The Darkness

The Darkness

Chapter Five - Born and Reborn

I'm so happy, dance around the Grim Reaper

Cuts, cuts, cuts but he can't get me.

~ Oingo Boing (No One Lives Forever)

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles confusion is nothing new
Flashback--warm nights--almost left behind
Suitcases of memories, time after--

Sometimes you picture me--I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear what you've said--
Then you say--go slow--I fall behind--the second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look--and you will find me, time after time
If you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting, time after time.

~Cyndi Lauper (Time After Time)

~*~

Bellatrix was pacing back and forth like an expectant father. In a way she was. She had waited twenty-three long years for this moment. She turned her anxiety on the only other person in the room. "Damn it! Where is he Lucius? Even a fool such as he should be at least capable of getting out of Egypt in one piece. It has been weeks." She stopped her pacing and silver eyes met blue. "Lucius, I can't keep him alive much longer without the key. I'm weakening and he is becoming resistant to the potions. It's the bloody unicorn blood; it's countering all my work." She threw her arms in the air and resumed pacing. "He knew better than unicorn blood; it had to have been that idiot Quirrell!"

The properties of the unicorn blood, while maintaining Voldemort's life force, also acted like a lead shield and blocked most of the potions that Bellatrix had tried to administer to her Dark Lord. She had to work to negate the damage done by the mass Cruciatus Curse while working around major blockades in his system. The final piece to the puzzle was on its way.

The door to the study opened and a dark skinned man with ebony eyes entered the room. He was carrying a small creature by the scruff of its neck. "Look what I found on my way into the Manor." He threw the rat onto a sofa and it transformed into Peter Pettigrew.

Bellatrix scowled at the round balding man and then turned to the younger one by the door. "Bastian, thank you, I trust your trip was uneventful." Her lips curled into a delicious smile. She ignored Pettigrew and motioned for Bastian Logan to sit on the spare sofa. The younger man was quite handsome; she loved the chocolate darkness of his skin. If her heart did not belong to another she would definitely see to it that he was hers. Instead she merely doted on him. "How was Egypt?"

Lucius watched the two Death Eaters and Mr. Logan with a detached air. He was curious as to why Peter had taken so long and why Bastian had returned to them so soon, but he held his tongue and allowed his lovely sister-in-law run the show.

Bastian sat and stretched his long muscular legs out in front of him. "Egypt was lovely, lots of sand. I'm glad I won't be returning anytime soon. I told Gringotts that considering the current circumstances I could no longer work for them. Knowing that a civilian had died caused me stress and I could not work under those conditions." He said this with a tone of mock distress. Flashing Bellatrix a winning smile he winked, "Besides, I needed to leave before they discovered that I worked on that dig. I covered my tracks, but those Goblins are right bastards. They'll uncover the truth eventually and by then I'll have moved on."

Bellatrix smiled and Lucius commented softly, "We could have used someone like you six years ago." Bella nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. She only wished Bastian had the Mark. She would not give it to him, even if she could, that was for her Master. This young man would be his first when he returned to them.

"So, Pettigrew, do you have the 'key'? Or did you lose it in the desert?" she queried, her voice turning to venom. The rat-man pulled a pendant on a chain from his jacket. It looked so small, so inconspicuous, yet the power it held was surreal. Bellatrix stood, her hand outstretched and slightly trembling. "The talisman of Metraton," she whispered. The small silver oval shook in her hands and the purple stone in the center glowed. Her silvery eyes reflected the lavender light that emitted from the 'key' to Voldemort's rebirth. She looked back to Wormtail, "Did you disable the daemon?"

He gave her a toothy smile and held open his silver hand, resting in his palm was a small bone. "Without this she cannot become corporeal. She will be doomed to live in the darkness."

She stood up, her hand clasping the talisman, tightly, and took the bone. "Peter and Bastian, our Dark Lord will hold you in high esteem for your accomplishments." She smiled at the pair; soon she would have her Master back to his true form. "Lucius, I need your assistance." With that she turned and left the room, Lucius following behind her.

The pair travelled down the dark wood panelled hallway. There were no paintings adorning the walls, Bellatrix had them all removed. She refused to take the chance that any of the painting's occupants might turn traitor and give away their location. The threadbare Persian rugs that ran the length of the halls were deep crimson and gave the almost empty manor the feeling of warmth.

"Do you really trust young Logan, Bellatrix?" Lucius asked her, his voice still soft and cold.

She raised an eyebrow at him as they walked along companionably. "Of course. I've been training him myself. Why do you ask, Lucius?"

"No real reason. I was only concerned that he knew the location of our home and he is yet to be Marked. I barely trust Pettigrew and I know him." His cold blue eyes scanned the passage before them, as if searching for a rodent in hiding.

She smiled, "Ah, don't worry Lucius. He is young and a bit unorthodox, but trust me when I say, he is very loyal." She knew because she held him in her thrall. All her research into finding ways to revive her Lord had shown her many wondrous spells. A simple, yet rare, blood spell now gave her complete control of the young man and when her Master was strong again, she would release her hold on Bastian once he received his Dark Mark.

They approached a carved wooden door and Bellatrix slowly opened it. Lucius followed her into the dimly lit bedroom of Lord Voldemort. "Lucius, retrieve the flask with the emerald potion. It is in the cupboard over there." She stared at him pointedly as he sneered at her. She knew he hated to be told what to do, so that made her boss him around even more. "Oh and the password is Lilith."

The tall blonde stopped in his tracks and raised an eyebrow at Bellatrix. "How...appropriate."

She turned her back on him and made her way to the pale sleeping figure in the bed. Sitting gently upon the edge she lovingly smoothed back his hair. "Tom," she whispered, "Tom, it's time."

Lord Voldemort's crimson eyes fluttered open and a smile curled his lips as he woke to see the lovely face of Bellatrix. He lifted a weak pale hand and stroked her cheek. Clasping that hand, Bellatrix smiled. "It is time, my Lord, time for you to be whole." She assisted him into a sitting position and turned to give Lucius an impatient stare. Holding her hand out she tapped her foot, "Come now Lucius, a simple locking charm has become a challenge?"

He narrowed his eyes and walked silently toward her. "If you wanted it done fast you should have done it yourself," he hissed. Then he winced a little as his Master's eyes bore down on him, even though his head was much lower then Lucius'.

Bellatrix caught the exchange and smiled softly. She took the potion and sat again on the edge of the bed and placed the talisman around Voldemort's neck. "Are you ready, my Lord?" she asked and he nodded. Lifting her honey brown skirt, she exposed her shapely leg and the pearl handled dagger strapped to her thigh. She brought it up to her hand and without a wince, drew it across the palm. Crimson beads welled up and clenching her fist she squeezed some into the potion in the flask. It flashed red then returned to its emerald colour. She brought the bloody hand to his chest, then lifting the green liquid to his lips she whispered:

"Beraxis cotrah mierrahh.

Hear now the words of this witch,
The secrets you hid in the night.
The oldest of powers are invoked here,
The great work of Magick is sought.
In this time and in this hour,
I call upon this ancient power.

Fill this man and heal his body and soul."

Voldemort gasped as he swallowed the potion and the talisman began to glow brightly against his chest. Bellatrix's silver eyes burned lavender as the powers she had invoked rushed thru her body. Lucuis paled, believing that Bellatrix had killed Voldemort, as he watched his Master grow weak and slump back into the bed, his eyes growing blank. Bellatrix felt strong, stronger then she'd ever felt in her life. She paid no mind to the fact that the shallow cut on her hand had deepened and the scarlet plume on Voldemort's shirt was now becoming a river as her life's blood spilled from the wound.

Suddenly, as if a switch was flicked on, Voldemort sat up and grabbed Bellatrix by her face. He brought her mouth to his and claimed her lips in a hungry kiss, pulling power from her body to feed his need. Her eyes remained open as she willingly gave him everything she held. He slowly began to push her back onto the bed, the dark haired woman succumbing to her Lord until he hovered over her, their lips melting together in a life giving kiss. When he could drink no more from her, Bellatrix's lavender eyes returned to their normal silvery grey and fluttered closed.

Lucius had been struck dumb by the spectacle. He only found his voice when he realized Bellatrix's blood had soaked the bed clothes. Falling to his knee he whispered, "My Lord, is she..."

Voldemort pulled Bellatrix into his arms and held her close. He picked up his wand and with the care of a lover, touched it to her wound, healing it. "Bring me the blood-replenishing potion. She will live."

The blonde nodded and quickly ran for the potion. He was stunned beyond words; he couldn't believe that Bellatrix would willingly give so much of herself for Voldemort. His mind raced and the only word he could find to describe his feelings was, awe.

As Lucius ran to retrieve the potion, Voldemort whispered to the unconscious Bellatrix, rocking her slowly. "My saviour, my most faithful, my Bella. You have given me so much, how do I repay you." He gave a soft laugh.. "I, Lord Voldemort, never repay. But you, my love, have given me more then anyone in this world. I shall make you mine, forever they will fear you as they fear me." He leaned forward and kissed her cold, near-dead lips.

~*~

It had been a week since the full moon and Remus still ached. He rubbed his sore arms as he walked aimlessly around Grimmauld Place. He knew he was getting old but at least when Sirius had been back it wasn't so bad. To have someone spend those long hours with him, even with the Wolfsbane potion, always made things much easier.

Picking up a book, he collapsed gracefully into a dusty chair. He found that reading always helped his mind unwind and allowed him to sleep better. That and it kept him from thinking about Sirius. He opened the book to the page he had stopped at last night and promptly dropped it as if it burned him. He stared at it, waiting for it to jump up and attack, but when it didn't jump up he leaned over and picked it up gingerly.

His brows were knit together as he examined the front, running a finger over the gold lettering. It was the same book he had been reading for the past few days and this was the first time one of the pages ever had personal notes written on them.

Opening the book slowly, he thumbed to the page again and there it was. Scrawled in a familiar hand, the words caused Remus to gasp.

Moony,

I'm coming home.

Fabric has thinned.

Meet me in the Forest of Time.

Padfoot

He cursed under his breath and ran out of the room in search of Tonks. He found her in the kitchen with Mundungus Fletcher, drinking beers and taunting each other mercilessly. He threw the book on the table and said, "What the hell is with you two? This is not funny at all. Actually it's quite sick."

"What are you talking about? We've been here having a few." Dung replied, lifting his beer to his lips.

Tonks looked at the werewolf, quizzically. "Yeah, what's wrong?

He motioned to the book. "Go, open it. Page sixty-five. Read it and tell me you two had nothing to do with this." His stomach was doing flip-flops, part of him praying they had tried to prank him and part hoping it was the truth.

Tonks picked up the book and opened it as if something was going to jump out at her. Reading the page, she immediately dropped it on the table. "Remus that isn't funny. Not funny at all." She gave him a hurt look.

Remus shook his head, "I didn't do it, I thought maybe..."

She stood up, slamming her hands on the worn wooden table. "You thought I would do something that sick? Oh Remus, I thought you knew me better then that."

The older man sat down hard, putting his head in his hands. "Honestly, Dora, I'm not sure what I thought. Honestly, I don't even know what it means."

Dung picked up the book and leafed through it. His eyes got huge as he read the page. "Holy Merlin's left nut! That there is Black's writing. I'd know it anywhere." He looked up at Remus. "This is serious, Brains. I mean, where is the Forest of Time and what does he mean the fabric has thinned?"

Remus had to smile at the old nickname Dung had used. Mundungus was younger than he and the other Marauders, but the crook was in his first year when they were in their seventh and the fool idolized them. Nicknamed them all based on his version of how he saw them, which was uncannily accurate. Remus became Brains for obvious reasons. James was Brawn because he was the most physical of the group, being on the house team and such. Sirius was Beauty because he was always surrounded by girls. Poor Peter became Bewildered, based on the expression he usually wore.

Sighing, Remus said, "The fabric could be anything, fabric of time, reality, my trousers?" He rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes. "The Forest of Time is a legend; that's what makes me think this is some joke."

Tonks sat back down, her blue hair bouncing against her shoulders. She reached out a timid hand to touch the werewolf's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Remus. I can't imagine who would play such a nasty trick." She lifted her wand and said, "Accio beer." Once flew over to her from the sack on the counter where they had been neglected. She pushed it in front of Remus. "Here, have one. It will make you feel better."

Remus looked at it, a strained smile on his lips. "Ta, love." He picked it up and was about to pop the tab when the label caught his eye. He pushed it away and almost fell out of his chair. "What the..."

The two gave him an odd look and Tonks picked up the can. On the label where it should have said the name of the beer, it said: Black's Finest!! This ain't no joke you thick berk.

Remus promptly leaned over and threw up.

~*~

After Dung helped him clean up the kitchen, Tonks led him to his room. "I don't understand it. If he's dead then why is he sending you messages to come and get him? This just doesn't make sense. Maybe we should get Dumbledore?"

"No!" Remus exclaimed, stopping in his tracks.

Tonks looked at him with concern, Remus never reacted so rash and was usually very willing to consult the older wizard.

"I-I mean, not now. It could be nothing. Let's just wait and see if we get anymore clues. Besides, we need to figure out where this forest is before we can start looking for it." He hoped his words would be enough to convince her that Dumbledore could wait. He wasn't willing to go to his old headmaster at the present time. He still held a bit of resentment toward the man for keeping Sirius caged in Grimmauld. Remus felt that by forcing someone like Sirius Black to stay in one place after twelve years of prison was wrong and extremely unfair. No one could blame Sirius for running off half-cocked.

They arrived at his room, which was across the hall from Sirius' old room. "Still smells like Hippogriff up here, doesn't that bother you?" Tonks said, with a smile.

Remus was relieved at the topic change. "Actually, I was quite upset when Hagrid took Buckbeak back. I missed hearing him at night; it reminded me of when..." Why do all my thoughts bring me back to him?

Opening the door, he could sense Tonks wanting to say something. He looked at her and his heart dropped. He was aware of her feelings; he was just unable to return them. Excluding the fact that he was thirteen years her senior, he just didn't feel the same. Oh, he loved her, but it was hard for him to see beyond the small girl who used to be an honorary Marauder. He still saw the eight year old with skinned knees and pouty face.

She moved closer to him and he knew he had to do the one thing he never wanted. When she tried to kiss him, he grabbed her shoulders. "Dora..." he shook his head slowly, his amber eyes looking at her with sadness. "You know; if things were different, love. I can't change who I am and I am not what you need." He pulled her close and placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead.

She silently slipped her arms around his chest and hugged him tightly. Her voice came in a whisper, choked with tears. "I know, Remus. I just thought..."

Looking into her dark eyes he smiled and said, "You know I love you. Besides, Dung would probably slip silver nitrate into my bathwater if he found out you and I..."

At this she smiled brightly. "He is a bit jealous. You'd think he owned me."

He hugged her and whispered in her ear. "No, but you own his heart. Now go tend to the drunk while I sort my thought about our ghost writer."

She gave him a wink and headed out the door, but stopped as she was shutting it to add, "You're too cerebral for me anyway. I need someone who can keep up." She shot him another wink and shut the door.

Remus could hear her small footsteps padding down the hall and when they disappeared he threw himself onto his bed. His arm was slung across his eyes.

"Sirius what is it with your family? If they aren't trying to kill me they're trying to kiss me." He chuckled to himself as he kicked off his shoes. He lay there is blind silence for awhile before he spoke out loud again. "The Forest of Time? I have no idea where to begin looking. Sirius, why do you have to be so insufferably vague?" He said as he stretched and removed his arm from his eyes only to gasp.

On the ceiling above his bed were the words: Because you love it that way.