about what had just occurred. He knew this was far from over and that they would need to stay vigilant to protect their community from further attacks.
„This was truly bizzare, oh god the news tomorrow morning will be a headache" Michael moaned behind him as he looked at the disaster.
„Yeah the government won't be able to cover this up..." Peter muttered distractedly. From the distance, sirens of back up and ambulances could be heard.
**Roughly 10 minutes later**
The chaos was slowly winding down as people on the scene were asked by police officers on what happened while the first patients were heaved into the ambulances and firefighters put down the last fires.
Peter kept a tight grip on his pistol as he hunkered down behind a nearby overturned car that had burned out, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of the black-robed terrorists returning. He knew he had to stay vigilant, not knowing if this was the end of their assault or just the beginning.
As he observed the street, he couldn't believe what he saw next. A group of men in red robes suddenly apparated onto the main street, surrounding the injured and traumatized survivors. They moved with purpose, performing some kind of incantations if he had to guess based on the movement of their mouths. They were no demons what was clear but were they human?
Peter's mind raced with questions, but he knew he had to keep himself hidden. The members of this new group were clearly skilled and involved in whatever was happening here. He didn't want to risk exposing himself and becoming a target.
Once the red robed men finished their work, they too disappeared with a soft crack, leaving Peter feeling even more unsettled. He was witnessing something that had he had never heard about and it was terrifying.
After taking a moment to steady himself, Peter cautiously approached his fellow officers who seemed a bit dazed from the events that had unfolded. They shook their heads, as if trying to snap back to reality.
"Call for backup," Peter said firmly, knowing they needed all the help they could get. "This second group might have not attacked the populace but who knows if a third one comes. We need to secure the area and get the injured to safety."
„What do you mean Peter? What second group?" Michael asked him leaving Peter bewildered.
„You know these men in red robes that just disappeared moments ago?" he asked his cousin with a raised eyebrow. Was Michael joking? He certainly didn't seem like it.
„You're smoking crack mate, there was no second group, only these damn communists glorifying the supervision state that the Soviet Union is" Paul laughed out loud.
„I mean sure they were wearing red but Communists? Really Paul? You can't blame everything on the reds. What about the dark robed men with masks from earlier? Those certainly were no communists" Peter said incredulously making everyone frown at him.
„Peter, buddy, are you alright? We've got everything covered so you can report back to base and call in sick now" Manuel Goslane told him in a concerned voice.
„What the hell is up with you guys. You can't tell me you don't remember the groups with sticks shooting weird lights from earlier" Peter said incredulously before seeing two of his buddies muttering to eachother while glancing at him.
More backup arrived and Peter absently minded noticed Michael sneaking away to the newly arrived group of police officers while Peter and the others continued the discussion. Seconds later someone tipped Peter on the shoulder and said.
„Officer Hardsteel, you have been noted to be mentally affected and temporarily deemed unfit for duty. Please come with me back to the station" the other police officer said.
Peter nodded numbly following the officer into the police car, his mind rattering with questions.
As he was driven back to the station, Peter couldn't help but wonder about what had just been revealed itself to him. Noone seemed to remember what really happened... noone except him. Was this a sign of god? He shook his head focusing back on the here and now. He knew that this was just the beginning of something much bigger, and he was determined to protect his community from whatever threats may come.
'I need to find out what happened back there and who these terrorists were' he thought firmly briefly considering he was hallucinating but dismissing it shortly after.
Little did he know that his quest for the truth would lead him to cross paths with the White Rose, the Order of the Phoenix, and forces far beyond his imagination. But in the face of it all, Peter Hardsteel remained resolute, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in his pursuit of justice and protection for the people he swore to serve.
Back in the Central Shopalley Michael walked around gathering reports of the witnesses. However, as he began to ask questions, he noticed something strange. The witnesses he spoke to seemed confused, disoriented, or unable to recall specific details about the attack. Their accounts were inconsistent and sometimes contradictory, making it difficult for Michael to piece together the details of what had happened.
One young woman he spoke to claimed she saw people in black robes firing machine guns at the crowd, but then quickly dismissed her own statement, saying she must have been mistaken. Another man, who seemed to have been standing close to the attack, could only remember flashes of light and loud noises.
Feeling increasingly frustrated, Michael decided to take a moment to clear his head. He walked away from the chaos of the main street and found a quiet spot to collect his thoughts.
As he sat on a nearby bench, he couldn't help but think about what he had witnessed. Was Peter perhaps right? Did truly something else happen?
'No it can't be, only Peter mentioned something of two groups with weird sticks shooting lights' a strangely foreign voice in his mind told him but he accepted the reasoning, focusing on helping the affected citizens of Poole.
With newfound determination, Peter rejoined his fellow officers and helped with the cleanup.
**Scene Break**
30th February 1977, Wales, Evergreen Residence:
Inside the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, the atmosphere was tense as Albus Dumbledore and his trusted members gathered around a large table. Daniela Accrington had called for an emergency meeting.
„You have called for an emergency meeting, so what has happened Daniela?" Albus asked his curious gaze fixed on the young woman.
„I found it necessary.. there has been another raid on a muggle town but this time they chose a very large town that almost looks like a smaller version of London or so some of the death eaters said" - Daniela said twirling her hair nervously.
A/N: Keep in mind most magicals have no idea how modern mundane cities look like so they still assume London only has up to 5 floor buildings.
„That is an interesting development. What do you make of it Alastor?" Albus asked the famous auror.
„Don't know what they're playing at. If they truly attacked such a large target then shouldn't they have encountered muggle aurors?" Alastor asked suspiciously, his magical eye wildly spinning around.
„Oh they definetely did, I heard one moaning about the luck of the muggle aurors to kill multiple of them with these guns" Daniela added smugly to the conversation.
„Hah those long sticks normally don't hit anything so yeah I'd say they're right about that" Alastor laughed and Albus thought for a moment about adding that the muggle weapons he had seen in the 1940s were certainly far more advanced than those long sticks in the 1700s.
„It certainly seems that even when Voldemort is away and they avoid magical targets they try to expand their reach" Emmeline mused thoughtfully.
„Luckily it's only muggle for now." Daniela said before performing a tempus. She needed to go back soon.
„Yeah I hope it stays like that for a while"
Albus frowned at these words but couldn't find himself disagreeing. He loathed to downplay the death of dozens of muggles but in the end he preferred them to die instead of having to face magical casualties.
**Scene Break**
End of Chapter