Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters.
Never Harm a Weasley
Arthur was beginning to fear the worst, he could think of no possible reason for the disappearance of his son except the worst.
Apparating home he struggled to think of a way to tell his wife about the possible fate of their son.
Entering the house he was a bit surprised to see his eldest son Bill "where are Molly and the children?"
"Mum took Ron and Ginny to Diagon Alley" Bill responded "what brings you home so early dad?"
"Call Charlie and the twins and have them get home as soon as possible" Arthur replied "I'll tell you all what is happening when you are together."
"All right dad" Bill said picking up on the seriousness of the situation "I'll have them all here as soon as possible."
"Good" Arthur said forcing a smile "I've got to go up to the attic for a bit but I'll be down in a few minutes."
As he walked up the stairs to the attic, Arthur Weasley's face changed from the open and carefree expression that he normally wore to something harder, darker, to something that could easily belong to a man who was once the most feared Unspeakable in Europe.
It took him several minutes of searching before he found the old trunk, buried behind a box of old Christmas decorations and hidden under a pile of the children's baby cloths.
Slowly, almost reverently he opened it up and began the transformation into the man he once was.
The four boys were shocked by the figure that walked down the stairs; clad in Dragon Hide and an old pair of combat robes, they were surprised to see the eyes of their father look out at them from an expressionless face that seemed to have been carved out of wood.
"Boys" the figure spoke with their father's voce "I've called you here because something has happened and Percy is missing."
"Where do we look first dad" said Bill speaking for his brothers "with the five of us looking it shouldn't be too difficult to find him."
"We don't look anywhere, you four will stay here to protect your mother and the children while I go look" looking at his sons Arthur's face softened "if you do not hear from me in twenty four hours get everyone to Azkaban Island and ask for protection from it's lord, then get in contact with my friend in the Department of Magical Transport."
"If you say so dad" Gred started to ask and Forge continued "but why are talking like something bad is going to happen."
"Always plan for the worst" Arthur replied with a sad smile "I want you boys to know that I have always been proud of you and the others and that nothing you could do could make me prouder."
Giving his family one last look he stepped outside and Apparated to Diagon Alley.
"Bill, Charlie you two wait here and look after Mum" Started Forge "and we'll look after dad to make sure he doesn't hurt himself" finished Gred as they Apparated off to find their father.
It was surprisingly easy to find the location of their missing parent "putting trackers on are parents was the best idea we ever had, twin of mine" said one twin to the other.
Their search had taken them to the mouth of an isolated alley in Hogsmead and from within they could hear the sickening crunch of bones being broken "I knew that dad would get into trouble without us" whispered one twin to the other "lets get him to Saint Mungos and then come back to find out what his attacker knows" agreed the other.
Jumping into the alley, wands held high they were shocked to find their father, fist cocked back holding a man to the wall "Dad?" one whispered in surprise.
Sparing them a quick glance "step outside the alley boys, I don't want you to have to see this."
Nodding in shock the twins followed the instruction of their parent without arguments or complaint in recent memory.
Wincing at the sounds of escalating violence coming out of the alley the two twins stood silently and tried to reconcile the image of their father with the man they had seen in the alley.
"I'm sorry you boys had to see that" their father's voice startled them out of their thoughts "I had always hoped that I could protect you children from such things."
"Where did you learn to do that sort of thing Dad?" asked George surprised at the sudden change in the man that they thought they knew.
"That doesn't matter George, what does matter is that I have a few more leads on what happened to Percy" Arthur replied, more tired then he had ever been in his life "I want you boys to go home now."
"No Dad" said Fred "we want to stay with you" agreed George.
"Boys" Arthur paused unsure of what to say "Percy was attacked and I am going to have to find three men and ... do things to them in order to find your brother."
"What do you mean dad" asked the twins together "why can't we help you?"
"Boys, if you see what I'm about to do it will change you and it will change the way you look at me" he shook his head sadly "and I don't want to be responsible for that."
Any further musings were cut short by the arrival of three men in black combat robes "Liaison Weasley?"
"I am" replied Arthur somewhat wearily as he moved to place himself between the three strange men and his sons.
"The Lord of Azkaban has requested your presence"
"Tell him that I'm busy with a family emergency right now and that I will meet with him as soon as I can resolve it" said Arthur dropping his wand "please tell him that no disrespect is intended but that I must see to my family first."
"Lord Azkaban is well aware of your emergency and he has ordered us to inform you that his meeting with you is in relation to your emergency, we have already collected the rest of your family Liaison so if you would consent to come with us."
Arthur would later recall that the time he spent waiting on the ferry were the longest minutes of his life and his fear of the possible fate of his son kept him from asking the silent guards that accompanied him.
As they approached the dock, Arthur was surprised to be met by a young woman that he recognized to be the assistant to the Lord of Azkaban, a young woman that he could not recall seeing outside the Lord's presence at any time before.
"Please come with me Liaison Weasley" Becky spoke in her normal business like tone "his Lordship has requested that you be brought to him the moment that you arrive."
With every step closer to his destination, Arthur's fear grew he remembered the things that he had seen in the first rise and he prayed that his son had not suffered a similar fate.
After a time he and his sons were led into a large room where he found the rest of his family waiting.
Ignoring the questions of his children and the pleas of his wife, he waited silently hoping that the news the Lord wished to share was good.
Arthur nearly jumped when the door was opened to admit the Lord of Azkaban, swiveling his head to look at the Lord as he entered Arthur braced himself for the worst.
"I must apologies for my lateness" said the hooded figure that most of the Weasleys assumed was Azkaban's Lord "but I was forced to deal with another matter relating to the one I wish to speak to you about."
"Please just tell us" Arthur said closing his eyes and gathering his wife in a hug "I just have to know."
"I am sorry for the worry that you have suffered and I assure you that I have nothing but good news for you" the Lord of Azkaban said hoping to calm his family "with that in mind, would you be too terribly angry if I were to give you your good news in a rather dramatic way?"
"Your guards informed me that the good news concerned my family emergency?" Arthur enquired hope touching his voice.
"Yes, they would have told you more but at the time we did not have all the information and I did not wish to give you any false hope."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Arthur let his shoulders drop "all right then, if you wish you may do things in a dramatic way."
"Thank you Arthur, I get so little chance to put on a show that I like to take any opportunity that I am given."
Walking to the front of the family he continued "I have called you here to give you a gift and if you will open that door you will see it."
Arthur was the first to the door, throwing it open with such force that it was nearly ripped off of its hinges.
Their sitting on a bed in the middle of the room was his son, his arms wrapped around a girl that Arthur recognized as Penelope Clearwater.
Tears fell down his face as he took in the sight and behind him he heard the Lord of Azkaban finish his sentence "I give you your son, I give you your brother."
Arthur felt something trying to push by him in the door way and he looked down to the furious face of his youngest son "let me by dad, someone needs to teach that prat a lesson."
Ron struggled against his fathers restraining arms, wanting nothing but to reach his traitorous brother and beat him into the ground for his crimes.
"Calm down Ronald" called the voice of the Lord of Azkaban "there are things that you need to know before you condemn your brother."
"Like what" Ron yelled back, not caring about the possible insult to one of the most powerful men in the wizarding world "what possible reason could he have to be such a prat?"
"He did it to keep you all safe" was the whispered answer "his first assignment was to investigate some allegations concerning Bartemius Crouch Sr. and after that investigation ended with the death of Bartemius Crouch he was sent to find the leaks in the Minister's office."
"But why would Percy be doing this?" asked Molly "he just got out of school and he doesn't have any training."
"The fact that he has only recently graduated from school is one of the things that made him so successful" responded the Lord of Azkaban not unkindly "after all how could he be a MOPS agent if he went to work for the Ministry openly right after his graduation."
After Ron had calmed and Molly was occupied with his returned son, Arthur took the Lord Azkaban aside for a few questions "so what happened to him, I know that their was going to be an attempt on his life?"
"When my men found him, he was in the process of being beaten to death by two of his coworkers" replied Azkaban's ruler "he had lead them into a dark alley way because he didn't believe that they would be professional enough to limit the hit to him and he wished to ensure the safety of any innocent bystanders."
"Than you" Arthur said resisting the urge to hug the Lord Azkaban "I suppose that I'm lucky that your men happened upon him."
"Luck had nothing to do with this Arthur" replied the Lord taking a Breath "the second you agreed to become the Ministry Liaison to the forces of Azkaban, I assigned a unit from my body guards to keep a close watch on the safety of your family, as I said before Arthur you are family and I will not let my family come to harm."
"I ... thank you Lord Azkaban, thank you for giving me my son back."
"It was nothing, now if you will excuse me this is the time for your family to be together and I fear that I would be in the way of that" he said taking his leave "if you have any requests, there will be an attendant outside the door to see to your needs."
Back at the Dark Lord's abode, the Dark Lord's quiet game of solitaire was disturbed when one of his low level followers came rushing in.
"Master" yelled one of Voldemort's underlings rushing up to him "one of your low level Death Eaters was found by Aurors in an alley in Hogsmead."
"Why is this news so important that you would dare to disturb me?" inquired the Dark Lord dangerously as he lifted his wand to punish his servant if the answer displeased him.
"Because my Lord, when they found him the Aurors noted that he had been Obliviated and that both of his kneecaps had been shattered" the man replied fearfully "the Ghost has returned."
Within minutes of the announcement the news spread like wild fire through the Dark Lord's forces.
Many of the younger Death Eaters had to be told of the significance of the news and many older ones felt fear.
Above watching it all the Dark Lord sighed, it was going to be another one of those days.
AN: A lot of Arthur in this chapter but I like Arthur. I couldn't see the twins just quietly following orders in this situation and I also didn't think they would think of their father as a competent dangerous man so they chased after him to keep him safe. Charlie returned home so quickly because the Weasly family is so close that I can't see them ignoring a call to come home for an emergency.
Thank you for your reviews, comments to some are below.
Egyptian Flame – Not immortal at this time, they used magic of some type to fool his nose.
lucas13 – I'll keep updating everyday as long as I can.
Lap – Harry is changing a bit, the first hint of that is that fate of Antonin.
DarkBlade the Damned – I do have a few plans to bring the Nightmares in later in the story. I have some vague possible plans for the Dementors. Also have a few plans involving the Order which I may or may not use.
uten – Going to have to work on the scene transition. Glad you liked the way Becky dealt with Dumbledore. Harry received no Owls because he left the area before any could arrive and they cannot find him on the Island, as for the second part I really like this idea and I may have to use it. All that I will say about Occlumency is that it is amazing how fast you can learn when you have a competent teacher. I am going to write Ron in as Harry's friend if a bit childish, I mostly agree with you as to his character but as a challenge to myself I am going to try to give Harry his first friend back. Heh, no way I was going to bed without posting the last one.
athenakitty – Harry has no idea about Remus telling Dumbledore, Percy is in the dark.
Saetan - Just a way of saying that Percy is a good guy.
userid82 – Much as I would like to cure Neville's parents I can't think of a cure that isn't a 'cop out.' Heh, dark mark on the face, won't happen but I like the idea.
TheWraith1 – Harry does have a few loyal Dementors and I do have an Idea for a reward.Jiriki – Percy Weasley, Deep cover agent for MOPS.
jestyking – Thank you, anything that would help my writing is always welcome.
XxXcHaRmXxX – Just another way of saying castle or fortress.
MysterioX – No slash in my stories, it's not my thing.