Chapter Four: Austin Treeburn
The sky above Hogsmeade was black with clouds and the sound of thunder filled the air as five figures ran through the muddy narrow street. A clap of thunder could be seen in the distance as Harry and the others reached a grimy looking inn. Another clap of thunder revealed the unkept sign over the door which read, The Hogs Head. There was a ring as they entered the bar. They took their seats and upon further inspection found the pub filled with all kinds of sketchy wizards. There were two particularly sinister looking wizards in black tattered robes with hoods sitting at the bar obviously up to no good. The other inhabitants looked equally sinister, all except an ancient looking wizard wearing tattered forest green robes, who was sitting in the corner looking as though he would like nothing more than to melt into the wall.
"Well what now?" Harry said to Lupin, who was sitting across from him.
"For now we wait…" he replied solemnly surveying the area.
"What are we waiting for?" Ginny said.
"Well I contacted and old friend who might know where Treeburn was last." Lupin said, craning his neck to see who had just walked in….A sudden look of shock stole over his face.
Harry turned to see Lucius Malfoy, Anthoin Dolohov and Rodolphus Lestrange (husband of Belletrix according to Hermione), and entered, Malfoy paused at the entrance and surveyed the area, apparently not noticing Harry and the others. Finally Lestrange pointed out who they was looking for and walked brisk fully towards the old wizard with forest green robes. Upon arriving in front of the now jittering wizard Dolohov grabbed the table and the old wizard, who quickly grabbed his drink, and threw it aside; causing the bar to become silent with terror.
"So you've been hiding here all this time, Treeburn?" Malfoy said in his usual drawling voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" the wizard replied
Dolohov grabbed the cup from the old wizard and splattered its brown chunky contents all over the floor, Harry recognized it instantly.
"Pollyjuice potion," Dolohov reported
"Now shall we try this again, we know it's you, Treeburn, and we want what you took from us…" Lestrange said menacingly "besides your potion should wear off in…three…two…one"
And then just on cue, the wizard's long silver beard began to recede into his face, his hair turned from silver to a mousy brown color. All signs of old age disappeared from his face to reveal a middle-aged wizard with hazel eyes.
Finally Treeburn stood and withdrew his wand, "so it has come down to this, Malfoy" he said calmly
"You expect to do battle with us on your own?" Malfoy said amused
It was then that Harry and the others leapt into action, throwing aside the table and withdrawing their wands.
"Hey Malfoy, why don't you pick on some one your own size!" Harry yelled sending a jet of red light whizzing past his ear.
Malfoy turned with a look of glee "Potter how nice to see you!" ha said fell into a dueling stance, "Everte Statum!" he shouted.
A jet of white light was sent whizzing past Harry, hitting one of the many wizards now trying to escape. All of them waited till the bar was empty of all except for Treeburn, the Death Eaters and Harry and the others.
Finally the battle for Treeburn began Harry threw himself at Malfoy, toppling chairs and tables as he went; Ron and Hermione dove to protect Treeburn from the curses Dolohov and Lestrange threw at him. But that ceased quickly as Tonks and Ginny began to duel Lestrange as Lupin took on Dolohov.
"Who are you?" Treeburn asked as Ron blocked another stray curse.
"Friends, were here to help" Hermione said as she shot a curse at Malfoy that missed and caused a chair to explode into a million pieces.
"So Potter, you think you can duel with the likes of me?" Malfoy asked
"Sure, why not?" Harry said as he sent another curse at him "Bambarda!"
The spell hit Malfoy square in the chest causing him to fly backwards into some chairs against the wall.
"How dare you, you little wretch, Glardina!
Harry dove behind some chairs which began to grow what looked like bean sprouts as the spell hit. Harry then stuck his wand out between two of the chairs and shouted, "Zemprasortium". Malfoy screamed in pain as a jet of brilliant yellow light shot out of Harry's wand and hit Malfoy in the arm creating a small bullet sized wound, which promptly began gushing blood.
"You've gotten better Potter, but let's see if you can dodge this," he said, his voice filled with pain, "Decritus!"
The chairs Harry had hidden behind has erupted in flames forcing Harry to retreat behind an over turned table, from which he could see that Tonks had been knocked out by Lestrange and was lying against the wall while Ginny fought desperately.
"Why do you hide Potter? Face me like the man you claim you to be!" Malfoy shouted, shooting a jet of green light at the table causing it to erupt in flames. It was then when Harry deiced not to play hide-and-seek. So as he jumped from behind the table he shouted "Sectumsempra!" Huge gashes appeared on Malfoy's face and torso, causing him to yell uncontrollably as he fell to the floor cradling his wounds.
Harry wasted to time in jumping over Malfoy to assist Ginny who was hiding from Lestrange behind the bar as Lestrange continued his assault. Harry waited for Lestrange to cease firing before he attacked, and sure enough after a few seconds Lestrange lowered his wand only to hear the sound of Harry screaming, "Everte Statum" causing Lestrange to flip up over the counter and land in a contorted potion on the opposite side.
"You ok Ginny?" Harry asked as he poked his head over the counter to see her huddled amidst the bottles of sherry and brandy.
"Yeah, Come on we've got to go help Professor Lupin!" she said pointing to the opposite side of the bar where Lupin and Dolohov were dueling, Ron and Hermione not to far away still protecting Treeburn incase any more Death Eaters show up.
Harry hastily pointed his wand at Dolohov with a look of concentration and said "Stupefy!" the spell hit Dolohov in the back of the head causing him to collapse. Lupin looked slightly stunned but pleased as he stowed his wand as the dust settled.
After a few moments Treeburn spoke. "Thank you, but I can not help but ask; why are you helping me?"
"Because we need your help…" Harry replied as he approached Treeburn; Ron went to tend to Tonks.
"You need my help with what?" Treeburn replied skeptically.
Hermione sighed and said "We need your help finding the last four horcruxs."
"I…I know nothing about horcruxs….." Treeburn stammered.
"Come on we know you helped Regulus find the locket" Ginny said in a accusatory voice.
"Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else….We'll rent a room at the three broomsticks," Lupin suggested as Tonks finally came around.
"What I miss?" she asked
"Nothing important…" Lupin answered as he helped her up.
And with that six shadows stepped out of the pub and began to walk down the muddy road towards High Street and disappeared behind the curtain of rain.