(Author's note: yes, I know I don't usually do author's notes, but please do me the privilege tonight, because I had to tell any of the fans of my stories that I've been writing a story about one of the OCs I just introduced here. In truth, in writing this story, I know pretty much how I want it to go. Still, I don't usually plan out fanfics the way I plan out my original work. While I do keep a note here and there about where I want a story to go, I usually don't put a great deal of effort into laying down track, and Along the Other Road is no exception. I always knew that Dudley was going to encounter a character like Persephone Raven and that that character would play a major role in the events to come, but then, as I had begun writing Persephone's story, I decided, "Well, why can't it be Persephone Raven." So instead of creating a character like her, I put her into this story. Her story is called "Penance" and I'll publishing the first chapter directly. I do hope you take a liking to it. Persephone Raven is one of my favorite creations, partly because she's such a disturbing character. Well, you're going to meet her in this chapter, and if she is intriguing enough to seek out more of her, take a look at "Penance". Well, enough of my gibberish. On with the tale.)
The tunnels around the house were more extensive than Dudley and Vera had thought. They had found a total of three secret passages leaving Magellan's house, and in them they found artifacts directly connecting them to the 1940s. Apparently all of these tunnels had been intended for use in an anti-Nazi resistance. They found crates containing old signal flares, canned rations, and they also found (both Vera and Dudley took great care to avoid it when they realized what it was) a crate full of unused claymore mines. Under ordinary circumstances they might have contacted bomb disposal, but since that would have meant a call to the authorities, that would have chanced a visit from the Death Eaters. That, and they hadn't ruled out the possibility of fighting back. They weren't about to give up potential weapons, but they knew would need to tell Magellan.
Putting the lids back on the crates, and continued to explore the tunnels for what seemed like hours. They found that all three tunnels connected to each other. It was a network with the one tunnel leading from the house to the resistance hideout and the other two tunnels leading from the house to a nearby town. The first tunnel led into a mechanic's garage from an apparent sewer grate. The other tunnel led into the basement of what they surmised was a hardware store since they found new tools, PVC pipes, and lumber stored there.
While they were taking a break, Vera said, "You know, there's enough food in that one crate to last us a couple of weeks if we ever have to hide down here. I'm just saying if the worst should happen."
The guilt Dudley had felt at his inability to protect her came back in waves. He didn't mean to dwell on it but he just couldn't help it. He had tried to defend her the best he could but he was really powerless to do anything. He had saved her life, and that was immensely satisfying, but he couldn't stop her being tortured or maimed.
"Dudley, you don't have to worry. They had us cold yesterday. We were all helpless. If they ever catch me in a fair fight, I promise they have themselves a fight they will never forget on their hands."
Dudley said, "You know, I'm not a very brave person. This magic; it scares me. I'm a boxer. I use my fists. I can't use them against magic."
"Maybe not against magic, but the person using it, you can."
"If I had fought, maybe they wouldn't have..."
Vera put a finger to his lips. "We were as helpless as we could be. You did more than anyone would have thought to do." She smiled. "Choose your fights carefully." She leaned in putting her lips to his.
Electricity seemed to fill him and all of his senses failed him. After a moment, she moved on, resuming her exploration. For a moment, Dudley stared after her, then followed, as if set on autopilot. He felt like he was in control of nothing, but this was very different from how felt moments ago. Instead of depression, there was an intense euphoria, and all of the problems of yesterday seemed far behind him.
When they got back, they learned the aftermath of the Weasley's Whirling Woozy Powder, how Vernon had mistaken Hestia for Petunia. Dudley couldn't get details, but apparently the incident ended with Hestia's wand drawn and Magellan wearing the full gear of a hockey goalie. The Dursley's had been cured, but couldn't remember anything that transpired through breakfast, a fact for which Dudley was ever so grateful. Fred and George had received a stern lecture from Magellan, but it was obvious that nobody was overly bothered about the incident.
That night, they had resumed their alchemy lessons, the day having brought nothing evil with it. The next day turned out much the same and Dudley and Vera had begun to regularly haunt the old resistance tunnels, in complete disregard of the danger a 50-year-old unmaintained tunnel could pose. Regardless, there were no collapses and the sections of tunnel that looked like they might collapse were obviously in disrepair, whether viewed by Vera's wand light or by Dudley's torch lamp. They were easy enough to shore up, once Magellan showed them how to do so, using lumber purchased from the hardware store, and a floor jack.
Vera pantomimed waving a wand and said, "Why don't we just do that?"
Magellan said, "Because you need to learn not to completely rely on magic. A little hard work is good for you." After putting a freezing charm on the crate with the mines to make certain they didn't accidentally detonate, he set to work helping Vera and Dudley shore up the weakened sections of the tunnel.
Dudley had so rarely in his life done any hard work that he found it more challenging than he probably should have. Though all of his sensibility insisted he shouldn't have to do this sort of work, he successfully refrained from complaining. By the time he had finished his first section of tunnel, his muscles were sore and protesting the exertion. Still, not wanting to be told off for laziness, he extracted the jack from under the new support frame and moved on to the next weak section. What made the work doubly hard was that the tunnels, even in proper order, weren't quite tall enough to stand up in, and yet not low enough to justify crawling.
So far, the secret tunnels were kept between Vera, Dudley, and Magellan. They, all three had a feeling that everyone in the house would be needing them in short order, and the mines may well come in handy also.
The next day brought the first real shock since Vera's torture. They were all enjoying breakfast (all except Vernon, who never seemed to enjoy anything) when George brought in the Daily Prophet. "Everyone, you have got to see this."
Fred took the paper and took one glance at it, his eyes becoming as large as galleons. "No bloody way!"
Hestia took the paper, shrieked then threw it at Magellan, who caught it out of midair. Vera and Dudley ran around to see what it contained.
HARRY POTTER RAIDS THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
By Wally Leech
Harry Potter and two unidentified accomplices yesterday morning entered the Ministry of Magic, using polyjuice potion and posing as three ministry officials. It is uncertain what they were after, but the apparent intent was robbery and vandalism as one accomplice did tremendous damage one Mr. Traver's office, and Harry Potter was seen making off with a locket belonging to Dolores Umbridge and a highly experimental surveillance device from her office. The three officials they posed as were found unconscious and brutally assaulted. The auror office urges anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Potter or the identity and/or whereabouts of his accomplices to contact them immediately.
Magellan smiled and said, "I notice what they're not saying here."
Vernon said, "What, that my nephew is a hooligan and a criminal that stoops to petty theft and vandalism?"
Magellan eyed him curiously and said, "Of course not. This story is obviously intended to make Potter look like the bad guy. No, what this story is neglecting to mention is that Potter and his friends walked into the Ministry of Magic right under the Death Eater's noses, into the lion's den, the last place on Earth that Harry Potter would ever in his right mind want to go, found whatever it was he was looking for, and left them in his dust. They don't want to admit that. I'm surprised they even let the story run. Of course they had to. They have to find him after all, and they have to show everyone just what a villain he is. The question becomes, why? What was Potter after, and why is the Ministry so bent that they risk running a story about what Potter is up that makes them look bad to in the Daily Prophet? Fred, George, see if you can't pick up a copy of today's Quibbler. That might tell us a bit more."
George said, "We can try to catch an episode of Potterwatch."
"Potterwatch?" asked Magellan, his eyes narrowed in curiosity.
Fred said, "It's an anti-Ministry radio program. It isn't always on-well, they need to keep on the move in case the Death Eaters find them-but they're all in support of Harry and all about reporting on the Death Eaters and You-Know-Who."
Magellan nodded. "Pirate radio, hmm. Radio's in the living room. You're welcome to try finding it. The rest of us need to get ready."
Vernon shouted, "Ready for what? We haven't done anything."
"It doesn't matter. The Death Eaters will be on the warpath. Anyone they don't like can expect a visit from them over the next few days. We need to be beyond their scrutiny when they arrive, and they will arrive, rest assured. Vera, if I were you, I'd hide that wand somewhere outside the house. You know where."
Vera nodded and left at once. Fred went hard to work with the radio, turning the knob and muttering things under his breath like, "Mad-Eye," and "Snuffles". George left, obviously heading into town.
Magellan said, "We need a way into town that doesn't draw attention. Those tunnels won't do as they lead into businesses, but maybe we can make another exit." He continued to speculate, mostly to himself, but would occasionally mutter something aloud.
When Vera returned, Dudley saw the smudge of dirt on her forehead indicating where she had hidden her wand. Rather than do their usual exploration, Dudley and Vera waited for any news that Fred or George may uncover. They waited with bated breath, expecting to see George return at any moment, but dreading that the Death Eaters might call at any time, wishing to take out their frustration on whomever they could find. Fred kept trying the radio: "Tonks", "Shrieking Shack".
Vernon and Petunia had no need to get ready as their general loathing of magic would prevent them from doing anything the Death Eaters disliked. Dudley hadn't kept anything in his room that his mother might find, and anything questionable he was doing was being carefully guarded by Magellan. He didn't even put his name on his notes, knowing full well that that would be an admission of guilt. Vera was the one who needed to be careful. She was a muggle-born witch and filled her life almost exclusively with the culture of the wizarding world, but with Hestia's help, she had already cleared her room of anything remotely linking her to magic. She didn't seem complete without one of her Weird Sisters shirts, but Dudley knew it was necessary.
Finally, George returned with a magazine in his hand. George held it up and said, "Immediate release: breaking news." He opened the magazine and read from it.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALFWITS OF THE MINISTRY
By Xenophilius Lovegood
If you've been reading the Daily Prophet-and let's face it, why would you read the Daily Prophet?-then you may have run across a little piece about the Ministry's Undesirable Number One breaking into the Ministry of Magic and causing mayhem and mass destruction. According to the Ministry, Harry Potter is a delusional miscreant who murdered Albus Dumbledore, possibly even murdered his parents at the tender age of one, and led tender and impressionable young minds to break the law by learning how to defend themselves.
Harry Potter is branded as a menace to society,
...Or is he?
Two years ago, this periodical ran an interview with Harry Potter in which he claims that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned to power and murdered one Cedric Diggory in the process. Now let's look at the facts. During this entire time that the Dark Lord was returning to power, the Ministry of Magic staunchly denied that anyone remotely resembling You-Know-Who was returning to power and suggested that Mr. Potter was touched in the head. Then, just a few months later, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and a dozen other officers of the Ministry, personally witnessed You-Know-Who, apparently alive and well, making an escape from the Ministry of Magic. Full apologies to Harry Potter were made in the Daily Prophet, and the Ministry of Magic when into full alert in the search for You-Know-Who and any of his Death Eaters.
Now, the Ministry follows policies that are suspiciously similar to the philosophies of the Dark Lord, including the prosecution and incarceration of any muggle-born witch and wizard found carrying a wand, the persecution of anyone speaking unfavorably of the Ministry, numerous brutal murders and disappearances of any opponents of the Ministry and the list goes on. So when Harry Potter breaks into the Ministry of Magic, he is, of course, the bad guy, a murderer and possibly a dark wizard? Coincidence? I think not. It is clear that Harry Potter is the hero that we have been waiting for and that Ministry will stop at nothing to slander him.
George slid the magazine to the middle of the table, offering it to anyone that might like to read it themselves.
Magellan nodded and said, "Yes, I think that article looks at the incident much more objectively, although I think I could have down without the whole conspiracy theory tone of the writing. Unfortunately, it didn't clarify anything."
Fred, for his part, managed to find Potterwatch, but only as the show was ending, just in time to get the password for the next show (Fawkes). Getting up from the radio and coming back into the dining room, he said, "Well, I think we already know that the two with Harry were Ron and Hermione."
George said, "Mum, would kill Ron if she knew what he was up to."
Fred shook his head. "She knows he's with Harry. If she didn't know before, she certainly knows now."
Vernon said, "Well, I for one, think I am lucky to be shot of him. This sort of skulduggery in a situation like this is totally unacceptable. All it does is bring trouble to law abiding citizens and respectable members of the community."
Petunia said, "I don't think we can make any conclusions now. Besides, we are beyond association with Harry now. There's no excuse why we can't come to a reasonable accommodation with these people."
Hestia laughed and said, "You're welcome to try."
There is a phenomenon whereby some vague instance in the near future is assured, but it is not known what it is or when that instance arrives, but it is not welcome, and bad feeling aplenty accompanies it. One can sit and wait diligently until it seems it will never come, but the moment one's vigilance abates, fate strolls through the open door. Perhaps that is a bit dire, but it is how the Dursleys and their associates felt at this moment. Potter's goading of the Ministry could have only one effect. After all, it is usually the case that when the government is embarrassed in a shocking and public manner, one invariably sees an increase in the activity of the authorities. The Dursley's were of blood relation to Harry Potter. There would be a visit, and they were not a low priority. In the event of a Potter incident, the Death Eaters had a list of people they would be paying a visit to, and the Dursleys, as well as members of the Order, were very near the top of that list. Though some in Magellan's household may have denied it, none doubted it.
Sure enough, around midday, there was a knock at the door. Of course, Magellan had no wish to repeat the incident that resulted in Vera's torture. He asked, "Who is it?"
An unknown voice said, "Ministry business."
This time, instead of stalling, Magellan wasted no time getting the door open. He accidentally left the chain and when the door jarred to a stop abruptly, he cursed, apologized, and unfastened the chain. A masked Death Eater leisurely strolled across the threshold. She-for there was no doubt it was a woman-was of small stature. She was a waif of a woman. There was no arrogance in her bearing. This woman was efficient, calculating, and logical. She turned her face up and the mask had only one eyeslit. The eye was a brilliant blue, piercing and not unfeeling. This eye viewed the world through the lens of deep experience. This eye had stories to tell.
The eye turned across the room taking in her surroundings. It lingered for a moment on the Weasley twins, a hint of humor flashing in it. The eye scrutinized each of the Dursleys, passed over Vera only long enough to mark her features, passed Hestia, and went back to Magellan.
Vernon said, "Madam, if I may-"
The Death Eater raised a hand and said, "You may as well bay to the moon, Mr. Dursley. I am not unsympathetic to your position, but there is nothing you can say that will improve your current situation, or that of your family's. Silence and patience will serve you best." Agnes looked back and forth from Vernon to the Death Eater, but said nothing.
Magellan said, "We don't know where Harry Potter is, and he hasn't been here."
The Death Eater removed her hood and mask revealing a woman with one of those ageless faces. She could have been any age, but there were some lines along her jaw and brow that told the truth, that she was well into her forties. She had black hair and her other eye was covered with a black eyepatch with a double cross upon it. A long, star-shaped scar came out of it and radiated back to her ear, which was misshapen, clearly having been badly cut up some time in her youth. Other than that, she had a gothic beauty about her, her skin a bit pale and her face heart shaped. "I see some of you are curious. I received this injury, when I was eighteen, the year before Harry Potter fulfilled the prophecy. I believe you are all familiar with the curse that took my eye as it is the same curse Agnes took Vera's fingers with. It is also the curse that claimed George Weasley's ear." She approached them all so that she stood within the circle they created. "I suppose then that it has occurred to none of you that Mr. Potter could consider this a possible refuge? Hermione Granger accidentally apparated with Travers in tow to an address; Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Obviously they abandoned it because when Travers saw the address, the unplottable charm and all of the other magic protecting it failed. We found evidence of Potter's stay, a few items of interest, including the plans they used to invade the Ministry. Do you have any idea what Potter was after?"
Magellan said, "Could we at least know your name?"
The Death Eater looked up in surprise. "Oh, I am sorry. I have forgotten my manners. I am Persephone Raven." She turned to Agnes and said, "You may leave."
Agnes clearly didn't like that. "You alone? What if they decide to resist?"
"Oh, Agnes, the Ministry watches their every move. Plus, I am the Dark Lord's personal assassin. I sincerely doubt anything untoward will happen." She turned to Magellan and his household. "We're all just having a friendly discussion."
Agnes nodded and stepped out the door, closing it behind her. Persephone pointed her wand at it and said, "Colloportus," a stream of glittery light infused the door's lock, and then, "muffliato." She put her wand away, pulled another one from her folds, one that was very familiar. She approached Vera and handed it to her. "I recommend you find a better hiding place in the future. Eleven inches, holly. Has a very nice feel. I wonder what the core is." She turned back and returned to the middle of room. "Professor Dumbledore played his cards far too close to his chest. Do any of you know what he sent Harry after?"
Magellan said in an even voice, "We don't know. Dumbledore never let on that he had intended anything for Harry. Our only hint was how much time he was spending with him. Harry won't tell anyone what transpired in those meetings either." Magellan eyed her curiously and with deep incredulity said, "Would you have us believe that a Death Eater, especially a secret hand of the Dark Lord, would be on our side?"
Persophone smiled. "I would have you believe nothing. I am simply doing my job, not just as a Death Eater, but as an auror of the Ministry."
"And yet you would turn a blind eye to a muggle-born."
"Why should it be my job to torture people who have done nothing except exist?"
"I couldn't say. I think it's wonderful. You're awfully charitable for a Death Eater."
"Given the current climate, if I were in your position, I wouldn't be questioning the charity of an enemy."
"So what other advice do you have for us?"
"Surely as a serpent hides below, a lion will stand with his pride. I would expect nothing less of a Gryffindor. That secret experimental surveillance device that Harry took was Mad-Eye's magical eye. Undoubtedly Harry thought he might give Mad-Eye some kind of final peace. The locket he stole was none other than the locket of Slytherin. That bloated cow, Dolores was going around saying the S stood for Selwin. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Ronald Weasley?"
Fred and George simultaneously said, "Sure do." Fred said, "He's at home," and George said, "with spattergroit," and both said, "poor fellow."
With a touch of irritation, Persephone said, "There are plenty of Death Eaters thicker than mud porridge. My wits are significantly sharper. If you think a ghoul in a ridiculous costume is going to fool me, you are sadly mistaken. Once more. Your brother. Where is he?"
Fred and George looked ahead stonily. Fred said, "We told all we know." George said, "He's at home," Fred said, "sick," George said, "Spattergroit," and Fred finished, "It's sad, really."
Persephone gave them one last hard stare before she spun on heel and said, "Does anyone know the whereabouts of Hermione Granger?"
Magellan said, "I don't know the girl personally. Presumably, if she's not at school, she's with her family."
"Her family have gone missing, all signs are they fled."
"Well, there you have it."
She looked around the room in apparent frustration. "You know, you Order folk really have it down. You can put together a plan and carry it out across the country and you break it up amongst yourselves so well that not one of you know what happened, if anything. That is a tough feat to manage. What was your little bit of the plan?"
"Give the Dursley's a safe place to stay."
"That was it?"
"Implicitly."
"Implicitly? There was nothing else?" She turned to George and Fred, "What about you? You went to school with Harry. What was your part of the plan?"
Simultaneously, George and Fred said, "Don't know what you're talking about."
She had a way of looking through them that was quite striking. Dudley felt as if his mind were on display for her to peruse. "Dudley, did he never discuss any of his plans with you? Possibly, about magical items that he might use to destroy the Dark Lord?"
Dudley said, "We never really talked."
"Dudley, he was your cousin. He was blood. Family is more important than anything, surely you spoke to him once in awhile."
"No, we never got along."
Persephone sighed and said, "Shame. That's what my family was like. I only ever had my mother and when my uncle found out about me, he worked hard to turn me against her. You shouldn't let that happen." She turned to Magellan and said, "If you do hear from Harry, you know what to do."
"And what about you? I suppose we'll be hearing more from you."
Persephone smiled. "My dear, Magellan, not only are the Dursley's here, but the Ministry has a special interest in you. I'm your personal watchdog. I will always be near. Watch out for the Fury's. They're looking for an excuse to take Vera. If you wish to speak among yourselves, make sure you cast muffliato." She disapparated and Magellan did as she suggested, casting his own anti-eavesdropping charm.
Everyone looked to Magellan with questioning eyes, even Vernon Dursley. Magellan looked at each of them in turn. "It's rare to meet one that's civil, but they do exist."
Hestia said, "Right. Still, the Dark Lord's personal assassin? There's someone I never want to stand toe to toe with."
"She raises some questions. You-Know-Who would be very displeased with her if he knew she let a muggle-born and two undesirables go unchecked. She also said something rather disturbing."
Dudley asked, "And that would be?"
"The serpent and the lion..." He looked back to the Weasley twins. "Do you know anything about the fate of Kingsley Shacklebolt?"
Fred said, "He was found out using You-Know-Who's name. Snatchers figured only Order members would do that so he had to take the Prime Minister and make a run for it."
Magellan said, "They'll be watching the Floo Network. We can't be seen making contact with known fugitives. There's something off about Persephone Raven, and I want to know what it is." He went to a closet and pulled out a sleek, metallic broomstick.
George looked around with interest. "Is that an old Silver Arrow?"
Fred said, "Why don't you just apparate?"
Magellan smiled and said, "I'd rather like to get there in one piece, thank you, Fred." With that, he disappeared out the door.
Dudley joined George on the couch while Vera began to pace apprehensively. Vernon went into the study and Petunia began to clean the dining room. Hestia watched the door.
