Book II: Age of the Pheonix
Chapter XVII: The Caomhnóir
Music Theme: Live And Let Die - Wings
The Delaney Estate - Ireland - April 1970...
Ten-year-old Tabitha slept in her bed in what would be the last good-night sleep she'd have for some time when she awoke to the shouts of a Banshee outside. She shot upright and glanced at her younger brother, awake in his bed across the room. "Bashees..." he whispered.
"They're back," Tabitha replied and they heard their father's racing footsteps followed by the ringing of the bell on their front porch that he'd enchanted to call on the help of other wizards.
"The Order is coming!" Tabitha's younger brother replied as he leapt from the covers.
"You daft mucker!" She jumped up and grabbed him. "Dad says we're supposed to stay inside. The Order of Caomhnóir members are the only ones allowed to handle banshees."
"I heard Mum fuss at Dad saying the Ministry doesn't even allow them to hunt. They're vergilanties!"
"Vigilantes. Which is illegal. So we stay up here."
"I can be a vigilante!" He kneeled, reaching under his bed and fished out an intricate wand.
"The family wand! What are you doing with that? You're not supposed to have it until you're eleven."
"Sneaked it out of Dad's workshop. I heard the boys in town talking. They say if you look a banshee in the eye and it doesn't scream at you, it will grant you a wish."
"The muggle boys in town don't now shite about magic," she hissed. Both Delaney children heard the ruckus outside as their father and his friends assembled to chase the banshee off the property. Tabitha's brother raced outside.
"Don't!" Tabitha scurried after him, down the steps and onto the back porch where she froze. The night was darker and colder than a dementor's kiss, despite it being spring. The crickets didn't chirp. The frogs didn't croak. Every creature stayed silent out of fear of the banshees that roamed. "Where are you?" Tabitha whispered.
"Just follow the moonlight," he called back from the darkness but Tabitha stared at her feet, her toes barley off the safety of their porch. She was petrified as she gazed up at the moon which seemed to taunt her with its glow.
"This doesn't make sense," she muttered to herself. "Banshees only come out in total darkness, not moonlight."
That's when the terrifying realization hit her. The light her little brother chased wasn't moonlight. A moon didn't bob and weave in the distance like this did.
"The banshee!"
Before she could react, she heard a splash in the direction of marsh and a scream echoed across the darkness as the light faded.
"Dad, Help!"
She hurried towards the lake in the darkness, nearly falling in herself when she reached the uneven, damp ground of the bank. She reached out to feel for any sign of her brother. She fell to her knees to ensure the grass was still beneath her when she touched something small in the grass, a wand carved with intricate symbols - the family wand. She lifted it up and said, "Lumos! Lumos, please!" She shook it and a the light flickered but couldn't cast much more than a glow.
"Tabby?" She heard her father call in the distance. "Tabitha, where are you?" When he found her, he kneeled beside her and crossly said, "What are you doing out here, Sheila lamb!?"
"I tried to stop him," she began to cry. "I can't find him."
"Can't find-" His confusion faded when he saw the wand in her hand and he looked across the lake. The young father dropped his own wand, ripped off his jacket and dove into the dark waters. Tabitha crawled away from it, the distant banshees scream echoing forever in her mind.
When her father resurfaced, it was with the still, drowned body of his youngest child dangling in his arms.
The Safe House - February 1980...
"Tabitha. Wake up," Remus whispered softly as he wrapped his arms around her in bed.
"Rem?!" She opened her eyes quickly, realized where she was, and rested into his chest.
"You ok?" He wiped some sweat from her forehead and held her close. "You were screaming in your sleep."
"I just stood there. I stood there like a coward and did nothing," she muttered. "I couldn't save him."
"Shh, it's ok," He consoled. "Just rest now."
"I was so weak. I'm still so weak."
"Weak? Tabitha, you're so strong. No other girl would risk her life to be with a bloody Werewolf. You were just a kid back then. What happened to your brother-"
"This dream wasn't about him," she said urgently. Remus kept his gaze locked on her when he heard her tone and she went on. "The rest of the dream was the same. I chased someone into the moores, I saw the lake, I heard the banshees, but the one being dragged into the water and clawing for my help... was Regulus. Remus, I think he may be dead." She started to tremble at the thought.
"It was a dream, Tabs. Just a dream. Just breathe." He started to lay her back down when the scent of her sweat caused him to tense. He sat stiffly, trying to repress his urges.
"You ok?" She reached up to brush his hair from his face but he took her hand to stop it. She noticed his jaw, locked up in frustration. "It's not getting any better? The urges you told me about?"
"The potion has been helping, I think. It's not as frequent. I don't... the wolf I mean, doesn't want blood anymore. So that's a start."
"Do you want me to go sleep in the other room?"
"Won't you have nightmares if you sleep alone?"
"Probably. But I don't want you torturing yourself for my sake."
Remus, fixated on her care for him, was able to push away the impulses and take a breath. "It's passing..." He smiled at her. "Come on." He lay down and she nestled into him. He pulled the covers back over them and both kept taking steady breaths to calm down. "We'll be ok. We're together."
"Something's wrong..." she unknowing whispered and Remus wrapped an arm around her at the warning but sat up a bit to listen. Both of them shot up in bed when the banging sounded against the door.
"Stay here," Remus insisted as he clambered out of the bed, the threats of Greyback still lingering in his mind. Tabitha, however, jumped up and slid into her slippers before retrieving her wand from the nightstand and staying close behind him.
Sirius had jolted awake in the room beside them, immediately seeing Peter's bed empty and panicking only a moment before seeing his mousey friend curled up at the windowsill. He seemed unphased by the pounding at the door that continued, his eyes fixed on the dark sky out the window. "Wormtail?" Sirius hissed. The boy stayed entraced with the night though, leaving Sirius to pick up a pillow and throw it at Peter. Sirius crept out of bed and fetched his wand as the pillow smacked Peter back to reality. "You sleepwalking or something? Come on."
"Stay here, Lily," James said in their room as his wife was already to the bedroom door.
"Like hell," she called back and lead everyone as they emerged from the rooms down the stairs towards the door, her eyes held within them resolve to confront whoever trespassed.
Everyone exhaled from where they were staggered on the crooked steps of the old house when Lily opened the door and saw Frank Longbottom there in the pouring rain, but their relief was short lived as he delivered the news. "It's McKinnon. They've got McKinnon."
"Tonks said he's been missing since yesterday. We looked all day and night weren't able to find him."
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Lily asked as she handed Frank a cup of tea to warm him. Everyone had gathered in the tiny sitting room and started a fire to warm Frank up as Kip used an enchantment to remove the water from his coat.
"Dumbledore asked me not to," Frank replied, "He was already furious at Tonks for involving me and Alice."
"If my wife was threatened and my best friend kidnapped, I would have done the same," James said. "I think I know why Dumbledore wants us out of this fight. Sybil Trewlaney prophesied that a child born the end of July could represent some kind of significance to Voldemort. It's the child of parents who defy Voldemort three times. Last time I checked, Voldemort is closing in on us and we aren't likely to start joining forces with him."
"And Alice is due in late July..." Frank muttered to himself. He shook his head in denial of the possibility and said, "Why wouldn't he tell us?"
"Dumbledore doesn't like sharing things until he has more than a full understanding on how it effects everyone," Lily said.
"But if it can potentially keep someone alive, why wouldn't he share it?" Peter asks nervously.
"Prophecies can be interpreted many ways, Peter. Terrible things happen to Wizards who try to manipulate one to their own advantage. Why do you think I tried so hard to hide my family prophecy?" Tabitha said.
"Right..." Peter muttered to himself. He sat in silence while they all discussed the events of Frank's day, the places he'd searched and how they intended to get Marvin back. Peter however, was completely lost in thought. His kept replaying the other day over and over in his head.
He'd told him. He'd told Max Forrestor about Tabitha's prophecy. He'd admitted more than he should have about her in hopes the Death Eaters wouldn't see her as a threat and hopefully leave her alone. Something plagued him, still. He'd been up all night thinking of it, remembering every word he shared with Max Forrestor. Peter had one question he couldn't stop asking himself. Did he confess the secrets to really save Tabitha... or to save himself?
"Pete?" Remus' voice came.
Peter shook, a bit startled by his own name, and gazed across the room to Remus who sat with Tabitha standing behind him, her arms gently over his shoulders in an embrace. They were both finally content and at peace with each other and Peter couldn't help but look at the picture of them and wonder what he had done and if he'd seen the end of it. "W-what?"
"Is that ok with you? To stay here and be the message keeper?"
"Message keeper?" He stammered.
"Blimey, Wormtail," James sighed. "Where have you been? We're going to join Frank and the McKinnons on the search for Marvin but we need someone to stay here and wait for Patronus messages from each of the teams to keep a central point of communication between us. In case of an emergency, you'll be near the floo to get to Dumbledore."
"Why me?"
James didn't want to out Peter's secret, that he was unable to cast a Patronus. With no way to communicate, it would be too unsafe for him to split up form the group. "Because... you're the quickest messenger I know, mate. Those little rat feet will get to Dumbledore before the message is even finished.
"O-oh. Ok."
Lily spotted Frank yawning. "I'll get you more tea, Frank and slip some wide-eye potion in it."
Lily took his cup and entered the kitchen, the weight of the day already heavy on her mind. She found Sirius standing over the stove, staring down at the kettle. His arms crossed and his head hung low, lost in thought. "Padfoot? You going to pour yourself some tea?"
"When Frank said... 'They've got McKinnon'..." he whispered.
Lily set down the teacup and approached him, wrapping him in an embrace from behind and resting her head against his back. Sirius closed his eyes, allowing her warmth to comfort him and he pat her hand gently. "I know," she whispered. "But Marlene's ok."
"Her brother's going to die, Lils. You heard Frank. They were going to kill my cousin and her family. They intended to murder her little girl but Marvin stopped them. I stopped Bellatrix from throwing an egg at a stray cat once as kids and she stabbed my hand with a fork at dinner that night saying, 'Try catching eggs now'." He scoffed, "You think Marvin stands a chance after stopping her from exacting revenge on her sister?"
"Shhhh," Lily said softly when she heard his tone sharpen.
"That idiot Angus can't protect them," Sirius muttered. "He's already lied to her twice and now this?"
"Yes. I forgot. See, I've only had a sister. I wasn't aware that the role of a brother is to raise and protect their sibling, never allowing them to so much as to scuff their knee, always be honest, never boastful or prideful-"
"I get it." He cut her off and took a breath. "I know I'm not a perfect brother to Regulus but that's a two way street. He doesn't want my protection, but Marlene depends on her family for support."
"Maybe that's the problem, Sirius. Maybe she needs people to stop propping her up so she can stand on her own." She let go of him, allowing him to face her. "What matters now is finding Marvin and bringing him home. But don't get me wrong, Sirius. I know you want to support others, lift them up and help them. It's why we picked you as godfather. War has a way of making people so bitter and lost. We knew you'd need something... someone to fight for, even if they aren't here yet."
Sirius just smiled and pulled her into a bear hug. He kissed the top of her head and said, "Thanks for always seeing right through me, Evans. But if you tell anyone I'm actually an old sap then I'll turn on you."
"I'd like to see you try," she chuckled.
Later that Morning...
Tabitha sat up from the couch where she rested and walked to the kitchen. She spotted Remus at the sink, washing some dishes silently. She tip-toed over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Why don't you magic those clean and we can get you tucked in bed for a little nap?"
He began to chuckle and yet his laughter lasted longer than anticipated and became deeper, darker and more meniacle.
"R-Remus?" She stepped back and trembled when he turned. "Y-you..."
It was Greyback in Remus' clothing, laughing with blood on his hands.
"What have you done? Where's Remus?"
"Don't worry. He's taken care of. Now be a good little mother and come to my colony where your little bastard belongs."
She stepped backward and tripped over something on the kitchen floor that felt like a body. When she sat up she was in a strange home, the windows were covered with dirt and the odor of smog filled the air. She looked at the figure on the floor who was bound and bleeding - Marvin! He groaned for her. "Delaney!" He called out and Greyback strut over to him, kicking him. "It's a trap!"
"Come alone," Greyback hissed at her as he waived his wand and silenced Marvin. He towered over Tabitha and said, "For when evil has risen to its full extent, the Delaney name shall fall. You heard me, bitch. Come alone."
Tabitha shot upright and frantically looked around. She suddenly was back in the sitting room of the Safe House. The rain raged outside. The fire crackled softly from the fireplace. It had been a dream.
Tabitha heard some noise in the kitchen and crept up to see who was there. As she cautiously peered around the corner she saw Remus with his back to her, only this time Kip was with him and both were using their wands to clean and put away the dishes.
"Remus?" She called, ducking the flying teacups as she entered.
Remus turned, already smilling at the sounds of her voice but instantly grew concerned when he saw he expression. "What's wrong?"
Tabitha exhaled a sigh of relief, hurried past the levitating plates and threw her arms around him. Remus embraced her protectively and gave her a moment to rest in his arms before she said, "Just a bad dream."
"Regulus again?"
"No... although that one still haunts me. It was Greyback this time." She felt Remus tense and his breath became sharper as the thought of his enemy still finding ways to attack Tabitha, even in dreams, sent him into a furry.
"What did he do?"
"Nothing... he didn't do anything. It was what he said."
"What did he say?"
Tabitha gazed into his eyes. She contemplated the possibility of the dream. It almost sounded like Greyback was suggesting she was pregnant. Her mind raced with timelines, her last cycle which had been sparatic from stress since the war started anyway, the naseua from the potion odors and the angry reaction to her scent from Greyback earlier this week. "H-he said.." she paused as she thought of how this would send Remus into a panic. She remembered how frantic he was the day Lily announced her pregnancy. It wouldn't do any good to alert him until she knew for sure and especially until they know if this potion worked. "He just said some threats. That's all."
"Like what?" Remus asked through gritted teeth.
"Well Marvin was there."
"Do you think it was more than a dream?"
"I'm not sure. But if it wasn't then neither was the one about Regulus-"
"What about him?" Sirius called from the doorway.
Remus and Tabitha froze in each other's arms and stared at him. The dishes Kip had been levitating also stopped as the house elf became ingrossed in the scene before him.
"W-well I-" Tabitha stammered.
"You mentioned my brother. Are you dreaming about him or something?"
"I did... a couple times."
"And you didn't think it keen to tell me?"
"Sirius wait-" Remus called but his friend left in a huff. He looked back to Tabitha and said, "Well that went well."
"I've got to tell him, Remus. The dreams aren't going away. I really think something's happened to Black."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, it's ok. You better get ready to go. Once we make sure the Prewitt's get here safely it will be our turn to search for Marvin. Besides, I think it's better I face him alone."
"Ok, but just so we are clear, you never have to face anything alone if you don't want to."
"I know," she smiled softly as he planted a kiss on her lips.
Sirius hadn't responded to Tabitha for some time as they sat at the ruins beside the house, the stone arch shielding them from the rain.
"Please say something, Black..."
"I guess I should have known it would happen eventually," Sirius said. "He was weak and young. Eventually Voldemort would ask him to do something he couldn't handle and it would cost him his life." Sirius gazed across the dark field towards the cliffs, listening to the storm crashing against the rocks.
"He was a lot stronger than you think. He was trapped in his circumstances. Not all of us pureblood kids had the courage you did when you were eleven."
"I'm not trying to speak ill of him, Delaney, I'm not," Sirius said as his tone softened. "You once said you resented me because of how I pushed him away. You said you were frustrated because you'd wished you had that opportunity to get to know your brother."
"Aye..."
"Well, I'd wager you knew your brother at just ten years old more than I ever would have come to know Regulus had we lived 100 years together." Sirius stood back into the rain and moved towards the house. "I better get ready to go. You and Moony can wait for the Prewitts without." He paused and called over his shoulder. "Thank you for telling me, Delaney. I know it wasn't easy for you of all people."
"No matter what's become of him, Sirius, dead or alive, I think your brother is a good kid who just lost his way. Maybe he would have found it again but just ran out of time."
"Sometimes I wonder if any of us find our way once we've lost it." He glanced up and saw Peter approaching. Not wishing to talk anymore and moved away from her, saying "Well... see you inside," and pat Peter on the back as he passed him.
"Tabitha?" Peter called softly as he approached her. "Remus told me what you two were out here discussing."
"He took it well, I guess..." she sighed.
Peter climbed onto one of the broken ruins and gazed across the fields. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. You were just trying to help."
"Sometimes we can tell ourselves over and over that we were just trying to help but it doesn't change the damage that's done."
"Do you think," he muttered, "That no good deed goes unpunished?"
"More often than not."
"Sometimes I think I've done the right thing, and yet I keep waiting for the shoe to drop and crush me."
"Well, what is it you've done?"
"Well... I..."
Just then, Remus called for her from the house, "Tabitha? We better go."
"Delaney," Peter grabbed her hand as she stood. "Don't go..."
"We're relieving the Prewitts on the search. I promise, we will make time to talk. Let's just find Marvin first, ok?"
Peter didn't even respond as he watched her walk away, hoping there was still chance to fix what he had done.
Sirius joined the search and Tabitha and Remus were close behind when Peter entered, he sensed an elephant in the room as the Prewitts sat apart from one another.
"So no luck yet?" Tabitha asked Fabian as she found extra blankets and pillows.
"No sign of him" Gideon answered. "We-"
"She was asking me," Fabian cut him off.
Peter and Tabitha exchanged shocked expressions as the Prewitts just stared each other down. Remus, holding his wolfsbane potion in his hands, said "So... welcome to our humble abode anyway."
"Kinda small isn't it?" Fabian asked as he accepted the blankets from Tabitha.
"It's definitely intimate," Tabitha chuckled.
"So is McKinnon Castle lately," Fabian grunted sourly.
"We'll, um, let you two rest. Peter's going to stand guard for any messages that come in. Try to get some sleep. You can swap out with James and Lily when they get back."
"I doubt I'll get any sleep," Gideon sighed as he lay down on the couch.
"Sure. Don't have your cuddle buddy," Fabian quipped and set his feet on the table then reclined. Gideon just rolled over, his back to his brother and tried to rest as Remus pulled Tabitha gently by the arm into the foyer.
"Really not feeling the brotherly love today," she whispered.
"Any idea what happened?"
"Everyone is tense with Marvin missing." She rest her hands on his and lifted the potion bottle towards his lips, "You can't forget about this, Rem. It has to be every day this week."
Remus grimaced but drank the potion, swallowing hard then quickly fishing a chocolate from his pocket to chase down the flavor.
"Taste that bad?" She asked.
Remus got a mischievous smile and just planted a kiss on her lips. She quickly pulled away and scowled, "Ugh, that tastes like cow patty."
He just laughed and put the bottle away as Tabitha grabbed his scarf and wrapped it around his neck. As she stared into his eyes though, she grew uneasy with the feeling this would be their last peaceful moment together.
"You ok, Tabs?"
"Kiss me again," she whispered.
"Like the flavor that much, do ya?" He chuckled but when she didn't seem amused he tenderly did as she asked, planting a soft kiss on her lips and lingering as long as she wanted. She ran her hands through his hair and felt a tear fall from her eye, unsure why. When she pulled away she felt the urge to admit 'I love you' to him, but all she could muster was, "Come home."
"I promise," he swore then wiped the tear from her cheek and glance over her shoulder, spotting Peter spying from the corner. "Keep an eye on things Wormtail." Peter just nodded and Remus departed.
Tabitha stayed in the foyer until she heard him disapperate outside, then began to bundle up. "I hate this, bloody splitting up." She caught sight of a coat on the hook with a wand sticking out it. "Whose coat is this?"
"I think that's Fabian's."
"This isn't Fabians wand though," She fished out a redwood wand, hand painted by it's owner with a celtic scroll. "Is... Is this Marvin's?"
Peter shrugged and Tabitha rushed to Fabian's side, shaking him awake.
"What Molly?!" He startled awake and Tabitha held up the wand to him. "What?" He groaned, "Ted gave it to me. Something to help me keep hope up."
"It's Marvin's?"
"Aye."
"Oh you eejits," she muttered. "I can trace this! Do you have any idea what his core is?"
"Unicorn hair I think," he replied stunned and confused.
"Lily has some of that in her potion kit," Tabitha started towards the kitchen.
"Tabs wait, it could be a trap," Peter cautioned and she froze in her tracks.
"Of course it is." She realized her dream had been a warning. Marvin said it was a trap. Greyback quoted her family prophecy and said to come alone. "It is a trap... for me..." She looked over her shoulder at Peter, "Pete... I think Greyback and Max have found out about my family prophecy. If they know we have Marvin's wand then they are holding him until I come after him."
"W-what do you mean they found out?"
"I had a dream. Marvin was in a damp apartment with foggy windows. I think they know about my divination." She clutched the wand and stared at it, her diverted glance giving Peter the opportunity to swallow hard as he choked back his guilt. "We really do have a traitor..."
"Y-you don't know that..."
"I'll go with you, Delaney," Fabian grabbed his coat as he stepped beside Peter. "Marv is my best mate. I'll bring him home with ye."
"Only one person can trace a wand."
"T-that's true!" Peter squeaked. "I had to use the thestral hair to trace your wand to Malfoy Manor then went back to get everyone else and form a plan."
"Then I'll go find Marvin," Tabitha offered.
"And send a patronus when you find him. Swear you'll not do anything until we find you?" Fabian asked.
"I'll... try." Tabitha knew if this was a trap, then odds were they were expecting her and would leave little room for help to come. Tabitha thought of her words to Remus earlier as she recalled her memories of her brother. She stood there, scared, unable to help. She swore she'd never be helpless again. Now was her chance to prove it.
Meanwhile in Muggle York...
Marlene set herself down on the damp steps just outside "The Gobborn Seer", a wizard speakeasy located in historic York. She was exhausted, trying to stay awake as she leaned her head on the stone wall, looking like an urchin as the winter rain trickled onto her hair. She recognized her brother's steps as he ascended.
"You walk like, Dad, ya know? I hear those steps and instantly start thinking I'm in trouble."
"Marley Lass," Angus said as he sat beside her. "You've got to go back to get some sleep."
"Aren't you tired too?" She asked, not lifting her head. "I'd think you would be. You didn't exactly do much sleeping last night."
Angus tensed and just grumbled, "Mar... I was upset. I'd watched our father die. I needed some happiness."
"So you moved in with your boyfriend after depriving me of moving in with mine?"
"That's not true and you know it. Mum needed all of us. We stayed home and took care of her because Atti had left. When she decided to move in with her sister I thought it was time for us to go start our own lives." Marlene didn't answer as their coats began to soak from the rain. "I know the irony of it ok? Why do you think I hid it from you?"
"Because you were trying to shield me?"
"I didn't want to hurt your feelings."
"Oh brother, I think if we've learned one thing about good ol' Marley Lass, it's that her feelings don't mean a damn to anyone."
"They mean a damn to me!"
She stayed quiet again, her hair now drenched.
"Please say something, Mar."
"I just wish I knew why you all find the need to protect me as if I'm fragile. It makes me feel like there's something about myself I don't know." When Angus didn't reply she finally faced him. "Is there something?"
Angus took her hand and held it tightly. "You were born on a Wednesday, June 13th, 1960 to two parents and three brothers who loved you. You were really sick when you were born, and some of my earliest memories were of all three of us on our knees praying 'Please, don't take our baby sister away when she's just arrived.' I guess Marvin and Atti grew out of that fear of losing you, but I never did. Now I've held on too tightly to realize that I'm my own person and so are you and we deserve to get to know each other. Even while we were in that Speakeasy asking if anyone had seen Marvin and they asked me to describe him, I realized I only could come up with surface level descriptions. I don't know my family, Marlene. Hell, I didn't even know my father until after he was gone. I'm realizing that the only way to protect your family is to know them, trust them, let them be themselves so they can protect themselves - protect each other. I'm so so sorry, Mar. I'm still just that three-year-old kid, praying for my baby sister to be ok."
Marlene sniffled, not just from the cold, but from the tears that blended in with the rain. "I forgive you, Ang."
"You do?"
"Of course... I love you."
He pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her as she rest her head on his shoulder, "We'll get Marvin back, and one day I'll make all of this up to you. I swear."
Delaney Estate - Ireland...
It was nearly 4am and Tabitha finally traced the wand properly, arriving late at night in the dark rains that were plaguing most of the continent this time of year. The winds howled and the rain soaked her rain coat. Something was wrong though. There were no buildings towering beside her, no fog, quite the opposite. The air was clear and the only thing towering beside her were trees. Tabitha ascended one of the short hills, and as she did each step solidified more and more where she was, finally confirming altogether when she reached the top of the hill and spotted a small lake with a tiny white farmhouse behind it.
"Home..."
Marvin's wand in her hand reminded her to approach cautiously. She neared the back windows of the abandoned house where a single room flickered with candlelight. Peering over the side of it, she saw him in the corner of the old bedroom and grimaced at the sight of him bound to her father's antique desk chair. He was bleeding from the temple, nose and lip, his jaw slightly swelling and his head hanging low.
Tabitha pushed open the window carefully and climbed inside. She drew her wand and aimed towards Marvin to lift the silencing charm. He was startled awake by it and moved his jaw about as he felt the tension of the charm release.
"No..." He whispered when he saw her. "Tabitha, I told you it's a trap."
"Yea, sort of put that together."
"You've got to go. Get out of here and send a partronus for help."
"Marvin it's not that simple. That's why they brought you here. We have to get you out, now."
She lifted her wand to untie him when a nonverbal charm disarmed her and her wand flew backwards. Tabitha turned and encountered Fenrir Greyback who'd been hiding behind the bedroom door.
"I knew this would be the place to wait for you. The bedroom is where all the action happens," he sneered.
"Delaney run!" Marvin tried to warn her but Greyback lunged, tackling her onto the bed.
"Only here ten seconds and already underneath me? What will people say about us?" He pinned her arms up and spotted her scar from where he had carved his first initial into her skin, "My branding healed nicely. Just so Remus never forgets that everything and everyone in his life belongs to me - his alpha." Tabitha struggled against him, groaning through gritted teeth in anger, but this close to the moon he was strong.
"Fenrir," Max's voice boomed from the door. "Get off her."
Greyback groaned but dismounted. He lifted her from the bed and wrapped one large arm around her and other around her neck, pinning her to his chest. He tossed Tabitha's wand to Max who examined it before tucking it into his trench coat.
"So, I see the rumors of your divination skills are true, Delaney." Max chuckled, "When your friends are near death you can sense it and see them in dreams. The consequence of hearing so many banshee cries at such a young age, I assume."
"This isn't where you were in my dream!"
"Well done, Sherlock. I bet you got all top marks in class," he rolled his eyes. "No. We just used my flat to beat the pulp out of McKinnon, Glad we didn't have to fully kill him to get in contact with you. Thought we'd bring you home as a reminder of what becomes of someone's brother when you don't do what you're told."
"There's a blood ward on this property!" She shouted louder after his comment. "You have to be a Delaney to get in!"
"To apparate in," Max corrected. "I warned you my brother did research on your family. We know there's an entry on the side of the property for visitors. It does, however pose a bit of a problem for your friends who don't know about that. Not going to be able to apparate in to help you."
"Just in case you didn't heed my warnings about coming alone," Greyback sneered, tightening his grip around her as she struggled.
"How did you know about my divination?"
"You'd learn a great deal about people too if you payed attention," Max taunted. "And maybe I should just add something. IF you don't do everything we say, McKinnon here is going to pay for it." Max's crooked smirk curled onto his lip. "You've been a bit of a thorn in our sides lately, haven't you?"
"I warned you my mutt wasn't allowed to have any earthly attachments but you didn't want to listen, did you Tabby?" Greyback hissed. "You thought your family prophecy would keep you safe and sound?"
Max laughed at the expresison on her face, "Surprised we know about your little family secret? You should be grateful. It's probably the only thing keeping you alive. The prophecy says the end of your name would be one of the foretellings of the end of a great power."
"And you think it's Voldemort? That's what this is about?" She asked struggling in Greyback's arms.
"Well we can't take any chances. So we would rather not kill you. We also can't risk you and Lupin tying the knot and you taking his name."
"You don't know anything about us!"
"But we do. Fenrir has a keen sense of smell. He knows, Tabitha. I would wager you know too."
Tabitha weakened at Greyback's chuckle as he pat her stomach, "A couple swift punches to the gut would take care of that, though. Unless you think I'm wrong then you have nothing to fear." He let out a low, pleased laugh when she squirmed at his touch. "I thought so. Couldn't stay in denial forever, could ye?"
"So we thought we would just stash you away, for safe keeping," Max said.
The reality of their suggestion sunk in as Tabitha realized the multiple possibilities of what that could mean. She swiftly elbowed Greyback in the gut and attempted break free but Greyback just laughed and said, "That tickled." He pulled her back into his grasp, scooping her up so that her feet dangled when he wrapped his arms around her.
Marvin's world stopped spinning and he spat out blood onto the floor and looked pleadingly at Tabitha, not to beg fo mercy but to plead with her to save herself. "Let her go. She's got nothing you want! Some stupid prophecy doesn't mean anything. My father's the one who killed your people, isn't he Fenrir? I stopped Bellatrix's mission. I'm the thorn in your side, not her! She's just a kid."
"She's a criminal, from a long line of them," Max scolded as he kept his gaze on her.
"What crime?" Marvin defended, "A blood traitor? Maybe if you got your head out of your own asses you'd be able to hear that it isn't a crime to not be brainwashed by Voldemort."
"She's a murder. She killed my brother." He gazed at her and Tabitha remained silent, still unsure if Regulus was alive or not and refusing to admit he was the guilty party in Dennis Forrestor's demise. "She's a common vigilante like her father and the rest of... what was their name... oh yes, The Order of Caomhnóir."
"W-what?" Marvin's face paled slightly at the name as if he recognized the word and Tabitha struggled against Greyback harder as she began to see what Max's plan was.
"The Order of the Guardian?" Marvin whispered to himself.
"Oh that's right, I forgot you spoke Irish, silly me," Max said as he stepped behind Marvin and set both hands on his shoulders. "Here's how it's going to work, Delaney. You make a vow with me that you'll abandon this ridiculous Order of the Pheonix, leave and never use your magic again... and McKinnon here," He cupped Marvin's broken chin and lifted it, the boy inhaling sharply from the pain, "Get's to live."
Tabitha's face didn't hide her emotions well. She was panicking.
"Tabitha," Marvin muttered, "You don't know me well. You owe me nothing."
"Oh, don't act like you have nothing to live for McKinnon," Max laughed. "But, Marleen will understand, Tabitha. She watched you grow up grieving for your brother, so certainly she has a good idea on how it all works. And she's got another two brothers. Nobody ever will miss this one."
"I made my choice, Tabitha!" Marvin shouted over Max, his words slurring a bit as he couldn't fully move his jaw. "I put myself between the Tonks family knowing I'd be taken and killed. I already accepted my fate."
"What if they're right about me," Tabitha asked desperately, "About The Caomhnóir? I can't let you die for a traitor."
"Tabitha no!" Marvin struggled but Max muttered a silencing charm and Marvin's jaw tightened shut.
"Decide, Delaney. Or Greyback will have his way with you while Marvin here gets to visit the bottom of the lake."
"Don't!" A tear started to fall as Tabitha thought of her younger brother. She'd have done anything years ago to save him and yet she just stood there in fear in the dark night as he ran towards death. She closed her eyes and nodded. "Leave Marvin alone. I'll do what you want."
"Good girl," Greyback whispered in her ear.
"Hold her still, Greyback," Max demanded. He wrenched Tabitha's arm towards him and rolled up her sleeve then clutched tightly to her as he cast the charm of the unbreakable vow. "Now then... Let's begin."
"Wait!" Tabitha shouted and Max groaned in frustration, "You'll have to swear not to kill my friends."
"Oooo, trying to bargain with us? You don't really have a card to play here, dearie. One more act of defiance and Marvin here takes a little swim." His smirk turned to a scowl and he coldly said, "Now... 'I Tabitha Delaney vow'"
Tabitha glanced frantically at Marvin who just shook his head, but she couldn't ignore the fear in his eyes. She heard Greyback grumble impatiently and grab her by the hair to keep her gaze forced on Max. She cried out, "I Tabitha Delaney vow...
The radiant beam of the unbreakable vow encircled their arms as Max lead her words:
"Will abandon all magic."
"Will Abandon all magic..."
"Will Abandon The Order of the Pheonix..."
"Will Abandon the Order of the Pheonix.."
"And vow never to freely return to the wizarding world."
"and vow..." she let the tears come as her voice broke.
Greyback whispered to her, "His blood will be on your hands, Delaney. Another brother lost because of your cowardice."
"And vow never to freely return to the Wizarding world!" She shouted in heartbreak, closing her eyes tightly.
"Do you vow to leave this world before the sun sets?"
Tabitha trembled in his grasp, his hand squeezing more and more.
"Say it!"
"I swear it," She cried. "Yes! Just let him go, please! Swear you'll let him go!"
Max just chuckled and said, "Fine. I swear it." He waived his wand towards Marvin and the chair disappeared as the silencing charm removed and binds vanishing as Marvin crumbled to the ground. Max shoved Tabitha away and grabbed Marvin by the collar, dragging him across the floor. Every part of Marvin's body ached from their hexing and he tried his best to break free and stand up, but Max just pulled him further and further from Tabitha as Greyback laughed. The werewolf pulled her head back and sneered into her face, "There's an obedient little bitch.
"No!" Marvin cried as he watched Greyback force a kiss on Tabitha. "Let her go!"
"I thought you'd be thrilled," Max said with an evil smirk as he dragged Marvin to the porch. "We found The Guardian for you. And now you see we're right. She's abandoning you."
"She's not a traitor," He groaned.
"Well I guess that's for your friends to decide now, isn't it?"
Greyback pulled his face away from Tabitha and she instantly spit out his kiss. He hauled her out of the bedroom and towards the floo. She stared sadly upon the abandoned home, no sign of what had become of her parents or when they had left. Everything just as it was during the days of her childhood. She looked at the painting over the fireplace of her whole family, the last one made with her brother included. Now the sight of it was tainted with Greybacks voice as he said, "Better hang on, Tabby. Unless you'd like to navigate the floo with your own magic and break the vow already?"
She did as he said, remaining still as he dropped the powder and her home vanished before her eyes in green flame.
To Be Continued...
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