Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.
A/N: Sorry for the wait. A month went a tad faster than expected. Well. At least it's the longest chapter I have made so far. Enjoy.
Chapter 3
A black stuffed toy-dog
Frank Longbottom had gotten himself into a bit of a pickle. Not just a little one, but a very very painful one.
The dark haired man was chained to a wall. His hands were bound in shackles. They throbbed painfully. Frank moved a little, trying to ease the pain from his stiff arms. He gasped slightly from the pain.
Frank Longbottom didn't look so good. His clothes were ripped to shreds and he was covered in dried blood. His brown hair was dirty from a mix blood and dust. He swallowed slightly, his mouth was so dry. He hadn't drunk or eaten anything for days. He bit his lips, and winced when he bit on one of the wounds he had on them.
Frank wasn't feeling that great ether. His entire body was filled with small cuts and burn marks. The greater wounds had been healed enough that he wouldn't die immediately. But that didn't mean they didn't hurt like a bitch.
He had no idea how long he had been imprisoned. 'I was such a fool!' He thought to himself. 'I should have been more careful...' He sighed heavily. Frank didn't know what to do, he only hoped his wife and son was alright. He hadn't said anything to the death eaters yet, no matter what they put him through, he wouldn't tell them anything! He owned his family and the order of the phoenix at least that much.
'But Snape's here. He'll tell Dumbledore, and then... And then he will send someone to save me.' Frank nodded to himself, he had to keep thinking like that. He couldn't give up, not ever. He had to get to Dumbledore, he had to tell him about…
Frank lost his train of thoughts when he could hear a familiar sound. He froze on the spot and stared at the door with a terrified expression. 'They are coming for me again,' was the only thought he had. They were coming, and that meant more pain, more suffering.
Frank bit his lip and shut his eyes tightly. 'I won't tell them anything, I won't Alice, I promise.'
The door opened with a low screek-sound. One pair of feet could be heard walking slowly into the room. Like if whoever it was were uncertain.
Frank didn't bother open his eyes. He hang with his head, hoping that whoever it was would go away if he thought he was asleep. The footstep only came closer. Frank's pulse went up, like if it was a scared bunny.
"How's it hanging, Frank?"
Frank opened his eyes in shock and looked up at the man in front of him with a startled expression. He opened his mouth as well and widened his eyes.
The man standing in front of him had dark tousled hair. Like if someone just rubbed it with a balloon. His eyes were hazel and rather big for his face. Giving him a boyish look. But he still looked rather handsome. Not that Frank ever notes that. A pair of stylish roundish glasses, that were more expensive then it looked, framed his face. He was wearing a black outfit with an elegant black cape on his shoulders. It moved graciously down, and deflected the light. Giving the look that it was more then it seemed.
"Potter! What are you doing here?"
Frank couldn't help but to feel very very relived.
…
Thinks hadn't gone exactly has planned. There had been far more guards than they had expected. Not to mention a dozen or so traps.
'It's almost as if someone was expecting us,' Remus Lupin thought for himself. He and Peter were running down a hallway, trying to get away from some guards that had notes them.
'This isn't good at all.'
Remus came running around a corner, and came crashing straight into a wall. He cursed out loud. "Another dead end!"
Peter started whimpering behind him. "Remus, they are coming!"
The sand coloured haired man turned around and swore again. It wasn't often he cursed. But this was some of those moments where one really needed some swear words.
Thinks hadn't gone as planned. At all.
…
The plan had been simple enough. Infiltrate the mansion. Find Frank. Get out unnoticed. It was a simple and easy plan (Except of a couple of minor pranks. Like drawing mustaches on the paintings, and colouring a couple panties pink. All James' ideas). There were only going to be a couple of guards, or so their spies had said at least. And it was doable with the help of James' invisible cape, and Peter's animagus form. They could get in and out unnoticed. Or so they had thought.
It's hard to say exact when things had gone to hell. The first part of the plan had gone easy enough.
The manor they were breaking into, was of a renaissance architecture, build in the early eighteen century. It had a lovely long garden in front of the house. Making it easy to spot intruders, but also making it easy for intruders to spot the guards.
It wasn't the perfect place to keep prisoners, but it was inconspicuous, and few would ever think that the lovely old couple owning the house would ever keep anyone there imprisoned. But it wasn't like they had much choice in the matter, really. The house was owned by a muggle couple. And it was therefore it had taken the order a while to locate it. What had happened to the muggles on the other hand, could only be debated. They had either been tortured and killed, or put under the imperio-curse.
Breaking into the house had been fairly easy. Peter had simply transformed into a mouse, sneaked into the house, seen that the coast was clear and opened the back door. James and Remus had walked straight in unnoticed under the invisible cloak.
It was when they had gotten inside, things had gotten bad. They had almost gone straight into a trap, if it hadn't been for Remus' super werewolf nose (Which they had liked to call it back in Hogwarts). That nose had saved them countless of times before, and it didn't disappoint now.
They had continued through several pathways, trying to find Frank Longbottom. They had almost been caught thrice by guards. Somehow the entire house was crawling with them. They had also trigged a couple of traps (One trap had consisted completely by different potions, who fell on them. Creating different effects. Peter had gotten a swelling solution on his head. Making his head ten times bigger. Luckily Remus knew a counter-spell, and had quickly helped his friend before they all had gotten crushed under the rat animagus' enormous head), which had led to the guards discovering them.
The entire thing didn't make much sense. There wasn't supposed to be so many guards! Had someone figured out their plan? This worried the three friends (Minus one, but I bet you can guess who that is), that meant they had spies in their ranks.
The three friends had walked further into the mansion, trying to find their missing comrade, but without any luck.
Under one of the traps, a wall had come between them. Leaving James Potter on one side, and the two others on the other. They had decided to separate and look on their own when they couldn't find a way around. They all agreed to meet outside in an hour if they couldn't find Frank.
…
James Potter helped Frank move down the corridor. He was worried about the other man. He was bruised and bloody. Not to mention dirty and had black rings under his eyes. Frank could also barely stand. He was so weak and malnourished. James shook his head and muttered under his breath.
"The sooner we get you home, the better."
Frank only grunted in respond, to tired and exhausted to say anything else. He had enough trying to cling to James and not fall on his face… again.
James looked at him, and sighed. He hoped Remus and Peter were alright. He didn't know what he would do if they got caught. He could only hope that they were okay. He would have to deal with it later. First get Frank out. Then break Remus and Peter out. He could only do one thing at the time.
"Don't worry, Frank. We'll get you out in no time. And then you'll get to see Alice and Newal again."
Frank rolled his eyes slightly. "It's Neville, you idiot."
James grinned slightly, happy to get a respond from Frank. "Same shit. Who calls their son Neville anyway? It's a stupid name."
Frank glared in respond. "It's not a stupid name. It's a family name."
James only shrugged. "Sounds like a stupid excuse to me."
"Says the man who called he's son Harry JAMES Potter. That's just soooo original."
James shot him an annoyed look and grumbled rather sour. "Shut it, Longbottom. Or Ill drop yah. Good look finding your way out of the castle alone."
Frank rolled his eyes, but stayed quiet. Not particularly afraid of James leaving him behind. But there could be worse consequences. Once, in fifth grade, he had lost a bet. And had been forced to sneak into the girls' dorm, steal Alice's underwear… and wear them. It had been a rather awkward affair.
The two dark haired men continued down the corridor in silent. Praying that no one would find them and that the other two were alright. Suddenly James froze. He could hear voices and the sound of running feet. He bit his lip. They had the invisible cloak around them, but they couldn't take the chance that someone could run into them. James opened the first door to his right, a cupboard it seems, and threw himself and Frank inside. He closed the door quickly behind him. Praying that no one had seen the door open and close by itself.
James and Frank stayed quiet, barely daring to breathe at all. They could hear someone running outside. Finally the sound disappeared. And James exhaled in relief. He opened the door slightly and looked out. No one in sight. "Thank god," he muttered.
He closed the door again, and looked back at Frank. He looked rather white in the face. And James got a worried expression again. Frank was too exhausted, and James was worried he couldn't carry the man much longer. He bit his lip.
"Alright, Frank. Why don't you take a breather? I'll go and look for Remus and Peter. And possibly a way out. Just. Stay put, alright?"
Frank only nodded in respond. His eyes almost closing by themselves. James lowered him carefully down on the floor. It was the only thing he could think off. He couldn't carry a sick and tired man around, especially when he didn't know where they were. This was the only possibly solution.
James put the invisible cloak over him. Not daring to let him be taken again. Now Frank would only be notes if someone accidently walked on him. 'It'll work for now.' He nodded slightly at turned around, and opened the door. He looked back on the spot where he had left Frank.
"Don't get yourself in any trouble now, Frank. I'll be back in a bit." He turned around again and went outside. Closing the door after him.
Frank looked after him and nodded slightly. Not bothering to reply. He was too tired for that. His eyes closed by themselves. And before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
…
Frank Longbottom was woken abruptly by someone stepping on him. He could hear whoever it was grunt in surprise, and fall straight into a couple of brooms and buckets, from what he could hear.
The man under the invisible cloak opened his eyes and stared at the man who lay straight faced down on the floor. He opened his mouth to call James an idiot, but his words froze in his throat. The man lying on the floor was not James. He was more plumier, and he had much lighter and less hair.
"Peter. Are you alright?" A voice sounded behind them. "Be careful, alright? The guards can find us at any moment."
Frank looked quickly at the voice and widened his eyes.
"Remus!"
Frank sat up and threw the cloak from his upper body. Remus Lupin jumped in surprise and turned around, looking at Frank with big eyes. His yaws fell.
"Frank?"
That was surely a sight he hadn't thought seeing in a closet, no less.
"Bu-but how?"
Remus and Peter had been running away from the guards. He could hear Peter move around in the buckets and mops, trying to find a safe way to stand. They had barely gotten away from the guards earlier. They had managed to stun a couple of them with some spells. But the rest was still after them.
"James got me out. He stashed me in the closet to try to find you guys." Frank looked rather happy to see them. He had gotten his hopes up. Finally he'd get home to Alice. He felt his throat tighten of the thought of Alice and Neville. How he looked forward to see and hug them again.
"How long has James been gone?" He could hear a voice behind him ask. Frank looked at Peter, who had finally managed to stand upright. He looked rather worried.
Frank shook his head a little. "I don't know, I sort of fell asleep." He looked a little ashamed. He wished he knew how long the other man had been gone. That way they would know if he was safe or not.
Remus bit his lip in worry. "There are lots of guards out there." He really hoped James was alright.
He was about to turn around and open the door to look for their friend. But the noise of running feet froze him in his spot. He couldn't go looking for him. They would just pray that James would come back soon.
'By Merlin, James. You better be alright.'
…
There were a lot of guards walking around the corridors. Frankly, there were swarming with them.
James bit his lips. 'This isn't good.' He really hoped his friends hadn't been caught. There were just too many guards walking around. James sighed. He wished had kept the cloak. That way it would have been easier to walk around unnoticed. But he felt at the time that Frank had needed it the most. 'But if I got caught. Who would save me?' He didn't like to think about that. So he shook the thought out of his mind and continue to creep from shadow to shadow.
'It's no use,' he sighed. 'I'll just have to go back to the cupboard with Frank. I'll go out again when the coast is clear.' He only hoped Remus and Peter would keep out of trouble until then.
James hid behind an amour when a pack of guards were walking past him. Begging inside that none of them would turn their head around and notes him. One false step, and he would become deep in trouble. Frank wouldn't be able to get out alone. He'd be abandoning his friends.
Suddenly a warm hand wrapped itself around his mouth, and James jumped in surprise.
"Don't make a pip." He heard a voice hiss in his ear. James nodded slightly and felt himself be guided backwards.
'What is going on?' He wondered to himself. Had he been caught? He felt his heart quicken its pace. But if he had. Why wouldn't the attacker called the guards? James frowned. Whatever that was going on, he didn't like it.
Suddenly the hand was gone and whoever it was had released him. James blinked his eyes in surprise, and quickly turned around. His capturer had already turned around and started to walk into a small door in the wall. A secret door, James realized.
"This way," the man grunted and started to wink one of his arms over his head, still not turning around. He just continued to walk. James swallowed nervously, but decided to follow. There were no other places he could have gone.
He started to walk after him.
James was led further and further down. He was very curious about who this man was, but he didn't dare to ask. What is whoever it was would decide he was too much trouble and just leave him were the guards would find him? It could also be a trap, but James found that he didn't care right now.
He studied the man in front of him. His hair was black and lay down his shoulder. It fluttered slightly for each step taken. He was also wearing a black rope. James couldn't be hundred percent sure that it was a man. It could ether be a skinny man, or a muscular woman. He did rather hope for the first one. Muscular women always seemed to creep him a bit out. He had always liked his gels feminine and small. Not that he had eyes for anyone then Lily.
James sighed slightly, softly. He hoped that Lily wasn't worrying too much. Of course she had been reluctant to let him leave. But she knew he had too. She loved the Longbottoms, and had been friends with Alice since Hogwarts. She was just as eager to get Frank home. 'I hope I see you soon, flower,' he thought with a fond smile. 'And little Harry too."
Their journey came to an halt in front of the door. The man in front of him took out a key and started to unlock the door. James bit his lips and looked around, searching for guards. He then looked back at the person in front of him. He had a feeling he knew him somehow.
The door went up and the man continued into it. James followed.
He looked around the room. It was a rather big one. There lay a big bed in the middle. The duvet on the bed was black, and made by what looked like silk. James turned his eyes to one of the walls. The shelves were filled with books and different kinds of stuff. There lay a little unlocked Snitch on one of them. A golden old lamp and a red and black umbrella on another.
James' eyes focused on one of the shelves. On it laid a couple of old looking books and a black stuffed toy-dog. He felt his heart hammer. He knew that dog, he had bought it himself… bought it to a dear friend. Before he knew it he had walked to the shelf. He hesitated for a couple of seconds, before picking it up.
'Yes,' he thought to himself. 'It's the same one.' But what was it doing here? His heart was racing. Maybe in panic, maybe in shock. James didn't know, he couldn't tell.
He started to slowly turn towards the other person in the room, clutching the stuffed animal to his chest.
"Where did…" His words froze in his mouth, and he let go of the black dog in shock. It hit the floor with a soft 'thump', but none of the occupants in the room noticed.
A small smile appeared on the lips of the other man.
"Hello James. Long time, long see."
James looked at him with big eyes. He swallowed slightly, nervously.
"S-Sirius?"
...
Because I'm evil, I end the chapter with a cliffhanger *insert evil laughter*
