New Beginnings
Chapter 25
Horcrux Hunting
It had been two weeks since they had found out about the Horcrux's. Declan had managed to get into see Bellatrix Lestrange. It took surprisingly a lot of paperwork, to see someone in Azkaban. Especially when you weren't family, so Declan had to make up an excuse to see her. She hadn't had a visitor in her years of being a prisoner in Azkaban. Not that it was truly shocking, Azkaban was a dreadful place that no person wanted to step foot in.
"Are you sure you want to see her? She's insane," asked one of the Auror's who had escorted Declan over to the isolated island.
"Believe me I wont be having tea with her," smirked Declan in amusement.
"No I don't think anyone would want to, except Mrs. Longbottom and that tea would be spiked with poison." replied the Auror grinning in apparent delight at the thought. Frank and Alice had been good friends of his; he would have liked nothing more than to kill her too.
"Indeed," said Declan solemnly. He had nothing but respect for people who had participated in the war. Apart from Dumbledore of course, but that was a whole other problem.
"Well you have an hour," said the second Auror, Dylan Mallard.
"Thank you gentlemen," said Declan walking through the door, the Auror putting up a silencing spell as he did so. The Auror's didn't even blink at the request; it wasn't unusual for visitors to request silencing spells. The door was locked but both Aurors knew Bellatrix was regretfully safe. They had removed Declan's wand from his person, as per protocol when requesting a private audience with prisoners.
There were only a few reasons a wand could be removed from its wizard. If they were accused of a crime and arrested, expelled from schools, or of course the one mentioned above. Visiting inmates without an Auror to stand watch in on the proceedings.
"Who the hell are you?" snarled Bellatrix bearing her teeth in a feral manner.
"That is of no consequence," said Declan, removing the Veritaserum from his cloak. He walked forward, grabbed her head, she snarled, hissed and spat at him like a dog. Which made it easier for him to get the three drops of Veritaserum down her. She was bound to the chair, which made her unable to fight back as it was. Not that she had any chance of out witting a vampire - especially after all the years in Azkaban.
"What's your name?" asked Declan, he already had a list of questions he had to ask her memorized in his head.
"Bellatrix Black Lestrange," admitted Bellatrix relaxed in her seat, her eyes glazed over.
"Did your master give you anything to protect?" asked Declan. Aware that Voldemort probably didn't tell them just how important it was.
"Yes," admitted Bellatrix.
"What did he give you and where is it?" asked Declan.
"My vault at Gringotts, Huffelpuff's cup," she replied.
"Are you aware of any others given such items?" asked Declan pensively. Well Severus was right about Bellatrix having a possible Horcrux at least. Even more it seemed Dumbledore was right too, he hated that part.
"My master might have given Regulus Black a Slytherin locket, he gave Lucius Malfoy a diary." said Bellatrix.
"Do you know where either might be?" asked Declan. So Severus was correct in regards of the Death Eaters who held probable Horcrux's.
"Lucius has it among his Dark Art items in his study, in a small secret hole in the floor. I do not have any idea where Black might have kept his, although it could be in Grimmauld Place, he grew up there." said Bellatrix.
"Did he have anything else he liked to keep secret or safe?" asked Declan.
"His snake Nagini," replied Bellatrix.
Declan rolled up the pants of his trousers, removed the second secret wand he had. He pointed it at the witches temple and Obliviated her. He did not want to risk anyone finding out about what they were doing. Not Voldemort, not the Ministry, not anyone not until they were finished and the Horcrux's destroyed. He placed a fake memory into her mind, of him trying to find out if she had killed one of his 'relatives' in its placed.
Declan replaced the wand, put the Veritaserum back out of sight, before placing his hand on the door. It immediately alerted the Aurors that he was finished, since they couldn't hear him to know the normal way.
"Finished?" asked Mallard.
"I am, thank you very much gentlemen," said Declan.
"We will be back in a few minutes," said Mallard, "We just have the escort her back to her cell."
"No problem," replied Declan already aware of this. He had seen Dumbledore just a few weeks ago after all.
It did indeed only take the two Aurors a few minutes to escort her back. They were down at the bottom, where the worst criminals stayed. Also where the most Dementors hung around. After that they then took him back to the boat, and then to the mainland.
"Thank you very much gentlemen I shall see you later," said Declan nodding in thanks before apparating on the spot.
The aurors apparated themselves within a few seconds.
"Alex why don't you go and get ready, we are going to the beech now," said Severus as soon as he saw Declan apparate in. Alex had just finished eating his lunch, and had been asking for a few days to go to the beach. So Severus decided to take Alex today since the weather was much better. Plus, Alex had been spending a lot of time with him, Declan, Remus, and of course Declan's wife - Alisha.
"Okay daddy," said Alex jumping up hyperly, obviously very excited to go. "Hi Declan!" beamed Alex as he raced out.
"Hey Alex," said Declan to the speeding boy's back.
"Well how did it go?" asked Severus cautiously.
"You were correct, it's possible they do have Horcrux's," sighed Declan.
"Malfoy, Black and her?" asked Severus for confirmation.
"Yes, Malfoy's is in his study along with his other…questionable Dark Arts hidden in the floor." said Declan "Black's could be in Grimmauld Place, it is where he had lived."
"Of course," murmured Severus.
"Dumbledore may have also been right about the snake," said Declan "According to Lestrange he kept a close eye on it."
"It's an odd place to put one," said Severus.
"I know," said Declan "But he is insane."
Severus had to concede the point there.
"McGonagall has been made Headmistress; she's also been made swear an Unbreakable Vow. There will never be a repeat of Dumbledore, the children are finally safe. Flitwick has been made Deputy in her place; since he's a duelling Master he's perfect to protect the students. Hagrid has become the oldest students Hogwarts' has ever encountered. He's been told to go back and retake his missed years, and given a brand new wand." said Lupin coming in a newspaper clutched in his hands.
"They've made Hagrid go back to school?" gaped Severus shaking of the disturbing image that created - he was glad he wasn't a teacher anymore. He liked Hagrid, he really did but he'd probably be the worst potions student he had encountered. No doubt he would ace history, and care of magical creatures. Anything else would surprise him, although he knew Hagrid deserved it. After all those years of watching people graduate, he was finally getting his chance, only forty years later or something.
"Just with the teachers," explained Remus.
"Well that's a relief," murmured Severus.
"Black is being given the post of Defence against the dark arts, and a Tia Bailey as the post of Potions. Binn's has been forced to retire, they are bringing in a new teacher currently unknown." said Remus slightly wary of Severus' reaction.
Severus' nostrils flared in fury "Well if he's still a teacher when it's time for Alex he won't be attending."
"Attending what?" asked Alex walking into the room.
"Nothing to worry about for another few years son, are you ready?" asked Severus changing the subject on his son.
"Yep!" cheered Alex happily.
"Okay then, I shall see you both later, update him on everything Declan," said Severus before he left with Alex wanting alone time with his son.
"You say probable and possible, do you believe we are barking up the wrong tree?" asked Remus drinking his coffee. He had just sat and listened to Declan updating him on all new information. Robert had joined them also; the four of them were the only ones to know so far.
"Unfortunately not, I believe we have the right tree I just want us to be wrong." sighed Declan. "I mean Horcrux's - its risky business you never know how it's going to affect you."
"I realized that, there wasn't much information on them," admitted Remus.
"Indeed," said Robert speaking for the first time.
"You do realize Severus is going to have to go to Lucius Malfoy's?" asked Declan.
"I'm sure he's already thought of that too," smirked Robert, Severus always thought ahead.
"Isn't that a tad dangerous? Everyone knows Severus turned Alex or rather Harry Potter as he's known to everyone." said Remus alarmed.
"It is, but Severus is the better dueller if it came to it," said Robert.
"Not against two people," said Remus.
"Are you forgetting he took Black and Potter on and won most occasions? When you lot didn't attack him from behind?" said Declan his lip curled in disgust.
"I suppose you have a good point there," mused Remus remembering the past he'd rather forget.
"Not only has Severus to go to Malfoy, you have to go to Black." stated Declan stone-faced.
"What?" asked Remus his amber eyes wide with surprise.
"Black probably received Slytherin's pendant, we think it might be in Grimmauld Place. Your job is to collect it, or at least try to, it's all we can ask." said Robert.
"Great," sighed Remus.
"We need those items, especially before Black does something stupid," said Declan. "We have no idea what pieces of his souls would or could do. Voldemort might even be able to take over him."
Remus paled at the implications of that; swallowing thickly he nodded his head in agreement.
"Glad you agree," said Robert, and he was - Remus was the only person Black would trust.
"I don't like it but I realize how important it is, I don't even know what I'm looking for," sighed Remus.
"No but your magic does, just summon Slytherins locket, once you get into Grimmauld Place." said Robert.
"I wonder if I could gain access to it without having to speak to him?" Remus wondered out loud.
"If it's possible then it would be for the best," agreed Declan.
"Where's Alex?" asked Declan when he saw Severus.
"Going to his room, he's exhausted," said Severus wryly.
"He's not getting sick again is he?" asked Remus worriedly.
"No, he had a nightmare last night refused to go back to sleep," said Severus.
"How bad was it?" asked Declan he was extremely fond of Alex they all were come to that. It's now clans worked at the end of the day, or how they were not worked.
"Bad enough for him to refuse to sleep," said Severus, it had been about the day he was turned. It still infuriated Severus beyond anything he knew, he wished he could make it all disappear for Alex. Vernon Dursley had tried to kill his son, just because some cheap pottery had been destroyed. Thank Merlin they were punished or Severus would have done something he wouldn't regret. The best part of it - it would have been within his rights. Unfortunately he had wanted Harry Potter to remain dead, and Alex Snape to remain anonymous. Neither of those wishes had come true, and the Dursley's had not died by his hands, as they should have.
"Things always get worse before it gets better, being moved here didn't help," said Robert. "As soon as he begins feeling safe here they should fade." Alex had after all been kidnapped from Severus and moved here.
Severus simply nodded, Robert had been a psychologist when he was turned, and he still worked on difficult cases for St. Mungo's from time to time. If anyone understood what Alex was going through it would be him.
"I'm going to try and get into Grimmauld Place," said Remus.
"Good luck," said Severus grimly.
"Thanks," murmured Remus before apparating on the spot.
Will Remus get the locket or has black already gotten rid of it? will severus get the help of Lucius or will he truly be evil and dark? or only want whats best for his son? would you like to see Alex blaise and draco friends? the silver trio at hogwarts? R&R please!