Darkness Beckoning

Chapter Two

Veritas

James Potter closed and warded the door after Albus Dumbledore had left. Lily was putting Harry to bed so James was left warding the rest of the house. He added additional wards he'd learned from his sister after Harry was born for more protection. With Dumbledore's news, James felt every extra measure could help. If Harry was the one...James didn't want to think about it. There was still a possibility Harry wouldn't be chosen by Voldemort.

"James?"

He turned. Lily stood at the bottom of the stairs watching him. How long had she been standing there? How long had he been lost in his own thoughts?

"Hey, Lily. Is he asleep?"

"Yes," she answered and walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. It didn't take an Empath to feel the fear, anger, and tension in his wife's body. He felt the same way. Why did it have to be Harry or Neville Longbottom? Couldn't children have normal lives? The war had lasted a decade already and Voldemort was only getting stronger. He was gathering more followers every day because people lost hope in the Light's ability to win. He remembered Dumbledore's words: "The people need heroes, James. Sometimes all it takes is one person to inspire hope in the crowds. That one person will save hundreds. Your name has been synonymous with the fight against Voldemort for years. Take that, James, and use it. Inspire others."

Inspire others. Right. How was he supposed to do that? James sighed and buried his face in Lily's auburn hair.

"What are we going to do, James?"

He pulled away and looked at her. "Keep ourselves and Harry safe." He sighed. "Albus suggested Fidelius. We should think about it."

"But who will we use as a Secret Keeper? Sirius is a target too because of his family. Dany can't do it, it would go against her oaths."

"And we think Remus is the spy," James walked to the window and looked outside. Spring hadn't yet arrived but small patches of green could be seen. Damn Unspeakable Oaths. He trusted Dany more than anyone else but she couldn't get involved in this.

"What about Peter?" Lily asked, joining him at the window. "Even if Voldemort comes after us, Sirius will be his first thought as our Secret Keeper. Who would think of Peter?"

James thought about it. She was right. He and Sirius were like brothers. Sirius was Harry's godfather. He would be the first person thought of. Peter, however, Peter would take longer and if he had to escape few people would realize a rat running away. It could work. If they chose to do this, Peter was the prefect choice.

"I think it could work, Lily. We'd make it work."

~~~

Dany choked on the glass of firewhiskey she'd downed. "Where did that come from, Sirius?"

"I've seen you two together. I know he's a Death Eater."

"Those are strong allegations, Sirius. I would advise you not to speak of them to anyone else."

"Don't be professional with me, Dany. I know you better than that."

"Regulus and I are Unspeakables and we do what we must to make sure Aurors don't get killed doing them." She poured two more glasses of the firewhiskey and pushed one towards him. "You'll need that by the time this conversation is over." She walked to her kitchen table and sat down. "Sit, Sirius. I have a lot to explain and we only have tonight. I'll need an answer before you leave."

"What are you talking about?"

"Two members of my team were killed today. Voldemort gave an order to kill any person even remotely connected to DOM or DMLE. The Unspeakables are now six short and we're hurting because of it." She sighed and put her head in her hands. Sirius wanted to comfort her but he wasn't sure she'd accept it. "I had Regulus draw up a list of possible replacements. Your name was near the top of the list." She looked at him and he got the feeling she was doing more than looking, as if she were looking through him.

"Have you ever thought about it, Sirius? Have you ever considered going outside the law as you've known it to do more than keep steady in this war? That is what I do daily and I think you'd do well. Your mind is quick and I know you have no aversion to breaking the law."

"What do you mean by that?"

She smiled. "You were willing to break the law and risk your life in school to protect Remus and his secret. Yes, I know what you, James, and Peter did in your fifth year."

"How?"

"Any person who walks into DOM is subject to interrogation by any and all Unspeakables whether that interrogation be verbal or by Legilimency. Not many know of this, but it keeps us and our secrets, the secrets of the department, safe from any who would use them against us. Right now they would be Death Eaters. Anyone suspected or proven to have connections to Voldemort through this interrogation is taken into custody. So yes, Sirius, I know about your exploits. I know about every law you've broken and so does any Unspeakable you've come into contact with at DOM."

"That's unethical. Legilimency is Dark Arts."

"According to the Ministry, yes, that use of Legilimency is unethical and illegal, but tell me Sirius, how many Death Eaters do you think have walked into the department on Ministry business?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Seven. All spies within the Ministry for Voldemort. Two had plans to kill Ministry officials including Crouch, Moody, and James. I don't regret the things I've done in order to protect our world, our way of life, from falling under Voldemort's rule. Sirius, given the chance to save the people I have, would you have been able to do it by following Ministry laws? The reason so many Death Eaters are released by the Ministry is because of the holes in the law. We don't follow the law, we follow methods laid down centuries ago when murderers were captured and sent to prison to live out their lives."

"If this is so true, why are we still fighting a war? Why haven't the Death Eaters been captured and Voldemort killed?" Sirius was angry now. Dany was suggesting Dark Arts were the only way to battle Voldemort and his followers. He knew there were other ways because he'd been using them for years, even before he'd left Hogwarts.

"Haven't you been listening, Sirius? People not cleared by Briggs, Regulus, or myself are not allowed in DOM. Not every Death Eater is involved in the Ministry."

"So you're the rumored Trinity." Sirius looked at her, daring her to contradict his statement. He had heard about the three Unspeakables no one dared go against. All three were strong Legilimens, Occlumens, well integrated in the Dark Arts and willing to use them, ran a large network of spies, and knew more about Voldemort than any other person living.

"We're not a trinity, Sirius. Yes, people have given the three of us credit for everything Unspeakables have done against Voldemort, but we are not the only ones fighting Voldemort. Merlin, Sirius, the only way to beat Voldemort is to play his games by our own rules. We have won victories against the Dark Lord through this process, but that is all it is, Sirius. Only a process and the more people Voldemort kills, the more the process will fail."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Sirius, if you accept a position within the Unspeakables, you have to understand what we do and why we do it."

"And if I don't?"

"I'll Obliviate you before you leave."

"You can't do that."

"I answer to only two people within the Ministry Sirius. Tell me, do you want to see Voldemort destroyed?"

"Yes, of course..."

"Do you want to see the Death Eaters pay for their crimes?"

"You know I do, Dany."

"Does it matter, then, how we make that happen? Using Legilimency, I got Rookwood on seventeen counts of murder and I haven't even started to really question him yet. He is one of Voldemort's trusted and loyal followers and he'll spend the rest of his life in Azkaban. He can't hire a team of lawyers to get him out of this one, Sirius. He'll never get out unless Azkaban is taken and that isn't likely."

"You chose to fight with what you knew."

"Sirius, the Department of Mysteries is not for people who have families. I have no illusions of love and I keep myself separated from James, Lily, and Harry for their own protection. I don't involve myself in any relationship that could turn out to be long term."

"Which is why you and my brother are..."

"Yes," she answered. "Regulus and I care for each other, but it is nothing more than that. We both walk paths too dangerous for anything more."

"So he is a Death Eater."

"Yes. He is one of my spies. He came to me nine months after I became an Unspeakable and asked if I wanted a spy within Voldemort's ranks. I couldn't pass it up. He is loyal to me, but he also must maintain loyalty to Voldemort to stay alive. We both accept the fact we may die at any time. I am one of Voldemort's prime targets although Voldemort doesn't even know it.

"Sirius, none of this matters. I need to know your decision. Do you want to work in the Department of Mysteries?"

"Your version of enforcing the law is breaking it," he said, looking at her. "You use Dark Arts to stop the use of Dark Arts. Do you kill to stop the killing?"

"We kill Death Eaters, yes, but only if we have no other choice, Sirius. We use magic the way it was intended centuries ago before Dark Arts were considered illegal. Sirius, I can explain it all much better. We are not the horrible, scary people everyone thinks we are; we do what we have to, what no one else can do. We help the very people who are afraid of us. It is our curse, but also our very blessing. Such a blessing it is. Tell me, Sirius, what do you want to do?"

"I want to save people, Dany, you know that. I want to help those who can't help themselves."

"Spoken like a true Gryffindor," Danyelle answered with a smile. Sirius loved that smile. He hadn't seen it in a long time and he wondered why. She'd been in the Department of Mysteries four years. He didn't know her well, he hadn't ever really known her. Dany had been a Slytherin and he'd never had the chance to really know her except during the summers he'd spent with the Potters. Had her eyes always held the forlorn look they had now? Had she always been this tense, ready to attack at the slightest provocation?

"What happens if I say yes?"

Dany shrugged. "Your formal resignation will be given to Crouch and for all official purposes any ties you have to the Ministry will be severed. You'd report directly to me at DOM for the training."

"What kind of training?"

"You'll be trained to use the Unforgivables, defend against Cruciatus and the Imperious curses, use Legilimency and Occlumency, and get further training in detecting Dark Arts and learn how to manipulate them to your advantage."

He shook his head. "I...I don't know."

~~~

Severus Snape hadn't returned to Hogwarts since he'd taken his Mark. Now he stood on the edge of the grounds looking up at the towers and the buildings that represented the seven worst and best years of his life.

He had thought long about how he would approach Dumbledore. He didn't think the old man would just tell him where Danyelle Potter was and what she was doing. Severus was almost certain she would be a member of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. She would also most certainly be protected by her brother and Black, not to mention Lupin and Pettigrew. Yes, the Gryffindors would protect her, since she seemed to be an enemy of every Slytherin she knew.

Severus smirked and began to walk the well beaten path to the castle. He had known Dany Potter once. The Untouchable Princess they had called her because Malfoy had wanted her in the Dark Lord's circle. A fleeting though crossed his mind; what if Dany Potter had turned against her brother? If she hadn't yet, maybe she could be persuaded to serve. Severus could picture himself presenting the Slytherin Potter to his Lord, doing something not even Malfoy had accomplished. Severus liked that thought very much.

He found the path to the Headmaster's office came back to him as if he'd walked it mere days ago rather than years. He came upon the gargoyle and swung open for him, revealing the staircase. Severus wondered if Dumbledore had known someone was coming.

"Well, well, hello Severus, and welcome back," Dumbledore said. The office hadn't changed since the last time he'd been there and it was disconcerting to Severus. He felt more like a student in trouble than a Death Eater trusted by Voldemort.

"Headmaster," Severus answered. He noted a traveling cloak across one chair and wondered where the old man had been.

"I had feared I would need to search for you."

Severus looked at him. "What?"

"Sit, Severus. I have a favor to ask of you."

~~~

The girl was only four, perhaps five years old. Unspeakable Gregory Briggs looked at her and crouched before her. He had always been good with children but had never had the chance to have any of his own for fear of putting any innocents in danger because of the nature of his work. His father had been an Unspeakable and Briggs still had nightmares about what had happened to his parents.

"Hello, I'm Greg. What's your name?" She was huddled in the corner of a closet with her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them protectively. It had been the briefest flash of Legilimency to tell him she was scared and had seen what had happened. He cursed her parents.

"Madeline," she answered in a timid tone. Greg smiled.

"Why don't you come out here, Madeline, so I can see you? I promise, I won't hurt you."

She shook her head and tried to move herself further back as if she could melt into the wall. It was then Briggs noticed she was shaking and a bruise was forming on her cheek. He was glad Dany hadn't been on duty for this. His protégé took personal offense to any person who dared harm a child. Then again, Dany would also know how to coax the child into leaving the closet.

"Briggs."

He turned his attention away from Madeline to Alastor Moody. "Yes, Alastor?"

"Both Lestranges fled. Disapparated before anyone could place a locator on them."

"I never said Bellatrix and Rodolphus were stupid, only insane. Our goal here really was to take the safe haven from them. We succeeded in that."

"Don't get coy with me, Briggs," Moody answered. "Who's the kid?"

"My guess is their daughter." Moody looked at him, turned and left the room. Briggs stared after him for a minute before turning his attention back to Madeline.

"Are they really gone?"

Briggs knelt before her. She had come out of the corner and was leading against the doorframe. "Are they your parents, Bellatrix and Rodolphus?" She nodded. "Yes, they're gone and you're safe. You won't have to see them again."

"I don't want to. They were mean," she answered. Briggs was taken aback by the anger in the girl's voice. What had the Lestranges done to her, their own daughter?

"You won't have to. I promise."

~~~

"You have to make a choice, Sirius. I can't let you leave to think this over," Dany said. She looked at him and saw the war going on in his mind. He wanted to help people and make Voldemort pay but he had grown up defying his family by not practicing Dark Arts. She didn't need Legilimency to know what his answer would be. She summoned the bottle of firewhiskey.

"I don't think I can do it," he answered after a long time. "I can't equate using Dark Arts to protect people."

Dany didn't say anything at the moment. She waited and downed another glass of the firewhiskey. "Some people can't do this job, Sirius, and I understand that. This is a difficult career."

"So what now?"

She pulled her wand and pointed it at him. His eyes widened a little. "Obliviate," she whispered, focusing on the conversation they'd just had. She erased all memory of it and all his suspicions of her relationship with Regulus and of Regulus being a Death Eater. Finished, she slipped her wand back into her robe.

"What time is it?" Sirius asked, looking around.

"Late," Dany answered. "Ten, I think."

"I should be getting home."

"Don't leave on my account," Dany said, smiling.

"What have we been doing all night?"

"Drinking," she answered him, motioning to the near empty bottle.

"Oh. That's why I have a headache right now."

"Probably," she laughed. She liked this, just visiting with an old friend without worrying about anything else. Sirius shrugged and poured another round.

~~~

"What would you ask of me, Headmaster?" Severus asked, taking a seat across for the older wizard. Albus Dumbledore hadn't changed in the years since Severus had seen him last. Even now Dumbledore had a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. It was as disconcerting as the unchanged office was.

"I am afraid I will be without a potions professor at the end of this term," Dumbledore said. "You have become very well known as a potions master in the years since you left Hogwarts. I would like to offer you the position first."

Severus looked at the old man. If rumors of his potions expertise had reached the headmaster...Dumbledore had to know what he used his potions for. Dumbledore could be luring him in to send him off to Azkaban at first chance. What if that wasn't the case, however? A position as a professor in Hogwarts could be invaluable. A member of the Inner Circle inside Hogwarts, reporting information to the Dark Lord about Dumbledore and the castle's defenses. The Order of the Phoenix sometimes met in the castle as well.

"Why?" he asked the headmaster, trying to keep interest out of his voice.

Dumbledore shrugged. "Horace gave me a list of his former students who would excel and you were the only one without any family ties holding you out. Lily Evans is married and has a son. Danyelle Potter never stays in one place long enough to matter. The rest of the names are those of Death Eaters whom I do not trust."

Severus looked up sharply and noticed a dark look in the headmaster's eyes. Did Dumbledore know? No, he couldn't. He'd said he didn't trust Death Eaters. If Dumbledore knew, Severus wouldn't have made it across the grounds.

"I'll need to think about it."

Dumbledore nodded. "Of course. I would expect nothing less from someone with your mind. Go home, discuss this with your...friends and have an answer for me in one week."

Severus nodded and stood, preparing to leave. "I shall see you soon, then, Headmaster."

"Severus, call me Albus, you are no longer a student here." Dumbledore stood as well. "There is something else you should know, Severus. I will not allow you to recruit my students into Voldemort's circle. The Ministry will not know of your nighttime activities and you will not be able to hide your true intentions within this castle."

"How did you..." Severus began but Dumbledore held up a hand.

"The wards around this castle are set to recognize the Dark Mark. I knew what and who you were that moment you stepped upon the grounds. Goodbye, Severus. I hope to see you soon."

Severus fled the office and the castle. Thoughts raced through his mind with the most prominent being the Dumbledore trusted him. With that thought in his mind, Severus reached the end of the Anti-Apparation fields and left to report to his Lord.