Since I do not know England very well, please don't blame me if I get anything wrong.

Part Fifty Two

The Capture

Lucius watched as Voldemort walked through the streets of the city of Bradford in West Yorkshire. Muggles ran at the sight of them and Bellatrix, Goyle, the Carrow twins and Dolohov were enjoying terrorizing the muggles with whatever spell they could think of. Bellatrix's blasting spell already left some buildings in ruins and she wasn't slowing down, laughing insanely as she cast curses and hexes left and right.

Lucius participated as best as he could while at the same time wondering how in the world was Severus able to help the muggles and not get caught. Lucius may not like muggles and would prefer to not associate with them but that didn't mean he wanted them dead. How the bloody hell did Severus manage to do this? He wondered silently as he moved to the side of the group of Death Eaters as they continued to raid the city.

He then glided off to join a group of muggles while at the same time casting a few curses at another area. "Get out of here, run that way," he barked out softly pointing down an alley that lay next to the little family.

The family didn't think twice. The mother grabbed her child, turned and ran as if a pack of bloodthirsty werewolves were after her and the father took the other child before following. Lucius moved backwards before casting a blasting curse that sealed the alley behind the family so the Death Eaters would think he was participating while at the same time preventing them from noticing the escaping family.

Lucius did the same with a couple more families before sealing off the alleys he had directed the families to. He wasn't as great at helping these muggles as Severus was but he thought he was doing a pretty good job.

"There is something I must obtain. The rest of you, continue with what you are doing and report back to Malfoy Manor when you've had your fill,' he ordered before he turned on the spot and apparated away.

Oh this is not good, Lucius thought sending another blasting curse at a nearby building before casting a silent repelling charm that sent the family who was directly beneath the falling rubble flying backwards. He moved forward rapidly before casting another series of spells while ordering the family to run down the alley and don't look back.

They ran and Lucius blocked off the alley again before spotting Fenrir attempting to bite a girl of no more than eight years who was crying and trying to escape the werewolf. Imagining the muggle as his child or his godson was what allowed Lucius to bark out, "stupefy", aim it at the girl and accidentally on purpose tossing the spell at Fenrir.

The werewolf was stunned and Lucius dashed forward before pointing his wand at the girl. "Run!" he whispered softly and cast a repelling charm on the girl to send her flying into an alley before following it up with a blasting curse that sealed off the alley. However, he noticed he was quickly running out of alleys to send the muggles down so he would have to try and come up with something else.

"What the bloody hell is the matter with you?" Fenrir demanded when the stunning charm wore off.

Lucius shrugged curling his lip into a sneer. "What are you talking about, Grayback? You're the one who got knocked down by a simple stunning charm."

"That you sent at me."

"How do you know it was me? You were stalking that mudblood so you weren't paying much attention now were you?"

Fenrir couldn't say anything in response because Lucius was right and he hadn't been paying attention while he was stalking the girl. He glared at Lucius before dashing back into the battle and Lucius followed while at the same time smirking inwardly. Well it seems as though I'm doing a pretty good job. I wonder if this is what Severus had to deal with every time he was spying on the dark lord, he thought before he cast another curse.

Voldemort came back about twenty minutes later and ordered the Death Eaters to stop before apparating to Malfoy Manor and the rest of the Death Eaters followed rapidly.

Voldemort sat down at the head of the conference table when the Death Eaters walked into the manor before he placed a necklace on the table. "I have decided that since it is likely we will be unable to retrieve the locket or the ring that I will turn this into my fifth horcrux," he stated.

"What is it?" Goyle asked dumbly.

Lucius curled his lip into a sneer.

"It's known as the Necklace of Harmonia," Voldemort said impatiently. "It brings great misfortune to all who wear it. I believe it would be the best item to use for my horcrux for no one would think to use this item as a horcrux. However, we must get things moving quickly. Lucius, what of the Minister?"

"Still paranoid, my lord. He has an Order member with him at all times."

"Can you get close to him?"

"I can only get as close as his desk. The Order does not trust and will not let me get any closer."

Voldemort narrowed his crimson eyes. "We will need to find a more subtle way of dealing with the minister then. Also, I believe there is something else we need to accomplish. Bellatrix, I want you to lead an attack on Surrey again but this time, I want you to grab the squib Arabella Figg that managed to elude our grasp when we went to Surrey last time. Bring her to me alive."

"Yes my lord," Bellatrix said cackling in glee.

"Take whoever you wish with you," Voldemort ordered. "And do not fail me again." When Bellatrix failed Voldemort last time, she lost favor as well as her position as the dark lord's right hand woman.

"You're dismissed. Lucius, stay a moment," Voldemort stated.

The other Death Eaters got up and left the conference room although Lucius caught sight of a faint pout on Bellatrix's pale face. He decided not to think about it even as he suppressed a shudder.

"Yes my lord," he said bowing as he stood.

Voldemort gazed at him coolly. "You do know that Severus is a traitor, yes?"

Lucius nodded keeping his mind occluded as Severus had taught him. "Yes my lord."

"I want you to maintain your supposed friendship," Voldemort sneered out the word as though it was a curse, "with him and, when I tell you to, bring him to me alive."

"Yes my lord."

Voldemort nodded before turning around and walking way.


Severus was sitting in his library with a glass of firewhiskey in his hand and a Potions journal in his other hand when his floo flared to life. He swallowed a gulp of the drink before placing it on the table that lay next to the chair he was sitting on before he got up and walked to the fireplace.

Lucius's head was floating in the green flames. "May I step over, Severus?" he asked.

Severus nodded before stepping back and the blonde wizard's head disappeared before his entire body disappeared and he let out a sigh. Severus cast a wandless wordless spell to bring the firewhiskey and two glasses to him before he offered one to Lucius who took the glass, waited for Severus to fill it before sipping it.

"The dark lord came up with another idea for a horcrux," Lucius said once he finished swallowing the alcohol. "He took the Necklace of Harmonia and is going to turn that into a horcrux. Not only that but he has asked me to remain friends with you and wants me to bring you to him when he asks me to."

Severus frowned. "That's not good," he said sipping at the firewhiskey. "And the Necklace of Harmonia? As the Greek artifact that is rumored to cause great misfortune to anyone who wears it?"

Lucius raised his eyebrows. "I didn't even know that until the dark lord mentioned it," he admitted.

"I read a lot and my mother loved to read about Greek Mythology."

"I see."

"Dad!"

Severus turned his gaze to the door to the library. "Come on in, son," he called back before the door opened and Harry stepped in.

"Dad, I was won…oh, hi Uncle Lucius," Harry said smiling in greeting to the blonde wizard. "How's Draco?"

"He's all right," Lucius replied. "It's good to see you, Harry. How are you?"

"I'm good."

"What did you want, Harry?" Severus asked.

"Sirius wants to know if we can go to muggle London," Harry said.

"Why?"

"I dunno. He said he wanted to surprise me. He's inviting Remus and Hermione's coming. He said you could come to though he sounded reluctant."

Severus snorted. "Go ahead, Harry, but remind Black and Lupin to contact Dumbledore. Remember the rules."

"All right, dad." Harry turned before leaving the library.

"They're going to have to be careful," Lucius said. "But, so long as they aren't anywhere near Surrey, they should be fine."

"Why? What's happening in Surrey?"

"The dark lord sent Bellatrix and a couple of other Death Eaters to Surrey to capture the squib known as Arabella Figg."

Severus frowned. "Miss. Figg?"

"You know her?"

The former spy nodded. "She was the one that watched over Harry before I found out he was my son. Harry talked about her sometimes. I'd better tell Albus and the mangy mutts."

Lucius's lips quirked into the beginnings of a smile but he managed to repress it. "I'd best get back before anyone notices," he said before he turned around and floo traveled to Spinner's End and, through there, Malfoy Manor.

Severus turned around before leaving the library in an attempt to catch up with Black, Lupin, Harry and Hermione before they left.

After warning Black, without alarming Harry and Hermione, Severus placed a floo call to Albus before warning him of the attack on Surrey as well as the fifth item Voldemort wanted to turn into a horcrux.

"The Necklace of Harmonia? I would not have thought he would use that item," Albus admitted. "I will contact a few order members to go to Arabella Figg's place and help protect her. I am sure they can make it seem as though they're just visiting when the attack happens so as to not place suspicion on Lucius."

Severus nodded.

"Where is Harry, my boy?" Albus asked curiously.

"He and Miss. Granger went on an outing in Muggle London with the mangy mutts," Severus replied. "I already warned them about the attack on Surrey though."

"All right. Let me know if Lucius brings you anything else you feel I should know."

"I will, Albus."

Albus disappeared through the floo and Severus made his way back to the library to continue reading.


Tonks appeared with a crack that distilled the air on Privet Drive before walking toward Number 5, which was the squib Arabella Figg's place. At her side walked Shacklebolt who had just finished his watch on the Minister of Magic and the two of them walked toward the entrance to the house.

"Albus says there's going to be an attack here," Shacklebolt said to the bubblegum pink haired Metamorphmagus.

Tonks glanced curiously at the tall black wizard. "You don't believe him?" she asked curiously.

"I trust his word. I just don't trust where he got this information." Shacklebolt, like the majority of the Order of the Phoenix, did not trust the spy within Voldemort's ranks who had replaced Severus: Lucius Malfoy.

"Hey, if Albus and Severus believe him then we should too," Tonks said with a shrug. "I mean, you didn't trust the information Severus brought the Order during the first war and you gave him the benefit of the doubt."

"True enough." Shacklebolt knocked on the door and there was a moment of silence before Arabella Figg opened the door; one of her half-Kneazles poked her nose out of the house to examine the two newcomers.

"Hello Tonks, Kingsley, come on in," Arabella said before she stepped aside and the two Order members walked into the house. Arabella closed the door behind her before inviting the two Order members to take a seat while she got them a cup of tea.

"What brings you two here?" she asked handing Tonks and Shacklebolt a cup of tea.

"Albus believes you are in danger," Shacklebolt said sipping at the tea.

Arabella frowned. "He does?"

"Yes. He has received word that You-Know-Who's agents are going to try and kidnap you and take you to him."

"Oh dear."

"Yup. That's why we are here," Tonks said before she smiled and added, "Although I don't think they're expecting us to be here. Albus told us to make it seem as though we were visiting when the attack occurred."

Arabella's brow furrowed. "Why?" she asked confused.

"Because the person's, who told Albus about the attack, life would be placed in jeopardy if You-Know-Who's agents figured out it wasn't a freak accident that brought us here just before they were supposed to attack," Shacklebolt explained. In order to further protect Lucius, Narcissa and Draco, the Order had agreed to not mention Lucius's name at all while speaking with anyone. However, since Arabella was an Order member, she already knew Lucius and so knew it was Lucius who warned Albus about the upcoming attack.

"That's also why we aren't taking you someplace safer than here," Tonks said apologetically. "That would definitely make things suspicious."

"I understand and I thank you." Arabella was silent for a long moment. "How is Harry by the way? Do you know?"

"From what I've heard, he's much better than when he was with those despicable muggles," Shacklebolt said.

"I am glad Harry got out of that house. I only wish it was sooner but Albus wouldn't listen to me. Whatever happened to the Dursleys?"

"Last I heard, the aunt and uncle were placed in a muggle prison and the cousin was placed in a foster home," Tonks said.

"At least they can't hurt Harry anymore. The poor sweet boy. I'm glad he has a father to take care of him now," Arabella said. She, like every member of the Order of the Phoenix, knew Harry was Severus's son.

Tonks nodded. "Well, I guess we're just gonna stay here until those Death Eaters attack," she said.

"Make yourself at home," Arabella said gently.

"Thank you," Shacklebolt replied.


Harry narrowed his eyes as he examined the book he was holding in his hands. He remembered when he had been in the library that there had been many books on Greek Mythology and, when he asked his father about it, Snape had told him that he, like his mother, had a love for Greek Mythology. However, out of all the books Harry had seen, he didn't see the one he was currently holding in his hands: The Odyssey by Homer.

Harry has never heard of Homer before but he knew it was Greek Mythology because the bookstore clerk had told him so. She had said that it was the tale of the Greek hero Odysseus's journey home after the end of the Trojan War. And, since Harry knew his father liked Greek Mythology and he didn't see the book in his father's library, he thought it would make a nice Christmas gift.

He jogged over to join Remus who was browsing the books nearby. Sirius had left them alone in the bookstore while he kept watch outside. Harry didn't know why he was keeping watch but he was positive Remus did even if the former DADA professor wouldn't tell him.

Hermione glanced at him as he joined them. "You're getting The Odyssey? I've heard about it and I'd like to read it sometime," she said.

"I'm getting it for my dad," Harry admitted. "Maybe he'll let you borrow it."

"Your dad likes Greek Mythology?"

"Yeah, he told me so when I asked him about the many Greek Mythology books I saw in his library."

"Ah."

Remus glanced at them. "Is that all you're getting, Harry?" he asked.

"Uh actually I wanted to get something else but…" he glanced at Hermione who didn't seem to have noticed the look.

Remus understood. "Have you finished picking out what you wanted, Hermione?" he asked.

"Yeah Professor Lupin," Hermione said.

"Please, just Lupin or Remus, Hermione."

"Oh, all right, Remus." Hermione sounded hesitant as if she wasn't used to calling her former professors by their first name.

"Let's go buy those for you and then you can join Sirius. I daresay he could use some company before he gets into mischief," Remus said as the two of them walked to the register. Harry slipped through the bookshelves before making his way over to a nearby bookshelf where he had spotted a book he thought Hermione would like for Christmas.

After he bought the books, he and Remus joined Sirius and Hermione outside of the store. Sirius straightened up from where he was leaning against the wall of the building. "Took you long enough," he grunted.

"You never did like books, Padfoot," Remus said shaking his head with a sigh.

"Eh, I read them only to get by in school. Couldn't really get into them after that. Come on, I don't know about you but I'm starving."

"Well it is almost lunchtime. Do you want to go to the Leaky Cauldron?" Remus asked dropping his voice to avoid being overheard by muggles.

"All right."

"What do you two say?"

"Okay," Hermione said.

"I am kinda hungry," Harry said as his stomach growled.

Sirius laughed. "Kinda?" he echoed when he finished laughing.

Harry glared at Sirius.

"Wow, kiddo, when you glare, you sure do look a lot like Snape."

"Don't tell me you're intimidated by a twelve year old, Sirius?" Remus said lips quirking into a small smile and golden eyes glistening with amusement.

"No, not at all. It's just…" Sirius broke off before shrugging. "Come on, let's get something to eat. Harry's growling stomach is starting to get louder."

"No it's not," Harry protested following his godfather with Hermione at his side and Remus bringing up the rear of the group.

"Sure, kiddo, whatever you say."


On Christmas Eve, Severus woke up to the sound of someone attempting to floo call him and, as he checked the time, wondered who the bloody hell would be calling him at four in the bloody morning. Sighing as the chime sounded again, this time more urgently, Severus swung his feet off his bed before standing up. He then walked out of his room to answer the call and was half-surprised to find Albus's head floating in the green flames.

"Severus, I'm sorry to barge in at this hour but I need to talk to you," Albus said a worried look in his eyes.

Severus nodded and stepped back. Albus's head disappeared and, a moment later, his entire body reappeared through the flames. "What is it, Albus?" he asked.

"There was an attack on Surrey just as Lucius said," Albus replied. "Arabella is fine but Kingsley got injured rather badly and there is no word on Tonks' location."

Severus's lips pressed into a thin line. "Is it likely Tonks was taken by the Death Eaters?" he asked.

"Very likely, yes, but Lucius has as of yet to contact us to tell us if our assumptions are true."

"If Tonks' was captured then Lucius will be too busy to inform us. I fear Tonks' life might be in endanger, especially considering that Voldemort wishes to create a fifth horcrux."

"I fear that as well."

For a long moment, Severus was silent. Then he said, "I think it'll be best if we keep this on a down low, at least until after Christmas. No sense in ruining everyone's holiday over this. However, I will keep an eye out for any word on Tonks' location and keep in contact with Lucius as well. I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Thank you, Severus. Have a happy Christmas," Albus said before floo-traveling away.

Severus rubbed his head before sighing. This year just keeps getting better and better, he thought sarcastically as he turned around and made his way back to his bed while, at the same time, hoping Tonks was all right even though he knew it wasn't likely.


A/n what do you think?

Blaze: and that was part fifty two

Darth: that's cool

Harry: what's gonna happen in the next chapter?

Severus: we'll take a look into the mind of both Tonks and Lucius as well as a rescue and Christmas, not necessarily in that order

Lucius: (steps into computer room) pizza's here

Severus: finally, we ordered that three hours ago!

Lucius: I finally just gave up and apparated to the place to get it

Severus: smart

Blaze: please review and I will post part fifty three as soon as I possibly can