𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗜𝗜 ━━ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘
120. moths to a flame

( song for the chapter:
little dark age — the mgmt )

ORDER'S MEETING
april, 1981

          𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗫, an eerie silence shot through everyone's veins. Lily's eyes were bloodshot red. Sirius held Scarlet's arm tightly who had an arm around Everest's shoulder. She looked numb, staring into space.

"May we have a minute of silence for Miss Marlene McKinnon." Dumbledore spoke.

Scarlet felt Everest scoff in her arm, looking away with a roll of her eyes.

The blonde girl turned to her previous professor. "I'd like to arrange a funeral for Marlene."

Dumbledore looked at her as though she had grown three heads. "You cannot possibly suggest a gathering—"

"Yes, I can and I will," she snapped back, feeling Sirius' grip tightening on her wrist. "I did the impossible many times and if you can't respect the sacrifices we are making, you don't deserve any of us."

"This is too dangerous," Dumbledore's neutral face stated. "A gathering is too dangerous."

"We'll have a proper funeral for the McKinnon family, or you can consider me out of this Order—and that's my final offer." She slammed her hand onto the table firmly.

Dumbledore contemplated the matter for a few seconds, all eyes on the table on him. If he loses Scarlet, he loses a valuable member who has been divulging information straight from the enemy's side. Alongside, he loses a couple of her friends too— Sirius, Dorcas, Everest, he couldn't afford it. No one else argued for or against the girl's wish, instead, everyone stayed dead silent.

"Very well," he finally said. "You may arrange one on Hogwarts ground, I'll make sure to have extra security around."

Scarlet felt a moment of satisfaction that died down soon, leaning back with a rigid, stone-cold face. She turned to see Everest looking at her through teary-eyes, mouthing 'thank you' appreciatively.

"Why are we not striking back?" All eyes were turned to the quiet girl at the end of the table as she raised her chin confidently.

"What do you mean?" Arthur Weasley asked for confirmation.

"I mean why are we not striking back?" Dorcas Meadowes raised her tone. "Our own people are dying, so what will it take for you all to say enough is enough and fight right back to kill those bastards?"

Moody is the only one who resorts to killing on the battlefield, otherwise, everybody is always leaving enemies heavily injured. Someone named Edger Bones spoke up. "We have a plan, we cannot attack recklessly."

"I say it's about time we stop planning and planning and hit them where it hurts to give them a taste of their own medicine," said Dorcas. It made sense. The members of the Order were practically moths to the flame that the Dark Lord held, all they do is take action when he takes actions and a lot of the time, it is too late.

In Marlene's case, it was too late.

The Muggle-saying confused some at the table, especially James who spoke with a crying Lily by his side. "What does the taste of medicine mean?"

"It means we need to stop sitting on our lazy asses and make sure those Death Eaters drop dead!" Dorcas exclaimed.

"That is enough!" Alastor Moody yelled over everybody, the entire table quieting down at his booming tone. "One more outburst like that from you children, you're done!"

"Us children?" Scarlet mocked in astonishment. "We're fighting just as much as you are, if not more!"

"We?" Bones laughed mockingly. "I don't see you bringing in any good news—"

"Don't you dare—" Sirius started to defend, enraged.

"You have no idea how much I've done!" Scarlet yelled back, slamming her fist into the wooden table.

"May I have everybody's attention for a moment?" Dumbledore's calm voice quieted everybody down once again. "There will be a proper funeral for the McKinnon family and we will start to specifically attack death eaters rather than fighting in self-defence... are there any more demands, Miss Meadowes and Miss Bridget?"

Silence radiated from the two girls.

"Very well," Dumbledore nodded, turning to the adults. "And may I remind everybody, there shall be no discrimination against the young adults and, they contribute just as much," the adults all nodded simultaneously, understanding his words.

After a moment in his own thoughts, he slowly turned to Sirius and Scarlet who sat side by side. "Now, Miss Bridget and Mr Black, how would you like to attend the next mission together?"

      Sirius and Scarlet were quite contemptuous about being able to go to a mission together, it was rather exciting. He had gone out for a drink with Pettigrew and Lupin, and they all terribly missed James. Evening approached, dusk settling over and Scarlet made her way back to her house.

      She entered her home and her heart flew out of her chest, she stumbled back and her back hit the door harshly in a startled manner, her palm flew to her chest to steady her breathing.

"My Lord?" Her heart plopped out of her chest, dropping to the floor. With eyes wide as daisies and jaw clenched hard enough to break bones, she stepped forward— high heels clicking against the wooden floor. "My Lord, this is highly improper."

"Traitor," Riddle whispered. His hand clutched onto a framed photo of Sirius and Scarlet from the new year's day two years ago, long, pale fingers hovering over the two figures in the portrait with wild curiosity.

"You know there is an explanation to everything I do."

"I was wondering..." he slowly spoke, pausing between words to think it through, "I was wondering just how much one of them could mean to you that it led you to call off my mission, I was wondering what could have possibly weakened your heart so much that you gave up a win."

"You must let me explain." She hesitated. She remembered that mission a mere week ago when chaos encapsulated them, and Sirius was there on frontlines. Scarlet used her position where she was in charge and told everyone to stop attacking. She saw the look in Sirius' eyes, broken and blue and close to losing, and she called everything off. 

"You're betraying me," he said slowly, turning to her with bloodshot eyes. Scarlet maintained her composure despite her panic ridden heart, keeping distance from him as she approached the kitchen counter.

"If I betray you, I betray myself— my family and I would never do that," she explained, "out of all people, you know my family is very dear to me."

"You went behind my back—! I am your commander!" He yelled in a snarky manner, clearly burning with rage, his tone fell but his seething was far more dangerous than any yelling, "I am your leader, you listen to me, you answer to me."

"You're misunderstood, I do not answer to anybody," she reminded him. Her heart might be thumping but her ego never fears anybody. "Whether as an Order member or Death Eater, I do not fail. If I choose to get into someone's heart to pave my way through then I shall succeed."

"You do not need access to their hearts, you need to get into their minds," Riddle seethed, circling her closely, "you are telling me you cannot carry out a simple task of gathering information from their side without sleeping with one of them."

"We had an agreement," said Scarlet strongly, holding his gaze, "you let me carry out my tasks my way and let me do what I do. I don't play the game, I play the man and there is no better way to perform mind tricks than manipulating their heart strings."

"You chose Sirius Black of all people," he shook his head, clearly not fond of her choices, "his family could not change his mind, what makes you think you could?"

"Because I can do anything if I set my mind on it."

"And what is your reason for setting your mind on him?"

"He may be disowned and disgraced but he is a Black nonetheless and that power and influence he holds will never disintegrate' it runs in the blood," the girl stated, "I can convince him to do anything for me and all I have to do is get in bed with him, can you imagine how advantageous it would be for us?"

"In other words, I'm obliged to keep Sirius Black safe," he sighed, concluding the underlying message in her tone. A momentary silence overcame them as Riddle continued to stare her down with his tall figure, and he was very tall. Suddenly, he blurted out curiously, "Are you in love with him?"

"I aim to inflict damage; my feelings do not matter." She said emotionlessly, and Riddle interpreted that it was her way of saying no, ignoring how she dodged his question.

"I do not want you to be under the impression that you can choose a side when the time comes, Scarlet, I need you to remember only one of these two sides truly respects you for the girl you are and it's not them— you were born on our side, you'll always belong by my side."

"You can build a life with someone from the other side to have leverage but when dusk settles and the battle is won..." he paused, stepping closer until she was looking up at him with her chin raised, "When the right time comes, I believe you know what choice you have to make, Scarlet."

"Have I ever disappointed you?" She asked softly. This man has been practically obsessed with her ever since she was sixteen, he would do anything and even trust her blindly if it meant she stays to be his right hand.

"I have seen you on the frontlines, Scarlet, I have seen your use of dark arts and your fascinating way of attacking," Riddle added, "you're not the sort of girl made for duels or battles, you're made for war."

"Okay."

"Don't lose control of that power." His jaw clenched harshly as he locked eyes with her again, "Is there anybody else you would like me to keep safe?" Riddle asked, "You have been loyal to me, and I would like to do one thing for you."

"You know exactly who I want protected, Tom." Scarlet said, blinking slowly. Tom Riddle may see blurry through the hunger for power sometimes but the man was not blind.

"Everest Chasseur." He started confidently, and she nodded. 

      He blinked, delivering a promise and walked out of the house.

      Scarlet Bridget wore a black trench coat underneath the shivering cold, hand-in-hand with Sirius Black in his designated all leather get-up. He was wearing the leather jacket with constellations on the back, the one she gifted him. Whilst the two of them walked through a dark alleyway in high-alert in the Muggle World, Greenwich in London. Despite being spring, England has been significantly cold.

      Sirius was humming to a song, a muggle song—Dancing Queen by ABBA.

"Sirius, shut the fuck up."

Sirius continued the melodic tune, and snuck a quick little, "Don't interrupt ABBA," in a sing-song tone.

Scarlet shot him a deadpan look. She mouthed, "You're an idiot."

He gave her a love-smitten grin, as though they were not on a mission. "You're beautiful." He whispered under his breath. She smiled back and could not help but blush. She had kept that tiny secret from him, the one where Voldemort paid her a visit and found out about their relationship.

      All of the sudden, footsteps appeared from behind them—someone walking out from behind a wall, their silhouette emerging from distance.

      The couple looked unbothered. Scarlet covered her face with her scarf swiftly.

"Sirius Black, is it?" came the voice of a familiar Death Eater.

      Except, Scarlet realised—as soon as his face appeared—this wasn't just any death eater, this was the one who killed the McKinnon family. He was the one to stab Marlene in the stomach, he was the one to take the life of Everest's girlfriend.

"I'm so glad to meet the notorious blood traitor after all," he mockingly said, approaching the pair and pointing his hand to his direction threateningly.

      Sirius pushed Scarlet behind her, protectively raising an arm to block Scarlet's frame.

"Come out from behind your bodyguard, whoever you are."

"Don't you dare—" Sirius darkly said, "Don't you dare come near her."

      Scarlet's heart thumped fast inside her chest as she saw Felix stepping closer, pointing his wand directly at Sirius' throat.

      Scarlet would not let Sirius die protecting her.

"Step aside," the Death Eater said, "Let me see the girl you're willing to die for, Black."

      Scarlet tried to push Sirius off, to untangle her arms from his and reach for her wand but he would not let her. She shoved him, and he stood strong. 

"Sirius, move out of my way."

"Not a chance," he seethed, pushing her further back and stumbling in the process, "stay behind me."

"Step. Aside." Felix still had his wand pointed at him, he separated his two words with gritted teeth. 

"Right, like hell I'm gonna—" Sirius started to spit back—before he suddenly felt a hand applying pressure to the carotid artery in his neck.

      And it wasn't the Death Eater's hand.

      Scarlet had an emotionless expression plastered to her face as she applied enough force to the pressure point to make him faint—and she wasn't proud she had to do it. But this was necessary. She wasn't going to let him get in the way of her fight, and she knew he would if he wasn't taken out.

      Sirius turned around, trying to fight off Scarlet's hold on his pressure point. He turned to look at her, and as their eyes met—his irises were wide, filled with hurt, confusion and slight betrayal.

      A few seconds later, Sirius passed out from the pressure and Scarlet caught his limp body and lowered him to the floor carefully, sitting him up against the wall behind them.

      A laugh came from behind her. "That was heartless."

      Scarlet finally came into the view of the man, facing him with a glare.

The Death Eater's face fell as he gulped, the girl used a non-verbal spell to knock his wand out of his hand. He looked fearful. "Remind me of your name."

      Silence.

"I asked for something." She venomously spat.

"Yerzov... Felix Yerzov." He stumbled back, narrowing his eyes.

"I have a feeling you know who I am, Felix," she spoke with a sweet smile, voice utterly formal.

"Scarlet Bridget, the Dark Lord's right hand—" He stuttered.

"His both hands, Felix... no one compares to me." She took a step forward, and the man immediately became more hesitant.

"The Lestrange's would argue otherwise—" He tried to humour.

"Both Lestrange's are fools in love," she scoffed. "Now that you're aware of who I am... I only wonder how the Dark Lord would react if any harm came my way." She tilted her head slowly, eyeing him like a predator does its prey.

Felix stiffed, looking her in the eye and looking away.

"Take a good look at Sirius Black, and tell me, whose side do you think I'm on?" She spoke huskily, a vicious smirk playing on her lips as she approached him.

He stumbled back with one step, glancing at the unconscious body on the ground. "Ours." He gulped.

"Felix, Felix..." she chuckled eerily, playing with his name on her tongue, "I am on a mission—if you're not aware of it, you're simply not important enough to the Dark Lord—and you've dared to come in between."

"Don't kill me." He mustered the strength to blurt out when he saw her reaching for her wand. A look of vengeance in her eyes, fury dancing in her blue irises.

"Don't be silly, now," she clicked her tongue, shaking her head. She pulled out her wand out of her pocket, pointing it to his head. Felix didn't fight back, he knew there was no point in fighting her back. She could gouge his eyes out, stab him in the neck and allow him to die a painful death for what he did to Marlene. But Scarlet thought he was not worth staining her hands bloody, he was not worth her time at all.

      He was not worth a special death.

"Avada Kedavra," she whispered vengefully, simultaneously hearing two gasps. One from Felix whose life was taken within a matter of three seconds, and the other from Sirius shooting up into consciousness. 

      Now... Sirius is not a damn fool. He does not love Scarlet because he think she's some mighty ethical ministry member with connections with pureblood families merely due to good intentions. No, she's not all good for no light exists without darkness. Sirius loves her for her, and her only. From whatever twists and turns she puts him through, negatively and positively surprising him by doing something either downright evil or heroic. Black and white lines do not exist for Scarlet, it is all blurred.

      Sirius understands that sometimes she has to do the dirty work so he doesn't have to get his hands dirty. Just because he would never cast the killing curse to save his lover does not mean he loves her any less. 

      He has seen Scarlet surrounded by her family. In those manors, even now, realisation hitting her that there is indeed nothing more important than family. At those balls and funerals and weddings, he notices she is woke, the veil on her brain lifting, the fog clearing. As though she knows what she would be missing if she ever left her cruel and crooked family and it would break her heart. Of course, that includes Sirius because he is her family. 

      However, in between everything, Sirius knows one of the most important reason to why Scarlet chose to spy on Lord Voldemort was because it is the only way to stay close to the family that loves her dearly whilst simultaneously earning the Order's approval. 

      He understands... but he's so fucking pissed off. 

𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑨 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺

u guys stop commenting on scarlet and riddle's tension.
THERE IS NO TENSION. IT'S NON-EXISTANT. 

and if it is there then... I'M JUST A GIRL OKAY?

sirius is gonna be PISSED.