Welcome to Until The End. We are a moderate Harry Potter role-playing site set in the Marauder's Era. Our plot is generally derived from details in the book, but as an AU site we do take liberties most anywhere we like. Those who died in the books can have a second chance at living, and those who lived are always at risk.
Tom Marvolo Riddle has long since disappeared and in his stead Lord Voldemort has risen, bringing a small army with him. The Ministry of Magic has thus far ignored the growing menace that is the Death Eaters and Albus Dumbledore has taken it upon himself to defend the wizarding community from an evil he knows is building. War is coming. Pick a side!
School's Out For Summer
The Hogwart's Express has pulled up to the station in King's Cross station and the summer holidays have officially begun. What mischeif will you get into in the warm summer sun?
*Coming Soon* - Summer Solstice Carnival
Travel by portkey to the biggest summer celebration in wizard society - The Summer Solstice Carnival! There will be food, games, prizes, fun and more!
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jun 23, 2018 21:48:48 GMT -8
The wood floor was slick with Christian’s sweat as he laid there, his chest rising and falling hard with each labored breath. The skin around his wrists and ankles was raw, miniscule droplets of blood forming and then almost instantly smeared by the coarse rope that dug into his now swollen joints. His face was pale, his hair matted wildly against his head, and his eyes distant. Christian gasped for air as Derek helped himself to more of Christian’s scotch and then took a seat nearby. He was nothing more than a haze of colors moving in front of Christian’s eyes but there was recognition in his mind. Christian was still lucid.
The memories came back to him in fragments. Sometimes there were large scenes with innumerous details; Diana, wary of Christian’s intentions, having tied Christian to the bed after he foolishly nodded off following a rowdy reintroduction to each other. Her dry, yet emotion-filled speech about finding her daughter – their daughter – and confiding her plans in him because she would be stealing his memories of that night and there was no harm done in finally letting it all out on the table, even for just a moment. The pain and anger Christian had felt then at discovering 16 years too late that he was a father was just as present then as it was now, with Derek looking over him. There was no confusion in Christian now as to when Diana stole his memories, because he clearly remembered that moment as well. His fervent instance that he would help her find their lost love child had swayed her that first night, but several months later all the heartache and danger had caught up to them. Christian was knocked out cold, after having killed Copperbottom in some underground bunker, and awoke in his own bed, restrained yet again. He didn’t fight this time. Instead, he spoke to Derek who interrogated him at the behest of Diana. Under veritaserum, Christian answered question after question, proving time and again to the middle man between the couple that Christian truly loved Diana and any betrayal on his part was only for her safety. An impassioned plea for Derek to look after his unborn son was the last thing he could say before he was silenced. Diana appeared. She looked pained. He couldn’t speak to her. He couldn’t explain directly. And after a moment, he knew of nothing that needed explaining in the first place.
Sanchez meeting. It sounded familiar. As his heart pounded furiously in his chest, Christian looked internally for an answer to the question. Unplottability charm… He didn’t know. A vision of Diana skillfully defeating several armed wizards in little more than a bra and panties came to mind and would have been a welcomed memory had Christian not been so nearly close to being permanently broken, but there was nothing about an unplottability charm. “Keep. Going.” The words were brief and well spaced for the additional effort it took to breath. There was still more locked away inside his mind. They weren’t done yet.
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
D
erek had never done this before, and quite frankly the restoration method wasn't exactly tested in clinical practice either. He had no idea how much Christian could take before the man's brain melted. He was fairly certain they were getting closer and closer to that point, which is why he had stopped.
He sighed as Christian told him to keep going. He didn't want to. This had been a hasty plan to begin with, one he wasn't entirely sure wasn't born from his anger against Christian for getting Diana kidnapped in the first place. But that anger had left him after the first five minutes of the Cruciatus.
They had been at it now for over an hour.
Derek was feeling drained and he could only imagine Christian's pain. It was far from the first time he had cast the spell on another person, he had even been the recipient of the vile curse in the past, but even that was almost preferable than sending another curse toward his friend. Derek would never be one of Voldemort's torturers. He could get a job done certainly, but he didn't have the stomach to cause endless torture on someone who didn't deserve it, even those who did deserve it, Derek preferred a quick death.
He sipped more on the scotch. "We need to get your doctor...Hanley or whatever, he needs to be here before I scramble something we can't unscramble."
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jun 28, 2018 22:20:03 GMT -8
They had been at it nor over an hour…but it still wasn’t enough. There were far too many breaks taken for Christian’s liking. Or rather, when Christian looked back later he would determine there were too many resting periods. At the moment, he was rather grateful for the pause in additional pain. His body hurt all over, inside and out, but it was his mind that was the real trouble. Christian couldn’t be certain the conflicting and confusing emotions he was feeling wasn’t due to his mind slowly melting away. He couldn’t know for sure whether the emotional anguish was purely one of the many treacherous side effects of the torture his entire being was under. It would have been logical for anyone to assume that all of his duress was due to the Cruciatus Curse, but they would have been wrong.
Bound on the floor of the home he had shared with his wife, Christian was faced with the unsurmountable truth that he truly did love Diana. He loved everything about her, particularly when she drove him mad. She was a complete nutter and the most emotionally unbalanced woman he would ever meet, and the only words he could think of to describe her when he pictured her face were ‘sinfully dangerous’. Christian convulsed on the floor, an aftershock of the excessive electricity that had recently been sent through his body. It lasted only a few seconds before he was still again, the heavy rise and fall of his chest and the wheeze of his breathing the only signs he was still alive. Derek asked for Christian’s healer but before Christian could muster the energy to respond, another involuntary fit overtook him and his body spasmed, pulling against the ropes that had now cut Christian’s wrists raw and were red with his blood. As his body stilled once more, Christian turned his head and spit blood before a ragged cough eased into labored breathing once more.
“He’ll. Come. Later.” Three simple words that took more than a minute to get out. He wouldn’t last much longer. Either his body would break or his mind would, but Christian knew there was more to uncover and whatever clue Derek was searching for in his erased memories had not yet been uncovered. Hanley would only interfere if he came now. Christian had given him directions and knew the old man would see them through, but Derek would have to continue on until that time came. “Again.”
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
D
erek moved fast as the second fit hit Christian, without Derek cursing the man. What if this had been a mistake?
It was too late to second guess himself now, but the way Christian was convulsing Derek knew they were at the cusp of doing serious damage.
"Shit." he cursed running a hand through his hair, for all the scotch he had consumed he still didn't feel anymore relaxed or confident in what he was doing. Christian's fit was over as soon as it began but Derek was shaking his head.
"I think you've had enough for one night, we can come back at this tomorrow." though as the words left his lips he knew he wouldn't have the strength to do this tomorrow and neither would Christian. They were close to something, if nothing else Derek knew Christian was getting a few of his memories back, he could almost differentiate between the anguish from the physical pain and the anguish from regret. The regret was stronger, it pushed Christian to ask for more where he might have otherwise begged Derek to stop.
"Alright mate." he nodded solemnly. If Christian could endure and was willing to endure more, then Derek would deliver. Once more down the rabbit hole they went as Derek pointed his wand squarely at Christian's chest. "Crucio!"
This time he gave it more force, they needed to finish this and if Christian was prepared to go all the way, then Derek would get him there as fast as he could.
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jun 29, 2018 21:38:12 GMT -8
Christian’s body began to convulse again, but this time it was a direct result of Derek’s curse. Electricity coursed through his veins like vicious needles stabbing every single nerve in his tall, hard body. Christian let out a guttural yell that gargled as blood filled his lungs. He couldn’t cough it out, as his body spasmed out of control. The room around him, which had appeared blurry during their break from the torture, was now nothing more than violently swimming colors fading swiftly into a black abyss. Christian rolled brutally onto his stomach, blood spilling from his mouth as the darkness overtook him.
There were no confusing, emotion inducing memories in the blackness. There was only pain. Christian’s mind could focus on absolutely nothing but the excruciating pain that was overwhelming every one of his senses. His body flailed but his head lulled, no longer tensed by the awareness that came with consciousness. His muscles spasmed and moved him without cognitive processes. He was but an empty shell at this point and he could no longer demand any further torture in the name of saving his wife. They would have to wait until he awoke to know whether they had succeeded in restoring Christian’s formerly erased memories or Christian had pushed too hard and essentially tortured himself into insanity.
Only time would tell.
The morning rays of sunshine broke through the still opened curtains and showered Christian’s sickly face in a golden hue. He had been carried upstairs and placed in his bed, Healer Hanley having arrived in the early morning hours as previously instructed. Hanley only had a vague idea of what he would be walking into when he arrived at the Ward house and his normally professional composure was compromised as his eyes first fell onto the broken body of the man he had seen raised right before his eyes. Hanley’s medical training kicked in soon after, though the shock of it all had not warn off completely. Hanley was used to managing all manner of terrible injuries for the Wards and their “family business” but never, in all the years since Hanley had begun to serve the senior Ward, had his services been requested for a self-inflicted trauma of this magnitude.
Morning turned to noon and then to evening. The natural light coming through the window had shifted significantly, though there was still plenty of daylight left with Christian’s eyes began to flutter, followed by a weak grunt and a sudden flinch as the pain hit the suddenly conscious man.
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
D
erek was livid.
No he was beyond livid, past furious, and safely into rage territory as well as desperate, frantic, and near violent. Too many thoughts raced through the younger man's mind. What if he pushed him too hard? What if Christian wasn't able to remember? What if Christian had nothing to remember that could help them? What if the man himself was no longer himself anymore? With the knowledge that he might have just pushed his friend into insanity, came guilt and regret.
Surprisingly one thought pierced through his remorse - Diana was going to kill him.
Provided she got out of whatever mess she was in now. Diana was a safe bet though, Derek had seen her rise above a stunning amount of obstacles and demolish the surest of odds. And she would kill him, painfully, if Christian wasn't tip top at the end of this fiasco.
When Hanley arrived Derek felt only a small amount of relief. The healer didn't hide his surprise well and Derek was trained to see past appearances - it didn't take a skilled Legilimens to know that this was bad.
For his part, Derek obeyed any command the doctor had in Christian's caretaking, and like a cliche romantic drama, stayed by Christian's side through the night - an action that would never be revealed if Derek could help it.
But he was there when Christian began to stir and quickly got to his feet, "Hanley!" he called not thinking to lower his voice.
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jul 1, 2018 18:41:37 GMT -8
Pain was seemingly a regular part of existence now. Everything hurt, his muscles were sore and tired from having constricted so often and so violently the night before. Christian could feel his pulse in his head, as if his brain was swelling repeatedly and pounding against his skull. Derek hollering for the healer did nothing to ease the pain in his head. “You yell like a woman,” Christian remarked, his voice terribly hoarse. His throat was dry and scratchy, the anguished screams of a tortured man had strained his vocal chords after so many hours of prolonged use.
There were a few minutes between Christian’s insult and Hanley’s arrival. The healer looked down at Christian as he stood near the bedside. “You know, I did not have to deal with these shenanigans when I worked for your father, rest his soul.” He pulled the black medicine bag he had carried into the room with him up onto the bed, and opened it before pulling out a silver instrument and running it over Christian’s left wrist, checking his vital signs. “I show up in the black of night to find your friend… It is not my business to judge what you do, Mr Ward, but a bit more warning would go a long way.” As Hanley checked Christian’s heart rate, his eyes, and his reflexes, he spoke with the understanding of an old man. Hanley had nothing but respect for the Ward family, but he was a healer, not a miracle worker. Christian needed to consider what he was asking for. Repairing the body after the Cruciatus Curse was one thing, but Christian had sought Hanley’s help on another matter that the old man was not so sure he’d be able to fulfill. Adjusting the horn-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, Hanley gave a small sigh and nodded to himself. He patted Christian on the shoulder. “Lots of rest, and take this every hour for the pain.” Hanley looked to Derek as a follow up, certain Christian would try to muscle his way through the pain instead of taking the elixir the healer was leaving on his nightstand. “Now,” Hanley snapped his black bag shut and straightened himself up. “Shall I have a look at the baby before I go?”
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
D
erek, had he not been incredibly relieved that Christian was at least feeling well enough to mock him, would have rolled his eyes at the man's words - as it was he did snort slightly.
For the most part he waited for Hanley to arrive, the few minutes away seeming much longer to Derek who was waiting for reassurance that Christian would make it through.
He relaxed back into the side chair as Hanley berated Christian and wore an amused smile. Hanley was old enough to be Christian's grandfather, or at least appeared that way , and a dear family friend at that. The man could get away with saying what he liked, there were precious few that had that same luxury.
All traces of humor left Derek's face however when Hanley mentioned checking on Diana and the baby. At first he felt a frisson of fear, then anger toward his recovering friend, and finally depression at the situation. But there was something else that lit intensely on Derek's face - hope. Hope that Christian remembered something of use.
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jul 2, 2018 12:06:16 GMT -8
Very few people got away with speaking so plainly to Christian, namely only the good healer and Christian’s own mother. Roselyn took more advantages than Hanley, and Christian kept his mouth shut for the most part. He loved his mum and she loved him, but she did not allow her only son to get away with murder. Figuratively. Roselyn was well aware of what Christian did for a living, as her husband, Christian’s father, had held the same position before his passing. Hanley had served both Ward generations and he was expecting to serve a third. Christian’s gaze travelled to Derek as Hanley asked to look over Diana and the baby.
The baby. Named for Christian’s and Diana’s grandfathers. Liam Oliver Ward. Christian and Diana had sat in the kitchen early one morning, sleepily flirting as Diana’s pregnancy cravings kicked in and she piled a plate full of foods that definitely should not have gone together. She sat on his lap at the breakfast table and he rested his hand on the small bump that was their son. They tossed around options and Diana asked after Christian’s grandad. They decided that morning before the sun even rose that their child was to be named Liam Oliver. Christian remembered everything.
Hanley looked between the two men, only a few seconds having elapsed since he made the suggestion, but the silence in those few seconds was chilling. “No,” Christian answered finally. “She’s not here. We’ll ring you when she returns.” For all the medical attention Hanley had given him, Christian still sounded as though he had been swallowing gravel, but his tone was clear enough. Don’t ask again. Hanley pursed his lips and nodded slowly, closing his bag and straightening himself up further. He headed towards the door, passing Derek as he left.
Christian waited until he heard the front door close downstairs, then he pushed himself up into a sitting position on the bed. The movements hurt like hell but Christian took it in stride, only wincing and grunting a little from the effort. Once upright, Christian pressed his right thumb and forefinger against his wedding ring and gave it a turn. Christian had remembered something potentially useful in their search for Diana, but it wasn’t the same thing that Derek had been looking for. “Come on,” he growled as he turned the ring again. Their wedding bands, which Christian had purchased and enchanted after a strange day following their return from the Ling assassination. Christian and Diana were married and their life force was bound to one another, but there were other effects of the Life Bond that neither of them had become aware of yet, namely, that Christian had the ability to compel Diana to do as he commanded. It was a harrowing series of events that led them to that discovery but in the interim Christian had ordered Diana to leave and she was stuck wandering the city alone without any way to reach Christian about her whereabouts. It was pure luck, or perhaps fate, that Christian stumbled upon her after buying a simple emerald ring from a jeweler. He could very clearly remember the emotions they shared as he gave it to her, lying in their bed, casually confessing his love for her. Their rings were linked and he should have been able to reach her now, unless her captor had placed some sort of security spells around her that blocked the rings from working. “Come on, Diana. Fucking answer.” He turned the ring again and yet there was still no response. “Fuck!” he roared, slamming his fist beside him into the mattress and causing his muscles to stretch painfully. “Ah, fuck me.” Christian rolled over on the bed as if smothering his shoulder under his weight would make the pain go away. It didn’t.
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
M
aybe if Diana had been conscious at the time she could have responded to the ring's call - not that either man would have known the tragedy happening miles away from where they were housed.
***
Derek watched with fascination and bated breath as Christian attempted to make contact with Diana. He was using the wedding ring on his finger, but Derek hadn't connected that it was a different method than he remembered Christian using when they had followed Diana to Sanchez. If he had known that Christian's ring was enchanted to locate Diana he might have frowned with renewed depression.
Just yesterday he had vowed to wash his hands of the couple and their mercurial relationship, but today, and the night before as Christian endured immeasurable pain, was a strong reminder that the Wards were the real deal. They were fucked up beyond belief, but they were so deeply in love with one another it was simultaneously addicting and nauseating to be around them.
As Christian cursed in frustration Derek was on his feet again and moved toward the older Death Eater, "Easy." he said, then realized how fucking ridiculous it was to be the person telling Christian to take it easy. His sheepish look said as much.
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jul 2, 2018 20:12:43 GMT -8
Head buried in the blankets and pillows that surrounded him, Christian gave a grunt to Derek’s demands. “Fuck off,” he said out of habit as much as out of annoyance. What good was taking it easy if it didn’t bring them closer to Diana? He had taken his responsibilities as a husband far too easy recently and it ended up with Diana having been abducted, and Merlin only knows what was happening to her now. Having full access to all of his memories from the first moment he and Diana had reunited at the Hollow Tree Inn nearly a year ago up until this very moment, Christian felt like a bastard. He had been well aware that he wasn’t being gentle nor kind with Diana these last few months, but he had been acting under the incorrect assumption that there was something sinister lurking underneath their relationship. He was hot and cold with her as new information arose, but without the full picture that he now possessed he was impotent to seeing what was really going on. He had been the worst kind of asshole to the woman he truly did love, and it had cost her her freedom. If he was a lesser man, he might have stayed in his position on the bed, sulking into the pillow as he licked his wounds and waited for the all-clear from healer Hanley, but that wasn’t Christian Ward.
“There has to be another way,” Christian said to Derek after a moment, rolling to his back and pushing himself up into a sitting position once again. He strained under the weight of his own body. Christian gritted his teeth as he inhaled deeply and smothered yet another groan of anguish. This was getting ridiculous. Taking a deep breath, Christian tore the blankets and sheets from his body and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. This was the first time Christian had taken account of what he was wearing, or more precisely not wearing. His shirt had been removed, as had his shoes and his belt. He was still wearing trousers, thank Morgana, but that didn’t stop him from taking the mickey out on Derek. “D’you have fun undressing me, you wanker?” Pushing himself up with his arms, Christian rose from the bed opposite of Derek, and almost immediately braced himself on the nearby wall. He wasn’t going to make it far without support, but there wasn’t any time to waste. Slowly, Christian headed to the wardrobe. He would fetch a shirt, then somehow make it downstairs to his office. What he would do once he made it that far, Christian wasn’t certain, but he couldn’t just lay around in bed while Diana was missing.
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
D
erek backed off when Christian asked it of him. Part of him wanted to get to work as much as Christian did - well no, now that Christian had his memories back Derek's desire to get Diana back wasn't quite as strong as Christian's. Hell even before, once Christian realized Diana had been taken, the desire to find his wife was intense enough to endure hours of torture - a lesser man would have broken far sooner. Nothing but the deepest of love could induce that kind of dedication.
He eyed the large man carefully to see how he would handle gravity, and for the most part - with exception to a brief eye roll at the undressing comment - didn't react to Christian's barbs. He was only watching now, watching, waiting, observing. Christian looked as though he would fall over at any moment - Derek was cheeky enough to let him, but ultimately placed his equally large frame in the doorway preventing Christian from leaving.
"Hanley said you need to rest. You need to rest." Derek said simply, "You can rest and think, you don't have to leave and pace and hide in your office pouring over useless information that you would have used beforehand if it had been of any help."
It was clear in Derek's speech that this was not his first rodeo in dealing with Christian's method for missions.
Post by Christian Anthony Ward on Jul 2, 2018 23:39:17 GMT -8
There was a rattle of wooden hangers smashing into each other as Christian fell forward into hanging clothes as he tried to pull a button-down from the rack. He couldn’t keep himself on his feet without holding onto something, but he wasn’t the sort to lay in bed and let things play out. He now realized what it must have been like for Diana after she had been injured on a mission and ended up with a broken rib, among several other wounds. Hanley had ordered her on bedrest too, and even with his potions and a little magic to speed up the healing process, Diana had been a nightmare to manage. She kept wanting to get up and go, and Christian kept screaming at her to slow down. He knew if she tried to take on another mission in that state that she would end up dead, and he wasn’t going to allow that to happen. If she were here now, she’d likely get a kick out of seeing Derek try to boss around Christian in the same manner Christian had bossed around Diana so many times. This moment was karmic retribution on a number of levels.
Derek’s little speech spoke volumes to the pair’s relationship. Derek clearly knew Christian’s methods, but he didn’t need to state as such for Christian to recognize just how well the pair worked together. He could remember it all now, and that included his planning sessions with Derek. Christian’s men were good at reconnaissance, but Derek’s were equally as good, and between the two of them they managed to get more than enough information whenever they needed it. Blueprints. Guard counts. Travel plans. Derek had come through on so many occasions and unlike Diana, he didn’t bitch when Christian took the information and formulated a plan. Derek gave his two knuts, he didn’t sit idly by if he thought there was a better way, but he didn’t argue for the sake of being in control like Diana did.
Glaring at Derek, Christian pulled one shirt sleeve up his arm then reached the opposite arm behind his back in attempt to catch the other sleeve. “Mother fucker!” He managed to pull both sleeves all the way on and adjusted the front halves of the shirt so he could button it properly, but between the effort it took to get this far, and the movement of both hands on the shirt panels made Christian’s body wobble and he fell backward, the hanging shirts and trousers behind him catching him and keeping him mostly upright. “Get the fuck out of my way, Burke.” But there was no fire in his eyes as he said this. No bite in his words. His breathing was labored again, and his words slowed with the added effort it took to speak.
With no energy left to fight, Christian eventually gave up and fell heavy back into the bed. Shirt unbuttoned, and chest bare to the warm sheets, Christian very nearly fell asleep the moment his head hit the mattress. He had enough energy left in him to say one more thing before passing out. “I need to find her.” It was the closest Christian could come to begging for his help, but Derek would be able to recognize the meaning in his words.
Saw the Darkest Hearts of Men and I saw Myself Staring Back Again
A
ny other time Derek would have been laughing his ass off at the stumbling giant in front of him. Circumstances being what they were, he could only watch in silent remorse as the man tried and mostly succeeded in keeping his balance - if not his calm.
Derek could only imagine the anguish of realizing the woman he loved, the woman who was pregnant with his son, was now in the hands of an unknown enemy. He had known taking Christian's memories in the first place had been a mistake, but there was no arguing with the woman Christian quoted as being "sinfully dangerous". Take away the lustful connotation and Diana was just dangerous, and hurting, and pregnant, and not in her right mind. At the same time he had been relieved to find out that Christian was still alive. He had been waiting - as he told Diana to let him do it - even though the politics of such a move against one of Voldemort's high ranking officers didn't bear thinking about, and Diana agreed to call him when it was time.
He knew that she wouldn't call him to kill Christian, she was the type that needed to see things to completion on her own, but he had expected to be called to help clean up the situation. Instead he had been called to clean house - literally. Diana had only taken Christian's memories, she didn't kill the man, but going through the couple's belongings and removing her presence from the place was too emotional of an act apparently.
Now here they were, Christian restored, Diana kidnapped, and Derek - as always - in the middle and sucked back into the Ward drama. They were his friends, he wouldn't abandon them.
He crossed his arms over his expansive chest as Christian ordered him to move, but the conciliatory tone in his voice and the look of defeat in the man's eyes prevented Derek from raising a skeptical or contradictory eyebrow.
When Christian hit the bed Derek sighed, rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. He moved closer to the large man and removed his wand from his back pocket to levicorpus Christian's frame more securely on the mattress.
He stilled when he heard Christian's words.
"We will." he promised, unsure if he could come through on the vow, but determined to see it through.