Chapter 23: The Maneuvers Begin

Chapter 23

The Maneuvers Begin

Hailee let go of Dumbledore. He smiled and his eyes twinkled for the first time since she had met him.

Hailee took George's hand and turned to leave. Remus and Mr Weasley followed.

Remus was the first to speak and they waited for their muggle cab. "We need to watch out for each other. I promised Tonks I'd come home and I am sure you promised Molly, Arthur. I expect you too to go back to your families too! "

The cab pulled up and the foursome got in. They were making their way to kings cross. The muggle train was the best way to get to the Malfoy Estate. They were not sure where the death eaters had taken Ginny, but the Malfoy Estate was closer and on the way. They might catch a break and find a clue. Knowing that Lucius and Draco were in Azkaban and Narcissa was on the run.

"Remus, where was Snape?" Hailee asked.

"That my dear is a good question. I do not have the answer for one can only speculate." Remus replied.

"He is a git. I just don't trust him. He makes me feel… well, I don't know how I feel but it isn't good." Sail Hailee.

The cab stopped and the group got out and headed for the King's Cross where they would catch the next train to Birmingham and see where that led them. Hailee bought the tickets to Birmingham. The train didn't leave for another hour. So they decided to grab a bite to eat while they waited.

"Why are we taking so long we could be there in like thirty seconds?" George ranted.

"There is more to this than meets the eye, George. We are in a time of great despair not only are wizards feeling Voldemort's return but muggles as well. We need to make conversation with them while in travel it is just as important. Something unimportant to them might mean a lot to us. "Remus explained. They all ate or nibbled rather on a pizza Hailee had ordered. "We need to make small talk that turns into something we can use. A mention of a death a weird murder that may not have made local papers, anything they think that is strange at least to them anyway."

They sat in silence for a while. Mr Weasley reminded them of the train. They made their way back to Kings Cross. As they boarded the train they made their way through the train looking for places to sit strategically to be in place to help each other in case of an attack. Hailee sat next to a rather elderly gentleman.

Remus and George sat with a couple of plump middle-aged women, and Arthur sat with a rather young looking couple. The train moved on for an hour or so when Mr Weasley began to get some information about a murder that took place just outside of London. A prominent politician had been found dead with no apparent injuries and no apparent cause of death. They told Mr Weasley that the man had been a lawyer for a prominent family in Birmingham, by the name of Malcolm or Manley or something like that. After getting as many details as he could, Mr Weasely made his way over to Remus who hadn't got anywhere except to be invited to dinner with the two unwed ladies he and George had been sitting with. Hailee, on the other hand, was receiving a lecture about the rude manner of teenagers today by the man who she spoke to without him speaking to first. The train stopped and thankfully Hailee jumped to feet and practically knocked over the man that had been sitting next to her. He was a young man with auburn hair and eyes that were brilliant. Hailee guessed him to be about 19. He said. That was wearing on me how on earth did you not tell that guy off."

"You know how it goes sometimes it is better to be quiet and not listen than to start an argument." Hailee simply said.

"How about you and I go and get a cup of tea?" He asked. "The name is Jerry." He extended his hand.

Just then, George appeared next to Hailee he took her hand and said, "Sorry Jerry I'm with her and this is our stop." He pulled her towards the direction of the door.

When they were safely out of earshot, "What on earth was that all about? He didn't know and I was just going to tell him when you stormed up!" Without waiting she continued, "Well here I am waiting for your answer Mr Weasley!" George just stood there as if he didn't know what to say.

Hailee moved up to Remus and Mr Weasely who were talking about what Mr.

Weasley had found out.

George was still staring at Hailee without speaking.

Remus was convinced that it was best to go to the Malfoy Estate first. Mr Weasely agreed. Hailee hailed a cab. When they got in George waited until Remus had sat next to her before he got in. Mr Weasely took notice. He was giving his son a confused look. George looked out the window until they pulled up to a pair of gates. The driver stopped and Hailee paid him. He looked at her quizzically. She was sure that he wondered why the grown men with her had not paid and she the teenage girl did. The driver asked, "Are you ok miss?"

"Oh yes, certainly sir. We are going to visit more family." He seemed to accept that and he nodded and thanked her for the tip. He pulled away from the curb and didn't look back.

They made their way up to the gate went hey got close enough they noticed that the gate rods were made up of snakes of all kinds. It gave Hailee the creepy crawlies, but George studied them with a strange sense of interest. Only Hailee seemed to notice. Just then, there was a pop and a flash of flame a bright red phoenix feather just appeared in front of them. They all looked around and couldn't believe their luck no one happened to be around at that moment and there weren't any houses close enough to have seen what just happened. Remus picked up the note attached to the feather.

Arthur needs to come to headquarters immediately.

Attack at Granger's.

Will give more when he gets here.

Albus

Mr Weasley apparated right after Remus finished reading the letter. George told Remus, "I need to be there. I need to go be with Mum and Dad."

Remus started to say, "The letter said your Dad …..." but didn't get to finish and

George disapparated at that very second.

Remus looked at Hailee and Hailee shrugged. Remus pulled out his wand and chanted "hence en gen", the gate popped open. "Much more effective than, Alohomora, a bit dark too but desperate times. " He blushed and smiled.

"Trust me, Remus, I don't mind. I am all for fighting evil with evil. You know I am not as noble as Dumbledore seems to be." Hailee divulged.

Remus got a chuckle from that, "As beautiful as your mother with all of the fire of your dad."

Carefully they walked up the driveway, skirting the trees that were lining it. When they reached the house, it was in shambles. It looked like it had once been a very grand plantation-style home, but now there were scorch marks everywhere and the windows were broken. The front door hung on one hinge. Remus entered the door first. They walked into what would have been the foyer. Now the ceiling was gone and there was a strong stench coming from the next room. Sitting there on the couch was Narcissa, her eyes wide open she was breathing but there wasn't much else she could do. The once classy woman that Hailee had seen have tea and cookies with Alba was now drooling on herself. Narcissa had dishevelled hair and smelled of strong body odour.

"We need to get her some help can you stay put for like two minutes? I'll take her to St. Mungo's and apparate right back, ok?" Remus asked Hailee

"Yes, I'll be fine. I can hold anyone off for a few minutes without worry." She replied confidently.

With that, there was a crack and he was gone but the stench still hung in the air. She searched around for a study or somewhere she could find papers that might have clues on them. She knew that Lucius was in the inner circle of Voldemort and that Draco had assumed his role.

She heard a noise behind her and she turned around in time to see Remus appear.

She put her fingers to her lips and pointed to her ear.