(A/N: To those who pointed out my mistake with Harry telling Susan the prophesy in the last chapter as if it was something new … well, you're correct - my goof. Amusingly, neither my beta nor myself caught it. I guess we've been focusing on the trees and not the forest. :) I'll see about changing that in a future version of chapter 8.
Also, sorry for the delay with the release of this chapter. I tend to disappear when the Olympics come around and this time is no different. I'm taking a break from watching today to deal with things I've been putting off all week, such as this story. You should infer that it might be another 2 weeks before you see the next chapter. After that, I'll probably go back to once a week posting. Sorry, about that! If you're bothered by the delays, please see the usher about getting a refund on your ticket. ;)
Chapter 9 - Visitors
The day after Boxing Day, Harry and Susan were talking quietly in the living room. Vincent had returned to work, Susan's brother Phillip and his wife Lisa had gone home. Pat was in the kitchen keeping an eye on them, but that didn't stop Susan from giving him the occasional quick kiss as they talked and teased quietly.
Harry was rather pleased with the holidays so far, feeling that he and Susan were a little closer after he'd shared his secrets with her. At the moment, they were waiting for a visitor. If things went well, Susan would learn a little more about him.
The doorbell chimed and the two stood to get it. Harry noticed that Pat was in the doorway, watching, her wand within easy reach. Harry stood back while Susan opened the door.
"Remus," Harry greeted the man with a nod, sounding a little formal. "Come in." Susan closed the door after him.
"Thank you, Harry." The man looked over. "Miss Bones, I hope you're doing well."
"I am, Professor," she replied.
"Remus will do; I'm no longer a professor," he told her before being forced to look up by a new voice.
"Remus Lupin."
"Pat Stil- I'm sorry, Pat Bones. It's been a long time and I'm surprised that you remember me." Remus stood still, even if there was no wand on him. Pat was obviously judging him.
"When Harry said he'd invited an old family friend over, you weren't who I was expecting, although I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Of course I remember you, being subjected to two years of you and your pranking friends, not to mention hearing your name a few years ago as a professor at Hogwarts." Pat fixed him with a stare. "Please forgive my rudeness, but I don't keep track of things as you do. How long until the next full moon?"
Lupin stiffened slightly, but the blunt question didn't stop him for answering. "The last full moon was four nights ago. I'm quite safe and I would never hurt them."
Pat's look softened. "My apologies, Remus. I didn't mean to imply you would. I asked because I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be an accident. I heard what happened a couple of years ago."
Harry didn't move or change his expression, trying to hide his guilt since he was the source of Pat and Vincent knowing the story about the end of his third year when he'd mentioned some of his adventures at school. He saw Remus glance at him, but there was no anger in it.
"Yes, one of the very few times I was sidetracked enough to forget the day and hour. Considering the outcome, it will be a long time - if ever - before I forget again," Remus answered sincerely.
Pat nodded before looking at the students. "Why don't you visit in the back garden; I think that would be relaxing and private enough."
"If you'll follow me?" Susan said and led the way as the hostess.
Harry went last. As he closed the back door, he could see why Pat had suggested this. It gave her a window to watch them. It make him a little sorry for Remus, not being trusted like everyone else, but he also understood Pat's concern. Remus forgetting about his potion and not locking himself up had caused a very large problem two and half years ago.
"This is very nice," Remus commented as he looked around.
"Thank you, I'll tell my father, he's the gardener," Susan told him with a smile as she offered him a seat on the magically protected patio that was warm and lush with green plants despite the outside temperature that was low enough for snow flurries. "I'm sorry about my mother-"
"Don't worry about it," Remus cut her off. "She's quite correct to be concerned for her children."
Harry jumped in to try to ease some of the tension. "How are you? Have you had a good holiday?"
"Very reasonable," Remus replied and sounding a little forced. "How about you? I assume you're here because you two are dating?"
"Our holiday has been very good," Harry answered for both of them. "Yes, we're dating, so she invited me for the holiday and I've met her family. It makes me wish mine were still alive, but I can't change the past."
Lupin nodded and looked down. "I know, I've wished for that and never received it either. Harry … I'm sorry I haven't always been there for you in the past. As I said in my letter, I've never really been sure of my role with you, or what it should have been."
"I can understand that." Or at least mostly, he thought. "I would have liked to have seen you more when I was younger, if only to have had a better introduction to the magical world and get some protection from the Dursleys, but I can sort of understand why that didn't happen. I guess the part I really don't understand is why I never heard from you after I started Hogwarts."
Remus hung his head. "I'm sorry, Harry, I really don't have a good reason other than I was afraid of what you'd think of me. I know that doesn't help the past, but I'd like to try to be your friend, be part of your life. I know I can't take the place of Sirius and I'm not going to try, but I'd like to change things going forward."
Harry considered that and glanced at Susan, to see her looking at both of them thoughtfully. "I said in my letter that I was willing and I stand by that. We'll have to take this slowly, I think."
"Sure Harry."
He looked relieved, Harry thought, and in reality he was relieved too that they were really working this out. "So, I've heard that you and Tonks are dating. How's that working out?"
Remus brightened. "Surprisingly well, or it's surprising to me. I still think she could do better than me, but we do have a good time together … we find each other lot of fun."
"I can understand that," Harry said as he smiled at Susan. "I sometimes think Susan could do better but it works out."
"If you only knew," Susan said teasingly.
Lupin smiled at her. "He really doesn't understand that you've won the jackpot, does he?"
"What?!" Harry objected and sat up straighter, causing the other two to laugh.
"The best part is," Susan said as she stopped laughing, "his cluelessness is part of what makes him so adorable."
"I am right here you know," he objected, which caused more chuckles.
"In many ways," Remus looked at him, "you remind me so much of your father." He looked at Susan. "You have quite a very different personality than his mum from what I've seen today.
"I remember once when…"
— — —
Eventually, Lupin had to leave and Harry held out his hand, which Remus took. "I'm glad we were able to get together and start to work things out. You will write me?" Harry asked the last part teasingly.
"I will," Lupin said before he gave a wry smile. "And if I don't, I'm sure Tonks will make me."
"Good. We can also get together this coming summer," Harry told him as he walked him to the back door with Susan right behind him, before Harry stopped him.
"Remus, one question before you go." Harry really wanted to know this. "Sirius once mentioned that Snape and my father didn't get along when they were in school. Is that why he treats me so badly?"
Lupin looked like he didn't want to answer, but he finally said, "Snape is a complicated person and the Marauders helped make him so by pranking him mercilessly at times. Of course, Snape with the help of a few friends returned the favors, so it wasn't a one-sided war." He sighed. "The business with Sirius luring Snape to visit me on the night of the full moon such that your father had to save him just made things worse as it created conflicting feelings within the man. However, in the end, I think there were simply too many bad experiences between them."
With a smile to himself, Lupin finished with, "I suppose that's the long way to say yes, I think he doesn't like you because of what happened with your father and Snape can't let history go. You, however, need to take the high road and give him the respect he's due as a professor, even if he makes that difficult."
Harry considered that, disappointed but not surprised that Sirius's reason was confirmed. "I don't know that I'm willing to do that. I've already promised Dumbledore that Snape's bad behavior will have consequences. If he'll leave me alone and respect me as a person, I can do the same back; but if he doesn't, well, he's just being a bully and I know what to do with bullies."
Remus opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. "I'm not sure that's your wisest course, but I can understand your feelings. I do believe you'll end up getting yourself in lots of trouble that way, but it's your choice. You're nearly seventeen and it's time you start learning how to work with others in the world, both for the good and the bad."
"I don't want special treatment, I just want basic respect as a person … just like you do," Harry reminded him.
With a sign and a nod, Remus said, "Well argued, Harry, just be careful … all right?"
"I will," Harry replied solemnly. Having found out what he wanted to know, he opened the back door and led their group into the house and towards the front door.
"Remus, I'm sorry for my earlier rudeness; it was very unbecoming of me and I shouldn't have let my surprise rule me." They had all stopped when Pat spoke to them.
In his usual mild manner, Remus Lupin looked at her and nodded. "Thank you, Pat." She smiled at him and returned to the kitchen.
Harry opened the front door and said, "Until next time, take care."
"You too, Harry."
Harry stood in the doorway and watched Remus walk down the sidewalk that was barely visible from the slow snow fall towards the metal archway over the end of the sidewalk that signified the edge of the front garden and the edge of the wards. He was about to close the front door when he saw a patch of snow floating in the air just beyond the arch.
"Crap!" he said as he hastily closed the front door and then drew his wand.
"What?!" Susan demanded, surprised by his alarm.
"If you hear spell fire, come out with your wand drawn," he told her before he disappeared from the entry way with a crack.
Harry appeared not far behind the anomaly he thought he'd seen which was just beyond the low white picket fence outlining the front garden and very near the archway. With a thought, he blew a gust of wind at the ground in front of him and the snow flew forward and created the outline of a person. His wand already in motion, a jet of bright red light leapt from his wand and struck the previously hidden person who thudded lightly as he landed.
"Harry?!" Lupin called, pulling his wand out as he ran over.
"Can you see if anyone else is around? Some sort of revealing spell for hidden people?" he asked hurriedly.
Lupin muttered a spell as he moved his wand around in a circle, causing a faint ring of magic to move away from them. Looking all around them, the only reaction they saw as a red outline around Susan as she stood on the front porch, wand in hand. The man looked down. "How did you know he was there?" He tapped his wand on the snow covered body shape, causing the person to shimmer into view. His face was covered with a hood and a thick scarf.
"I saw snow floating in the air," Harry said as he used his wand and levitated the body towards the house, his friend walking back with him. Reaching the front door, he saw that Pat had joined her daughter, wand drawn too.
"I saw snow floating just beyond the arch," Harry told them, pre-empting the question he knew they had. "I assume there shouldn't have been anyone out there?" he asked, looking at Pat.
"No," she replied quietly and looking a little shaken as she realized what was going on.
Kneeling down, Harry pulled the intruder's hood back and frowned. "That looks like Marcus Flint."
"I think so too," Susan said quietly.
With determination to figure this out quickly, he started doing silent Vanishing spells on the fabric covering the left arm. After three spells to get through the layers, they all saw the Dark Mark on the intruder's bare arm. Pat gasped while the rest frowned.
Harry tied Flint up in ropes, far more than was really necessary, but it made him feel like he was keeping the others safe. He then woke up their prisoner, who started shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
"Mister Flint, what a surprise," Harry told him grimly. "What were you doing here spying on us?"
"Bugger off, Potter. Just turn me over to the Aurors," the former student sneered at him.
"It may come to that, Mister Flint, but I need some information first," Harry continued to stare at him, but the young man didn't say anything else. Looking up, he asked, "Remus, do you know Legilimency?"
"No, sorry," Lupin replied. "We'll have to turn him over. Maybe the Ministry can get something out of him."
"Not just yet," Harry said as he thought an idea through.
"Harry, you better not be thinking what I think you are," Remus said warningly.
"Then perhaps you need to stay in the house until I return. I'll walk around to the back garden and I'll be back shortly." Harry levitated his prisoner, who started to look alarmed. "Sorry - Susan, Pat, please wait inside until I return." He walked away from the front door with his levitated prisoner and turned to walk around the house. He also noticed that Remus followed him.
Harry dropped the bound young man in the snow in the back garden before Vanishing his cloak, robes, and shirt so his upper body was bare; he'd been careful to leave the ropes intact. Another wave of his wand cast the Muffling charm on the three men. Squatting down, he looked at his former schoolmate in contempt as Flint looked back at him in dawning horror. "This is how it's going to work..."
"You can't do this to me!" Flint fought the ropes and tried to get up, but Harry shot a silent Bludgeoning hex at the nearest elbow, which happened to be just above the Dark Mark. Flint screamed and rolled a little, but he also stopped trying to get up.
"Mister Flint, I'll have you know that screaming won't help you, I've contained the sound to just the three of us," Harry told him calmly, purposefully not looking at Lupin, who he was sure was making an unpleasant and disappointed face at him. "If you tell me what I want to know I won't have to break any more bones and then I'll take you to the Aurors. If you don't talk and I keep breaking bones you'll probably die. In that case, I'll just make your body disappear; I've seen it done before. It's something important for you to consider, Mister Flint. " Harry's voice became colder than the snow, "If you think I won't do this, don't forget that this is war and your very presence here means that you're a threat to me and mine." He pointed his wand at Flint's right elbow.
"Stop!" Flint panted and grunted in pain. "Stop, I'll tell you."
"Wise choice," Harry's voice was back to calm but determined. "What were you doing here, spying on us?"
"I was, I was supposed to watch to see if you were here."
"How long have you been doing this?"
"A few hours at a time for the last few days. I'd stay as long as I could before I got too cold. Then I'd leave to warm up for a few hours and come back."
Harry considered that and was thankful that he'd stayed in the house so much, and that he'd never walked out the front door. "Is anyone else being spied on? Any of my other friends."
"Don't know!" Flint said with another groan.
That was answered too fast and didn't sound too convincing. He cast another Bludgeoning hex at the other elbow causing more screaming for a moment. "Don't lie to me, Mister Flint; it's not good for your health."
"One other!" Flint finally shouted. "Yaxley! I don't know where he went, I swear! I swear I don't know!"
Having his questions answered, Harry finally looked at Lupin, who did look very disappointed and even slightly disgusted at him. "Are there any other questions you can think of that I should ask, Remus?"
Lupin responded by casted a silent Stunning hex at their prisoner, putting him out of his misery temporarily. "That's enough."
Harry stood and levitated Flint, walking him over through the temperature control magical curtain to the back patio and dropped the prisoner before Stunning him again to make sure.
Susan and Pat hurried out of the house and looked at him. "What did you find out?!" Susan demanded.
"There's one more watcher but he didn't know whose house was being watched." Harry looked at Lupin. "Do you know where Hermione lives?"
"I do," said Lupin, sounding like he didn't want to admit that.
"Susan, call your friends on the Floo and tell them that you were being watched by a Death Eater and tell them to very carefully check outside their wards. Tell them to be bloody careful because the watcher will probably be Disillusioned. Also call my friends too, starting with the Weasleys; be sure to tell them we're coming and we'll Apparate to the paddock. I have a feeling the other Death Eater is there, but we'll go check on Hermione first since she's the least protected."
"All right; stay safe," Susan told him as she hugged him.
"And keep an eye on Flint too. We'll be back as soon as we can." Looking at Lupin, he said, "To the front again since you're not keyed into the wards; you can Apparate us from there."
Pat stayed with Flint, her wand pointed at him as she took a seat. Susan followed them in and went straight to the fireplace.
As they left via the front door, Harry looked at Lupin. "If you can take us to their back garden that might be best. You can do your revealing spell there and then we can go to the front and check there too."
Lupin looked at him for a moment. "Did you really have to do that, Harry? We could have taken him to the Aurors and they could have given him Veritiserum to get the answers without hurting him."
"Is that what Albus Dumbledore would do? How long would that have taken, Remus? And what if the Aurors who took charge of him were Death Eaters, sympathizers, or just incompetent? I don't trust very many people at the Ministry; they don't have much of a track record in this war or the last one."
"Fine, you don't trust them all, but some are trustworthy. We can't become like them or why fight them at all," Lupin argued.
"Remus, if I was like them, I would have tortured him for fun and then done it some more to get my answers; I wouldn't have given him a chance to tell me without hurting him. Would you have preferred that I used the Cruciatus Curse on him?" Harry watched him struggle with the question for a moment as they reached the edge of the family wards.
"No" was the quiet answer. "I don't have a good answer, but I don't believe you did the right thing back there."
"As I told him, this is war and his presence was a threat to those I consider my family, which includes you by the way. If Tom Riddle and his moronic minions would leave me and mine alone, I wouldn't have had to do that. Now, let's go make sure the Grangers are safe." Harry put his hand on the man's arm and held on tightly. A moment later, Lupin took them away.
They landed in a back garden in front of a tall wooden fence. Harry appreciated that because it meant no one could be behind them. Lupin did the spell and there were no pulses of red.
"Looks like they're not home," Harry said quietly as he gestured to the house that had all of its curtains closed. "Let's check the front. Can you at least whisper the spell this time so I can learn it?"
Carefully, they went through the side gate and stood behind some bushes while Lupin did the spell again, whispering the words as well as slowing down the wand moments.
"I don't think anyone's here or we'd have seen something, even if they were under an Invisibility Cloak," Lupin told him.
"All right, let's go to the paddock behind the Burrow. I'll meet you by the set of goals furthest from the house. And before you ask, yes, I do officially have my license from the Ministry." Harry left and arrived at the Weasleys' paddock, a little disappointed it wasn't snowing here. In fact, he could tell it had snowed quite a bit less here as it was only in patches on the ground.
Lupin arrived with a soft crack right beside him. "You really have your Apparation License?"
"Yeah, an obscure law that actually works in my favor for once," Harry whispered back. "Do you suppose the watcher, if there is one, heard us arrive?"
"It's possible, but probably not. There are a thick band of trees between here and the house, so it depends on how close in he is … if he's even here. Careful where you step to avoid noise," Lupin cautioned him. "I'll do the spell when we get closer."
"Should we disillusion ourselves too?" Harry asked as they started forward.
"Probably would help, but that will also mean the Weasleys might think we're the bad guy."
Harry considered that and stopped. "Disillusion me please. I'll have to have Flitwick teach me this soon." He felt the cold feeling run over him as he saw his body and everything on him disappear. When he saw Lupin disappear, he started forward again. "When you can see the house, do your spell. I'll try to stay near you."
They walked slowly and Harry bumped into the back of Remus a few times, but they took the walkway to the house, all the while hoping that if Yaxley really was here, he would be on this side and they could hit him before he could leave.
Harry softly bumped into Lupin again as they reached the edge of the trees and the house came into view. "We're at the edge of the wards, get ready" was whispered.
A moment later, Harry saw the ring of magic appear around them spread out. He looked around frantically trying to watch all directions at once. They should have planned who would watch which way he realized too late. A red blimp pulsed near the corner of Arthur's shed and Harry reacted instantly. Using a brick of compressed air, he slammed it on top of the form and sent a silent Stunning spell low to the ground a fraction of a second later.
Remus also cast a spell before he suddenly started to appear and then Harry felt magic running over him again and he became visible again too.
While that was happening several spells flew from the house towards the form at the shed, followed by a larger volley towards them, causing the two rescuers to dive away.
"Stop, it's Lupin and Potter!" Remus shouted. "Get the person by the shed."
Another Stunning spell raced across the back garden and looked like it hit the form on the ground before Bill Weasley shimmered into view, followed by Arthur and then the twins. As they started to spread out, the back door opened and the rest of the family, led by Fleur, Ginny, and Hermione came out. Ron and Molly came last.
Harry led Remus over to the shed where they met the others as Bill cast a spell and a man appeared on the ground.
Bill rolled him over and his face became visible. "Edmund Yaxley, he's Charlie's age."
Harry was so intent at looking at the young man that he almost fell over when Hermione and then Ginny slammed into him as they ran over. "Hey, everyone's fine," he told them quietly. Speaking up, he said, "Check his left forearm." He put an arm around each girl to offer them some comfort and they snuggled closer.
"There's little doubt what we'll find, but you're right to check," Bill said, using a spell to vanish the clothes on the young man's left arm until the arm was bare and they all could see the Dark Mark. Molly gasped at the sight.
"Bill, do you know any good compulsion charms, not including the Imperious? It'd be good to find out what's going on and if his answers match Marcus Flint's," Harry suggested.
"Not like that, but I'm aware of two charms that when used together will make it very hard for him to able to lie to us," Bill answered.
"Perhaps in my shed," Arthur suggested, but in a way that made it a command.
Harry squeezed the shoulders of the two girls and pulled his arms away. "Please go back in the house and let Susan know that I'm here, I'm safe, and I'll be back as soon as I can. OK?"
"That's a good idea. Molly?" Arthur gave her a look that she easily interpreted, probably thinking the same thing.
"Come with me girls. Let's go make some hot drinks. Ginny, you should make that Floo call. Fleur and Hermione, you too." Molly directed.
The two girls with him hugged him quickly and then left with the mother.
When Harry saw the girls safely in the house, he turned and hurried to the door of the shed, closing it since he was the last in.
Bill had the man tied to a chair and cast three spells; the first woke him up and the next two made him wobbly so that he had trouble sitting up straight.
"Why were you here?" Harry asked, since no one else had asked anything.
"To watch for Harry Potter," Yaxley slurred. "I needed to report if he was here or not, but no one would come out of the damn house. It's so cold too."
"It's like he's drunk," Ron said with an amused snort.
"Yes, the first spell lowers his mental defenses so the Compulsion charm to tell the truth has a greater effect. This also won't last long," Bill explained. "Yaxley, what were you to do with the information if Harry Potter was here?"
"Tell my father, of course." Yaxley jerked his head back up again, as if he'd almost nodded off.
"What was your father going to do with the information?" Bill asked.
"Don't know." Yaxley tilted his head up at Bill and looked for a moment before he suddenly fell back and slumped in his chair, looking like he was sleep.
"He'll be unconscious for a few hours," Bill said as he looked at the others. "Now what?"
"I would assume William Yaxley would take that information to You-Know-Who and then we'd be getting a visit," Arthur said slowly, sounding like he was thinking out loud.
"Probably," Lupin agreed.
"What if he couldn't?" Harry asked, starting to have an idea.
"Harry, you can't kill him," Remus said pointedly.
With one eyebrow going up, Harry said, "I can't? I'll let you know that while I'm not bloodthirsty, I don't have any scruples that would prevent me from making trash disappear."
"We could take them and use them for test subjects," George volunteered.
"Good one, but how would we keep them from escaping?" Fred asked.
"Meh, minor details," George shrugged the question off.
"Harry, it seemed you had an idea," Bill said as he looked at their rescuer.
"Well, I've wanted to learn how to do the Obliviate charm, so what if we removed what happened today as well as their memories of being a Death Eater? Wouldn't that make them pretty useless to Voldemort? If I should screw up the charm as I'm learning and remove too much, is that really a problem? After that, we send them to the Ministry through the Floo." Harry looked at the others and saw Fred and George grin first, quickly followed by Ron.
"Yeah, good one," his classmate said and slapped him on the back.
Bill smiled ever so slightly. "You're quite good with the charm because of your job, Dad."
"It is possible, but that would be quite hard to get all of those memories because I'm sure they cover a large span of time which would require a lot of magical power," Arthur explained. "I think removing the last few days will be enough and I have enough magic for that.
"The Obliviation is the simple part," the father said, "the more difficult part is how to get them to the Ministry without them knowing who did this. They can trace where a Floo journey came from. That means we can't send them from our house and we can't go to public place to send them because we don't want to be seen."
They all nodded at the truth of that for a moment and thought some more.
"What about the Goblins?" Ron asked.
Bill shook his head in exasperation. "No, they wouldn't take them and it would be a bad idea to even ask."
"How well does the Fidelius Charm work for something like that?" Harry asked.
"Damn! Brilliant, Harry," Bill said with a smile. "That would look like they appeared out of nowhere."
"Great, so I get to learn the Oblivate Charm and then I can send them through the Floo to the Ministry," Harry said very proud of himself.
"I'll let you transport them, lad, but I think I'll do the Oblivation," Arthur said. "However, there's no reason you can't watch and learn."
Arthur showed him the wand movement, the trigger words, and explained the mental intent behind the spell before he cast it, erasing the last few days of their lives.
Harry then left and returned a few minutes later with Flint, whom Arthur Obliviated as well. When they were done, Arthur Side-Along Apparated Yaxley to the porch of Harry's home on Grimmauld Place while Harry brought Flint.
"Thanks, Mr Weasley. I'll take it from there. The wards are set to keep everyone else out right now and I wouldn't want you to get hurt." Harry hated insinuating that Harry couldn't take him in, but he really didn't want to bring Arthur in at the moment.
Arthur just smiled and didn't seem offended. "I appreciate your help, Harry … greatly. You must return to The Burrow; Molly told me just before we left that she was going to invite the Bones' over for dinner as a thank you."
"Of course, Mr Weasley. Let me send these two through and I'll be back in a few minutes."
Arthur slapped him on the shoulder. "I'm sure we'll have a wonderful evening. I'll see you soon. I'll impress on my children of the need to keep this secret." He Apparated away with Yaxley still unconscious and laying on the porch, which was under the Fidelius but outside the Black wards.
Harry set them both inside the front door so he could close and lock it before he took them to the kitchen, one at a time. Just because he wanted to be thorough, he Oblivated each of them one more time, trying to put as much power into the spell as he could while thinking of the last fifteen years. That should remove their memories of being a Death Eater and probably most of Hogwarts, making them useless as a Death Eater.
Satisfied with it all, he made sure their Dark Mark was plainly visible and then sent them through the Floo Network to the Ministry at the same time. To be sure this was safe; he turned the Floo connection off since he was done.
With a smile, Harry returned to the front porch and Apparated back to The Burrow, where he found Susan and her parents had just arrived. The stories of both houses were told again and Harry said he'd sent the two to the Ministry, leaving out his extra spell work.
He was a little surprised that Susan stayed close to him all evening as if she needed his comfort; she hadn't been in all that much danger, although he supposed the shock of having someone watch her house had shook her up - it had angered him. He was very surprised by the fact that Susan didn't seem to mind the other two girls doing the same on his other side. He always made sure Susan was next to him and let Hermione and Ginny sit on his other side trading places as they wished.
He wasn't surprised that Ron gave him dirty looks as the four of them sat closely on the couch, but Harry was thankful that Ron didn't make a scene over it. He also received thoughtful looks from Vincent, even though nothing was said; on the other hand, Pat didn't look like she was bothered in the slightest.
— — —
Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour rubbed his face again because of the long evening and the strangeness of the situation. "Again, Mr Robards, and perhaps try for a different telling that makes a little more sense."
Head Auror Gawain Robards looked at his notes again and considered them for a moment. "Minister, the simple facts are that two men that we have suspected of being Death Eaters for some time came out of the Floo Network in the Ministry lobby at a little before five this evening. They have been identified as Edmund Yaxley and Marcus Flint. Each was shirtless and each has a Dark Mark on his left forearm. Each had been stunned and bound by magical ropes. Upon examination, each have no detectable memories."
"Are you sure they don't have any memories, not even who they are?" the Minister asked tiredly.
"As before, sir, no, not a single one, not even their own name. I asked the head healer and he said that he couldn't restore them because it would take someone very powerful magically to override the block. As you know, sir, Obliviations can only be overridden and the memories restored by the same caster or by someone who's more powerful magically, a group casting would only cause the patient to go insane as it would essentially shred his mind."
Scrimgeour wave his hand in rolling motion. "Yes, yes, go on."
"Death Eater Flint had both elbows broken. Death Eater Yaxley was under an Intoxication charm, but was otherwise unharmed. In attempting to trace their travel through the Floo Network, we've been unable to find their origination point." Robards looked up from his notes. "That's all the facts sir."
"Humor me and speculate," Scrimgeour said as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
Robards set his notes on his lap let his eyes go unfocused as he wove his narrative. "The most likely story is that the two attacked someone, or more likely a family where there were multiple adults present. It's unknown what their mission was, but it went pear-shaped and they were caught after a brief fight, overpowered by superior numbers. In order to protect themselves, the family erased their memories and the most powerful of them used more power than necessary on the Obliviation and probably cast multiple times due to their over-zealousness. The family still has decent morals and didn't want to kill the two, even after being attacked, which means they're not one of the Dark families, so they sent them to us to deal with."
After nearly a minute of silence, the Minister asked, "What did the Unspeakable say about not being to find the origin of the Floo travel?"
"They said there are several known wards that could cause that," Robards replied. "Sir, since the Wizengamot has refused to help us with a law to automatically put people away with that magical tatoo, we'd normally question them carefully to see if we could find some crime to charge them with. However, these two are like newborn babes and we can't get anything out of them. I'll also point out that we won't find out who did this as long as they keep quiet about it. I'd say we just return the two to their families and let them deal with it."
"They won't be happy and will scream bloody murder," the Minister commented.
Robards shrugged. "Let them, they can't really do anything about it. The other obvious story, based on the power put into the Obliviate spell is that it was done personally by You-Know-Who. They can't complain to him if they want to keep on breathing, or that's my read on the situation. I'm going to call it a win in my book for removing two Death Eaters from the war."
"I'd suggest you keep that last thought to yourself although I do agree with it," Scrimgeour said as he opened his eyes and sat back up. "Contact their families and turn the boys over with our condolences. A little sympathy to them might be useful to us later. Also, no statement to the Daily Prophet about this; I don't think that would be good for anyone."
"Yes, sir." Robards rose and left the Minister's office, all the while wondering if they could arrange this sort of 'accident' for other Death Eaters they caught to permanently take them out of the war. As interesting as that was, he wasn't going to say that out loud to anyone one else either.
It was late and Harry was packing his freshly laundered clothes, getting ready to return to school tomorrow. Other than the exciting few hours when they were dealing with two Death Eater spies, Harry had really enjoyed this holiday. Dealing with Death Eaters was a little too close to being an adventure for his comfort. He could rationalize that it was not an adventure because it hadn't happened or started at school, but it pointed to the fact that the country was in a state of war and he had to be vigilant - constantly. The thought gave him some amusement as he thought of the source of that phrase.
A soft knock sounded on his doorframe caused him to look up; he was surprised, both by the knock and that it was Vincent. "Do you have a moment, Harry?"
"Sure!" As Vincent closed the door, Harry quickly said, "I wanted to tell you thank you for letting me stay here over the holidays. It was brilliant. I really like your family."
"Starting with Susan, I imagine?" the father asked with a wry smile as he took a seat in the one chair in the room and gestured to Harry to have a seat on the bed.
Harry couldn't help his embarrassed look nor his glance down, but he forced himself to look back up. "She is my favorite person here, but you and Pat are wonderful too. I like to think that my parents would have been something like you and your wife."
"I'm really sorry you didn't get to know them, Harry. I can't say I knew them well, having only talked with them for a few short conversations." Vincent sighed. "That's part of the hazard of being older. We didn't know them well in school and they left us so early in life that we didn't have time to get to know them after Hogwarts. A few more years probably would have changed that, but we don't all get to live long lives, as my older brother and sister found out."
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Don't worry about it, Harry," Vincent told him compassionately. "I didn't bring that up to make you feel bad, but to show you that I understand your loss."
"So, what are we talking about?" Harry suddenly remembered the closed door and hoped this wasn't a bad conversation.
Vincent smiled and seemed to stare straight through him. "Harry, I wanted you to know that we've enjoyed having you here as well, but I believe we need to talk about the future and if there will be more visits or not. I think you're a good lad and I happen to like you so far, but I care for Susan greatly and as her father it is my obligation to protect her. As I hope you can tell, I take that responsibility very seriously. Please tell me how you feel about Susan and what your intentions are in regards to her."
Harry gulped slightly as he considered the statement and the question. He wondered quickly if his parents would do this to Susan if they were still alive, but he didn't know and wasn't going to ask Vincent's opinion on that. "Uh, well, we like each other, a lot. I mean, I really care for her. I'd also protect her with all I have. She's … she's very special."
"All right, those are your feelings," Vincent said casually. "What are your intentions?"
"My intentions? I can promise you that I'll be the perfect gentleman with her. She has nothing to fear from me," he said all of that as sincerely as he could and he did mean it.
Vincent nodded. "I appreciate hearing that and I do believe you are sincere about that." He shifted in his seat and sighed a bit. "I also have the feeling that this conversation is going astray."
"I think I understand what you're saying and asking," Harry told him, although he did wonder if he was missing something by the way that was said.
"Then what do you believe I'm really asking about?" Vincent looked at him critically.
Harry wasn't sure why he looked so interested in this question and he struggled with that for a moment, almost certain that there was something not being said that he was supposed to know. "You want to make sure that Susan is safe and that I'll behave around her … and I will."
"I have no doubt you will after having talked with you over the holidays and seeing how you defended us last week. However," Vincent looked uncomfortable and shifted in his chair again, "it's becoming obvious to me that I have expectations which are unrealistic. What to do…" He looked at his hands as he tapped his fingertips together lightly.
Harry finally understood that there was in fact more going on here that just what was spoken and that whatever it was eluded him. It was also obvious that he needed to keep his mouth shut and listen, lest he make himself appear even more foolish than just not knowing what was going on.
After a few long moments, Vincent calmed himself and looked up. "Harry, I think the correct course of action is for me to suspend this conversation until this summer. I'll extend the invitation for you return here for one week after the next school term and we'll have this conversation again, but hopefully with you more informed. I would take up the task of your education for your father's sake, but I'm afraid this is not the moment for it, nor will you be readily available for my instruction in the next few months.
"Who is your closest male friend who grew up in the Wizarding World? He doesn't have to be a Pureblood, but I'm sure a Pureblood could help you."
Harry was shocked at the turn of the conversation and simply said, "Ron Weasley."
Vincent shook his head. "The Weasleys are a fine family and Arthur has my respect; but in this case, I don't believe young Mr Ron Weasley would be the person I'd send you to. Who else?"
He blinked still shocked. "Err, Neville Longbottom?"
It took a moment, but Vincent finally smiled. "Yes, I believe Augusta would have trained young Mr Longbottom appropriately despite the unfortunate absence of his parents. In private and in confidence please, convey this conversation to Mr Longbottom and then seek his instruction on the matter and whomever else he believes would help you. Assuming all goes well and I extend the invitation for you stay for all of next summer, I shall finish your tutelage as best as we can."
Vincent stood and held out his hand, which Harry took. "Good luck in your instruction, Mr Potter. I look forward to our next conversation. I also ask that you keep this from Susan, or at least the details. She knows I planned to talk to you. Should she ask about it, I think an appropriate answer is that we're still getting to know one another and discussing things; otherwise, please don't bring this up with her. If she pesters you on it, feel free to say that it is at my request."
"Err, yes sir." Harry still felt lost and he really hoped Neville could explain all of this to him.
"Excellent, I shall let you return to your packing. Have a good evening and I'll see you in the morning at breakfast." Vincent left and closed the door behind him.
Harry sank back down to his bed and ran through the conversation again, to make sure he remembered it when he talked to Neville. He really hoped his friend could clue him in.
It was a very contemplative Dark Lord who watched two young men be taken away from his presence. He supposed this was a chance to earn a little more loyalty from his followers, especially since it wouldn't cost him anything personally. "Lucius, send 5,000 Galleons to each of their families."
"Yes, my lord."
He had almost been able to reverse the Obliviation, but not quite. That meant the caster was as powerful as he was, and that meant Dumbledore had done it. Why would Dumbledore have done this? What was his game?
His spies in the Ministry had been able to tell him what the Aurors knew, and that the Aurors didn't know what was really going on either. Therefore, since he was sure Dumbledore had done this, which meant that the Order of the Phoenix had been watching both houses, trying to protect Potter again. He also wondered how the young men had been caught and could only assume it was because of negligence on their part.
In the end, he couldn't figure out what Dumbledore's plan was and that was deeply concerning to the Dark Lord. He almost called Snape, but didn't because he wasn't sure exactly how much he could trust the man in this situation.
(A/N: Thanks again to Kokopelli for beta'ing this story. Don't forget, I can edit the story after he sees it, so any remaining errors should be attributed to me and not him; he does great work.)
