Into the Hands of Fate

Chapter Seven

James' mind was whirling with thoughts. Where could Sirius and Hallie have been taken? And who took them? He ran a hand through his hair and then put both of them over his face. Feeling defeated and unusually dispirited, he felt tears come to his eyes. He blinked them away furiously and started to feel a sudden hate to whoever kid-napped his friends. Why them? James would have gladly taken one of their places if it could take sadness or suffering away from them. For some reason, he felt he was to blame.

A gentle hand came down on his shoulder and he jumped up in alarm. He looked around blindly and then caught sight of red hair before him. The boy blinked into focus. He was in the Gryffindor common room and it was some time during the night. What time? He had no idea. The fire burned with ferocious defiance and cast shadows upon the walls making it seem as if there were more people in the room than there were.

"James, are you all right?" she asked softly.

He looked at her. She was feeling so desolate. It happened all at once - the storm and then Hallie and Sirius being kidnapped. Why was this happening? So many incidents were enough to last a lifetime for her, but still yet she knew, there would be more. For a reason she couldn't explain, it all felt unfair.

Lily looked to James. He looked a right mess. His hair, though usually untidy, looked particularly disorderly today. With eyes drooping with tiredness and dulled by black eye bags, he looked as if he had lost his family. Yet, she knew, he did. Sirius was like a brother to him and Hallie like a sister. Their whole group was so close it was if they were a family with a lot of siblings. She looked into his eyes. He looked so lonely and devastated as if his lively spirit was ripped away from him. It was depressing just to look at him. By the expressions upon his face, one could feel all the pain and sorrow he felt. She almost wept for him.

"James?" she asked again. She saw him blinking at her. His eyes seemed unusually bright at this time and his clothes seemed to sag on his shoulders. He hadn't been eating lately.

It had been two days since the abduction of Hallie and Sirius and it was tearing them both apart. To Lily and James, everything seemed to lose its life and vigor; it also seemed very quiet. The teachers were doing many things to try and find them, but there was still no luck yet.

"How much longer," murmured James.

Lily broke away from her thoughts and turned her gaze on him. "I-I'm not sure. They'll turn up soon though, I'm sure of it. Dumbledore's doing everything he can; they're bound to be found anytime now. He might even have them on their way back here now," she said, trying to sound confident and cheerful for James' sake. She sounded much better than she felt.

James nodded. He tried to force a smile to thank her for trying to cheer him up, but it just wouldn't come up on his face. He turned to walk back to his seat on the couch near the fire but stumbled. Lily quickly ran up and caught him, carefully assisting him to his seat. "Thanks," he whispered.

She sat down next to him. "They'll be all right, James, they're tough, they can make it," she told him sincerely. He opened his eyes and looked at her. A bit of the fire he used to have in himself started to burn as he looked at her. He hugged her. She went stiff for a moment, and then relaxed and hugged him back. She buried her head into his shoulder. "They'll be all right," she said again. He leaned his head on hers and sighed. Soon, things would get better soon. He could almost feel it.

~*~

Remus sat on the bench on the street sitting cross-legged with his head resting on his hands. The night was still young. Everything in his mind was a jumbled mess. It was strange really; he couldn't seem to remember who he was or where he was. It was as if he had no past.

How had he lost his memory? It was in the back of his mind somewhere...a bit like a dream still remembered because of its peculiarity and strangeness. He was walking about some place, perhaps yesterday, when a woman appeared before him. She was inhumanly beautiful with silver hair that seemed to be made of stars while her dress was so smooth it looked as if the material was water.

The woman had spoken to him and all his thoughts ran away from him as if they were grains of sand slipping through his fingers. Her voice was like angels singing in the heavens. She spoke to him for a short while, but as of this moment, Remus couldn't remember a word she had said, only her beauty was fixed in his mind.

The boy looked up and down the street. There was no one out that night; he was alone. It was only then that he looked up at the sky. The stars were bright that night and the sky was cloudless. He looked at the mysterious creamy-white moon, which loomed in the sky in a haunting way. Remus was especially amazed at how round and full it looked. It was like he had never seen the full moon before.

It was then that he started to feel dizzy. His stomach turned and rolled wildly inside him as an excruciating pain shot through his spine. It seemed like his whole body was twisting and turning, changing from one form to another inside. Screaming seemed like the right thing to do at that time, but pure fear held him back. Remus shut his eyes tightly and curled up in a ball, but that only added to the pain and he fell to the ground. He tried to stop the changes by holding back, but the transformation seemed to have a mind of its own. His mind felt as if it was being crushed when he tried to stop the changes so he desisted.

And then, it was over. The pain was still there, but the changing was done. His mind whirled, though it wasn't really his mind. It was as if he was someone else, two people in one. A strange hunger raced through him. He looked around, searching for something to eat. Remus ran down the street, still searching. Where could he find something to satisfy his hunger?

Then there was an aroma of food. His mouth watered at the smell. It smelled sweet, innocent, different and different. Most importantly, it was nearby. Down the street he raced, then he crossed through a yard. His breath made a white mist in the air because of the cold, but he ignored it, all he wanted was to be fed, and soon, he would

~*~

Lydia sat on the couch with her book in hand, but she wasn't reading it. Soon it would be Christmas and how she despised the holiday. She hated it with a hatred she thought she never would or could possess.

A memory she would rather have completely forgotten kept running through her mind. The happiness and excitement she had felt that day...and then the shock and sadness that came afterwards. It was horrible to remember that day, Christmas day.

Her mother came in. "Lydia, honey, are you all right?"

The girl looked up and forced a smile. "Of course, and you?"

But her mother wasn't convinced. The older woman sat next to her daughter and hugged her. "It's hard, I know, I had to go through it too," she whispered.

Lydia shut her eyes to try and prevent the tears that threatened to come, but it didn't work. The drops of liquid spilled from her eyes and she brushed them away. "I keep remembering it, it's so hard to forget."

Joanne rested her head on her daughter's and closed her eyes. "I know, dear, I know. But we can get through this, we still have each other."

Lydia looked up with a grin. "Mum, that was horribly cheesy," she said with a laugh. Her mother joined in. Maybe this Christmas would be different, just maybe.

~*~

"You will come with me this instant! You are my son and will do as I command!" yelled William Pettigrew.

His son Peter Pettigrew cowered against the wall with his eyes wide, facing his father with fear. "F-Father, I-I can't, I don't want -"

Will cut him off. "I don't care what you want, Peter. Who has provided you with a home and food all your life? I have! And who is offering you the best future you can imagine? I am! Now you listen to me, you not joining me now will make your future become a living hell. You will most certainly lose your life if you don't join the master. And if he doesn't take it, I will." Peter looked at him in horror and Will laughed. "Yes, I will kill you if it comes down to that. I'm being merciful right now, and that's why you're not dead just yet. Now come, come with me, together, father and son, we will be unstoppable and the master's number one servants!"

Peter thought of James, Sirius, and Remus. They had always tried to make him stand up for himself and his beliefs. With defiance, he said, "I don't want to go with you. I hate the master!"

His father's eyes flared with rage as he walked up to his son. Will raised his hand and hit his son making the small plump boy fall to the ground and curl into a ball. "You coward. Do you think those friends of yours care about you?" Peter shut his eyes and tried to block out the sound of his father's voice. "Of course they don't, you foolish boy! Look at them! They're top of every class! They're clearly better than you are! You think they care? Well, you're wrong. They don't, they don't care about you at all."

A wire seemed to snap in Peter. "They do care! They do! They're my best friends!"

William kicked his son. "Foolish and stupid, that's what you are." He kicked the boy again. "Look at you compared to them! Do you think they even like you? Do you?" Will laughed mirthlessly when Peter kept silent. "They don't and you know it. They don't care, and I doubt they ever did. You're nothing, boy, nothing compared to them. Now come with me, our master calls."

Peter shut his eyes and let the silent tears fall from his eyes. They did care about him, he just knew it. Why would they have taken the time to help him all the time if they didn't care? Why would they include him in everything they did if they didn't care? Just think what they would say if they were here, Peter, just think, he thought to himself. "I'm not going with you, Father, I hate the master, and I hate you, I hate the Dark side. I'm not going." The quiet in the room at that moment was one so thick it could have been cut through with a knife.

"Then I will make you," said William in a deathly calm voice. He pointed his wand at the small boy curled up on the floor. "Crucio!"

~*~

Arthur walked down from the dormitory with a yawn and Leo was by his side. Down the steps the two went not speaking but there was a sleepy silence between them. When in the common room, Arthur looked at the fire, yawned again, and then went to the painting, which swung open. He stepped out and waited for Leo to follow, but the boy didn't come. Puzzled, the redhead went back into the common room to see the quidditch team captain staring at something.

"Er - Leo, you all right?" asked Arthur cautiously. Leo turned to him with wide and amused eyes as he pointed to the couch. Arthur followed the other boy's gaze and felt his eyes enlarge. Lily and James were lying down together, fast asleep with no care at all. They looked like two heavenly angels.

"Arthur, is that even allowed?" Leo asked, his voice a bit higher than normal. Arthur laughed and walked over. Lily's head was rested on James' chest and he was hugging her softly. It was the most adorable sight he had ever seen in his life.

"Of course it is, you nitwit. Stay there, I'll be right back." The boy ran up the steps to the girls' dormitories and knocked quietly.

"Hold on, I'm coming!" came a voice from the other side of the door. A short moment later, Molly Stevens stepped out. She looked at him in surprise. "Arthur? What is it?"

He grinned. "Do you still have that camera I gave you last Christmas?" he asked.

She blushed a soft crimson. "Er - yes I do. Do you need it?" He nodded and smiled sheepishly. "All right, let me get it." She came back a while later with it in hand. She offered it to him.

"Oh, well, actually, if you would come down with me...there's something I want you to see," he said in a quiet voice. His neck and ears were starting to flush.

She smiled up at him. "Ok then, lead the way." He took her hand and led her down the steps to where Leo was still gaping. Arthur laughed and rolled his eyes. "Take a picture of that, will you, Molly?"

"That's adorable! Look how cute they are!" she exclaimed. She snapped a picture of the scene. Lily snuggled closer to James who yawned and rested his head next to hers. "This is too cute!" Molly took another picture. She was laughing in mirth. Arthur was smiling and Leo was looking surprised.

"Are you sure that's allowed? They're only...what? Thirteen?" said Leo. Arthur and Molly laughed. He looked at them in bewilderment. "I don't see what's so funny. Just look at them! Kids these days! Yeesh!" He threw his hands into the air and left the room. Arthur watched after him and then looked at Lily and James, then to Molly who was still looking at the two kids.

"Er - Molly, there was something I wanted to ask you," he said. She looked up at him expectantly. "Um - well, see, maybe-maybe one night, you'd like-like to-," he stammered.

Molly laughed. "What is it Arthur?" she asked. She squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue.

"Wouldyougooutwithme?" he asked all at once. Molly looked at him for a while as she tried to make out what he had said.

When she did, many expressions passed through her face. "Go-go out with you?" Arthur's blush had reached the tips of his ears by now. Molly blushed but smiled reassuringly. "I'd like that."

He blinked at her for a few seconds. "You - oh - ok, um - maybe - er - tomorrow? Is that ok with you?" he stuttered. He swallowed and his Adam's Apple noticeably moved up and then down.

She grinned. "It's fine." There was an awkward silence between the two for a few short moments before Molly said, "Want to walk with me to the Great Hall?"

Arthur looked up from his shoes and smiled. "Of course, madam." He offered her an elbow, which she put her arm through. A goofy smile was upon his face, which made her conceal a laugh and he felt as if a huge weight had been taken from his shoulders. Together, they strolled to breakfast.

~*~

James blinked and started to sit up when he felt something against him. He looked down to find Lily sleeping beside him and felt a surge of wonder pass through him. It was only then that the events of last night passed through his mind. He sighed and lied back down. He looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed with sleep and a strand of hair was on her face. Gently, he brushed it away with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. She was just so cute when she slept.

She opened her eyes and saw James smiling sweetly back at her. Smiling back, she sat up. "What time is it?" she asked groggily.

He grinned. "I'm not sure. Probably around ten-thirty to eleven."

She nodded and yawned. "I'm going to get dressed, I'll see you in a bit, k?" she asked.

"All right." She went up the steps leaving James watching after her with an expression she couldn't read. It was different, something she had never seen him have before. And it scared her because she could always tell what he was feeling.

~*~

Celeste Bristol lay down on the soft grass contentedly. Everything was fine. Life was good. She looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful sight. The colors were starting to fade into brighter colors for the sun was beginning to rise. The chilled air felt cool against her fair skin and her blonde hair was like a halo around her head. It was straight and long with small curls at the end. Her mother always loved playing with it saying that it was beautiful and too unusual to be natural, though it was. Her eyes that were green and amber sparkled with a cheerful blaze of life.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the howl nearby. Slowly, he advanced. He watched her every movement cautiously and steadily like a true predator. His heart was thudding painfully in his chest with anticipation as he came closer and closer. And then he was standing before her.

Celeste jumped up in alarm and turned around to see a light brown werewolf standing before her. He attacked and a long piercing scream filled the night.

~*~

Peter woke up and found himself in a cell. He didn't know where or why he was there, but he was and it was cold. He sat up but felt shooting pains all over his body so he just lay there, motionless. The poor boy's clothes were in rags but the rest of him seemed perfectly fine. Anyone who would think he was in perfect condition would be completely wrong. Having had the torture curse performed on him time after time, he was in pain.

It hurt to even open his eyes so he kept them shut. It hurt even to breathe so he slowed his breathing and took each breath in slowly. It hurt to do anything. For a long time, he stayed in that room. Hunger seemed like something that he would never again feel for it hurt too much. It was as if it just wasn't a feeling known to him. That feeling when you're aching for food so much that soon, the feeling just disappears; that was how he felt.

A long time later, the door to his cell opened, and someone came in, but Peter didn't open his eyes for fear of who he might see, or the pain he would feel when he did open them. Whoever it was put something on the floor next to him and lingered there for quite some time. He knew who it was of course, but dared not say a thing, or move a muscle.

William looked at his son for a long moment. The boy was still curled up in a ball and a look of sheer pain was upon his face. The man averted his eyes from the sight and then briskly walked out. Did he cause the ache his son felt? Was he the cause of all the pain in the boy's life? Yes, yes he was. But why? Why was he always torturing Peter? His own blood, the pride of his life?

He never told the small boy that he loved him. He never said a single word of praise or encouragement either. Why? It was a question he never dared to ask himself, but it was always in his mind. Why was he so cruel to the person he loved most in the entire world? The only person that kept him sane through all his trials and tribulations? Life was a living hell for William Pettigrew. It just plainly was. With Lord Voldemort watching his every move and practically controlling him, William had almost no say in the doings he did. The only thing he had control over was his son.

It was so wonderful to have the freedom of caring for the boy. Just that Peter was there was like the light in the dark. But why was he so hostile? This question made his heart feel as if it were slowly being shredded. He tried to push it aside, but he couldn't.

Will leaned against the cell door and let himself fall to the ground in a pathetic heap. Why do I treat him so? The man asked himself for about the millionth time. Because I don't care.

A lie, that's what that is, William. You care; you love him more than life itself, said another voice in his head. He blinked back the sudden burning liquid that had come to his eyes. You love him.

"I don't!" yelled Will. "I don't love him! I hate him! Just look at him!"

Is it the appearance of someone that one falls in love with? He is your son, your pride; he is the boy in which you placed yourself into.

"I know, I know," he whispered. His voice cracked and he fell into silent sobs. Tears fell from his face. "I'm just so scared, I-I don't know what to do. I just don't want him to be like me...I don't want him to be another William Pettigrew. Just look at me, my best friend and his wife are dead. My own wife is dead at my hand. It's my fault. All my fault." The sobs came faster and more violent. He ran out of the house and as far as he could go. Where he was going, he didn't know, but he had to leave. He had to escape it all.

He came to Death's Bed. The waves crashed and fell upon the sharp rocks below. He was crying outright now. At the horizon, he could see the sun start to rise. In one spontaneous moment, he jumped off the cliff, perishing to the sea's wrath. Only one thought was in his mind in that short moment of life he had left, and that was, I love you, Peter.

~*~

Remus found that he was lying in the grass when he awoke the next day. His clothes were in tatters and his mind was whirling. He couldn't remember the events of the previous night and this made a surge of panic run through him. In hysteria, he looked all around him. He was in clear space with no one in sight. The boy was so scared, he could scarcely move.

Had he bitten anyone? What had happened last night? Where was he? How was he out on the loose and not in his basement? What was going on?

All these questions ran through his mind and many more. He closed his eyes and tried to ease his racing heart and steady his breathing. Remus looked around again. This forest looked familiar. Yes, he knew where he was; he was in his neighbor's backyard. Now, what happened the night before? As much as he tried to remember, all he could see was an image of a woman who was inhumanly beautiful with hair that seemed to be made of the stars and a dress that seemed to be made of water. She was the person that had come out of his dream.

Slowly, he made his way back home. He had to think things through. He knew what to do, he'd owl James, Sirius, and Peter. They were his friends; they were people he could trust. The thought of them still made him wonder why they chose him as their friend. Out of so many others, it was he that they chose. The thought warmed his heart. These were three people all his life he could trust and rely on. Always.

~*~

Sirius woke up and looked around. Where was he? He was in a room. Next to his bed there was a large window covered from sight by emerald green curtains lined with silver. The walls were painted light green and the design of two snakes intertwined lined the top. A door was also there, but he had a feeling that it wouldn't budge if he tried to open it. He sat up in his bed.

What had happened? Oh yes, he remembered. Rogue's master had knocked he and Hallie unconscious when she refused to leave. Refused to leave? He still couldn't believe it. Why had she stayed? They were enemies, were they not? Then he remembered how their relationship had changed. Things would never again be the same between them both.

It was then that he heard a scream next door. He rushed to the door and to his surprise, it opened sending him sprawled to the floor because of the strength he had put into opening it. Sirius ran to the room next to his and stepped in to see Hallie standing on her bed with wide eyes holding her sheets to her tightly.

"Hallie? What is it? What's the matter?" he asked in a panicked rush.

She looked at him with fright upon her face. "Mouse," she squeaked. He rolled his eyes. Then something hit him; he had opened the door with both his right and his left hand. Looking down, he saw that the splint that Hallie had conjured for him was gone. He moved his wrist all the way around and found that it didn't pain him a bit. "Rogue fixed it," said Hallie.

Sirius turned his gaze to her. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Don't ask me how a madman's mind works."

"Right, only for how a maniac witch's mind works."

She glared at him and sat back down on her bed with a bounce. "You aren't funny."

"Who said I was trying to be?" Her glared intensified. "Where are we?" he asked after a short while.

She shrugged again. "In a room."

The boy rolled his eyes. "No kidding. That was almost exactly like your dungeon answer."

She looked at him inquiringly. "Do you know where we are?"

Sirius looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. She blinked at him with large sapphire blue eyes and he stared back with his deep coal black ones. "I have no idea."

"Then what makes you think I know?"

He shrugged. "You just act as if you know everything."

She threw a pillow at him. "Shut up."

"Why don't you for a change?"

"You're so mean," she said.

"You're so mean," replied Sirius.

"I don't like you," she told him.

"Wow, I thought you hated me, but now you just dislike me...I must be getting more handsome by the moment..." She threw another pillow at him, which he easily caught. "You throw like a girl."

"I am a girl."

"You don't look like one."

"I know, I look like an angel." Sirius choked with laughter making her glare at him some more. "What're you doing in here?" she asked him suddenly.

"I heard you scream," was his answer. He averted his gaze from her searching stare.

"So? I thought you hated me, what would you care if I screamed?"

He sighed. "I don't hate you, Hallie," he said quietly. "I thought you knew that."

She grinned. "Oh, right, you just dislike me."

He saw a chair next to the door and took a seat. "Why did you stay? Why didn't you leave when you had the chance?"

Now it was her turn to avert her eyes from his wondering glance. "Because."

He smiled. "Because...admit it, you like me," he joked.

She looked at him square in the eyes at this comment. "Sirius, I couldn't leave you here. Someone so ugly as you are...it scared me to think what the two madmen would do to you."

He started to laugh and she joined him. "This is serious, you know," Sirius said.

She grinned. "No, you are."

"That was cheesy."

"I know, but I felt like saying it so deal."

Rogue had chosen that moment to step into the room. "Ah, I should have known. The two children are together like always." Sirius jumped up and looked at the tall man. "It's time for breakfast, follow me." He turned around to walk away.

"Breakfast?" asked Sirius in incredulity.

Rogue looked at him. "Indeed, boy, breakfast. Now follow me."

"Don't think I'll eat anything you or that other guy gives me to eat! You'll poison us!" said the boy.

Rogue laughed a cruel and mirthless laugh. "Of course not, you foolish child. He has a use for the both of you. He won't kill you until your purpose if fulfilled. Now follow me, it's time for breakfast."

Sirius looked at Hallie who looked back at him. She stood up and followed Rogue. "What can it hurt? They'll kill us sooner or later anyway." He blinked at her in shock, which made her grin. "He doesn't have my amulet yet."

~*~

Celeste ran home as quickly as she could make her legs go. Her whole body ached from the previous change. A werewolf bit her. The thought made her shiver and new tears come to her eyes. It wasn't fair. Everything was fine, it was perfect...and now...it wasn't. What would her parents say?

"Mum! Dad!" she cried when she stumbled through the doors of her home.

Immediately, her parents were at her side. "Honey, what is it?" asked her mother.

"Celeste, are you all right?" questioned her father. And then they gaped at where the werewolf had bitten her. Its teeth had cut through the material of her robes and it was a bloody mess.

"What happened?"

The girl broke into sobs. "A-a were-werewolf! It bit me!" she sobbed.

Her parents gaped at her. "C-Celeste...are you certain?" inquired her father cautiously. Her mother had stepped behind the tall man who was retreating from her.

"Yes, I saw it right before it bit me," she said between sobs. Celeste stepped closer to her parents wishing for a hug but they backed away quickly. "Mum? Dad?" she asked in disbelief. They kept backing away until she was left there. And for the first time in her life, she felt what the word alone truly meant.

~*~

It was a few days later and Peter was still in the cell. Only now he was able to move around a bit, but very slowly and not very much. The pain was still there. Then came the voices. He heard them and went perfectly still so they wouldn't know he was there. The cell door opened and blinked at the bright light. "Hey, guys, over here, there's a boy here," said one of the men. Another came over. They looked at him and he looked back with eyes large with fear.

"It's okay, buddy," said the second man, "we're here to help."

"You have to leave," whispered Peter tensely, "he's going to find out you're here, and he'll get mad. You must leave at once." The two men looked at each other and then back to him tenderly. The first man conjured a stretcher. "He'll just hurt me again if he knew you were here."

"It's over now, it's over. No one's going to hurt you anymore." He bent down to help Peter up but the boy stumbled. "Are you all right? What's wrong? Where are you hurt?"

The boy looked away as the tears came to his eyes again. "He - the - he used the curse on me again," Peter whispered almost inaudibly.

The two men looked at each other in surprise. "What curse," asked the second man.

"The torture one."

The man rubbed his face. "Well, he won't anymore. You're Peter, right?" he asked.

The boy tried to nod, but winced because of the ache. "Yes, I am."

The two men helped him onto the stretcher. "Well, Peter, you're going to be taken care of now. Your father won't hurt you anymore."

Peter closed his eyes and lied down, enjoying the softness of the stretcher. His father wouldn't hurt him anymore, the man said. Was this true? The boy fell asleep with such a wish that this was true that tears came to his eyes. All his life, he had wished for someone to speak those words to him, and the day had arrived. Life would be better now; it would be much better. But how wrong he was.

~*~

They were alone at the long table. Sirius looked at Hallie. "Tell me the truth, Hal, why didn't you leave when you had the chance?" She played with her food and then looked up.

"I couldn't leave you here by yourself. It didn't seem like the right thing to do. I'd hate myself if I did leave you here alone. Honestly, I don't know why I stayed. I hate this place. I hate everything about it. I hate Rogue and I hate his master. But I couldn't leave...I'm not sure why." Sirius was surprised that she hadn't made a sarcastic comment like she did before. "I couldn't leave you, Sirius. It isn't what friends do to other friends."

He looked at her and smiled. "Thanks, Hallie," he said softly.

A strained smile touched her lips as she played around with her food. "No problem, but I want to go home, I don't think I could stay here another day."

"Don't worry, we won't be, we're leaving tonight."

~*~

"Another attack, this time on a muggle village. Seven dead and thirteen injured," reported Leo, reading from the Daily Prophet. Arthur sighed and shook his head. Molly shivered.

"Why aren't they doing anything to stop him?" asked Lily.

Arthur said, "The Ministry's doing everything they can. You - Know - Who just has so many supporters and is so powerful that it's hard to get him."

Leo nodded. "It's also so hard to track him. They don't know where he'll attack next. They don't even know where he resides or who he really is."

Lily looked at James who had his head rested on the table. "James, are you all right?" she asked him softly.

He jumped up in alarm. "Huh? What?"

Molly laughed. "He's fine, he was just asleep." The group broke into laughter. James looked around in confusion but when no explanation came, he rested his head on the table once again.

~*~

Dumbledore looked at the object in wonder. In his hand he held another snow globe that had appeared on the same armchair the past one had come from. He gazed into it and noticed a difference between the two. In the one he held, there were only two figures present, the red head and the untidy dark haired one. They were chatting idly.

What had happened to the dark haired woman and the silver headed man? An idea came to him and he put the globe down on his desk. Briskly, he strolled out of his office and to the Gryffindor common room where he greeted the Fat Lady. "Good afternoon, madam."

"Why hello, headmaster! What brings you here today?" she asked with a smile.

"I need to speak with James Potter actually. Equidistant," he said.

"Indeed," replied the Fat Lady and she allowed him in. Dumbledore saw James sitting with Lily on the couch talking about something or other and felt a smile tug at the edges of his mouth.

"Hello, Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," he greeted. They looked up at him in alarm. "Miss Evans, it's really very important that I borrow Miss Forester's snow globe, do you perhaps know where it is she has put it?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, sir, I'll be right back." She ran up the steps to the girls' dormitory and a short while later, she came back down with the snow globe in her hand. Lily handed it to the professor.

"Thank you. Now, Mr. Potter, if I may have a word with you please?" The boy nodded and followed him out of the room with a last wave to Lily who picked up her book to read. Dumbledore led James to his office where he held the snow globe out to the boy. James looked at it in puzzlement. "Just look into it, tell me what you see."

James looked at the older man and saw twinkle in his bright blue eyes. Sighing, the boy did as was told and felt as if he were being taken away from himself and put in a whole different setting.

"There's a purpose for everyone in this world, a purpose that must be fulfilled," said a voice that rang into his mind. His surroundings were a blur of greens, silver, and black. "And your purpose is to see, and to help me. I've been trying to find you, for a very long time now. I'm locked up; he trapped me here, forever immortal until I am freed.

"I did no wrong, I did not harm her. I could never have harmed her. She was my life, and though I told her I wanted nothing to do with her again, I did. I lied. When one is so caught up in a rage such as I was, one will say things never meant to be said or things that weren't meant. I said both. I still love her, and always I will, but she never knew that, I never had the chance to tell her, or give her my blessing.

"As I said before, I will say it again, I did no wrong. She is locked in the amulet, and I need it back. I've been set free, but not free to wander and find the Alloy Child on my own, and so, I've created a servant who has been helping me. I need to find her; I want to set her free. That is for all to see, I wish her no harm, no hurt, no pain. Though my heart was torn from me when hers was given to someone other than I, never in my life have I wished for harm to befall her. She was my life.

"Sometimes late at night, when I would watch her sleep, thoughts would run through my mind. 'Why did she choose me?' She was one of a kind; one in a million, and she was mine. I always wondered when another man would steal her heart and take her away. I suppose I always knew the day would come, but it hurt so much that I got angry, I never thought it would be so soon.

"That day, I felt as if I was ripped apart inside, like I was a hollow shell. Never in my life have I felt that way and never again I hope shall I feel the pain again. She was mine no longer, but his. My own brother...he took her away from me. I blamed him of course, for her leaving me, but deep I my heart I knew the truth. Rowe and I were just not meant for each other. Maybe I loved her like no one I've ever loved, or maybe she was meant for me, but I not for her. It is unclear to me, but I will never forget her, and I hope she shall never forget me either.

"They were soon married and had a son named Troy. When Troy was still a youth, she suddenly disappeared. She was gone and trapped in an amulet by the Imprisonment Curse. I did no wrong. There was jealousy in the world and between our group. Ric was in an insane rage at the loss of her, just as I was, and he accused many. First off, he blamed everyone except me, and I suppose this was because he didn't want it to be me. But in the end, all that was left was me. I was the only one with reason to imprison her, and he turned on me.

"'Our trust has broken, never again will I call you brother,' were the words he spoke to me. I wished to never feel the pain of being abandoned, but yet that day, when these words escaped his mouth, I felt the same hurt and pain I felt when Rowe left me. He trapped me, not in an amulet but in my home where I should forever dwell, wishing for death to take me into its fatal and dark grasp, but it would never come. I was to be immortal and to live with what he blamed me for.

"'But I did no wrong,' so many times I repeated to myself to keep sane. It was the only thought to comfort me, though, very little comfort it gave. My heart, my life, and everything and everyone I loved were taken from me. I had no control. Everything was ruined.

"You see why I must prove myself. I must free Rowe from the Alloy Child and to do so, the two halves must become whole. The one who placed the curse upon her was sure to keep her captive forever and so to have the two parts separated and hidden was a very intelligent touch. It impresses me even now at the brilliance of the scheme.

"Rowe must be freed and I truly and sincerely hope that all will become well. When the halves come together, we four will be reunited and she will be freed.

"That is why I need you. Your purpose is to put the halves together and free her, only you can do so. You must find the second half, for the first is already in my possession. But for us to work together, you must trust me. I did no wrong and I will repeat this statement forever until someone believes me. All I want is to have her set free; I do not care of the fate, which holds me.

"You see, we're all part of a plan. It is as if we're part of a storybook where soon the ending will come and all will either be well, or in ruins. Sooner or later we will all play our parts in the story, and it will reach the end. But like a book, there are the conflicts; the plots, the different settings and time periods, all are significant and very important.

"Fate has everything planned out. And sooner or later, we are all placed into the hands of fate. I need not find you know, for you know your path, and where to go. You must come, and all will be right in time. I am waiting for you, James Potter, and Fate is writing her story."

The voice faded away and James broke away from his aberration. He blinked rapidly and tried to sort through all his questions and thoughts. After a short while, he looked up from his lap and to Dumbledore who was just looking at him serenely. "Did you see anything?" asked the elderly man.

James looked at him for a while still thinking through the thoughts racing through his mind. "Professor Dumbledore, I know where Hallie and Sirius are."

~*~

Serpise sat in his study. In his hand, the golden half of the Alloy Child was held tightly. He stared out the window. He could see nothing except a thick fog. "Rogue, come here for one moment, please," he said.

The cloaked servant did as was asked. "Yes, master?"

The silver haired man pointed out the window. "Tell me what you see."

Rogue nodded. "I see the front yard, master, with the fountain of the two snakes in the middle with water falling from their mouths. The grass is lush and green, damp with the morning's dew and the sun is shining brightly upon the yard. The gates are black and closed with vines growing healthily on them. The forest is on the left side and the towering green trees loom over the shed before it. It's a wonderful day out today, master," he concluded.

Serpise sighed and nodded motioning for the servant to leave. "Thank you, Rogue." He looked out the window, but still, all he saw was the fog.

"Our trust has broken, never again will I call you brother," said Ric. The man's voice cracked and he turned away for a few short moments to blink away the tears that came to his eyes. They were red and puffy from crying for his wife. With pained pale blue eyes, Ric turned to look at Serpise. "How could you do this to me, brother? How could you do this to her?" he whispered. His face was full of hurt and sorrow.

"Ric, I did nothing you would not have done. I did no wrong." Though his face was calm and passive, Serpise's heart was tearing inside of him. He tried to swallow the lump forming in his throat.

"'I did no wrong! I did no wrong! You've repeated those same words over and over again but they mean nothing! It is a lie! You've betrayed Rowe and I. How could you?" Ric ran a hand through his long jet-black hair. "Admit you've wronged me, Serpise, and I will try my best to forgive you. Lie to me once more and I will try my best to ruin you," he said, trying to steady his trembling voice.

Serpise shook his head. "As I've told you once, and so many times before, I did no wrong," whispered the man. He watched his brother collapse into melancholy sobs. Godric sank into an armchair and put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry."

At this, the other man jumped up and pointed a finger at Serpise. "I hate you! You've not only ruined my life, but you've ruined hers! And forever and ever shall you dwell remembering the wrong you've done. Forever immortal until freed! And when you are freed again, I shall come back, I will be there to finish you off once and for all. You who was once my brother, I disown any relation to you!" His voice broke but he swallowed and then continued. "I hate you!" He swung a punch at his brother and missed, stumbling blindly. Serpise caught him. Tears fell down his face as Ric pushed away. "I loved you, I gave you everything, I lived for you! You were my brother! How could you?" Ric sank back into the armchair and weeped for the loss of his wife.

Serpise turned and walked away. He was innocent. How could Ric think that he would ever wish for harm to befall his brother? Never did Serpise wish this, only once when Rowe told him that she loved him no more, but his brother. It hurt so much that the two would betray him, but it was only a thought, he didn't really want anything to happen to them both. He walked out of the house and to his own where he knew he would have to forever abide.

"I never wished to hurt you, Ric. You are my brother, and I love you for it. And I love her as well. I never willed evil to come upon either of you, never. I love you both, and forever I will."

The memory faded away and he was once again, alone in his study. Tears were in his eyes and he brushed them away. "Rogue," he called.

The servant stepped in. "Yes, master?" he asked, bowing.

"Bring me the children, I need to speak to them."

~*~

Remus ran back home. What would his parents say when he told them what had happened...or what he knew of it? He knew they would be angry with him, very angry. It scared him thoroughly to find he couldn't remember a thing of last night. And it had to be the night of the full moon in addition to his memory loss.

What had he done and where had he gone? He hoped he caused no harm. And he especially hoped he didn't bite anyone.

Who was the woman in his dream? That was the only thing he could remember from the past night. When he has seen her, he lost all thoughts and memories as if they never existed and he was stuck in one place in time.

And then he was home. He ran towards it quickly and gasped when he finally reached it.

Hovering above his beloved home was the Dark Mark.