The Unnerving Bet (Marauders' era)

[Ginny Weasly]

He is so gonna lose. Haha.
Or maybe he'll win...time will pass...and then he'll find Nadia. Lolz.

Awes...I love the name Nikolai...that makes me sad he died.

[N.Black1753]

((Well, I believe we shall see. Anywho, this next chapter is still work in progress...so I'm not posting it JUST yet. But I do have a couple of questions, if you don't mind answering. :D

Should Sirius and James be the ones to save Nadia and Remus?

What would you like to see happen, provided Remus and Nadia are freed?))

[Ginny Weasly]

I dunno, I can see it happening...you know? Sirius and James to save the day! Ta-dah! Hahaa.

What would I like to see happen? I'd like to see Remus admit to Nadia (if no one else) that he has feeling for her.

[dobby888]

What I think should happen is that Sirius and James appear at the window of the place where Nadia and Remus are being kept, and since they're tied back to back, only Remus can see them.  Then he starts talking to the death eaters so that they won't notice his friends at the window, and then Sirius and James burst through the window and defeat the death eaters after a terrific fight of course.

[N.Black1753]

((Ah, but dagum it, there's no window in the room. It's a basement. I think I have their route of escape, now...))
"Perhaps a little persuasion?"

The phrase reverberated through Nadia's mind. Voldemort spoke as if he were going to make a convincing presentation to Nadia on why she should have more grace than to tell even those whom she hated to go to hell. Yes, from his tone he sounded like a nice guidance counselor, and his wand—a wand that had cast many a killing curse—seemed for a moment as if it was going to act as a sort of pointer. Nadia knew, however, that she was hardly about to receive a little talk centered around minding her language: 'persuasion' was just a polite little way of referring to torture.

Closing her eyes, Nadia saw her father standing in front of her. It was only a memory, but the memory was a startlingly clear one. In this memory, she herself sat tied to a chair, not unlike her present situation.

Standing with the same ramrod-straight posture which he had instilled in her, Nikolai Ramsden was an imposing figure to all who saw him. He had his arms crossed behind his back, and his face was grim. Later, he had told Nadia that torture was the one lesson he hadn't looked forward to teaching her. However, it was a lesson all agents of his agency had to learn.

Breathing in and out slowly, Nadia wondered at the grieved look in her father's eyes. It can't be that bad, she naïvely told herself.

"You will hate me for this, sweet," said her father softly, "and I cannot say that I shall blame you." He looked away from her. "That you are my daughter does not excuse me from educating you fully on surviving even the worst aspects of torture." Nikolai fell silent.

"Daddy?" Nadia prompted him, frowning. Her eyes tracked him as he began to pace like an angry lion.

Steeling his face into an unreadable expression, Nikolai launched into one of his renowned lectures. "Muggles will focus on physical pain. Mutilation. Broken bones. Endless beatings." He abruptly stopped pacing, still not daring to meet her eyes. Instead of a soft, mournful tone, Nikolai's voice rang with strength, commanding Nadia's utmost attention. "All of which are reprieves from a wizard's combined arsenal of physical and mental pain."

Inhaling sharply, Nadia could do nothing but stare at her father, waiting for whatever was to come. She could tell that inside, the infamous Agency's commander was faltering. As he spoke, Nikolai's native Russian accent crept onto the British one he had picked up upon moving to England, a sure sign that he was nonplussed.

Nikolai came forward and knelt before Nadia, affectionately entangling his fingers in her hair. Looking up, Nikolai's gaze was intense. "Memory, my sweet, is an effective defense when one isn't faced with a skilled Legilimens. After a while, the Cruciatus curse will break through." He stood, planting a kiss on Nadia's forehead as he straightened. "It all depends on the memory."

"Persuade all you like," Nadia finally countered, the corners of her lips upturning in a defiant grin, "but if you ask me, killing someone's father and then threatening her with torture aren't exactly the best in recruiting measures." She already had a memory in mind, but whether it was strong or not would be up to time to tell.

Voldemort began to speak again, but a harsh female voice screamed over his, "Crucio!" Nadia's back arched, and her face wrenched in pain. She hadn't expected that one, but thankfully the first few were always the worst. Sharp, needle-like sensations pierced every centimeter of her skin—her darkest fear, needles! Were they getting better at this?

When finally the real feeling of the curse subsided, Nadia collapsed against the bonds on her chair, the prickle of needles prolonged by her deep-rooted hatred of them. Bellatrix was laughing...Nadia was vaguely aware of the young woman's hand on her face. "You didn't scream," Bellatrix said in slight awe.

"She's her father's daughter," Voldemort coolly observed. "But even Nikolai broke."

Nadia wretched her chin out of Bellatrix's grasp. "Don't talk about my father." Behind her, she could hear Remus breathing heavily. What would he do when their amusement with her grew thin, and their attention turned to him? Nadia knew she had to keep the two interested.

"You aren't in a position to make demands, Miss Ramsden." Voldemort shook his head and headed for the door. "If she changes her mind, Bella," he called over his shoulder, "send word." There was a bright burst of light, and then the sound of the door slamming shut.

"You're all alone with me," Bellatrix said lightly, amused. She took a step back. "How'd you like it? Did it just scare you so?"

"Almost as much as your face," Nadia retorted, still panting slightly.

To Nadia's surprise, Bellatrix simply snorted. "Did my dear cousin teach you that? I'm sure he's missing you right about now." Narrowing her eyes, she grinned and added, "Probably wondering if ol' Wolfy there is your new lover."

"In a battle of wits, Bellatrix," rasped Remus suddenly, "you would certainly lose to Nadia."

"Oh, he is your lover, then?" Bellatrix intoned, chuckling darkly. "Don't think Sirius'll like that. But then, you never said 'yes' to him, did you?"

Rolling her eyes, Nadia shot back, "Is useless yammering the way you lot torture people now?" No, she thought with a frown, she hadn't said 'yes' to Sirius; she'd kept on being friends with him. Just friends...

It was none of Bellatrix's business.
((If I said what I wanted to say about that last bit, for those of you who haven't figured some things out, it'd give a lot away. So I just won't say anything but ask for your thoughts! Please let me know your thoughts. Then and only then shall I post more. ^_^))

[Ginny Weasly]

Ahhh! Sirius was turned down, haha. Poor Padfoot.

Awwes, the memory with Nikolai made me kinda sad.

Bump.

[N.Black1753]

((You know, I've always thought it was sadly amusing that Sirius was such a playboy while he was in school, and he didn't end up married before he died. Anyway. *shuts mouth and gets on with story*))

Obviously sensing that Nadia was on the verge of making a comment that would result in more torture, Remus interrupted her. "They never can shut up, can they?" he inquired of Nadia as pleasantly as if he'd just asked her for the time. Nadia smiled to herself. So she had taught him a thing or two.

"And they're all ugly as hell," Nadia added, feeling as if they were carrying on another mid stake-out commentary. "Dearest Bella and Cissy seem to have gotten the short end of the good looks stick in the Black family."

"Crucio!"

More blinding pain. Nadia bit her lip so hard that for a moment she thought she would draw blood. Oh, but it was worth it. Remus might've made her smile, but she'd had to get a jab in Sirius's honor. "Never," said Bellatrix as the red light of the curse disappeared, "talk about Cissy." Nadia felt too weak to come up with a response, and she coughed so hard that her eyes watered. "Oh, are we going to cry?" Bellatrix asked in a voice one might use with an infant.

Yes, thought Nadia with a quavering laugh, your face just hurts me that badly. Her laugh dissolved into another coughing fit.

Remus's voice crackled in her ear, "You sound awful." He was using the earpiece, Nadia realized, but she couldn't respond. Bellatrix would see. "You're going to cough up blood if you don't stop."

"Perhaps we should quit for now," Bellatrix went on, unaware that Remus was "speaking" to Nadia. "I'm not sure we can take it." There it was, noted Nadia, that note on the air that contradicted Bellatrix's every word. She had her memory ready, this time, ready to go just as the woman opened her mouth and screeched "Crucio!"

"Well, Padfoot, what've we got here?" James's voice echoed over the pain. It was Christmas in this memory, and James's family had invited Nadia and her father over for dinner. She let herself fall into the memory, just as her father had taught her.

"Looks like a girl," Sirius answered James with a wide grin, giving her an appreciative glance. He didn't cross the Potters' doorstep, however, as her father slid past him and James with a low greeting.

"Good evening, sir," said James. Once Nikolai had disappeared down the hall, James looked between Nadia and Sirius with a knowing smile and persisted, "And not a bloody bruise, wouldn't you know? She's dressed in a color other than black!"

"Or Ravenslaw blue," Sirius maintained, using his and James's immature name for the House of Ravenclaw. "And she's in a dress!" His eyes glowed at the realization.

"Are you two gits going to let me freeze," laughed Nadia, "or are you going to let me in?" She held up two tins, one clearly marked for each of her friends. "I bring good tidings of food."

James snatched his without question. "Cookies!" he cried triumphantly, yanking Nadia in by her arm and forcefully hugging her. "You're going to make old Padfoot a happy man someday," he stage-whispered into her ear. Sirius punched James's arm and shoved him toward the Potters' living room as Nadia giggled at James's unique thanks. She knew he'd have his tin of cookies open before he reached the den.

"Out with you!" Sirius called after James.

"Sirius and Nadia, sitting in a tree!"

"Out!" Sirius shouted again.

"K-i-s-s-i-n-" Nadia gave James what he had famously dubbed "the look," and James needed no further convincing to leave.

When James—still half-singing his little song under his breath—had finally gone, Nadia shook her head and said, "Welcome to a Potter and Ramsden Christmas dinner." Smiling, she held out Sirius's tin of cookies. "Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," he returned, gently taking it from her. "You look really, erm, nice. With, y'know, your hair down. And all."

She laughed, not knowing what else to do. "Thanks. He was just kidding about it all, you know."

"I know."

As the red once again disappeared, Sirius's face, too, faded away. Nadia held onto it for as long as she could...and got a distinct impression of disappointment from Sirius's expression. Maybe she was just reading too much into things, as usual.

"Can you hear me?" A door slammed shut on the edge of reality. Nadia blinked and shook her head, though it hurt. She was coughing again, and felt a warm liquid on her knees, seeping through her clothes. Remus's voice was quiet, shaken...fearful. "She said you coughed up blood. All over her. She wasn't very happy."

Nadia felt dizzy. She wanted to respond, but didn't. She was too tired. She hurt. She just wanted to be in her nice, cozy bed. At home. In fact, she'd give all the money in her savings to be back at that Christmas dinner.
((Well? I rather loved that memory. What'd you think of it? More when you tell me. ^_^))

[Ginny Weasly]

Such a sweet memory.

By the way, you have lots of talent, please tell me you are writing your own ideas for books and such as well as doing fanfictions.
You could go far.

[N.Black1753]

((Well, no book ideas yet, but I'm trying my hand at original short stories as well as fanfictions. I've won a couple of writing contests in recent years, so at least someone thinks it's alright. If you'd like to see my original stuff, I could e-mail it to you.

Would you like more, or shall I save it for tomorrow? It's nothing very exciting, mind.))

[Ginny Weasly]

If you have nothing beter to do, by all means, POST. If, however, you would rather do something else, we can wait. haha.

And sure, I'd love to read your original things. If you have a dA account, it'd b even better. If not, just e-mail them to me. (alchemysped@yahoo.com)

[N.Black1753]

((Do you have a Yahoo Messenger account? Or just e-mail address? Look for an e-mail from Lara Croft. Teehee, don't ask.))

[Ginny Weasly]

I used to have the messenger, but it slowed my computer too much, so I got rid of it.
And I won't ask, but I take it you like Tomb Raider. haha.

[N.Black1753]

((Okay, this'll be it for...an undisclosed amount of time. School cranks back up on Monday here...so. Enjoy. Heck, I'll divide it into two bits. ;D ))
Remus wondered at the fact that Nadia was still conscious. Most people he knew blacked out after two or three bouts with the Cruciatus curse...before she'd stormed out, Bellatrix had succeeded in performing it four or five more times on his comrade. More intriguing still was that Nadia had not screamed. He had known that people with the all-mysterious "Agency" Nadia's father ran—had run, Remus corrected himself—were tough, but could they possibly have been trained to last so long when tortured?

"She'll be back," Nadia's voice said into his ear. "Probably'll beat me before another round."

Not very reassured, Remus remarked silently, "You still didn't scream."

"I doubt if you would've liked to hear that, Remus," Nadia said on a whisper. "I doubt it very much." She started coughing once more.

Leave it to Nadia, he reflected, to retain her humor in such a situation. "Have you been tortured like this before?" he asked.

He must've sounded thunderstruck, because Nadia's voice turned serious. "A couple of times, yes." If not for the earpieces, he would've been straining to hear her. "Let's hope they'll focus on me and not you. I've been coached on how to handle it."

That didn't matter, Remus vaguely thought. He'd take it if it meant not hearing her in so much pain. "There's only so much a man-"

"Or woman."

He laughed, but only briefly. "Or woman," he conceded, "can take."

"Hm," Nadia murmured in agreement. Remus felt her head move away from his.

"Nadia?" he asked. "Nadia." No answer. "Nadia, are you alright?" Still no answer.

He was alone.
((Dun dun dun. Thoughts? Comments? Random caffeine fueled insanity? Whatever it is, post it here for the next bit. Happy New Year!))

[dobby888]

Happy New Year!!!!

I love your writing!!!! E-mail it to me too!!!

(lilbean2326@aim.com)

[N.Black1753]

((Okay, for real, this is the last bit for a while. I don't know when I'll get the spurt of inspiration I need to make the next chapter awesome, but until then, enjoy this.))
Sometime later the door to the room opened, and in sauntered Bellatrix Lestrange, followed by a host of Death Eaters. All but Bellatrix were wearing masks. "Let's see if we can crack the girl now," she said over her shoulder, obviously the leader of the group. They all ignored Remus, marching around him to Nadia. Unable to feign sleep any longer, Remus jerked his head up and listened.

"The werewolf's awake," remarked a male voice; Rodolphus, Remus recognized after a few seconds.

"Leave him, darling," Bellatrix responded, a grin obvious in her tone. "He'll get enough torture tomorrow night."

Remus drew in a breath of horrified realization. Tomorrow night was the full moon. He couldn't feel the side effects yet, but he soon would. If they didn't get out of here by tomorrow night, then Nadia was in real danger.

She's in enough danger now, he thought, frustrated.

"Wake up, sweet!" said Bellatrix in that mock-baby voice she'd used to undermine Remus and Lily as prefects. A horrible pop! sounded, and Nadia's head banged against his. Bellatrix must have slapped her. "I said wake up!" she growled. Nadia moaned. "That's right. Now, sweet, can you hear me?"

"Unh..." was translated in Remus's ear to "Unfortunately." Had he not replied the same to a similar question Nadia had asked, just weeks ago? Now Remus took offense at Bellatrix turning the question on Nadia, amusement at Nadia turning his answer on Bellatrix.

"Don't listen to her, don't listen, focus on my voice." His mouth moved desperately, and oh, he hoped no air was coming out, that the earpiece was still doing its job.

"Good. We want you awake. Ready?" The voices of the Death Eaters chorused an amused affirmative.

"Crucio!" cried out five voices at once. Another voice gasped through gritted teeth, making a noise that sounded like something between a whimper of pain and a scream. Remus cringed as his chair shook, and the room was filled with red light. Nadia's whimpering seemed to last forever, even after the red light had gone. Please, he urged an unseen force, please, make it stop. Let someone come for us. Someone. Anyone. Before they really hurt her...

Or I do tomorrow night.

((Thoughts? Anything in particular you'd like to see happen after they escape, provided ;) they do? PLEASE lemme know, it'll help me write faster.))