Chapter 13: A friend in need is a friend indeed (2)

It was a warm autumn day. The sun was shining in the sky with very few clouds here and there, the leaves were slowly shedding their greenish color to be replaced by a vivid yellow or rusty red, and the Rescue Squad (or so Tonks had deemed Sirius, Tom and herself), were cursing their ingenious idea of wearing black clothes on such a warm sunny day.

They had ventured into a strange part of London that not even Sirius's job as an Auror had made him wander, but Tom assured them that it was the right way and so he followed without complain. The streets of this place were not much different then those in Diagon Alley made out of round looking tiny pieces of algae colored stones, and the houses were barely a few stories high. It was so different from the tall buildings and grandiose hipper-markets that filled the London streets of the 20th centuries. So much had changed in the muggle world in 50 years time, but the wizarding world remained unnervingly static, with the same old shops and robes and traditions. Sirius was slowly beginning to wonder if life as a muggle didn't have a magic of its own, a magic called evolution perhaps…

"Sirius," Tonks called from several strides away. "What are you doing falling behind? We're in a hurry!"

"Sorry!" Sirius grinned sheepishly as he ran towards them. "I got caught up in thoughts."

"I can see that," Tonks scolded.

"It won't be long now," Tom announced. "Just outside that house over there." He pointed at an old and shabby looking house that seemed to be positioned right at the end of the city. "We should be able to see the manor once we get pass that house!"

"Then what are we waiting for," Sirius said and dashed forward.

"Hey! Wait for me," Tonks hurried to catch up to him.

"Wait you two," Tom shouted after them. "We can't go in there without a plan!"

"The hell we can!" Sirius bellowed. "We charge in, stun all the bastards inside, grab George and go home, end of story!" Tonks shock her head disapprovingly at Sirius while Tom pinned him with a hard glare. "Alright geniuses, I don't suppose you have a better idea."

"How about we sneak in the manor, find George and sneak out unnoticed?" Tonks suggested hopefully.

"That won't work," Tom assured. "The Manor has alarm wards that will alert the owner of any person who trespasses his property, sneaking in is about as likely as persuading the Charms teacher into giving us no homework for the week."

"But that's impossible, that old hag gave us and extra essay to write even from the hospital wing!" Sirius complained.

"My point exactly, there is no way of sneaking into that manor, but" Toms face contorted into a devilish smirk. "I heard that Yaxley sells illegal items, including people, as hobby. So I was thinking we can pretend to be customers interested in buying something to get inside the house. Once inside one of us can excuse himself and ask to go to the restroom and go searching for George. I heard he is extremely flattering towards his customers and that's why the Dark families like him so much."

"Where did you hear that from?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, that was Abraxas Malfoy's feeble attempt at making friends," Tom answered. "Selling out ones peers seems to be a common thing among purebloods."

"Not among us," Tonks stated fiercely.

"Well it seems like a good plan," Sirius said. "Let's get to it!"

Tom and Tonks both nodded and the R-Squad was on its way again. After they passed what seemed to be the last house in the city they finally reached the camp side. They saw Yaxley's manor from afar, because it was the only thing which seemed out of contrast with the peaceful and gold colored fields. The kids immediately disliked the house.

Oh, it was imposing; less so then Muller Manor, but the smokyish-gray marmored window ledges and imacular-white walls gave it an eerier feeling then nr 12 Grimmauld Place ever could. It was big, not as much as Malfoy manor, equipped with thousand of wide spread windows and what looked like a ball room on the last floor, that as well guarded by two grayish granite statues of some Greek Goddesses gave it an even gloomier feel.

Sirius took one look at the thing and decided he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, so he quickened his pace and prompted the other two to do the same.

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Harry, Draco and Luna at long last arrived in Hogsmead.

Once they did Harry made a particularly lame excuse and went his separate way, which angered Draco to no end because he had asked his supposed best friend not to do this to him last night. But nooo, Rowling had caught wind of his somewhat romantic feelings for Luna and had taken it upon himself to try and hook the two of them together, never mind the fact that Luna had a boyfriend. 'Not for long,' Draco as, an evil smirk spread on his pointed face.

"Will you stop that! I'm the only one who looks good when she's evil, you just look bad," Luna teased which came as a relief for Draco. De hadn't seen the girl in a good mood since she started da-…never mind.

"Have you decided on what to buy?" He asked cheerfully.

"Yeah, I bullied Hermione into telling me what she wanted last night."

"Heee, and what might that be?"

"Books!" Luna rolled her eyes.

Draco sniggered slightly. "And did you tell her we banned that from the possible gifts list?"

"I did."

"Then it won't be much of a surprise party," he sighed disappointed.

"Nope, but it will still be a party! Not like she wasn't expecting it anyway."

"True, true; I don't know why we even bothered hiding it."

"Well, it would have been interesting don't you think?"

"Yep! So, what are you buying?"

Luna grinned childishly and said in a sing-song voice: "Not telling."

"Oh, come on, tell me!"

"No!" She stubbornly refused but the grin was still wide spread on her child like face, the evil aura that always seemed to accompany her these days had faded into nothingness, much to Draco's relief.

"I'll find out anyway."

"No you won't!" Draco began pouting, but his eyes still shone with amusement.

"Fine! Be that way! Let's see if I let you buy anything this whole trip," he threatened.

"Two can play it that way," Luna grinned at him and dashed towards the first shop.

"Hey! Don't leave me here!" Luna turned, stuck out her tong at him and continued running towards the shops. Draco gave a frustrated sigh and scurried after her.

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It was sometimes hard for Harry to understand why the hat had placed Jane of all people in Slytherin. Sure she liked to gossip and tease people a lot, but even Gryffindors did that.

"We're here!" Jane announced merrily.

Harry lifted his head to look at the name of the shop, it said: Stephanie's fashion house. "There's a version of this shop even here in Hogsmead?" Harry asked a bit sarcastic.

"Of course!" Jane winked. "Everyone knows that Stephanie's is the best fashion house you'll ever find out there!"

"Yep," Ilena Silverstone (4th year Slytherin), agreed. "If you want to buy clothes for someone and leave a good impression in taste and the like then Stephanie's is a must!"

"Tank's girls but, you really shouldn't have gone out of your way to accompany me, I'll be alright," Harry assured them.

"No, no, It's really no bother," Gene Hackman said. "We're already done with the party shopping and we were going to come here anyway."

"Well if you say so," Harry sighed and went into the shop.

He had met Jane and her friends shortly after escaping Draco and Luna; it was clear those two needed some time alone, and he wasn't gonna butt in. Nope he was gonna be a good friend and help Draco, even if the pumped up little bastard thought he didn't need it.

The Stephanie's fashion house looked very much the same as the one in Diagon Alley, with the soul exception of Madam Stephanie, but it didn't bother Harry all that much. There were a few girls, and a couple rooming around the place talking to the employees. A woman dressed in stylish wizarding robes with a pompous looking hat made her way towards them.

"Welcome to Stephanie's," She bowed gracefully. "How may I be of service?"

"The gentleman besides me is interested in the latest design that you released at the start of September. We'd like to see the X size with green and silver colors."

"Of course, one moment please," the attendant bowed and went into the back of the shop.

Harry turned to look quizzically at Jane. "I'm interested in what?"

Jane bent down to whisper in his ear: "Gin's been ogling this dress for weeks."

"Oh," Harry nodded.

"Hey, look over there! Is that Andy MacDowell and Cindy Crawford?" Gene asked.

"Yes, it is!" Ilena confirmed.

Jane sneered. "You would think the MacDowell would sink no less; but bringing a Mudblood in here."

Ilena nodded. "And displaying her like she was gold."

"The nerve of some people."

Oh, Harry knew now why the hat had sorted Jane in Slytherin, though for once he wished he didn't.

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"Welcome, welcome dear customers, make yourselves at home," Yaxley led Tom, Tonks and Sirius into the living room.

It didn't take long to convince Yaxley to let them in, the moment they mentioned they were interested in buying something from him his face had lit up like that of a kids who was offered candy and he had scurried them inside. The interior was just about as gloomy and imposing as the exterior was, with state of the art paintings decorating the house, high class furniture and all the rest. Sirius frankly was disgusted to his stomach by the sparkling clean and neatly decorated mansion so he gave Tonks a sharp look, indicating that she should hurry up with the plan.

"Excuse me, Mr. Yaxley; can I use your bath room?" Tonks asked the moment she saw the piercing glare. "We've been on the road for so long…"

"Why of course, how insensitive of me! If I would have known you were coming, I would have sent a carriage to pick you up and spare you the long journey. The restroom in on the first floor-" he pointed towards the stairs, "-the last door in the hall."

"Thank you," Tonks inclined her head and left the group.

"Let's make our way to the dining room; I'm sure you must be hungry after such a long journey."

Tonks waited for Yaxley, Sirius and Tom to disappear in the dining room and took out her wand to perform the point me spell. The spell indicated towards a room at the ground floor, so, after the door to the dining room closed, she quickly made her way towards it.

The door led her to a hallway. There were two house elves guarding one of the rooms which she assumed was where George was kept.

Tonks sighed, she had wanted to get out of this without a fight but apparently that was impossible at the moment. She wasted no time and shot two stunning spells at the house elves. The first hit its target but the second house elf disappeared before the spell could reach him, and a few seconds later the alarm was triggered. Tonks cursed and sped up towards the room.

"Reducto!" She cried and the door burst open to reveal a very baffled George standing in the middle of the room.

"Tonks?" George questioned but his daze was cut short by Tonks who grabbed him roughly by the collar and started dragging him towards the door.

"Come on, we don't have much time!"

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"So, I heard you were from Germany?" Yaxley inquired.

"Yes. My parents are native Germans but they decided to move to England after the war with Grindelwald started," Sirius answered.

"Interesting," Yaxley stated though his eyes were narrowed, suspicious. "And why, if I may ask, did you're parents not stay and fight for the honor of the pureblood families? If you are one of course." Sirius was at a loss as of what to answer but Tom cut in sharply.

"Are you questioning my friend's status, Monsieur?" He hissed malevolently and Yaxley hastily recoiled.

"Not at all! I was merely-"

Just then a weird buzzing noise rang throughout the house and Yaxley jumped to his feet.

"If you would excuse me," Yaxley bowed and made to leave. Sirius panicked. 'Why hadn't Tonks been more careful?' he thought desperately trying to make up an excuse to keep Yaxley here but to his surprise Tom waved his hand and a vase smashed into Yaxley's head so fast Sirius thought it could have killed him.

"I don't appreciate your hospitality," Tom sneered and lifted himself from the sofa. "We should go!" Sirius mutely nodded and the two ran for the door.

In the living room they met Tonks and George who were busy fighting of 5 house elves.

"Stupefy!" George cried desperately trying to hit one of the house elves who kept disappearing from one place and popping up in another. One appeared in his back and smacked him in the side with a frying pan.

"George!" Tonks scurried towards him and shot a stunning spell at the despicable elf that just popped out of its way.

"This is ridiculous!" Sirius whined as a house elf tried to wham him on the head with a ladle. "I never thought cooking instruments could be so dangerous," Sirius commented as he dodged the ladle and made a wild dash for the elf.

"What are you doing?" Tom snarled. "Head for the door!"

"Oh, right!" Tonks grabbed a hold of George and started running towards the door.

Just then Yaxley, who had a large lump on the back of his head and a murderous expression to rival Uncle Vernon's shrieked: "Seal the exits! Don't let anybody out!"

Tonks and George however made it into the lobby and Sirius wasn't fat behind. Yaxley set his blazing eyes on Sirius. "You come into my house pretending you're customers when all you want to do is steal from me, you filthy little blood-traitors! Confringo!" He cried and would have surely hit Sirius square in the back if the door that led to the lobby hadn't of closed in time.

"That was a close one," Sirius sighed in relief.

"The doors are locked!" Tonks cried from in front of the entrance doors.

"Try the Alohomora charm!"

"Think I didn't?" Tonks asked sarcastically. Sirius didn't have a chance to respond because the house elves made another appetence and proceeded to throw knives, spoons and anything they could get their hands on while some were chasing after George and Tonks with a frying pan, a ladle and ropes.

"This just keeps getting better and better," George muttered as he dodged a stray knife.

"Come on people they're just house elves!" Sirius bellowed and tried to hex one, but the nasty little creature only popped up in another place and stuck out its thong at him.

"Easy for you to say," Tonks whined as she wrestled two house elves who were trying to tie her up.

"Where's Tom?" Sirius asked.

Tom was still in the living room glaring at the closed door.

"Well at least I still have you on this side," Yaxley smugly stated. "Your friends will be taken care of by my house elves and when this is over, I'm going to sell every one of you to the first buyer! You just aren't worth the trouble!" He pointed his wand lazily at Tom and cried "Petrificus Totalus!"

Tom side stepped the spell and turned his furious glare towards Yaxley. "You would have killed Sirius if that spell had hit," he said in a deadly quiet voice.

"Wish it had," Yaxley sneered. "One less of you punks to worry about!" The poor, poor man would live to regret those words every bit of what was left of his miserable life.

His wand arm suddenly gave a violent jerk and the next thing he knew intense pain, the likes of witch he had never felt before shot through it as its bones broke gradually one at a time and started coiling around his elbow like a rope. Yaxley's howled screams echoed in the otherwise silent chamber. "What are you-?"

He didn't even get to finish that because he was violently shoved into the wall, his left shoulder colliding heavily with the concrete block.

"You really shouldn't have said that!" Tom hissed maliciously. "You know,-" he began walking towards him a twisted smile that contorted his features into something sinister spread on his face, "-there is a spell I've been just dying to try out, but you see, it's a dark spell… sort of, so I couldn't actually try it out at Hogwarts. But here, no one would stop me." Yaxley squeaked in terror and tried to grab his wand with his left hand.

"Acio!" Tom shock his head disappointed. "A, a, a, don't be a cheat. See! I'm not using a wand either." Tom gave another one of his sinister smiles and the next moment Yaxley's screams could be heard throughout the entire house.

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"Why you bloody little pest!" Sirius whammed the ladle out of the elf's hand and started chasing him with it. "Come here and I'll show you just how much that hurts!!"

"Help!" Tonks was still struggling like mad with the ropes around her while the two house elves were trying to drag her towards a door with little results.

"Tonks, hold on!" George tried desperately to reach her and escape being slammed on the head with a frying pan and a bunch of vicious flying knives that were directed by one of the elves; so far, he was making little progress.

WHAM

Sirius finally managed to knock his house elf unconscious and darted towards Tonks, the ladle still firmly held in his hand like a mighty sword that could cut through steel.

"AAAAAAA" he sprang his mighty metal made weapon at one of the elves but it vanished out of reach. He took a savage swing at the other house elf but the one who had just disappeared popped up behind him and tied a rope around his feet.

Tonks used the moment of diversion to free herself from the ropes and lung herself at the house elf that had bounded Sirius. She caught him by the throat, through her fist back and smashed it into the elf's face before said creature diapered and popped back a few strides away only to fall to the ground with a loud THUMP. Sirius in the meantime had disentangled himself from the rope and resumed chasing after the house elf with the ladle. George then decide to make himself known and darted towards them, the flying knives dangerously close behind him.

"Tonks!" he whined.

Tonks took one look at him, gave a piercing scream and began running away.

"Hey! Help me!" George whined.

"Help yourself!" Tonks shrieked.

Sirius finally managed to smack the annoying elf across the head and sighed in frustration when he saw the other two running from the flying knives. He quietly made his way towards the elf which controlled them and was about to slam him on the head when the last elf made his appearance and banged his frying pan straight into Sirius's small and sensitive nose. He stumbled backwards and tripped on one of the other elves that he had knocked unconscious. The upper mentioned elf proceeded to banging the frying pan on Sirius's head but Sirius slung his ladle in front and no sooner were the two in and all out sword style fight, ladle vs the frying pan.

George, tired of running from the flying knives proceeded to blasting them one at a time and wondered why he hadn't thought of it earlier.

Tonks swung out of the way of a knife and was about to do the same as George when one particularly sharp knife entangled itself into her hair and cut it clean off so that the right side was now shorter then the left. The knife darted for another vicious attack at her face but Tonks caught it and shrieked "How dare you cut my hair!"

She through the knife back at the house elf who stopped it and was about to send it back when he saw a multitude of hexes, jinks and curses flying his way. Tonks started reining hexes at the poor house elf that didn't have time to even blink between apparitions and to his misfortune landed straight in front of George who cursed him into oblivion, so to speak.

Sirius finally managed to out power the house elf; the frying pan flying straight out of his hand and the victorious ladle collided harshly with the creatures head; it stumbled backwards and hit the ground unconscious. "Phew, I'm glad that's over with!" Sirius sighed exhausted.

"Man I never EVER want to piss a house elf again!" George commented dryly.

The door to the Living room suddenly opened and out came Tom looking rather pleased with himself.

"Where have you been mate? You missed out on all the fun," Sirius smiled weekly.

"I was trying to convince Yaxley to open the front doors," Tom replied.

"Well, did it work?" Sirius asked and straightened up.

"Oh, yes," Tom gave a crooked smile and started for the door. "Come on, let's get out of here!"

"I'm right behind you," George said and hurried after Tom.

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The journey back to Hogwarts was not and easy one. The kids were all tired and magically exhausted. With a little luck and a lot of will power they managed however to arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at approximately 11 o'clock, and got caught by the caretaker Matt Brown. Tom gave a frustrated sighed, whipped out his wand and muttered "Obliviate!" The caretaker fell to the floor unconscious. The other three stared at him in aw.

"What? Do you want to get caught looking like you just came out of a blood war? I bet you'll have a great time explaining that to your head of house…and the headmaster…and your parents."

"Ok, ok, we get it," Sirius assured. "Thanks Tom, we couldn't have done it without you." Sirius smiled gratefully at him and Tom inclined his head.

"It was nothing really."

"It was!" Tonks protested. "We would have spent hour trying to locate the manor if it wasn't for you."

"Yeah, thanks mate." George grinned and held out his hand. "So, are we friends?"

Tom faille to his the shock that overcame him at hearing George's words. "You want to be friends with me?" He asked baffled.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" George asked confused.

"Because I'm a Slytherin and Gryffindors hate Slytherins and-"

"Oh, will you knock it off!" George glared disappointedly at him. "We don't care bout that! We've been trying to talk to you since the sorting, but you keep ignoring us."

"I…I thought you didn't want to speak to me again," Tom finished in a whisper.

"That's a load of bull!" Tonks cut in. "Of course we wanted to speak with you again! And we want to be friends, but we thought you didn't." She finished in a weak voice.

"I DO! I just…" Tom assured.

"Really?" Tonks asked excited.

Tom nodded shyly. Tonks beamed at him and enveloped him in a bon crushing hug.

"Then it's settled," Sirius grinned widely. "As of today, you my friend-" he patted Tom on the shoulder "-are the newest member of the Marauders!"

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September 19 finally came and so did the birthday parties of Virginia Parkinson and Hermione Watson.

Tom had spent most of the day with the Marauders, just like he had yesterday and only in the evening did he make an appearance in the Slytherin common room where Virginia's birthday party was at its peek.

Vincent Yaxley had been called yesterday to the headmaster's office and sent home. Apparently there had been and attack at his house and his father had sustained major damage, some said it could be permanent; anyways it seemed he wouldn't be back in school for quite some time.

Crabbe and Goyle had wisely kept their mouths shut about Tom's questioning of the whereabouts of Yaxley manor the very same day of the attack and were happily celebrating their first Outstanding result on an Arithmancy assignment.

Harry finally managed to give his present to Virginia (after a bunch of death threats and promises of public humiliation on Jane's part) and had received a peek on the cheek and a brilliant smile from the girl.

At midnight he and Draco quickly made a lame excuse to leave the party and headed for the Room of Requirement where Hermione's party was held. The other kids had already gathered there, but as was expected were tired and sleepy, Hermione included, so they hastily cut the cake and exchanged presents and in one hour's time were off to bed again, glad that they had finally made progress with Riddle and that today was finally over and done with.

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A/N: As am I! Man, I thought I'd never finish this chapter, but as promised here it is. My request as always Review!