We apparated right inside of Fudge’s office where he was sitting drinking a cup of coffee. Fudge jumped, spilling his coffee in the process.
“Good lord, Lucius! What’s happened?” Fudge asked, dabbing at the mess with his handkerchief.
“My son was attacked, Minister. By a hippogriff,” Lucius said, eyes glinting angrily.
“Ah, well, as regretful as that may be-”
“-I demand that the teacher be sacked at once!” Lucius said. There was an odd silence in which Fudge fidgeted nervously.
“Surely there must be something else?” Fudge asked.
“I think not. Hippogriffs! His first day on the job and he brings something dangerous? Not to mention those biting books he assigned them this summer!” I inputted. Both Lucius and Fudge turned to face me. I flushed and took a step back. Lucius smiled at me, a forced smile, then turned back to Fudge.
“Isabella is right, Minister. If this is only his first day, imagine what… injuries, could occur by the end of the week,” Lucius said coldly.
“Is that a threat?” Fudge asked sharply.
“It’s a fact,” I retorted.
“Rubeus Hagrid has been sentenced to a hearing to take place in a few days. You’ll have to be satisfied with that,” Fudge said.
“Fine. I can assure you that I will be there for this hearing,” Lucius said coldly.
“Any news on Sirius Black yet?” the minister asked sharply.
“No, I think not,” Lucius said with a cold smile.
We left the ministry on foot. As we walked through the streets I thoughts I caught a glimpse of a black dog, but when I looked back it was gone.
“What are you looking for?” Lucius inquired.
“I thought I saw… nothing, come on, let’s go,” I said to him. He shrugged and we departed.
On the day of Hagrid’s hearing he was not fired, but the hippogriff, Buckbeak, was sentenced to death. Both Lucius and I had attended the hearing and upon hearing this we talked together with our heads down while the court made their decision.
“We wouldn’t want to miss this now would we?” I asked.
“Of course not.” he replied.
“It will be most amusing,”
“you have an odd since of humor,” Lucius said softly.
“Do I?”
“Yes. Luckily for you I find these things quite- ah… entertaining myself,” he replied.
The conversation deteriorated after that and members of the court left.
“Will you wait for me outside, Isabella? I wish to have a word with Dumbledore,” Lucius said to me.
“Of course. I think I’ll walk down to the Ice cream parlor and get some Ice cream,” I said. Lucius smiled grimly at me and I hurried outside.
After getting my ice cream I sat on a bench outside to eat it. I was halfway through when I spotted the black dog again. It stared at me with big yellow eyes.
“Padfoot,” I said, surprised. The dog grinned at me, if it is possible for a dog to grin, and licked my hand. I shuddered unpleasantly and tossed him my Ice cream cone. He caught it in midair and swallowed it in one big gulp.
“Why have you been following me?” I asked. The dog just wagged its tail. It turned to leave and I stood to follow it. I followed it inside and abandoned motel and down to the basement. I pulled my wand out and cornered him. He turned into a human and sighed.
“Haven’t we been through this before?” He asked, a pained expression on his face.
“I demand to know why you’re following me! I know some very terrible curses and I have very powerful acquaintances,” I hissed angrily.
“Spare me you melodramatic act,” He said with a yawn. I raised my wand threateningly and red sparks flew from the tip.
“You should try and control your anger,” He said, rolling his eyes at me.
“you speak as if you’re better than me! You’re nothing more than a mudblood,” I jeered.
“My blood is as pure as yours, Isabella Prewett,” Padfoot growled.
“How’d you know-?”
“I know a lot of things about you, Ms. Prewett. We’re not so different you and I.”
“Why have you been following me?”
“You’re gorgeous when you’re angry,” he said. With lightning quickness he transformed back into a black dog and was gone.
I made my way out of the old house and back to the ice cream shop where Lucius was waiting for me.
“Where were you?” He asked curiously.
“I had business to tend to,” I replied coolly. He frowned at me, his grey eyes cold and assessing. I shuddered involuntarily and looked up at him.
“I haven’t betrayed you if that’s what you’re thinking,” I said slowly. This answer seemed to satisfy him and he smiled at me.
It was a few days before the execution of the hippogriff when I was awakened by a noise. It was pitch black in the room and I reached for my wand on the bedside table. I picked it up and held it aloft.
“Lumos Maxima!” I whispered softly. I squinted in the sudden light that erupted from the tip of my wand. I almost shrieked when I saw two big yellow eyes staring into mine.
“Hush!” Said Padfoot, turning into a human and covering my mouth with his hand. I bit down on his hand and he jerked his hand away.
“What are you doing here?!” I hissed.
“just thought I’d come see you,” He said with a wolfish grin. He made a move towards me.
“All I have to do is scream and my master will be here in less than a second,” I warned.
“So! You do work for Lucius Malfoy,” He said.
“Of course I do,” I snapped.
“Well, I’ll see you later,” He said turning to go.
“Wait! Why are you so interested in me?” I asked. He turned back and flashed me a smile.
“You’re cute when you sleep,” He said, then he disapparated with a pop.
“Damned dog,” I muttered, turning over in my bed. I flicked my wand and the light was extinguished.
The day of Buckbeak’s execution I was sitting in my room, reading a book when Lucius walked in. I looked up at him.
“The hippogriff escaped,” He said. I pulled myself into a sitting position and yawned.
“Well it’s obvious Hagrid did it, so he should be arrested, right?”
“Wrong. Dumbledore, the executioner, even Fudge himself saw the hippogriff before going into Hagrid’s house and then when they left, the hippogriff was gone. Hagrid was with them the entire time,” Lucius said.
“Harry Potter did it then,” I said coolly.
“There’s no proof. Besides he was inside the castle at the time at the time.”
“Damn…and I was so looking forward to seeing a beheading,” I said, annoyed. Lucius chuckled softly and draped an arm across my shoulder. He kissed my cheek and I felt myself blush. There was a tapping at my window and I looked up to see a tawny owl bearing a letter sitting outside.
“Where you expecting a letter?” Lucius asked. I shook my head no and walked over to the window. I let the owl in and it held out its leg proudly. I untied the scroll and read it aloud.
Sirius Black has been captured! He is being held at Hogwarts and is awaiting the Minister. Rest well tonight knowing you are safe.
-Albus Dumbledore
“Well at least now he’ll be subject to the dementors…and not us,” I said, slightly annoyed that we hadn’t captured him.
“Too bad…I was so looking forward to torturing him,” Lucius said. I stared at him for a minute and shook my head. Serini swooped down from the ceiling and landed on my shoulder.
“She’s hungry,” Lucius commented.
“I’ll go down to the kitchens and get her something to eat,” I said turning to leave.
“I’ll come too,” Lucius said.
When we got to the kitchens I was feeding Serini a piece of an apple when an owl flew in through an open windows. Lucius grabbed it and read it.
“Sirius Black has escaped…again…”
“Of course,” I said rolling my eyes.
The next morning there was picture of him in the paper.
“Holy crap!” I said, staring at the face on the picture.
“What?” Lucius asked.
“It’s Padfoot!”
I told Lucius about the dog that had been following me.
“So… Sirius Black is an animagus,” He said slowly.
“Explains how he escaped Azkaban.”
“bloody brilliant that is,” He commented.
By the time the summer came Lucius had obtained tickets to see the Quidditch World Cup. Draco, Narcissa, Lucius and myself were all going to attend as Mr. Fudge’s ‘personal guests’. Although I wasn’t overly fond of Quidditch I thought it would be interesting to go. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of wizards would all be attending the match. Narcissa and Draco left early the day of the match and took a portkey, since Draco couldn’t Apparate yet. Lucius and I disapparated that afternoon, a few hours before the match would start. Lucius immediately went to find the minister while I wandered around the campsite. There were wizards all over the place selling souvenirs for the match.
I met up with the Malfoys a while later and we made our way to the top box where Mr. Fudge was talking to none other than Arthur Weasley who was accompanied by his children and none other than Harry Potter.
“Ah, Fudge, How are you? I don’t think you’ve met my wife, Narcissa? Or our son, Draco?” Lucius was saying to the Minister.
“How do you do,” Fudge said to Narcissa and then Draco. Harry Potter’s eyes drifted over the Malfoy’s and came to rest on me.
“I remember you…you were at Hogwarts a few months ago… you ran into me in the hall,” Potter said to me.
“My name is Isabella Prewett… I’m Mr. Malfoy’s personal assistant,” I said coolly. I heard a slight whimper coming from my left and turned to see a house elf, not unlike Dobby, was cowering with her hands over her ears. I thought I saw a flash of color and made a move to investigate when the dark mark on my arm burned. I let out an involuntary squeak of pain and saw Lucius flinch beside me. I caught his gaze and looked at him curiously. He merely shrugged and continued to speak with the minister.
“Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Arthur. He’s here as my guest,” Fudge was saying to Arthur Weasley.
“How… how nice,” Arthur said with a strained smile. Lucius eyes strayed to the mudblood sitting beside Harry Potter. The girl went pink, but stared determinedly back at him. If we weren’t standing before the minister I probably would have cursed her, but as it was, we merely continued down the line to our seats. Draco settled himself between Lucius and Narcissa and I sat beside Lucius to watch the match.
“What caused the mark to burn?” I whispered in his ear once the match had begun.
“There must be others in our midst…they were letting us know they were here…” He whispered back, his grey eyes following the match.
“There are more of us here, now?”
“Yes. I think that we may have some fun tonight,” He said softly and slowly. A grin spread over my face and I turned back to watch the match.
Ireland won the match, but the seeker from Bulgaria, Krum, caught the snitch, which was odd. It was nearly dark by the time we got to our campsite.
It was decided that Lucius and I would stay here with Draco and return home in the morning. Narcissa went home that night. The tent seemed small on the outside, but on the inside was very much like the manor. Draco was running around with his friends form school, celebrating an Irish victory.
“So… what kind of fun are we going to have tonight?” I asked Lucius.
“You’ll see…just stay alert,” He said with a cold smile. I sat down on the couch to rest and before long I was fast asleep.
Very good. I love how you are part of the story. Such a genius idea. _________________
Do you miss Harry Potter? Read "I Will" over in Flourish & Blotts. (Part 15 posted October 11)
thanks. i'll post some more now...
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“You fell asleep,” A voice was saying. I looked up to see Lucius standing over me.
“What?”
The cheers from the Irish had now turned into screams of horror and pain. Lucius grinned and handed me a mask.
“Put this on,” He said. He settled his own mask onto his face and pulled his hood up. I did likewise and followed him outside. A crowd of wizards, cloaked and masked just like us, was marching across the grounds. A family of muggles floated above them contorting into various shapes. It was amusing, true, but one of them was only a child.
“Do they have to torture the child?” I asked, my stomach feeling sick. Lucius stared at me for a full minute.
“If it bothers you-” He began coolly.
“Come. We’re wasting precious time. The ministry approaches already,” I said, nodding to a group of ministry wizards who were firing random hexes, trying to get the muggles down. Children were fleeing into the woods and I spotted Harry Potter. I followed Lucius into the crowd, my wand held high. Lucius eyes gleamed with a cold brutal light I had never seen before.
A few minutes later everyone stopped what he or she were doing. The muggles pelted from the sky and landed with a thump, but no one was looking at them…everyone was staring at the sky. I looked up and saw that the dark mark had been fired into the sky. Everyone started to murmur.
“We must go…” Lucius said, slightly dazed. I didn’t say anything, merely stood there in the green glow that seemed almost heavenly.
“We must go now!” He said, pulling on me. Thousand of spells were being fired at once. Stunning spells, stinging hexes… some idiot was even throwing cruticas curses. All around us death eaters were screaming and disappearing. Finally Lucius succeeded in pulling me into the dark part of the forest.
“Draco!” he called loudly.
“I’m here. Who-?”
“We shouldn’t be here,” Lucius said, leading us farther into the forest.
“But-” Draco and I both said.
“Quiet!” Lucius hissed furiously, “Do you want to get caught?!”
I didn’t say another word until we were far away from the campsite and I could no longer hear the screaming.
“Are we safe now?” Draco asked, his voice slightly panicky. Lucius glared at him until he fell silent. I pulled up the sleeve of my robe and rubbed the mark on my arm. It had been burning like mad since we’d begun to flee. Draco was biting his lower lip and his sleek hair was ruffled. I ignored him, being more concerned with myself at the moment.
“I don’t understand! What bloody idiot fired it into the sky?” I asked, annoyed.
“That’s what I plan to find out,” Lucius hissed. He grabbed my arm suddenly and pressed his palm flat against the dark mark. There was a flash of green light and the other death eaters surrounded us. A few of them were panting heavily and sweating.
“Lucius! What happened? Who fired the mark?” A recognizable voice asked.
“That’s what I plan to find out! Wands out please,” He said briskly. I extended my wand, which I hadn’t yet put away. I noticed Draco was cowering behind a tree.
“Prior Incantato!” Lucius said, pointing his wand at each of ours in turn. No dark mark erupted from any of the wands.
“Deletrius,” He muttered.
“So… it was none of us who fired the mark,” Snape said from beneath his hood.
“Perhaps the ministry will catch the person who did it,” I said softly.
“You can all leave now… unless someone knows who the perpetrator is,” Lucius said. They all shook their heads and disappeared.
A few hours later we made our way back to the campsite and were able to talk Fudge into getting us a Portkey home.
The next morning the Dark Mark was on the front page of the Daily Prophet. I spied it when I came down to eat breakfast. Draco was still asleep in his room, exhausted after last night’s mischief.
“Have the found out who fired the mark?” I asked Lucius in an undertone.
“Barty Crouch’s house elf was found holding the wand that fired the dark mark,” He replied.
“Barty Crouch? Isn’t he the Head of the Department of International Magical cooperation?” I asked.
“Yes. They also say the wand belonged to Harry Potter,” He said mildly. I dropped my teacup in surprise and it shattered on the floor. Narcissa glared at me appraisingly.
“Harry Potters wand? Did he conjure the dark mark?” I asked.
“Of course not,” Lucius snapped.
“So… we still don’t know who did it do we,” I said, disappointed.
“No…not yet anyways…”
A few days after Draco had left for school we received word from him about his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Mad-Eye Moody.
“He turned him into a ferret!” Narcissa hissed angrily, after reading the letter. She stomped out of the room. I looked at Lucius for an explanation.
“Because Draco tried to curse Harry Potter,” Lucius said softly.
“Why’d he try and curse Harry Potter?” I asked.
“Because, apparently, Potter made rude comments about Draco’s mother. He tried to curse Harry Potter, but missed, and then Moody turned him into a ferret,” Lucius said. His pale cheeks were flushed with rare anger. I imagined Draco as a ferret, being tossed around by a wizard and had to suppress a laugh.
“What did he say about Narcissa?” I asked, trying to fake mild curiosity. Lucius looked at me with pale eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“Oh… well aren’t you going to do something?”
“Like what?”
“Go stomping off to the Minister? Yell at someone? The stuff you usually do,” I said with a shrug.
“Mad-Eye Moody is an Auror,”
“A what?”
“Someone who hunts death eaters,” Lucius said coldly. I felt my face go pale.
“It was Moody who captured me and had me placed in Azkaban 14 years ago,” Lucius said coolly.
“But… you weren’t there for very long, were you? They let you out,” I said.
“An hour is too long in Azkaban,” He said dryly.
The Triwizard Tournament was to be held at Hogwarts this year and, although there was an age limit, Harry Potter somehow got chosen as a fourth champion. It was all over the newspapers and everyone wanted to know how Harry Potter had outsmarted the Goblet of Fire.
“He’s got more coincidences than wits,” I said at breakfast one morning. Lucius nodded in agreement.
“Although it could be someone trying to kill him,” I added after a moments thought.
“Wonder who that would be?” Lucius said with a half-smile.
A few months later, sometime in late November I think, I was at the manor by myself. Lucius and Narcissa had gone out to eat. I was getting bored in the library when I heard a knocking on the door. Alarmed I held my wand aloft.
“Come in,” I said uncertainly. The door opened slowly and someone cried ‘EXPELLIARMUS’ and my wand flew from my hand. The hooded stranger entered the room and removed his hood.
“You!” I hissed angrily, although I had secretly missed him.
“We meet again…” He said.
“Sirius Black,” I growled. Sirius looked at me with a pained expression.
“Heard about that, did you? Oh well… I’m innocent by the way,” he added sharply.
“I know that!” I snapped.
“you do? How d’you know that?” He asked, bewildered.
“You were arrested for betraying the Potters to the Dark Lord, but you were innocent…not that anyone protested at the trial… but you did kill Peter Petigrew, the man responsible for the death of the Potters,” I said, quoting Lucius Malfoy.
“Petigrew is not dead…he escaped back then and lied dormant for 12 years and then last year we uncovered him and then he escaped again…filthy little blighter,” He muttered darkly.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked, annoyed.
“I need to borrow a fire,” He said.
“What?” I asked, not understanding.
“Floo powder…I need to talk to someone through the fire and I figure I could come here rather than breaking into someone’s house… unless you’re going to attack me,” He added.
“Why would i do that?” I asked.
“because I’m still an escapee,”
“Well go on then. Use the fire. I’m not going to attack you,” I said disdainfully. Sirius smiled at me and turned to the fireplace. He got some floo powder from the canister on the mantelpiece and put some in the fire. I didn’t know whom he was talking to and I didn’t really care. It had been a while since I had last seen him and I was kinda glad he was back. He pulled his head out of the fire a moment later.
“Did you contact who you were trying to?” I asked from my place in the chair by the fire.
“Yeah,” He said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. I glanced up at him form my book and turned the page.
“I see you didn’t attack me,” He said.
“Did you expect me to?” I asked, amused.
“I want to know how you know that I am innocent,”
“Easy…you’re not a death eater,” I said coolly.
“How d’you know-” He stopped abruptly. He strode over to me and grabbed my arm. I let out a cry of protest as he jerked up my sleeve and revealed the dark mark on my arm. He took a step backwards, clearly shocked. I jerked my hand from his and pulled my sleeve back down. He sat in the chair opposite mine.
“Well now… isn’t that… something,” He said, bemused.
“Yeah, I’m a death eater… go figure,” I said sarcastically.
“I just thought you worked for Malfoy I didn’t know you…”
“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me,” I said in a dangerous tone. His face was pale.
“Well… now if you tell anyone I was here…I can go public with that,” He said gesturing to my wrist.
“Why would I tell anyone you were here?”
“Because you hate me.”
“Who said I hated you? I actually don’t think you’re half bad,” I said without thinking… me and my big mouth. Sirius grinned at me.
“I have to go…but I’ll keep in touch,” He said. He stood up, walked over to me and kissed my cheek. I let out a shriek, but by the time I looked up he was gone. I wiped my cheek where his cold lips had touched me and shuddered.
The following Tuesday the first task in the Triwizard tournament took place and Harry Potter defeated it with high marks. In fact he was tied in first place with Krum, the seeker form the Quidditch match.
Lucius and I went to Hogsmeade to get a drink that night and found Dumbledore there, as well as Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch, and some redheaded boy. Before I could slink away Dumbledore had spotted me and invited me over for a drink. I went over reluctantly with Lucius following, a smug expression on his face.
“Isabella this is Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman, they are both in charge of the Triwizard tournament this year, and this is Mr. Crouch’s assistant, Percy Weasley,” Dumbledore said, pointing to each in turn, “Everyone this is Ms. Isabella Prewett, Lucius assistant.”
Percy Weasley and I regarded each other warily.
“We were just talking about the annual Yule Ball that’s coming up this Christmas,” Dumbledore continued.
“What’s a Yule Ball?” I asked with dull interest.
“A ball that comes with the Triwizard tournament…anyone can come,” Ludo Bagman said brightly. The door opened and Severus Snape walked in. He spotted me and smiled icily.
“I’m going to say hi to Severus,” I muttered, making my way out of the gaggle of people. I figured I’d rather face Snape than Dumbledore…and I’d rather face a pit full of mutant roaches than Snape so I guess we know where my priorities stand.
“Hi Severus,” I said gloomily ordering a drink.
“Hello Isabella…What are you doing here?”
“I came to have a drink with Lucius and was bombarded with Dumbledore and his friends,” I said annoyed. He smiled, an oily smile and I was beginning to think I’d rather face the cockroaches. Lucius left Dumbledore and headed for the door. He motioned for me to follow him.
“I gotta go,” I said, draining my drink that had just come. I stood to leave, but Snape grabbed my arm.
“Wait-…would you like to come to the Yule ball…with me?” He asked, his oily smile gone. I hesitated a moment.
“Uh…I don’t think so,” I said uncertainly.
“Pity…you look so much like Lillian Evans,” He said, releasing my arm. I made my way out of the bar not daring to breathe until I was safely outside in the lamplight.
“What happened?” Lucius asked smoothly.
“N-nothing…we should find a new place to get drinks,” I said, slightly annoyed.
“Yeah,” He agreed. We walked down the street together by moonlight.
“Who is Lillian Evans?” I asked curiously.
“Harry Potter’s mother,” Lucius replied. I shuddered violently.
I was awakened the next night by an unwelcome presence in my bed. I could tell by the scent, which, although not entirely unpleasant, was not Lucius. I reached out for my wand but It wasn’t there.
“Looking for this,” Said a familiar voice from the foot of my bed. He flicked my wand and a dim light shone from the tip so I could barely see his face.
“It’s the middle of the night, what on earth do you want,” I hissed.
“I wanted to know if you’re going to this Yule ball,” Sirius said with a yawn.
“Uh, probably not, why?”
“I want someone to make sure my godson stays out of trouble,” He replied.
“Are you insane?! I can’t ensure Harry Potter’s well-being, even for you,” I said, annoyed.
“Ah, I didn’t think you would…I suppose with Dobby there-”
“Wait! Dobby’s where?” I asked curious about my house-elf friend.
“At Hogwarts of course…he works there now,” Sirius said.
“Maybe I’ll go to Hogwarts…but I won’t watch your Godson, I’m just going to visit Dobby,” I said sternly.
“You’re friends with some good people, Isabella Prewett…it’s to bad you’re not on our side,” He said sadly.
“What side?”
“the good side. You don’t seem like the sort of person to be on the dark side…” He said softly.
“Yeah? well…you don’t seem like someone who would…betray his best friend,” I retorted lamely.
“But I didn’t do that, remember?” He said. I frowned at him.
“I don’t wanna go to that stupid ball anyway…no one to go with,” I muttered.
“I’d ask you to go with me, but I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to go waltzing around Hogwarts when I’m wanted for murder,” Sirius said softly.
“Yeah… it’d be a great deal better than going with Severus,” I replied.
“Snape?! You’re kidding! Snape, asked you to the ball?”
“Yeah,” I replied, blushing in the darkness.
“Well you do look like Lilly-”
“I do not look like Lilly Evans,” I hissed angrily.
“Suit yourself. I have to go now… I’ll see you when I see ya,” He said winking at me, then he disapparated, leaving my wand behind.
On Christmas morning I was awakened by a loud pop in my room. I jumped up, startled to find Dobby standing there with a poorly wrapped package.
“Dobby!” I managed to say.
“Merry Christmas, Mistress Isabella! Dobby is wanting to bring you a Christmas present,” He said, handing me the package. I unwrapped it to find a pair of socks, one purple with black bats and the other black with purple bats.
“Wow… they’re really great Dobby,” I said, beaming at him.
“I made them myself,” He said proudly.
“Wow…I didn’t get you anything, but I’m sure I’ve got something here you can have,” I said, rummaging through my stuff.
“You doesn’t need to do that, Mistress Isabella,” Dobby said.
“Nonsense! Here, have that,” I said, tossing him a pair of black socks.
“Dobby loves socks, Mistress Isabella! Harry Potter is giving Dobby socks, too, see,” He said lifting his feet to reveal one yellow sock and a maroon sock. I forced a grin.
“Merry Christmas Dobby,” I said, cheerfully.
“Happy Christmas, Mistress Isabella! I must be going now! Good-bye!” He squeaked, waving at me. Then he disappeared.
I was putting on the socks Dobby had given me when Lucius walked in.
“Nice socks, Isabella. Where’d you get them?” He asked with a smile.
“Er, Dobby gave them to me,” I said sheepishly. He forced a smile.
“Are you going to the Yule ball?”
“Probably not,” I said, stifling a yawn.
“Oh well…Happy Christmas,”
“Happy Christmas,” I replied.
The next day there was a newspaper article about Hagrid.
“He’s half-giant,” I said, bemused.
“Maybe now he’ll stop teaching and Dumbledore will get someone better for the job,” Lucius said.
“Although with Mad-eye and all the past teachers, I doubt Dumbledore will get anyone good,” I added.
As it turns out Hagrid was back at work the following week, oblivious to the hate mail he had received. Lucius was in a very foul mood, and the fact that Harry Potter defeated the second task in the Triwizard tournament, didn’t help improve the fact.
By the time Easter came around it seemed Lucius mood would never improve. I’d also heard that Barty Crouch had fallen ill and hadn’t been seen since Christmas, so it was no surprise to me when I heard that Barty Crouch had appeared on Hogwarts grounds, half-insane and raving about the Dark Lord coming back to power.
“Was it all a bunch of rubbish or is the Dark Lord really coming back?” I asked Lucius one morning. He looked up at me from his glass of orange juice.
“The dark mark has been growing clearer over the past few months…the Dark Lord is coming back to full power…and soon,” Lucius said. This thought both excited and frightened me. I would finally meet Lord Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard of all time…who helped make my wand…
“So what do we do?” I asked.
“We lie dormant and wait for the Dark Lord to call us to his side,” He replied slowly.
“When will that be?” I asked.
“Soon, I think…very soon,” He replied.
I hadn’t seen Sirius since the night he had come into my room, but he sent me a letter once.
Isabella,
Sorry I haven’t been able to come and see you or talk to you. I’ve been very busy, taking care of my Godson and whatnot. It’s risky enough sending letters from where I am, but I thought I’d send you this to let you know I was alright. I have a feeling I won’t be seeing you for a while, especially now that you-know-who is getting stronger.
I’ll miss you,
Padfoot
The letter was unsettling and made me a little bit sad. I clutched it to my chest and imagined where he was. Hiding in a cave, perhaps? I only hoped he wouldn’t get caught. He had done nothing wrong…he was one of the good guys. I smiled slightly and hid the note beneath my mattress.
A few weeks later Lucius and I felt the Dark mark burn on our arms. We were sitting in his study when it happened. I yelped and dropped the book I had been reading.
“The Dark Lord is calling,” Lucius said, grabbing my hand. One minute we were in the study and the next we were in a cemetery. We all formed a circle around a tall, pale man in black robes…the Dark Lord. His eyes were red and his nostrils were slits, like snakes. Death Eaters all around me fell to their knees in front of him and kissed the hems of his robes. I did likewise, knowing that no greater power had ever stood before me. When we stood up I spotted Harry Potter, who was tied to a headstone, bloody and bruised.
“Welcome Death Eaters…13 years since we last met…yet still you answer my call…we are still untied under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?” the Dark Lord said in a terrible, raspy voice. He spoke to his death eaters of guilt…disloyalty…One Death Eater fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness and Voldemort used the cruticas curse on him. A rat-like man named Wormtail, who I figured to be Peter Petigrew, lay on the ground with his arm bleeding…he was missing a hand. Then the Dark Lord turned to Lucius.
“Lucius my slippery friend. I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you are still a respectable face. Your exploits at the Quidditch cup were fun, I daresay, but mightn’t you have spent more time and energy into finding your master?” Voldemort asked coolly. I stared at him, amazed. No one had ever spoken down to Lucius before and I was eager to see his reaction.
“My lord, I was constantly on the alert. Had there been any sign from you I would’ve been at your side immediately, nothing would have prevented me-” Lucius began.
“And yet you ran from my mark when a faithful death eater sent it into the sky last summer? Yes, I know all about that, Lucius…you have disappointed me…I expect more service in the future,” Voldemort said.
“Of course my lord, of course… you are merciful, thank you….”
Voldermort turned his gaze from Lucius and onto me. My heart stopped in my chest as I stared boldly into his red eyes.
“well well well…what have we here? A new follower?” Voldemort asked.
“Yes my lord,” I managed to say.
“So young… so innocent…how did you manage to become one of my faithful followers?” He asked.
“I work for Mr. Malfoy, My lord,” I said softly.
“I see…and whom do you serve?”
“I serve you, my lord, ” I said stiffly.
“You live to serve me?”
“Yes, my lord, I would love to do your biding…that is why I became a death eater,” I replied.
“You lie,” He said softly.
“My lord?”
“You became a Death Eater out of striving acceptance from Lucius. You would do anything to get him to love you as you do him…serving me is only icing on the cake. Do you deny it? …no…I thought not,” Voldemort replied. I felt myself blush as every death eater turned to stare at me. A few of them snickered. Lucius just stared at me. I felt tears well up in my eyes and I stared determinedly at the ground.
“You are pureblood?” Voldermort asked.
“Yes, My lord. I am the daughter of Lucretia and Ignatius Prewett,” I said, my voice sounding forced.
“Then you are welcome as a death eater,” Voldemort said in a raspy voice. Voldemort continued to the next death eater and I heard a nasally laugh from my left. I glanced up to see Severus’ dark eyes glittering coldly from beneath his mask. I turned my head a fraction of an inch to glance at Lucius, but he was staring indomitably at the Dark Lord. My gaze fell back to the ground.
“Harry Potter has kindly joined my rebirthing party…one might go as far as to call him my guest of honor,” Voldemort said with a high-pitched laugh. Lucius stepped forward.
“Master…we crave to know…we beg you to tell us…how you have achieved this…this miracle…how you managed to return to us….” Lucius said softly.
“Ah what a story it is Lucius, and it begins -and ends- with our little friend here,” Voldemort said glancing at Harry. Everyone turned to face Harry Potter who was still struggling against his bindings. Voldemort told his story, which, although interesting, I feel no need to repeat. I chanced another glance at Lucius who was still not looking at me. A large snake was circling my ankles hissing happily.
“Now, untie Harry Potter, Wormtail, and give him back his wand…he will be allowed to fight me…until his death,” Voldemort was saying. I watched as Harry Potter was untied and given back his wand. They raised their wands and began to duel.
Sometime later in the battle their wands did an odd thing. They connected, sort of, and both Voldemort and Harry were lifted from the ground. Weird little ghost things came out of Voldemort’s wand and started whispering things to Harry. When the connection finally broke Harry ran for his life, grabbed a portkey, and disappeared back to Hogwarts.
“No!” Voldemort shouted as all the curses we had fired collided at the spot where Harry had been a moment before. I, very wisely, stayed silent as Voldemort screamed in fury and cursed Potter’s name. Finally, he sent us all home with a promise that we would be called upon again soon.
Instead of going home, which I was dreading, I went to The Three Broomsticks for a drink. Everyone there was whispering about Harry Potter. A few of them were deathly frightened because Potter had said the dark lord had come back. I ordered drink after drink until I could drink no more. The pub door opened and everyone fell silent. I turned to face the person who had entered to find it was Snape. Everyone began talking in hushed voices. It was common fact that he had been a death eater… I was the only one who new he still was, but others had probably guessed.
“hey Severus,” I said, my speech slurred. He smiled wickedly and sat down at the bar next to me.
“Long time no see,” He said to me.
“Yep…been… what, an hour?” I asked.
“More like three…I see you’ve been drowning your soul,” He said with a smile.
“Yep…” I said softly.
“Where’s Lucius?”
“Home I s’pose,”
“So you haven’t talked to him?”
I shook my head no.
“Good luck with that,” He said.
When I got back to the mansion Lucius was waiting for me in my room.
“There you are! What did you think of the dark lord?” Lucius asked, sitting down beside me on my bed.
“He was very… frightening,” I said softly.
“Indeed…”
“I’m tired, I do believe I’ll turn in,” I said quickly, before anything else could be said on the subject.
“Alright. See you in the morning then,” He said, heading for the door.
“Lucius?”
He turned back to face me, an eyebrow raised.
“Good night,” I said softly. He smiled slowly.
“Good night,” He repeated.
It was nearly a month before Lord Voldemort called us again. Draco had come back from school and we were sitting at the table, eating dinner when the Dark mark burned on my wrist. I dropped the teakettle I had been passing to Draco and Lucius looked up from his paper, startled.
“Got to go,” He said softly. I pulled out my wand. I cleaned up the tea and then disapparated with a loud pop.
All the death eaters gathered in a circle around Voldemort. I didn’t know exactly where we were. An old house I didn’t recognize, but looked as if it hadn’t been in use for several years. There was a dead snake nailed to the door.
“Welcome, my friends,” Said Voldemort in his horrible, raspy voice. We all bowed to him.
“I have a mission for our newest and youngest death eater, Isabella Prewett,” He said in a low dangerous voice. All eyes turned to me.
“I’ve sent dementors to attack Harry Potter this afternoon. I want you to go and make sure no one interferes with this plan,” Voldemort said, ignoring the hisses of approval from the other death eaters. Lucius made a move as if to protest, but thought better of it and said nothing.
“T-thank you, my lord…you are most wise…I will not fail you,” I said softly.
“Good…Now Dumbledore has placed Potter under heavy guard. I believe his bodyguard for the afternoon is none other than Mundungus Fletcher,” Voldemort said lazily. I snorted and grinned at Lucius. The Dark lord looked at me questioningly.
“Dung is a befuddled thief who could no more protect the Potter boy than myself,” I said coolly. A few Death eaters snickered appreciatively and even Voldemort did something to the equivalent of a smile, which was quite frightening.
“Then you shall have no trouble disposing of him then. The dementors will arrive on Privet Drive in a half-hour…and Isabella?”
“Yes, My lord?”
“I want details,”
“Of course, my lord,” I said with a wicked grin.
I apparated in the middle of Privet Drive. It was dusk and I could see no visible muggles lurking about. I spotted Mundungus immediately, smoking a horrid pipe in a back alley.
“Hello, Dung,” I said, sneaking up on him. He jumped nearly a foot in the air.
“Ms. Prewett…I haven’t done anything wrong,” He said bleakly. A smell like that of burnt socks came from the pipe.
“Put away that disgusting thing,” I said harshly. He quickly whipped the pipe out of his mouth and stowed it away, though the smell still lingered.
“How can I help you, Ms. Prewett?” He asked thickly.
“Well Dung, I promised my brother I’d help him unload a shipment of stolen cauldrons. He is selling them at port now, 5 Knuts a cauldron. I thought you might be interested,” I lied…I didn’t even have a brother.
“well that is a bargain…I’ll go immediately,” He said, and then disapparated with a loud pop. I grinned wickedly, and watched, half-hidden, as Harry Potter stomped away from his aunts’ house.
He sat on a swing for what seemed like an eternity until a large boy, his cousin I presumed, appeared and they walked off together. They started arguing and Potter pulled out his wand and started to threaten his cousin. Then the dementors arrived… everything went dark and cold. I merely watched as Harry Potter produced a full-fledged patronus and chased the dementor away. I hadn’t expected him to defend himself. Before I could react a batty old woman came bustling up the street and led Potter and his cousin back home. I followed quietly. I listened tentatively to the conversation between Potter and his aunt and uncle. Basically, they blamed him for the dementor attack. Then the first owl came, informing Potter that he was expelled form Hogwarts. I grinned gleefully. Eavesdropping on Potter was fun. I listened as Potter’s uncle Vernon pretty much butchered our language, saying things like ‘dementy-what sits’ and ‘dementoids’ and ‘demenders’ and one of my favorites ‘dismembers’. Uncle Vernon also called the Dark lord ‘Lord Voldy-thingy’ which I decided wouldn’t be worth mentioning to Voldemort himself, but perhaps I would tell Lucius. A lot of more owls came and finally Harry Potter was assigned to a disciplinary hearing on August 12th. I memorized the date and decided I had enough information for Lord Voldemort. I disapparated.
“So, his disciplinary hearing is to be held on the 12th?” The Dark Lord asked once I had relayed my information.
“Yes, my lord,” I said softly.
“Lucius, Isabella, I’ll be counting on you two to be there and let me know how fares the trial,” Voldemort said.
“Yes, My lord,” Lucius and I said simultaneously.
“Good. Then you can all leave now,” He said. So we went home.
I awoke early on the morning of August 12th to see Lucius standing above me, his pale face bathed in the light of the early morning.
“Are you ready?” He asked.
“For what?” I mumbled, confused.
“Harry Potter’s disciplinary trial,” Lucius said.
“Oh. Right… let me get dressed then,” I said, nodding towards the door. He flashed me a wolfish grin worthy of Sirius Black and left the room. I dressed in my shimmering silver robes and arranged my mother’s locket so it was visible. I brushed my long black hair and left it down. Lucius was waiting downstairs for me.
“We have time for a cup of tea?” I asked, yawning. He glanced at his watch.
“Yeah. We’re a bit early,” He said reluctantly. He conjured up a kettle of tea and handed me a cup.
We left a while later and apparated inside the Ministry of Magic. Harry Potter’s hearing was in the Old Courtroom number 10.
“Many a Death Eaters were sentenced here,” Lucius told me as we took the elevator down.
“Like who?”
“Igor Karkaroff, ex-supporter of the Dark Lord, he know works for the Ministry. Ludo Bagman, you’ve met him…Head of magical games and sports. Mr. Crouch’s son, placed in Azkaban last year. And Bellatrix Lestrange, Currently in Azkaban for her unyielding support for he Dark Lord,” He said.
“Isn’t Bellatrix Narcissa’s sister?”
“Yes.”
“And you? Were you tried here as well?” I asked. He didn’t reply. The elevator doors opened to reveal a long hallway.
“I think I could blend in, few people have seen me. I can pretend to be a member of the court,” I said softly.
“Good. Sit in the back…. I’ll be waiting outside,” He said.
The Potter hearing seemed to be going well until Dumbledore showed up. I knew the moment he walked in we had no case. When it was time to vote I was one of the few who raised my hand to expel Potter from Hogwarts. Finally, it was over, Potter had been cleared of all charges. I snuck out the back after everyone and found Lucius talking to Fudge, Potter, and Mr. Weasley. I hung back until Weasley and Potter moved on. I followed Lucius and the Minister into Fudge’s office as they discussed Potter’s hearing.
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September first came quicker than I had expected and Lucius and myself took Malfoy to the train station for his departure to Hogwarts. I kept my eyes open for Harry Potter, but first spotted someone I hadn’t expected. He saw me too. While Draco was getting on the train I snuck away to one of the Muggle bathrooms. A black dog followed me inside.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Sirius. He had turned into his human form.
“Just seeing my godson off,” He said with a small smile.
“How come I haven’t heard from you in a month?”
“Voldemort’s back… we’re on opposite sides now…” He said softly, his eyes trailing to the mark on my arm.
“It’s been…lonely,” I said hesitantly.
“Sorry, but I can’t leave the house…Dumbledore’s orders,” he said bitterly.
“Why can’t I visit you?”
He shook his head silently.
“We’re on opposite sides now,” He repeated. I sighed heavily and turned to leave.
“I’ll try and write to you…sometime,” Sirius said quietly.
“Whatever…”
Back at the manor Lucius and I sat in the study.
“Did you see Sirius Black on the platform?” He asked curiously.
“Oh was he there?” I asked disconcertedly.
“Yeah, I-”
A flashing pain in my arm interrupted him. The dark mark was burning.
We weren’t in the same place as last time. We were in a cave, I think.
“I have a job for you Lucius,” Voldemort said coolly.
“What is it, my lord?”
“Macnair needs help persuading the giants to come over to our side. Apparently, Dumbledore’s little half-breed Hagrid, is there trying to persuade the giants as well,” Voldemort said.
“You want me to go help him?” Lucius asked.
“Indeed.”
“I will do it, my lord,” Lucius said with a bow.
“I want to come,” I said when we were back in his study.
“Of course…but it’ll be dangerous-”
“I live for danger!”
“Life threatening-” He continued.
“I’ll curse them to oblivion!”
“they may rip the very heart from your body!”
“What heart?” I said with a cold smile.
Lucius smiled at me and pulled me into a hug. We stood there for a moment and then broke apart.
“So how do we find the giants?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
“They’re not exactly hard to miss, are they?” He said coolly.
“You know what I mean!”
“Mountains…they hide in mountains…” He said softly.
“So we’re going…when?”
“As soon as I pack some stuff…we may have to hide out in caves for a few days.”
“Sounds fun…” I said sarcastically. He smiled and hit me upside the head, gently.
“Smart ass,” He said.
I don’t want to sound cliché but… giants are big… and to me, big things that rip up trees and kill each other, are pretty scary.
“We’re supposed to give a gift to the gurg…the chief,” Lucius said quietly. We were in a cave a top the mountain watching the giants from up high.
“What kind of gift?” I asked, face pale.
“Something magic…are you okay?” He asked, slightly alarmed.
“Yeah…fine,” I said weakly.
“They’re not going to kill us…probably…maim us, maybe, but not kill… at least not on purpose,” He replied. If this was supposed to make me feel better, it didn’t.
“What are we going to give them?”
Lucius thought about it for a moment.
“Can you conjure waterproof fire?” He asked me.
“Yeah…”
“I think we should give them some of that,”
We went down to talk to the Gurg, who found out’s name was Golgomath. He liked our fire and liked the idea of fighting on our side. When we left the giants for the evening we found the other Death Eater, Macnair, coming out of a cave.
“Where are you going?” Lucius asked him.
“Dumbledore’s people are hiding out in these caves…we’ve been looking every night for them,” Macnair said.
“that’s smart, do you need some help?” I said, nodding my head.
“No, you two should get some sleep, you’ve had a long day,” Macnair said.
“Just as well,” Lucius said, smiling at me.
We went back up to the cave at the top of the mountain where we could watch the giants without getting pummeled. Lucius pulled out his wand and made two beds appear.
“I’m going to have a look around. See if I can find a stream or something to bathe in,” I said. It was getting dark out so I brought me wand.
“Lumos maxima,” I muttered. The tip of my wand let off an enormous amount of light, enough for me to see ahead of me.
I found a lake with a waterfall. It was beautiful by moonlight, glistening like thousands of tiny stars descending from the heavens. I glanced around and saw no one. I shed my robes and lowered myself into the water. It was not cold, but cool enough for it to feel like a swimming pool. I swam around in the deep part, scrubbing dirt off of myself as I went along. I was floating on my back when I heard a splash from behind me. I whirled around, expecting to see an alligator or a shark, but instead saw Lucius swimming towards me. I crouched lower in the water so only my head was visible.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, splashing water in his direction. He looked up at me and grinned.
“Bathing…same as you,” He answered. I turned my back to him and swam towards the waterfall. He followed me at a not very respectful distance.
“You look cold,” He remarked, swimming even closer to me.
“Yeah…maybe I should get out,” I muttered, swimming away from him. He watched, unblinkingly, as I climbed out of the water and pulled on my robes. When I was dressed I sat down on the ground and watched as he swam. He ducked under the water and surfaced near me, splashing water from his hair.
“You’re getting me wet!” I sputtered. He smiled and climbed out of the water. I turned my eyes away as he dressed, then he sat down next to me. I could think of nothing to say so I simply stared at him.
“You have beautiful eyes,” He remarked abruptly. I blushed deeply and was about to reply when we heard a loud roar coming from the other side of the mountain. We leapt to our feet and rushed towards the sound. Golgomath and about twenty other giants were sneaking into caves. There were other giants in the caves, giants that didn’t like Golgomath apparently, and Golgomath and his lot were attacking them. It wasn’t a pretty sight and I shuddered as blood rained down from above us. Lucius rested an arm on my shoulder and gently led me away from the battle and back towards our cave.
“That’s pretty vicious,” I remarked, wincing as Golgomath let out a blood-curdling roar.
“Yeah… I’m glad they’re on our side,” Lucius replied. I nodded in agreement.
The next morning we reported back to Voldemort and told him about the giants being on our side. He was very pleased.
We received a letter from Draco a few days later telling us about their new defense against the dark arts teacher. Her name was Umbridge and she was one of the ministry’s people…and she wouldn’t let them use magic.
“Umbridge…she was at Potter’s hearing in August,” I remembered. Lucius sent Draco a reply letter.
“The minister doesn’t want Dumbledore training students…he thinks Dumbledore is going to revolt against the ministry and become minister of magic,” Lucius said as he wrote to Draco.
“Yeah, well, doesn’t the minister also think that the Dark Lord is dead?” I replied.
“Yes, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“How so?”
“Well if people think the Dark Lord is back they’ll send Aurors after him…and the death eaters,” He said calmly.
“Oh.”
“…But that doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t believe it. There are those who agree with Dumbledore and always will,” He added.
“Shouldn’t we be focusing on getting rid of Dumbledore then?”
“The Ministry will do that on its own. Fudge is working for the Dark Lord and doesn’t even realize it,” Lucius said with a venomous laugh. I followed Lucius to the owlery where he called one of the tawny owls down and attached the letter for Draco to it’s leg. I noticed Serini was hanging form the ceiling. A note was attached to her leg. When Lucius went back to his study I whistled to her. Serini flew down and landed on my shoulder. I removed the letter and opened it to read.
Isabella,
I was bored so I decided to send you a letter. There’s nothing for me to do here to help my friends. I’m not allowed to leave the house because the stupid Daily Prophet has figured ‘Sirius Black’ is in London due to a ‘reliable source‘. I can’t say what I would like to in case this letter is intercepted, although I can’t imagine why they imagine he’s in London. One of my friends found your bat in the garden yesterday. Well I suppose I’ll go now, I hear the doorbell.
See you later,
Padfoot
I smiled to myself. I had imagined him sitting in a cave writing to me by moonlight, eating rats, but in a way I was happy he was safe. I went to my room and hid the letter in my desk. I found Lucius sitting in his study.
“Can I borrow a piece of parchment?” I asked.
“Sure…why?”
“I want to write something,” I said with a smirk. He frowned and handed me a piece of parchment. I sat at the desk and my room and got out my quill. I dipped my quill in ink and began to write.
Padfoot,
It was nice to hear from you again. I’ve been rather busy myself, sorry that you’ve been so bored, but at least you have friends to talk to…all I have is Serini.. And Lucius. We went on an errand a few weeks ago for our master. I saw one of your ‘friends’ there.
Have you heard from your godson? I hear the new teacher at Hogwarts isn’t letting them use magic. I haven’t told anyone about you, but Lucius DID recognize you at the train station. I’m not one to tell you to be careful, but BE CAREFUL.
Love,
Isabella Prewett
I sealed the letter and attached it to Serini.
“This is for Sirius okay,” I whispered to her. She screeched softly.
“Have a safe flight then,” I said, rubbing her chin gently. She screeched again and took off, flying out the window after circling the room.
The next day I went to Diagon alley with Lucius. I followed Lucius into the Apothecary and while he purchased an assortment of odd items, beetles eyes, unicorn hair and whatnot, I went to another shop and purchased some very fancy parchment, some quills, and poisonous-looking green ink. Then, before meeting back up with Lucius I bought some soap that smelt like rosemary. I wondered at the things Lucius had bought. They were all potion ingredients. Sometimes Lucius would disappear for hours at a time when we were at home, I suspected he went into the Dungeon Dobby had referred to when I first came to the manor.
“Let’s go to Borgin and Burkes,” Lucius said idly. I nodded in agreement and followed him down Knockturn alley. Mr. Borgin was sitting behind the counter and looked very startled to find myself and Lucius in his shop once more. I wandered around the shop and saw nothing of interest. The cursed necklace was still there, sitting on the cushion.
“How can I help you today, Mr. Malfoy?” Borgin asked nervously.
“I’m looking for boomslang skin, Borgin, and unicorn hair, and I need it cheap,” Lucius said languidly.
“Boomslang skin? Well I do have that, no problem, but Unicorn hair? That’s no small feat to come by and it may be a little pricey,” Borgin said, anxiously smoothing his greasy hair. Lucius sighed and half-smiled at me.
“fine. Just get them and I’ll decide if I want to pay your price or not,” He
said to Borgin. Borgin disappeared into the back room and reappeared less than a minute later with the requested items. Apparently they were good enough quality because Lucius paid the full price. I wondered what he could want with Boomslang skin and unicorn hair, but he said nothing on the subject.
The next day Serini returned with a reply from Sirius.
Isabella,
If anyone needs to be careful it’s you. Haven’t you heard what Voldemort did to my brother Regulus? He killed him. Also, I know what sort of quests you’ve been on, and I really wish you’d be more wary. As my friend Mad-eye Moody would say ‘CONSTANT VIGILANCE!’ I actually haven’t talked to any of my friends lately, they’ve been too busy doing work for Dumbledore.
I wish I could get out of here and see you, it’s been very lonely without you.
Padfoot
I didn’t know what ‘CONSTANT VIGILANCE’ was supposed to mean, but I liked hearing from him. I was eager to use my new ink so I sat down to write a reply.
Padfoot,
I haven’t been getting into any trouble! I’m safe and I highly doubt he is going to kill me. So you use the ‘CONSTANT VIGILANCE’ and stay inside, because the ministry isn’t the only one looking for you. I’ve been able to keep them at bay though and I see that someone else has told them ’Black’ isn’t in London after all. Maybe we can somehow meet. Lucius has been very busy lately…do you know what Unicorn hair and boomslang skin could be used for? I’ll talk to you later,
Isabella Prewett
I sent Serini off with my letter and when she came back the next day she had no reply.
Over the next few weeks I carried a ball of worry around in the pit of my stomach. Halloween dawned, my favorite day of the year, and I had still had no reply from Sirius. The only post we had received was from Draco telling us that Harry Potter had been banned form playing Quidditch ever again because he had attacked him. He also said that Hagrid had returned, which was a pity, because we’d thought Golgomath had killed him. The cook at the manor, Libery, was a big fan of Halloween as well and he went out of his way to cook a very extravagant meal. He made dumplings that resembled eyeballs, pasta that looked very much like steaks, vegetables shaped like spiders and other insects, and a wonderful chocolate cake with a dark chocolate bat on top with glittering yellow eyes. It had been bewitched to flap its wings and screech. Serini was frightened by its constant noise and was trying determinedly to attack the cake so I had to lock her in my room until we were done eating. Lucius and Narcissa went out for the evening so it was just I and the other servants eating.
When I went back up to my room I found Sirius sitting on my bed rubbing Serini between her ears. I shut the door quickly and locked it.
“What are you doing here?” I inquired softly.
“Thought I’d stop by for a visit,” He said carelessly.
“you could’ve been caught! What if Lucius had come up here?” I hissed. He shrugged his shoulders.
“How come you haven’t written to me in so long?” I demanded. He laid back on my bed and cupped his hands behind his head.
“Dumbledore told me not to send anymore letters,” He replied.
“You always do what Dumbledore says?” I sneered. He looked wounded at my comment and his eyes flashed dangerously.
“Sorry,” I said sheepishly, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
“So…you’ve been visiting giants?” He said with a half-smile.
“Wha-? How d’you know that?”
“Well Hagrid told us there were death eaters talking to the giants…and you said you’d been on a mission,”
“Well, yeah…the giants are on our side.”
He stared at me for a full minute before I realized my mistake.
“My side,” I amended. We both sighed deeply.
“You’re not gonna go running back to Dumbledore telling him we’ve got giants are you,” I asked, not really caring.
“No…though I’m sure he already knows.”
“Well what’ve you guys been doing?”
“I have no idea. I’m stuck inside cleaning the stupid house all day,” He replied coldly.
“Oh…sorry.”
He shook his head as if riding himself of his anger.
“It’s not your fault…it’s Peter Pettigrew’s fault,” He said.
“You mean Wormtail?”
“Yes…He’s the reason there are Aurors after me.”
We were silent for a moment while I contemplated the wisdom of a response.
“He’s with Voldemort isn’t he?” Sirius asked bitterly.
“Yeah.”
“I hope Voldemort kills him.”
Again I contemplated the wisdom of a response, but found it best to remain silent. Sirius grabbed my hand and pulled my down next to him. I rested my head on his chest and inhaled deeply. He smelled like pine trees and sweat, a nice combination…definitely sexy and masculine.
“Where’s Lucius?” He asked softly, snapping me back into reality.
“He’s gone out with Narcissa…they won’t be back for a few hours,” I murmured drowsily. He stroked my hair gently, running his fingers through it. He was gentler than Lucius, not abrupt or awkward. I wondered what it would be like to have him as a lover instead, but was satisfied enough just to lay beside him. I closed my eyes and for the first time in a long time I slept fitfully, without worry or stress.
When I woke up the next morning Sirius was gone, but my bed still smelt faintly of pine. I was sad for maybe a half of a second and then I went downstairs for breakfast.
December came with a letter from Draco. Ginny Weasley had replaced Potter as Seeker on the Quidditch team and it was rumored that Potter was dating a girl named Cho Chang. Lucius found this interesting enough and told the Dark Lord when he next called us. We did various errands for him including one of our more dangerous one, accompanying the snake, Nagini, to the Ministry of Magic late one night. Lucius, a few others, and myself used a disillusion charm and hid in the shadows. Something was being guarded there… a weapon of some sort and Arthur Weasley had guard duty that night. He fell asleep, stupid blighter. When Nagini tried to slither past him he awoke with a start and raised his wand at her. Nagini had no choice, she struck, not once, but three times. Arthur Weasley screamed with pain and we knew his screams would be heard. We disapparated quickly. Voldemort was displeased that we hadn’t gotten the weapon-thingy, but he was pleased that Weasley was in the hospital…he took his frustrations out on a sniveling Wormtail.
Christmas came and went and I knew I wouldn’t hear from Sirius…his godson was obviously visiting him since, according to Draco, he had left on the night of Mr. Weasley’s attack.
A few days after the Christmas holidays were over I was sitting at the dining table when the morning paper came. I paid the delivery owl 5 Knuts and glanced at the front page. I felt faint when I saw the headlines.
“Mass Breakout from Azkaban Ministry fears Black is at “Rallying Point” for old Death Eaters”
There were pictures of the escapees. The first one I spotted was Antonin Dolohov he was ‘convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett.’ My cousins…I had known them for a short time…Fabian was a blood-traitor and his brother Gideon followed soon after. Then I spotted another familiar name. ‘Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted of the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom.’
I looked up at Narcissa who was daintily sipping a goblet of pumpkin juice.
“Your sister escaped from Azkaban,” I said tonelessly, handing her the paper. She grabbed it eagerly and read the article.
“She’ll come here,” Narcissa said in a hushed voice, not speaking to me, but to Lucius. Sure enough the next day Bellatrix Lestrange showed up on our doorstep. She had long black hair that was hopelessly tangled and her skin was sallow and pale. I avoided her at all costs…she didn’t seem to like me very much.
Harry Potter had been taking Occulmency classes with Snape, because he had been somehow getting access to the Dark Lord’s mind. Snape was thoroughly annoyed at his lack of effort, but Voldemort was pleased…apparently he was planning on using this connection against him.
Dumbledore had left Hogwarts. It was odd…Potter had been teaching a group of students how to defend themselves, apparently, and they had been named Dumbledore’s Army. Instead of letting Potter get expelled Dumbledore confessed it was his idea and when Fudge tried to bring him in Dumbledore caused a large explosion and hasn’t been seen since.
A few months later, Voldemort called all his death eaters to him. It was time to put his final plan into action in which he planned to obtain a prophecy and kill Harry Potter at the same time. We met in the old musty house where we had taken to meeting every time he called us.
“You will wait here until I give the word…then you will go to the Ministry of Magic, into the Department of Mysteries, take the prophecy and call me when you have Potter ready for me to kill him,” Voldemort said to us. Bellatrix, Lucius, and myself were the main ones he was speaking to, but there were a few others that followed eagerly in our footsteps.
A few hours later the Dark Lord told us to go. We stood in the shadows in the department of Mysteries, watching as Potter and his friends walked up and down the aisles searching for someone who was not there. When he stopped in front of one of the shelves of glowing spheres he reached up. As soon as he removed it we stepped out of the shadows.
“Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give
that to me,” Lucius said in a dangerous voice. Potter whirled around to face us, wand in one hand, and prophecy in the other.
“To me, Potter,” Lucius repeated.
“Where’s Sirius?” Harry asked in a hollow voice. I winced sharply. Voldemort had tricked him into thinking Sirius was here.
“The Dark Lord always knows,” I said softly, as many of the Death eaters laughed.
“Always…now give me the prophecy, Potter,” Malfoy said dangerously.
“I want to know where Sirius is!” Potter shouted.
‘So do I’ I thought to myself.
“I want to know where Sirius is,” Bellatrix Mimicked coldly. I flinched again.
“It’s time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter,” Lucius said, his eyes glittering coldly. The words were not meant for me, but they seemed by far wiser than anything I’d ever heard him say. I fumed while they continued, wondering if I would be able to harm Sirius’ godson if the need should so arise. I was still wandering about this when five different voices behind Potter shouted ‘REDUCTO!’ and I was caught off guard as they made a run for it. The others chased after them and I followed, still unsure. Instead of aiming for Potter I aimed for his friends. The red-haired boy first. I ran after him calling out random spells. Stunning spells, disarming spells, stinging hexes, anything that popped into my mind.
When I caught up with Lucius and Bellatrix they had Potter and a rather round-ish boy with a broken nose, cornered. Bellatrix was performing the Cruticas curse on the other boy and Lucius was demanding the prophecy when the doors above us burst open and five people came in. I immediately went after them. One I recognized as Mad-eye Moody. Dolohov, who had murdered my cousins so many years ago, now stood beside me fighting. We did a number on Moody and when Dolohov turned to Potter a dark shape came out of nowhere and knocked him to his feet. I raised my wand to the attacker, but stopped short when I realized it was Sirius. I lowered my wand slightly. He grimaced at me and took off to fight with Dolohov. I watched them fighting, unable to do anything, when all of a sudden Bellatrix came out of nowhere. She fired one spell at him.
“Come on you’ll have to do better than that!” He yelled, ducking her spell. The second spell hit him dead in the chest. His eyes widened in shock as he flew backwards, through an arch.
“SIRIUS!” I screamed. I rushed towards the arc, but found I could not get through. Potter was trying desperately to get through as well and it was only by the slightest of chances that I heard Lupin say what I was dreading.
“There’s nothing you can do Harry…He’s gone,” Lupin said to Potter.
In my desperate struggle to get through the arc I was hit with a stunning spell. I landed sharply on my side and lost consciousness.
I was swirling in darkness and I could see the faint outline of Sirius’ face. It was warm in the darkness
“Am I dead?” I thought to myself.
“No,” Said Sirius’ voice.
“Oh…are you dead?”
“Yes…”
It went form warm to cold suddenly and I was unable to move.
“What’s happening?” I asked, alarmed that my dream-ish thing should be so rudely interrupted.
“They’re taking you to Azkaban…you and Lucius and any others who were left behind,” Sirius voice said. I could no longer see him.
“Who’s taking me?”
“The Minister is…”
“Why didn’t we disapparate?”
“Dumbledore…he put the lot of you Death Eaters in an anti-disapparating sort of thing,” He said with a tired sort of sigh.
“Oh. What happens now?”
“You’ll be in Azkaban when you wake up…” He said, his voice trailing off.
“What about you?” I asked, but there was no reply, just the impending darkness that surrounded me.
When I awoke I was in a cage sort of thing. Three of the walls were made of brick and the third had cast iron bars. I was pressed firmly against the back wall.
“Where am I?” I muttered. Lucius appeared in my line of view. His face was paler than usual and his hair was dirty and matted.
“Azkaban…they’ve just brought around the food,” He said tonelessly. He tossed me a muffin. I stared at the muffin, uncaring, then closed my eyes. I didn’t bother to tell him I wasn’t hungry…I didn’t have the strength nor the will. It was cold, but I didn’t care…nothing really mattered. I dropped the muffin onto the ground and curled myself into a ball.
“We’ve been here for about a week…you’ve slept the entire time,” He said. I shrugged my shoulders, not bothering to even open my eyes.
“Are you hurt?” He asked, a small amount of concern in his voice.
“No…” I croaked softly. I suppose I fell asleep again. A while later I felt a goblet of water being pressed to my mouth, but I refused to drink. Someone, Lucius I suppose, forced me to open my mouth and I swallowed a bit of water.
What seemed like only a few hours later I heard voices. Not inside my head, as was prone to happen in Azkaban, but real voices. I struggled to open my eyes and saw Lucius was standing at the front of the cage talking to Narcissa and Draco. They were visiting, apparently. I closed my eyes again, not wanting to see anyone or anything.
“What’s wrong with Isabella?” I heard Draco ask in a cold tone. I imagined he was frightened of the dementors.
“I’m not sure…she hasn’t been quite right in the head since we came here,” Lucius replied in a soft tone.
“Do you think the stunning spell Lupin used addled her brain?” Draco asked curiously. Neither Narcissa nor Lucius responded to this.
Lupin… that was Sirius’ friend, right? The werewolf? I thought to myself.
“I expect we’ll be out of here soon. The only reason we are here is that Dumbledore has Aurors patrolling the corridors. The dementors have revolted against the Ministry so it’s only a matter of time…” Lucius said.
A matter of time before I’m out of here…before I can go and avenge Sirius’ death, I thought to myself.
The months wore on and I was dimly aware of any news brought to us by Narcissa. Draco had become a Death Eater, punishment, no doubt, for our failure at the Ministry. He was ordered to kill Dumbledore. Bellatrix was at Voldemort’s side and in hiding. Snape had made an unbreakable vow to protect Draco at all costs. Bellatrix didn’t trust Snape. And finally, at the end of a very long few months, which seemed like only a little time to me, news was brought to us of Dumbledore’s demise. Snape had killed Dumbledore.
Later the night of Dumbledore’s death, (or perhaps it was morning, I can’t say for sure) the Dark Lord exploded Azkaban, and those who were loyal to him, accompanied him back to the Malfoy Manor where he was currently residing. We flew, on brooms, to the manor. The wind was rushing past my ears. I gripped my broom tightly and looked skywards. Stars dotted the sky and the moon was full. I looked down at the sea below us. For a fraction of a second I considered throwing myself to the depths, but quickly decided not to…I was no use to anyone dead. I was still a servant of the Dark Lord, regardless of… Sirius’ demise.
The number of followers had tripled since our last visit. Apparently we roamed free now, killing Muggle borns or anyone who stood in our path. Our main objective at the moment was to infiltrate the ministry.
“I need to borrow someone’s wand,” Voldemort said in a low, cold voice as we sat at the dining table. No one dared say anything. Wordlessly I pulled my wand out of pocket and handed it to him.
“What’s it status?” He inquired.
“Cherry wood, 13 inches, basilisk fang core,” I said in a dull, toneless voice. Voldemort’s eyes widened in recognition and it was then I remembered what Ollivander had said to me so long ago…as a matter of fact Ollivander was currently residing in the dungeons, a prisoner of the dark lord.
“This wand chose you, then?” Voldemort asked, mildly interested.
“Yes, my lord,” I said softly.
“Were you aware, Isabella, that it was I who ordered the creation of that wand?” He asked in a dangerous tone.
“Yes, my lord,” I replied.
“Did you also know that this wand refused to work for me?”
“No, my lord,” I said, eyes wide.
“Well, this wand will not perform magic for me… therefore it is useless,” He said, tossing it back to me. I halfway shrugged and tucked my wand back into my robes.
When we were informed that Harry Potter would be removed from his aunt and uncles house a few weeks later Voldemort decided to use Lucius’ wand and pursue him since Potter was no longer under Dumbledore’s protection once he turned 17.
We figured they’d be flying. I was thinking broomsticks… but what we were not expecting was for him to be accompanied by the half-breed Hagrid and using a Flying Motorcycle. We also weren’t expecting there to be seven Potter’s each accompanied by a member of the Order of the Phoenix. However, as soon as he attempted to disarm Stan, who was under the imperious curse, we knew it was he. Although we did manage to kill Mad-eye Moody and cut off a Weasley’s
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