Being a Greengrass after all should sound pretty serene.
But being a part of "the Emeralds" should not, especially when hearts become entangled with the infamous Regulus Black.
Goodness, lawfulness, or evilness. Which path will they tread in the ti...
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June 3rd, 1981
Numbness was the first thing Avery registered the moment she woke up.
Her eyes opened slowly to be greeted with complete darkness, or at least that was what she thought initially, before coming to her senses again. She was in the Forbidden Forest. Her hands were bound tightly behind her against the base of a tree, wand nowhere in sight. Several figures stood nearby in dark robes, all of their masks discarded now that there was no point hiding identities.
Bellatrix Lestrange, Mulciber, Rookwood, Dolohov, Alecto Carrow. Not counting the one standing directly in front of them all: Voldemort. Well, that was significantly worse.
Avery forced herself upright slightly against the tree, trying not to show how unsteady she still felt. Then a movement behind caught her attention; turns out there was another one she hadn't counted. A few feet farther back from the group, Barty was sitting lazily against a fallen log like this was all somehow beneath his interest. His eyes met hers almost immediately.
"Hello, Avery," he greeted lightly, tilting his head in mock politeness. "Welcome back."
Avery gritted her teeth, glaring at him. "Go fuck yourself."
He let out a quiet breath through his nose, almost amused. "You're awake for less than thirty seconds and already argumentative. Impressive as always."
Avery tested the ropes around her wrists subtly. Tight. Wonderful.
Her voice lowered further, hissing, "What the hell is this? Why am I still alive?"
Barty glanced briefly toward the others gathered farther ahead in the clearing. None of them had noticed she was awake yet. Voldemort was speaking quietly with Bellatrix while Mulciber and Dolohov stood watch near the trees.
Then his eyes returned to her.
"What does it look like? Care to take a guess, dear Ave?"
"You've lost the privilege to call me that years ago," she retorted with a slight wince.
"Hm, fair point," he murmured mockingly as he leaned in closer, "Come on, I know you're intelligent. Take a guess."
Avery stared at him coldly. "Lure Regulus?"
One of Barty's brows lifted faintly.
"That isn't going to work," she continued firmly. "If Voldemort thinks Regulus Black is stupid enough to walk blindly into this, then he's even more delusional than I thought."
Barty tilted his head, watching her carefully now. "You really think he'd choose survival over you? I thought you knew better, Ave."
Before Avery could respond, Bellatrix suddenly glanced back toward them. Her eyes narrowed instantly.
"My Lord," she called.
And Voldemort turned around. Avery instinctively straightened slightly against the tree despite the pounding in her head. Voldemort regarded her silently for a long moment as he approached. Bellatrix moved aside immediately for him, though not without shooting Avery a look filled with open hatred.
