A FATHER´S DUTY

"Enervate,"

Hermione blearily opened her eyes and vaguely recognised the soft and calming voice. Staring down at her was Professor Dumbledore, his face wrinkled with concern.
She pushed herself up slowly and looked around, Ron was laying on the next bed and was still unconscious.

"What happened Miss Granger?" She thought for a moment and all too quickly remembered the events of the night before.

"Neville went missing… and Harry got a letter from Malfoy saying to go to the woods alone to meet him or we wouldn't get him back," stuttered Hermione quickly.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered the rest. Dumbledore's expression softened and he gestured for her to carry on.

"We couldn't let him go alone, Ron and I. So we followed him under his cloak… Once we got there Neville was no where to be seen just Malfoy. He said something about Neville being under the imperius curse and before we knew it he'd grabbed Harry… I remember screaming out but… nothing after that."

Dumbledore shook his head despairingly, when was Harry going to learn to come to him no matter what. He patted Hermione lightly on the shoulder before turning to reawaken Ron.

After getting Ron's version of events, which were somewhat similar to Hermione's, Dumbledore addressed both his students.

"I shall send the Order to track down Draco Malfoy." Ron and Hermione looked considerably pale, and he could tell that they were worried.

"Don't worry. We will find him."

Harry was now sitting in a very awkward silence. Nobody had spoken for at least an hour now and it was becoming unbearable. He decided to ask a question that had been on his mind for the past 30 minutes.

"Remus?" Remus raised his eyebrows at him in response.

"When is full moon?" Remus paled instantly and so did the others in the cell. Remus hadn't thought about that, he closed his eyes and thought quickly through his dates. Opening them slowly he shook his head.

"Four days," he croaked. Harry swallowed deeply.

"What are we going to do, I'll bite you all," said Remus now babbling quickly and occasionally mumbling incoherently.

He was beside himself with worry and had started pacing the small cell. Sirius put his hand on Remus' shoulder heavily and shushed him. Remus looked at him panic filling his eyes.

"We helped you at school and we sure as hell can help you here. A stag and a dog can restrain you," comforted Sirius.

James nodded enthusiastically. Remus looked dubious but seemed to give in and nodded slowly before resting against the wall again. Harry wished he hadn't said anything pulling his knees to his chest, he rested his head on them.

The door clicked, but Harry didn't move.

They were outnumbered, no point in trying to escape.

He didn't even acknowledge who had come into the room, but it seemed the rest of the room had.

Harry was about to look up at whoever had stood directly in front of him when he felt a crushing sensation around his throat. He gagged a little and felt himself being lifted off the ground against the wall. His feet were inches above the ground now and he looked up into the face of his tormentor.

Voldemort, he couldn't even gasp.

Voldemort had an iron tight grip around his throat and he didn't seem to be lessening it in the slightest. Harry struggled fruitlessly at the hand around his neck. Voldemort grinned at him maliciously.

"I thought I should meet the Boy Who Lived," he sneered. Harry glared at him through watering eyes.

"My future self has told me so much about you, I've managed to connect to him via a mirror. It's charmed so that we can communicate easily. It is the reason you're parents and they're friends are here now." He gestured around the room.

Harry looked at Voldemort wearily now. Voldemort's grip had now lessened and was no longer strangling him but he was still held tight. Harry glanced at the others in the room.

Sat huddled together in the corner were Remus, Sirius and Lily. A Death Eater was marking them easily with his wand. Harry looked quickly around for James, he eventually discovered that he was behind Voldemort and was being restrained by two Death Eaters.

Harry shook his head quickly at him when he caught James' eye, he couldn't risk anything happening to him. Voldemort caught this signal and chuckled mockingly. Harry glared at him angrily, but Voldemort raised up his hand.

"I think I would like to know a little bit more. A few questions maybe?" he raised his eyebrows at Harry who shook his head furiously.

"I'll never tell you anything," he spat.

The marauders and Lily who were watching this felt themselves swell with pride, Harry was definitely James' son.
Voldemort stared at Harry coldly before beckoning the closest Death Eater to him, he muttered something inaudible and Death Eater bowed low before walking out quickly.

There were a few minutes where Voldemort and Harry just stared at each other icily, both hated the other immeasurably. James had now made his way to the others and was sat cuddling Lily, who was watching Voldemort with apprehension. What was he going to do with her son?

The minutes ticked by slowly and finally the Death Eater knocked lightly on the door and came in, in his hand he held a small vial of liquid clear in colour. Harry's eyes widened, Veritaserum. Voldemort plucked the vial out of his servant's hands and waved it in front of Harry. Harry gulped.

"Know what this is Potter?" Harry summoned all the bravery he had left and answered back stonily.

"Veritaserum," Voldemort grinned at him, and Harry looked at the ceiling and cursed under his breath. Anywhere but those eyes.

"My my you have a wide range vocabulary Mr Potter," Harry remained silent.

"One last chance… will you answer my questions?"

"Stuff it," said Harry forcibly through gritted teeth.

Voldemort's grin dropped and he looked at Harry frigidly. Harry took a deep breath.

"Fine," said Voldemort abruptly and just as suddenly, he released Harry.

Harry dropped to the floor, quickly he rearranged his glasses and pressed himself up against the wall defensively.
Voldemort walked round the room slowly and came to halt in front of Harry again and bent low towards him. Harry stared at the floor stubbornly.

"I'll force you then," Voldemort spat against his ear.

He expertly grabbed Harry's hair and pulled him round, Harry was quite helpless now he could only see Voldemort's leering face above him. He could vaguely hear protests coming from the other side of the room, but knew that they couldn't help. Voldemort flicked open the top of the vial and pried Harry's jaw open.

Harry struggled but to no avail. He felt the thick potion enter his mouth and told his throat not to swallow. Voldemort held him for a moment longer, and Harry thought he had got away with it. Voldemort stood up and walked to the other side of the room to face him, Harry pushed himself up slightly, and rested on his elbows.

As quick as a flash Voldemort was behind him again and he felt himself being pulled down again. He thrashed wildly for a moment before Voldemort placed a cold hand over his mouth and used the same hand to plug up his nose. Harry persevered, but finally his body gave in and swallowed.

Voldemort let him go again and Harry pushed himself up against the wall again, and waited. Harry didn't feel any different, maybe it was a bad batch. He looked over at Voldemort who was stood close to his parents. Finally he spoke.

"What's your name?" he asked. Harry frowned and immediately felt the power of the potion seize him. Forcing words to come out, he tried desperately to push them back but did not succeed.

"Harry James Potter," he spluttered, shaking his head violently. Voldemort smiled.

"What is your birthday?"

Once again Harry tried to stop the words coming out but it was as if his body was on autopilot and refused to listen to his mind. He fought for a few minutes pursing his lips tightly and pressing his hands to his mouth. His eyes began water as pain took hold of him, the potion was getting stronger.

"No…no…no…," he breathed deeply

"July 31st," he whispered quietly, defeated. The pain subsided and he glowered at Voldemort, who was still smiling manically.

Voldemort then theatrically held up his hands and exclaimed.

"Hang on…July 31st… then." he counted back on his fingers.

"What's the date today?" he looked around expectantly. He shrugged and answered himself.

"10th of January." he gaped at Lily who frowned at him. He leant down and pulled her up, much to James' displeasure. He gestured towards her stomach and said simply.

"You must be at least 6 weeks pregnant," James gaped at him. How could he know. They hadn't told anyone. He shook Lily furiously and Lily nodded her head sadly.

"See Potter you're already in the making. You're in there," he pointed over to where Lily had sat back down and was weeping into James' shoulder. Harry stared at him fixedly.

"Where were we? Ah yes… Who else is in the Order of the Phoenix?"

Harry looked up at him fretfully, he was beginning to feel the words rising up his throat once more. He shook his head furiously, he couldn't give that information… he simply couldn't.

"Stop!" he heard his father say and he opened his eyes slowly.

James was now stood up and his hair was blowing slightly from the magic resonating from him. Voldemort appeared slightly dumbstruck. James raised his hand towards Harry and muttered,

"Silencio." Harry breathed a sigh of relief and let his mouth speak as much as it wanted now because no one could hear him.Voldemort scowled angrily at James.

"You Potter will pay for that," he pointed at James who was stood defiantly.

"Servants take him to the torture room." Death Eaters grabbed James' arms roughly and led him struggling out of the door.

Lily was crying hysterically now and held Remus tightly for comfort. Voldemort glanced slowly across the people in the cell, before sneering derisively and stepping out clicking the door closed behind him.

Harry's mouth had now stopped moving having answered it's question, and he glanced over at his mother and his father's two best friends with a worry creeping all over his face. Sirius smiled at him comfortingly and Harry went to sit with them. Sirius put an arm round him.

"He'll be ok, he's very stubborn when he wants to be."

Dumbledore had assembled the Order for an emergency meeting in his office.

He had only just managed to get a permit that allowed him to track down and bring an underage wizard in for questioning.
It had been a very long and gruelling process and he hadn't slept in 24 hours and the bags under his eyes clearly showed this. He shuffled his papers slightly before standing up to address the people in front of him.

"We have established that Harry has been captured, who has him now is uncertain but we know that Draco Malfoy was the one who lured him out," he drew breath and regarded the Order's expression, most of which were very sombre.

"It took a lot of doing but the Ministry has finally allowed me a permit to bring Malfoy in for questioning," some of the Order nodded grimly at this.

"I need a team to go find him," finished Dumbledore looking round and letting his eyes fall on Remus Lupin, who was stood up against a bookcase close to the door of Dumbledore's office.

Remus was staring at the floor fixedly, cracking his knuckles one by one and sniffing occasionally.

"Remus?" said Dumbledore quietly but still holding an influential tone. Remus looked up at him quickly and nodded.

"I know you're worried for him…" sighed Dumbledore. Remus snorted and stood up to full height.

"He's the only thing I've got left of any of my friends, he's like a son. I think 'worried' is an understatement." The last part muttered quietly but audibly.

The majority of the Order were staring at him now very surprised by his outburst. Remus was always the quiet, judicious member.

Always the one to calm someone down and bring them back to reality, now he looked more like the wolf he was at full moon.

"That is why I'm asking you to take command of an operation to bring in Draco Malfoy, question him and further to that search for Harry."

Remus took in all of the information and strode over to lean against Dumbledore's desk.

"Are you sure," he mumbled. Dumbledore face was touched by the hint of a smile.

"I couldn't think of any one better, you've got more incentive to find him than a lot of people here." Remus stood up again, cleared his throat and nodded at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore shook his hand briefly before Remus turned abruptly and pointed at five or six members and pointed to the door. The six chosen people rose and followed Remus out.

Remus stared round at the few he had chosen: Mad Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur Weasley, Charlie Weasley and Bill Weasley.

"I think Malfoy Manor would be a good Place to start, he will more than likely not be there but it's a starting point," he jerked his head and turned round.
The others following him out of the castle hastily.