Ultimatums

Chapter 65

Rosier crouched behind a discarded table, counting to three and starting again when he got there in his head. He couldn't find Avery, the spells and chaos  making it hard to make his way across the battlefield. They were outside where they were keeping the Muggles, but the building had long since been a victim of their fighting. Bits of furniture had been expelled once people started fighting inside, and that's where he took his refuge. The Muggles banged against the bars of their cells, screaming and shouting, the sound enough to turn an innocent man's stomach.

The loud noises were keeping him awake, stopping him from spiralling and cementing him in the moment. Rosier finished his final 1,2,3, standing and bolting across the field. His trench coat billowed in the wind and his slightly overgrown blond locks fell into his eyes. Of course, he couldn't run uninterrupted for long. Remus Lupin jumped into his path. He looked weary, older then the last time Rosier had seen him.

"Evan" he said, smiling tiredly and raising his wand.

"Remus" Rosier replied curtly, pointing his own toward his old friend. 

They looked at each other for a few moments, melancholic. Then the rapid fire began. Remus's movements were whip sharp, but Evan was just as good. Maybe even better.

"What will you do after this?" Remus shouted, dodging a jinx.

Rosier considered for a moment. "If we win, live the same life with Avery." he dropped low, Remus's curse missing by millimetres. "If we lose, make sure he doesn't spend a day in Azkaban"

He made a cutting motion, snakes flying from his wand and encircling Remus. They spat venom at him and hissed viciously.

Rosier paused to catch his breath. He nodded sincerely "I hope you and Sirius make it out of here alright"

"Well you're making it pretty damn hard" he laughed slightly, jumping around the snakes and trying to aim spells at them.

Jogging off, Rosier began to survey the battlefield again. Bellatrix was taking four Order members at once, cackling into the wind and sounding deranged. Rookwood and Dolohov were back to back, taking on their own onslaughts together. Luckily they were all too focused on their own battles to notice him.

The only person he couldn't see was Avery.

Finally, Rosier stopped, breathing heavily. Chaos ensued in every direction. And then it all stopped. Copper hair flickered in the small blessings of light that the crossfire granted him. His heart lept. Before he could move, a body collided into him.

Rosier didn't have time to draw his wand.

Luckily, it turned into an embrace, and when the person pulled away Rosier was looking into Regulus Black's eyes.

"Reg" he exclaimed. "What're you doing here? The Dark Lord.. he'll kill you if he finds you here! Bella'll kill you!"

Regulus smirked, though he looked uneasy. His face was paler than usual. "Don't you worry mate. I've got a plan"

Rosier nodded and turned away, searching through the crowds once more. A hint of auburn, a freckled arm, a new cloak. Any sort of hint.

And then he caught it.

He sprinted off, calling back "it's good to see you Reg!"

Regulus wasn't worried for himself. Of course not. He'd been doing this for years, pretending to be on the other side. He was worried for Hermione.

☎️

Lord Voldemort walked through Godrics Hollow. The cold bit at him, but when you've cut up your soul and murdered your way through your problems being cold isn't much of an issue.

The town was quaint, each cottage similar in design but entirely unique in decoration. He'd gotten the address from Wormtail. The man had risen slowly in the ranks, supplying him with information that no one else could get him. But he still annoyed the shit out of him. His cowardice repelled him.

The Dark Lord pushed open the Potter's gate, the hinges creaking slightly. The garden was generally tended to and he paused to let a tall flower wind its self around his curled fingers. His cloak fluttered behind him as he knocked on the door politely.

No one answered.

Of course, then he took to the more expected approach. Blowing the door down. Splintered wood flew everywhere, the china vase by the door smashing onto the floor.

Voldemort walker gracefully through the house, every movement like he was travelling through water. He paused beside the door leading to the kitchen. Without looking inside he whispered "Hello Ms Black"