Book I: Birth of the Order

Chapter XX: Hall of Prophecy

Music Theme: Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

Hogwarts: December 24, 1979...

It was Christas Eve. Remus had delivered his note to Tabitha from Dumbledore which informed her to go directly to Saint Mungo's hospital for specialty ingredients only they would have this time of year. Meanwhile, James was to lead a group of Order Members to the ministry of magic where they would split up and search the Department of Mysteries for prophecies that Lord Voldemort may be after. The timeliness of this mission was key, as the ministry would be nearly abandoned this time of the year for the holidays. "I must remind you," Dumbledore had warned them, "That anyone remaining at the ministry this time of year and night will not be there to hold office hours. Their pressence may very well admit their allegiance to Voldemort and they will be after the same prophecies as you."

Time was also running out on the holiday break for students. Soon they would return and the Potter Faction would have to relocate.

"You sure you should be going alone, Delaney?" Sirius asked as he watched her toss her bag over her shoulder and wrap her scarf around her neck. "I could go with you if you need help. You tend to always get into trouble when you aren't chaperoned."

"I'll be fine, Black. You just want to get out of seeing Marlene again."

"Do not!" He clapped back.

"Oh come on," Peter said as he bundled up as well. "You couldn't even focus at dueling practice the other day when she and Angus were there."

"And unless your preferences have changed to being distracted by Angus," Tabitha smirked, "We were able to assume the rest."

She and Peter chuckled but Tabitha's face dropped when Remus came in from the upstairs dorm rooms. They exchanged glances and then he moved to the coatrack where he silently began to put on his coat.

"Right," Tabitha said. "I'm off to, Mungo's. If you lot aren't back by the time I return these ingredients to Dumbledore, I'm going to come help. Good luck."

She moved to the door and began to push it open she she heard Remus call her name. She looked back but all he could managed to say was, "Happy Christmas." She grinned and left.

"So that's still going on," Sirius said with a dramatic sigh. "Just snog her already."

"I told you we can't-"

"We can't be together..." Sirius mimicked in an annoying voice. "Who says so?"

"Well why can't you and Marlene be together?" Remus asked defensively as he shoved his hands into his gloves.

"Because someone does say so," he said it with a scowl but shook his head to push the bitterness away. "Are we doing this or not?"

James entered with Lily and said, "We are doing this. I just spoke with Hagrid. He's arranged some alternate modes of transportation for us so we can get to the Ministry undetected. If you haven't already bundled up, you should now. Sirius that leather jacket isn't enough."

"You can't cramp my style, Potter." Sirius said

"What alternate modes of transportation?" Peter asked.

"He's got two thestrals which we now know Peter can help us see. Lils can ride with me, Wormtail has his own. Sirius, Dumbledore charmed your bike to fly."

"Get In!" He cheered, "Moony! You're in the sidecar!"

"Will I fit?"

As everyone followed James out, Remus took one look around common room to make sure nothing was left out when he noticed a small flower on the ground with purple petals. It must have fallen when Tabitha got her coat. He knew it right away. Wolfsbane. Used in Werewolf repellant potions and poisons. A shutter ran down his spine. She was brewing a potion to protect herself from him? "I was right." He sighed to himself before pulling to common room door shut.

The Department of Mysteries...

The gang made their way to the Ministry of Magic easily... almost too easily for comfort. Lily and James lead the way with Peter and Remus close behind, wands ready and watching every corner. Sirius took up the rear, walking backward to make sure they weren't followed.

"Everyone have their untraceable wands?" James asked. "If anything happens and we get caught, make sure your real wand isn't exposed. If they get ahold of it they can find any of us later."

"Shhh." Sirius said and everyone stopped. He aimed at a corridor behind them, feeling as if he had seen something. "Wormtail..."

Peter instantly changed into his rat form and scurried towards the dark corner. Everyone waited in silence and watched until his human silhouette reappeared with four others behind him - Alice and Frank Longbottom and the Prewitt Brothers.

"Alice no-" James whispered to them once the group was close.

"James Potter," she quipped back. "If you say one thing about me being in a 'fragile state' then I'll hit you with a jinx so hard you'll forget your own name."

James just glanced to Frank who shook his head, "Don't test her mate." He made his way beside James and lit his wand, "Lumos. So were is everyone else?"

"Mad-eye's faction is on a separate mission right now as is Tabitha. The McKinnon's should be here by now. Where is MacDonald?"

"Dumbledore has her working on a special project. She won't share what it is yet though."

"Albus has been a big fan of keeping secrets lately," James said sourly.

"There's the lift," Remus said then moved toward it and pressed the button. Everyone cringed and mildly panicked as it clattered and roared through the elaborate shaft towards them. Peter however shut his eyes and began to count. The lift doors opened and everyone pressed inside. As the lift ascended, Peter counted to himself again.

Finally the lift stopped and doors opened as the voice said, "Department of Mysteries."

"Thirteen seconds," Peter said as everyone exited but he lingered in the lift. They all turned and faced him, confused. " It took thirteen seconds to get to the main floor thirteen seconds to get back up here, meaning this is probably where it was before we called it so-"

"So someone is already here," Lily said and made sure to add, "Clever, Peter."

"More like, Paranoid," Sirius said stunned at the resourcefulness of his small friend. It was somewhat unsettling as it reminded him of something his brother would do.

"Right here. Hall of Prophecies," Frank said as he pointed out one of the doors in the grand foyer. James moved toward it and hesitated a bit but frank stepped next to him. "I'll be right beside you, Potter."

"And we are beside you," Lily said as she and Alice stepped next to their husbands.

The door pushed open and everyone took in the enormity of the Hall of Prophecy before them. The Prewitt brothers both dropped their jaws at the shelves that went on for miles.

"I think I just pissed myself a bit," Fabian said and his brother nudged him.

"How can we expect to find anything in here? These Crystal balls all look the same."

"Same way you lot managed to always win the House Cup," Alice said. "Sheer luck." She let out a sigh, "Maybe it's alphabetical."

"For what word?" James asked. "D for Dark Lord, V for Voldemort?"

"Maybe S, for Slytherin? Or Snake as that is their symbol?" Peter suggested.

"All are fine ideas," James said. "Frank, Alice and Remus take A to J. Lily, Myself and the Peter will take K to S, Sirius and the Prewitt's you take T to Zed. "

"Should we be a bit concerned about the fact that Angus isn't here yet?" Gideon asked.

"We can't." Sirius said calmly even though the thought had been on his mind since Frank mentioned the McKinnon's should be here by now. "We have our mission and not much time to do it. Pete's right. The fact that the lift came from this floor could mean we aren't alone. We need to work fast."

"Right," James said. "Everyone search as quiet as you can, then one person from each group tap your wand on one of these shelves every five minutes so we can hear and know we all are ok. Deal?"

"Deal." Everyone said then split up.

The search seemed futile for a while, but tensions were high as the only noise in the chamber came every 5 minutes when three single taps echoed through the room. Peter was trailing behind Lily and James who quickly read cryptic labels on each glass. Lily checked her watch just in time to hear two knocks then nodded to Peter who tapped his wand against the shelf. He fell behind slightly to blow the dust off some tags when he heard a voice behind him. "Peter."

"What?" He turned but nobody was there. The voice had been a whisper.

"Peter."

He looked to Lily and James to see if they had also heard the voice but they walked, unphased, ahead of him. He crept back slowly and walked along the shelves as the letters moved from D to E and the voice got louder, "Peter." Faster he moved from E to the G's "Peter. Peter. Peter" Finally he was at the first row of G labeled prophecies when the voice sounded so close to him, he could have sworn it came from his own mouth, "Peter!" He fell to the floor and pulled out his wand, aiming it up at nothing but a bunch of shelves. Upon them, he saw one Crystal ball that seemed almost alive. The rest all had the same glow, but this one seemed to draw him in. Peter stood and brushed himself off. He looked to either side of him to make sure nobody could see then lifted the ball from it's pedestal as the voice emerged and delivered to him a message.

Sirius and the Prewitts were not having any luck in their search. Sirius sighed and lifted his glowing wand to cast light on, "yet another one about Salazar Slytherin. Did that asshole do anything or just fuck up the world so bad that it unleashed this many prophecies about his legacy?" He waited with a grin at his own joke to hear the added whit of Fabian or Gideon but nothing came. He glanced over to one of the boys "Lads?" He didn't hear anything else. "Nox." He whispered and the light on his wand went out. Sirius crept to the edge of the shelving and peered around the corner where he saw the brothers, wands also out, and fingers to their lip to signal him to be silent. Gideon pointed in the direction of the main hallway then moved his hand up and down to suggest he had heard the lift moving.

Sirius put his wand in between his teeth and changed to Padfoot. Fabian opened his mouth to freak out slightly at this transformation but Gideon shoved him to keep quiet. As Padfoot ran off though, Fabian looked back to his brother and said "Why can't we do wicked shit like that?"

Padfoot hurried to the door and stayed in the shadows near the lift. He waited to see who would emerge. As the doors rang he crouched down, ready to pounce. The doors opened and only one person stood there, but Sirius lunged anyway. He changed back midair and tackled them, snatching the wand from his mouth to aim at their face and his other hand on their throat as he pinned them to the floor.

"Regulus?"

It was him. Young Regulus Black looked startled as he stared up at his brother. "What are you doing here?" Sirius demanded to know, but Regulus stayed quiet. "Not man enough to talk? Man enough to Murder someone aren't you?" Regulus stayed still too. "What prophecies are your freak friends after?"

Finally Regulus spoke. "He's real, Sirius." Sirius just stared down at his brother, not sure what to say so Regulus continued. "I know I said I've seen you-know-who before, but now I've seen him for real."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"He's not like anything else you've faced, Sirius. He's real and he's after your friends."

"What is this a Warning? Are you scared of this cult you've joined because you've realized you're in over your head? What did it for you, Reg?" Sirius spoke through gritted teeth. "Was it watching Greyback violate your old classmate? Was it your kindest cousin being accused of treason in the newspaper? Was it the dead corpse of a man you murdered because you couldn't face your actions?"

"Yes YES all of it!" Regulus finally said and for a moment, Sirius sensed a bit of sincerity. He loosened his grip a bit but kept the wand aimed. "Sirius. You-know-who is going to kill your friends if you don't stop this."

"Bloody hell.. you're... you're really scared, aren't you Reg?" Sirius got off his brother but kept his wand aimed and blocked the exit to the lift. "Are you honestly here to warn us? How did you know we are here?"

"Because..." Regulus stammered and Sirius' resolve to trust him faded quickly at the hesitation. "Because..."

Sirius took a step back from his brother and slammed into someone behind him who grasped him, a cold hand covered his mouth and a dark voice harshly whispered, "Let's just say... we got here first." The voice was Rudolphus Lestrange. Sirius flailed to break free, trying to shout to warn his friends but it came out as a muffled, angry moan. He was only was able to fight back a second as he watched Regulus pull his wand out and aim at him. He locked eyes with his brother who heard a muffled, "Regulus no" but it was too late.

"Petrificus Totalus."

Rudolphus let go and Sirius fell to the floor with a thud. "Very nice performance for only a few minutes of preparation, Regulus," Rudolphus said as he circled the stiff, petrified Sirius on the floor. He looked over at the doorway to the Hall of Prophecy. "Now, go tell the others to get ready before anyone sees us."

"What are you going to do with him when you're done?"

"Once we get the prophecy we can use his help to get the other blood traitors. They'll come willingly with him as leverage."

"What if they refuse?"

"Join or die," Rudolphus muttered and smiled then looked up. "Does that surprise you Regulus? Or do you still live in some sunny Universe where we all join hands as friends and skip off into a bright tomorrow." He leaned into the boys face. "You are a weak fool, Regulus. As Merlin is my witness, I will train that weakness out of you. I won't have it said that I married into a family of traitors. Now go do as I said." He gave a shove to the teenager who stumbled to avoid stepping on his older brother. Regulus hurried around the corner as Rudolphus smirked down at Sirius and aimed his wand.

"Imperio."

Meanwhile, Frank's search with Alice and Remus was unfruitful as they felt unsure what they were looking for. "That's five more minutes," Alice said and Remus tapped his wand against the shelf. They went on searching the labels but all froze at the same time when they realized nobody had returned the drum of their wands. Remus tapped again and nothing came. Remus pulled a chocolate bar out of his pocket and set it on the shelf to mark their place in the archive then they all ran to find the others. Remus instantly saw James and Lily running up one halls and went towards them as Frank and Alice went for the others. "Prongs. Lils. Where's-"

"Wormtail," James finished. We don't know. We turned around just now and he was gone.

Alice however had found him. She saw him down one halls, his back to her, and gave Frank and gentle shove to go find the Prewitt's and Sirius. She kept her wand ready though, uneasy about how he refused to face her. "Pettigrew?" He didn't answer and she swore she heard a muffled whisper as if he was talking to someone. She was nearly to him when he turned to face her, nothing in his hands and face unalarmed yet with an eeriness to it that sent shivers down her spine. "You alright?"

"Fine. Sorry. Fell behind."

"Who was that? I heard voices?"

"Just me... talking to myself."

"Prewitts and Black - Have you seen them?"

"No I've not seen anything!" he answered quickly.

"Right. Well come on." Peter trotted ahead of her, but she couldn't help but notice the empty pedestal that was missing a crystal ball.

Frank was almost to the S's when Sirius came walking around the corner and rammed into him. "Black! Where have you been?"

"We think we found something," Sirius said calmly. "Where is everyone?"

"Here!" Remus said as he, Lily and James ran up with Alice and Peter in tow. "What did you find, Padfoot?"

"Follow me. We think we found something similar to Tabs' prophecy." He waived them on but James and Remus lingered behind the others slightly and looked at one another with the same confused expression.

"Um...James did you just hear what he said?" Remus said in a whisper.

"You mean how he called her 'Tabs' instead of 'Delaney'. I heard it."

"Something is up. He feels... off."

They followed with guards up as Sirius lead them to the center of the large library. The space was a small circular gallery with every isle of prophecies shooting off from it. "Well?" Frank asked. "Where's Fabe and Gideon." It was then that everyone noticed Sirius had a bit of sweat trickling down his brow.

"Sirius?" James looked as Sirius' fist shook by his side. "Sirius, can you tell us what 'Padfoot' means?"

"It's my nickname you use," Sirius replied coolly.

"But what does it mean?"

Sirius grunted a bit as if he was trying to speak but stayed silent.

James instantly knew what was happening. He looked to Frank, "Longbottom. Go find the Prewitt's. Now!" Without questioning, Frank did so. "Everyone get your wands ready. He's being controlled."

"Careful, James!" Peter warned but James refused to listen.

James moved towards his best friend and wiped the sweat from his brow as Sirius' eyes gave him an emotionless stare. "I've got you mate. You just keep fighting it best you can." James whispered then turned to take a protective stance as he addressed the others. "We've got to get-" James stopped suddenly and stiffened.

"James?" Lily panicked as he fell to his knees and let out a sharpe cry in agony. "James!" The cruciatus curse was running through his veins and yet they hadn't heard anyone cast a spell. James' screams echoed and Lily kneeled beside hime and held him to try and keep his convulsions controlled. "It was cast nonverbally. It could be Bellatrix or Narcissa or Greyback-"

"Why am I third on the list?" Came the booming voice of the werewolf from the shadows.

"Run!" Remus shouted to the others as he saw the dark, dirty figure appear.

Sirius groaned as he felt the spell pull on him to move away, but he did his best to fight against it. James screams pained him and the moment of heartbreak they caused allowed the curse to take hold once more and he ran off down a corridor and Alice started to run after him.

Peter just grabbed her by the wrist. "What are you doing? He can't control himself. He could kill you."

"As if that isn't the option staying here," she grunted, "Come on. We have to help him!" She ran off and Peter followed as Remus covered the Potters and stood face to face with the man that haunted his nightmares.

Frank meanwhile had no idea what he'd left behind for the other to face. He was searching through the halls when he tripped over something in the dark and fell. Turning, he lifted his glowing wand and cast light on the limp body of Gideon Prewitt. "No! Gid!" He was reaching to check for a pulse when he heard someone whisper behind him, "stupefy-" He tucked and rolled behind the end cap of one of the shelves just in time to be missed. Peering around the corner he saw Severus Snape approaching.

"Who invited you, Snape?" He said as he scanned the hall for an exit strategy.

"You're the ones crashing the party. We've been here the whole time, thinking through the best way to make your arrival to our benefit."

"Where is Fabian?"

"Ran off. Guess Blood isn't thicker than water." He stepped over Gideon and got closer to Frank's hiding spot. "Isn't this ironic? I used to have to hide behind corners at school when I saw all your precious Prefects coming up the hall because you thought you ruled the school, but now it's my turn to send you running. Now our interests are aligned though. There is a prophecy in here you're looking for and you're going to tell us where it is!"

He rounded the corner ready to strike a blow but Frank was gone. Snape looked around confused then looked up just in time to see that Frank had climbed some of the shelves and shoved a clump of crystals off the edge. Snape turned every glass orbe to sand as it showered on him and Frank leaped from his perch. He scooped the sand up and threw it in the eyes of the disoriented Snape to blind him then decked him squarely on the jaw. Snape fell backwards. "You forgot something about our school days, Snape. Gryffindor always wins!" With that he ran to find Fabian as James' screams rang out.

Snape sat up and cleared the sand from his eyes, he started taking deep breaths and his tone darkened. "School is out." He muttered. "New rules." He then jumped up and ran in the direction of the others.

"Remus Remus Remus," Greyback said as he walked closer. "You left so fast the last time I saw you. You hardly gave me the chance to say what a strapping young man you've grown into."

"Lily..." Remus called in a warning tone.

"The curse still has a hold on him," She said frantically as James writhed on the ground.

"Your quarrel is with me, Fenrir, not Potter."

"My quarrel is with everyone, Remus. Did you forget? I don't like people. OH! Except that new little friend of yours. What's her name? Tabitha? Or her I like. We had so much fun."

"Quiet!" Remus flicked his wand but Greyback casually deflected the spell.

"Where is she? We were interrupted the last time we met. There was so much I wanted to still do with her... or I guess you can say so much I wanted to do... to her." He gave a malicious grin when he saw the way Remus tensed at his words. The older man glanced past him to Lily on the floor who was focusing on her husband. She seemed to be muttering a healing incantation in an attempt to offset the curse. "Pretty little thing. Say, I have an idea. Once I've used up your girlfriend, I can start on Potter's bitch."

Remus let out a battle cry of anger and threw a spell him, "Stupify!" Fenrir defended against but the force did knock him against the shelves and the globes upon it crashed downward onto the werewolf and the distraction made his hold on James weaken. James caught his breath and Lily lifted him from the floor. "Go, Lily. Get him away from here."

"Rem-"

"Please! Every month he saves my life, now let me save his. Go!"

Lily did as he asked, despite the weak James protesting and she helped him hobble away. Remus turned back just in time for Greyback to leap from the pile of shattered glass and tackle Remus to the ground. The two rolled about and Greyback lashed at Remus with his sharp nails, cutting his cheek. "Did you think you could be more human by getting a girlfriend, Remus?" Greyback laughed. "When will you admit you're no different than me?"

"If I live ten thousand years, I will never be like you!" Remus managed to land a blow on Greyback's jaw but the older man just laughed.

"I remember that passion of youth. I thought I was invincible. Until one day, a pathetic Minsitry worker decided to challenge my strength. He called me inhuman... a monster. So you know what I did to him?"

"I know what you did!" Remus screamed in anger as he thought of his father and used all his might to shove Greback off.

"Good Remus!" Greyback said smiling as he toppled back and Remus aimed at him. "Use your anger to be your strength." He stood up unbothered, wand not even aimed at Remus. "That's right, Remus. You know what I did... what I had to do to you. I just couldn't allow Lyall Lupin to be happy after his smear campaign against my kind. I had to show him pain and misery. And now I see you're trying to make yourself happy with that sandy-haired harlot? In doing so, you're challenging the wolf within you and trying to be human and we just can't have that."

"Stupify-"

Greyback lifted his wand to deflect and without even speaking, a defense charm locked in with Remus' spell midair and stopped it with mild fireworks. "Oh, my boy. You can do better than that." He lunged forward with so much force that it only took one leap before he was in front of Remus, hand on his neck, shoving him against the shelves. "You'd be wise to show your maker a little respect, boy." He shoved the tip of his wand into the neck of his victim. "Or I'll force respect out of you by removing every obstacle you put in my path... starting with your pathetic friends."

Remus did his best to stand tall despite the panic. Greybacks' breath on his face triggered a thousand painful memories.

"Papa please..." Greyback squealed. "Papa help me! It's a monster Papa." The man laughed deeply at his impression. "Oh I remember the night well, Remus. I know you do too. Just as you cried for your pathetic old man all those years ago, your friends will call out for you... and you won't be able to save them. Just like he couldn't help you."

"ARGH!" Remus kneed Greyback in the gut to release his grip then kicked him backward. He aimed his wand and realized a dark temptation to end him then and there had swept over him.

Just then they both heard a strange tinkering. Both looked up and saw something at the very top of the shelves. It was a small house elf with a blue coat and he was rocking back and forth.

"Kip?"

The little elf managed to get the shelf rocked enough to snap off it's foundational bolts and the stories-high volume of glass crystal began to tip towards Remus and Greyback. "Masters Lupins should move now." Kip said then vanished from the shelf as it tumbled forward. Greyback growled and ran and Remus did the same. Both were almost clear of the hall when Remus turned and sent a knockback jinx towards Greyback who flex backwards and landed on his back. He was laying face up and watched as the crystals showever for him. He let out a frustrated roar as he was buried.

Remus felt someone tug his wrist to pull him into the shadows. He lifted his wand quickly but dropped it when he saw who was there. "Tabitha."

"Where is everyone?"

"No time to explain." He took her hand tightly in his. "Come on and stay close."

Sirius struggled to catch his breath under the curse as it commanded him to return to Rudolphus and Bellatrix. "I told you Potter would figure it out sooner than you thought," She hissed at her husband as she stepped over the groaning Fabian who lay on the floor afer sparring with her for some time. "We should have ambushed them faster."

"Is it my fault Fenrir jumped the gun?" Rudolphus said. "Besides I was waiting for the McKinnons. If we are going to kill them all we might as well make sure all our targets are there." He looked to Sirius who seemed to be in great pain as he stood still. "Tell me where they are, Sirius." He commanded.

"Not here. They never showed up."

"S-sirius-" Fabian said pushing himself up. "What are you doing?!"

Bellatrix spun around and aimed at Fabian, "Nobody has invited you to this conversation, carrot top." She slashed her wand at him and his body contorted as it sent him sailing and crashing back onto the floor.

"Don't be mad at your good friend, Sirius." Rudolphus said as he walked up to Sirius and pat him on the cheek. "We are just giving him a taste of what it's like to be on the winning side for a change. Tell me Sirius. How does it feel to know after all your defiance, that you still ended up standing beside your family. Tell me."

"Like shit," he reluctantly admitted. He tried to continue but could only manage a grunt.

"Oh, he's trying to say more," Bellatrix laughed. "He never could resist having the last word. Well not today cousin. Today you find out just what it is you turned your back on," Bellatrix said as she reached for his throat. Suddenly she was zapped in the hand but a stinging jinx and pulled away from him. She looked over and saw Alice and Peter running towards them. Alice aimed at Rudolphus, "Expelliarmus-" Rudolphus ducked away from the spell as he realized they'd discovered which wand was controlling Sirius.

"Black. Go keep an eye out for McKinnon," Rudolphus said, "And when you see them... kill them!"

Rudolphus aimed in the direction of the department entrance and Sirius moved that way, giving a pleading and panicked look to Peter.

"No, Sirius!" Alice tried to race after them but Bellatrix stepped in front of her.

"No no no no, sweetie." She said like a nanny. "I will not have a Hufflepuff ruin my plans."

"Peter," Alice said aiming. "Go get him!"

"I can't leave you alone!"

"She's not alone," Fabian said shakily as he finally got back to his feet. "Go. The McKinnon's don't know he's hexed."

Peter did as they said, using a side corridor to get away.

"Ring around the rosebud, a pocket full of pureblood. Ashes. Ashes... they fall dead!" Bellatrix sang and then let out and angry shout and sending flames towards Alice.

"Aguamenti-" Alice aimed upward and charmed water to appear and douce the flames midair.

Fabian knew he had to get everyone gathered together again. They couldn't face them one-on-one. He tapped his wand against the shelf beside him and muttered, "Geminio" as it echoed and the echo duplicated over and over as a homing signal to the others. He was forced stop when Rudolphus charged towards him. "Come on, Lestrange." He teased as he moved closer to Alice to fight alongside her. "Let's see you battle while also clinging to Black's mind. I bet not even you are that talented."

"Crucio!" Bellatrix shouted towards Alice but both Alice and Fabian said, "Protego!" At the same time and send the charm back towards her. Bellatraix let out an annoyed grunt and yanked her husband in front of her. The sting of the spell ran through him but he just inhaled as if he was getting high on the charm and exhaled softly. It was he had enjoyed it.

"Sicko." Fabian muttered.

Marlene and Angus emerged from the lift panting. "I don't like the feel of this, Ang." Marlene said as she wiped what appeared to be ink off her hand on her brother's sleeve. "The lift wasn't broken earlier. I think it was charmed on purpose."

"Well maybe the Order charmed it to keep from being followed," he said as he caught his breath. They'd spent the better half of an hour trying to get to the Department of Mysteries after discovering the lift was hexed to go anywhere but its requested destination. FInally Marlene and Angus managed to work together to get it to the right floor with much effort from nagivation charms that felt like steering a large ship.

"No, that hex was much stronger. It was set by dark magic," she whispered to him.

"Well then maybe we shouldn't have made our pitstop downstairs."

"It was important and the right thing to do, and you know that." Suddenly they heared the crashing of cyrstals and sparks of spells echoing through ever corridor. "What the hell?"

Angus drew his wand as did his sister and they quickly approached the selves. Marlene tapped her brother on the shoulder and pointed out a lump on the floor in the dark. It appeared to be a body. Angus stepped slightly in front of her and they both jumped hearing the familiar cackle of Bellatrix echo through the room. The siblings gave each other a knowing look and both tried to remain calm as they panicked for their friends. Moving forward more, Angus recognized the figure of Gideon Prewitt on the floor, "No!" He ran over to his best mate and fell to his knees beside him, while Marlene watched his back. "Gideon?" Angus whispered and scooped his friend into his arms. He felt his neck and whispered, "He's breathing," in relief. He tapped his wand to his temple and muttered, "Finite Incantartum."

A sleeping charm was lifted from Gideon and he jolted awake, "Fabe!" He looked around panicked.

"Shush, Gid, it's me." He pat his friend gently. "It's me, Ang."

"Angus? You ok?"

"Of course. What's going on?"

"No time to explain," Gideon jumped up. "We're surrounded. Come on. We have to find everyone." He heard the echo of the tapping and knew it was his brother's work. "That way."

Marlene felt a hand touch her shoulder and turned ready to fire but hesitated when she saw Sirius behind her, "Black!" She looked back to her brother. "You and Gideon follow that noise, Sirius and I will find the others."

"Ok," Gideon agreed, not aware of the hex Sirius was under. He grabbed Angus by the hand who quickly jerked it away and gave a look to his friend before they both ran up the corridor.

"Sirius," Marlene said looking back to him. "Where are the others?"

"R-"

"What?" She asked worried at the expression of pain on his face and sweat that was pouring down his head and neck. He rest a shaking hand on her cheek. "Sirius what's wrong?"

"R-" He struggled as his hand slid down and caressed her neck.

"She wiped some of the sweat from his forehead. "It's going to be ok, Sirius. I promise."

"R-run!" He managed to force out but it was too late. His hand clenched around her neck and started to squeeze.

"Sir-" Her eyes widened in panic and she clawed at his hand as the air stopped flowing. Sirius forced her to her knees and squeezed harder, a blank and emotionless stare in his eyes. Inside, Sirius was panicking as well. He watched as he caused pain to someone who meant everything to him. Not only pain, but soon death. He could feel Rudolphus in his mind, every inch of his body held captive as he forced the life out of Marlene. She raised her wand and tried to cast a spell but without being able to speak, should couldn't mutter any incantation. Sirius just smacked her wand away with his free hand before setting it on her neck to keep strangling her. He watched as tears streamed from her face, her cheeks lost their color and her eyes began to close. Sirius felt like screaming but he couldn't move. He'd never wished death upon himself more than at this moment. He couldn't even shut his eyes as he was forced to watch the life leave her. He was nearly done when he heard footsteps approach. He looked to the side just in time to see Peter jump out of nowhere and tackle him to the floor. As he did, his hold on Marlene was released and she fell back, inhaling every ounce of air she could.

Peter was up before Sirius. He aimed at his friend and said, "Incarserous." Sirius' arm smacked to his side as roped bound him as he fell to the ground. He then ran over to Marlene, "It's Lestrange. He commanded Sirius to kill you and Angus specifically."

"Then go warn Angus and get that wand away from Lestrange." She struggled to say in a hoarse whisper as her world stopped spinning.

"We have to get away. If Sirius breaks free-" He stopped himself thinking of the horrible possibilities.

"Pettigrew, I can't see. Everything... spinning..." Marlene held her head as she coughed in more air.

"But you can't stay near him. Just lean on me ok?" She nodded and allowed Peter to help her up as they ran to find the others, leaving behind Sirius who already was trying to break through the bonds.

He lay there alone a long few moments, hearing his wicked cousin's laugh in the distance and worrying about his friends as he faught against his body. At least he couldn't break free of Peter's charm.

He heard footsteps approaching and a familiar and annoying laugh. Sirius wished he could scowl more as Severus Snape stood over them.

"Well that was touching. I mean you didn't break her heart enough already over the last decade, you have to go ahead an kill her?"

"S-snape..."

"Yes yes I know, Rudolphus has you under the hex. You know I don't really like him. In fact I'm glad to see his attempt to kill as fashionably as by proxy has failed. I should leave you here and let him fail. I also could just have my own fun and torture you here as payback for all those years you tormented me. I could even kill you right here on the spot. " Sirius felt slightly relieved that Snape's pride was working to his advantage. At least this way he wouldn't be free to go find Marlene and kill her. "But here is the thing," Snape kneeled down and whispered into Sirius' face. "While I admit I dislike Lestrange... I hate you more."

"N-no-" Sirius tried to force out but it was too late. Snape had tapped his wands to the binds and released him from them. Sirius pushed himself up and tried aiming his wand at Snape who merely had to step aside to let him pass. "Have fun!" Snape said and waved as Sirius returned to his master.

James and Lily ran up the corridor as James slowly gained back his strength. He searched ever shadow for Sirius "We won't leave without him, James." Lily said as if she could read his thoughts. Suddenly they crashed into two others as they rounded a corner. "Tabitha! Rem!"

"Kip?" James added. "Where the bloody hell did you-"

"There isn't time to explain," Tabitha said. "Greyback won't be down for long."

"Come on," Remus said, "I have a plan."

They heard a shout from behind them, "Wait for me!"

"Wormtail!" Remus waived him over.

Peter was almost out of breath when he reached them Marlene back on her feet nearly, "I got Sirius tied down. They've commanded him to kill the McKinnons. We have to get Lestrange's... Tabs where did you come from... Kip?"

"Masters Pettigrews!" Kip beamed happily.

"Hey!" They heard Frank shout and saw him on the far side of the room. "Save the chit-chat for the Christmas party. Let's go find my wife!" He shouted and waived them forward with Gideon and Angus behind him as the older McKinnon ran to help his sister. Together they readied their wands and raced ahead into the dark hallways towards the sound of Bellatrix's laugh.

To be Continued...

Next week we raise our wands, as we suffer the first losses of this War...

be sure to follow for updates