Chapter 10 – Honks
A cold unlike anything he had ever known filled the chamber permeating everyone and everything in the area. Voldemort shuddered under the onslaught of the three Dementors in the room, pain and weakness from the cold and dark energies they were exuding making it difficult to think or move.
As he desperately tried to figure out how to get the situation back under control the shoddily clad figures lowered their hoods revealing grotesque faces that were normally hidden from view. Two of the Dementors began moving around the room sucking the souls from the many unconscious Death Eaters that were lying about while the third approached Voldemort himself.
A feeling of fear, something he had not experienced since he was a child living in a muggle orphanage, filled what remained of Voldemort's soul as the Dementor approached. It made him angry to think he was being defied and made to feel this way. Using the power the anger provided him with, Voldemort pushed the feelings away long enough to activate his group portkey and a moment later was whisked away from the attack along with what remained of the servants he had brought with him to the meeting.
Sensing that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were no longer there, the Dementors raised their hoods and left. Behind them the now empty room slowly warmed up, eventually returning to a comfortable temperature though it was now empty.
Jake woke from a long sleep and looked blearily around the room. His whole body ached and was stiff from lack of movement and his mouth felt like it was filled with cotton as did his head. He was surprised to realize he couldn't feel any magic around the house like he usually could. There was a large amount of power in the air which he was sure was the wards, but he couldn't seem to focus like he normally did. 'Probably whatever potions they've been pouring into me.' Jake thought. But much more importantly, he was pretty sure he was going to die soon if he didn't get something to drink.
Pushing away as much of the remaining tiredness as he could, Jake slid his legs out from underneath the covers and sat on the edge of his bed. Finding a glass of water sitting on the stand beside him, he quickly picked it up and drank greedily. The cool liquid helped calm his thirst and as he continued to wake up and began to move about he felt the lingering soreness slowly beginning to slip away.
Collecting a change of clothes from the dresser, Jake wandered down the hall to the bathroom to take a shower. After soaking under the hot spray for a long while and having a much needed shave, he got dressed and went to Harry and Tonks room.
Jake knocked several times and receiving no response, finally opened the door a crack.
"Harry? Tonks?" he said as he stuck his head inside the dark room.
Still receiving no answer, Jake entered the room closing the door behind him. As he walked past the couch, he noticed the wall of mirrors had been changed and wondered how long he had been out and what was going on.
Continuing across the room, he approached Tonks bed to find it empty. He couldn't help but grin at the thought that maybe she wasn't using this bed anymore and was actually surprised when he found Harry alone in his.
"Get up Harry!" Jake said slapping him on the butt. "It's almost nine o'clock. You gonna sleep the whole day away?"
Jakes smile and good humor fell away in an instant as Harry's eyes opened and he saw the pain the young man was in. "Harry?" What's wrong? What's happened?" he asked in a concern filled voice as he sat on the bed next to the young man.
Tears began falling down Harry's face and sobs escaped his throat. Sitting up, Harry grabbed hold of Jake and held him tightly as he cried into the older man's chest. Jake wrapped his arms around him and rubbed his back, doing his best to calm the distraught teen.
Eventually the cries lessened and Harry pulled back slightly. Jake held him at arms length and began appraising him. The shower had helped a lot and as he concentrated on the figure before him he was starting to see through the haze that was still clouding his mind.
"Tonks?" he asked carefully.
Having recognized her magic, Jake wasn't surprised when Tonks face shifted back to her normal look.
"Tonks, what's wrong? Where's Harry?" he asked doing his best to stay calm around the distraught young woman.
A look of profound pain crossed her face and it was several minutes before she was able to respond. "…he's dead…" she finally managed to get out in a quiet, pain filled voice.
Jake felt his heart clench at her words and pulled her close as she began to cry anew. It took a long time, but eventually he managed to calm her down enough to learn what happened.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry Jake. I just wanted him to have some fun. I'm so sorry…" Tonks said between sobs.
"Shhhh, it's not your fault. It's going to be ok." Jake said doing his best to calm her.
"How's it going to be ok Jake!" Tonks yelled as her emotions began to get away from her. "How? He's gone! He's dead because I wanted to get out of here and do something. Because I wanted to take him out and tell him how… how I feel..."
As her words trailed off Tonks anger fell away and she once again broke down crying. Jake pulled her close and held her tightly as he had done before.
"I never even got to tell him…" Tonks sobbed. "I love him so much…"
Pushing his own feelings of loss aside, Jake did his best to console Tonks and convince her that it wasn't her fault. They spoke of Harry at length, retelling the stories of his past and talking about the man he was becoming. They laughed and cried as they remembered the young man fondly, frowning over the way he had been treated growing up and smiling about his love of pizza. Eventually the conversation turned to the darker side of the young man's life.
"Everyone was looking to Harry as their savior, they'll be crushed."
Jake let out a long pained sigh at her point.
"What are we going to do now?" Tonks asked wiping some tears from her bloodshot eyes.
"What do you mean?" Jake asked.
"I mean about Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
Jake shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't quite understand what she was saying. "I don't know, kill them?"
Tonks let out a short half-hearted snort. "But we can't, the prophecy. Only Harry could."
"Giving up?" Jake ground out.
Tonks was surprised to see Jake looking back at her with a bit of anger showing in his eyes.
"Screw the prophecy! I'm sick of hearing about it." Jake said angrily as he stood up. "Is that the only reason you're doing this?"
A look of shock mingled with a bit of shame appeared on Tonks face. She tried to form an answer of some sort but was cut off by Jake before she could say anything.
"Look," Jake said in a forced calm recognizing he needed to remain rational about this, "if you believe that load of crap then those Death Eaters couldn't have killed Harry. If not then we can kill that wanker."
As Tonks thought about what he said, an alarm sounded from across the room. Jake instantly went to the wall and found a mirror with several figures inside. Assuming the necklaces hanging from the mirror he was looking at were the portkeys he needed, he took one down and turned to walk back across the room. He was not surprised to find a very angry looking Tonks standing ready with her wand drawn.
Giving her a nod, Jake held out the portkey but stopped her just as she was about to activate it.
"You are right about one thing, the people need Harry. He's their focus and his loss would crush what little hope they've gained."
Tonks nodded and gave Jake an understanding grin. A second later her form began to shift until she was once again a dead ringer for Harry Potter.
Jake nodded approvingly before they turned so that they were back to back in preparation for port keying to the site of the attack. "Don't let your anger override your judgment out there Honks."
"What?" Tonks asked turning back around to face a now grinning Jake.
"Honks. You know, Harry, Tonks… Honks!"
Shaking her head, Tonks couldn't help but smile slightly before turning back around and activating the portkey.
A lone Dementor stood atop the battlements of the castle Azkaban facing out across a violent piece of ocean, the mainland just visible in the distance though the sightless creature could not see it. He stood perfectly still, the only movement caused by winds whipping his robes about his body.
Eventually he felt his three strongest approaching in the distance. He was the oldest, the first of his kind and was therefore the strongest and the leader of his clan. The three approaching were almost as strong having been created within days of himself but he was still the first and greatly respected.
The three approached to float in front of their leader, bowing in respect before raising themselves to stand before him. To anyone watching they would appear to be standing immobile and unmoving, doing nothing more than watching the world around them but an important conversation was actually taking place through the magic that connects all Dementors.
'My Lord, it is done.'
'Very good. And how did the evil one take the news of our refusal to return to him?' the Lord of the Dementors asked.
'Just as we expected My Lord, he ran.'
'Very good.'
Silence filled the connection they shared as the Lord of the Dementors faced up towards the sun that was shining brightly overhead, willing himself to feel its warmth though he knew it was a futile effort. Eventually he returned his unseeing gaze to his companions.
'It is time.' he said simply.
As he turned to leave a scabby grey hand stopped him and he turned back to find his second in command holding him.
'Are you sure?' the second asked with what seemed like concern though there was no feeling in his words.
'I am sure as are you. We all knew this day would come. I will do what I must and you must too.'
The pair stood face to face for a long while before the second bowed deeply and floated away with his companions to summon those who would be needed. The Lord stayed still for several minutes after they departed before finally turning and floating down through the many passages and corridors of Azkaban to a secret room in the lowest part of the lowest dungeon, a room known only too the Dementors.
The room was round and fairly large, about twenty meters across its middle. The walls were rough, unfinished stone that rose from the floor for several meters before sloping inward to create a dome above the floor. While the walls and ceiling were unfinished, the floor was highly polished black marble. In the center sat a small circular dais about a meter tall and a meter across of the purest white marble.
Floating across the room, the Lord took a position on top of the dais ignoring the long lost sensation of pain he began to feel as he neared the white stone. Soon others of his kind began floating into the room, his pain increasing with the entry of each one. Finally the last entered, the thirteen Dementors taking positions in a circle around their Lord.
Barely able to concentrate through the pain he was in, the Lord of the Dementors addressed his people for what would be the last time.
'Over two millennia have come and gone as we have watched through our curse and waited. It is time. Do not mourn my passing but relish in the ascension of my second to Lord for it is time.' Pain continued to wrack his form preventing him from speaking further. Lowering his hood and taking a last deep rattling breath he prepared himself for what was to come.
As one those who had volunteered to be part of the ritual lowered their hoods and raised their right arms holding their hands with their palms pointing towards their Lord. After a few moments a beam of blackness connected each Dementors hand with the Dementor in the center who let out a screeching sound as the magic bound everyone in the circle together bringing his pain to unimaginable levels.
The Dementors in the circle opened their mouths and breathed in deeply causing the form of their Lord to waver and blur before they began to slowly exhale. As the breath left their bodies, the light connecting them to their Lord began to change. Small points of the whitest light began floating from their palms and slowly moving forward. More and more points of light were added until the beam was solid white.
The Dementors began to feel the same pain their Lord was experiencing, starting where the bright light was erupting from their palms and quickly spreading through their bodies as they continued to exhale. The white light continued to overtake the black beams until it finally reached the Dementor in the middle. As thirteen beams of light connected in the center another screech of pain erupted from the Lord. His figure began glowing brightly as the Dementors surrounding him continued to exhale.
One by one as their breath expired the Dementors around the circle fell over dead until the only one standing was the Lord in the center. As the last bit of the last beam entered his body the pain from the ritual passed and the now all white Lord looked around at his fallen companions. Feelings he hadn't felt for as long as he could remembered flowed through him as he used his new eyes to look around sadly at friends who had given up everything to do their part.
He could no longer feel the rest of the Dementors in the castle and knew his time was limited. Bowing to the honored dead he floated out of the chamber and made his way through the deserted passages of the castle. He longed to see his kinsmen as he floated towards the castles exit, but knew his presence would now bring them pain.
Exiting the castle, the Lord took a final look about the desolate rock that had been his home for what seemed like eternity. Across the castles battlements he found hundreds of his kinsmen lined up bowing in salute. Pride filled his heart and he returned their bow before turning and floating away from the island.
Tonks wearing the form of Harry and Jake appeared beside a large home situated in the countryside among a copse of trees. Quickly scanning the area, neither found any sign of Death Eater activity. Sharing a quick nod, the pair separated to take a look around the grounds. A minute later the pair met on the other side of the house.
"Nothing, you?" Tonks asked.
"Clear. I can feel magic here though, we should check inside."
Receiving a nod in return, Jake led the way to a back door and cautiously pulled it open. The moment they passed over the threshold they began hearing the sounds of fighting and could see spell damage everywhere they looked.
"Crap! They put a silencing charm on the house!" Tonks said as she charged forward.
"Shit," Jake mumbled as his partner ran recklessly into the home. Knowing he would have to have a talk with her about this later, Jake began searching the various rooms.
Severus Snape was not happy to be where he was. Ducking behind a wall as a spell flew by his head, Snape let out a nervous breath.
He was a potions master and spy, a very good one on both counts in his opinion, not a mindless minion to be thrown into these types of situations. Sure he knew this was part of his cover and he didn't really have any choice in the matter but why did it have to be this attack?
He knew the Dark Lord was planning a much larger attack and had hoped he would be able to find out more about it in time to put a stop to it but had been dismayed when instead of being brought up to speed, he had been told Harry Potter was dead and he was to lead a team on a raid to see what his companions response was to be.
Thoughts of Harry Potter's death swam in his mind and for some reason he just couldn't seem to grasp the possibility. It was no secret he hated the boy but at the same time he couldn't help but respect what the young wizard had accomplished. The thought that the boy was killed by a mindless group of Death Eaters after standing up to the Dark Lord as many times as he had was simply unbelievable.
Snape rolled his eyes and groaned as one of the recruits assigned to him jumped from his cover and charged the barricade at the far end of the hall only to end up with a large hole in his chest for his effort.
"Idiots," he grumbled.
It seemed like the Dark Lord would accept just about anyone as a Death Eater these days. He knew he should have some of his forces looking for the arrival of Potter's friends and preparing an ambush but he wasn't about to tell his companions that. No, better to appear mindless himself. His real concern was what to do when they arrived, and he knew they would. Of course he would reveal himself but he wasn't sure that would make much difference to the Metamorph or Muggle after everything he'd done to Potter.
He was about to cast another spell when there was a loud explosion behind him. Turning around he saw the shattered remains of two of his team. Ducking back behind his corner, Snape quickly pulled off his mask and broke it in half before tossing it on the ground at his feet.
"Potter's friends are here!" he shouted at the other Death Eaters. He knew the explosion had already made them aware of this but felt it would help his credibility for them to hear him say it. Mostly, however, he wanted to let Tonks and Trapp know he was there.
Taking a deep breath, Snape ducked out from behind his cover and sent a blasting hex down the hallway. A moment later he felt as if his legs had been run over by a truck and fell to the floor in pain as they gave way, the bone shattering hex he had been hit with making it impossible for him to stand.
He watched as several more powerful curses passed above him no doubt on their way to remove other Death Eaters from this plane of existence. After giving them ample time to hit their targets, Snape activated his group portkey.
Just before he disappeared along with what was left of his forces, his face took on a look of surprise as he spied a very much alive Harry Potter standing at the top of the stairway with a look of anger and determination on his face.
Rounding a corner at the base of the stairs leading to the upper floor, Tonks spied a pair of Death Eaters crouched close to the top of the stairway, their attention focused on the battle they were fighting with whomever it was that they had chased up there.
Raising the wand she held in her left hand, Tonks fired a blasting hex at the pair. They both died having never even seen their enemy. As she carefully climbed the stairs knowing she had given away her position, she was surprised to hear Snape's voice echo through the home.
"Potter's friends are here!"
She thought it odd that he would say that knowing that everyone in the house knew she was there before realizing he had said it to her, not to the other Death Eaters.
Taking a peek over the top of the stairs as she neared the top, she saw a robed figure duck out from behind a corner and fire a blasting hex down the hall. Not knowing where Snape was, Tonks decided to use a non-lethal spell and fired a bone shattering curse at his legs. She only found out for sure it was him after he had fallen.
'Oh' well,' she thought, 'bloody git deserved it.'
Looking further down the hall, she saw that his spell had taken out a further two Death Eaters. Acting quickly, she fired off several spells directing them at the few remaining black robed figures. A moment after the spells connected, Snape and one other Death Eater disappeared.
Tonks quickly searched the upstairs for any lingering Death Eaters but found none that were alive.
"Hold!" Tonks shouted as she had to jump out of the way of a spell.
"Who are you?" a scared voice asked.
"I'm To… Harry! Harry Potter!"
Looking out from where she was hiding, Tonks saw a pair of scared faces looking at her from behind the barricade they had created during the attack. Moving slowly, Tonks kept her hands in plain view as she stepped out from her cover to let them know Harry had come to save them.
"You all ok?" Tonks asked as she saw the looks of relief and gratitude appear on the couples faces.
"Yeah… Yeah, I think so." the man muttered as he appraised himself and his wife.
It didn't take them long to move the barricade out of the way after which the woman ran up to Harry and gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! You saved my babies!" she said with tears in her eyes.
Looking back up the hall, Tonks saw the ladies husband walking towards them with a small bundled up baby in each arm.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Tonks turned around to find Jake looking at her. "Come on, we need to go."
Giving him a nod, she turned around to face the couple again. "The Aurors should be here any minute. Just tell them we were the ones that killed the Death Eaters and you shouldn't have any problems."
The couple nodded and thanked them again before they disappeared.
Snape appeared at the arrival point in the Dark Lords home and almost passed out from the pain the transport had caused him. Two guards quickly rushed over to help only to be waved away. He definitely didn't want any of the idiots the Dark Lord was making Death Eaters these days working on him.
After a few minutes, he managed to sit up enough to assess the damage. His pant legs were torn to shreds and bloody, his legs twisted at odd angles that should not have been possible. 'Bloody Potter!' he growled to himself as he took in his condition.
Rummaging though the many pockets of his robes, Snape finally found and quickly swallowed a pain relieving potion letting out a sigh of relief as the pain fell away. Once the potion had removed most of the pain he was in, Snape straightened out his legs as best he could and bound them tightly. It took him a fair amount of time, the procedure causing considerable pain even with the potion in his system but eventually he finished.
Looking around the room, he realized only one other Death Eater had survived the attack and made it back, though from his lack of movement it looked as if he had died not long after arriving.
"You two," Snape hissed at the pair of guards, "take me to our Lord."
The two men swallowed heavily not particularly wanting to be in their Lord's presence when he learned of a failed attack but knew not to question the orders of an inner circle member. Stepping forward they each took one of Snape's arms and helped him up after which they practically had to drag him down the hall.
Entering a large stone room, they found Voldemort sitting on a large throne and took Snape to stand before him.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he took in Snape's condition. "Report Severus."
Snape bowed his head as best he could before beginning. "The attack proceeded just as you had ordered. We had the family trapped in an upstairs bedroom when Potter showed up."
"What!" the Dark Lord hissed. "I assume you mean Potter's friends?"
Snape took a deep breath. "No my Lord. I mean Harry Potter was there. He's the one who cursed me."
Fire burned deep within the Dark Lord's eyes and even Snape with his mastery of Occlumency and years of spying felt nervous at the rage he could see boiling within.
Concentrating on his connection to Harry, Voldemort could just make out a slight tingling sensation. Bringing his attention back to the potions master before him he drew his wand intent on venting his anger.
"Crucio!"
Jake turned as they appeared back at Privet Drive to find Tonks still wearing Harry's form and staring off into space. The look on her face caught him by surprise making him forget all about the berating he had planned for her as his anger at her recklessness fell away. She looked lost, scared and unsure as to what to do next as her world collapsed around her.
The fight drained out of Tonks as she appeared back in the bedroom she had shared with Harry. As she adjusted to her surroundings, she spied the mirror she had conjured the night before. A mirror that was now reflecting Harry's blood covered face back at her. She knew it was her face covered with the blood of the Death Eaters she had just fought, but the image was a strong one and in the wake of her grief was simply too much.
As quickly as she was able to summon the magic to do so, Tonks morphed back into her usual form taking another look at the mirror to make sure it was really her before she turned around and threw herself at a concerned looking Jake as she broke down sobbing.
"Shhhh…" Jake murmured softly as he wrapped his arms around the young woman crying on his chest. "It's ok, I'm here…"
Tonks continued to grip Jake tightly and cried for a long while.
"S… Sorry." Tonks finally mumbled.
"No problem." Jake said sending her a small smile. "Feeling better sis?"
Tonks let out a pained chuckle at his comment and shook her head no where she was still lying against his chest. He couldn't help but let out a short chuckle of his own at the child like gesture.
"No, I don't suppose you would." he said with a sigh.
After a few more minutes of silence, Jake separated from her slightly. "Come on, it's been a long day. Why don't we turn in for the night?"
Nodding in agreement, Tonks moved back while wiping the most recent tears from her cheeks. "I need to write Dumbledore first," she said as she moved towards the desk.
"Alright, but… then get some rest ok?"
Receiving a nod from Tonks, Jake turned and left the room. As he closed the door behind him, a weight settled in his chest and he slumped against the wall. He'd almost made another joke about having Harry keep her in bed and only just stopped himself. Damn but he missed that kid.
One of the largest men people had ever seen walked down the road from Hogsmeade heading towards Hogwarts Castle. At his side an old boarhound trotted along almost having to run to keep up with the man's lengthy strides. Night was falling as he approached the entrance to Hogwarts grounds and he was surprised when the large dog he was companioned with began barking loudly and broke into a run towards the gates.
"Fang! What's all this about now?" Hagrid hollered as he picked up his own pace to catch up with his dog.
As he neared the gates, Hagrid found Fang nosing around a body lying in the center of the road.
"Professor!" Hagrid exclaimed as he rolled over the man to find the unconscious form of Severus Snape.
As carefully as he could, Hagrid picked up Snape's body and began running towards the castle intent on getting the injured man to the infirmary.
As the blackness receded and the world slowly swam back into focus, Severus Snape let out a low groan. His entire body ached and his legs felt like they were full of splinters. All in all, it wasn't starting out to be a very good day.
"Easy my boy," Albus said as he patted his Potion Masters arm. "You apparently had a rough evening."
Focusing on the old wizard before him, Severus tried to speak but his throat felt like it had been rubbed raw and filled with gravel.
"Here you go."
Giving a nod to his friend and mentor, Severus accepted the offered glass of water and drank deeply. The cooling effect of the liquid quickly took the pain from his throat and he suspected there had been a potion of some sort in the drink to help speed his healing.
"Headmaster."
"Now, now, no need to be so formal Severus." Dumbledore said with a grin.
Snape just nodded. "Your Golden Boy is the one who did this to my legs," he finally managed to say.
Dumbledore let out a loud sigh. "Perhaps he did not realize it was you."
"He knew." Snape grumbled before turning pensive. "One thing doesn't make sense to me however. The Dark Lord told me Potter was dead before he sent me on the mission. Our goal was not specifically to harm the family but to find out what Tonks and Trapp's response to Potter's death would be, whether they would continue to fight or give up."
"When I returned and informed the Dark Lord that Potter had been there and stopped the raid he was most upset. I distinctly remember watching him concentrate after I told him. It was as if he was adjusting his Occlumency shields. I suspect he was feeling for his connection with the boy but if he can feel him, why did he think he was dead?"
"Why indeed Severus, why indeed," Albus said as he contemplated the new information.
After sitting in a comfortable silence for several minutes, Dumbledore looked at Snape with a kind smile. "You're injuries were quite extensive and severe. I fear the burden you carry is becoming far too dangerous my friend. I would beg you to leave Voldemort's side."
Severus smiled, something he only ever did when he was alone with Albus, the man he considered his surrogate father and best friend. "Sorry Albus, but I have to turn you down again."
Albus just smiled and nodded. It wasn't the first time he had tried to get Severus to end his spying days and probably wouldn't be the last but he had to try. As he was getting up to leave, an owl flew in the window and across the room where it dropped a letter in the Headmaster's lap.
Picking up the note, Albus recognized the messy scrawl as that of Tonks.
Professor,
Would you please send me a letter detailing everything you know about the life of Tom Riddle. I understand this will be a lengthy pursuit but we believe it necessary to learn everything we can in the pursuit of our goal, the defeat of Voldemort and his forces.
Sincerely,
Tonks
Folding the letter and placing it in his pocket, Albus turned back to Severus and wished him well before leaving the infirmary to return to his office. Pausing at one of the many bookcases that adorned the walls he removed a thin black book before approaching Fawkes perch.
"Are you able to move through the wards surrounding Privet Drive?" he asked.
Fawkes gave Albus a single nod.
"I suspected as much. Ms. Tonks has requested my information on Tom Riddle. Would you be so kind as to take it to her for me?"
After giving him another nod, Fawkes reached out with his powerful talons and carefully took hold of the small book.
Albus watched as Fawkes lifted off from his perch and prepared to travel to Harry's home. He was surprised when after the ball of flame Fawkes normally used to travel disappeared, Fawkes was still there. As the large bird settled back down on his perch, Albus noticed that the book was gone.
"Did you give it to her?" he asked curiously.
'Of course,' Fawkes trilled in response.
"I had no idea you could send messages like that. Is there anything else you can do that you haven't seen fit to share with me over the years?" Albus asked with raised eyes and a teasing smile.
Fawkes just seemed to shrug noncommittally.
Albus couldn't help but laugh. "Ah my friend, you'll be the death of me yet." he said grinning widely.
'I don't see how that's possible,' Fawkes sang back with a good deal of humor in his voice.
The next couple of days passed quickly for Tonks and Jake. The journal detailing Riddle's life as it was known by Albus Dumbledore was sent to them and they had spent almost every waking moment pouring over its contents. There had been no more Death Eater attacks and the pair suspected Voldemort was busy preparing his forces for his planned attack on Diagon Alley.
"We need to start checking these out," Jake said as he read over the list they had created of possible locations for Voldemort's hidden Horcruxes.
Tonks nodded and set aside the small black book before drawing her wand and Joining Jake. Grabbing his hand, she looked up at him. "Ready?"
Receiving a nod, Tonks duel Apparated them to an old manor house that had once been in the Gaunt family.
"Nothing." Jake said as he wandered around the ruins of the old home. It appeared there had been a rather large fire in the past and a foundation along with a few good size piles of rubble was all that remained.
"Nothing at all?" Tonks asked back.
Jake shook his head. "Nope, I can feel the remnants of the old wards that used to surround the house but no magical objects at all."
"Alright," Tonks said taking Jakes hand again.
Their next stop brought them to the small alley behind the Leaky Cauldron that held the entrance to Diagon Alley. Making sure the hoods of the cloaks they wore were coving their faces, the pair opened the archway and began their trek through the crowds as they headed for Knockturn Alley.
"What are you doing?" Jake asked Tonks as he noticed her looking around at the sky above them.
"The attack in a week. Harry…" she trailed off slightly, the pain of his loss still fresh in her mind but was able to pull herself together enough to continue. "Harry thought we might be able to fight from the rooftops somehow."
After giving Tonks a comforting smile and pat on the shoulder, Jake looked upwards and examined the area finding several good spots to attack from. Lowering his gaze he began looking all around the alley, a plan beginning to form in his mind.
They continued to talk in low tones, planning for the Dark Lord's attack which was only a week away until they reached the entrance to Knockturn Alley. As they crossed over the threshold and entered the area long famed for its darker side, Tonks was surprised as Jake took the lead.
Rolling her eyes, Tonks figured he was trying to play the role of the over protective brother. "It's down there on the right," she said trying to point out the shop to him.
"I know," was the simple and slightly shocking reply she received.
"You know?" she asked curiously.
Jake turned towards her and held his hood open slightly to reveal a mischievous grin. "Not my first time," he said with a wink before returning to his course.
With a quick laugh and a shake of her head, Tonks fell in step beside him as they made their way to Borgin & Burkes where Tom Riddle had apparently worked for a time after he left Hogwarts.
A bell sounded as they entered the shop which they were happy to find was empty of patrons.
"Anything?" Tonks asked quietly as they wandered through the shop.
"Not really," Jake whispered back. "There's a lot of bad stuff here, a lot more below us somewhere but not what we're looking for."
"How may I be of assistance to you," a smooth voice said from across the counter they were nearing.
Stepping forward Tonks addressed the old man, discretely slipping her wand out of its holster and into her hand as she did so. "I understand a man named Tom Riddle used to work here."
A brief flash of fear appeared in Borgin's eyes before his mask of indifference returned. "Sorry, but I'm afraid you are mistaken. I have never employed anyone by that name."
Stepping forward to stand next to Tonks, Jake removed a large bag of gold from one of his robe pockets and threw it on the counter in front of Borgin where it landed with a heavy thud. "I understand a man named Tom Riddle used to work here."
The old man eyed the gold greedily. It was clear he knew who they were speaking of and was currently waging a personal war inside as he weighed his fear of the man they were asking about against his greed and the large bag of gold setting on the counter before him. Eventually, greed won out.
"You Aurors?" Burgin asked moving his gaze from the large leather pouch to the pair of robed figures in front of him.
"No," they both answered.
Borgin nodded. "Yeah, I remember him. Young kid, came here to work straight out of Hogwarts. He loved all the Dar... errr… stuff I collect here."
"We know you deal in Dark Objects but that is not our concern. What exactly was he interested in?" Jake said.
Nodding in understanding, Borgin continued to tell the pair everything he could remember about Tom Riddle.
"Oh, there was one other thing." Borgin said as Tonks and Jake were about to leave. "He seemed especially interested in anything to do with the founders of Hogwarts. Was nuts about the stuff. He often met up with an old lady who also shared a similar fascination."
"What was her name? Do you know where we can find her?" Tonks asked.
"I don't know what she was called, but I do know she died right about the time Riddle stopped working for me."
Giving Borgin a nod, Tonks and Jake left the shop and quickly made their way back to the entrance to Diagon Alley.
"Well that was a bust," Tonks said.
"Yeah, at least we found out a bit more information. Maybe got a few new leads," Jake replied.
"I suppose," Tonks said with a sigh. "You ready for the next one?"
Jake took a deep breath and nodded. Apparition wasn't such a bad way to travel, but he didn't particularly like the way it made him feel while he was doing it. Preparing himself mentally, he watched as Tonks grabbed his hand and performed the magic.
After feeling like they had been squeezed though an old garden hose, Tonks and Jake appeared in front of a large dark and foreboding structure. The building was in an advanced state of disrepair and was the classic Muggle representation of a haunted insane asylum. Tonks shivered at the sight of the dreary old building and was shocked when Jake let out a groan. Turning towards her friend, she was surprised to see him looking sick like he was about to throw up.
"You ok Jake?" she asked with concern.
Jake took several large breaths as he fought to compose himself. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't quite ready for that."
"For what?"
"I don't know for sure but I think we've found what we're looking for," he said looking very serious. "It's bad Tonks… real bad."
Looking back at the imposing building, Tonks felt a shudder run through her body.
"I've felt this magic before," Jake whispered.
"What?" Tonks said turning back to him.
"I was on a ship. We came across a rock island with a fort on top. As we got nearer, the captain changed our course and everyone seemed to forget about it." Jakes gaze never left the Orphanage Riddle had grown up in as he continued to speak in low tones. "Everyone except me."