Tears of the Ages

Aurelia reached into her Muggle jeans pocket and pulled out a piece of crumpled paper. She read the statement written, memorized it and pulled out her wand, lighting the paper on fire. She tossed it to the ground and stamped out the flames with her boot. She looked across the street next to a lot that had, several seconds before, been bare. A three-story house stood before her now. The windows were blackened with what looked to be soot, the rotted railing on the porch was about to fall to the ground and Lia counted fifteen tiles on the roof needing to be replaced.

"This looks promising," she said finally, walking up the steps of the porch and knocking on the door three times. While she waited to be ushered inside, she gazed down at her feet and spotted the enchanted doormat. The letters danced joyfully around each other and it sparkled as if drenched in sapphires. It read:

WELCOME!

All who enter know full well,

That every mission sent is hell.

So come on in, we won't bite--

Except Remus on certain nights.

She smirked. "Also very promising."

The door opened and light spilled across the shifty planks of wood under her feet. Lia looked up to see Severus Snape in the doorway. Her eyes widened.

"Why, hello there Severus," she said, shocked to see the Dark Arts addict in the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. Did they actually expect her to believe he was a member?

"Colton," Snape greeted coldly. "Dumbledore requests I relay this message: You're late."

Aurelia smiled and stepped onto the threshold. "You're all grown up! They've promoted you to messenger-boy. That's cute."

Her earlier years with Severus had been detrimental to their likeness of one another. There were endless reasons as to why he would forevermore despise Lia. She would never complain, either--as if she'd need his aid in future. This fascination he possessed for all things pertaining to dark magic unnerved her to no end. Surely he, of all people, was bound to become a follower of Voldemort.

"If you were not expected inside, I would kill you where you're standing," Snape seethed so that it came out as a whisper.

"Testy, Severus?" Aurelia asked. Snape glared. "Guess it's lucky I've got friends, isn't it? Oh, I guess you wouldn't know."

He walked out the door and slammed it shut behind him. Just as cheery as ever, she thought.

She glanced around the inside of the ramshackle mansion. There was a stairway climbing up the wall to her left, two or three mirrors along the hallway to her right, one of which faint shadows could be seen hovering inside, and in front of her on an iron-wrought side table was a framed black and white photograph. It was at Hogwarts; ten seventh-year students stood at the foot of the steps, shifting their feet impatiently and smiling at her. They all had prefect badges on their robes and a trophy in their hand, but one student in particular caught Aurelia's attention. He was a handsome young man with dark hair and dark gray eyes. He was holding his "Services to the School" trophy triumphantly with a proud grin. The students to his left and right looked rather intimidated.

Aurelia felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around to come face to face with James Potter. She stood shock-still until she wrapped her arms around him to give him a tight hug.

"It's been so long, James!" she said when they stood back to gaze at each other.

"Lia, you look...fantastic," he replied, smiling brightly. "It's great to see you, but we haven't got time to catch up now. You'd better follow me. The meeting's started."

James led her down the long hallway, passing by the mirrors, not sparing one a single glance. Aurelia seemed to recall the distant memories of James messing up his hair every time he got the chance and smiled. He had certainly changed in two short years.

The hall led into a small kitchen, in which Aurelia stepped through quickly, and on the other side, James opened a red door and gestured for her to enter before him. She didn't quite know what the room looked like, for her immediate attention was on Dumbledore, standing at one end, seemingly addressing a group of about twenty people, all of whom were focused on him intently. She felt much too intrusive once every person in the room looked toward the door where she was standing. She smiled nervously until James gave her a little push from behind. She stepped into the room and everyone returned their eyes to Dumbledore.

Then a wave of annoyance rolled inside her as Dumbledore announced, "This is Aurelia Colton. She is our newest member and this is her first meeting. Please greet her if you have the chance and answer any questions she asks. She is no more an observer than you."

Lia followed James to the back of the group and felt her stomach do a flip as she spotted an old friend, but quickly looked away before Lily caught her eye. She needed to focus on Dumbledore's speech because she badly wanted to know what she was doing in the Order.

"As many of you are aware, the members not present at this meeting are either recruiting or completing an appointed mission. If anyone has something to add concerning these missions, please step forward." When no one obliged, Dumbledore moved on. "Severus has just informed me that there was a Death Eater meeting quite recently. Voldemort"--at the name, many people flinched--"has refrained from telling his servants his exact intentions, however, it is likely that he plans to attack one of us."

There was a hushed panic that spread around the room, but soon silence ensued and Dumbledore began again, expression grim.

"Every Order member is now in danger--some more than others." He flicked his wand and a piece of chalk began writing on the wall behind him while he spoke. Aurelia could barely see what the chalk was writing, but as she stood on her tiptoes, she managed to read 'Caradoc Dearborn, Benji Fenwick, Fabian Prewett, Peter Pettigrew' before her field of vision was obscured. "I have sent Fawkes to warn them of the danger, but we all must be cautious. When you leave this house, you must all be weary of the places you go and the company you keep. We cannot know whom Voldemort will target. We can only hope that we are all prepared when he is ready to strike."

The meeting went on for an hour more with members discussing their ideas and experiences and spies giving reports. There were very few captivating details about Death Eaters and their whereabouts, which was what interested Aurelia most.

Once the meeting was adjourned, she was bombarded with people who greeted her kindly and gave her hand a firm shake. She realized just why she hated being mentioned to groups. She relaxed when the crowd finally dispersed to leave four people in the middle of the room, staring avidly in her direction.

Lily was the first to step forward and before she could even open her mouth, Aurelia took her in a deep embrace. She had noticed earlier that Lily was pregnant and made certain any physical contact would not give her pain. When they separated, she spotted Lily's brilliant smile and took hold of her again.

"I've missed you so much, Lia!" she whispered, almost out of breath.

Aurelia let go and said, "Lily, you're absolutely glowing!"

All the women could do was smile. Then Aurelia turned to Remus and almost jumped on him. After a small bear hug, she kissed him on the cheek.

"Remus," she said fondly. "Just as handsome as ever."

"You should have seen me a few weeks ago," he replied with a smirk. "Although, I think its better that you didn't."

When she turned to find James and Sirius eyeing her, she let out a sigh. "You've already gotten yours."

"Another one?" James asked.

"We just can't get enough," Sirius said, grinning.

Lia rolled her eyes and stepped into James' outstretched arms. When she turned to Sirius, he grabbed her around the waist with both arms and lifted her off the ground. Once her feet were on top of something solid again, she gazed fixedly at Lily's stomach.

"Now, don't do that! You'll make me think I look fat," Lily teased.

Aurelia shifted her gaze to each of her friends' faces. "Catch me up! What's happened? I haven't heard a thing since your wedding--well, nearly."

The five friends spent more than two hours in that same room, telling stories and interrupting with questions. They laughed so often it was a wonder Lia could still find her voice by the end of the night. When she asked about Snape, they all fell silent. Remus was the one to explain his position in the Order and how his job was spying on Voldemort.

"And Dumbledore trusts him? How do they know he's not playing off the other end of the stick?"

"It's more complicated than that," Lily replied.

James shifted uneasily in his seat and Sirius glanced at the ceiling.

Remus explained, "Severus is our closest link to any Death Eater activity. He's given us detailed descriptions of some of their meetings and provided us with extremely useful information on their plans. So far, we have no reason not to trust him."

"Except for the fact," Aurelia stated coldly, "that he's a Death Eater."

No one seemed to want to provide Snape any defense. It was obvious no one else trusted him either.

Just then, Dumbledore came through the door and said, "Pardon my interruption, but I need to borrow Miss Colton for a moment."

- - - - -

"Because I can remember things?" asked Aurelia, incredulously. "The Order needs me to remember things?"

"In a manner of speaking," said Dumbledore simply.

"What, like dates? You tracked me down and recruited me to remember dates?"

Aurelia was starting to feel insignificant compared to the other members and it was only her first night in the organization. She uncrossed her legs and straightened her back in the chair in which she sat. It was hard to think of Dumbledore as anything but her headmaster, and it began to unsettle her that she was being so rude to him.

"There will certainly be dates, but the missions you will be assigned will be to record conversations between Death Eaters or Voldemort's various other supporters. Conversations that we will need word-for-word. I do not doubt your ability to supply us with as much detail as you can provide, Miss Colton. Your work in the Order will be essential."

"I'm going to be stalking and eavesdropping on Death Eaters," Lia said, trying to get it through her head. "It just seems a little...unnecessary. I thought that spying was Severus' job."

"It is," Dumbledore replied. "For now you will be sharing a similar objective. But your talent will be more useful than you know."

Leaving his office, Aurelia tried to make sense of Dumbledore's words. School had not exactly prepared her for this, but she certainly felt her value heighten. Tracking Death Eaters. This was just the sort of risky job she had wanted, wasn't it?

- - - - - -

When one is hell-bent on taking over the world, they do not skimp on the interior decorating; this Silvia had learned. Often times the Dark Lord's dwelling was remarkably similar to the Slytherin common room at Hogwarts. There were definitely the same color schemes of green, silver and black with wood of cherry and mahogany. To many it would seem uninviting and gloomy. Seeing as a powerful wizard resided there it would be a correct thought. Frankly, it seemed quite comfortable to most members, as the majority came from that house.

Silvia sat along the back wall of the Dark Lord's hall with the other arranged Death Eaters. They had all been gathered for another meeting via Dark Mark, the most effective notification used. All attention was on the member currently delivering a status report. This was necessary as so many members had strategic jobs in the ministry and other important industries.

"--visited Azkaban again to check on the progress of Fitz and learned of his regrettable death," the man acting as a Ministry secretary reported. "The Minister was not pleased, but no information was leaked as far as we can tell."

"I see," Slytherin's Heir acknowledged icily. He had been hoping for more information concerning the estranged Fitz. He turned his dark serpent eyes onto the rising form of Silvia Colton. She was already becoming a favorite of his--nowhere near incompetence. Her Ministry position as a Tracker was key and her creative feats from Hogwarts added intrigue. She had also been recommended by those such as Bellatrix Black and Lucius Malfoy. The fact that she must have been seven years of hell for Dumbledore was always a welcomed accomplishment.

"Magical Law Enforcement is having a hay day trying to track down the persons involved in several attacks on Muggles and Squibs alike, along with many known Muggle supporters. Tensions have increased in the Ministry and the Heads have become suspicious of their own departments. They fear spies of the Dark Lord," Silvia stated in an indifferent tone.

At the end of her monologue she received an approving nod and a, "Very good," before the Dark Lord moved to the next person to report. As the meeting drew to a close, seven people were requested to stay within the room: Bellatrix, her husband Rodolphus Lestrange, Avery, Wilkes, Crabbe, Goyle and Silvia.

Moving to the center of the room they knelt down and stared up at their Lord, waiting for his instructions. But all he did for the present was sit on his throne-backed chair, dominating the situation. His face, once handsome, was now deathly pale and contorted. His jet-black hair had faded somewhat. His eyes still had their dark quality but the white sclera had a permanent appearance of blood.

What seemed like ages to the seven Death Eaters was only seconds before the Dark Lord stood up from his throne and approached them. "I have kept you to send on a mission of great importance. It has come to my attention that Dumbledore's Order is gaining membership. This does not agree with our agenda. Tonight you will make a statement against joining, demonstrating our reasons why on Benji Fenwick."

Silvia's brain was already formulating what things they could do to the unfortunate Benji, but she wanted to be certain of the parameters they were working between. "What kind of statement, my lord?"

"The permanent kind, Silvia," the Dark Lord smirked and was returned with grins from his followers. "I don't want them to have enough for a proper funeral."

"As you wish, master," said Avery.

"That is all. You may go."

They were dismissed to wreak havoc on Fenwick for his affiliation with the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore would learn something by morning.

- - - - -

Seven consecutive pops rang out on a silent street in the middle of London. Seven forms of what could have been wraiths drifted out from the English fog that settled over the ground like a blanket on a child. Midnight robes hid faces under skeletal masks. They could have very well been wraiths, for they fed on death. Death Eaters, the minions of the Dark Lord. Once again they would strike.

Silently they moved to the house, one figure raising a hand, making a circular motion. Other heads nodded in consent and moved around the house until it was enclosed. Glancing down to check the time, the figure at the front door watched the numbers turn to one o'clock in the morning. It was then that "Alohomora" was hissed several times and muffled clicks were heard. Each figure entered into the house by the way they had unlocked, clearing the rooms on the bottom floor before meeting again at the stairs. They nodded as one as they walked up towards their target.

- - - - -

Benji Fenwick tossed again in his sleep. To be honest, he had been living in hell for the few weeks. His sister had been attacked quite recently and he had been losing sleep from worrying over her. His days were spent between visiting her, attempting work and Order meetings. Lately he had been lacking on the latter. Dumbledore knew he would need some time before he could be any use to the Order again. It was becoming apparent that someone hated Benji.

A noise sounded outside his bedroom and his eyes opened to darkness. He sat up and scanned the room for the source of the noise. Upon finding nothing, he laid back down and closed his eyes. It wasn't five minutes later that he heard the same noise and this time when he sat up he came face to face with a half a skull. About to scream, a hand preempted him and covered his mouth with a pale hand. He felt the owner's breath against his ear.

"Tsk tsk, Benji, we'll have none of that."

It was then that Fenwick saw the other six figures in his bedroom, all in the same apparel. And he knew it was Death Eaters. That meant one thing--he was going to die.

Rough hands hauled him out of the bed sheets and to the floor where seven wands were trained upon his person. "We have a message for Dumbledore that you need to deliver," a rough voice spat. "But first, you need to join your Muggle filth."

The whisper of "Crucio" was barely heard before it felt the pain. It was as if his body was slowly being ripped apart and set on fire. It was pins and needles running throughout his body, tearing it apart piece by piece. He was screaming, wailing in pain and horror. Had they done this to his sister? Is that why she would not recover?

"As much as I enjoy hearing you scream, Mr. Fenwick, you are awakening your neighbors. And they have not been invited over yet. Silencio!" a cool voice hissed. Benji's cries stopped short in their tirade. "Better."

The pain stopped momentarily before it started up again. He wasn't quite sure how long the burning lasted but it finally stopped as his vision began to waver. Another wand was pointed at him and a deep gash was created upon his chest. The blood spilled out to stain his clothes, trickling down to puddle around his prone form. Two more wands were pointed at him and various gashes appeared. It was as if a hot knife was cutting through his flesh. More blood was emerging. He was certain a stain would be present on the floor for the rest of eternity.

"Diffindo!" Benji felt his finger sliced from his hand and felt another removed the same way. It wasn't until he felt all of his fingers and toes removed that his vision swam again and he was finally welcomed into the blissful abyss of unconsciousness.

One of the figures kicked him with the toe of a boot, but he remained motionless. "All right, he's out. Time to finish this," the form commanded, and that's what they did. Systematically they chopped and mutilated his body until it was little better than a minced portion of flesh surrounded by a massive puddle of blood. The crimson liquid had run out of the room and into the hallway, seeping under doorways. Blood had spattered across the walls from the countless gashes.

The group prepared to leave the room but one stayed behind, causing the rest to stop in question.

"Notify him without me. I'll make sure that it is publicized," a female voice declared. The others nodded and left the house as silently as they had arrived. The woman who was left inside the house took off her mask and pushed back her hood to reveal navy hair that cascaded down her back. She levitated one of the scraps of what had been Benji Fenwick's shirt to dip it into a puddle of blood. She then directed it towards the wall in intricately set lines. When she was done, her message was clear.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE THAT OPPOSE HIM.

DEFIANCE IS FUTILE.

Leaving the house she walked out onto the front lawn and shouted, "Morsmordre!" Immediately a cluster of green sparks merged to form a glowing skull with a snake protruding from its mouth, identical to the mark on her left forearm. She threw on a cloak before hiding in the shadows across the street to wait for the authorities to arrive and view the scene left within the bedroom.

- - - - -

It wasn't until later that morning that Silvia Colton returned home to be met by a strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist. As the holder inhaled the scent of her hair, she relaxed back into the hold of lover.

"Have a good time, luv?" Evan questioned huskily.

"A blast. Too bad you weren't on the guest list, sweet," Silvia murmured. "Can't wait to read about it at work tomorrow."

He chuckled into her hair. "He will be pleased with your work."

"It was a rather nice display, if I do say so myself," she commented.

"I think you should celebrate a job well done," said Evan, kissing her behind the ear, his breath hot against her skin.

Silvia turned around in his arms and brought his face down to the same level as hers. "I think that's an excellent idea," she muttered before she caught his lips with her own.