Chapter 48
JAMES POTTER
No matter how many days passed, the school simply was no longer the same. There had always been tension between the Houses, and things had been getting worse over the years but it was all just pure chaos this year.
The teachers, the prefects, everyone tried their best but it was simply impossible to put an end to them. One would think that the Marauders would be the first to take advantage of this opportunity, especially with the absence of Alder there really was no one to keep them in line.
Yet none of them had the heart for pranks anymore. Each of them had greater things to worry about. Sirius may not have been close with his cousins, but Narcissa was still family. Her death had hit him hard, though what hit him harder was the fact that his bitch of a mother kept trying to push Regulus into pledging his loyalty to Voldemort.
Regulus had held back until now, but the rebellion would not last long. The werewolves had joined the Dark Lord, and while their society was already prejudiced against them. This had turned that prejudice into hatred.
Remus saw it all worried for his future, and so did they all. Peter was a scaredy cat, and James himself found himself cajoling a worried and frantic girlfriend about the safety of her twin brother.
The usually bright and cheerful girl was gone and replaced by a quiet and worried who would devour every word of the Prophet a dozen times, and yet refuse to read any letters from Alder. She was vehemently against his decision of joining the DMLE, and refused to read or reply to any of his letters yet she worried for him more than anyone.
Alder worried for her as well, and he knew that he had written to McKinnon a couple of times to ask about Lily, but Marlene was not much happy with him either. None of them were.
He was supposed to be here. With them.
Still, this was turning out to be a rather trough year, and James found himself a bit surprised when he was called into the office by their transfiguration Professor. He had tried to think of a reason why she would call on him like this, but could not find one at all.
McGonagall had already lectured him and his friends on the danger they had put themselves in by undergoing the Animagus transformation without supervision, though not before mentioning how proud she was of them.
They had not pranked anyone, and neither had they got into a major fight so he was rather surprised t receive the message, but in the end all he could do was comply. Plus, he had planned on seeing her himself to talk about Alder as well.
He could do that now as well, and with that he gave the door a knock.
"Come in," the Professor's voice came from inside, and the war had not just affected the students. Minerva McGonagall looked nearly a five years older, and the white in her hair was more prominent than ever, as the Professor gave him a smile.
"Come sit, Potter," she said, and the burden on her shoulders had increased drastically. Apart from being the Transfiguration Professor, she was also the Deputy Headmistress and that title carried more wight now than ever.
The Headmaster was rather busy dealing with the war ravaging across the world outside, and so she was left to deal with all of the affairs of the school.
Thank you professor, though if I must say if you called me in here to hand out a detention then I must tell you first that whatever you suspect me of, I did not do it," and the woman chuckled at his words.
"Hahaha, well the truth is that I never thought that I would see the day when I would have to call you into my office for something other than punishment but here we are," and so it was not detention.
"So, I am not being punished?" he asked, and she took a sip of her tea.
"Well, it depends," and now he was frowning.
"On what?" and she reached into her drawer and took something out and placed it infront of him.
"On whether you think being a Prefect is punishment or not?" and so James Potter found himself staring at the Prefect badge, and the words took a second to register as his head snapped upwards.
"You want me to be Prefect," and he could not believe his own tongue.
"Believe me, Mr Potter I am just as surprised as you at this development," and he was surprised. He was James Potter the delinquent. The class clown. The Marauder.
He was no Prefect.
"But I have made this decision after quite some thinking. With Alder gone," and the Professor visible wilted at the mention of her star student.
"House Gryffindor needs a new Prefect, and I believe you are the person to do so," and the mention of Alder made him still as well, as James was reminded of why he had wanted to come and talk to her.
"Speaking of Alder, I wanted to talk to you about him, Professor," and the older woman nodded.
"What about him?" and James was not usually the kind of push himself into other people's affairs. But Alder was family, and his absence had affected them all, and most of all it was affecting Lily.
"Isn't there anything you can do to bring him back?" and he was still underage, and his question made the woman's lips thin before she sighed and shook her head.
"Leaving Hogwarts was his decision..."
"But you are the Deputy Headmistress, there has to be something you can do. We can't just let him go and fight in a war. He is our friend. He should be here. With us. At School. Not out there fighting with the Aurors," and she agreed with him.
"I agree with you, but my hands are tied in this," and James had expected that, and he did not blame her. Still, he sighed as he looked her in the eye.
"I know that you all were quite close, and that you worry about him but there is nothing that we can do," and James knew that.
"The House it really isn't the same without him. No one is," and how could it be.
"I know, and that is one reason I have chosen to give you the badge," she added, and gave him a kind look.
"I know that you and Lily are close and that she has taken Alder's decision to leave rather badly. As prefect you will both be working together, and so I want you to keep an eye on her," and she did not even have to ask.
"You don't have to ask," and she chuckled.
"I know," and he had never thought that he would be Prefect, nor did he think that he was the right choice, but if it allowed him to be closer to Lily then he would do it nonetheless.
"I believe you already have an idea about what the title entails and what your duties will be as Prefect. Otherwise, you can always ask Miss Evans to help you with your newfound responsibilities," and James smiled.
"I think I will do just that," and their relationship was out in the open. She had even met her family, who were absolutely charmed by her. Not surprising, given that she was Lily Evans.
"Now, out you go," and James left with that badge though just as he was at the door, she called out his name.
"And James," he stopped and turned around.
"Euphemia says that if you dare take advantage of that 'grieving girl' she will kick you out of the House," and James' face flushed at hearing her mother's message.
"You talked to mother," and the Professor and his family were old friends.
"Of course. I wanted to know if I was not making a mistake so I asked her opinion. Still, if you cause that poor girl any trouble your mother won't be the only person you will have to worry about," and James rolled his eyes.
"I would never even think of doing that to her....."
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LUCIUS MALFOY
Pureblood. That title had become an insult over the last few years as Dumbledore and his friends tried to turn their entire society against the very people who had built as they asked them to assimilate with those ungrateful mudbloods.
For years now, the mudbloods, and blood traitors had been gaining power and threatening their very way of life, and all those who tried to stand up against this injustice found themselves muzzled and defanged infront of the might of Albus Dumbledore.
He was powerful. Charismatic and no wizard alive could hope to be his match.
Well, that was until the Dark Lord had come. Initially they had doubted him, and his intentions but now the entire world trembled at the mere whisper of his name. Once his name had been nothing but a whisper, but now a mere whisper of that name was enough to make men tremble in fear.
A wizard who had not only taken a stand against the invasion of their world, but was also strong enough to face the mighty Albus Dumbledore on an even footing. The man had promised them a new world, and now years after he had pledged his allegiance to him, Lucius could finally see that dream coming to fruition.
"You called for me, my lord," Lucius began, as he stood behind the man, his eyes rooted to the ground in reverance.
"Yes, I did," and he heard him rise and walk towards him, as Lucius stood there waiting for his command. The attack on the Express had been the official start of the war, and now battles between them and the Ministry were a daily occurrence.
They were trying to protect their way of life from the likes of Dumbledore, and his friends.
"Look at me Lucius," and he followed his command, and the Dark Lord had changed much over the last few months, and his face continued to change as it slowly shed away its human form and began to take a more snake like shape.
His nose had begun to vanish, and his lips grew sider and wider with every new ritual he did. And Lucius did not understand the reason behind the rituals. He was already strong enough to face Dumbledore.
"You question my choices Lucius," and his voice had grown raspier and thinner, as he felt a chill run down his spine.
"No, my lord. I wouldn't dare," and he quickly moved his face.
"Look into my eyes, Lucius," and the Dark Lord's words were like magic as his face moved on its own.
"Do not lie to Lucius. There are few things that I loathe more than lies," and Lucius gulped nervously, as he thought about why the Dark Lord may have called on him.
"You wish to know why I called on you?" and once more even without him uttering a single word, those red orbs saw right through me.
"I..." and Lucius did not know what to say anymore.
"You fear that you may have made a mistake?" and his heart raced with that worry before the Dark Lord smiled.
"Fear not, my dear Lucius. I have not called you here to punish you. Not today," and that set his heart at ease.
"But I do have a task for you," and now the Dark Lord was circling him, as Lucius stared at the wall ahead.
"I will do my be...."
"I know you will. I know, and I must say that I have been greatly impressed by your devotion to the cause," and it was rare for the dark lord to praise anyone let alone him.
"You have made your fair share of mistakes, but you have kept faith," and now the Dark Lord was behind him, whispering into his ears.
"You held faith even though I know that you cared deeply for that Black girl," and he spoke of Narcissa, and indeed Lucius did care for her. She was to be his wife, but in the end she had betrayed him for that mudblood.
"She was a blood traitor my lord. She deserved to die," and the Dark Lord nodded.
"Indeed, she was a traitor and her fate was sealed the seconds she decided to sully her name and blood by falling in love with that mudblood," and soon enough Lucius would have his revenge on that bastard as well, and then he could wipe away all the stains on his honor.
"But that does not mean that you did not care for her once. You, or Bella," the Dark lord whispered, and now he was in front of him.
"Yet you stayed true to the purpose and I believe that deserves a reward," and he had heard that the Dark Lord had called for Bella before asking for him, and now it made sense.
"A reward, my lord?" and the Dark Lord nodded.
"Yes," and with that the Dark Lord reached for the table, and picked up a book.
"Take it," and who was he defy the Dark Lord, as he grabbed the diary which seemed rather old and Lucius could already sense the dark magic oozing out of it.
"What you hold in your hands my boy is a treasure you can never hope to comprehend, and now you must guard with all your life," and Lucius nodded humbly, though he still did not understand what made this diary so special.
"Of course, my lord," and the Dark Lord smiled.
"You need not understand the value of that diary, only that it is a piece of me and I have only ever entrusted one other person with such a thing," and once more the Dark Lord read his thoughts.
"I have bestowed upon you an honor that you need not understand. But bask in delight that you in guarding that diary you serve a purpose greater than any of my other followers...."
.
.
.
Miles and miles away in the dorms of the trainee Aurors, the door to one of the room was opened as two hooded wizards entered the room with their wands ready.
"You know the plan," one of them whispered to his friend.
"We go in and we take him out," and the other one gave him a nod, as they twisted the lock and walked into the room, though the second they stepped inside a whisper greeted them both.
"Nifelheim!"
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