| ~ = song lyrics Veneficium By: Skylar Inari ~ Chapter 4: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll ~ Bill Weasley sat and stared blankly at the piece of parchment that was in front of him. Nibbling on the end of his quill he pondered what to write. Sending letters to his parent's these days was trickier than ever, what with Voldemort's reappearance and all. He loved his mother dearly, but she did tend to be paranoid. Pelting him with owls all asking if he was okay, nothing out of the ordinary happening, if everything was alright in Egypt... Sighing, he laid down his quill and wandered over to the window of the hotel room, stretching languidly. From the other room he heard the shower turn off. Smiling slightly he made his way back to the desk with it's dreaded parchment and quill. Emmi would kill him if he didn't write the letter like he said he would. She'd go on and on about how difficult it was to Apparate to Egypt and how illegal it was. He had heard the argument almost every time he'd written a letter home in the past thirteen years. Those periodic letters were an important part in the elaborate game that he had to play to keep his parents from finding out what he actually did. It had been difficult at first to create and maintain a different fiction for his family, to remember that he was unallowed to speak about his real job. How shocked they'd all be. And oh, how disapproving of his chosen lifestyle his mum and dad would be. Not only had he been lying to them for so many years that he didn't even blink now when going between his two realities but to top it all off he was doing something that would get himself thrown into Azkaban for life without even a trial. Portraying wizarding history to muggles was viewed with the same amount of harshness from the Ministry as using the Unforgivable curse's. How fun. He was pretty much dead if he got caught. The same went for the other members of Veneficium. But, they were all doing something that they felt necessary and had all known the risks when they'd first begun. He dragged his thoughts away from that depressing topic. And stared again at the almost ominously blank parchment. Deciding not to actually think about the fact that he was lying to his mother he quickly scribbled down a note; making it seem like he was in a great hurry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Mum, Sorry I haven't written for a while but the goblins have got me going over all the charms on Egypt's branch of Gringotts because of You-Know-Who's appearance. So, I really haven't had time to do anything else. Other than that everything's great; the weather is fine, and I've really got to go. I'm sorry, as soon as I get time I'll write a longer letter; it shouldn't be more than two weeks or so. Love, Bill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Folding the pitiful excuse for a letter up he crammed it into an envelope and affixed his seal on it. He'd Apparate to St. Isiah Manor after the show to send the letter. St. Isiah Manor belonged to Emmi, though she didn't really take much note of the fact that she had more money than the other's so most people didn't notice. Which was a good thing. While they made quite a bit of money as a band people would get very suspicious if she continuously bought things that were out of their price range. The Manor (and it's surrounding grounds) was the only thing Cassus had left to remind her of her family. They had all been killed by Voldemort during his first uprising while she had still been in school. She had suggested that they use it as their base of operations at the start of the venture and now, thirteen years later the lovely building's and grounds had so many protection spells and charms worked into the very fabric of the place that nobody was getting in unless they were authorized. And the only people who were authorized besides the house-elves and other beings that naturally lived there where the five members of Veneficium. It had taken months to do all of the charms and spells and potions that had been utilized to protect the Manor. Vincent had had to keep going to Knockturn Alley to get more potions ingredients, for he had continuously running out of key items. Bill for his part, hadn't even known that some of the things that Vincent bought could even be used in potions. Vince had explained to him that that was because he was a good wizard. When he had demanded to know if that meant what he thought it was implying, the bulky man with gentle eyes merely smiled and told him that it took all shades of grey. All shades of grey, eh? Looking back on that conversation, Bill Weasley couldn't believe that at one point he had believed that it was a simple distinction. Black vs. White. Light vs. Dark. He had been a fool. The bathroom door opened, and Emmi Cassus stepped out. He smothered a grin. It was absolutely hilarious; the change between 'Sirius Black' and 'Emmi Cassus'. One was explosive, snappy, and extruded and sense of sublime self-confidence where as the other was sharp-tongued, elegant and an all-around lady (in the old-fashioned sense of the word). Currently the 'lady' was the personality she was using, but what made it entertaining was the fact that she was wearing her other personalities clothes. Jeans, an over-sized belt, high-heeled boots, and a halter top underneath a mesh over-shirt was not what most people would consider to be 'lady' wear; it was feminine yes, but elegant and sophisticated it was most definitely not. "You are finished your letter, are you not?" "Just finished. I'm going to bring it to the House after the show." He held up the envelope as proof. "Are you going to help me with my hair now?" Bill was already dressed in the clothes he would be preforming in. Low-slung brown leather pants that hugged his hips, with dragon hide boots (the muggles wouldn't notice that it wasn't just whatever they used for boots), no shirt for tonight, and 'Remus Lupin's' trademark leather jacket that hung open in the front. Hannah said that he looked like a poster boy for 'Leather 'R Us' and that he was the answer to every girl's dreams. Cassus had simply raised her eyebrow's the first time she had seen him dressed as he was and said the he'd do. His hair, the bright flaming red of the Weasley family was his most distinguished feature and that was why it had to go. The length was perfect but Emmi was going to change the color of it. He wasn't to particular about what color his hair was, before she'd firmly taken over that job, he'd felt that as long as his hair looked sort of the same color as it did before it was fine. He obviously was not a perfectionist. Now his hair was the precise same shade of sandy brown every time he went somewhere that wasn't in the wizarding world. Nathaniel had laughed and laughed and laughed at his disgusted look when Emmi had first taken him to task for it. It wasn't his fault that his hair was so distinctive after all. He was just born with it that way. And why did it even matter if his hair wasn't always the same color? The muggles would just assume that he dyed his hair, which wasn't anything out of the ordinary at all. "There." Emmi had finished changing the color of his hair and handed him a brush. "Comb it, so that we might leave." Obliging her he went into the bathroom and put the finishing touches on his hair, brushing it back so that it left his forehead bare using only enough muggle hair goop to hold it lightly in place. He was clean shaven, the rough and ready look did not suit his persona and personally he did not care for facial hair anyways. His eyes were still the same dark green, he hadn't seen the need to change his eye color and neither had any of the others. Once his hair was arranged to his satisfaction he laid the brush down and looked at Emmi, who had watched him from the doorway. "Shall we go?" He smiled, excitement coursing through him. It was fun to go on stage and sing about events that actually happened even though the muggles didn't believe that they had. An eyebrow quirked, Emmi knowing him well enough to know what he was thinking. "Of course." Just like he knew her well enough to know that she was thinking the exact same thing. *** "Just where do you think you're going?" Ginny froze. That was George's voice, and while he was easier-going than Fred she was still going to be in trouble. He just had to confront her as she was heading up the stairs to the owlery, she thought bitterly. If only he had shown up even five minutes later the owl would have been gone on it's way with nothing anybody could do about it. As it was now... she'd have to wait for another chance. She slowly turned around, the letter clenched tight in her hand, dread making a hard ball in her stomach. It was worse than she had thought. For although it had been George who had spoken Fred was there as well. Meaning that she wasn't going to get off lucky. Well, she consoled herself, at least it wasn't only Fred. "Ginny, Ginny, Ginny, you wouldn't be sending a letter to mum now would you? Not about a certain wayward older brother now. You wouldn't do that all. " Fred's words, while light-hearted did nothing to calm her down for his face was most definitely not joking. Her heart sunk. Sighing she handed the letter to George and stomped down the stairs, heading to her next class with bitter disappointment filling her mouth. She was almost around the corner and thanking her lucky stars that she'd gotten off lightly when Fred's voice called her back. "If you don't want to end up smelling worse than Filch, Ginny dear, for the rest of the year, I suggest that you don't come back up here with anything mentioning Bill." The teasing tone in his voice didn't fool her, though it insured that anyone who was just walking by randomly would think nothing of it. After all the twin's teased people all the time. She smiled weakly. *** "Finally!" Exploded Hannah Bell, "I thought you two would never get here." Bill checked his watch, "We still have a little over an hour before the show starts. We're here in plenty of time." Hannah Bell a tall full-figured woman with long wavy strawberry blond hair that was currently pulled up off her face into two identical ponytails, one on either side of her face. Even though she was the same age as Cassus and him she looked slightly older because of her years of using muggle makeup. She was a formidable person who was known to the muggles as 'Astralis', which was enforced by the fact that she always had at least one star on her person at all times. "Where are Patulum and Sonitus?" Asked Emmi, as she looked around the bustling backstage. Hannah broke into smile, "They went incognito to get food, they should be back soon." Patulum, Sonitus, and Astralis. The stage names for Vincent Clearwater, Nathaniel Moon, and Hannah Bell. No one, not even their managers knew their actual names Bill Weasley and Emmi Cassus included. To everyone else when they were in public as a band they were known as Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Astralis, Patulum, and Sonitus. That was they way they liked it. It was better for no one to know any of Veneficium's actual name. What if two fans were talking about them and passed by some wizards? The cat would be - as they say - out of the bag. And they'd all be in Azkaban quicker than you can say Dervish and Banges. The Daily Prophet would have a field day - they wouldn't even have to add anything to make the story interesting. "Hey, quit blocking the door will ya?" The deep male voice sounded amused though, not angry. "We come bearing gifts of food and you won't let us in?" "How scandalous. It's quite shocking really. We went out there risking life and limb to obtain such nourishment for you all and this is the thanks we get? I'm deeply and truly hurt." A second voice had joined the first, sounding no less amused. Emmi, looking mortified quickly got out of the way, her face flaming with embarrassment. Bill smirked at Vincent and Nathaniel, "That's what you get for deciding the room arrangements the way you did." "Ha! Don't say you don't want to be in the same room as our lovely lady." Scoffed the slender one of the pair. It was Nathaniel, whose laughing brown eyes looked at him squarely. "Keep moving, Sonitus." Mock-growled Vincent, shoving the slightly built man ahead of him,"And stop embarrassing Sirius, we don't want her to pass out from blood to the head." He edged in the door, careful not to spill the packages out of his massive arms and made his way over to Cassus, "Pick your poison, Black." "Care for a drink?" Nathaniel offered a container at Bill, "It's your usual. I got your's too Astralis." They took their drinks and headed towards Vincent, intend on claiming their food. Clearwater, noticing their approach laughed, "You're a bunch of vultures, all of you." Bill laughed, it was good to be around friends, and after thirteen years of close association they were all good friends. Which led to intense speculation among their fans about the state of just how good their relationships were. In the thirteen years he had been working with the other four Bill had been paired with all of them at least once in what the muggles called a deep serious relationship. He'd had sex with several of them, but it hadn't meant anything besides a bit of mutual enjoyment. The idea of him ever settling down with any of them was, to put it simply, hysterical. Each taking their food and drink in hand they went laughing to find their manager. *** Bill fidgeted slightly. He absolutely hated waiting for them to go on. From the time that the opening acts started until the time he actually got to sing and play was the worst time ever. Instead of laughter silence now reigned supreme among the five member's of Veneficium. Either out of nerves or out of respect for those who had nerves there was always a bit of silence before going on stage. He tended to think about what precisely they were doing in regards to the larger picture. It was very important that some muggles at least had an idea of the very existence of the wizarding world. There would come a time that that could be their very salvation. After all the amount of muggles was completely mind boggling compared to the amount of wizards and witches. Hopefully, though, a time when the wizarding world needed the muggles help would never come. Although, Bill did not pay much attention to bloodlines and that whole pure-blood vs. mud-blood debate it was a simple fact that muggles had not inherent protection against magic. He hoped that they would not have to rely on them because if they were forced to many many muggles would die. He'd rather not have anything to do with that sort of blood bath, even if he was on the side that was working with the muggles. In fact, especially if he was on the side of the muggles. Then he'd be directly responsible for ensuring that the muggles were protected. Shaking his head, Bill Weasley put the matter out of his mind. After all what would come would come, and there was no point worrying about something that hadn't even happened yet. But... He knew that in the depths of his heart he'd continue to think about the problem and gnaw at it worriedly. "Hey, Lupin. Get your head out of the clouds, we're about to go on." It was Hannah, grey eyes watching him. He looked up and realized that everyone was waiting for him. "Oh, sorry. I was just distracted for a bit." Vince grinned, "Aren't you always?" "Hey!" In good spirits Veneficium headed out to sing their songs of history and more importantly, of warning. ~ Watching, waiting, untrusting all... ~ ~0ooo0ooo0~ Read and Review! Please? 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