Carrow Part Three: Theatricality and Deception

"He's gone," Sirius Black informed the other members of the Carnival of Crime. "Carrow has escaped."

"But," Tonks' eyes went wide, "if Goldilocks finds out Harry's an imposter, he'll torture him!"

"We have to save him!" Ron didn't like the idea of any harm befalling his friend.

"Says who?" Sirius asked. If Potter was taken out, perhaps things would go back to normal.

"Are you kidding?" Ron glared at the dark-haired man. "Harry's our friend. If he's tortured, they may find out his secret." He shuddered. If his friend's secret identity came out, Lockhart would have him killed for sure. "The Cape is a hero—"

"Then let the Cape save him," Sirius interrupted Weasley. He rather wished that they had never dragged Potter to Trolley Park in the first place.

But his words gave Moody an idea.

"Black is onto something; the Cape will save him," Mad-Eye pronounced, confusing his followers. He explained to them his plan.

~TC~

Back at the warehouse, the smuggler's men had bound Harry to a chair and begun beating him up.

Gilderoy was wondering who the imposter actually was. He had a theory on that.

"The only way I can explain the Cape knowing what we were planning in advance," Goldilocks mused aloud, advancing on the prisoner, "is that the black bird was hiding in our midst, spying on us. It's you, isn't it?

"And you're the one that pulled that little joke on Quirrell the other night. This next bit was his idea," the smuggler added, holding up a container of acid.

Harry trembled in fear. Acid; they were going to pour acid on him? All he'd done was cover Quirrell's turban in bat guano! They were seriously overreacting.

Before Goldilocks could begin disfiguring the vigilante, the lights abruptly went out, plunging everyone into darkness. There was just enough light left for the men to make out the silhouette of a hooded figure near the control board. The figure rushed the thugs, knocking men out of his way. A familiar-looking cape pried the prisoner free from the chair, before rescuer and rescuee disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Goldilocks digested this new information. It appeared he'd been wrong. Whoever had been pretending to be Carrow was not the Cape after all, but the smuggler now had another suspect in mind.

~TC~

Back in Mad-Eye's trailer, Harry expressed his gratitude to his savior. Potter knew that if Mad-Eye hadn't shown up in the nick of time with the cape, he'd be a goner.

"Thank you for saving me, Mad-Eye!"

"You're welcome, Potter," the Carnival's ringleader nodded. He and Tonks had already looked the young man over for injuries. It appeared he was relatively unscathed and would be able to go back to acting as the vigilante whenever he wanted. Moody gestured the hero towards the door.

Harry stopped and made eye contact with his mentor, his expression earnest.

"Mad-Eye, I don't forget," Harry insisted. He wasn't like Snape, who, far from being grateful, had put a price on the head of his rescuer within a week. Harry knew when he owed someone and he intended on paying his debts. He tried to convey that to the man who had just saved his life.

Satisfied that the message was received, Harry left the trailer at last. Unbeknownst to him, Mad-Eye already knew just what he would ask Potter to do for him in return.

~TC~

Harry, back at his hideout, sat in front of his computer with a phone pressed to his ear. He couldn't wait to tell Orwell the good news.

"Hello, Orwell? I've got it!" Harry grinned. "I've finally got the evidence that will bring Snape down. I'm uploading the exclusive video to your blog now." His heart soared as he posted the video he'd taken of Vernon Dursley accepting money from Goldilocks. This was the break he'd been looking for. This, surely, would send him home in no time.

"Snape's history," Harry told his partner.

~TC~

Hermione eyed the empty beer bottles around her as she replied to him.

"That's great, Harry," she mumbled, before cutting the connection. The news that her secret crush might be able to head back to his wife and that her father was about to be in hot water did nothing to lift her spirits.

Maybe her father had it coming, but the thought of her blog being his downfall no longer appealed to her.

She went off in search of more beer. She would rather feel numb than depressed.

~TC~

The next morning, Albus Potter sighed as he retrieved the backpack left for him on the fire escape. He had no excuse for not doing his assignments now. Probably just as well. He didn't think his teacher would believe "the Cape stole my homework."

Author's Note: And so ends the HP version of episode nine.

Thanks to IronAmerica, my beta, for giving me the green-light to post the chapter! And thanks to Orwell and IA for reviewing!

Everyone recognize the source of the chapter title?

-Suit up; fight back.