Charmed Curses

Charmed Curses

By Lady Geuna

Found (Part 1)

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Very well, my boy. I will tell you... If you believe you can handle it."

Albus Dumbledore ~ Fanfiction "Charmed Curses", The Search (Part 2), by Lady Geuna

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sirius could feel it now. He'd felt it a million times before for so many years. Right now he couldn't speak in human tongue, but he wanted to scream. Soon Lupin would know as well. Their presence couldn't go unnoticed forever.

'Dementors, Remus. They're coming closer...'

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mr. Potter... I didn't think I would be able to find you." A sinister smirk spread over the mans face, his eyes sparkling with perverse satisfaction. "A pity for you."

James knew who he was... The image was fuzzy through his horribly damaged glasses, but he could tell.

"Malfoy..."

Lucius Malfoy seemed surprise for a moment. His eyes were hardly visible, his white blond hair plastered over them (Probably from the rain.). But those eyes soon narrowed, showing a certain degree of disgust. Why...? "I didn't think you would remember me."

Of course James knew him. Lucius had been a few years ahead of him and had a horrible reputation (As most Malfoy's do.). He and another man, Arthur Weasley (Who was in the year as Lucius.), were always getting into fights. But that was all he knew. That, and that Lucius was just as bad as Snape...

Besides, he had no idea what Lucius could be doing here, or all places. A memory was lingering on the edge of his mind, but it went away whenever James really thought of it. Something about Lucius... Maybe a memory from his years at Hogwarts? Maybe. "Don't be flattered, Malfoy," James mutter dully, shrugged Lucius' hand away and the man stepped away from him. James then backed up to lean against the stone wall for support. He had no energy left in him, and it was almost beyond him to even stand. "You shouldn't be," he added. James was beginning to feel so empty, so hollow. Maybe that was better than being about to feel... The pain would go away. James could forget about all the people he knew and lost.

Lucius shrugged, turning his nose up and away. "No, I shouldn't..." He sniffed loudly, adjusting his already damp cloak around himself in a vain attempt appear less disheveled. He didn't look like the type that would wonder around in the rain, and much less the dark passages of the Underground. "... and I am not. I reserve that honor for those who deserve it." His face contorted in a sneer. "Not those who are foolish enough to poison their bloodline. With a pathetic Mudblood no less." He spat the word "Mudblood" like it were poison or had some foul taste to it.

But that comment hit James right where it hurt the most, and the dulling numbness went away. He could barely control his own voice as he said, "Never talk about my wife like that you bast-", he started to advance on the man, his good hand clinched into a fist and partially raised, when Lucius pointed his wand...

At James' heart.

Startled, James stopped and took a few steps back. "What...?"

"My Lord wouldn't want you to live, boy. No, death is to good for you now... The Dementors will see that your soul suffers for eternity."

'Lord...'

"You..." Lily. Harry. "You serve him..." Lucius only smirked, as if James' reaction was humorous. "You're one of Voldemort's slaves. Death Eater...." These people killed his family. They killed them in cold blood! Hunted everyone!

Screaming, screaming in his head.

All around in his head...

Why hadn't that stopped...?

Lucius looked taken aback for a moment, shivering at the mention of his masters real name.

Pathetic...

"I do have that honor of serving my Lord. An honor you turned down, remember? You and the rest of you weakling Aurors."

James wished nothing more than to have his wand at that moment. Wished his hand wasn't injured.

And if nothing else, wished he could tear this man's heart right out of his chest.

Something warm was running down James' face. Had his wound opened again? It hadn't had a chance to heal yet.

"You're a fool, Potter, just like your wife and son..."

'I won't let him get to me, I won't let him get to me, I won't let him...'

His previous numbness had gone into effect, but he had to struggle to keep it that way. Light headed, James stood there, his right hand cradled to his chest, still leaning on the wall for support. The pain in his hand was subsiding, but he could no longer move his fingers properly. James realized he must've been walking through the rain, because his clothes, shoes and clock was dripping wet. Had he been really so delirious? Was he still? James was really seeing what shape he was in, and it didn't look good. His own skin seemed practically white, clammy, and a continuous tremor shook his body from the cold. The only thing warm he could feel was the liquid once again flowing from his brow.

Deep beneath the surface, James' emotions still raged. Anger. Hate.

He'd been feeling a great many things the past few hours, but none of them like this. Guilt. Sorrow. Hopelessness. Yes, he still had those feelings. But now there was something to focus his losses on. Something that was at least partially to blame.

Lucius stood like a statue, his body and wand unmoving. It must be so fun for him... To play another persons life on the end of a string, with all the intent of cutting the thread nevertheless. Helplessness did not become James, and no matter how much he though otherwise at times... He didn't want to die. Not if it would satisfy Voldemort. But hadn't that been the purpose of all this? Didn't Voldemort send him here so he could suffer? Was this just some sick game? What this all in his head? Maybe he was going insane?

Screaming, screaming, in his head....

So clear...

His "guard", who at first seemed to be getting bored, now was very apprehensive, eyeing every dark corner like something was going to jump out at him. James though for a moment that maybe he could Apparate... But his head was still foggy, his mind still scattered. Splinching himself wouldn't be a good thing.

If this is a trick, just a game, then maybe everyone's okay...? Maybe everything okay, and he didn't have to worry. He didn't have to hear the screaming, or feel his heart aching... But somehow, he knew that not to be true... But what was the truth... This was all going around in circles! He had to try to think clearly! He hated this!

While trying to collect his thoughts, (A very difficult task, indeed.) James must've shifted his footing slightly. Lucius saw this movement, and took this opportunity to make an example.

"Curio!"

The spell was cast and ended almost immediately, and its effects passing quickly, but it was enough to force James to his knees. Another jolt sent him sprawled over the stone ground, where rainwater had flowed down from the tunnel openings. He moaned in agony, his teeth clinched and grinding together. Lucius was laughing at his pain.

/Voldemort's laughter. /

/Lily screaming... /

/Pain.../

/Screaming.../

Repeating over and over... In his head, over and over and over...

"Don't try to move again, Potter, or you'll get much worse."

"I'll kill you..." 'If it will make it all stop, I will...'

"You're in no position to make threats." He walked up next to James as the suffering man tried bringing himself up to his elbows, but Lucius gave him a swift kick in the gut. Gasping as the breath was forced out of him, James fell again, only to be pinned down by Lucius' foot. "But you really want to kill me, don't you...?" A small chuckle. "What would your precious dead Mudblood think of that? Knowing her beloved husband not only wants blood on his hands, but thirsts for it. That you want to rip a mans throat out. Hm?"

"....."

"So it's true then." He smirked, leering maliciously. "You're no better than the rest of us, Potter. You would kill me. I have a son, too, you know. And a wife." For a moment, at was as if a note of sadness touched Lucius' voice, but then it was gone, his voice cold and indifferent once more. "Would you kill me, knowing what would happen to them?"

'No, I'm not like him... Malfoy would do the same, he wouldn't care...' James didn't know what to think. He had the urge to cry uncontrollably once more, like he did when he first awoke in front of his home, but forced himself not to. And no matter how much he tried, one tears escaped him. He cursed it, just like he cursed his own weaknesses. His tears showed his weaknesses, his inability to change his situation. To change anything. 'Why won't it stop...?'

"The only difference, you see, is that I am the one with the wand. I chose the right side, I always do. The Dark Lord rewards his closest followers." He sounded disgustingly proud of himself. "May your soul rest in hell forever."

They killed them. They killed them. Murderers, all of them... They killed his family. His friends. Everyone. Padfoot. Moony. Wormtail (There was a stabbing feeling in his heart, remembering that Peter betrayed them all...). Lily. Harry...

/"Because of your

son..."/

/"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead--"/

His own son never had a chance to live... Death, death, death. That's all James saw. All he could understand. The sorrow and the anger was now mixing into someone truly terrible... Screaming, screaming in his head!! STOOOP!!!

"Don't worry, the Dementors will be here any moment now." He was starring onto the darkness around them, his expression sobering. "They're coming for you, can you feel them?"

Yes he did, a slight chill was creeping up his spine. A new fear was filling his heart. Even in death he was bound to suffer.

"And my Lord didn't say I couldn't torture you a little, after all. I'll just make sure your unable to run when the Dementors get here." He made a quite "hmpf!" sound, shivering slightly. "I don't think I want to be around when they come." James could help but cringe as Lucius dug in with his heel in his spine, nearly causing him to scream in pain (He had to bite his tongue to keep himself from doing so, he wouldn't give Lucius the satisfaction.). "Too bad Severus didn't have this opportunity, he might've enjoyed it more than I will. But don't take this as something personal, Potter, I hardly know you anyway."

Lucius positioned his wand. James tried to brace himself, but it was useless. Be couldn't even bring himself to close his eyes.

So he didn't miss the brilliant flash over silver light.

The sound of crashing, screaming. But....

They weren't his own screams. There wasn't even any pain...

The pressure on his back was gone, and James realized that Lucius was gone altogether. He had the freedom to move, and he slowly looked up to see a cloaked, hooded figure standing with his wand pointed in his direction, but not at James. James looked behind him, shocked that the stone wall was practically destroyed. Lucius Malfoy lay half buried under the rubble, unconscious.

The hooded man didn't waste any time, and simply lowered his wand (reluctantly?) as he approached James. He was mumbling something, the tip of his wand glowing. The pain slowly dulled, and the man was trying to force James to his feet.

Unsure of how to act toward this man, however he was, James complied, wincing (This person wasn't being very gentle...). While James tested got his footing, the man starred at him. What was he looking at...?

Then the hooded man shook his hand and spoke. "So it is true."

James could hear a number of things in the mans tone. Bitterness. Even disappointment. And the voice was hauntingly familiar.

His suspicions were confirmed when the man lowered his hood, showing his pale, angry face.

"Snape."

~~~~~~~~~~~

"You ready, Arthur?"

Mr. Weasley frowned, gazing over their assembled team. "Yes. Are we all here?"

A nod. "Yeah, the second team is ready. We're heading for the north edge. A Dementor was definitely sighted there."

"Right..." He fidgeted nervously. 'Expecto patronum', he practiced in his head. 'Expecto patronum... Argh, I was never very good that that one...'

The Ministry was happily assuming that the Dementors were attack the Ministry. They had no idea that they were looking for one person. But the number of victims was slowly rising. The Dementors presence wouldn't be hidden for long, and those walking through the street were being affected directly. And word spread fast. In there teams could just spread out and attack in numbers, then maybe they had a chance.

A chance.

"Dad?"

Mr. Weasley turned to find his son, Charlie. "Is everything taken care of?" He wasn't talking about the Ministry's situation, but about some else...

Charlie nodded. "Everything's really. You're crazy, you know that?"

Mr. Weasley glanced back as his team before looking back and smiling. "Of course..."

A voice called out, "Charlie Weasley! We need you over here!"

"I'll be there in a second," Charlie called back, sounding a bit annoyed. "God, stupid..."

Mr. Weasley frowned, observing the group of men and women from which the voice had come from. "What are you doing...?"

Charlie frowned as well, looking uncannily like Mr. Weasley that moment. "I'm on the team going to the south side, Dad..."

"No!" He didn't want his son out there! No with those things! What if... if... "I don't want you going. They're enough people here..."

"And they're all busy." He smiled knowingly. "Dad, come on! It's just a few Dementors..."

Mr. Weasley gawked. "Just a few Dementors!? Charlie, you could get killed!"

Almost everyone was looking at them, whispering, but most only for a second before they turned back to their own work. Charlie looked nervous, displeased by all the attention they were catching. "I know, Dad, but they want everyone. Percy-"

"He shouldn't go either!" Percy!? He can't handle himself yet, not yet...

Dad," he placed a hand on his father shoulder, squeezing it a little. "I can understand what you're feeling, I know. You think I like it? That you're even going out there?" Mr. Weasley tried to say something, but Charlie interrupted. "We all have to take our own risks. I promise I won't get... killed. Okay?" He smirked. "It's hard to take down a Weasley, remember? Nine live... And I'll take care of old Percy."

Mr. Weasley paused for a moment, but nodded. "Okay... Be careful."

Charlie nodded and turned away, walking back to his own team.

It was strange. He was sudden to his old sons going out and getting into trouble (Fred and George), into danger (Bill), too. But the thought of ever losing them was never on option... Not a consideration. What if... Charlie died, or Percy.

He didn't want to end up like the Potter family. As cruel as that may sound, it was true. Losing someone... It would be the hardest thing.

'Charlie, just be careful...'

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Snape." James slapped away Snape's hand and backed away, all the while glaring his hate.

Snape sneered, but was fidgeting noticeably. "Potter..."

/"Too bad Severus didn't have this opportunity, he might've enjoyed it more than I will."/

"You're one of them, too? I should've known... You of all people.." Snape hated him, of course he did. Snape wanted him dead, he had too. He always had.

'Kill him...'

'Kill

him before he kills you first...'

'He's a Death Eater...'

He wasn't sure of where these thoughts were coming from, but he complied.

James, forgetting about his wand (Not that he could use it, anyway) and lugged at Snape. Snape hadn't expected this, and when James rammed into him his wand accidentally fell from his grasp. But James was too focused on Snape, wrapping his hands tightly around the mans neck. Kill him, kill him... "You killed my family!!! You and your bastard LORD killed them all!!"

Snape was reacting now, but was trapped under the other mans weight. "Get off me, Potter!! Get ack!" He struggled, trying to escape from the hands wrapped tightly around his throat. He gasped for air.

James couldn't help but feel satisfied, seeing Snape choking to death.

He thought of trying to break Snape's neck, but the effort sent a flash of pain through his injured hand. His grip loosed ever so slight, but just enough for Snape to speak.

"Get off me now!!"

"I'll kill you!! I don't care!! I HATE you!!"

Snape let out an angry roar, reaching out the grasp James' neck with his left hand and pressed his right one flat against the mans face. James ignored that pain, and gasped in shock when something hit him in the gut. Snape's knee. Who...?

James went flying backward, falling to the ground. Breathing heavily, he sat up at the same time as Snape. They glared at each other, both kneeled on the stone ground. The tension between them was so intense it was like electricity. Each man wanted to destroy the other. Both wanted their own revenge, though for different reasons...

'I shouldn't be doing this, I need to stop... I'm not a killer.'

'But I want to.'

'And I don't...'

'I want to hurt him like he hurt me. My friends. He's one of them, he doesn't care. If it will make the screaming stop!!"

Snape's pale face was flush, his mouth formed an angry snarl. "You'll regret that, Potter..." He was trembling in anger, reaching for his wand. James saw this.

Bastard.

He didn't need a wand to hurt Snape...

~~~~~~~~~~~

He was mad, he wouldn't listen to reason. Snape had come all this way to actually help this man, and he didn't want it. Well, that was just fine. He didn't want to anyway.

"You'll regret that, Potter..." So Snape reached for his wand. It laid only a few feet from him, the dark wood barely visible in the dark. Once he had it, he'd knock Potter out, that was the best way to do it... but...

Snape didn't expect it, no, he wouldn't even have guessed it. As he reached for his wand, Potter began to change. The action made him pause for a moment, and that was something he would soon regret. A creature, something brown/black, shot at him. It couldn't be...!

And then he felt something stab into his chest, piercing his flesh. He screamed it pain, ripping away from the creatures (Potter's) blooded prong. The stag breathed heavily, its head held low, it's eyes on him.

'Animagus... A bloody Animagus!!'

Snape's wound didn't seem terribly deep, no, but it was bleeding terribly. When Snape tried to make another move Potter rammed into his again, though this time not with his horns, but caught him right in the stomach with his head. In a sense that had only been a near miss, but it still knocked the wind out of Snape. If those antlers had gotten him...

Potter was really trying to kill him...

Gritting his teeth, Snape was barely able to stand as the white stag backed up for another go. Potter's dark eyes flashing, starring in his.

He was truly mad.

Potter now stood between Snape and his wand, and there was no chance of getting past the animal, unless he wanted further injury. His wound must've been deeper than he thought, because it was pulsing with heated pain, still bleeding. It made Snape angry seeing his own blood glittering on that animals antler. He just wanted to rip it off of Potter's skull...

But Potter staggered, his front right leg giving way. He let out a pained wail, and all at once he was a man again. Blood (Snape's) was smeared over his forehead and hair. But still, his eyes never left Snape's. Potter was hyperventilating, holding his right wrist. This brought Snape some sadistic pleasure, and he decided not to kill the man right then and there. He had to control himself.

Snape was a patent man.

And he'd made a promise to Dumbledore, and he always kept his promises.

"Potter," he said quietly yet venomously, "you can't fight me right now..." Snape eyed Potter's condition, wrinkling his nose. He was suffering form some sort of catatonia (That would be the Muggle term...). "And as much as I hate to admit it, I'm here to... help you..." That word was too difficult to saw... How was he supposed to carry it out?

Potter's eyed narrow in disbelief. "Waiting for the Dementors, Snape? You'd better get out of here before they come..." He giggled and the sound made Snape's skin crawl. Potter was disturbed... "Just run along, Snape, before I try to..." He stopped, suddenly looking overcome with a deep thought.

Snape eyed him, but began moving toward his wand. Potter couldn't fight him off now. But still, if he was catatonic, the last think Snape needed was to get him riled up. Maybe if he could just knock him out... Yes, an unconscious Potter would be easier to deal with than one awake... "Dumbledore sent..."

Cold.

Ice filled his blood.

'No, not yet! They can't be...!' But they had to be.

Snape found himself in fog, and an all too familiar memory awaiting him just beyond...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Snape was screaming, clutching his head, falling to his knees. That scream, filled with pain and horror, broke James from his thoughts. All his rage, his fury was washed away and replaced by infinite confusion and doubt. The scene had changed so quickly that James wasn't sure of anything anymore. What was happening? What was he doing...?

Then they came.

Black, shifting forms, rising from the shadows. Three of them, gilding of over the stone ground towards them. The sound of cloth dragging.

Dementors.

Fear fill him and all of a sudden the screaming became all too clean. Everything. Snape was screaming. Lily. Harry. Lupin. Sirius. All screaming. Shrieking inside his mind.

James screamed as well, clutching his head in a similar fashion as Snape. Fog attacked him on all sides, he couldn't fight it. He was being overcome by cold, his teeth chattering loudly, but not as loud as the screams. Couldn't fight...

But he had to, he had to...

James fell onto his side, his head smacking into stone, but that didn't affect the screams in the slightest. He fought to see as images (Hallucinations?) flashed before his eyes.

/Voldemort, laughing, standing over him./

The Dementors, reaching out with their rotting, gray hands.

'How could I have been like that... Why? Am I a killer now, like them...?'

One of the creatures was leaning over Snape, its hood lowered. He man had gone limp as the Dementor grasped Snape's neck.

'No... don't kill him... I didn't mean it... Maybe was really trying to help...'

/(Lily) "James... JAMES!"/

'I-I don't want anyone to die...'

/(Lucius) "You're no better than the rest of us, Potter."/

'I'm not...'

Clammy hands grasped his neck...

/"You would kill me... I have a son, too, you know. And a wife...."/

'Sorry...'

/"Would you kill me, knowing what would happen to them?"/

'No, no, no...'

His face was forced upward, the scent of foul breath. Dead fish.

'Voldemort...'

/"Have you ever wondered, Mr. Potter...?"/

/"What it would be like if everything you ever loved dead?"/

/"Everything and everyone you couldn't protect, destroyed?"/

/"Where there is darkness in place of light?"/

/"And there is nothing you can do to stop it, because it has already come to pass."/

/"Know this, and suffer, James Potter..."/

'I have... Oh, how I

have...'

/"You

will know this..."/

'I have, please, just let it stop...'

Screaming...

The fog was closing in on him. The cold was turning his blood to ice.

James saw only one thing before the screams dragged him in his nightmare. His hell.

A gapping, shapeless mouth.

Hollow eyes.

A dark, laughing figure.

The horror painted over Lily's beautiful face...

~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS IS NOT THE END, READ THE NOTE BELOW!!!!

To be continued...

and very soon with reviews. ^__~ j/k!

REVIEW PLEASE!!!

Thank you,

Geuna~

Optional Note:

It's my belief that Lucius and Snape were actually a few years ahead of the Marauders and Snape while attending Hogwarts. Every generation has its rivalries. Maybe Lucius and Snape did hang out, as did Arthur and the "Marauders" now and then, but they never really got to know each other. Personal opinion.

Gryffindor vs. Slytherin through the generations...

Arthur-Lucius

James-Snape

Harry(Ron?)-Draco.