Chapter Two - The Secret of Malfoy Manor

It was the night of the first meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry's parents had been a part of the Order during the last war. They had fought Voldemort when the Ministry had collapsed from within. They had thrice defied him. That was why they had been targeted for termination. Harry wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Harry's need to avenge his parents, which he'd had ever since Hagrid had told him about the true nature of their deaths, had built with every new bit of knowledge he acquired. With Voldemort back to life, that directionless anger had found a focus point.

It helped to talk about it. Sirius always listened whenever Harry talked about how much he wanted to fight. He wanted to be useful in whatever way he could. Sirius understood that, which was why he'd allowed Harry to go to the meeting. Harry couldn't have been more thankful.

Sirius didn't treat him like a kid. Harry respected Sirius' authority, skill, and wisdom, and Sirius returned that by speaking with Harry maturely, recognizing his cognizance. They didn't always agree. Harry was a headstrong teenager, and Sirius was the protective guardian. There were natural conflicts. Most of the time, Harry was so thankful to have a real home that he tried to behave.

In Harry's opinion, it was not near soon enough for the first meeting. Nearly a month had passed since Voldemort had announced his return by conquering Azkaban. They should have been moving much faster. The Ministry was acting. They had all sorts of initiatives going. What had this grandiose Order accomplished?

Harry had been practically crawling out of his skin with anticipation for a week, ever since Sirius had allowed him to go. The day of the meeting finally arrived, and the hours passed agonizingly slow. He suffered silently through lunch, spent the afternoon in his Animagus form, wolfed down his dinner, and hurried up to his room to grab his travelling cloak.

Sirius and Remus took their leisurely time to finish dinner. Harry waited in the drawing room in front of the fireplace. The Triwizard Cup glimmered in the firelight, the red reflections mingling with the blue eminations. Time ticked slowly by. Then Harry heard voices coming up the way.

Remus was telling a joke. "Then the vampire said, 'I'll have him when he's done having a Whirling Blood Dancer.'"

Sirius cracked up laughing. "So what'd the bartender say to that?"

"He quoted them a price for a room."

"You were in a rough part of town."

"I saw two more fights even after that. Fortunately Dung showed up at that point. Never agree to let him set the meeting. Trust me."

"Who's Dung?" Harry asked

"Mundungus Fletcher," Remus replied. "He's a rather unpleasant chap. Sort of a con man. Sells a lot of things that aren't properly his, things he claims he found, recovered, or scavenged. Deals with a lot of unsavory characters in his line of work, and he's a positive sink of all sorts of interesting little bits of information."

"What's he doing in the Order?" The Order was supposed to be made up of people like James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Moody. This man Dung sounded like a proper criminal.

"He's true to Dumbledore," Remus said with a shrug, "and he's useful."

Harry thought that sounded rather Slytherin.

Sirius held out the box of Floo powder. "It's time to go, Harry."

"Finally!"

Most of Hogwarts was restricted from the external Floo network, but the Headmaster's office was one of the access points. Remus went first, then Harry, and Sirius last.

The place never ceased to amaze Harry, who had been in here only a handful of times. The room was circular and very large. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. Sitting on a shelf behind the desk was a shabby, tattered wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat. On a golden perch behind the door sat Fawkes the phoenix with brilliant scarlet feathers and beautiful golden plumage, a gold beak and gold talons.

Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them, seated at his great, big, claw-footed desk with Professor Snape, himself sitting in one of the guest chairs. They were chatting quietly.

"Sirius, Remus, welcome." His eyes lighted on Harry for a moment. "Harry, it is good to see you."

"Hello, Professor. Good evening," Harry said pleasantly. If he was going to be allowed to join the Order, he needed to be mature.

"Sirius, could you not find a babysitter?" Dumbledore joked lightly. "Or perhaps trust Harry to remain at home alone?"

"Harry wants to join the Order. He wants to fight. He asked to come, and I didn't think I should deny him the chance to help strike back at the one who made him an orphan. Do you?"

"Do you think it wise, Sirius? War is a most messy business."

"He's already involved, whether you want him to be or not, Albus," Sirius replied, his voice starting to get louder, "or have you already forgotten about what happened during the Third Task?"

"I have not."

"Voldemort has involved him in this."

"We should seek to minimize that, not throw all caution to the wind and charge headlong forward," Professor Snape interjected in a biting tone.

"Was that a crack against me or Gryffindor?"

"Perhaps both." Snape had just a trace of a smirk on his face.

"Ecumenical as always, Severus," Remus observed.

"Lupin," Snape said by way of greeting.

"It is good to see you still hale and hearty."

"As much as he ever gets, anyway," Sirius added.

"Sirius!" Harry objected.

"Well he is very pale, isn't he? Look at him!"

Thankfully the bickering was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Arrive at your leisure," Dumbledore called out.

The door opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy entered. She looked beautiful, as she always did, but her face was thinner. It was hard to fight in a cocktail gown, so she had set aside her fine dresses for more appropriate garb. Her ordinary robes were Slytherin green and silver. Mr. Malfoy looked terrible. His eyes were shadowed, and he had also lost weight. He had been going out into the world to politick, and he had needed to stay on the move. His fine black robes seemed a little sturdier than he normally wore.

The Malfoys had been living at Hogwarts since the fall of Azkaban. Mr. Malfoy had cast the Fidelius Charm over Malfoy Manor. The spell captured the knowledge of where Malfoy Manor could be found and contained it in the soul of the Secret Keeper. He had told Harry the Secret right before Side-Along Apparating him away from Azkaban. Now he was the only one aside from the Malfoy family who knew the location, but Mr. Malfoy shared a connection to Voldemort through the Dark Mark. Voldemort used it to summon the Death Eaters. Who was to say he couldn't do more? If he could penetrate the Secret, the Malfoy family would die.

"Ah, you're here," Dumbledore said cheerily. He gestured to the candy dish on the corner of the desk. "May I offer you a lemon drop?"

"Yes, thank you, Albus," Mr. Malfoy said. He scooped up one of the hard yellow candies and popped it in his mouth. "I haven't had a sweet in weeks."

"Let's begin. Severus?"

Harry blinked. Where was the rest of the Order?

Professor Snape said, "I have convinced the Dark Lord that I am his faithful servant. He believes I am here to spy upon you and the Order, deceiving you into thinking I am spying on him."

"A complicated deception," Sirius noted.

"Quite. It took some time, but he has accepted my story for now. Doubtless he will soon come up with a way for me to prove myself. Probably some ritual at Samhain. He does so enjoy the act of sacrifice. I will participate, of course. There is no other who can get so close to him."

Snape's voice was neutral, but Harry heard the disgust and loathing he had for himself that he had to dirty his hands with the blood of innocents. It was necessary, so damned necessary, but the deeds of war could mark the victor just as the loser.

"I am sorry that you must make this sacrifice, Severus. I wish it were otherwise."

"As do I, Albus, but we do what we must."

"Some do more. Thank you." Dumbledore turned to Mr. Malfoy. "Severus, Sirius, and I have determined that the Fidelius Charm you cast is fatally flawed, Lucius. You have a Secret to Keep, but the Dark Mark upon your arm betrays you. Your presence in Malfoy Manor renders the protections insubstantial."

"When I am not there?" Mr. Malfoy asked intently.

"So far as we can determine, the house should be inviolate."

Mr. Malfoy sighed deeply. "Then for the sake of my family, I can never go home."

"I can offer you the shelter of Hogwarts only until the students return. Then there would be far too many risks associated. Voldemort does not need any more incentives to attack the school."

"Sirius," Harry whispered. His mind was working very fast now. A crazy plan was taking shape in his mind, but he'd have to talk really quickly in order to carry it off. "If Mister Malfoy needs a place to stay, why don't we offer it to him?"

"What, rent him a flat?"

"What about Grimmauld Place?"

"Let Lucius Malfoy under my roof?" Sirius sounded so scandalized, Harry might have asked him to whip the Queen naked through the streets of London.

"Sirius!" Harry let his disapproval show. "He's in this situation because he saved me from Voldemort. A little sympathy, please?"

Sirius chewed on his lip for a moment. "I suppose it couldn't hurt that much."

An owl flew in the window of Dumbledore's office and dropped a note on his desk. Dumbledore scanned the contents briefly. He picked up a quill and penned a neat reply.

"Excuse me, Lucius," Dumbledore said when Mr. Malfoy paused for breath. "We will have to set aside our business in a moment. Mister Filch has caught a student trying to enter the gates. This is most unusual, for even the most studious Ravenclaw and ambitious Slytherin enjoys their summer holidays."

"Who is this student, and how can it be more important than me protecting my life? Could I not cut off my arm and the Mark with it?"

Snape replied. "It would only manifest elsewhere. It is not a mark on the body so much as on the soul."

Dumbledore shook his head. "We will pause. Our guest is Theodore Nott."

Harry jumped in his skin. Professor Snape sat up straight in his chair. Slytherin student and Head of House glanced at each other.

"Theo?" Harry asked. "What was he doing trying to break into Hogwarts?"

"Did he say what he wanted?" Snape inquired intensely.

"Only that he needed to speak with me. He would say no more. Mister Filch is bringing him up. Please continue, Lucius."

"If my manor is a safe place, then perhaps it would be of some use to you, Dumbledore. As you say, I should not remain here past the summer. The Order can hardly operate out of a school either. As a governor, I cannot accept undue risk to the children."

"That is most considerate of you, Lucius," Dumbledore said politely. "Your offer is most generous. Thank you. I know how much your home means to you."

"I will give all that I have in order that my blood may live without fear," Mr. Malfoy declared, and Harry saw the memory of pain in his eyes.

"Yes, for blood," Dumbledore murmured, "but it still leaves us with the question of what to do with you. You cannot go home without unlocking the Secret. I cannot let you stay for long. You will not survive long on your own."

Harry jabbed Sirius in the side. Sirius grunted. Both Dumbledore and Mr. Malfoy glanced in his direction.

"Yes, Sirius?" Dumbledore inquired, his blue eyes twinkling slightly.

"Umm," Sirius stalled, looking sideways at Harry. "Well, I suppose there's nothing else for it. The House of Black has harboured more than its fair share of Dark souls. Lucius, if you will accept my charity, I'll let you stay with me."

Mr. Malfoy clearly did not like the word charity, as a pained expression crossed his face. It vanished quickly enough, but Harry caught it.

"Cousin, now it is you who is being most generous. Thank you. I accept your hospitality."

"Well then," Dumbledore said, sounding quite pleased. "That's all settled. Excellent."

Remus and Professor Snape were both staring at Sirius in disbelief. Harry smirked. One way or another, he would get these adults to get along.

"Now, what other business do we have?"

"Can you tell us what's going on with the Ministry?" Sirius asked.

"Minister Fudge has taken a hard line," Mr. Malfoy replied. "I had quite a time convincing the snivelling little man of the need to stand up and fight, but he eventually saw reason when I told him of the Dark Lord's plans for him personally. I think it was the idea of being hung with his own entrails that did him in."

"Lucius, must you?" Mrs. Malfoy asked, as she turned a slight shade of green.

"I must, my love." He paused for a moment and just gazed lovingly at her. Then he sighed and continued, "The Aurors are on full alert, with training of the current class of recruits accelerated. We anticipate a surge of new recruits, so there must be more funds allocated to facilities and material. They intend to establish a pre-training crash course in the required disciplines, with the option to retake the NEWTs, to increase the pool of eligible wizards. The numbers associated these needs made Fudge nearly faint more times than my descriptions of the messy death the Dark Lord has in store for him."

"I'm sure," Dumbledore said, trying not to smile and failing. "Politicians do so hate to spend money."

"Fudge certainly treats every Knut as his own when it comes time to discuss the budget."

"The governors are the same way," Dumbledore said blandly. "Oh, the rousing shouting matches I've had with them."

Mr. Malfoy didn't look amused. "It is pointless to take cheap shots, Dumbledore. I was generally always in favour of spending money, just not in the areas you thought it should be spent. More teachers, better teachers, other subjects! You wanted to let Hagrid bring in dragons, and-"

"Terribly misunderstood creatures, dragons," Dumbledore interjected.

Mr. Malfoy took a deep breath and composed himself.

"I have spoken to many members of the Wizengamot in the past few weeks as well. Most are afraid, but enough are willing to fight who threatened to shame the rest that we are assured of public support for the Ministry and the new policies. The curfew isn't popular, but it's accepted as necessary. There is a lot of effort being put into developing and publishing safety protocols. Some of it is useful, most of it is just feel-good drivel. The only way to truly be safe is the Fidelius Charm. Unfortunately it's highly advanced magic that not everyone can cast. I think there will a substantial profit to be made for any freelance Charmer who has that spell in his catalogue.

"Additionally, acting on Severus' advice, I have made efforts to restrict the sale of certain potions ingredients that can be used irresponsibly. The list he gave me was quite lengthy."

"What sort of potions, Severus?" asked Dumbledore.

"There are far too many to discuss now," Snape answered. "Suffice to say, I know many of the potions the Dark Lord will require me to make, and I anticipate many others. Artificial shortages of crucial ingredients will hinder his plans. It is already quite difficult to find all the components for Polyjuice Potion, for instance. We must restrict the ability of the Dark Lord to make this potion, or he will wreck havoc with it."

"You're fighting Voldemort with economics?" Sirius asked, sounding astonished.

"We fight him on all levels."

There was a knock on the door. "Cross the threshold," Dumbledore called out.

The door opened, and Mister Filch dragged Theo into the office. Harry's smartest friend looked horrible. His skin was pale, his eyes were dark and baggy, and he was thinner than Harry had ever seen him. He'd always been a bit weedy, but now he seemed a mere shade of his former self.

"This is him, Headmaster," Filch said in his gravelly voice. "This is the one I caught. Should I take him down to the dungeons for a good hanging up by his thumbs? He'll talk, oh yes."

"I do not think that we shall require such drastic means, Mister Filch. Thank you."

Filch glowered at Theo once more before turning and leaving, the dustmop that was Mrs. Norris hot on his heels.

"Welcome, Theodore. I understand you wanted to speak to me."

Theo looked around at all the people. He'd obviously expected to meet privately with Dumbledore. He saw Professor Snape.

"Professor."

"Mister Nott. I heard of your arrival and set aside my brewing. What prompts one of my students to break into school?"

Theo glanced around the room again. Would he speak in front of the Malfoys? Remus and Sirius he'd been friendly enough with, but that was before the return of Voldemort.

"Well, I was going to tell Harry eventually anyway," Theo said with resignation plain in his voice. "Fine. I've come seeking sanctuary. I don't want to be a Death Eater."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He'd feared so very much that Theo would side with his father and bow to Voldemort. Harry had tried to persuade Theo before school let out, but the question had ultimately been left unanswered. Now Theo had made a decision, and it was the right one. Thank Merlin!

"This is indeed most fortuitous news," Dumbledore said seriously, stroking his long beard, "but did it really require breaking into the castle? An owl could have communicated your intentions much more easily."

"Probably, but I needed to come immediately. It wasn't safe, you understand."

"How so?"

Theo took another long breath. "As I'm sure you know, my father was one of the Dark Lord's most valued servants. He prizes knowledge, and so my father's scholarly tendencies made him a great resource. It was that way in the last war and it looked to be the same in this war."

"You sound disappointed in him," Dumbledore said kindly.

"He made his choice," Theo said heatedly. "It was his right. He made the choice for me too. The first night back home, he was already plotting his uses for me. He wanted to use my friendship with Harry. I was supposed to get Harry to visit, and then we were going to ambush him."

Sirius inhaled sharply. Harry looked over and met Sirius' eyes. Would they have fallen for it? Would Harry have wanted to believe in Theo so much that he would have walked into a trap? He shuddered.

"I didn't want to do that. Harry's not a bad sort, and lots of exciting stuff does tend to happen around him, which is fun. I tried to argue with him, like we always argued about everything. Discussion, debate, argument! That was how he raised me! To think! Consider all the angles before acting!"

Theo's voice grew more passionate as he spoke, and then his intensity dropped to nothing. His next words were barely a whisper.

"This time it was different. He turned his wand on me."

Theo began to shake, both in body and voice. "I've never felt anything so awful. My own father! How could he? How could he? When he took the curse off, I lay there on the floor. I couldn't lift my head out of this pool of my own blood and puke. I think I pissed myself too. Of course I promised that I would obey without question. I got away from him and cleaned myself up."

Harry was gripped by the awful story. He hung on Theo's every agonizing word. How could a man torture his own son, his own blood? Once again, the shadow of the Dursleys rose up in his mind. Aunt Petunia had fully participated in Harry's abuse, despite their shared blood. He had no doubts they would have Crucio'd him in a heartbeat if they could.

"Everything was fine later that night for dinner. He never even tasted the nightshade in his wine." Theo's voice was hollow and dispassionate. "He didn't take very long to die. He was an old man anyway. Weak. He looked so much smaller with his eyes closed."

"By all that's holy," Remus murmured. "The boy poisoned his own father!"

"Patricide!" Mr. Malfoy gasped.

"My dear boy," Dumbledore said gently.

"We were supposed to be a team," Theo cried, hot tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. "Just the two of us! Us against the world! How could he turn on me like that? How could he put that curse on me? Why?"

Theo began to sob, deep choking cries of pain and remembered agony. He had nobody to turn to, nobody to comfort him. Harry couldn't stand it anymore and went to his side. He placed a tentative hand on Theo's shaking shoulder and squeezed silently.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry. I was going to do it. I was going to help capture you for the Dark Lord."

"I understand," Harry said, and he did understand. The bonds between father and son may have been a mystery to Harry once upon a time, but he was slowly learning. Sirius was the closest thing Harry had to a father of his own, and he readily listened to any plan his godfather came up with simply because it came from Sirius.

"I've got nowhere to go," Theo continued brokenly. "I've been trying to figure out what to do ever since that night, but I don't know what to do. Then just now, Death Eaters tripped the alarm spells. I didn't wait to chat with them. I got to the Floo and went to Hogsmeade, then I came here."

"You should go to the hospital wing," Remus advised, sounding much like he had in the classroom. "The after-effects of Cruciatus are plain to see. You need medical attention."

"Yes, Professor," Theo said, still sounding dazed.

"Madam Pomfrey will not ask any questions," Dumbledore said.

"She never does," Remus replied. "Thank Merlin for her skill."

"Severus-"

Professor Snape put an arm around Theo's trembling shoulders and guided him from the office.

The silence was deafening. Harry wanted to go with Theo, but for reasons he didn't quite process, he stayed behind. He would go later after Madam Pomfrey had done her magic. She wouldn't let him see Theo until that was over anyway at the very least.

So Harry stayed. He looked up at Remus. "Will he be okay?"

Remus nodded slowly. "Yes, even delayed treatment is better than none. In time, he would have recovered on his own. It is a painful route."

"I never thought the boy capable of this," Sirius said sadly. "I rather like Theo. He helped me get my mother off the wall. He's a good lad."

"Patricide," Mr. Malfoy said again, still seeming stunned. "By Merlin the Time Traveller, what is this world coming to?"

"A very sad day," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "I fear it may not be the last horrible act we see in this war."

"There were many in the last," Remus said, his voice far away. "I don't think he's changed his ways. They were working quite well for him last time until-"

His eyes slid to Harry. "Until" was Lily sacrificing herself for her infant son, her love protecting him from the terrible hatred of the Killing Curse.

"Until we learned the one weakness he has," Dumbledore said. "Love is anathema to him, and it can harm him. Were we able to fashion love into a weapon, we might slay him, but such is not love's way. Love protects."

"If it is not too indelicate," Mr. Malfoy said, "may I suggest that we discuss how Timothy Nott's death affects any strategy? Stomach-turning as it may be, the boy has given us a great boon. Nott was a sink of knowledge."

"You sick bastard," Sirius croaked. "How can you think strategy when a child has just had to become a killer?"

"I weep for young Theodore, who has lost his innocence too soon; however, I keep control of myself, cousin. Though I also have the urge to comfort him, my comforts are more long-term. Rather than hug the boy, I will find him shelter and refuge. He is here at Hogwarts, and all his physical needs are met. He has two friends in the castle, and his emotional needs are met. I will convey my feelings to Theodore in a private setting and in a manner suiting the gravity of his deeds. There will come a time when he will need someone to tell him that they understand and that it was the right thing to do. When that time comes, I will be there for him."

"The right thing!" Sirius barked.

"Yes, the right thing! I would expect no less from my sons were I to put that curse on them, and I would deserve it! One does not treat blood this way," Mr. Malfoy said, as though stating the perfectly obvious.

"But Muggles, that's perfectly fine," Sirius said blandly.

"Sirius!" Harry interjected.

"I plan how to react to changing situations," Mr. Malfoy continued, ignoring Sirius' crack about Muggles. "Nott's death is something that could change the balance of Light and Dark. It will certainly create a struggle amongst the Death Eaters. Being the Dark Lord's scholar had all sorts of perks, the least of which is that underlings listened when he spoke, because the Dark Lord often listened too. If one irritated the scholar, he might mention that one had interrupted a critical experiment or ruined a valuable text. It happened several times, and the Dark Lord flew into a rage whenever it happened. The results were fairly graphic. The scholar's demise has profound implications."

"Lucius is right," Mrs. Malfoy contributed. "Nott had no apprentice to speak of, so whomever can convince the Dark Lord that he is the most worthy scholar will be in a most favourable position."

"You- you- you Slytherins!" Sirius sputtered. "You cold-blooded snakes!"

Harry wanted to get upset. He hadn't shown the immediate compassion and gone with Theo, choosing to stay and hear more of the meeting. Did that make him more Slytherin?

"Sirius, calm down," Remus advised, putting one hand on his shoulder. "They've always been practical bastards. You know that."

"But this-"

"You're not going to change them. It's just how they are."

Mr. Malfoy looked at Remus. "Likewise we cannot seem to make you Gryffindors understand that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. We all have things we should like to change about others."

Sirius jumped to his friend's defence. "Ice water is too hot to run in your veins, Lucius. It's a wonder you don't hibernate."

"It's amazing your hot temper hasn't gotten you killed yet," Mr. Malfoy sneered. "We cannot afford to lose focus. How can we best exploit Nott's death?"

"Could we influence who his replacement will be?" Remus asked Dumbledore.

"Unlikely. Severus still has yet to prove his worth to Voldemort. He is accepted back, but he has yet be tested. Until Voldemort knows his loyalty is certain, he has no sway over him."

"That is unfortunate," Remus said, stating the obvious. "Feeding him false knowledge might be useful. He'd probably see through it. Information, however, we must take full advantage of."

"Yes. Well, I don't think there's anything else we can accomplish here tonight. May I offer anyone a nightcap?"

Everyone politely declined.

The meeting of the Order, such as it was, was over.

Mr. Malfoy stood up and held out a hand to Mrs. Malfoy. She took it and rose gracefully. They looked into each others' eyes, husband and wife. The tightness around his eyes relaxed slightly. Her pursed lips curled into a small but hopeful smile.

"Let us go, Lucius," she said softly. "You must see your sons, and I would say my farewells in private."

He nodded. "Cousin, I will meet you at the castle gate. Oh, by the way-" he pulled his wand and cast a Deafening Spell on all of the portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses. "Can't have them overhearing this. Malfoy Manor may be found at One, High Street, Wilton."

"Of course it is," Sirius replied. His tone was neutral. He kept his eyes slightly elevated, looking directly at nobody. "Take your time."

The Malfoys left, shutting the door behind them. It was Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, and Harry in the headmaster's office.

"Albus?"

"Yes, Sirius?"

"As you know, Harry's birthday is at the end of the month."

"I am aware."

"A young man doesn't turn fifteen every day."

"I shall interpret that figuratively and not literally."

"But the question arises of how to celebrate properly. Grimmauld Place is locked up moreso than Gringotts, and Malfoy Manor the same way."

"With good cause," Dumbledore noted. "It is a very dangerous world."

"Any public gathering is wrought with security concerns."

"Naturally. What are you driving at, Sirius?"

"I want you to open the school gates for a party. All of the parents will feel safe bringing their children here. There's little need for complicated protective spells to be set up because they're already in place."

"A party?"

"Indubitably. What better thing than a party to lift morale? Show people we're not going to let a pesky Dark Lord interfere with living our lives. What do you say?"

"Sirius, surely you must be pulling my leg. If I grant your request, do you know how many hundreds of solicitations I will receive? I am already asked to host many functions here at Hogwarts. My answer must be no."

"These are not normal times, Albus. People still want to gather together, but they also want to be assured of safety. If you can provide it-"

"I am not a slave to the wants of others," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "Let me put it to you another way. In this specific case, you're going to be inviting Harry's friends from Slytherin, correct?"

"Yes."

"There is nothing wrong with that. Friends are wonderful gifts from the Creator of All Things, but how many of those children have parents who answered the call of their master?" Dumbledore asked. "A great many, I am afraid. You would have me open the school to them without knowing where they stand? Such a risk, Sirius. No, I cannot countenance such action."

Sirius frowned, but he did not reply. "Fine. We'll figure something else out." He stood up. "Be in touch."

"I will. Be well, Sirius, Remus, Harry."

"Bye, sir."

"Well, scratch that idea," Sirius rued as they walked down the spiral staircase and through the hallways. "Time for Plan S."

"What's Plan S?" Harry asked.

"I know Plan G is to ask Gringotts," Remus said, "but I'm not aware of Plan S."

"Where did we used to conceal all manner of illicit activity?" Sirius said.

"The Shrieking Shack," Remus replied.

"Precisely."

"But Dumbledore just told us he won't open the gates."

"Is the Shack protected by anti-Apparition Charms?" Sirius sounded like he knew the answer already.

"No. How many people do you think you could Side-Along?"

"Probably no more than half a dozen."

"Myself as well. We'd have to keep the guest list short. I think if we asked Lucius and Narcissa, we could easily bring all of Harry's guests inside. We wouldn't have to tell anyone where they were going."

"Sounds like a good plan," Sirius said. "Harry, think of who you want to invite. No more than a dozen."

"Okay, Sirius. I want to see Theo before we go."

"Of course. We'll meet you at the gate."

Harry headed to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was bustling about. She was a squat little witch who brooked no nonsense in her ward. Harry always spoke politely to her, because she and she alone determined when he was allowed to cease being her guest.

"Ah, hello, Mister Potter. A pleasure to see you."

"You as well, Madam. How is he?"

"He'll recover. You can see him if you want. Keep things quiet, or so help me-"

"Yes, Madam!" Harry said hastily.

Theo was sleeping. It could not have been a natural sleep, for he was far too restful. Professor Snape sat in a chair by his bed, keeping vigil.

"Hello, sir."

"Mister Potter."

"Madam says he's going to be okay."

"He should have sought treatment sooner. He suffered needlessly."

Harry didn't know how to reply to that. "I'm sure he wasn't thinking clearly."

"Certainly not. Nor will he for a very long time."

Theo had poisoned his own father. Harry could barely think the words in his head. He couldn't imagine where Theo's mind was right now. He ached for his friend, and he keenly felt his own sense of helplessness. How could he help his friend get through this?

"What he did was right," Professor Snape said, as if reading his mind. "It is the paramount right of the individual to defend oneself from assault. Do not ask him about it. Do not judge him. Let him speak when he is ready to speak. Be near him and be nice to him. Let him know without words that you are there for him. When he is ready, he will share."

"Yes, sir." There was nothing else to say.

Harry sat there quietly, watching Theo, watching Professor Snape. Theo lay still in the hospital bed, the faint rising and falling of his chest the only indicator that he was still amongst the living. Snape sat silently as well. He had inexplicably drawn his hood up to conceal his face. He held his hands folded in front of him, knuckles resting on his chin.

Time ticked by. Then there was a noise in the entrance to the hospital wing. The door opened to admit Draco.

"Blimey, look at him," Draco marvelled, his eyes on Theo. "'Lo, Harry. 'Lo, Professor."

"Hi, Draco. Your dad told you?"

"Yeah, he did. I can't believe it."

"Me either. His own dad."

"That will be enough, you two," Professor Snape said disdainfully. "As I told Mister Potter, I will now tell you, Mister Malfoy. Mister Nott's action is fully justified. I will not hear any criticism of it."

"Oh no, sir," Draco hastily said. "I meant I couldn't believe his own dad put that spell on him."

"It could just as easily have been you, Mister Malfoy."

"Sir?"

"Had your father chosen differently, it might have been you ordered to lure Mister Potter into a trap. How would you have chosen? What might your father have done to insure your obedience?"

Draco thought about that for a moment. He made no reply.

"Theodore has a great many issues to work through. If you are his friends, you will support him and have patience with him. Look out for him. He will speak when he is ready, and pressuring him prematurely will be counter-productive."

"Sir, I promise I won't try to get him to talk. I wouldn't even know where to start."

"The right words will come when they are needed. When the time is right."

Harry patted Theo's shoulder encouragingly. "If your dad is done saying goodbye, then I should go meet them all at the gate."

"Yeah. Sorry we can't visit longer. I've been going out of my head around here. There's only so much exploring one can do on one's own. Which reminds me, I found this really nifty room I want to show you."

"Next time."

"Next time," Draco agreed.

"Bye. Bye, Professor."

"Good-bye, Mister Potter."

"Bye, Harry."

Harry left the hospital wing, saying farewell to Madam Pomfrey on his way out. It was a short jaunt from there to the front gate of the castle where Sirius, Remus, and Mr. Malfoy were waiting.

"Ah, Harry," said Sirius. "Good. How's Theo?"

"He's resting comfortably."

"Good, good. We'll come again when he's feeling better. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

The four wizards made their way out from the castle gate and down the path to the entrance to the grounds. The iron gates swung open at their approach.

"Lucius?"

"Yes, cousin?"

Sirius leaned in to whisper in Mr. Malfoy's ear. It was the Secret.

"Of course it is," Mr. Malfoy replied. "Thank you, cousin."

Harry took Sirius' arm as the three men Apparated back to Grimmauld Place. With three slight 'pop's, four people suddenly appeared in the drawing room. The Black family tree decorated the wall, on a tapestry affixed there with a Permanent Sticking Charm.

"Well, here we are," Sirius said blandly. "I'll call Kreacher to make up your room, Lucius. Is the basement all right?"

Mr. Malfoy twitched slightly. "Cousin, please, spare me your attempts at humour. You are my host. I am defenceless before you. Should you choose to offer me quarters in the basement, I will thank you for your generosity, but please do not ask me to laugh when the joke is at my expense."

Sirius smirked. "You continue to surprise me, Lucius. You actually do know how to be humble."

"Grateful, Cousin. Gracefully grateful. A gentleman gives gratitude as it is warranted."

"Well, not the dungeons, perhaps," Sirius said speculatively. He began to stroke his chin with his index finger. "I suppose you can have one of the bedrooms on the third floor. There's an empty one next to the loo with a ghoul in it."

"A ghoul?" Mr. Malfoy exclaimed.

"Sirius!" Harry protested. "Stop it! We got rid of the ghoul months ago, Mister Malfoy."

"I was just having a little fun, Harry. Wasn't it funny, Lucius?"

"Hysterical."

"If he thought about it for a second, he'd remember that there's a Ministry Task Force that deals with unwanted ghouls."

"So there is."

"Plus, I'm sure he's a very capable wizard, more than able to handle one pesky ghoul."

"Quite. May we continue, please?"

"Everyone's a critic," Sirius breathed. "Kreacher!"

With a bang, the wrinkle-headed house elf appeared in the sitting room. He bowed low to touch his nose to the carpet.

"Master called? How may Kreacher serve?"

With a pained expression, Sirius said, "Kreacher, please make up one of the guest rooms on the third floor for our house guest. Lucius will be staying with us until further notice."

Without even acknowledging Mr. Malfoy, Kreacher disappeared with a bang.

"Well, until that's ready, would anyone like to play cards?" Sirius asked.

"Cousin, I have something I wish to discuss with you."

"I hate it when you say that. I always think it's going to be something awful."

"Far from awful, Cousin. It concerns protecting our boys from danger."

"I'm listening."

"Do you not think it would be the height of precaution and foresight if they knew how to Apparate?"

"Underage Apparition and Apparating without a license are both criminal offences, Lucius."

"As is failure to register with the Animagus Board," Lucius said pleasantly. "You yourself failed to register for a great many years."

"That's different."

"I fail to see the difference. In fact, I would more readily forgive Harry and Draco breaking the law in this instance than you in your situation. That was to help a friend; this may mean their lives."

"There's no need to get dramatic, Lucius."

"Oh, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black."

"The Kettleblacks died in the dragonpox epidemic of 1918."

Mr. Malfoy rolled his eyes and a slight groan escaped him. "Why are you making this difficult?"

"Because I can, Lucius. I enjoy giving you a hard time. You may have noticed this by now."

"I have. Believe me, I have. My point is that any unexpected weapons we can give the boys now will help improve their chances of survival. You must see the truth of this."

"Oh, I do. I think it's a fantastic idea, myself. I'd already thought about giving Harry lessons."

"Then we are in agreement."

"Looks like it. Which of us shall it be?"

"Both, perhaps? We shall certainly have a lot of time here together."

Sirius' face blanched.

They played cards for several minutes until Kreacher returned to announce that the guest bedroom had been made up. Mr. Malfoy stood, bowed, said good night, and departed for the third floor.

Harry, Sirius, and Remus remained.

"Moony, old friend? Would you mind giving Harry and I a few minutes alone?"

"No, not at all. Actually, I should head home. Big day tomorrow."

"Good night, Moony," Harry said.

"Good night, old friend."

Moony waved and headed for the door. When he had left, Harry looked at Padfoot. "What's up?"

"I wanted to talk about what we learned tonight. With Theo, I mean. It's pretty shocking news."

"Yeah," Harry said. "I can barely believe it. His dad put the Cruciatus on him. His own dad."

"An act of great hatred against a mere boy," Sirius said bitterly. "Such evil. The Death Eaters have learned well from their master. Voldemort does not hesitate to curse his followers."

"I know." Harry had seen it firsthand that awful night. "Poor Theo. I can't imagine being in that kind of bind. His dad was the one person he thought would be with him. He must have felt so alone. To even conceive of poisoning his dad - and then actually doing it! - he must have been out of his mind with pain, fear, and desperation."

"People can do some funny things when you push them far enough."

"I guess so. I want to help him, but I'm not really sure how. I don't know what I can do."

"Just be there for him. Don't pressure him to open up. Be supportive, and he will eventually speak about it. He'll need his friends now more than ever."

"We'll be there."

"I know you will, Harry, and I'm behind you a hundred percent. If you want to offer him a place to come for school holidays, he can come here."

"Thanks, Sirius. I think he'll appreciate that."

"He got my mother off the wall. He's always welcome."