Harry Potter and the Zodiac Charms

by PulsarDragon

A quiet night after the Chamber of Secrets changes Harry's and Ginny's relationship, mysterious new characters arrive, and a shadowy force strives to bring chaos to the world. starts in canon but will change to an AU story, Ron bashing until a certain point, Harry/Ginny, Neville/Luna, Ron/Hermione, Remus/Tonks, Sirius/Mary

45. A Black and White Rescue

Disclaimer: Same as always! J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter; I just merely get to play in the world.

Author's Note: This one took awhile to get right, but we finally have Chapter 44. As an aside, my editor and I have the rest of the story all mapped and plotted out, just got to finish writing it first.

Chapter 44: A Black and White Rescue

Calculating black eyes took in the slowly filling kitchen as the Order of the Phoenix and Aurors under the command of Gawain Robards arrived. Ensconced in the corner of the room, partially hidden in the flickering shadows thanks in no small part to his usual dark garb, he observed his allies and peers. While he was not loyal to the Dark Lord, he couldn't help but to compare the efficiency of the Death Eaters to the haphazard standards of the Order. When the Dark Lord sent word, he expected his followers to arrive at once, to drop everything they were doing and heed his summons.

The Order, on the other hand, was far more laid back, even when such a mission of dire importance was on the agenda for discussion. No, perhaps not laid back. A quick glance at the reserved expression on Dumbledore's face, the serious look of Mary Macdonald, and the general hawkishness that was Amelia Bones forced a reevaluation. Perhaps the headmaster and the Director of Magical Law Enforcement had ordered their people to arrive in a staggered fashion. Yes, it had a certain logic to it. If the Dark Lord had watchers on his enemies, and he knew that the Dark Lord was attempting to recruit such disposable resources, their arriving piecemeal would not draw as much attention as if they all arrived at once. Though headquarters itself was heavily warded, it would not prevent someone tailing them from finding its general location.

And Severus Snape knew, for the rescue of Sirius Black, secrecy was going to be of the utmost importance.

Conspicuous in his absence, at least to the Potions master, was the young man he had first delivered his news to. He could imagine the dark-haired boy who reminded him so much of his school rival pacing in his room, grumbling to the Weasley children that he should be attending the meeting. Molly had been insistent, marking the first time she had emerged from her grief induced catatonia, that the children go upstairs. No one had wanted to argue after recent tragedy, and so even the calamitous twins had obeyed. Yet, such sentiments were… counterproductive, in his opinion. Illogical.

He couldn't find it in himself to understand Molly Weasley's decision to try to keep her children away from information and the fight against this darkness. Each of them had each suffered loss, horrific loss that struck right to the depths of their hearts. After his own, Snape had refocused himself, devoting himself to her memory and her son above all else. His pain and grief became anger and conviction, his resolve to see the Dark Lord undone strengthened until it was as steel. It had not taken a master in Legilimency to see the beginnings of such within the hearts of the Weasley children, their desire for revenge- no, for justice for their father's murder resolving. They would join the fight soon; of that he was absolutely certain. But until they did, they would turn that anger to a different target. He almost felt sorry for Umbridge and the students that formed her Inquisitorial Squad. He expected an increase in the attacks on the Slytherins that followed Draco at the very least.

"Severus?" Dumbledore called as the kitchen fell silent. The last of the stragglers had arrived, and they were all eagerly waiting. "We're ready for your report."

Emerging from his corner, Snape took his place next to Dumbledore at the head of the long table. The movement triggered a fresh wave of pain through his body, but he repressed it. He did not need to show such weakness in front of the Order and the Aurors. He was infallible; he had to be, had to show he could be, in order to fulfill his role.

"Just over an hour ago, I departed from a meeting of the Dark Lord's Inner Circle," he began. "The Dark Lord was… agitated, far more so than I have ever seen him. Before the Dark Lord revealed his reasons for calling the meeting, we were each tortured."

"Why would Voldemort torture his most loyal and dangerous followers?" Augusta Longbottom asked. Snape had not realized the formidable elder witch had decided to become more active against Voldemort, but it was not truly surprising. She was a powerful witch and very connected in the higher echelons of power in the wizarding world, and, most importantly, she had a personal vendetta against the Death Eaters.

"The Dark Lord claimed that we needed… proper motivation, to atone for our failures," Snape replied. "Due to recent events, I believe, Lucius suffered twice as much as the rest of the Inner Circle."

"Recent events?" Gawain Robards gruffly asked. The lead Auror's sharp appearance gave the impression of a bird of prey circling over his target as he dug for information.

"The destruction of Nagini, the snake Horcrux," Snape answered blandly. While the mention of the Horcruxes didn't faze the Order of the Phoenix, the Aurors that had arrived with Gawain recoiled with horror. Snape bade them no thought as he continued. "Arthur's final act of defiance" -Molly let out a sound somewhere between a stifled sob and a whimper- "most likely prompted the Dark Lord to check on the location of his other soul anchors. Thanks to the efforts of Lupin and Black, he has likely discovered their additional destruction."

"He can be killed?" one of the Aurors who had reacted to the mention of the vile abominations, Malcolm he believed, remarked.

"Our theory suggests Voldemort created six Horcruxes," Dumbledore cut in, eliciting further disgust from the Aurors. "Through the Order's efforts, and young Harry, we have discovered and destroyed five of the Horcruxes and believe we may have the rough location of the sixth."

"It would explain why Voldemort was so touchy," Tonks said. "He's on a thin string."

"Indeed, the Dark Lord further stated that for crimes committed against him, there would be blood," Snape resumed. "The Dark Lord's desire for secrecy, to rebuild his forces, is very nearly spent. While he has not revealed everything to the Inner Circle on his plans, including his need for the prophecy, he directed Crouch to speak with Ian Mallory."

"Yet another firm confirmation of Mallory's role as head of the Blades of Strife," Amelia Bones stated, adjusting her monocle as she looked up from detailed notes. "Voldemort's willing to deal with him as an equal, or at least pass it off as such. He wants Sirius."

"He believes Black holds the answer to his various predicaments," Snape confirmed. "Bait to lure Potter to the Hall of Prophecies and to learn what the Order knows about the Horcruxes no doubt."

"Why wouldn't Voldemort assign you to figuring out what has been done to his soul anchors and whether the Order of the Phoenix has destroyed them all?" Gawain asked. "He believes you loyal after all."

There was, in those hawk-yellow eyes, suspicion born of many encounters with Dark wizards and enemies of the Aurors that was directed fully on Snape. The man didn't believe Snape loyal to the cause of Light, but then the right hand man of Scrimgeour likely didn't trust many people. It mattered little to him in the end. Trust was not a commodity the spy traded in, but he could certainly respect the man's caution.

"The Dark Lord did not reveal the existence of his Horcruxes to the Inner Circle, it is merely my conclusion based upon his behavior," Snape stated quietly. "Crouch received an answer from Mallory before the meeting adjourned."

"And?" Mary said, finally speaking for the first time since Snape had made his dramatic announcement. Her hand was clutched around something on a chain she wore around her neck, and hadn't left it since his arrival. Lupin and Tonks both placed comforting hands on her shoulders.

"Black is currently being held on the Channel island of Alderney," Snape said. "Mallory's company, Prime Technologies, has a facility on the island. As to the nature of the place, I could not begin to say."

"Pretty safe bet we know," Jack muttered darkly. "We took down that castle in Wales, and there's no way that was Mallory's only test site for… things."

While he had not been present for whatever confrontation occurred in the hospital wing after the disastrous raid, Snape knew that information was being kept quiet. Something was going on in the background, something more. He had to wonder if even Dumbledore knew everything, although he was sure the silent, statue-like form of Kemper at the end of the table knew. The steely man had a habit of knowing things.

"The hand-off will not be immediate as Mallory's message stated he was not done with whatever he has been subjecting Black to," Snape added. "Crouch and several other Death Eaters, myself included, will be retrieving Black in one week from today."

"A Christmas Eve present for Voldemort," someone remarked. Snape thought it may have been one of the two Weasley men lurking at the edge of the meeting, the only two children of the family old enough to be beyond Molly's control. Rather dark humor, but also succinctly true.

"Do we know which other Death Eaters are going?" Gawain asked.

"Besides myself and Crouch, the final selection has not been completed," Snape answered. "I shall know more before the retrieval takes place."

"We will need a great deal of intelligence if we are to successfully rescue Sirius," Gawain mused. His coworkers around him nodded seriously. "And we shall have to undertake such information gathering swiftly. We cannot afford to walk into another trap."

"Agreed," Amelia Bones stated. "Dumbledore, it seems to be this is the perfect opportunity to promote closer relations between the Order of the Phoenix and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"A cooperative operation, yes I agree," Dumbledore said. It was no great surprise to Snape, or to anyone that knew the Headmaster, that Dumbledore readily accepted. The closer the ties between the Order and the Aurors, the better prepared the wizarding world might be for the Dark Lord's public return.

"With Fudge closing the investigation, we won't have access to the full resources of the Ministry," Remus pointed out. "And if we try and utilize anything in an official manner, Mallory's spies in the Ministry will tip him off that we're coming."

"Yeah, we will have to act as… concerned private citizens," Tonks said, earning a few weak chuckles and appreciative smiles from their gathered allies. "Fudge is gonna tear apart his bowler hat once he finds out."

"Doesn't sound like something we should concern ourselves with," Jack remarked.

"We shall have to begin reconnaissance missions of the island immediately," Gawain said, steering the conversation back on course. One of the other Aurors started a list in his department-issued notebook, probably jotting ideas down for gathering information. Snape agreed with the swift return to business. Fudge was a buffoon and didn't deserve any more wasted words in this meeting, joking or otherwise. "I do not foresee much challenge in obtaining geographical information or demographics or details on the nature of the local economy. However, there is an issue we will have to address before we dispatch anyone to Alderney."

"What is that?" Bill Weasley queried.

"Mallory will likely have people among the villagers on the island, maybe even every person on the island is in his employ," Kingsley rumbled, the imposing dark-skinned man drawing attention to himself for the first time. "If his sources within the Ministry are as highly placed as we believe, if we can indeed take him at his word that Senior Assistant Selwyn is his brother, we can assume his security forces will know what each Auror looks like. We also have to assume that Sirius's memories have been observed and he knows the identities of the Order."

"Constant vigilance," Moody barked from his seat against the wall, causing a few people to jump from the sudden interruption from the legendary Auror. "Change likely to probable and you'll never be taken off guard."

"Then we change our appearances," Mary muttered. "Polyjuice, Glamour Charms, Transfigurations, disguises, anything we can think of. Infiltrate in small teams of no more than four, rotating out until we have everything we need."

"A sound idea," Gawain concurred. "What does the Order have in regards to supplies that could support these initial stages of the operation?"

"Plenty," Jessica said. "Thanks to Ryan and Severus, the Order has a large supply of potions, including our modified Polyjuice Potion, ready for use. Extended timeframe for the transformative period means less potion is needed over time and a greater stockpile can be made from the same size cauldron." Snape once more felt the gaze of Gawain fall on him, but there was a slight glimmer of respect in those hawkish eyes now. "Between Mundungus and his underworld contacts and Harold Greengrass being very generous with… diverting a few of his import shipments to supply the Order with raw materials, we've got plenty to use."

"I can provide whatever else is needed," Ryan added. "It won't be much of a strain on my resources." Snape noted the quick flicker between Ryan and the silent Serenity seated at her boss's side, a few moments of silent communication between the two. He had to admit some curiosity as he had not known the two were acquainted so well as to communicate via body language and eye movement. He was also sure that Gawain Robards had noticed it too.

"It's settled then," Dumbledore said. "I shall of course pitch in what I can."

"That's appreciated Albus," Amelia said. "I would like Gawain, Moody, and Mary to be our contact point between you and the Order and our department, and for them to oversee field operations."

"I see no issues with such," Dumbledore said. "Before we adjourn the meeting, we will need volunteers for the mission…"

Snape had to stop his mouth from twitching in amusement as the clamor in the room grew, every member of the Order of the Phoenix besides himself wanting to be among the first volunteers. The Order, barring a few particular members, had never been this galvanized before. Perhaps it was the chance to begin making a difference, to take action greater than tailing known Death Eaters, gathering what little information they could, and spreading the word of the Dark Lord's revival.

Like any potion, the Dark Lord's iron grip of fear on the wizarding population was a delicate blend, and the slightest deviation could cause it to fail. Arthur Weasley may not have been a high-ranking member of the Ministry, his family might not be rich or influential, but the man was well liked, if thought eccentric. He was the kind of man who existed as Severus' keen opposite- outgoing, beloved, charming, eager to make and defend friends and family. And Voldemort had made a grave mistake in ending the man's life. The fear had been replaced by a simmering anger, evidenced by the miniscule reaction the Dark Lord's name had elicited from those in the kitchen throughout the course of the meeting. Arthur Weasley's death, and the chance to rescue the mutt, had altered the equation, changed the recipe. The potion had passed boiling point and was beginning to spill over. To what degree, Snape couldn't be sure yet, but several outcomes were likely and none of them were to the long term benefit of the Dark Lord.

The meeting began to break up as the first round of volunteers was selected, the group consisting of Jack, Bill Weasley, Auror Malcolm, Auror Hendrick, Tonks, and Lupin moving off with Jessica to the basement to stock up on potions and other needed supplies. Ryan Kemper immediately left, stating he needed to arrange safe house and travel arrangements for the first team. Gawain and Moody left together with the other members of the DMLE to discuss further mission details and schedule rotations. The other Order members were leaving in ones and twos again, operational security and all of that. Soon enough, the only ones in the kitchen were himself, Dumbledore, Molly, and Mary.

"Severus, I never said it, but thank you," Mary said, rising from her chair. She spoke quietly, so as not to disturb the quiet consolation occurring between the headmaster and the Weasley matriarch.

"There's no need for thanks," Severus stated evenly. "Rescuing Black is a logical choice. It deprives the Dark Lord of potential leverage and regains a vital member of the Order for the conflict ahead."

"I know that's not all of your reasons," the brunette insisted. "People say you don't care, but you do. I saw you seek out Harry's eyes." She took the hand that wasn't clasped around her necklace and laid it on Severus' arm. He averted his gaze to stare at it, but for once did not back away. "You didn't bring your message to the Order or you would have told me at the door. You brought it directly to him. You wanted to bring him hope that we could save his godfather."

"Believe what you will," Snape dismissed. Perhaps too quickly. "I have little time to entertain fantasies." Raising his voice, he added, "Dumbledore, I will see you in the morning."

With a sweep of his robes, Snape departed from the kitchen. Once out of sight of his allies, he allowed his carefully constructed mask to disappear and the pain from his torture to rise. A few potions he had developed and kept at his home would suffice in treating the aftereffects, held there for nights like this. Yet, before he reached the front door of Grimmauld Place, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Someone was watching him.

Looking up, he caught a sight of those haunting green eyes on the landing above. They were staring down at him, the boy not bothering to hide his surface emotions. Frustration, grief, and hope all intermingled with something else he never thought he would feel from the Boy-Who-Lived- gratefulness. Didn't he know by now, after their lessons together, that Severus would read him like an open book? Or, perhaps, he knew exactly that. Perhaps he knew what he was showing the spy, knew what he was saying without words. Words Severus Snape would never accept nor even want to hear. A moment later, the boy retreated from the landing and Snape left the house.

Yes, perhaps he had brought the news for other reasons… and he had a great deal of work to do in very little time.

Ove the next week, the Order and the Aurors amassed an extraordinary amount of intelligence on the island of Alderney and the Prime Technologies facility they were planning to assault. The first scouting mission had established a safe house for the assault team's use, which some in the Order were affectionately calling "the Dog Catcher's". Ryan had purchased the house, through an astounding array of aliases and fronts, and Bill Weasley and his girlfriend Fleur under additional aliases had moved in, hair dyed brown and faces changed through the use of Muggle cosmetics and prosthetics. Once they had moved in, looking for all the world like a young Muggle couple, the rotation of recon teams could begin.

It had not been hard to locate the Prime Technologies facility. They had co-opted an old fort on the island called Fort Tourgis. From what the teams gathered from the island locals, the company had moved in and renovated the place three years ago after acquiring it from the States of Alderney for what some thought was an unfair price. Jack did a little more digging with his unique gifts, and he discovered that the arrangement had also lined the pockets of several of the council members with obscene payments, encouraging them to look the other way. Meanwhile, military-grade hardware and building materials were brought in. The Order could only assume the fort had been brought up to date and outfitted as a functioning military encampment. From a distant observation post, and a little aerial reconnaissance on Mary's part, they had determined the placements of several large guns and security patrols along the walls. Bill and Fleur had even noted that occasionally a Muggle helicopter, or two or three, would arrive from France and touch down in the base. The Order doubted that was the extent of the modifications and upkeep of the fort, and further research had confirmed their fears.

Gawain Robards had taken two of the Aurors, Pryce and Lovett, who specialized in Charms and Runes, up towards the fort to look for any magical defenses. They found an extensive array of magical detectors and wards scattered around the base in a wide perimeter. No one was sure how they had managed to slip up to the fortress walls; the men kept their tricks secret, but were willing to share what they had found. The terrain around the fort was flat and had barely any trees at all. There wasn't any cover that could be used for stealth, but somehow Gawain had managed it and had informed their team that the walls themselves were reinforced against Blasting Hexes and had several nasty wards on them to prevent scaling, including ones to counter the methods they had used to infiltrate the Welsh castle. Getting in unnoticed would be next to impossible, by his estimation, and staying unnoticed was already an issue.

Mallory's company had begun taking over and replacing the rest of the island, subtly buying out businesses and assigning new owners or purchasing houses in town and around the island for his employees to live in. There was the usual grousing from the older locals, but many suddenly made plans to move elsewhere or outright disappeared. They had also accessed Ministry records to see if any wizarding families lived on the Channel Islands, although that had required breaking into the Ministry as it was closed for the holidays. Luckily, no wizarding family was registered with the Ministry, so at least Mallory and his cronies hadn't killed, kidnapped, or conscripted any local wizards and witches. From what the Order and Aurors had gathered thus far, thanks to Tonks and Jack marking accomplices, roughly twenty-five percent of the island's population was in the employ of the company or, at the very least, taking money from them. Five hundred spies and informants for them to avoid while they desperately tried to not tip off Mallory.

Two days before the actual event, Severus detailed which Death Eaters were going to be joining himself and Crouch. Goyle, Avery, and both Carrows were assigned to the mission, which had prompted some wondering about what Voldemort had some of his other followers doing. Severus mentioned Lucius and Corban Yaxley were putting together some other operation, but he had no information on it. At the moment, it was only a periphery concern. Still, if Voldemort was only assigning six Death Eaters to the retrieving of Sirius, it had to be something major. Nevertheless, it was information the team could make use of as they put together their raid plans. Raid plans that were being kept secret from those who needed to hear them most, even if Mary felt otherwise.

Whenever the team was gathered at Grimmauld Place, Molly turned to actively keeping the children away from whatever room the Aurors and the Order were using. Mary wanted nothing more than to tell Harry what was going on, but Gawain and Moody both agreed with Molly in this case. The less anyone knew, even within their own headquarters, the better. Still, she could see the pain, the growing frustration and annoyed impotence, that Harry was feeling. If Severus hadn't brought the information to the Order, she would be in the same boat as Harry. At least she had an outlet, had been participating in the missions leading up to the raid.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Mary had a firm grip on the ring that was on the chain around her neck. Today was not going to be like last time, she vowed to herself.

Snow was starting to fall outside, a Christmas Eve storm in London, but their destination was still rather temperate. With any luck, they'd all be home for Christmas.

"Today is the day," Lupin muttered, walking in with Tonks. Mary startled out of her blank thoughts, realizing that the room was steadily beginning to fill. Everyone assigned to the actual raid, all of the Aurors and the more combative members of the Order, were to gather in Grimmauld Place before departing for the Dog Catcher's. Dumbledore had created a secure, and highly illegal, Floo connection between the two houses to allow quick access for the day of the raid. Otherwise, the team had been using boats or flying in by Muggle means to the small airport on the island. They were not going to risk Prime Technologies having a way to detect magical transportation methods until it was too late to stop the attack.

"Nervous, Lupin?" Auror Pryce asked. Pryce was a lean man with white-grey hair, blue eyes glinting behind a small pair of spectacles. The Auror would look more in place as a researcher or librarian, but Mary knew Pryce to be an extremely accomplished Dueling champion and had been a protégé of Flitwick's when he was at Hogwarts.

"Last major operation I did was in Wales," her friend replied, barely containing a growl. Pryce gave him an apologetic look and went back to examining his wand.

"Relax, Remus," Tonks soothed. "We're all on edge."

"If you aren't nervous before an operation, you're a walking dead man," Moody grumbled as he stomped in. The old Auror had brought his trusty staff with him, clunking it on the floor in counter to his metal leg. "Nerves keep you sharp, keep you watching. I've seen many a young man and woman die from overconfidence."

A lesson they had all learned, Mary thought, time and time again. The Marauders had always prided themselves on being the cleverest people in the room, and that had bred some arrogance and overconfidence in their abilities. They were skilled and talented, there was no denying that, but time and again they needed to be reminded that they weren't invincible or infallible. It was a painful lesson every time.

The rest of the team started to trickle in. Shane was hefting a heavy satchel into the room which contained the night's key ingredient, a wicked grin stretching the scarring across his eye. The Scotsman was in his element and eager to repay Prime Technologies for the arm he had had to replace with a metal prosthesis. Auror Hendrick, a stern looking Auror with a shaved head, arrived with him with a similar bag.

Kingsley and Auror Malcolm arrived not soon after, both men muttering in low voices and garbed in full Auror robes. Mary had decided to go with the robes provided by Ryan as they actually came with some armor plating, and, after her run-in with Yvonne and her glass, she wanted as much protection as she could get. Emmeline Vance, looking rather worse for wear, came in and slouched into her seat. She still blamed herself for Arthur's death.

Jessica arrived with Auror Lovett, an auburn-haired witch with a colorful history before she joined the Aurors. She was a wily fighter, but her background in the criminal underground meant she had experience breaking into such fortified locations and dealing with wards. Lovett had stolen the Crown jewels twice, and from what Mary remembered, the second time was on a dare.

Jack was once again in his signature trench coat, faithful revolver in its holster. He was uncharacteristically quiet, which made Mary suspicious. If he had tipped off the Department of Mysteries to the operation… they could have a potential security risk on their hands. They didn't know nearly enough about the secretive department, but if the facility was like the one in Wales, then it was of interest to the DoM.

The last to arrive was Gawain Robards, looking fierce as ever, and wearing his signature leather and chainmail armor. Two swords hung off his back, knives were strapped to his chest armor, and at least three wands were shoved through his belt although Mary knew he kept at least two others in concealed locations on his person. The man was ready to lead the team into battle. He came to stand next to where she sat.

"Once more, before we begin, no one is fully committed to this operation," Gawain stated. Extra chatter died immediately. "If you feel uncomfortable, you are welcome to stay here."

No one spoke up. No one even moved. All that Mary could see were determined faces.

"Good, that's what I thought," Gawain acknowledged. "Auror Macdonald?"

"The plan of attack that myself, Auror Robards, and Mad-Eye devised is rather simple," Mary explained, tapping her wand to the parchment spread across the table. A magically created image of Fort Tourgis appeared in the space above it. "In two hours, we will be in position. We strike the fortress from two sides once Severus provides the signal. One team from the south, one team from the north inserting from the shoreline. Stealth won't be much of an option so rules of engagement are free and we will have to move quickly to avoid those gun emplacements on the walls. Each team has been provided with a compound created by Shane and Severus that will be able to blast its way through the reinforced walls.

"Once we're inside, each team is to converge on the main building here and here," she continued. As she spoke, each spot highlighted in red. "Jack has provided some additional information on the layout of the interior. The prisoners are kept in a lower level that is not on the official blueprints filed with the States of Alderney or the Muggle government. We can anticipate that the testing lab for Mallory's 'Project Awakening' is also in these lower levels."

"What's going to be in the upper levels?" Pryce asked.

"A lot of Prime Technologies security no doubt," Moody grunted.

"Bill and Fleur have been able to identify at least one hundred men are contained within the fort as security, but there could be more underground," Mary sustained. "They'll be providing support for the teams once we reach the island. And, of course, the company has to keep up some kind of front in case of muggle inspection. Likely they have semi-functional facilities located above ground."

"I don't care about the security personnel or staff, but I want the Death Eaters alive," Gawain added. "Their capture will force the Minister to acknowledge what is occurring. If Mallory is there, we take him too, but our primary objective is getting Auror Black and any other prisoners out of that fortress. Dismissed to the Dog Catcher's."

The team began filing toward the fireplace, disappearing in rushes of Floo Powder flames and soot. Gawain gave Mary a pointed look as he vanished in a rush of emerald fire, and she turned to see what he had been indicating. Harry was leaning against the door frame. How did he get past Molly?

"I should be going with you," Harry said. In that moment, Mary could see how very much like James he was. If there was an operation like this taking place during the last war, James would have been all over this, especially to rescue Sirius. "I can fight. You know that, Mary."

"I do, but you can't come," she replied. "Not this time."

"Sirius told me, before the school year started, that it was going to be my generation's turn to fight," Harry stated. Green eyes flashed. He crossed his arms and stood firmly.

"And it is," Mary agreed.

"Then let me come with you," he begged, stepping into the kitchen. She could see the frustration, the desire to actually do something and actually save someone he truly cared about. The chance to be reunited with Sirius was a Floo transport away and a fortress full of enemies between them. If he were as desperate as she was, that wasn't nearly enough to stop him.

"I can't," she apologized. "And not because I don't think you could help. You're powerful and getting stronger every day. No, it's about operational security, Harry. If you go, and use any magic whatsoever, there's the very real risk that Mallory will know we're coming because of your Trace."

His sternness disappeared and Harry collapsed into one of the chairs at the table, his frustration disappearing. He knew she was right. If Mallory caught wind of any magic before the raid started, he would move Sirius and they would never get another chance to save him before he was in Voldemort's hands. She didn't want to say it out loud, but telling him no was also for his safety. She knew that if Harry got injured, or worse killed, trying to rescue him, Sirius would never be able to live with it.

"Mary… promise me you'll bring him back," Harry implored her.

"I promise, Harry, that I'll bring him back tonight," Mary swore. "He'll be home before Christmas." She threw a handful of Floo powder into the flames. "The Dog Catcher's," she called and then she was gone into the flames. In the kitchen alone, Harry glanced out the window. The snow was falling heavier now, and he couldn't help the anxious feeling in his gut. A soft hand slipped onto his shoulder, and, looking up at Ginny, he gave the hand a squeeze and returned his gaze out the window.

Slowly, exceedingly slowly, his senses and thoughts started to return from the white void that was called pain. He had thought he understood pain before, but his experience thus far had shattered that once bracing notion. It was a spectrum of tortures, each one more excruciating than the last. Thirst burned like cinders in his throat, stoked into infernos with every yell and scream and only dying down when he is returned to his cell. He had felt the touch of the Cruciatus Curse before, but the pain of that curse was nothing compared to the glass-sharp aches that linger throughout his entire body, to the muscles torn by his own thrashing, or to the obliteration of his senses with that white void that consumed his consciousness even as he now struggled to wakefulness.

Time had been the first thing he lost track of. Seconds felt like eternities, minutes even longer than that. Next had been his memory of what anything else felt like. He knew he once felt things beside pain. Happiness, pleasure, sorrow, anger, love… he abstractly knew he could feel these things, but the white void he existed within kept such emotions suppressed. In the void of white, he could only rely on one cooling breeze to alleviate his suffering. Only one thing had kept his sanity going, kept his sense of self alive just enough to one day reclaim what he once was. Just one. The longer he was here, the longer he existed within the prism of white, the longer someone else he cared for did not find themselves likewise here.

Hanging in a field of blue energy, his arms above his head in such a position where his shoulders were burning with acid from exertion and legs were spread wide to the point where his hips flared with lightning, this was the existence of Sirius Black.

He distantly knew his last stand on that castle wall had bought the necessary time needed for Remus to escape with Mary. It was a shadow of a memory, known less in images and more in a string of facts. He had been a maelstrom of spells, fighting like a mad-man to the point that Yvonne and Mallory's security had only subdued him after heavy casualties. When he woke, he had been in this cell, Mallory in front of him with the strange twisted doctor. The latter had been set up to start performing the experiments. Mallory had given the order to start the twisted process on Sirius, then left.

He had seen the girl twisting in agony, but that had been a little girl. Maybe it was his macho side showing, but the Auror had thought he could hold out. His first experience on that table had proven otherwise. He had been stripped of everything, injected with some sort of serum, and then those crystals had started their work. That had also been the first time he realized what true agony was. He lost track of how many times he had been subjected to the experiments after that.

As strained as his senses and grasp of reality were at the moment, he managed to hear footsteps approaching his cell. He quickly closed his eyes and feigned unconsciousness even as two men entered his cell. The same two with whom he had begun his stay in 'Hotel Captivity'.

"It's utterly remarkable, my Lord," Holme's voice muttered. "Every attempt has ended in failure with Subject Sirius 8574. His body has completely rejected the gene at every turn."

"It is curious he did not become one of the Corrupted," Mallory pondered, an edge of intrigue in his tone. "Every instance of artificial implantation has resulted in one because of rejection of the genes."

"That is because the subject does not retain any of the introduced genes, my Lord," Holme replied.

"What?"

"The subject's body completely destroys every instance of the serums we try," the scientist answered. Sirius could almost picture the crazed man flapping his arms in frustration. "His immune system, or perhaps even his very genetics, are total anathema to the gene that creates abilities. It's utterly fascinating- and maddening!"

There was the sound of a fist impacting against steel… and the steel buckling under the force.

"What happens when the rejection occurs?" Mallory queried.

"Imagine your entire body being dipped in acid and then frozen at the moment of disintegration," Holme answered. Sirius detected a hint of sadistic pleasure in that reply. "Every time we put him through the Awakening process, he experiences a fresh wave of utter devastation."

"And you've subjected him twenty-eight times in the past two months, Doctor? Your reports were lean on details," Mallory inquired. It wasn't a question, not really; it was a simple statement. Well, Sirius thought, at least he rated high enough on Mallory's list to get regular updates on his stay.

"I wanted to be thorough before informing you of my findings in person, my Lord," Holme responded.

"I'm sure that was the only reason," Mallory chuckled. Sick bastard knew Holme didn't need to do the experiment that many times and had done it for kicks. "So Lord Black here is just like Subject RB13. Interesting. Very interesting. Besides your tests on Lord Black, have you made any other progress, Liam? I would hate to hear you wasted my time flying all the way to Alderney for more failures."

"Serum AA-6.9, I would like to say, is our most successful serum to date, my Lord," Holme informed his employer. "Our rejection rate has fallen to a measly thirty-one percent. We are still getting some Corrupted, but we are far and away achieving successful activations of the gene."

"Only took another thousand prisoners, but very good work Doctor," Mallory praised. Sirius internally blanched at the thought that another thousand people, after him, had been abducted and subjected to this horror. How many were abominations now forced to live the rest of their likely short lives as fodder for whatever sick scheme Mallory was planning? How many had straight up died?

"My work in studying Lord Black has helped my research immensely, even if the mystery of his genetics still alludes me," Holme responded. "With your permission, I would like to move on to the next phase of my work. A full dissection should yield the answers I seek."

Before Mallory could reply, Sirius thought he should probably speak up. The idea of being dissected, likely in the slowest manner possible, did not excite the Marauder in the slightest.

"Do I get a say in that?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from lack of use besides screaming and the burning thirst.

"Awake at last," Mallory laughed. "You do unconscious very well, Lord Black."

"Sirius, please," the prisoner said, opening his eyes. "I think after being tortured by your man here we should be on a first name basis by now."

"Perhaps," Mallory replied, smiling thinly. He made a gesture and Holme bowed his way out of the cell, his mismatched eyes never leaving Sirius's face. "And torture is such an ugly word. I like to think of it as controlled suffering for the betterment of mankind."

"If the betterment of mankind requires suffering, then perhaps you're pursuing the wrong path to make the world a better place," Sirius countered.

"Progress requires sacrifices, Sirius," he said, slowly starting to pace around the floating Auror. "Every great scientific breakthrough in the history of the world has demanded such payments. Vaccines have wiped out disease across entire countries, but to reach that level of safety, some had to die. Aeronautics has created planes, and, once merged with rocketry, mankind has even reached the stars. Both fields have resulted in fatalities. Even in the wizarding world, new potions and spells have always claimed lives before they are perfected."

"There's such a thing as volunteers and people accepting the risks versus kidnapping people and subjecting them to inhumane treatment," Sirius protested. "The price can be too high, the methods too horrible to consider."

"That is where we disagree, Sirius. The next stage of human evolution… no price is too high or method too questionable. Prime Technologies has revolutionized electronics, robotics, weaponry, and soon we will do the same with genetics. Imagine the possibilities, Sirius. A world where everyone can be special. Wizarding kind would never have to hide again. Strange would be the new normal."

"And Prime Technologies profiting off it the entire time," he spat. "The keys to the kingdom in your pocket only."

"Financial gain might be a motivator, but it is not my primary concern," Mallory explained. "What use is money when your average man or woman on the street can turn any substance to gold with a touch? No, Sirius, this goes far beyond profits."

"I see," Sirius said. "So this is about control, Ian. If Prime Technologies is the only one able to give out these powers, then ultimately you have complete control over the world. Who is going to question the man, either Muggle or magical, that can provide access to power beyond the wildest dreams of any government? You'd be the kingmaker and dear old daddy could never say you're a failure for being a Squib again."

"You start to understand, but don't completely see it yet," he sighed.

"Then tell me what I'm missing," the Marauder probed.

"No, I don't think I will," Mallory sneered. "It will be something for you to ponder before your fast approaching end, Sirius. I will admit that your efforts have given me a certain… respect for you. Your dogged pursuit of my… extralegal activities and your assault on my castle in Wales have changed the time table."

"So the Blades of Strife are yours," Sirius concluded. "Never could get that concrete link."

"They've been mine since the raid in Munich in 1985," the man admitted. "They were a shattered organization when the leadership was killed and I saw an opportunity. Now, they're one of the most widespread organizations on the planet. It is not an exaggeration when I say I have eyes, ears, and hands everywhere."

"Tell me something then," Sirius said. "When I captured your man, Saxon, after that casino game in Montenegro, how did you kill him?"

"My Watchers are telepaths linked to my Middlemen. They oversee the various operations of the organization," Mallory enlightened. "The Watchers issue orders to the Middlemen and they carry them out. When a Middleman is compromised, the Watcher terminates them."

"And that keeps you and your top people insulated," he determined. "So why tell me this now? You're not one that would confess to being the head of a major criminal organization to a law enforcement officer."

"You're right, I normally would not be confessing this to you," Mallory chuckled. "There are two reasons for such. One, even if you were able to pass word to your government, no action would be taken against me. Two, you won't be much of a problem for anyone in a few hours."

"How so?" Sirius asked. "Tired of me taking up your lovely accommodations here? Not as nice as your resort have to say. Service is atrocious, and don't get me started on staffing."

"A request has been made for you."

"Ah, you're letting me go home!" Sirius threw his head back and laughed. They both knew it was a morbid joke, and the hanging man could already guess who might want him. There was only one group that might want him that Mallory would even admit to having Sirius to.

"So when do the Death Eaters get here?" he asked, after a suitably tense pause.

Mallory glared for a moment, as though resisting rolling his eyes. "They'll be here in an hour. The Order of the Phoenix has been particularly troublesome these past few days, or so I've been told. Voldemort has a few questions he plans to ask you I'm certain, and no doubt plans to use you to lure your godson out."

"Pays to be popular I guess," Sirius quipped before turning serious again. "Why?"

"Why what?" Mallory asked.

"Why work with Voldemort?" he posed. "Why give me to him? An insane Dark wizard that wants to conquer Britain isn't exactly good for business."

"Repayment for valuable aid he has provided my organization," Mallory explained. "And dark wizards are never bad for business if you're properly divested into other industries. Change brews expenditure. Very well, then. If your incessant gibbering is exhausted, I believe it's about time for my meeting. I suspect this will be the last time we speak with each other, Lord Black."

"We will see," Sirius laughed. "One thing you should have learned by now, Ian, is that you should never underestimate a Marauder."

"You're not exactly in a position or condition to be effecting an escape," Mallory chortled.

"Who ever said I was the only Marauder still alive?" Sirius asked, giving his captor a wide smirk. Mallory was silent, considering something, his expression inscrutable as he thought about what Sirius had said. The smirk stayed in place even after Mallory left. The opening door gave Sirius a brief glimpse of the maniac's bodyguard, and in that moment he realized that he wasn't about to get blasted with a fresh wave of pain. He could focus his thoughts for the first time since his capture. Now he could consider two vital questions: how did he get out of this, and where the hell was his wand?

The cry of a hawk caught Snape's attention as he and the other Death Eaters arrived at Mallory's rather impressive facility. Looking up, he saw the bird flying high overhead, circling… watching… waiting…. Her arrival could only mean the rescue teams were in place. It was time for him to play his last part for this operation. In some way, deep down, he regretted that he could not do more to assist, but that was an argument based in emotion. Logically, he needed to maintain cover as long as possible within the Death Eater ranks.

Although he would allow himself a small measure of pleasure from what he was about to do.

"Halt, that's far enough," one of Mallory's guards called out. Several of the black clad men and women barred the way of the Death Eaters. Muggle guns were in their hands, wands fitted into quick draw holsters on others. Beyond them, Snape's eyes caught sight of two larger Muggle weapons aiming at where the masked and robed wizards stood from the walls. Another was pointing off towards the north. "State your name and business."

"Bartemius Crouch and his fellow Death Eaters," Crouch answered, strutting forward, not even bothering to wear his skull mask. The wizard scion had been insufferable ever since the Dark Lord chose him to oversee the mission, allowing his arrogance to manipulate his actions. "We're here to pick up a delivery."

Behind his mask, Snape fought the desire to role his eyes as Goyle and Amycus Carrow chuckled at their comrade's cheek. Alecto elbowed her brother in the side while Avery joined Snape in silence.

"One moment," the guard said, turning away to speak into some sort of device. The guns and wands didn't move as the guards waited for confirmation that the group was indeed expected. Snape allowed his eyes to travel skyward again. The hawk was still circling.

"Alright, you're free to continue," the guard said. "Lord Mallory is waiting for you in his office. He asks you meet with him before the prisoner is handed over."

"Let's go say hello to our host and his plaything," Crouch cackled, his tongue flicking out. Disgusting habit. Severus fell in behind Goyle as the Death Eaters resumed their progress towards the main building of the facility, a few of Mallory's guards walking alongside them as an escort. Surreptitiously, Snape withdrew his wand from its place in his sleeve. Honestly, Goyle should know better than to keep his wand in his back pocket.

A silent cast… and then Goyle's wand erupted in a silver flash and bang. The man howled and started leaping on the spot, yelling and swearing as he patted at his backside. Mallory's men stopped moving, quickly snapping to combat stances before they realized they were not under attack. Crouch and the Carrows started laughing at Goyle's misfortune while Avery attempted to put out the magical silver flames that smoldered from the large man's robes. Or what was left of them where his right buttock used to be.

"Maybe now you'll learn not to put your wand there, you idiot," Amycus wheezed.

"Piss off," Goyle yelled. "I ain't got a buttock no more."

"Or a wand," Avery comment drily. "When was the last time you cleaned the damn thing Goyle? First year at Hogwarts?"

"Fuck off," Goyle grumbled. Mallory's guards wore expressions of mild amusement at the Death Eater's misfortune or were entirely uninterested in the scene playing out in the large courtyard of the fort. In the sky, the hawk had disappeared.

"Enough," Snape muttered quietly. "Mallory is waiting for us. Goyle, your pathetic calamity can be dealt with later."

"Severus is right," Crouch said. "Come on, you can still walk I take it, Goyle?"

The large man looked like he wanted to punch Crouch, but he refrained. Their leader's hand had drifted to the wand in his belt, and everyone was very much aware that, unarmed, he couldn't put up much of a fight. Crouch nodded at the lead guard, and the group continued their escorted walk toward the main building, Goyle limping and cursing with every step. Snape estimated they had minutes, at most, before the Aurors and the Order of the Phoenix began their assault.

Alighting back on the ground, Mary shifted back to her human shape with a stretch of her shoulders. On the edge of the magic detecting wards of the base, in a small copse of trees that hadn't been clear cut yet, her half of the assault team were waiting, ready to go. Remus, Jack, Shane, Emmeline, Kingsley, and Jessica were with her, while the rest were under Gawain and Moody. She wished that she had Tonks with them too, to keep the surviving members of their original team together, but she understood why they had split up Aurors and Order members.

"Snape gave the signal, the mission is a go," she said. "Send word to Gawain's team."

Remus conjured his wolf Patronus with the message and sent it off to the north, skittering around the perimeter. All that remained was for the return Patronus from Tonks to arrive and they could begin their attack. A tense silence descended over the group as they waited for the wolf's return. Unconsciously, Mary's hand went to the chain around her neck and the ring threaded onto it. If all went well, they would have irrefutable proof of the Death Eaters for the Ministry, and Sirius would be back in her arms.

The silvery wolf appeared, loping gracefully towards the assault team. It came to a stop in front of Mary; it's muzzle opened and Tonks' voice echoed out of it. "Robards says to proceed," the Patronus said. Before it faded into silvery mist, it padded over to Remus and nuzzled against him.

"Not a word," the werewolf said, pointing a finger at Jack who had just been about to make a witty comment of some sort. The other man held up his hands in surrender, but grinned cheekily.

"Let's go," Mary ordered. "Kingsley, Emmeline, keep them confused until we reach the wall."

"They'll think an army is attacking them," Emmeline stated. "Come on Kingsley."

The older witch and the dark skinned wizard disappeared under Disillusionment Charms while the rest of the team began to spread out and wait for Kingsley and Emmeline to get into position. It had been Moody's idea that some of their assault team split up and attack from the flanks using an illusion spell Dumbledore provided, a few clever pieces of trickery devised by Serenity to keep the local Muggle authorities away, and some quick and powerful wandwork to make their assault force seem larger than it was. Hopefully it would last long enough to get the real fighters into the building.

"On my mark," Mary muttered, gripping her wand tightly. "Three. Two. One."

Jack raised his revolver and fired off a single shot. Suddenly, as though it were a mass force from the Ministry Apparating in, wizards and witches in Hit Wizard and Auror robes appeared and started charging towards the fort from all directions. In the throng of illusionary figures, Mary and her team began their own charge. They had to move fast, yet still remain in a protective formation around Shane. They had to make sure his package reached the wall. Fake spells, mixed with real ones, streaked out towards the defenders in various colors of light.

Cries of alarm sounded from the guards, searchlights swinging around to alight upon the oncoming mass of what seemed to be the whole Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Sirens blared. Voices could just be heard from the men and women guarding the fortress, their cries of alarm dim over the whoosh of spellfire and illusory thundering of feet. Gunfire and opposing spells started flying from the wall, striking illusions and causing them to fall to the ground in fonts of blood or boneless masses from one curse or another.

Despite their rough start, the Blades of Strife members on the wall were well trained. Their brief confusion quickly dissipated. Commands rang out; soldiers fell into position. One of the big guns on the wall swiveled around and fired, leaving a crater where several charging illusions had been. Dirt and debris launched high into the air, raining down on the surrounding figures who, just like the real teams, covered their heads and faces with their arms to keep the detritus out of their eyes. Mary really wanted to know where Dumbledore had found a spell to create such a believable deception.

The real battle wouldn't start until they breached the walls, she thought. The men couldn't come down from their posts without becoming easier targets, and their teammates couldn't make any powerful independent moves without risking the illusion. They were about half way. Just a little longer to run. Those thoughts pounded through her head like a mantra with the pounding of their feet.

Then the ground shifted in front of her, exploding from below with great force. Mary deftly shifted from a forward sprint to a quick step backward, avoiding the shifting earth. The rest of her team were able to redirect around and continue toward the wall, but she lingered, taking on this new threat. Out of the roiling soil, a massive silvery head breached, snapping jaws full of rows and rows of dagger-like teeth. The creature's head took the shape of that of a giant shark, but the body that quickly followed was sturdy and broad, with four powerful legs ending in wicked claws made for digging and tearing its victims apart. It was covered from head to toe in armor plating and looked like a cross between a snapping turtle and armadillo, with beady yellow eyes that were full of hunger. While it wasn't the same as the monsters from the Welsh castle, the attacking forces had anticipated some sort of underground defense.

The beast lunged towards Mary, its immense jaws stretching wider than expected. Unfortunately for the monster, its meal wasn't where it had been a second ago. A hawk soared over its head instead, wings pumping steadily to gain altitude. From her new vantage point, Mary could see more of those monsters bursting out of the ground and attacking their assault force. If something wasn't done quickly, they would stop attacking the illusions and focus on the real teams. She suspected the armor of the beasts would deflect spells cast at them, like a dragon's scales, but their eyes were vulnerable.

With a shrill cry on the wind, she dove at the nearest monster, which was rampaging through the illusion toward where Emmeline was maintaining the phantom army's progress. With some unseen method, the monster must have sensed her coming. Its armored head turned in the direction of her dive, its mouth opening in a vicious snarl. She pivoted at the last moment and started ascending into the air again, before transforming back into her human form. The momentum carried her up for just a moment, but it was enough for her to send a curse right into those yellow eyes. Instantly, the eyes began swelling close and what skin was visible became red with irritation. The monster roared and scratched at its face to try alleviate the pain of Mary's Conjunctivitis Curse.

Gravity brought Mary back to the ground, the Auror rolling to mitigate her landing. She popped up out of her roll with her wand already flashing out another spell toward the blinded creature, specifically its open mouth. The red light struck home and the beast fell to the ground, unconscious. Rolling her shoulders, she transformed back into a hawk and took flight again, repeating the process on three more beasts. She had lost track of her individual teammates among the general chaos of the illusions and the creatures and the clouds of smoke caused by the enemy on the wall. Soon enough, however, her efforts had handicapped most of the beasts in the immediate vicinity, although she had been forced to dodge spells during her last dive. Mallory's security had recognized she was an Animagus.

Reverting back to human form, Mary took a moment to regard her handiwork. A grey blur moved past her, howling as it took down another one of the monsters. She couldn't help the grin as the werewolf howled its victory before it moved away, dodging a blue spell that left a crater where Remus had just been. The assault was going well so far.

A great roar interrupted her moment of admiration. Whirling around, Mary aimed her wand at the beast as it rushed her. A spell was on the tip of her tongue, but the beast was much too close. It was bearing down, massive jaws hinging open. She opened her mouth to cast, hoping that it would find its target even if she were taken down.

But then, it just… stopped. Its body was twitching, eyes bulging slightly, but it had completely stopped its advance on the Auror. Why… How...?

"Anytime now!" Jessica yelled from the creature's flank. The apprentice Healer had her wand directed at the monster, a thin cloudy spell issuing forth from the tip to surround the beast's head. Yet she seemed to be straining, putting great effort into holding the thing. Mary slashed her wand sharply, sending a beam of blue magic into the beast's unprotected eyes. The creature gave a final roar and fell onto its side, unable to move.

"Thanks for that," Mary said to the younger woman, panting. "What are these things?"

"Bulettes by the look of them," Jessica replied, peering for a moment at the incapacitated beast. "Nasty beasts, usually don't find this many unless you're in deep tunnels or caverns. The spell I used, it's something my sister developed that can calm angry animals she encounters in her work. Thought it might work on them too. But maybe this isn't the best time to get into an academic exercise." To underscore her statement, a shell from one of the big cannons on the walls exploded near them, showering them in dirt.

"Agreed," Mary said. The two witches resumed running towards the wall, aiming for where Shane, escorted by Kingsley and Emmeline, was headed. Jack kept enemy bullets from finding their mark using the Magnet Shield Charm. They were making good progress. The monsters had noticed this as well, however, and a few changed course to target the group.

"Remus!" Mary yelled. "Intercept!"

The werewolf howled and galloped toward the oncoming monsters. The illusions had reached the walls at last, but they were getting picked off rapidly by the defenders above. If they didn't act soon, the Prime Technologies security would realize they were being duped. A bulette's body went flying up against the wall, a victory howl echoing across the grounds. The monster's corpse provided a lovely light show as it impacted against the wards and it was the perfect distraction for the rest of the team to reach the walls.

With a heave, Shane hefted his satchel of explosives over his shoulder and threw them against the wall. A faint sizzling could be heard as fabric burned away where the bag was pressed against the wards. From above the guards could see what they were up to; their shouts intensified. Spells and grenades started to rain down on the assault team, but were deflected away by conjured shields or Banishment Charms.

"Alright everyone!" Shane bellowed, tapping his wand to the sack. A red sphere of light left the wand and started multiplying, scattering like a growing swarm of sparks. The places they touched on the package started glowing red. With another swift series of wand movements, Shane conjured a cone of magical energy to direct the blast forward and up to protect the team. "Hold onto your knickers!"

Severus had to admit the office was rather impressive. A large window looked out on the central courtyard of the fort, giving their lord and master a wide view of his operation. The furnishings were of the most expensive materials gold or Muggle money could buy, and Snape sensed they were designed to inspire envy within the hearts of those who came to meet with the man behind the ornate desk.

"Lord Mallory, a pleasure," Crouch said, bowing at the waist to the man seated in the high backed chair. The other Death Eaters repeated Crouch's gesture, although Snape only inclined his head a fraction. A severe looking woman with a black pixie cut stood behind Mallory's chair on his right while the oddest man Snape had ever seen hunched on Mallory's left. Half of his body was well-kept, but the other half was completely disheveled and twisted. Even his very skin looked gnarled and rough.

"My bodyguard, Yvonne, and my head of genetic research, Liam Holme," Mallory said, introducing the other two members of his organization. "My apologies, but we shall have to keep this brief. I have a meeting in Paris in an hour."

Through the window, Snape watched as activity around the fort increased markedly. The voices couldn't be heard, but the guards were gesturing wildly and rushing to the walls. His ears perked up at the sound of boots running on stone. Somewhere an alarm was going off. He kept his expression still but knew the attack had begun, and, deep inside his Occlumency shields, Snape smirked.

"What's going on?" Alecto demanded.

"Another drill I suspect," Mallory replied easily. "The commandant of the security force here likes to run them at all hours."

"To business then," Crouch said, taking the chair in front of Mallory without an invitation to do so. Yvonne shifted almost imperceptibly, but Mallory tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair and she didn't move further. Snape wondered how close the bodyguard had been from killing Crouch for the disrespect shown to her employer.

"Sirius Black is currently being held in Cell 2187 in the fort's detention block," Mallory informed the Death Eaters. "Yvonne?" The woman stepped forward to place a key on the desk in front of Crouch who quickly pocketed it.

"I do hope that your master appreciates the gift," Mallory continued. "Giving up Black is not without great cost to me."

"Sir, pardon my intrusion," Holme interrupted, "but, my experiments?" He looked almost… heartbroken. Like a child whose favorite toy had suddenly been given away to another. Sick bastard.

His boss merely waved a hand dismissively. "You've had good fun, Holme. Time to let the others have a turn. Perhaps there will be enough left over for you to dissect once the Dark Lord is done with him."

Crouch grinned wickedly; Holme's eyes narrowed with the hint of a pout. Snape bit his tongue.

An immense explosion boomed from outside. The window behind Mallory shattered from the concussive blast and threw glass all over the office, blinding and deafening all its occupants. The eruption was followed nearly instantaneously by another. The building shook from the force, dust falling from the stone ceiling. Debris littered the courtyard, barely visible through the billowing clouds of smoke. Yells and alarms filled the air as wizards and witches poured through the wide gaps in the wall and the Death Eater's hearing cleared.

Snape hadn't known this was part of the plan, but it was certainly impressive. The other Death Eaters stared gobsmacked at what appeared to be a massive Ministry raid, but Snape noted that Mallory seemed unfazed by this unfortunate turn of events. Curious.

The leader of their operation leaned forward and pushed a button on his desk. "All personnel begin evacuation procedures," he ordered, speaking into a Muggle device of some sort. After releasing the button, he turned to his compatriots. "Doctor, back up your data and meet your security detail. You shall accompany myself and Yvonne." Doctor Holme didn't need told twice; he scurried from the office. Mallory opened a desk drawer and pulled out a leather bound book of some sort and handed it to his bodyguard.

"What about Black?" Crouch demanded.

"You're welcome to try and retrieve him from his cell before our enemies liberate him," Mallory replied, getting up. Yvonne quickly came to his side, a shield of green glass forming from her fist. "But you risk encounter with the Aurors, and I doubt your master would appreciate the revelation of your existence and the awkwardness that would entail."

"We were promised!" Amycus growled.

"And the promise was kept," Mallory stated coldly. "You have the cell number and the key to open it. Now I must be off."

Snape's eyes caught movement from Amycus. His fellow Death Eater's hand had twitched towards his wand, no doubt to try and compel Mallory into further assistance. Snape couldn't even begin to fathom how unbelievable idiotic that would be and he wasn't the only one in the room to notice the threat. Amycus was suddenly pinned against the wall of the office by several shards of green glass. Snape blinked in surprise. He hadn't even seen Yvonne move.

"Let that be a warning, Death Eater," the bodyguard whispered. "Next time, you die."

The glass dissipated into a fine dust as Mallory and Yvonne exited and left the Death Eaters stunned. Amycus remained slumped against the wall, but Alecto rushed over to check her brother for any injury beside his pride and tattered robes. Goyle just stood stupidly rooted to the spot while Crouch was blinking a lot and muttering "What!" over and over again.

"We need to leave before we are identified," Alecto said once she was sure her brother was unharmed by the bodyguard's display. "Black can always be kidnapped another day."

"We can't go back to the Dark Lord empty-handed," Avery argued. "The Dark Lord will be displeased beyond imagining if we don't even try. Barty, if we move fast, we can reach Black under cover of the chaos."

Snape stopped himself from scoffing at Avery's sudden bravado. No doubt the man didn't want to revisit the Dark Lord's Cruciatus Curse for a third time. Crouch was thinking it over, but Snape knew the man. His decision was a foregone conclusion even before he finished making it. The man was a fanatic after all.

"I haven't disappointed the Dark Lord before and I don't plan on starting now," Crouch declared. "As I always say, allons-y!" Snape resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Crouch's statement, but dutifully followed along with the others as Crouch led the way out into the corridors.

"We need to take out their cannons!" Kingsley shouted. Once the walls had been breached, the assault team had poured into the central courtyard from both sides. The security personnel not stunned by the blasts were rising to meet them with a hail of gunfire and spells, but they hadn't brought the big guns to bear yet.

"I'm on it," Mary replied, morphing back into her hawk form and taking off in a flutter of wings. Dodging a few spells, she launched her way from the ground, flying swiftly toward the nearest cannon. She counted six enemies on the gun. They were swiveling to aim towards where the grey furred werewolf and Tonks had linked up to fight together.

Tucking her wings in close, she zoomed right into the face of the man that was loading the shell into the cannon. His eyes widened as the hawk flew straight for him, talons first, but there was nothing he could do with his hands full of iron shell. In a moment she had shifted back into human form. Talons became a booted foot that sent him head over heels over the battlements. The shell clattered to the stones and rolled away.

"Son of a…" one man yelled, but her wand was already flickering out before he could aim. A concussive spell smashed into his knee and then his chest, sending him to the ground. Spinning, she blasted his next comrade in the head with a Stunner before changing back into a hawk. Two spells passed through the space she had just occupied.

She quickly circled around in the air, changing back as she launched herself at the next enemy, fist already poised for a punch with plenty of momentum behind it. Knuckles met jaw with a satisfying crunch and the man was thrown back into the gun itself with a grunt of pain. She leapt up; a spin kick took down a woman that was about to curse her. Her wand slashed up and blasted the man she punched. He started panicking, tearing at his vest as her spell Transfigured him into a sea urchin.

She had to shield herself from the follow-up curse from the last man standing. A second curse snapped against her defenses. She started to circle around, deflecting a third curse but forcing her opponent to shift his footing- he tripped over one of his fallen comrades.

"Reducto!" she shouted and her curse blasted her enemy off the battlement and into the melee that engulfed the courtyard. Smiling a little, she turned to the gun and tapped her wand to its barrel. The barrel grew red and started to droop until it was nothing but slag and twisted metal. One gun down. Transforming back into a hawk, she took off and started towards the roof of the main building where several men were trying to set up a sniper nest.

Remus howled as he lifted one enemy soldier over his head and threw him across the courtyard. Overhead he caught sight of a hawk sweeping across the sky to the roof of the building, but his eyes traveled to the second cannon. The crew were about to fire it into the crowd of illusionary wizards, but Kingsley and Emmeline were both in that group, dueling back to back. They would be blasted to pieces.

"Go, I've got this," Tonks shouted to her wolfish lover. She sent the opponent she was fighting head over heels before moving to engage another. With a roar, Remus dashed across the courtyard. He was a grey blur, loping swiftly through the melee towards the tower. His hind legs dug into the earth and with a rush, he leapt through the air.

"What the hell!" one of the gun crew yelled, and then he was quickly silenced as Remus's claw came down and cleaved through his combat vest and flesh. Blood flew through the air as the man spun, the second claw strike sending him to the ground with a missing leg.

"Avada Kedavra!" another man of the gun crew yelled in a panic. The green light missed the werewolf and, for his trouble, the man was picked up by the throat and smashed into the stone battlements at the werewolf's feet. Bones cracked and snapped and he laid still. Two men were able to get their guns up and started shooting at Remus. The bullets were annoying pinpricks in his hide and the werewolf rushed towards the two men. One was picked up by his leg, screaming, and Remus proceeded to use him as a club against his comrade. Once. Twice. Three times he beat them together and then he threw the pulped figure in his claw several feet down the battlements.

The last two soldiers manning the gun looked at each other and at the werewolf advancing on them. Throwing their guns down, they ran as fast as they could for a few feet. Spells from below struck them, one being Stunned and falling to the walkway and the other was stuck in place from a Permanent Sticking Charm.

Panting, he let out a howl of victory. With the immediate fight over, he reined in the wolf's ferocity for a moment as he pondered how best to disable the gun. He didn't even think once about the pain from the bullet wounds he suffered. His werewolf body already was healing the damage. A little of that superior strength of his was in order he decided. With a mighty roar, Remus tore the gun's barrel complete free of the rest of the weapon and like a javelin, he threw it through an enemy that was about to curse Tonks in the back. The man went sailing through the air to end up pinned against the main building.

With a blank expression, Gawain Robards carved one man's wand hand off and spun into a head kick that sent his opponent to the ground. His silvery blade gleamed in the light, blood glistening along its length. The rough and chiseled man swept graying hair from his eyes and glowered at the battlefield around him. Boots thundered toward him as group of guards broke through the chaos. Someone had clearly identified him as a threat. Beyond the ring of men, Auror Malcolm was in trouble. He needed assistance.

"Surrender! You're surrounded," a guard yelled. He counted eight men, five with Muggle weapons and three with wands. Gawain didn't bother giving the squad leader a vocal response. It was an amateur move, on the guard's part, to offer an enemy that had penetrated his boss's defenses a chance to leave here alive. Newly promoted perhaps… such a shame.

"I judge you all… guilty," Gawain muttered, sheathing the sword into the scabbard he kept on his back. His yellow eyes scanned the faces of the men who surrounded him. The man at third position was the weak link. "The penalty for attempted murder of Ministry Aurors is death."

"Kill him!" another Prime Technologies soldier yelled.

Time slowed for the Auror as he brought his wand up and slashed it in a complex rune shape.

"Quen," he muttered. A bright orange sphere surrounded the Auror and he simply stood in place as both spells and bullets pinged off his barrier. He silently counted to himself, waiting for the inevitable moment they had to reload their weapons and the spells started to slow as they ran out of breath to cast them. The last bullet impacted against his shield and he let his protection drop. The men were reloading.

"My turn," he stated simply, rolling his shoulders. He sprung forward into action, his wand flashing with a barrage of spells against the weak link he identified. The soldier collapsed under the onslaught, but Gawain was already shifting his attention. His free hand gripped one of the knives on his armor, drawing and throwing it. The man it struck fell to the ground with the blade buried to the hilt in his chest.

His wand flashed again, a burst of flames driving one of the men to shield himself with his wand. He unsheathed his sword again and rushed towards a soldier fumbling with his clip. Three quick slashes dispatched him. Pivoting on his right foot, he drove his blade through the lower abdomen of another enemy. The man coughed, but gripped the blade going through his stomach to try and hold him in place long enough for the remaining men to finish reloading.

Gawain calmly kicked him away, his wand emitting a shield as a black curse headed his way. With a twirl of his wrist, the shield collapsed around the curse and contained it. A jab of his wand sent the combined spells back towards the attacker. The guard screamed as the spells exploded, disintegrating him to a pile of ash and boots. Gawain deflected a fireball away with his sword, spinning the sword as he faced the remaining three guards.

The two with guns had finished reloading, but both looked uncertain. The man wielding the wand was already slashing his weapon across for another attack. Gawain shielded against the blue spell, strode forward, deflected a second curse into one of the man's colleagues. His sword came down, cleaving through the wand, his shoulder smashing into the man's face before he drove his wand under the man's guard. A silent Expulso Curse blasted the man away and left just one enemy. Yellow eyes regarded the combatant. The man threw his gun to the ground and placed his hands over his head.

"Smart," Gawain said. "Incarcerous." The man was wrapped in chains and Gawain moved on to help his subordinate. It had taken a grand total of forty-four seconds for the eight men to be taken down.

Moody hadn't had this much fun in years. He felt twenty years younger as he proceeded through the courtyard battle. He deflected a spell away that would have taken Pryce's head off, whipping his staff up to send a ball of white light at the offending enemy soldier. Moody kept wading through the chaos, even as his magical eye tracked the spasms of his offender. The eye swiveled, focusing… Another enemy soldier was trying to sneak up behind him using the smoke as cover. Clever, but he quickly found out that it was a mistake. Moody's staff snapped in his direction, his curse blasting the man through the stone wall of the armory building. He strode forward with surprising grace for his metal leg, an eerie sense of ease floating about him in the midst of the chaos.

"Give me a challenge you mangy curs!" he cackled. He unleashed a spiraling red spell into the back of a soldier that had been aiming for his protégé. Another man had conjured a dagger and was surprised when the wizard he stabbed faded away instead of dropping dead at his feet.

"Constant vigilance!" Moody barked. His staff sent the soldier flying into the path of a stray spell. A pumpkin that had once been a man splattered against the wall. Honestly, he had expected the security of a man like Mallory to be more experienced, but the more he considered it, the more it was likely his best were guarding his headquarters in London. These were lackeys, underlings. Expendable. Well, maybe he would get a decent fight with one of the Death Eaters inside.

"Your time has passed old man!" an enemy soldier said, running towards Moody. Hendricks was sprawled on the ground bleeding from several cuts across his chest and face. "You'll never stop Lord Mallory!"

"I've heard something like that for the last fifty years, boy," Moody laughed. A Killing Curse flew at the Auror, but he merely sidestepped the attack. An orange spell followed, but was deflected away as Moody spun his staff. With a dull thud, Moody brought his staff down hard. A blast of yellow magic escaped from it, bowling over his young opponent. The security guard struggled to rise again, his hand searching for his lost wand.

"Stay down, boy," Moody growled. He brought his staff down on the young guard's head, making sure he was knocked out cold. Just to be sure he couldn't reengage, Moody wrapped him in chains and confiscated the wand. He had to duck as a shower of debris erupted in front of him, covering the old Auror in a layer of dirt.

Even over the din of the battle, Jack could hear the swearing and cackling laughter of Alastor Moody. It was a sound that was absolutely guaranteed to haunt his dreams for the next few weeks. He had never thought to hear the old man so happy. It was unnerving. Another dull boom sounded and Jack ducked as another shell exploded in the courtyard.

"Take out that Malaclaw blasted cannon!" Moody roared, "or so help me, I'll shove my metal boot so far up your…"

Another boom from the cannon cut off what Moody was so colorfully saying, but Jack got the idea. Snapping off a quick salute, he ducked and weaved his way through the battle toward the tower and the big gun. There weren't that many guards left able to fight in the courtyard, but there also weren't many of their illusions left either. Jack really wanted to know where Dumbledore had come up with such a spell. Offensive it was not, but the chaos it created was as good as any footsoldier.

"Avada Kedavra!" a guard shouted, but the green light of his spell missed wildly.

"Heard Moody too eh?" Shane chuckled, falling in beside the handsome American. The Scotsman's hair and clothes were singed and blood caked the right side of his face from a bullet graze wound along his scalp, but otherwise he seemed to be in fine form. Jack supposed he was in a good mood because he got to blow something up and had had a good fight.

"He's a good motivator," Jack replied. "Homenum Revelio." The spell washed over the tower and revealed at least five presences that were guarding the approach to the cannon's crew. "Five guys, all ready and willing to blow us away the second we open that door."

"Then we don't open the door, lad," Shane said. His metal hand disappeared into a pocket of his robes, pulling out a curved horn that was glowing.

"Why do you carry around an Erumpent horn in your pocket?" Jack asked.

"Better question is why don't you?" Shane countered, stabbing the horn into the wall.

Jack gave a little tip of his head, acknowledging his point.

The wall started to glow as the fluid discharged into it began to react violently to being released. With a bubbling rumble, the wall exploded into the tower and left a gaping hole large enough for the two men to fit through.

Four of the men inside were staggering back to their feet dazedly, the fifth either unconscious or dead from where he was visible through the pile of rubble covering him. They had yet to notice Jack or Shane. Above the room, the cannon boomed again.

"Hello there!" Jack called to the men, flashing them his trademark charming smile. "My name is Major Jack Harper, and this is my associate, Shane McKissock."

"Jack," Shane said. "Time and a place for flirting."

"I was just saying hello to these fine gentlemen," Jack countered to the Scotsman before turning back to address the soldiers. "We would greatly appreciate it if you set all wands and guns on the floor." The enemy soldiers looked at each other, one gave a tiny wave and smile. The other three conscious guards raised their weapons and Jack sighed.

"Fine, the other way it is," he said. A wave of pheromones rolled off him and washed over the guards. All four immediately stiffened, the one who had waved slumping to the floor docilely. The other three were trying to resist, but Jack simply threw them another one of his winning grins and they folded like a deck of cards.

"Incarcerous," Shane said, binding the four prisoners that were looking at Jack with… well it was making Shane uncomfortable. "Was that necessary? We could have taken them."

"My apologies," Jack chuckled. "You've still got the three upstairs to knock around."

"Can never have enough skulls to bang together," Shane replied with a grin. "Come on then, or Moody will have both of our hides on his sitting room floor."

Jack shook himself away from thoughts of 'Moody's sitting room floor.' "Right right, I'm coming," Jack said, following the Scotsman to the staircase that led up to the top of the tower. He paused however by the guard that had actually shown some interest. "What's your name?"

"Alonso," the Prime Technologies security man answered.

"Well… maybe later, Alonso," Jack said, giving a wink and grin before darting after his comrade and leaving a flustered prisoner. The Scotsman hadn't bothered to wait for Jack. He was happily dueling away against two of the soldiers manning the gun while the third was aiming another shot into the courtyard.

"Ah, ah, ah, that's just rude," Jack chided, blasting the man away from the firing mechanism. The soldier reeled back, drawing his own wand. A blue spell missed Jack by inches, and he quickly shielded against a follow-up curse. With a twirl of his wand, Jack launched into a series of spells to keep his opponent on the defensive.

Shane's laughter boomed as he ducked a spell from one of his opponent's before shoving a conjured dirk through the man's leg. The man fell to the ground, yelling and clutching at the blade piercing through his thigh before a Stunning Spell silenced him. His comrade launched a Killing Curse at the large man, but Shane neatly sidestepped the coming tide of death. The man went to cast the curse again, but never managed to get the syllables out before a giant fist smashed into his face.

"Hope you enjoy eating your teeth," Shane rumbled at the unconscious security guard. Jack meanwhile had dispatched of his opponent, binding him against the battlements with a Permanent Sticking Charm.

"Well that was spirited," Jack said, making sure the wounded man wasn't going to bleed out.

"One of the best nights of my life," Shane chuckled before turning his attention to the artillery piece. "Time to make this a testament to the beauty of high explosives."

Shane busied himself with setting a few more of his pouches around and in the cannon, while Jack took a moment to look out into the courtyard. The battle was mostly over for the moment. The remaining Prime Technologies guards had retreated into the fort's armory and the main building or were in the process of being eliminated by the assault team. Moody was barking orders to anyone in earshot to take out the guards holed up in the armory.

It was the ideal moment. Forcing down the regret, Jack cast a Patronus and sent it racing off to the south. A concussive blast from behind set his ears ringing and threw him to the floor of the battlement. Shane was laughing, or at least Jack was assuming he was as he couldn't hear, but he was definitely of the opinion the Scotsman had been a touch overzealous in how many explosives he set. Tapping his wand to his ears, he restored his hearing. The cannon was a twisted pile of scrap.

"A little too much," Jack said.

"Don't know the meaning of those words," Shane laughed. "Come on, let's go get our friend."

Inside the structure of the fort, Severus Snape and the other Death Eaters on their mission stared with mixed expressions at the sight before them. Goyle backed away from the cell, one hand over his mouth as he turned slightly green. "Enough. That's enough, Crouch! Get him to close the damn door."

Barty rolled his eyes and gestured with his wand. The poor scientist bastard they'd come across on the way down into the basements moved forward and mechanically locked the cell door once more, hiding the remains of the prisoner from view. Amycus and Alecto had looked intrigued by the mutilated figure, excited, even eager. What scientists here saw as failure, they called innovation. New methods of torture, twisting the body from the inside out until it became… that. Or something like it. Severus held his face in a mask of polite interest, but beneath his Occlumency shields he fought back a reaction more in line with Goyle's. Avery remained silent, but his eyes glittered in a dangerous way that Severus wasn't sure meant either interest or disgust.

Even then, he could not deny there was a certain detached kind of draw within him toward these experiments. The same part of him that reveled in the call of the dark arts wanted in now. What was the purpose of these transformations? Why did some unfortunates linger in these mutated bodies while others simply died and were disposed of? What of the survivors? Unlike three of his companions, however, he had enough self-control and basic human decency to override his crueler interests. Crouch seemed fed up, but the vicious twins were downright disappointed.

"Oh man up. It's just a body," Crouch sneered.

"It's not bloody human," Goyle mumbled, but he did finally step away from the wall.

Alecto chuckled. "I'd love to get in on some of these experiments."

"We should be getting out of here," Snape growled, attempting to redirect their focus to the moment at hand. "There will be no working with them in the future if we all end up in Azkaban when Dumbledore's fools catch up to us."

"And leave our master's work unfinished? I think not," Crouch scoffed. "We grab Black. Let's go."

The imperiused Scientist blandly turned and strode down the hall, leading them further into the depths of the cellblock. Cell after cell passed them on the right; wide windows on the left looked down into a clean, metal-lined room. Various stations were arranged around a central focus, a table rather like one would find in a muggle operating room, yet with restraints. Snape doubted the creepy scientist's victims had been offered hospital grade anesthesia, however.

They'd been striding along, quickly, but not hurriedly, for about a minute when a dull, deep whomp sound reverberated from overhead.

"10 galleons that was the blasted front door," Amycus growled.

Goyle stopped limping along and glared at the rest of them. "That's it, Crouch, we've got to go. I'm not waiting around in this rat maze to be cornered like vermin."

Bartimus Crouch stood eerily still in the dim light, his fingers twitching on his wand. "You leave now, Goyle, and I will personally throw you at the Dark Lord's feet when the rest of us return with our captive."

"As much as I despise sniveling cowardice," Snape sneered, "and as much as I detest bringing poor results to our Lord, I too must question your wisdom here, Crouch." Barty turned on his heel, eyes flashing dangerously as his tongue flicked out in agitation. He made to respond, but Snape kept talking over him. "While Mallory has proven to be of tentative use to our Lord while he so chooses, I cannot help but feel that we are being played. Mallory allows us free run of his most significant facility whilst he himself flitters off with his lapdogs? I highly doubt that."

"What are you saying, Snape?" Avery asked.

"I'm saying that this is either a risk of truly idiotic extremes undertaken by a man with enough significance in his purpose to meet our Lord on almost equal footing, or there is nothing left for us to recover. Would our Lord allow such a bombardment to fall upon his bastion without assuring in his departure that his enemies could gain nothing of value? No. I doubt a man such as Mallory would either."

Alecto's stern gaze faltered. Her brother's expression turned thoughtful. Goyle was already nodding along with everything Snape said, but he could hardly count on the buffoon to make an argument of his own.

It wasn't, ultimately, that Snape truly believed there was nothing left. The very prisoners they'd left behind indicated that this facility had not been prepared for the attack. It had not been swept clean; it had been abandoned in the middle of action. The emergency lighting overhead showed this whole block was still powered accordingly. This wasn't even supposed to be part of the plan. They were supposed to be caught with Sirius in tow and there would be a great show of escaping with their lives, but Barty had wasted too much time taking control of the scientist and getting his thrill out of the deformed prisoner. Now he needed to improvise, and if there was one thing Severus Snape was good at, it was spinning lies.

"You question our Lord's orders?" Crouch hissed, stepping uncomfortably close.

Snape raised one brow and stared down his hooked nose at the smaller man. "Of course not, Crouch. What I 'question' is the idiocy of our host. What would be of greater value to him, disappointing our master, whom he believes to be his equal, or protecting his precious research?"

"You think he took Black with him?" Goyle asked.

"Oh, I don't doubt that Black is still in the building for us to retrieve, should we decide to corner ourselves in a restricted prison with no chance of an escape route for its prisoners." Snape smirked. "Simply, that scientist's reactions were too over the top. No, Black is still here, but never once did Mallory confirm that he would still be alive."

Another rumbling explosion interrupted his grim assessment, this one much closer than the last. The Order had breached into the basement levels.

The gruesome twins glanced at each other, nervousness beginning to show in their eyes. "Black is of no use to our Lord as a corpse. He wants bait, not a bloody martyr," Alecto said hesitantly.

"We're worth more to him as his loyal servants. I personally would rather return to serve him and suffer his minor disappointment than be carted off to Azkaban and be lost to our great cause."

Avery looked disgruntled, likely not looking forward to what the Dark Lord's disappointment would look like, but he didn't protest the idea of leaving now without the prize any longer. Interesting how a massed Order and Auror attacked could change minds like that.

Goyle nodded. "That settles it. We agree, Crouch, you're outnumbered here. Tell the damned scientist to take us out their secret exit."

Barty Crouch glowered up at Snape for a moment longer, then eyed his other companions shrewdly, tongue flickering. "You're all cowards! Cowards!" Goyle flinched, but no one backed down. "Fine. Fine! You," he gestured viciously at the puppet of a man, "give me the key. You think we can't take them? I'll take them myself. It's all about resources."

The scientist reached around his neck and lifted off a chain, from which dangled a glinting metal card with a magnetic strip down one side. Crouch snatched it from his limp grasp and slipped it around his own neck.

"Now take these damn cowards out of my way. I'll do it by myself, you bastard lily-livered pansies. You'll see! Just wait until he rewards me, while you writhe at his feet! I won't say a damned word for your defense, you'll see!" Crouch's manic gaze glinted in the red electric lighting. He darted to one of the nearest cell doors and set about unlocking them, not bothering to open the doors or check whether anyone still lived inside.

The dead-eyed scientist pressed his hand to a blank panel on the wall, which slid open to reveal a long passage that lead to stairs that seemed to go upward forever into the dark.

"Let's go, before he sets those things on us as well," Goyle hissed, darting after the white-coated figure as fast as he could limp along, Avery right behind him. The Carrows went next, hesitantly, looking back at where Crouch had run down the corridor. Before he disappeared after them, Snape lingered long enough to hear the echoing voice of the American ring down the metal hall.

With a final few flourishes of her wand, the enchantments used to seal a set of doors behind the retreating enemy forces collapsed. Mary grimly smiled as she pointed her wand at the wrought iron and muttered, "Bombarda Maxima!" The door, and the surrounding portions of the wall and ceilings, exploded down into the depths of building. At the bottom of the revealed staircase, two security guards were buried in the rubble.

A whirring sound distracted her from descending into the building. Mary whirled around to see a helicopter lifting off from a farther rooftop and heading towards France. For just a moment, she could see Yvonne seated next to Mallory and Doctor Holme. They were getting away! She leveled her wand towards the copter, but lowered it after just a moment. Mallory and his associates were too far away and moving too fast, and Sirius was a more pressing concern. As much as she wanted to take her revenge, indulgence would only get in the way. Gritting her teeth, she made her way down the staircase, picking over the debris that filled the hallway.

The Auror's training told her to keep her guard up; she knew that at least a few of the enemy had retreated into the building, and the Death Eaters were still here as well. Most of the rooms on this floor were converted barracks, sparse bunks with equipment lockers. It looked makeshift to Mary, but so far, there were no surprises waiting for her. She suspected that would change once she and the assault team started getting closer to the cells and laboratory. They'd each infiltrated from a different point, sweeping through the halls to cover as much ground as possible with so few fighters. It was a risk, for sure, but they didn't have the luxury of time on their side. One of them would come across the right path. Moving away from the barrack rooms, she continued her search.

Pushing open the next door, she was greeted by the sight of what was assuredly Mallory's office judging by the rich decorations, although glass covered the floor and desk from the ground floor window looking out on the courtyard. As she closed the door carefully, she made sure to place a Sealing Charm on the room. There was no telling what they might find in there that could detail Mallory's business dealings or criminal enterprises. A great crash interrupted her spellwork as she spun to face the intrusion. Further down the corridor, a gray shape burst through the wall. The werewolf howled before twisting the ring on its claw, warping and shrinking back into the shape of Remus Lupin.

"Nice entrance, Remus," Mary said, cautiously moving down to her friend.

"I am a Marauder after all," Remus replied, drawing his wand with a grin plastered on his face. His expression turned serious as he gave a sniff. "I can smell them. They were here."

"Which way?" she asked.

"Down," he answered. "They must have decided to try and grab Sirius."

"They can't go back to Voldemort empty-handed," Mary agreed, setting off on a brisk, if careful, stride down the corridor. "Where are the others?"

"The Aurors are finishing up outside," Remus said, following along behind Mary. "Should be making their way in here soon enough. The survivors have been rounded up- Moody's keeping them in line. And most of the other entrances were duds. Lots of offices, a mess hall, training facilities, storage, armory, so on. You seemed to have picked the interesting one."

She nodded absentmindedly as her wand flashed towards a sealed door. Her spell sent the barrier careening away into the stairwell beyond. Remus shook his head at her lack of subtlety, but followed her regardless down the stairs to the first basement floor. The sound of rushing feet prompted both to level their wands at the door to the corridor, curses on their lips as it burst open.

"Whoa, just us," Jack said, holding up his hands. Shane and Tonks chuckled from behind him. "First floor is clear, though a couple of guards are taking a nap courtesy of Shane here."

"I wanted to crack a couple more skulls together," the Scotsman shrugged.

"Gawain and Moody are rounding up the prisoners with the rest of the team," Tonks informed Mary. "Lovett and Pryce are covering the south side while Kingsley and Emmeline are covering the west in case the Death Eaters try and slip away."

"This went better than expected," Mary exclaimed.

"All thanks to Dumbledore's illusion spell," Remus agreed. "But we're not done yet. We still have to rescue Sirius."

"Then I suggest we keep going down," Jack stated. "A few labs on this floor and some very interesting scientific equipment, couple of filing cabinets and a computer system, but no prisoners."

Continuing down the circling stairwell, Mary had to admire how much had to go into delving this deeply without anyone noticing. They were easily three stories below the ground and the stairs still kept going. She had to suppress a snicker as Shane grumbled about there being too many stairs, and that the employees could have saved time and energy just by installing a slide instead. The flight of steps finally came to end when she calculated they were five stories below the old fort, a single door leading to what was no doubt the testing laboratory and cells, the only things they had yet to see.

Holding up her hand to halt their advance, Mary cast the Human Detection Spell to make sure there wasn't any unpleasantness waiting for the team on the other side of the next door. There were plenty of blue and yellow presences evenly spaced out for quite some distance in a rough circle, presences that meant them no harm or didn't register as human, but no angry red signals. Continuing with her tirade of property destruction, she blasted the door off its hinges. The circular, metal-lined corridor beyond was illuminated by a faint red emergency lights, the main sources of illumination having been deactivated. Windows lined the left wall, showing the same sort of set-up they discovered in Wales, while sealed rooms that were no doubt cells lined the other side.

The Prime Technologies scientists had no doubt evacuated when Mallory and Holme fled, which suggested to Mary that this level of the facility had a hidden exit somewhere. Otherwise those employees who hadn't been trained for defense would be caged down here, prisoners in their own right. If that was the case, though, they would need to cover more ground down here, and quickly. Otherwise, with no personal left, there'd be nothing to prevent them from… well, that result she just would not accept.

"Circle around, we'll meet up on the other side," Mary ordered.

The emergency lights winked off, pitching the entire corridor into darkness. The team all muttered Lumos and cautiously split up. The red lights going off could only be the Death Eaters trying to cover themselves. Remus, Tonks, and Shane circled around to the other side of the central test chamber while Jack mirrored her movements down the main hall. It was quiet… too quiet.

They could hear the sound of ragged breathing from some of the cells, deathly silence from others. Jack peered into the observation slot of one for a moment, then bent his head in grim frustration.

"Jack?" Mary asked softly.

The American shook his head and slammed one fist into the wall.

She sighed and put a calming hand on his shoulder, risking a quick glance into the tiny window. Inside the dark enclosure lay a nameless young man, face up, blankly staring back at the only opening he had to the outside world. His body, deformed and twisted, lopsidedly monstrous, lay at odd angles. He had died with one of his own hands stretched like rubber and tied around his own throat. Suicide.

"Oh, gods," Mary whispered. She had seen much in her years as an Auror, but this…. Such horrors should not exist in this world. She thought of all these cells, all these people… just at this location alone. How many had been mutilated until they had no other escape?

"I've had enough of these people, Mary," Jack growled, his voice half gravelly violence and half choked with agony. "We'll end this. I will." He met her gaze with steel in his eyes. "I will personally see this to the end. Screw orders, screw the enemy, screw the GODS DAMNED WORLD IF I HAVE TO." The sound of his rage echoed off the metal around them.

Jack's posture changed. He didn't move, but he seemed sterner, more solid. It was as though, somehow, his visceral response to the suffering around them had infused every fiber of his being.

"Jack…"

"I mean it, Mary." He hissed. "Let them put a fucking gun to my head- I'll kill them all before I die."

Mary felt herself welling up at the sheer determination and compassion from the man in front of her. She wished she could take the focus he had on the other victims, but whenever she closed her eyes…. "We need to grab Sirius, Jack. I'm sorry, but the fort is cleared, the prisoners are safe now. We can send the Ministry in officially to take them home."

Jack blinked his way back into the moment and sighed. "You're right. Gods damn it all, I hate it, but you're right. Let's go get your man."

They turned and moved down the hall once more, ignoring the muffled sounds from the people and sometimes things still living inside some of the cells. Sirius, they knew, would be kept somewhere obvious. He'd been wanted for a reason, specifically brought in alive. He wasn't a normal test subject. Unless they had locked him in a cell to await transfer -an unlikely waste of resources if they already had a place to keep him- his location would be obvious. They kept their eyes peeled for Death Eaters as they hurried along. They, at least, would have to know where he was being kept. If nothing else, Mary assured herself, she could always cast a variant of the Point Me spell that would seek out his magical signature.

They swept through hall after hall, turning sharp corners as they circled the central hub. Every cell seemed to have quick access to the test lab; every ten or so cells had an access door dedicated to that "block" of the facility. They had passed at least half a dozen doors as their pace grew quicker and quicker. Mary counted the steps and the seconds.

Any minute now. They'd find him.

After a while, the sound of their running steps drowned out the sounds from inside the cells. It seemed they were the only ones there.

And then, out of the shadows, a different sound could be heard. A great shuffling, gritty sound and heavy grunting brought their run to a hesitant stop. Just at the edge of their wandlight, one of the cell doors slid open.

A shuffling monstrosity emerged. Much like the young girl they had witnessed being horribly mutated in that first horrid lab, the being that was snarling at them was twisted and wretched. Unlike the young man in the cell, this thing bore no resemblance to the human being it once had been. Its eyes were bulging and crimson, its skin a deep green. Elongated arms dragged along the floor behind it, each one tipped with a two-finger claw. The claws were glowing with a nasty green light, pulsing sickly.

From behind them, another cell door opened and another Corrupted forced itself out. It was even more twisted than the others, spider-like limbs had replaced its legs and mandibles clicked over a perpetually grinning mouth. The abomination's eyes were multi-faceted, glowing red with uncontrollable rage. On the other side of the corridor, through the windows of the hub, she could see spells crackling against more mangled shapes as the other three fought their own creatures.

"Not good," Jack grunted, switching the aim of his revolver and wand between the two targets.

"Exactly how dangerous are these guys?" Mary asked.

"I honestly have no idea," Jack admitted.

The arachnid-like Corrupted hissed and scuttled towards Jack, saliva clinging to its clicking mandibles. The monster with the glowing claws roared, swinging its impossibly long arms at her. Mary ducked underneath one swing, and watched with horror as the acidic weapons carved two furrows into the wall that were already starting to hiss and smoke. Another swipe forced her to roll, the claws embedding themselves in the floor. Mary popped back up on the creature's other side, wand poised.

A spell cracked out, but the creature crossed its arm and blocked the spell, the energy washing harmlessly over the limbs. Just perfect, she thought, casting another Stunning Spell at the thing trying to kill her. They didn't have time for this! Her opponent dodged the red beam and propped itself on its arms, swinging forward like a monkey, revealing that its legs also ending in the same talons as its arms. The kick landed squarely in her chest, the claws flexing to try and gouge her chest open. The force of the impact sent her flying into a closed cell door, and, while the protection in her robes held for the moment, she could see and hear them sizzling.

Jack wasn't fairing much better against the Corrupted spider. The creature was inhumanly fast, and his pheromones weren't having any effect on it. He shouldn't say it quite like that, though. His attempt to force it into an aroused stupor had prompted the beast to fire gobs of webbing like a shotgun blast from its mouth. He ducked and rolled, coming up against the opposite wall. His eyes narrowed, heated with barely contained rage.

"Alright, I was playing nicely," he growled at the beast, "but I'm not in such a good mood, and while I'm sorry that you ended up like this, you're a damn good target." He got a snarling hiss in response before those scythe-tipped legs charged towards him again. A spell left his wand, but the Corrupted skittered onto the wall to avoid it, its head rearing back to spew more of its sticky silk at the Unseeable. Jack slid underneath the creature, bringing up his other hand and firing his revolve at its underside. The arachnid monster shrieked in pain and rage, its legs trying to skewer him with their sharp tips. One tore through his great coat, the other catching him on the edge of his leg, but he was able to roll out from under the beast before it could land a good hit. An off-putting white fluid dripped from its bullet wounds.

Winded from the kick, Mary pivoted, rolling vertically against the wall to avoid the next slash of the claws. Another narrowly missed taking her arm off, and even still her sleeve was ripped along its entire length. She circled away from the wall to have more room to dodge, hoping to avoid the swipes and kicks. Spells wouldn't work against it, whether naturally or due to experimentation by Mallory's scientists she wasn't sure. Dodging could only get her so far, and, as agile as she was, the creature was faster. She needed to improvise.

"Mitte Gladium!" she yelled, conjuring several knives and directing them to streak toward the Corrupted bearing down on her. The monster screamed as the knives struck home, three piercing into its chest while another had gone through its eye for good measure. Fluorescent green blood poured from its head and chest wounds, the droplets hissing as they hit the floor. Despite that, it wasn't dead. No, she had just angered the half-blind beast. It was still coming after her. She conjured more blades to send against the Corrupted, but it had wised up to her attack. A stream of green fluid left its mouth, spraying through the air. The knives melted as they passed through the cloud of liquid and Mary had to run to avoid getting splattered herself. With a pained scream, the Corrupted lurched after her.

Jack yelled as the arachnid Corrupted unleashed a stream of webbing to wrap around his leg, tripping him to the ground. His wand and revolver clattered across the metal floor, out of reach. The creature was on him in an instant, webbing issuing forth and being worked over by scuttling limbs to start cocooning him. The white fluid leaking from the bullet wounds occasionally dripped onto the wrappings on his legs. The abomination's grin widened even more, a thin tongue slicking its lips as its mandibles clicked in excitement. Jack shuddered. He was moments away from being devoured, and not in any fun way either.

To Hell with this. This soldier wasn't going down without a fight. Wriggling in the creature's grasp, he reached for his last resource, his ace in the hole. The Corrupted didn't register the possible threat, intent as it was upon preparing him for a feast. When was the last time these things were fed? Fucking inconsiderate bastards.

With the one arm that wasn't trapped yet, Jack drew out a large old-fashioned pistol. The creature finally noticed the new weapon, its eyes going wide as it let out a cry of surprise and indignation.

"You don't want to know where I was keeping this," Jack snarled at it, firing the single shot.

The iron ball tore through the Corrupted's abdomen, through its carapace and swollen body, straight through the window behind it. The creature gave a pitiful whine and collapsed to the floor. White blood poured out of the wound to drench the metal panels. The Corrupted reached out towards him, the rage that had clouded its eyes fading, replaced with relief as it died. Yeah, I bet you feel better now, friend, he , Jack stuck the pistol between his teeth and starting crawling for his wand. It was going to take forever to get out of this webbing.

Mary yelled as a sweep of the claws narrowly cut across her cheek, the wounds burning. She quickly pointed her wand at the scratches, drawing the acid out to prevent further damage. The creature settled itself on its arms again, winding up for another powerful kick. It was just the opening she had been waiting for. The monster was blinded in its right eye, and as the kick rocketed towards her, she moved into its blind spot.

"Ventus Gladium!" she shouted. From her wand, streaks of air as sharp as blades whirled out in a cyclone that consumed the Corrupted. The beast roared in agony as the spell shredded its body. Green blood splattered against the wall behind it and the floor. It was a gruesome sight, but the Corrupted finally crumpled to the ground. Its acidic blood started eating through the floor and wall.

The body dropped through the hole to the floor below. There was a great crash and then stillness.

Breathing heavily, Mary called out, "Jack! You alright?!"

Jack's voice floated back to her from back the way they had come, "I'm alive if that's what you're wondering. I'm going to be a while though." She had to ponder why Jack wasn't going to rejoin her, but she figured that spider Corrupted must have done something to delay him. "Find Sirius. Once I'm free, I'm going to help the others."

From across the circular central chamber, Mary could still make out spells and a furry shape fighting against more Corrupted. If Mary needed any more motivation to fight Mallory and put these experiments to a stop, fighting these Corrupted had certainly provided it. The Death Eaters still hadn't made an appearance, but valuable time had been lost in the fight. For all she knew, Sirius was already in their possession and they were spiriting him away.

"Inveniet Canis," she muttered, placing her wand on the palm of her hand. Her wand spun to the right, its tip glowing a faint blue. Sirius was that way, or at least his magic was. On the lookout for the appearance of any Death Eaters, Mary started running in that direction.

Another door fell to her bombardment spells, revealing a separate cell block that she assumed was for more valuable prisoners. The red emergency lights were still on in this section, casting deep shadows and a bloody atmosphere that felt rather foreboding.

A shape lurked up ahead, and for a moment she tensed at the thought that it was another Corrupted waiting in the dim lighting to attack, but no. The shape was a man in dark robes, hand fishing around in his pocket for something. A wand was in his other hand, its tip glowing with a Lumos spell. As she got closer, she could make out the individual features of the Death Eater. Arrogant as always, she thought.

"Bartemius," Mary called, coming to a stop with her wand poised. Her eyes flickered to the door emblazoned with the number 2187, then to the key in his hand. One Death Eater stood between her and Sirius. Her grip on her wand tightened.

"Mary Macdonald," Crouch replied, his tongue flicking out several times. There was a manic gleam in his eyes as he regarded the Auror. Silence stretched between the two for a moment before his wand flicked out, a black spell blasting out at Mary. She dodged easily, stepping to her left and firing off a spell of her own that met his shield. "How long has it been eh?"

"Seventeen years," Mary replied, silently flicking out another bolt of light. "Where are the other Death Eaters?"

"Securing our escape route," Crouch answered with a snicker, trading her attack for a casual one of his own. "Did you like the little surprises we unleashed?"

The Auror flicked this one away. "Can't say I did," she said, eyes narrowing. "Was rather rude to be honest."

"No, what is rude is crushing a young man's heart," Crouch snarled, sending a string of curses at Mary. She dodged or shielded against the attacks, recognizing many of them as Nerve Torture Curses and of course Cruciatus Curses.

"I did say I was sorry about Hogsmeade," she stated. With every barb they traded, she took a step closer, a plan settling under the glaring mask on her face.

"Sorry never cut it!" Crouch yelled. In his ferocity, he overshot the next spell. Sickeningly yellow light shattered the fixture overhead, plunging the stretch of hallway between them into shadow as sparks and glass rained down. "I could have given you everything, shown you the depths of true devotion. But you went back to that mangy mutt that wouldn't even give you a second glance!"

Mary's eyes narrowed. She slashed her wand up and down several times, blue lines of energy racing down the hallway. Crouch had to throw himself to the floor to avoid the spells. Mary kept them coming, slowly moving closer and closer to the Death Eater skirting her hexes by the skin of his teeth.

"Don't you dare insult Sirius like that," Mary coldly exclaimed. Her expression softened as Crouch got back to his feet. "It never would have worked in the long term and you know that. I was a seventh year and you were a fifth year. I'll admit the Hogsmeade date was nice, and I'm sorry that I was using you to try and get over Sirius while he was dating Olivia Green, but… I knew you were heading this way, even back then."

"Heading down the path of power you mean," the fanatic spat. "If you had stayed by my side, you would have had an honored place among the Dark Lord's followers. A half-blood of your strength and grace, combined with my pureblood pedigree and close bond to the Dark Lord… nothing would have been out of our reach. We could have ruled alongside the Dark Lord."

"Do you even hear yourself," Mary asked, shaking her head. "You're delusional if you think Voldemort would ever share power with anyone, or to think I would ever consider joining the Death Eaters. Then or now. I would rather have died than bow before that murderer."

"Heresy!" Crouch shouted, a flurry of Cruciatus Curses erupting from his wand. Mary ducked and spun her way through the attacks, getting closer to the maddened wizard… and then she was skidding back along the corridor, writhing in pain as a curse intercepted her. Crouch started laughing as he advanced towards where she continued to twitch in agony. The curse was eventually lifted, leaving her gasping for breath.

"But that's the influence of that doddering old fool and the Order of the Phoenix talking," Crouch continued in a casual tone. He bent down next to her heaving body, caressing her hair gently… lovingly…. She twitched away from it. "Once I'm done with you, Mary, you'll be a proper believer in the Dark Lord's vision and we can finally be together. Imperi…"

Crouch never got the chance to finish his Imperius Curse. He had fallen right into her trap. Getting cursed with the Cruciatus hadn't exactly been her idea, but it had served its purpose. She knew Barty Crouch Jr. very well, and, even during school, he could never resist the desire to gloat over a seemingly defeated opponent. He liked to monologue, and it had cost him more than enough times on the Quidditch pitch when James would catch the Snitch right out from under his nose.

Her palm launched out, catching Crouch on the nose. Blood sputtered out instantly, a cry of pain escaping him. She swung herself around, legs kicking out to trip the dazed Death Eater. His wand clattered away as she straddled his form, her wand under his neck. Maddened eyes glared up at her, almost daring her to kill him… but that had never been the plan.

"Incarcerous," she said, getting up as ropes wrapped the Death Eater. She made sure part of the spell covered his mouth. She really didn't need to hear his promises of revenge or whatever else that Dark wizards and witches liked to spit out once they were captured.

Crouch thrashed against his bonds as Mary searched his robe's pockets, his cries of anger muffled by the gag in his mouth. Finding the key to the cell door, she gave the Death Eater a wink and stood up.

With a shaky hand, she inserted the key and unlocked the door. A moment's pause to steady herself, and then she pushed it open cautiously, holding her wand at the ready. She wouldn't put it past Mallory's deranged existence to make this one final trap.

One the other side of the door was a sight that made her heart pound achingly. The cell itself was larger than some of the others, but only to accommodate the restraining device that lit everything with an electric blue glow.

Sirius was illuminated by the blue field he was hanging in, and he looked absolutely awful. He was unnaturally thin, his hair and beard were bedraggled and filthy. His eyes were sunken and surrounded by deep shadows. Sores covered his feet and his wrists looked inflamed. His clothes were little more than rags to cover his thin frame. The telltale signs of torture lingered on his exposed arms and legs. His eyes, shrouded though they may be, lit up at the sight of Mary.

"You came," he said simply. His voice sounded like a dry desert wind, cracking and breaking. His dried lips split with the effort of smiling.

"Of course I came," Mary replied, walking into the cell. From around her neck, she removed the chain she kept there and held it up in the dim blue light of the cell. "I owed you an answer after all."

"Maybe… we can discuss this… once I'm loose?" Sirius suggested weakly. Mary flushed slightly, putting the chain back where it belonged. With a gesture with her wand, the suspension field dissipated and Sirius fell heavily to the floor. He attempted to get up on his own, but his shaky arms gave out and he collapsed to the cool metal again. Mary rushed over and helped him to at least sit up and used a gentle Aquamenti spell to give her love a sip of water.

"Thanks," he mumbled. "Sorry, muscles aren't really working all that well at the moment."

"I'd be surprised if they were," she said.

"So what's your answer?" Sirius asked.

"What do you think, love?" she whispered, giving him a soft kiss. He felt like sandpaper and tasted like copper, but to her it was heaven. "But once you're recovered, I expect a proper proposal. I've waited a long time to see Sirius Black on his knee in front of me."

"It's a deal," Sirius replied, a twinkle returning to his eye. "Help me up, I need some fresh air."

"You really do," Mary said. "Did they ever let you bathe?"

Sirius chuckled, distracting himself as she helped him to a standing position and supporting his distressingly light weight. She could feel just how thin and bony he really had become. Molly and Poppy were going to have kittens once they got back to headquarters and saw the state their patient was in. Getting out the cell, Sirius grinned at Mary's handiwork.

"Barty!" he exclaimed with as much energy as he could muster. "Good to see you, old boy!"

The Death Eater violently strained against the ropes trapping him, the gag in his mouth muffling what were likely some very choice words for him.

"Couldn't quite hear you there," Sirius continued. "Ah well, you just sit right there and I'm sure someone will be along to get you. You did bring others with you, right?" He directed the last question at Mary, looking at her again as though he could hardly believe she was there.

"A whole assault team, love," Mary reassured him, filing away the thought to check him for drugs or head trauma, and not in jest either. His behavior heavily reminded her of the after effects of muggle anesthesia.

"Glad I'm important enough to warrant that," Sirius chuckled before turning his attention back to the bound Death Eater. "Be sure to give my regards to my cousin when you get back to Azkaban."

With that said, and without a backward glance at the prisoner, Mary and Sirius departed the cell block. The stairs were a bit tricky, considering his condition, but they managed. Mary couldn't wipe away the smile from her face, nor the joy exploding in her heart.

Emerging from the fort's main building, Sirius closed his eyes and just enjoyed, for a moment, the feeling of a light breeze. Opening his eyes, he couldn't stop the scowl that formed at the men and women in navy blue robes that were Apparating into the courtyard. A badge of gold bearing an eye with a star behind it were clipped to each of their robes' lapels.

"What are they doing here?" he growled.

"Jack called them I'm sure, love," Mary whispered, helping Sirius into a sitting position for a moment. Sirius pulled a face as he remembered that particular revelation from right before his capture.

"It was anticipated, love," she reassured her new fiancé. "There's a lot to catch you up on, Merlin knows, but Jack needs to keep up appearances with his employers." It wasn't exactly comforting to Sirius, and there would be a reckoning between the two men about keeping it secret for so long, but that could be for another day.

Remus and Tonks emerged from the main building, wands trained on a struggling Bartemius Crouch Jr., Shane and Jack following along behind them. Shane was missing his metal arm; blood stained the sleeve of his robes where it had been removed. Jack still had webbing clinging to his great coat and in his hair. Moody caught up to the remaining members of the original team, and while Mary couldn't hear what was said, she got the gist of what Moody was saying to the captured Death Eater when he punched him.

"I'm guessing that was for last year," Sirius chuckled weakly. Moody roughly picked up the Death Eater from the dirt and half dragged him over to where Gawain Robards was taking stock of the Prime Technologies prisoners with Aurors Hendricks and Pryce and a Department of Mysteries wizard. More Department of Mysteries Unspeakables were heading into the main building, no doubt to assist or talk with the other people Prime Technologies had held captive and experimented on. She hoped they had some way of dealing with any Corrupted they might encounter in the cells, but, as far as she was concerned, they could keep whatever they found. Sirius' Pensieve memories would be enough evidence if they ever got to the point of arresting Mallory. Remus and Tonks excused themselves from Moody and walked over to where Mary and Sirius were sitting.

Remus's arm was wrapped in blood stained bandages, and his robes were in tatters from whatever Corrupted he had been fighting. Tonks was in a similar state, a gash over her eye still oozing, and she was stepping gingerly like her foot or ankle were broken.

"You look like hell, Padfoot," Remus said.

"Then I'm still three times better looking than you," Sirius replied. Both men chuckled at the joke, the tension broken as Remus grabbed his fellow Marauder into a gentle hug.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, you can ease up there, Moony," Sirius groaned. His friend quickly let go and Tonks gave her cousin a quick hug as well. Sirius gave a weak smile, but it quickly vanished a woman he didn't know started moving towards them.

Blue eyes quietly judged the scene, her face framed by her long brunette hair with a gentle wave to it. She was wearing the same navy-blue robes as the other Department of Mysteries members, but he could tell she was higher up in the department. The silver earrings and black gemmed ring looked expensive, not to mention he could tell she had that aura of command about her. An aura of something else, too, a light shimmering around the edges of her image. Unless that was just the brightness of the sun against his weakened eyesight.

"Auror Black, I'm Helena Wells," greeted the woman. "We need to debrief you about your… experience while in captivity."

"Bugger all of that," Sirius mumbled.

"I beg your pardon," Helena remarked, an eyebrow quirking up. Sirius would have grinned at the woman's reaction if he had the energy for it. He was pretty sure that was the first time someone actually told this Department of Mysteries witch 'no.'

"I said BUGGER all of that," Sirius repeated. "I've been tortured in a cell for two months. There are only three things I want right now: a hot meal and shower, to sleep for a week, and to see my godson."

"It is utterly imperative that you are debriefed and sworn to secrecy," Helena stated coldly. Sternness glinted in her eye, and this time he was sure it came directly from her; she was facing away from the sun. That logic made sense, right? He couldn't think or concentrate fully right now, and the witch was still rambling on. "The security and safety of the wizarding world…"

"Can surely wait until after he is rested," Mary interrupted. Sirius turned his attention to his beautiful woman, eyeing her lovingly. "You have plenty of other prisoners to interrogate. If you would like, Miss Wells, I can have a copy of my report to Gawain sent to your office."

The Department of Mysteries witch scowled. "I shall be speaking with Director Bones about this," Helena answered, her blue eyes were ice cold.

"You do that," Mary said firmly. "Now that we have that all settled, I'm taking Sirius home. Remus? Tonks?"

"We'll help finish up here," Remus said. "Go on."

Nodding, Mary took Sirius's arm again, and with a last look of defiance at Helena Wells from the Marauder, she Apparated away from the fort. Reappearing in front of Grimmauld Place, Sirius allowed himself to sag against Mary from exhaustion and weakness. Even after he escaped Azkaban he had never felt so feeble in his life, but he had never loved her more, either. She was so pretty. His thoughts really were all over the place, weren't they? It was all Mary could do to hold him up so he didn't crumple onto the sidewalk. He was shaking from the exertion and a pallor was forming on his face.

"Help me up the stairs, pretty lady," he muttered. "I don't think I can get up them by myself."

"Of course," she said, giving him a smile. Together, Mary supporting his weight, they ascended the few stairs to the door. With a tap of her wand, the black door opened. She wasn't surprised in the slightest to see who was waiting. The happiness that sparked into those green eyes as they beheld Mary and Sirius could have conjured a hundred Patronuses.

"Sirius," Harry greeted. His voice choked on the last syllable and those green eyes were misty.

"Hey there pup," Sirius said, grinning despite himself. Mary gently shifted herself out from under Sirius's arm as Harry rushed forward. The two men embraced each other in a bear hug, tears streaming down both faces as they were reunited.

In that moment, Sirius could have climbed a hundred mountains. Harry swore he could have killed a hundred Dark Lords. Mary hugged them both as they cried.