lucius gets covered in spit
Lily was brave, a Gryffindor who dared befriend a Slytherin, a girl who dared to be better than the 'purebloods', a mud blood who dared to challenge the status quo. She was young and alone with only Severus to lean on when had to set on a journey to explore a world where she knew no one and no one knew her. A world for which she had left behind her family, her sister. A world that no matter how amazing and fascinating was dangerous. She had left the world she knew for a world she didn't.
Her name was a taboo in Sev's house, the division so great that he could even speak of her in their presence. Mud blood was a dangerous thing to be.
He came to her with a grandfatherly smile, a face so easy to trust, a headmaster who listened. And listen he did, as she spoke and spoke and spoke. Listened he did as she spilled out her heart in front of a man who acted as if he cared. Spoiler Alert: he didn't.
But she was young, young, and oh so naive, alone in a world where her childhood friend deserted her because of the color of her robes, alone in a world where the blood flowing through her veins made her a third-class citizen.
They despised her, those new blokes whom Severus hung out with--they sneered and insulted her mere name, the slurs rolling in their tongue as if it was natural and maybe it was. They were raised to believe, that she was not even worth enough to clean their shoes much less score better than them. James was a nuisance, his proclamation of love embarrassed her, she did not like the stares, the whispers, and the rumors, 'look at her seducing the Potter heir in hopes of a higher status, look at her reject him to keep his attention, look at her---the whore, look at her----
DON'T LOOK AT ME!
He had made her life a living hell, if it was not for Marlene and Dorcas and Alice, she would have--she would have!
What would have you done, Lily? You could not do anything! They will not fear mud blood, they won't!
They will, she had decided out of spite, they will. She would become a mud blood, they would respect her. She will make them realize that blood doesn't define people.
It was a suggestion at first, whispered slyly in the ear of a little girl eager to prove herself, to climb the social hierarchy and change it, 'What if you had James Potter to defend you, my dear girl?' It was an innocent inquiry, a friendship with the Heir Potter would surely enhance her prospects and make the bullies think twice before sneering at her, but that arrogant toerag was too full of himself, it was his confessions that started it, the bullying, the name calling. 'here, my dear girl just a drop, and James would be eager to defend, to protect you!'
She had accepted it without knowing what it had, meant. She should have. Had she checked she would have known it was Amortentia she was dosing her housemate on, she would have not fallen into the never-ending trap of repeating it again and again and again just in case anyone found out, and would not have made herself the perfect prey of blackmail. But she did not. She did not.
Her demise was near she knew, knew it as she saw the glint in Sirius Black's eyes, knew it as she looked at sweet bookish Remus and found him growling and knew it when sweet sweet Peter glared at her with hate.
Stupid little girl, bringer of her own ruination.
She should have stopped and begged for forgiveness, yet she continued on and died sacrificing herself to protect the most precious thing for James ever, making it so that he could not help but feel some gratitude towards his abuser.
Lily was a coward.
The screen shows the exterior of a remote manor, the camera zooms in to the door where a lone woman is seen standing on the verge of entering it.
GRYFFINSHOST MANOR, Unknown Location.
James looks alert, recognizing the manor.
The camera moves in with the woman as she enters the manor, her heels clicking on the floor and echoing in the silence, the angle of the camera changes, and the audience finally views the woman's face, It is Alkaid Black.
ALKAID(yells): James! Come out, James! I know you are here!
There is silence before the sound of breaking glass is heard along with unhurried footsteps.
A thoroughly drunk James is shown, he looks depressed, there are bags under his eyes and his cheeks look sunken, and in his hand, he holds Odgen's Finest bottle.
"James" Dorea sighs worriedly, while James avoids eye contact.
JAMES(squints): Quiet down you---you witch!
Sirius face-palms and looks at a flustered James despairingly, he clearly needs a Slytherin pro crash course to sharpen his tongue again.
"I hate to break it to you mate, but that is not an insult when the other person is indeed a witch." Barty drawled, feeling secondhand embarrassment.
ALKAID gapes at him, speechless.
"Your stupidity made even the great overlord Alkaid speechless, you should be proud." Sirius pats his best mate's back in encouragement, trying but failing to be of any help.
JAMES: Why are you here?
ALKAID: I need your help.
JAMES: Me? I could not help myself. I LET HER DIE!
ALKAID: Lily---
"What, Lily? Does she not know?" Regulus despairs. The consequences will be dire, Merlin help us if she used necromancy.
"Merlin she does not know!" Sirius matches his tone, yet there is a hint of anticipation in his tone.
JAMES: What?! NO, not that bitch! Fuck her.
Charlus nods approvingly, fuck her indeed.
Lily tries to disappear as the glares are redirected at her.
ALKAID: Bitch? You are wasted.
"Clearly." Remus deadpans.
JAMES: I am not wasted!
"You are, prongs." Peter nods.
ALKAID: You are, cousin.
JAMES: Cousin? That's not what you called me that night.
ALKAID does not blush but her ears redden a little bit.
"You shagged your cousin?!" Someone exclaims.
"I would too, mate. She is hot." His friend adds.
Barty whistles.
Almost every Black turns towards James way with a raised eyebrow and murder in their eyes, he feels the KI emitting from his best mate trying its best to smother him.
"It's the future. I am innocent." James raises his hand in surrender.
Orion glares at him, "You better not, or I will make you unable to do it again."
James shrieks and covers himself with a cushion.
ALKAID: That was a mistake! You swore not to talk of it!
JAMES: I was a mistake?
"Is he going to cry?" A Slytherin fourth-year asked with fear in his voice.
James stares at him with a raised eyebrow.
He starts crying, as Alkaid watches him unsurely.
"Well, her response to emotions shown by anyone other than Percy has still not changed." Regulus muses.
JAMES: That is all I am! A mistake I should have known Lily drugged me!
"You are not a mistake James Fleamont Potter!" Remus shakes the Gryffindor by his shoulders as if to make sure each word goes right in his head.
ALKAID(urgently): Lily drugged you? Why? With what?
"Shit, She really does not know." Alphard shudders, dreading what was to come, Alkaid was Cassiopeia's protégé after all.
JAMES: Love Potions!
ALKAID: If this is one of your drunken ramblings about the lovely lily flower, please do not start.
"Oh god."
JAMES(still hysteric): I planned to kill her you know, planned to make her bleed, to ruin her but she died! Took my Aster with her.
"He thinks Aster is dead!"
"Bloody hell, he does not know."
"Is no one going to talk about the murder threats?" Hestia Jones asked incredulously.
"Thank you for the reminder, Jones. Reggie bring me my daggers, it has been years since they tasted blood." Sirius smiles darkly.
Lily blanches and Severus looks on helplessly as no one intervenes.
"I am not your servant, bring it yourself." Regulus sneers.
"You are my little brother, it's the same thing. Respect your elders."
"Well I don't see an elder, maybe he is too bland and mixes a little too well with the crowd!"
"Take that back! I am extraordinarily unique."
Narcissa sighs as they start again, and waves her wand transfiguring Sirius' clothes into a starry Victorian dress with a corset and an elaborate hat."There you are Sirius, no one can call you bland anymore."
Everyone bursts out laughing at Sirius Black's flabbergasted face.
Sirius looks down at himself with disbelief before smirking and winking flirtatiously at the boys who were staring, making them turn red.
He fans his face with a sly smile.
ALKAID(lowers her voice): She drugged you, truly?
"Danger, Danger!" Sirius Black still in a dress, looking magnificent as always pretends to faint.
Alaid breathes in sharply when he nods, fury coloring her eyes.
JAMES: My Aster, my daughter, she made me leave her behind. Now Aster is dead.
ALKAID: What are you talking about? Aster is alive.
"Finally, someone tells him!" Gideon exclaims.
JAMES(pauses): What? That's not possible. She died with Lily.
ALKAID(gently): James, darling. Aster is alive.
The Black Brothers' eyes darken at the endearment.
"She calls him darling!" Marlene fans her face, "I want someone to call me darling in that British accent, it's my dream."
Dorcas turns towards her incredulously, "You are British, Marls. You have the British accent."
Marlene sighed annoyed and waved her hand dismissively, "You won't get it."
"If you say so, darling." Dorcas stresses out the last word.
Marlene blushes and places a hand on her heart and her face lightens up, as she falls down drastically on the sofa she was sitting on, "Now I can die happily."
Dorcas smirks.
JAMES(angry): You lie!
ALKAID: Not on this, I swear. She is alive. And if I tell you, will you listen?
JAMES(slumps): To whatever lies you tell me.
"Oh my God, I would have melted right there."A Ravenclaw bursts out and then turns red when everyone turns toward her.
Alkaid directs him to the nearest sofa, a loveseat, and kneels in front of him, taking his hands gently in hers.
James smiles.
ALKAID: No matter how much I despise her for what she did to you, she died for Aster--dark ritual magic was performed on the night of Hallows, cast with love as an enforcer and the sacrifice of soul. Powerful magic that made the killing curse rebound on the dark lord.
"Dark magic?!" A third-year Gryffindor screeched.
Severus looks at Lily in pain, "You sacrificed your soul for Potter's spawn?"
Lily glances at him and quietly whispers, "No matter what I have done in the future, she is my daughter too."
Severus feels his heart breaking.
JAMES: Sacrificed?
ALKAID: Yes, Aster is alive and hailed as the savior of the wizarding world when Lily Evans lies in her grave a footnote in the grand scheme.
Lily stiffens knowing it is the end of her dream to make a name for herself to prove that mudbloods can lead too.
JAMES: What are you saying? Aster is alive?
ALKAID: Yes, James. Your daughter is alive.
JAMES: (starts to cry) Aster. My little girl. She's alive?
"He loves her." A Hufflepuff firstie smiles.
Alkaid grabs his chin and forces him to look into her eyes.
ALKAID: I don't lie to family. She is alive.
JAMES: Where is she? I want to see her! Now.
ALKAID: That is what I need help with James, Dumbledore took her from the cottage after the dark lord was vanquished, took her before Sirius who was too gone in his madness to realize you and Aster were alive.
Charlus looks knowingly at his brother, they had never trusted Dumbledore.
The Marauders make a silent pact to destroy the headmaster.
The Slytherins sneer.
JAMES: What? Why? It was clear in my will she would go to Sirius if I was dead!
ALKAID: Sirius is in Azkaban.
JAMES: WHAT?
"Exactly!" Regulus exclaims.
ALKAID: They named him a traitor, and said he was the right-hand man of Voldemort. Accused him of murder---yours and thirteen muggles.
JAMES: Are they out of their minds? I am alive.
"Were they ever in their minds?" Joan Garett bursts out laughing at his joke.
His housemates look at him with judgment clear in their eyes and his laughter faded to nervous chuckles.
ALKAID: They don't know that, Jamie. Sirius was laughing in the wreckage claiming you died because of him. The media pounced on it and the Aurors dragged him to Azkaban without a trial. Leaving Dumbledore a clear way to claim guardianship of Aster after he sealed your will.
"He does not have that authority." Abraxas says coldly his eyes calculating.
"That is a criminal offense." Fleamont agrees.
Seeing two lords of opposite factions agree some of the audience cannot believe their eyes while others are still reeling from the fact that Dumbledore dared to seal a Lord's will.
JAMES: That old bastard, I knew he was not to be trusted!
ALKAID: You were right, Potter. Aster is hidden from the world for her ''safety'', he claimed your family votes, James.
Fleamont stands in outrage, multiple noble Lords following him.
James grits his teeth.
JAMES: I would kill him, drag him to the ministry by his robes, and burn him on the stake!
Narcissa laughs, "Count me in, cousin. It has been days since I burned atrocious clothes."
Bellatrix nods, always ready for arson.
ALKAID: Good, you are angry. Use that anger to storm into the ministry on the very day of the trial and demand your daughter, let the world see you in all your glory.
"Imagine the chaos Prongs! It will be our biggest prank, yet!" Sirius nudges him.
James nods in agreement and rubs his hands excitedly while Peter chuckles at the thought and Remus looks done but secretly plans contingency plans.
JAMES(laughs): A plan for everything, huh? Am I meant to dance to your tune, Kaidy? You forget yourself, I am Lord Potter, you do not command me.
James breathes in sharply, a reminder once again that his uncle is dead.
Dorea smiles at her son's gall and Charlus nods approvingly.
Fleamont looks on proudly at his nephew and heir while Mia wipes off her tears.
ALKAID looks into his eyes and her lips twitch upwards. She leans into his ear.
"That's hot." Gemma Fairchilde, As lathering fifth-year comments.
James pales further when he sees Orion mimicking a slit throat.
ALKAID(whispers): I don't, but you will heed me if you wish for your daughter's safety and Sirius out of the prison.
"She has it all planned out. No matter how much I dislike her methods, they always work." Regulus sighs in defeat. The woes of having an attractive sister.
Sirius nods in agreement.
"She hit the right buttons, he will fall for it." Cassiopeia agrees, proud of her protégé.
James stiffens knowing it is true, he would do anything for the Marauders --his brothers and they will do the same. And Aster, his little blossom--- he would burn the world to keep her safe.
"I would do anything for you too, Prongs." Peter promises.
"Just say the word, brother." Remus proclaims.
"Only if it does not include you being my brother-in-law, I would lay my life down for you if you asked." Sirius vows.
ALKAID: I will wait for your response Lord Potter.
James feels a shiver down his spine.
James shivers. His eyes hooded as he stared at his cousin.
"Same, Potter." Marlene nods understanding the allure.
Alkaid stands up again and straightens her robes, James follows her movement in a daze.
ALKAID: Believe me, cousin, when I say I want to kill your ex-wife again for what she did, come to the manor once you are done wallowing in sorrows---the Black Library always had had a magnificent necromancy collection.
Lily shudders in fear.
James smiles viciously.
"That's Evil!" A Gryffindor firstie exclaims, his little body trembling in fear as he looks at the members of the Black family.
"The distinction between good and evil magic, my child is the purpose it is used for, and Alkaid will use it well. I am proud." Melania tells him gently and expertly redirecting the attention of the hall from the possible disaster for her house.
The boy nods unsatisfied and confused. Not noticing that Melania never said that Alkaid was good.
Severus sneers at the clear hypocrisy.
James does not say anything as she moves toward the door, her gait unhurried.
JAMES(whispers almost inaudible): I would have carved my heart out for her had she asked, there was no need for love potions. I loved her already.
Lily sobs as she hears the truth in his voice. It was all for naught, she was worse than scum, she thought.
James stiffens as his heart is laid bare in front of the audience.
Narcissa sniffles, her eyes strangely wet.
ALKAID(pauses): Lily Evans did not deserve your devotion.
"She did not, Prongs. She did not deserve you, did not deserve your love." Sirius says to James solemnly.
Alkaid exits before giving him a chance to reply.
A dining table is shown with Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Black, and little Draco sitting on it.
Narcissa awws at her little spawn.
LUCIUS: There is a chance if we play our cards right, the black heirship will be Draco's
Sterling silver eyes flash in anger and sharpen drastically.
Abraxas desperately wants to disown his son. When will he grow a brain?
Lucius pales.
Narcissa's eyes flash in contempt but she hums all the same.
LUCIUS: The wizengamot will hold a meeting tomorrow, you will come with me to claim the seat.
Bella cackles at his stupidity finding it very tempting to try out her new hexes on him.
NARCISSA: Of course, darling.
LUCIUS(nods satisfied): If we play our cards right the Black fortune will be ours.
"You dug your own grave, Lucy. The Blacks still have an heir and a spare in perfect condition." Rodolphus sneers.
NARCISSA(smiles sweetly): How very exciting.
"That's her scheming smile, Run if you see it." Sirius advises his fellow Marauders seriously, remembering the times when he was sacrificed by his siblings and cousin as Cissa's doll.
Draco chooses that moment to spit out food on his father.
Lucius grimaces in disgust.
The audience laughs uproariously.
"Go Draco!" Sirius cheers, "Cissy, your son is a marvel!"
Narcissa smiles, "He is my son."
Narcissa feels her lips betray her as she tries not to smile.
The scene changes to Narcissa sending out an owl.
"Hermes." Cygnus whispers, giddy.
NARCISSA(laughs): He thinks he could claim the Black name, how foolish.
"Foolish indeed." Abraxas intones.
Lucius looks at his father and betrothed in anger and betrayal.
The screen changes to Alkaid reading the letter with Andromeda sitting in front of her.
NARCISSA(voiceover): Greetings my lord, the peacock has lost its remaining brain cells and fallen to the sin of greed, it wants me to claim the seat tomorrow in the setting. It lusts for fortune. It is time to shatter its dreams, Blackheart.
Rabastan laughs, "Pe--Pea--Peacock?"
Lucius feels his blood boiling at the betrayal and humiliation, he will have his revenge.
ANDROMEDA: It is finally time for you to shine, cousin.
Sirius smirks imagining the chaos.
ALKAID smiles.