Chapter 10! Back to Amy for now, but don't worry, I'll fix up Lillie's arm sooner or later. As always, I don't own anything.
"Ford, we have been walking in circles for hours! Why don't you just admit the spell didn't work?" "Because it did!" Amy sighed in frustration at her cousins reply, and sat down on a nearby bench to rest her aching feet.
They had followed Ford's trace spell to this town hours ago, and so far had neither seen or heard anything of Sirius Black.( It had been the same way for the past three towns over the past few days.) Amy was beginning to feel definite doubts about the whole thing, and she could tell Remus was as well. "Maybe you should try again?" He suggested kindly, as Ford continued to pace back and forth, holding his wand out and muttering as it's light flickered on and off. "Or better yet put that thing away before the Muggles notice and you get us all in big trouble!" Grumbled Amy.
Ford ignored her, and addressed Remus's comment. "I would, but by now the spell residue from the cup is too old. We'd need to find a new source to trace from for the charm to work." "I suppose I could always ask Tonks to break something else." Amy heard Remus mumble under his breath.
After a few more minutes of pacing, Ford sighed in defeat. "I guess I still have some kinks to work out of the-" at that moment, the tip of his wand flared to life, and Ford could fell the Trace physically dragging him to the location of the spell. "Hey!" He called out as he began racing along down the street, following the pull of his wand. Remus and Amy leapt up and tried to keep up with his fleeing form as he ran right and left thru the streets.
"You don't think it's actually working? Do you?" Amy called out to Remus as they chased Ford down a back alley. He shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe it just took some time for the spell to—" He gestured wildly to the air, trying to think of a word. "Get his scent?" Amy offered, panting as they rounded a corner. Remus shrugged again, "Yeah, sure. You know, I-"
But whatever he was about to say was cut short as Remus and Amy smacked into the back of a now motionless Ford, sending them all to the ground. "Oww…" Amy groaned as she sat up. "Why'd you stop?" Ford pointed up at the white door in front of him. "We're here…"
The trio stood up, facing the door. Ford had a strange frown on his face as he contemplated it. "What?" Remus asked when he saw it. "Well, it's just that…well I know the person who lives here. And I really doubt he'd be harboring Sirius Black…"
"Why, is it someone from the Ministry?" Amy asked in surprise, she wasn't aware that Ford knew many people period. He'd always been sort of an…outsider. His uncanny knack for noticing every small detail, combined with his small capacity for tact had left him with few friends outside of herself, Bob Ogden (now deceased) and…Oh no. Not one of them!
Amy's worst fears were confirmed when Ford proceeded to wrap on the door with an elaborate knock. The door promptly opened to reveal a blond man about the same age as Ford, wearing a t-shirt with the words "I regret that I have but one life to give for Gondor" emblazend on the front. He looked surprised to see them, especially Ford, and when he caught sight of him he straightened up immediately.
"Sir Aladfar!" he exclaimed, shooting Ford a salute. "Hail! Hast the Court been called into session?" Ford raised his hand in a half salute, and offered a "Hail" of his own, followed by a nonchalant "Hey Chris, no the Court's not in session. Can we come in? It's kinda important."
The man, Chris's face fell, and resumed his slouching posture. "Yeah, I guess" he said with an exasperated sigh. He held open the door for them to walk thru. As Ford passed him, he frowned and muttered, "You're not supposed to use the knock unless the Court's been called into session, you made me look like an idiot out there!" "You mean more than usual?" Ford quipped back, dogging a halfhearted blow at his head.
"Har Har. How you ever made it past squire with your lack of respect I'll never know." "I get by on my charm and good looks of course." Ford replied good naturedly.
Remus shot a questioning look at Amy, who was holding her head in her hand. "What on earth are they talking about?" Amy sighed, and rolled her eyes. "Ford and his…friend here are members of a club called the Knights of Selene. They call each other Sir star name something or other, talk in Old English and meet every full moon to chat about fairy tales and Muggle appliances."
Remus noticed that Ford and Chris were now glaring at Amy. "It's not a club! It's an ancient society dedicated to protecting the magical balance of power in the World!" "And finding out how to get a TV to work around magic." Amy added. Ford rolled his eyes, and turned back to his friend. "Don't mind the civilians Sir Altair, they are sadly ignorant to the wonders of modern cinema."
Chris shot Amy another cross look, before turning back to Ford. "So you said this was important?" "Yes, you know that modified tracing spell I told you guys about last time?" "The one that blew up your-" "Yes that one!" Ford interrupted before Chris could finish announcing what had been blown up. "Anyway, I used it to try and track down Sirius Black, and we followed it here. You haven't seen anything… weird lately, have you?"
"Well yeah!" Chris burst out! "Just yesterday this big old dog knocked me down and stole my lunch! Then there was this big to-do about some kids on a broomstick,( who knows what they were thinking! and then the same dog knocked me over again when it was being chased by a dog catcher before it disappeared into thin air! But I don't know what that has to do about Sirius Black."
Ford, Amy and Remus stared at Chris for a long moment, before Ford's face broke into a wide grin. "Can you show us were it disappeared?"
Five minutes later, the group was standing by a large fountain in a deserted public square. "Why's it so empty?" Amy asked, noticing for the first time the quietness of the town. "Oh, apparently the Ministry in all their wisdom decided this little broom sighting would be a good chance for their new Oblivators to get some practice. Bunch of rookies gave all the Muggles splitting headaches as well as modified memories! Quietist this town's ever been, kids should start flying around more often." Chris answered promptly. "Anyway, it was right about here that the mutt disappeared. I figured he was some sort of Gytrash, so I did a quick memory charm myself on the Dogcatcher."
Ford nodded, eyeing the spot thoughtfully. He bent down, and tapped his wand on the stones, whispering an incantation. The tip of the wand light up, and Ford smiled triumphantly. "Perfect." He stood up, and motioned Amy and Remus to come near. "I think I can follow his Apperation Trail. It's a bit risky, but I think I can land us pretty near where he ended up, you in?"
Amy looked at Remus, who looked back at her, and shrugged. Amy sighed, and smiled ruthfully. "I guess so, we've made it this far." .Ford nodded, and took her left hand, Amy did the same to Remus's.
"Thanks for everything Chris!" Ford said, saluting his friend with his free hand. " Never could have done it without you, or specifically, the magical residue left on you by the transfer of-" "Ford!" Amy cut in before he could go off an a long and overelaborate explanation. "Right, well, see ya around Altair!"
"You're not supposed to use the names unless Courts in session either!" Chris called out. But by then, they were already gone.
The trio found themselves standing in the middle of a large deserted room, dusty and derelict. Noise from outside told them they must be in now be in a city. Amy released Ford's hand, and looked around the room. "What is this place?"
"Looks like an abandoned warehouse." Remus said as he eyed the place. "Why would he come here?" "He might be using it as some sort of base camp. A place to hide out when the heat is on." Ford replied, slipping into his official MLES tone.
"Well the heat must be off, because he doesn't look like he's at home." Amy said quietly. Secretly, she was glad. The thought of seeing Sirius again, so soon, after so long sent chills up her spin, and they weren't just chills of fear, and that worried her. She shook her head, pushing down her feelings. She had to focus on the real reason they were doing this. To find Harry, to keep him safe. If all went well, she might not even need to confront Sirius at all. They could follow his trail until they caught sight of Harry themselves, and then- and then what?
She considered what would happen after they found him. What could she do after that? She had never married Sirius, so she had no real claim on the boy as a Godmother. She knew Harry was currently living with Lily's sister's family, but from what she'd heard of them from Lily…
Amy sighed, so much had happened since Lily and James death. She had lost her fiancé, her godson, and most of her Hogwarts friends were no longer in contact with her. They were all so busy with their own lives. She had become an Unspeakable in the hope that the mystique of the Department might fill the void she felt in her life, but…
"Well, what now?" Remus asked, turning to Ford. The inspector shrugged in reply. "I don't know, we could try the Trace again, or we could wait until he comes b-"
But Ford never got to finish his sentence, because just then, a huge black dog burst from the shadows, leaping up and onto Ford. Amy screamed as the animal knocked her cousin to the floor, snarling menacingly, large white teeth bared.
Amy, frozen in fear, shot a glance at Remus, who seemed to be in shock. Her eyes shot back to the dog, which had raised its head, preparing to strike. Ford eyes were wide, he looked like the fall had knocked to wind out of him, and his wand had rolled out of his hand and across the floor.
The dog gave a terrifying growl. His head shot down towards Ford's throat! Without thinking, without even meaning to, Amy screamed out "SIRIUS! NO!"
The dog stopped within seconds of striking Ford. His large dark eyes shot up, wide with surprise. Suddenly, he gave a shake that traveled from his head to his tail. In a moment, a ragged man with shoulder length dark hair was kneeling over Ford, his dark eyes still locked with Amy's blue ones.
"A-Amy?" He croaked. Amy looked from Remus, to Ford, and back to Sirius. Her throat was tight, and dry. She swallowed, trying to say something, anything! She wanted to say, "Yes, you idiot!" or "Yep, now kindly get off my cousin you creep!" or "Well duh! You've only known me for two decades!"
Instead, what came out was "Yeah, hi honey…"
Well well well! The loving couple meets up again! Sparks are going to fly soon though, despite Amy's pleasant greeting. And what will Ford and Remus's reactions be? Tune in next time to find out! Oh, and just to let you know, a Gytrash is a large spectral dog of Scottish legend, similar to a Grim. Thank you for reading! Please feel free to review!