From Forgiveness to Madness

"Demons"

(...)

I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside

There's nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed

We still are made of greed

This is my kingdom come

This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't wanna let you down

But I am hell bound

Though this is all for you

Don't wanna hide the truth

(...)

They say it's what you make

I say it's up to fate

It's woven in my soul

I need to let you go

Your eyes, they shine so bright

I wanna save that light

I can't escape this now

Unless you show me how

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Lyrics from "Demons" by Imagine Dragons, January 2013, published by Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group. "Demons" is track two on the album Continued Silence.

Disclaimer: The wonderful J.K. Rowling owns everything...the Harry Potter fandom/Potterverse fandom. I do not own the Harry Potter fandom, nor the characters in it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

* R *

Wand up, Remus threw himself in front of Sirius and the others, guarding Nagini as a human shield.

He raised one hand up, as if an invisible wall were raised, saying, "Stay back! She's here on her own accord; I brought her here! Leave her be!"

Dumbledore and Moody stepped forward beside Sirius as the others started to pan out semi-circularly in the background, backing Remus and Nagini up against the wall. Gruffly, Alastor ordered in a matter-of-fact tone, "Spread out! Check the rest of the house."

The Prewett twins and paired others darted away to search the premises.

Remus watched Dumbledore with bated breath as the elder wizard peered intensely over his half-moon spectacles at Nagini. "Move away, Remus."

"No."

Sirius tsked in disgust. "Don't be a bloody twat. Move, Moony."

They glared at each other, and Remus noted that there was a more than usual grimness and edge to Sirius than usual, but he remained firm. "No. I brought her here so she wouldn't be harmed and she would feel safe."

"Don't make me hex you, mate."

"No one here!" came shouts from the others, affirming that no other undesirables were present, only Nagini.

There were simultaneous spells thrown in a flash of motions at Remus by Sirius and James while Nagini was disarmed of her wand by Moody, who roughly grabbed and tugged her into the parlour while Sirius and Fabian kept Remus at bay.

He watched as Moody held a thrashing Nagini, and Dumbledore cast a non-verbal spell; she froze, only to go limp, slinking to the floor. Then, her eyes wide open, she convulsed as Albus appeared to be probing her with Legilimency.

As the others trickled in around the periphery of the space, Moody grunted out, "James and Lily, go and pick up your infant and then go home. Frank and Alice, you as well."

"I'll go to Molly's with them," said Fabian, and Gideon instantly deduced, "And I'll escort you two to Augusta's." Then the twins chimed together, "We'll meet back here in the blink of an eye."

"Constant vigilance, you two!" growled Moody. "Stealth and awareness at all times. Death Eaters are having a busy night, preparing for a special Hallowe'en feast, surely."

Flustered, Potter insisted, "I'll take and leave Lily and Harry. But then I'll return to help patrol, Albus..."

"No, James. Think of your wife and child, as they need you more. Stay in hiding. Voldemort will strike, and he will strike hard. Go directly to your safe house until you're contacted."

Lily touched James' arm, and disgruntled, he nevertheless conceded.

The moment the group had exited, Albus pivoted around, glaring at Nagini intently, and watched as Remus, who had broken free from Sirius' hold, lifted and cradled her torso protectively in his arms.

Moody, Sirius, and Dumbledore were staring at them as he quietly said, "She's done nothing wrong."

It was Sirius who lunged down and ripped open Nagini's cloth on her left arm with his bare hands, fiercely whispering, "Wrong? She a fucking Death Eater's slag...look!" He forced Remus to look at the Dark Mark's serpentine tattoo on her arm. "So, she's not one of them, mate? She's an innocent?"

With disgust, Sirius rose, yelling, "What the bloody fuck were you thinking bringing her here?"

Dumbledore held up a hand to silence Sirius but to no avail.

"No, he needs to hear this...while you've been slumming it with her this evening, Benjy Fenwick has disappeared tonight! Her master and his cronies have been busy this evening. Where the fuck have you been, Moony?"

Remus refused to speak, his jaw muscles clenched in tension.

Alastor spoke up. "We saw her with a suspected lot o' them in the Ministry as we were leaving...Malfoy, Bode, and Rookwood. Then Remus and I left together, only to separate. Where did you go, lad? You said you'd meet up with us at The Burrow in no time flat," pointed out Moody in an uncharacteristically gentler manner.

"I needed a drink... I needed to be alone for a bit." Remus hesitated then admitted, "I didn't know, but she followed me. She followed me there..."

"Where?" demanded Sirius.

"The Mewling Quim."

"Ha! What a coincidence...how convenient, you bloody berk."

"It wasn't like that; nothing like that at all."

"Like what, Moony? The only thing the Quim is good for is a quick drink and a quick piece of arse."

"We just had a few drinks." Remus gave Dumbledore an embarrassed look. "I hadn't seen Nagini since... since that time." He gulped, remembering. "Malfoy and Bode showed up at the Quim, but we were able to leave undetected. We needed somewhere safe to go, so I brought her here. I needed to know the truth from her." He gave Nagini a gentle look. "I still do."

Sirius groaned, "Oh, bloody hell... So now, what the fuck do we do with her, Remus, hmm?"

Remus' heart was pounding as the Ministerial edict allowing Aurors to use the killing curse against Death Eaters raced through his mind.

"Mercy killing," said Moody grimly, moving a few steps nearer.

"Yeah, enough innocents have disappeared and been murdered. Let's send Voldemort a message he'll understand." Sirius raised his wand.

"Or we send her back to her lair," suggested Moody calculatingly.

"Which is where?" demanded Sirius.

Dumbledore finally spoke, "If my hunch is right from what you've told me, it is with Augustus Rookwood. The Unspeakable."

"Why him?" asked Remus.

"Malfoy and Bode seem to be out for an evening's entertainment; they would not be so carefree and careless if in charge of Voldemort's ward."

Moody nodded his head in agreement, adding, "And Rookwood said he was having some boys over for drinks... His reputation for pretty boys is well known. So he's having his entertainment at home... Nagini and he are Unspeakables... He's her supervisor, publicly, and her guardian or caretaker for Voldemort, clandestinely, no doubt."

"But why would Rookwood risk falsely giving Nagini Lestrange a position, taking her under his wing, at the Department of Mysteries for the Ministry? What's so special about her?" sneered Sirius.

"Firstly, if Augustus is indeed deeply within Voldemort's inner circle, he has no choice and willingly wishes it..."

"Or he's Imperioed, as they're all claiming to be if and when caught alive," snorted Sirius.

"And secondly, there's nothing false about her position there. There was an opening in the Department, and she's..."

"She's has Darna Shealladh," Remus lifted his eyes informing them, "the Second Eye. She is a true Seer."

"Which explains Voldemort's keen interest in her," said Dumbledore grimly. "Tom Riddle is searching for something... He is seeking something deep and protected within the heart of the Ministry. He is seeking the answers of what will be in his desire for domination and power..."

"She is merely one of many minions he has chosen to use," observed Moody.

"So the chance to infiltrate the Death Eater's circle is laying right before us." Sirius licked his lips, excited, and pointed his wand directly at Nagini. "Carpe diem. We've got our special ticket to enter their circle right here."

Remus held her tighter as he saw Alastor, Sirius, and Albus stare at her intently again, each with his own purpose.

"He's right, Albus. It's a chance," commented Moody shrewdly, "but are you game for it, Black?"

"A chance to save Fenwick's life? Find out where he's been abducted to? Maybe find out a bit more of what's happened to my git of a brother?" spat Sirius, giving Alastor a dark, wolfish grin. "Oh, yes, I'm in, and I'll have ol' Augustus eating out of the palm of my hand and sharing information in no time. Just need to be left alone with the bugger intimately for a bit... We go way back... He introduced me to the ways of the world, shall we say?"

Dumbledore was still reflecting on matters, keeping his gaze solemnly on the pair, who were still holding each other protectively.

"Remus? Your thoughts?" asked Albus quietly.

He gave Dumbledore a solemn look. The old man knows me all too well... "We have to save her. Somehow."

Sirius cursed under his breath. "You..."

"If we go in, if we get in, if there's a plan to get out, a chance...Nagini comes with us."

"No." It was Nagini. Her voice was small and strained as she raised her head from Remus' chest and repeated, "No." Remus started to protest but she cut him off. "There is no going back. There is no return."

She snapped her head to Dumbledore, and her eyes seemed to have a red glint for the briefest second. "You will fail. And all of those that you hold near and dear will be tortured and beg for death."

Dumbledore raised his wand and hit her with a spell; an odd glow of dust-like elements surrounded her form for several seconds. She convulsed and twisted in Remus' arms, going limp, as he pleaded, "What are you doing to her? Stop!"

The old wizard continued for several seconds more and then ceased his probing. The exertion showed as he rasped, "Powerful spells possess her. She is unable to be released from them, to unveil within her mind what has exactly been done to her, anything about Tom Riddle..."

Several seconds passed in silence as all considered the next step.

"So we infiltrate," said Alastor firmly.

"And what will keep her from telling all our little secrets?" snarled Sirius in a low voice.

"Your promise," piped in Nagini again. She seemed weaker, subdued; her eyes were golden and more gentle again.

They all stared at her.

"Your promise to put me out of my misery, to let me rest, to give me peace."

"We can do that right now," stated Sirius bluntly.

"Slow down there, lad. First, let's just prevent her from being a party to our little brainstorming for a wee bit, shall we?" said Moody with a dangerously cold edge to his voice. He snapped his wand up, zapping and rendering Nagini unconscious. "So the plan, Black?"

"We deliver her to her lair... Innocent enough," said Sirius, smirking coldly. "She had one drink too many with her happenstance of a rendezvous with a very old friend, and knowing the ways of Slytherin opportunist all too well as I do, I'll explain my presence being that I wanted to use this chance to reconnect with ol 'Augustus...I've chosen him out of all others to trust. He'll be flattered, as he's always had a special fondness for me."

Alastor's face scrunched in doubt. "A bit far-fetched, Sirius. He won't buy it."

"The trick to deceiving him is in the truth. Rumour has it I'm desperate to have contact with them, clandestinely, because of Regulus. And if I play the good ol' pureblood card, having seen the error of my ways, discontented, so very, very desperate, et cetera, I'll be able to talk Rookwood's pants off and see how deep I can penetrate that Ministry façade of his." Sirius gave a grim grin. "If you're right about him, Albus, he definitely can be the key to my gaining entrance into Voldemort's inner circle. Then we'll see what's on the menu."

"And Remus? Your thoughts?" asked Albus again, keenly watching him.

"She's our ticket as you say. To inside." His mind raced with summoning all the inside information, rumours, swirling around. "Voldemort needs someone to parley with werewolves." Remus stared into Sirius' eyes, burning as tensely as his hand that was gripping his wand in a death grip. He's no doubt ready to murder Nagini at the blink of an eye! Must proceed carefully!

Remus said slowly, "You've been wanting a way to find out where Regulus is... whether he's disappeared... or worse..."

Sirius winced and slowly sat down, ruminating, as Alastor commented, "That's it, start thinking like an Auror, Lupin."

"Your specific idea, Remus?" asked Dumbledore softly.

"Sirius and I return Nagini to her..."

"Lair," jibed Sirius.

"Returning her unharmed, under false pretences, will allow us some time, some credibility that we wish her no harm, on the contrary..."

Remus' thought faltered momentarily before stating the obvious. "She must be a willing participant." They all looked gravely at Nagini's unconscious form. "And as Voldemort seeks someone to parley with other werewolves...who better than I? It's what I've been trained for...the Dark Arts and Auror skills, though not allowed to officially be one due to my classification: XXXXX status in the wizarding world. I'm labelled a dangerous magical beast, a wizard murderer even by the Ministry, so I should fit right in with Voldemort's collage of subversives, giants, werewolves...even the goblins are said to be contemplating supporting him."

Dumbledore ordered Remus quietly, "Nagini's ring, give it to me."

Remus took it off her finger but hesitated before handing it over to him. "She, um, told me it's charmed already; it glows if someone is nearing her chamber..."

"Cursed and betwitched yet again seems to be the case." The elder reflected on the object with the Slytherin emblem charred as if something had exploded out of the metal. After several seconds he responded quietly, "It will do quite nicely." He then proceeded to cast a spell testing the resistance level of the object before spelling it with his intentional bewitchment. "Choose a word or phrase, Remus."

Remus was confused.

"Bond the object with a phrase, Remus, quickly!"

He blurted out, "Chocolate-Frog girl."

"So be it. One newly made Portkey." Dumbledore held the ring up, slightly smoking with magical enhancements momentarily before turning cool again, and then slowly handed it back to Remus, saying, "Some Portkeys are triggered only by a person's touch, but this shall be by both verbal and haptic means. When you need to escape, use it. It must be placed in the palm of one's hand, gripped, and the phrase spoken or thought. It will bring you to my private quarters at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore peered at Nagini. "Place it back on her finger." Remus did so, and the older wizard seemed satisfied.

"Now. Let's revive her," Dumbledore waved his wand over Nagini, and her eyes popped open, conscious and alert, "and inform her of the decision."

Moody stepped forward, enjoining her, "You're going to take Sirius and Remus home with you, girl. And you're going to play along on our side until it's no longer needed."

"You'll have to curse me stronger than the Dark Lord," she panted. "Do it! The force it would take will kill me...I welcome it!"

"No," said Remus softly; she turned to him and visibly relaxed. He quietly appealed to her, "Would you...could you do this? Help us, help me have a chance...a chance of infiltrating..."

"And if he searches my mind? Don't you understand..."

"By the time you see your master again, we'll be dead already or he will," snarled Sirius. "Voldemort is striking hard with each passing day; things are going to explode at any second!" He whispered fiercely, "We need tonight, Lestrange; we need now!"

"You need something from me, Black?"

"Yes..." Sirius' voice incongruously softened as he entreated, "Do it for your mother's memory. Her votive attempt to save you from that living hell."

Nagini's eyes grew wide, and she glared at him, shocked as if awakening in ice water.

"I remember your mum, Nagini. Portentia Belby... I remember... I know the truth." Sirius gave Remus a look of understanding, as if resigning himself to the inevitability of the situation, and added, "And do it for Remus."

Her lips quivered as she struggled with something awakened deep from within her. Haltingly, she warned, "There is no going back; once you are touched by him and those who worship him, you will be scarred for life."

"Remus is already scarred for life, Lestrange. I...we've all been scarred by the Dark, by Voldemort and the misery he's continuing to spread... Who knows that better than you? And more will be victimised unless we have a chance to stop him." Remus could see that Sirius was biting his cheeks with tension, waiting for her to respond to him, but Padfoot snapped and spat out, "In that dark, cold-blooded heart of yours, give us a chink of opportunity to try!"

"Cold blooded? You dare say that to me after you..." She abruptly stopped and continued to be struggling with an internal conflict, spouting, "If you wish to lower yourselves to all that is foul and evil, all that is tainted..."

Dumbledore spoke up, "Riddle cannot comprehend love or affection for another. He believes he is superior to everyone around him, so use your unfathomable weapon... Nagini, on that morsel of love you contain within for your mother, her sacrifice, for Remus..."

She protested, "I am irreclaimable."

"That remains to be seen... But your word, given now, your promise will not be irreclaimable. Redeem that part of you that can be. Vow not to disclose a word of this... of us for Remus' sake, for Portentia's sake."

"Is there that part, Dumbledore?" she asked darkly.

"Yes, it is there; I have seen and felt it within you, deep and raked over, as still burning coals of a fire... covered and layered over with curse after curse, but still alive..."

"An Unbreakable, Albus?" suggested Moody.

"No need to risk the unpredictable power of that magical bonding, should it render her dead from the force. No, her word to Remus will be enough. Will you not give it, Nagini?"

She held Dumbledore's gaze for several seconds before slowly turning to Remus and promising, "I vow with all my life force not to utter a word or do any action to harm you and those that you hold dear." Her eyes welled up, and one single teardrop fell down upon her cheek.

Spontaneously, Remus leaned forward and kissed it, his lips wiping her cheek dry.

Sirius cleared his throat and huskily asked, "Shall we go then?"

Remus helped Nagini get up while Moody, Sirius, and Dumbledore quickly agreed that they should return to Alphard's place at the end of the evening's escapade and await further contact from the Order clandestinely, as once they explicitly infiltrated and committed to their newfound roles, they would be marked and followed by Voldemort's followers. Moody assured them all, "We'll find another secret headquarter's for the Order."

As Sirius and Nagini exited first, Dumbledore held Remus back momentarily, advising, "She has been marked by Tom Riddle, Remus, in more ways than one... More than even I have been able to ascertain. I have no doubt that you will further bond with her... but do not forget that he is devoid of normal human responses to other people's suffering, nor ever underestimate his skills nor his fickle pettiness..."

* R *

They arrived at the Rookwood's townhouse, much in the style of number twelve, Grimmauld Place.

Nagini whispered a spell to lower the concealment charm, and they slowly walked up the stairs to the front door. Sirius asked in a tense voice, "Everyone ready to put on a show?"

No sooner had Nagini raised the knocker and pounded it a few times than the door was opened by Augustus Rookwood himself. The tall, pock-marked wizard's eyes darted from Nagini's face to those of her companions in shock. He craned his neck and gave a decisive look behind them, asking, "Others?"

"None," answered Nagini demurely. "Just some old acquaintances from our past."

Closing his silk dressing gown tighter around his torso, he urged, "Hurry, then! Inside!"

As they entered, the door was slammed shut, and Rookwood raised himself to his full height. Remus could hear music coming from one of the back rooms mixed with the sound of a boisterous group of men having a good time.

The greased-back haired wizard gave a cool and curious look at them all but addressed Sirius with a slight twist to his lips. "Black? Long time, no see."

"Time and distance both make the heart grow fonder, Augustus." Sirius gave Rookwood a charming grin. "Or would you rather I leave?"

"Depends on why you're here."

"Happenstance."

"I doubt that."

Then Sirius bluntly said, "I'd hope that I could trust you. Like I could before... before I left my family, before I left Grimmauld Place. Remember?"

"Of course I do... But trust me about what?" It was obvious that Rookwood was immediately flattered and hooked, intrigued by Sirius being there, and he gave an irritated look back towards where the ruckus from his guests was coming from. "Just some lads I have over; you're welcome to join us, Sirius, and yes, perhaps we can have a nice chat, shall we? Like old times..."

Then Rookwood turned his attention to Remus. "But what are we to do with your furry little handsome companion here?" He smirked a lascivious smile. "Personally, I don't mind, Black; the more, the merrier, but some of the other, um, pureblood chaps in there won't feel the same way."

Remus saw Sirius give Nagini a quick glance, and something passed between them, volatile but tinged with remorse. "Maybe Remus could just help Miss Lestrange here for a few minutes and then try to join us later? Help her to a room; she's feeling a bit peaky. Came across her, and she seemed to have had one too many at the ol' Mewling Quim."

Rookwood's eyelashes fluttered as he registered something, turning to Nagini and asking, "Why did you go there?"

"Remember, Lucius mentioned that Bode wished to go there... and he wished for me to join them, as he knew you were having company here..."

Augustus looked Remus up and down. "I'm not sure that this would be so wise," he said slowly, but he seemed to be fervently calculating something else, as his eyes darted back and forth from the rowdy place where the sounds of his guests were heard to the faces of the three newly arrived.

Sirius took the initiative, touching Rookwood in a friendly manner on his bicep. "Poor thing, she was just sitting there, drinking alone, one too many by the looks of it. Not the best place for a tipsy witch to be left alone in, Augustus."

"I think... I think I'm going to be sick," whispered Nagini and started to dry heave, clinging onto Rookwood, who then frantically looked at Remus.

"Her room is the last one on the left down the hall. Go further inwards, through an inner chamber," he waved hastily, visibly irked at the situation.

She seemed to know that was the sign they needed, and she turned and feigned fainting, latching on to Remus. He knew Rookwood was watching them as he half-walked, half-carried Nagini down the hall.

Remus deliberately staggered as laggardly as he could until he reached the end of the corridor and then clumsily turned and gave a quick glance back. He saw that Sirius had already thrown an arm around Augustus' shoulders, chummily asking him if he had any decent Firewhisky, and they were beelining for the little soirée that was going on in another room.

Out of Rookwood's eyesight, Nagini slowly straightened herself up and motioned to Remus to follow her through double-panelled doors. "This is an inner chamber, but my bed chamber is directly across..."

Nagini tugged at Remus as if to hurry him through the stark, menacing inner space.

Remus ears pricked up; he could feel the vortex of magic in this room, the residue of charms, spells, wards, shields... and something else... He stopped in his tracks.

"And this?" he asked, scrutinizing the outer chamber, noting runic inscriptions on spiralled, patterned designs along the panelled woodwork, as well as an oddly designed but consistent placement of stained mirrors placed strategically around the circular room.

She hesitated before answering. "A salon of sorts. For Rookwood and his guests." She slid the panelled French doors open to her room.

Remus' nose twitched, chafed, as the pattern and meaning dully registered. "It's an ensorcelling triangle, Nagini."

She stared at him, not moving, and watched Remus slowly gravitate to the centre of the noted structure.

He slowly pulled out his wand and pointed it at the floor. "I'm positive that if I blast this with a Revelio Charm, an inner, blackened circle will reveal itself underneath this lovely oriental rug." He raised an eyebrow speculatively. "Not that you would or could know, but since Hogwarts, the Dark Arts have been my speciality." He smiled grimly. "Perhaps scrying stones will be embedded in your little Seer's circle's heart here... That would be rather fitting, don't you think?" He flexed his arm as if to cast the spell.

"Don't!" she whispered in a half-cry, grabbing his arm.

"Why not? What manifested entity will be summoned? Your master's?" demanded Remus vehemently. "Is Voldemort's sigil beneath? The same filthy symbol that marks your arm, hmm?"

They stared at each other in silence until she decisively pulled him to follow her into her room.

Once they entered, she slid the panelled French doors closed.

Remus could not help but be reminded of that fateful night so long ago... But instead of Nagini warding off a dingy Hog's Head room, she seemed to be releasing enchantments in her bedroom of sterile grandeur.

She turned to him, and Remus suddenly felt the air crackle with an intense energy that made him feel for and tighten his grip on his wand. She apparently noticed how he had tensed and backed away. She stared at him with a curious look in her eyes as she slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

He watched her, noting the golden glint of her amber eyes. She seems... released... somehow...

"Can you speak more freely now?"

She shook her head at him, stilled and waited.

How to break through? I have to know what has happened to her, more... I must know more... Need to understand... Must try another way besides wizard magic... He sighed deeply, knowing he couldn't help his curiosity. Did Voldemort take a special interest in Nagini only because she has the Inner Eye...clairvoyancy?

He remembered in a flash when Lucius Malfoy had visited Nagini in the infirmary supposedly solely on the behalf of Rodolphus Lestrange. Even then, they wanted to use her... to procure her powers for Voldemort... to use her as a conduit for seeing into the future in order to control the future, any possible tool that Voldemort could collect to add on to and help ensure his rise to power...

Remus blinked hard, remembering what Dumbledore had just declared, "Nagini, on that morsel of love you contain within for Remus..."

He took courage from this and softly shared, "When I was a child... When I first was bitten and left alive, became a werewolf, my parents tried all sorts of remedies to ease my affliction... My mother was Muggle... She tried many Muggle ways of altered states to try to reduce the pain I was in, both physically and psychologically..." His voice trailed off.

What am I doing? Dumbledore's Legilimency didn't work... or perhaps he didn't tell me everything? The full truth of what he saw in her mind? It wouldn't be the first time the old man has held back information, for good reason, no doubt, but...

He looked at Nagini. The intimacy of the moment and opportunity struck him hard. I must try!

He asked in a low, husky voice, "Would you trust me now?"

"Like none other."

"I want to try to understand... what has happened, what is happening... I want to help you."

"That is futile."

"Would you trust me...will you let me try?"

She thought several moments and then nodded her head in agreement, her golden eyes shining.

"Lay down on the bed."

She tilted her head and gave him a curious look. But then she complied.

He slowly, carefully, sat down beside her form.

He tried not to think about how he wished to kiss her and hold her and try to forget about everything in the world outside of this room.

He pushed those thoughts aside, clenching his jaws and inhaled deeply. Clearing his throat, he told her in a low voice, "There are things even Voldemort does not know, Muggle things he would never value, so could never be aware of... If I can reach your inner memories through other means, if I can understand... information is knowledge, knowledge is power...power to strengthen what can be strengthen, to give one hope and fortitude, even in the darkest state."

He swallowed hard, waiting for her to rebuke his earnest belief, but she only gave him a non-responsive blink and stared at the ceiling before turning back to him, waiting.

"Riddle cannot comprehend love or affection for another. He believes he is superior to everyone around him, so use your unfathomable weapon... Nagini, on that morsel of love you contain within for Remus...

"Yes, it is there; I have seen and felt it within you, deep and raked over, as still burning coals of a fire... covered and layered over with curse over curse, but still alive..."

He shook the memory of Dumbledore's words aside and took a deep breath again. Ever so gently, he said, "I'm going to touch you, take your hand... I'm going to stroke it with my other hand's fingers... Can you feel that? Can you feel me?" She nodded. "I want you to try to relax, trust me, to think of a pleasant memory, if you can...you will have absolute free will as I make suggestions, ask questions... and you'll respond how you wish... how you can. You'll have heightened focus, awareness..."

He watched the rise and fall of her chest become slow and steady and soon saw her whole body relax. She had a dreamy expression on her face which grew as he slowed his stroking down to nil as the seconds passed by.

"Choose and concentrate on a specific memory before... before... well, before the last time when we were together at the Hog's Head." He could not help himself and gave her a hopeful look. "If you can remember any thoughts of happiness together, before..."

His voice trailed off, but Nagini held his gaze and slowly her features relaxed even more. She was having a specific memory, and the weary and tense edges disappeared around her eyes, and the softest smile came on her face. Remus swallowed hard. He adjusted his body's angle, leaning a bit more towards her.

"Are you there?"

She nodded.

Remus knew his time was limited and pushed on. "Now go forward in time a month."

Her features saddened and tensed again.

"What do you see?"

"Grey walls, dark... a dampness in the air. It is cold."

"Is anyone else there?"

"He comes... No longer the house-elf but him... I am still wounded... Everything hurts so much. He is angry; he desires more prophecies... He is greedy to know what else will be... The arrival of his child is not enough. He is greedy beyond avarice... Greedy for domination, wealth and fame. And fear. He is afraid."

"What has happened to you?"

"I am broken; my body and mind have been... damaged. I am alone. I can't seem to raise my head. I am so weak."

Barely able to speak, he rasped out, "How long are you like this?"

Nagini blinked, her face completely blank. "I don't know. Time has no meaning to me... I know not days, nights, weeks... months. Until, at some point, he is there. He reveals himself to me, but only to start... cajoling me... testing my second sight further."

She abruptly nodded to someone she was seeing in her hypnotic state then whispered secretively, "We speak in Parseltongue. The other one, the blond one, is angry but tries to conceal it. The other does not understand him. I understand him. We understand each other."

Her expression changed to neutral. "He knew my father. My Darna Shealladh has revealed that I am truly a Seer to the Dark Lord, and the prophecy is true. He too tries to force other revelations, other predictions out of me... but I am depleted... My second sight has forsaken me..."

She gasped deeply. "So I am used for other means... I touch his face and..." Her eyes fluttered shut. "I am one with him. Over sea, over land. All is revealed... It is so beautiful. So dark. So painful. The cool, deep Albanian Forest... The Diadem... so faraway, so beautiful."

"The Diadem?"

Nagini stared blankly back at the ceiling.

"The forest... so beautiful..."

"You were in Albania?"

A dreamlike look came upon her face again. "He took me there."

"Voldemort?"

"He said I was the chosen one."

"Chosen one? Chosen for what?"

"I would be his most precious one out of all of them." She blinked fretfully. "His living one. He would allow me to live."

"His living what? What?"

"Why are hurting me?"

Remus hadn't realized that he had grabbed hold of her at some time and was now squeezing her arms tight. He released his grip, gently instructing, "You have returned; you will remember the now and stretch slowly and awaken fully."

She started to stretch, but then convulsed before laying still. Remus saw that the trance was fully over and felt unsettled, unable to shake off what had been revealed. "Do you remember anything you've told me?"

She nodded and lightly touched his hand; he firmly held hers as time ticked by until she asked in a soft voice, "Hold me."

He carefully gathered her to him, guiding her to let him cradle her in his arms. Their lips lightly met, and in a flash, a surge of desire swept through them both simultaneously. It was only when he clasped her to him tightly that her cry of pain brought him back to their stark reality.

* R *