Chapter 5
SIRIUS BLACK
The Marauders had great plans for their fifth year, but in the end, McGonagall had ruined them all with one single move.
"We have to try," Sirius implored the group as they gathered in the Gryffindor common room to discuss their plans for the year. The four of them sat in the corner of the room, beside the fireplace, and the rest of the House knew better than to disturb them when they were making their plans.
"No," Peter was the first to shake his head, though the sentiment was shared across the group.
"You know the rule, we don't mess with Alder," and that was McGonagall's big ploy, for she had practically forced the Prefect badge on Alder, who was perhaps the only one in this castle who could control their rowdy group.
"I know the rule, but we cannot just sit by and waste an entire year," Sirius implored, as he looked towards James, his most loyal and crucial ally, but even the blonde had no support for him.
And even he, after some hesitation, shook his head as Sirius groaned.
"Seriously," he asked, and unlike the rest of them, James had different reasons for not wanting to annoy Alder.
"You do know, he won't be impressed if you suddenly stop doing all these pranks," and James had figured out that the way to Lily's heart was through her brother's approval, and he was smitten with the redhead, who did not even bat an eye at his antics and declarations of love.
"Going against Alder means going against all of the duelling club," Remus added, and that was the biggest reason why few had the courage to defy Alder, for the Evans' twin was the founder and Leader of Hogwarts' newly found duelling club.
"He won't do that. He is not that petty," Sirius tried to argue, but his words did not convince anyone.
"You remember what he said when we pranked Snivellus," James retorted, and Sirius remembered, of course.
Snivellus was in many ways James's greatest rival for Lily's affection, and had an edge over the blonde, for he had known Lily since before she had come to the school, and unlike his friend over here, was already friends with her.
In their jealousy, they had pranked Snivellus rather harshly in their fourth year, and while they were able to talk their way out of any major repercussions with McGonagall and the Headmaster, Alder had torn into them in the Common Room.
Sirius still had nightmares about that day and how the blonde-haired boy had warned them that he would kick them out of his club and have his friends put them into detention for a year.
And the sad part was that, if there was anyone who could do that to them, it was him.
"Yes, if we mess with him, we are going to spend the entire year in detention," Remus warned as he opened his book and began to read up.
"I for one don't want that," and James' had his own reasons for not wanting to annoy the blonde.
"Ahh! I cannot believe that we are...."
"Here you are!" and suddenly Sirius turned around and saw Lily and McKinnon running towards them, and he saw how James's forehead turned into a smile at the sight of the redhead.
"Lily," he greeted, but the red-haired girl did not pay him any heed.
"I need you all to come with me," she asked hastily, her voice filled with panic and worry as Sirius frowned, for he had never seen her like this.
"Why?" he asked.
"It's the Slytherins," and it was McKinnon who answered.
"They are going to attack Alder..."
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LUCIUS MALFOY
Lucius Malfoy was more than just a Malfoy. He was a trusted and valuable aide of Lord Voldemort, the man who was going to change the wizarding world. For years now, he had wanted to become a part of the Dark Lord's inner circle, yet he had denied him this opportunity, until a few weeks ago, when he had turned seventeen, and with that, the Dark lord had invited him to his first outing.
A first outing where Lucius had gotten a taste of the power of the Dark Lord, and what a taste it was. Exhilarating and unending.
The Dark Lord's magic had felt so ominous and powerful, and with the dark mark now inscribed into the skin of his arm, he would always have a connection to that power, allowing him to get a taste of that addictive strength and presence.
But then, he faced the greatest humiliation of his life as he was defeated by an opportunistic Mudblood, who refused to learn his place.
"We need to teach him a lesson," Rebastan lashed out, as the six of them gathered together to deal with their most significant predicament.
"We cannot let this humiliation stand," Rudolphus agreed with his brother and the Lestranges, much like his own family was in service to the Dark Lord, who had finally begun to show himself to the world.
The whispers were becoming a reality, and every week the dark Lord reminded the world that the Mud-bloods and their ilk had no place in the Wizarding World, for they were not wizards or witches.
They were thieves, stealing and clinging to a power that was not their own.
They had been tasked with teaching these thieves a lesson, but as soon as they were about to begin, an obstacle appeared and ruined all their plans.
Alder Evans was another one of these thieves, yet unlike the rest of his peers, he did not have the decency to accept his place in the world and chose to stand up against his betters.
Most of the Mudbloods knew little to no magic and could hardly stand against the might of their pure blood magic, yet he had been different. Even during his first year, the boy had refused to back down, and though he had suffered for it, by the time their second year had begun, he had grown strong enough to escape from them, and by the third year, he could put up a fight even against their seniors.
Others joined him, mudbloods, halfbloods, and blood traitors all flocked around him as they started their little club, a cheap imitation of what the Dark Lord did for them, but now they had crossed a line.
He had crossed a line.
"Lucius," Rebastan's words broke him out of his trance as Lucius turned to gaze at them all.
"Yes, you are right," and the bastard had chosen to put himself between him and his wife and had thought himself some kind of hero.
"It is time that we teach him a lesson and show him his place in this school," and he had grown rather arrogant wearing that prefect badge, but it was time for him to put him in his place.
"But you remember Flint's words, don't you. That boy is rather slippery," and it was not the first time that they had decided upon teaching him a lesson, but now it was Lucius who was leading the House and not that bone-headed Flint.
"Yes, and that is why we will corner him when he comes to patrol the dungeons tomorrow," and the idiot was arrogant enough not to even change his route, as if taunting Lucius and his friends.
"All of us," he whispered as he looked at both the Lestrange brothers and Crabbe and Goyle and Yaxley.
"Yeah, finally we are going to put that mudblood in his place," Rebastan celebrated, as Yaxley added.
"Do you think we should involve Black and that other boy in the plan as well?" Black was young but influential, but he had yet to join their cause fully, and the other boy spoke of was a half blood whom they tolerated because of their lord's indulgence.
"No," Lucius answered, for he knew that even amidst their House, there were few who sympathised with that mud-blood.
"Black is too young and he has still not taken the mark,' but he would. Soon enough, they all would.
"This stays between us," he whispered, for the mudblood had attacked him, and Lucius would be the one to pay him back.
"But how do we do this?" the younger Lestrange asked, and Lucius remembered something interesting.
"That club of theirs," he reminded them.
"I remember seeing him going to the club room every Saturday night to make preparations," and Flint had asked them to keep an eye on the club and how they worked.
"But tomorrow when he comes, we will be waiting for him," and with that, the plan was made.
"Yes, that will teach them a lesson," Rebastan broke out as they saw someone walking towards them, making him look up, and he saw a girl standing at the edge of their group looking straight at him, as the group came silent.
"What do you think you are doing there, Black?" Rudolphus lashed out as the second Black Sister raised a brow and addressed him.
"We need to talk," she spoke sharply, and Lucius knew exactly what this was about.
"How dare you ignore me, you bit..." Rudolphus, taking offence at her behavior, rose up from his chair, but Andromeda Black was not one to back down and had her wand out in a second as she aimed it at her supposed betrothed.
"I am not here for you, Rudolphus," and the Lestrange boy knew better than to face off against her out in the open as Lucius rose up to diffuse the situation.
"Sure, let us talk," he answered and motioned for his friends to leave them, and as Rebastan stood up, he stood beside her, gave her a wicked smile, and taunted.
"I will show you your place very soon, you heartless..." and Lucius was quick to intervene.
"Rudolphus," he warned, for he knew that the Dark Lord would not be happy to hear that they had antagonized the Blacks. In their world, the Black family was like royalty, and the Dark Lord was insistent upon bringing them to his side.
This was why he had brokered these matches between his allies and the Black sisters, himself, and if Rudolphus were to put that into jeopardy. It would draw ire from the Dark Lord.
"Listen to your minder, Rudolphus," and his smile widened as he left them alone with one final glance as Andromeda Black looked him in the eye.
"You must have an idea about why I am here," she began sharply, and Lucius nodded.
"I do," and, after his first outing, he had lost himself in celebration and nearly ruined his betrothal.
"Good, then make sure that you never even think of raising your hand on her ever again. Because I can assure you if that happens, even your Dark Lord will not be able to save your life," and he scoffed, as she turned away.
"You should be thankful," he whispered back, not backing down.
"After all, I am so tolerant otherwise, who would marry your sister when she so easily throws herself into the arms of those mud-bloods," he warned and saw those orbs narrow.
"What would your father think if I were to mention how your sister threw herself into the arms of a mud-blood in front of my eyes," and she rounded off in the blink of an eye, and aimed her wand at his throat, as Lucius smirked.
"After all, I am told that Cygnus Black has quite a temper...."
"You are really testing your luck, Malfoy," she warned, but they both knew that she would not attack him, for verbal arguments were another thing, attacking him openly would escalate the matter, and an escalation would force the Dark lord to get involved.
Something that neither of them desired.
"I have chosen to forgive your sister for her actions, and she has chosen to do the same for me," and with that the matter was resolved.
"So, we have come to an agreement. The only thing left now is to take care of that mud-blood boy and teach him a lesson," and he scanned her face for any reaction, for he had heard a rumor that Bellatrix's younger sister was a mud-blood sympathiser, yet she showed no reaction to his words as he probed a bit further.
"You wouldn't mind that, would you?" he asked sweetly as she put back the wand in her holster and turned away from him.
"Do whatever you want..."
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