In deadly hate, the one against the other (1/3) (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
blanketforts Day
Jan. 8th, 2006 01:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rosie_ruesTitle: In deadly hate, the one against the other (1/3)
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm just borrowing them because I like them.
Wordcount: 1380
Prompt: Beneath a night no longer May,
Where only cold stars shine,
One glimmering ocean spreads away
This haunted life of mine;
And, shattered on the frozen shore,
My harp can never wake,--
When will this night of death be o'er?
When will the morning break?
- William Winter, "The Night Watch"
Notes: Done the obvious with this one. Or I would have done if you weren't imagining this, etc. ;)
Title from Richard III.
1 2 3 4 5 6
The Dark Mark still hung in the air over the farmhouse, tainting the night green. It reflected in Remus’ mousy hair and in the whites of his eyes. Sirius hunched his shoulders and stamped his feet. The snow was beginning to freeze solid.
The air was full of smoke, green and sulphurous. The farmhouse was still burning, great gouts of flame that wouldn’t go out. One of the first Aurors on the scene had got too close. Sirius had helped get him to the portkey to St Mungo’s, his leg still on fire.
There was a Muggle woman sitting on a tree stump, on the other side of the garden, wailing and rocking as she stared at the ruins of her home. James Potter was crouched beside her, talking gently. She wouldn’t look at him.
“She had three kids,” Remus said suddenly. It was the first thing he’d said since he apparated into the area, summoned, like Sirius, from his bed. “And there were two boys, as well, in the other family. Yarwood.”
“Ravenclaw,” Sirius said automatically.
The stars were out, though he could barely see them through the smoke. He could see the moon, though, a pale, dead sliver in the dark of the night. The air was still, so still he could hear every crack and pop of the fire. Under it all was the stealthy sigh of the sea, sliding onto the shore half a mile away. There was a green hum to the air, under the sulphur, of salt and marsh and fen.
He needed to move. He needed to do something. Not just stand here and watch.
“Patience,” Remus said warningly.
Sirius shrugged again, feeling the scratchy wool of his Gryffindor scarf brush his chin. “Term starts on Monday.”
“Yeah.” Remus tucked his hands under his arms and stared up at the moon. Sirius knew he was thinking of empty places at long tables; of the whisper of names as each day began, the long lists of the lost.
Why the fuck were they just standing here? Moody had told them to wait for orders. Had he forgotten they were there?
Someone came jogging over towards them, a shadow figure against the snow, hands cupped around a cigarette. As the tip flared, Sirius recognised his cousin’s husband.
Ted nodded to them sharply. “Alright, Sirius? Lupin.”
“Evening,” Sirius said. “Don’t let Meda know you’re back on those.”
Ted snorted. “Desperate times, mate.” Then he stared up at the leering skull and said, “Fuck.”
“What’s going on?” Sirius asked. Technically, Ted was too high-up to ask but family was family.
“The usual. Getting statements. Trying to work out how the fuckers found him. Trying to get a decent description from the Muggles before the Obliviators take over. Your mate’s a help.”
“Yeah,” Sirius said proudly. “Anything we can do?”
“Hang tight. They always play it safe when they call these in. In case they’re still here.” He glared out at the bare fields. “Bastards. They knew something. They must have.”
“Why?” Remus asked, huddling into his coat. It was the same one he’d had since fifth year, Sirius noted, and it was wearing thin at the elbows.
Ted glanced at them, his face tight. “Damn. You’re too new. Yarwood was one of us. Took apart the Hexcombe Coven back in June.” He flicked ash onto the trodden snow. “Been in hiding even since, him and Ruth. Muggleborn, both of them. Fuckers.”
James rose from his crouch and loped toward them, his breath pale clouds in the cold night. His face was grim, ash smeared into the lines of his frown and smudged across his glasses. “Auror Tonks?”
“Yeah?”
“One of the Yarwood kids might have got away.”
Ted straightened at once, unfolding from his slouch. “Go on.”
“Mrs Jowell saw it. She’s confused, though, and she doesn’t know much about magic. She said, ‘I saw Stevie, oh, god, poor little Stevie, blasted out the hayloft. He was still holding that broom they liked to mess with. Oh,God, oh, God, the children. It was as if he was flying.’ Then she broke down again. We won’t get anything more from her.” His voice had taken on the Norfolk accent of the farmer’s wife as he spoke. Sirius, who had seen him make more creative use of that gift for mimicry, shuddered.
Ted dropped his cigarette, grinding it out against the snow. “Thin chance.”
“Steven Yarwood,” James said simply. “Ravenclaw Chaser. Fast little bastard.”
Ted whistled. “Right. Good work, mate. Where’s the rest of your team?”
“Clean-up,” James said shortly, not looking at any of them. Beside Sirius, Remus shivered, a sharp jerk of motion.
Ted was already striding away, whipping his head round to look for someone. The burning house made him cast a long shadow.
“Best get after him,” Remus said and James nodded and went.
Sirius turned his back on the house and glared out over the fields. There was a long line of trees running down towards the sea, bone black and bare. There were shadowy ditches, like lines of the face of the earth. Somewhere out there could be a kid who’d just lost everything. He remembered Steven Yarwood, a smart-mouthed little third-year with a nose too long for his face, and a knack for turning 360° in mid-air. Was he in the air now, still fleeing, or had he gone to ground? Or was he dead, like the rest of them, crashed against the hard earth somewhere in the trees beyond the house?
He was shifting on his heels. It was time to move, long past that time.
“Down, boy,” Remus muttered.
Moody was coming towards them, James and Ted at his heels. “Black!” he barked.
“Sir?” Sirius said, remembering just in time not to make it sarcastic.
“You can fly, can’t you?”
“A bit, yeah.”
“Don’t try to be clever, you little shit. Get in the air. Lupin, you’re on ground. Black, shadow him from above. Head north-west along the coast. You’re looking for the kid but watch yourselves. Fuckers might still be out there. Constant Vigilance. What the fuck are you waiting for?”
“A broom,” Sirius said.
Moody looked at him with slow disdain. “Jones had them. Get moving. You! Obliviator! Why the fuck is this place still burning?”
Abandoning James, Sirius loped over and collected a broom from Hestia Jones. She smiled at him from under her scarf, a thin-lipped, weary flicker. He winked at her and jogged back to meet Remus, who already had his wand out.
Sirius held his own out towards Remus and they both murmured, “Coaudio.” A little red spark leapt between their wands. Then Sirius slung himself over the broom, soaring into the cold night. He paused to hover about twenty metres up, high enough to see anyone approaching them but low enough to dive to the rescue. Around him other Aurors were rising, their wands glimmering faintly with the communication spell. He was pleased to see they all chose a similar height. He wasn’t as daft as Moody thought.
“You in position?” Remus said. His voice sounded thin and tinny coming from the end of Sirius’ wand.
Sirius looked down. He could see the top of Remus’ head and grinned as Remus looked up, his face a pale flash against his dark coat, breath pluming around him. “I’m right on top of you, mate.”
Remus snorted and set off towards the sea, setting a slow pace. Sirius drifted above him, scanning the land below.
“How far do you think he could get?”
“Depends. Been three hours or so. In a straight line – could be somewhere over the Wash by now. If he’s doubling back, no idea. Depends if he’s scared. Or hurt.”
“Or under Imperio,” Remus said grimly. “Or the traitor.”
“You’re a cheery one.”
“Think of all possibilities.”
They’d reached the beach now and Remus paused. Sirius thought he was squinting north and said, “Clear as far as I can see.”
“Might be a long night.”
“Better get moving then, mate. Before our bits freeze off. Fucking freezing up here.”
“Not much better down here.” Remus sounded tense, despite the banter.
Sirius, who fancied he could feel the green heat at his back, understood. “Let’s go,” he said. “Let’s go.”
To be continued…
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm just borrowing them because I like them.
Wordcount: 1380
Prompt: Beneath a night no longer May,
Where only cold stars shine,
One glimmering ocean spreads away
This haunted life of mine;
And, shattered on the frozen shore,
My harp can never wake,--
When will this night of death be o'er?
When will the morning break?
- William Winter, "The Night Watch"
Notes: Done the obvious with this one. Or I would have done if you weren't imagining this, etc. ;)
Title from Richard III.
1 2 3 4 5 6
The Dark Mark still hung in the air over the farmhouse, tainting the night green. It reflected in Remus’ mousy hair and in the whites of his eyes. Sirius hunched his shoulders and stamped his feet. The snow was beginning to freeze solid.
The air was full of smoke, green and sulphurous. The farmhouse was still burning, great gouts of flame that wouldn’t go out. One of the first Aurors on the scene had got too close. Sirius had helped get him to the portkey to St Mungo’s, his leg still on fire.
There was a Muggle woman sitting on a tree stump, on the other side of the garden, wailing and rocking as she stared at the ruins of her home. James Potter was crouched beside her, talking gently. She wouldn’t look at him.
“She had three kids,” Remus said suddenly. It was the first thing he’d said since he apparated into the area, summoned, like Sirius, from his bed. “And there were two boys, as well, in the other family. Yarwood.”
“Ravenclaw,” Sirius said automatically.
The stars were out, though he could barely see them through the smoke. He could see the moon, though, a pale, dead sliver in the dark of the night. The air was still, so still he could hear every crack and pop of the fire. Under it all was the stealthy sigh of the sea, sliding onto the shore half a mile away. There was a green hum to the air, under the sulphur, of salt and marsh and fen.
He needed to move. He needed to do something. Not just stand here and watch.
“Patience,” Remus said warningly.
Sirius shrugged again, feeling the scratchy wool of his Gryffindor scarf brush his chin. “Term starts on Monday.”
“Yeah.” Remus tucked his hands under his arms and stared up at the moon. Sirius knew he was thinking of empty places at long tables; of the whisper of names as each day began, the long lists of the lost.
Why the fuck were they just standing here? Moody had told them to wait for orders. Had he forgotten they were there?
Someone came jogging over towards them, a shadow figure against the snow, hands cupped around a cigarette. As the tip flared, Sirius recognised his cousin’s husband.
Ted nodded to them sharply. “Alright, Sirius? Lupin.”
“Evening,” Sirius said. “Don’t let Meda know you’re back on those.”
Ted snorted. “Desperate times, mate.” Then he stared up at the leering skull and said, “Fuck.”
“What’s going on?” Sirius asked. Technically, Ted was too high-up to ask but family was family.
“The usual. Getting statements. Trying to work out how the fuckers found him. Trying to get a decent description from the Muggles before the Obliviators take over. Your mate’s a help.”
“Yeah,” Sirius said proudly. “Anything we can do?”
“Hang tight. They always play it safe when they call these in. In case they’re still here.” He glared out at the bare fields. “Bastards. They knew something. They must have.”
“Why?” Remus asked, huddling into his coat. It was the same one he’d had since fifth year, Sirius noted, and it was wearing thin at the elbows.
Ted glanced at them, his face tight. “Damn. You’re too new. Yarwood was one of us. Took apart the Hexcombe Coven back in June.” He flicked ash onto the trodden snow. “Been in hiding even since, him and Ruth. Muggleborn, both of them. Fuckers.”
James rose from his crouch and loped toward them, his breath pale clouds in the cold night. His face was grim, ash smeared into the lines of his frown and smudged across his glasses. “Auror Tonks?”
“Yeah?”
“One of the Yarwood kids might have got away.”
Ted straightened at once, unfolding from his slouch. “Go on.”
“Mrs Jowell saw it. She’s confused, though, and she doesn’t know much about magic. She said, ‘I saw Stevie, oh, god, poor little Stevie, blasted out the hayloft. He was still holding that broom they liked to mess with. Oh,God, oh, God, the children. It was as if he was flying.’ Then she broke down again. We won’t get anything more from her.” His voice had taken on the Norfolk accent of the farmer’s wife as he spoke. Sirius, who had seen him make more creative use of that gift for mimicry, shuddered.
Ted dropped his cigarette, grinding it out against the snow. “Thin chance.”
“Steven Yarwood,” James said simply. “Ravenclaw Chaser. Fast little bastard.”
Ted whistled. “Right. Good work, mate. Where’s the rest of your team?”
“Clean-up,” James said shortly, not looking at any of them. Beside Sirius, Remus shivered, a sharp jerk of motion.
Ted was already striding away, whipping his head round to look for someone. The burning house made him cast a long shadow.
“Best get after him,” Remus said and James nodded and went.
Sirius turned his back on the house and glared out over the fields. There was a long line of trees running down towards the sea, bone black and bare. There were shadowy ditches, like lines of the face of the earth. Somewhere out there could be a kid who’d just lost everything. He remembered Steven Yarwood, a smart-mouthed little third-year with a nose too long for his face, and a knack for turning 360° in mid-air. Was he in the air now, still fleeing, or had he gone to ground? Or was he dead, like the rest of them, crashed against the hard earth somewhere in the trees beyond the house?
He was shifting on his heels. It was time to move, long past that time.
“Down, boy,” Remus muttered.
Moody was coming towards them, James and Ted at his heels. “Black!” he barked.
“Sir?” Sirius said, remembering just in time not to make it sarcastic.
“You can fly, can’t you?”
“A bit, yeah.”
“Don’t try to be clever, you little shit. Get in the air. Lupin, you’re on ground. Black, shadow him from above. Head north-west along the coast. You’re looking for the kid but watch yourselves. Fuckers might still be out there. Constant Vigilance. What the fuck are you waiting for?”
“A broom,” Sirius said.
Moody looked at him with slow disdain. “Jones had them. Get moving. You! Obliviator! Why the fuck is this place still burning?”
Abandoning James, Sirius loped over and collected a broom from Hestia Jones. She smiled at him from under her scarf, a thin-lipped, weary flicker. He winked at her and jogged back to meet Remus, who already had his wand out.
Sirius held his own out towards Remus and they both murmured, “Coaudio.” A little red spark leapt between their wands. Then Sirius slung himself over the broom, soaring into the cold night. He paused to hover about twenty metres up, high enough to see anyone approaching them but low enough to dive to the rescue. Around him other Aurors were rising, their wands glimmering faintly with the communication spell. He was pleased to see they all chose a similar height. He wasn’t as daft as Moody thought.
“You in position?” Remus said. His voice sounded thin and tinny coming from the end of Sirius’ wand.
Sirius looked down. He could see the top of Remus’ head and grinned as Remus looked up, his face a pale flash against his dark coat, breath pluming around him. “I’m right on top of you, mate.”
Remus snorted and set off towards the sea, setting a slow pace. Sirius drifted above him, scanning the land below.
“How far do you think he could get?”
“Depends. Been three hours or so. In a straight line – could be somewhere over the Wash by now. If he’s doubling back, no idea. Depends if he’s scared. Or hurt.”
“Or under Imperio,” Remus said grimly. “Or the traitor.”
“You’re a cheery one.”
“Think of all possibilities.”
They’d reached the beach now and Remus paused. Sirius thought he was squinting north and said, “Clear as far as I can see.”
“Might be a long night.”
“Better get moving then, mate. Before our bits freeze off. Fucking freezing up here.”
“Not much better down here.” Remus sounded tense, despite the banter.
Sirius, who fancied he could feel the green heat at his back, understood. “Let’s go,” he said. “Let’s go.”
To be continued…
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 07:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 10:51 am (UTC)I wanted to show the insidious effect of the war. They're all trying to carry on as usual but it slides into their everyday routines and changes everything.
Thanks for the comment :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 07:53 am (UTC)This was ruthless and painful and yet so very, very well done. The magic seems real in this, and the politics involved, along with the tine details as Ted being far too high in comparison with the boys, James' lugubre use of a fun talent, the woman going mad at the side of the street.
Just wow, really, and now I'll stop spaming your inbox XD
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 11:12 am (UTC)It felt odd writing this one, rather the usual high jinks. This is much closer to the sort of thing I write in my original fic and it felt strange to write something gritty with these boys.
Thank you for all your comments :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 07:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 07:22 pm (UTC)Glad you liked it :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-09 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-09 11:01 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked it :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-09 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-09 11:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-10 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-09 11:36 pm (UTC)i mean.
i'm not excited. :X
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Date: 2006-01-09 11:42 pm (UTC):)
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Date: 2008-07-25 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-02 04:08 am (UTC)