Keeping Secrets
The next morning, Tonks was the first to hear news of a sighting of the Dark Mark in the sky. He ears pricked up as she walked through the Ministry, trying to listen to where the Mark had been spotted.
"Ireland, I heard," one wizard said.
"Muggle neighborhood. Seemed rather out of place," another added. Tonks' heart began to beat faster as she turned around and nearly collided with a witch carrying a large stack of forms.
"Sorry!" Tonks called as she raced off. The witch glared after the pink-haired woman as she bent to collect the forms that had fallen off the stack. Tonks came skidding to a halt outside Fudge's office. Kingsley had been reporting to the Minister to keep up appearances and so she waited while they talked. She could hear their voices through the door as she paced anxiously. She was nearly mowed down by Kingsley as he left the Minister's office.
"Nymphadora. What are you doing here?" She gave him a cross look at him having used her first name but tried to brush it off.
"There's been reports of people seeing the Dark Mark in Ireland…in a Muggle neighborhood. I thought we should investigate."
"Yes, we should go immediately." The pair headed towards the main entrance of the building and walked into the heart of Wizarding London.
"Should we inform Dumbledore first?"
"No. He has too much else to be concerned with right now." Tonks looked a little uncertain with his answer but let it go.
Moments later, they appeared outside the McQuillen's house. As reported, the Dark Mark still shone with that eerie emerald glint. Kingsley pointed his wand at the place where the Mark hovered and ended it.
"I don't have a good feeling about this," Tonks rasped. She recognized the house and the neighborhood. The moved up to the front door, wands raised and peered inside. Tonks motioned for Kingsley to circle around the back and he did so without a word. Tonks held her breath as she walked into the front foyer and stood still. She could still feel Voldemort's presence in the house. It felt as if someone had gotten up from a seat and it was still warm.
Kingsley, a seasoned Auror moved with stealth and speed through the house and was the first to spot the bodies.
"In here!" Tonks blinked to regain her concentration and followed the sound of his voice into the kitchen. There on the floor lay the lifeless forms of Victoria and William. Kingsley had taken the liberty of closing their eyes. Tonks had just enough time to se the look of defiance in William's stony gaze.
"We have to inform Dumbledore, immediately. He needs to know." Tonks' voice sounded so far away as she spoke.
"Go to the school. I will take care of things here." Tonks took a deep breath and nodded. A part of her was glad that he was handling the bodies.
Tonks looked around to see a bag of Floo Powder sitting on the mantle in the sitting room. She lit a small fire and disappeared in the green flames. She reappeared in Dumbledore's office. It was empty.
"Could any of you tell me where Dumbledore's gone to?" she asked the portraits lining the walls. Some of them just yawned or shook their heads in the negative.
"He's gone to Grimmauld Place," one voice answered her.
'Thank you." She stepped back through the fireplace, ending up in Sirius' kitchen. She found he and Dumbledore sharing a cup of tea.
"Dumbledore, I've got to speak with you."
"What is it, Nymphadora?" She didn't have the heart to scowl at him.
"It's Irlynn's parents….they've been killed. Death Eaters….You-Know-Who himself maybe. We found them this morning. Dark Mark above their house and everything. Kingsley is taking care of the bodies." She stopped to take a breath and gave Dumbledore time to react.
"When did it happen?"
"Last night. Possibly early this morning. I didn't look at the bodies closely. We thought it was more important you know what had happened."
"Thank you for your prompt thinking." The aged wizard turned to Sirius.
"Sirius, I need you to convene the Order. They must be informed. We will need to decide on a course of action."
"Of course, Dumbledore. I'll do it immediately." The Headmaster gave a nod and moved to the fireplace.
"I would like you to stay here, Nymphadora. Alert me when everyone is assembled."
"Yes, Sir." She and Sirius watched Dumbledore step through the fire.
When Dumbledore arrived back on the school grounds, he set out finding Snape. The Defense Professor sat in his office, grading papers. Dumbledore didn't bother knocking, much to Snape's annoyance.
"Can I do something for you, Headmaster?" he drawled.
"The McQuillens have been murdered." Snape dropped the quill and paper he'd been holding.
"Impossible. The charms….I would have known."
"Perhaps the change was too subtle to notice?"
"No. I designed those charms specifically to alert me if they were tampered with." Dumbledore watched Snape closely. He could see emotion playing behind the man's eyes. It wasn't grief or anger…it was worry.
"We are convening the Order immediately to take action." Snape nodded and followed the Headmaster out. They arrived back at the Headmaster's office to find Tonks' head waiting.
"Everyone's here, Headmaster."
"Thank you, my dear." The two men arrived moments later in Grimmauld Place. The majority of the Order looked devastated. The Aurors looked angry and everyone couldn't meet Dumbledore's gaze.
"This truly is a tragedy we did not foresee," Dumbledore began.
"What are we going to do?" Molly called.
"The children have to know," Arthur added.
"No." Snape's voice was so commanding that all eyes turned to him.
"What?" a chorus of voices echoed.
"They do not need to be concerned with this matter. It would only make them more vulnerable."
"Your own child, Snape?" Sirius spat.
"She is my responsibility now and I will inform of what has happened when it is time."
"Please, this is not the time for arguments, gentlemen," Dumbledore interjected, taking control of the conversation. He cleared his throat before addressing the group as a whole.
"I believe that Voldemort's next move may be to take the Prophecy."
"But he hasn't come after it thus far."
"He believes we will be too distracted by their deaths to keep up security at the Ministry. We will need to be vigilant."
"Alastor, if you can, I'd like you to stay on guard as long as you can."
"As you wish, Dumbledore." Moody's magical eye swiveled in its socket for good measure.
"Kingsley, Tonks, I would like you to keep this as quiet at the Ministry as you can. We do want to create mass panic. It would only give Voldemort more powr.
"Yes, Sir."
"Severus. I know I have asked too much of you already but I need you to keep Voldemort from the Prophecy for just a little longer."
"I will do what I can." The emotion he'd seen in Snape's eyes had disappeared and been replaced by the man's cool exterior.
"That is all for now. Thank you." Unlike usual meetings, everyone stood and exited the house en masse. They had tasks to complete and it was imperative they be on top of things. Dumbledore, Snape an Sirius remained in the kitchen. Sirius just sat shaking his head.
"Dumbledore, it's not right not to tell Harry and Irlynn about what's happened. It's cruel."
"I'm inclined to agree with Severus. They need to concentrate on their studies. Worrying about the loss of family would only make them more vulnerable to attack."
Sirius let out a huff and stood. He wasn't going to win this battle no matter how hard he tried. He disappeared upstairs and Snape turned towards the fireplace.
'If you will excuse me, Headmaster, I have classes to prepare for."
"Of course." With a flash of green fire and a swirl of black robes, Snape was gone and Dumbledore looked somberly at the hearth.
He had expected there would be causalities in this war. He had not anticipated they would be William and Victoria. He had been confident in Severus' abilities to keep them safe. He couldn't blame Severus. The man had given so much already to ensure that the side of Light would prevail. If anything, Dumbledore blamed himself. He had pushed and stretched Snape too thin. Once again, Dumbledore had used Snape as a means to an end.
Back at Hogwarts as Snape gathered his materials for class, he couldn't help but start to feel guilty for not keeping a better eye on the protections he'd established. He knew that when the time came, Irlynn would blame him. He was fairly certain he could handle that rejection and hatred. Still, he was not looking forward to it. A part of him also worried about what would happen…he would have to become a full time father figure to her. He would have to care for her and provide for her.
"Forgive me," he mumbled as left his office. He wasn't sure who he was begging for forgiveness from but whoever it was, he hoped they had heard him.