(A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews, in this chapter I know Diggle doesn't talk to Harry very much until later in the books but I'm playing fast and loose with canon so in this think of Diggle as a very enthusiastic fan of Harry's and they've chatted multiple times in the past. Also in the books there are only so many names Death Eaters but there are many followers beyond his council, etc.)


Chapter 15: Thinking Better
By BelovedWithKindness

Dumbledore looked every bit of his age as the twins stood in the office with the elderly wizard, a tearful Hagrid sat at a loss over the deceased house elf and McGonagall paced unsure of what to do, and a letter had been sent to Moody. After a quick examination they'd determined the house elf had been murdered via the charming of sharp shards from one of the hallway bins, how awful a thing and no one could think over worrying after that. Poor Mipsy.

The dread over Severus' location and condition multiplied infinitely over every millisecond he continued to remain missing, whatever bastard killed Mipsy didn't want Albus to be on alert or informed, but wouldn't a typical note actually be better? raise less worry? Unless…someone was scared, an extra precaution in case Severus knew he was walking into a trap. Albus doubted Severus could have known, there had been no tells, but they knew not to underestimate the potions master and so they likely intercepted the message just in case.

But someone would have needed access to the castle, someone who went unseen. is there a mole? or…someone in disguise? All of these concerns had Albus explain they had been worried of a mole for a while and afraid to gather too many people despite the emergency, he didn't know whom he could trust. The twins' hearts felt gnawed on and torn to shreds as though a chew toy for the cerberus Fluffy, wishing they knew what to do in this situation but instead felt so helpless, their precious Slytherin likely dead or fighting for his life.

After much discussion and so few leads it was ridiculous they were tempted ti just start questioning known allies of the dark lord for something, anything that could help. But that was too dangerous for now, so it came down to questioning every little detail of the last few weeks and the majority of answers had to come from the pair of Weasleys considering the time they spent with the missing wizard.

It was difficult to say the least trying to sieve through memories with the mess in their heads but being their only shot they focused on answering what they could. "Has anyone been acting odd lately? Did Severus mention anything to you about anyone acting oddly, even the littlest bit?" asked Dumbledore, seemingly trying to use Severus' keen eye even when he wasn't around.

Fred and George looked to each other, racking their brains for any mention, even the tiniest note of strange behaviour "no, nothing significant…" Fred started to answer when a whisper of a memory started to surface, George's mind also kicked into gear as both chimes "unless…"

"Unless?" Albus urged on, Minerva and Rubeus watching on hoping for some kind of lead.

"It was nothing really, Severus just mentioned that Diggle had been rude to him is all, real strange, looked pissed off which isn't much like him" George found the words and the more he thought on it Severus had been keeping his eye on the usually cheery wizard, more trying to figure him out than necessarily suspicious but if he'd had more time…maybe he'd have figured out something very wrong with the man. "You don't think Diggle could have…?"

With a weary sigh Albus spoke "do I think Diggle killed this poor elf? No. But I do believe it possible this Diggle isn't our usual Diggle? it's certainly worth a look at least…"


"You want me to do what now?" Harry looked at the brother's thoroughly baffled.

"Just talk to Diggle" Fred said quietly and deliberately, as though it were the simplest request in the world and not at all complicated in any way.

"Uh huh…and to converse with him in a seemingly private place, ask him things he should already definitely know and have you spy on it?" he recapped.

"…Yes."

"Why?" Harry asked slightly tired of their evasive words, it wasn't that they were against telling him the truth, though the less he knew the less suspicious he might seem, but they were also beyond restless and this was their one clue.

"Harry," George tried, calming himself to spend some time explaining pushing against the desire to just beg him to do it "he goes nuts around you, super excited…we just want to see if he's himself. ask him things only he knows…" The look of realisation on Potter's face was obvious to see and before he could ask if there may be a spy pretending to be Diggle the twins just said in unison "the less you know the better" and Fred chiming a "its very important and we'll be right there waiting if anything goes wrong."

Ignoring that he never got his full answer of why he asked only one question further "if Diggle isn't Diggle…is he dangerous?"

"Potentially, we don't know exactly who we might be dealing with, we need to find that out…"


The twins watched carefully from their hiding spot, Diggle coming their way and Potter ready to intercept, a 'coincidental' bumping into an acquaintance, but as they watched the younger student walk and lock eyes with the eccentric little man instead of the enthusiastic series of handshakes he usually gave instead he was given a polite "Mr Potter" and no more than a nod as he went to move on. Definitely not himself.

The red haired pair and to not jump to conclusions and stay patient as they watched Harry actively stop the man for a friendly chat, though form the body language the short man appeared unenthused but seemed to switch on a polite chatting manner. After not receiving many answers from the man, his words clipped and evasive the student knew something was wrong and grew increasingly suspicious, so braved a trap.

"How are the driving lessons coming on? Heard you were going for a muggle make, with all those buttons I'd get right muddled" Harry laughed sheepishly, if it was the real diggle he was in no danger if his words were unusual, it may even be taken as teasing for when Diggle shared how he would never be able to drive a car finding all the knobs and buttons confusing, he also certainly never talked of or started any lessons to speak of.

"Well enough, lessons are on hold for now as I'm rather busy, I'm sure you'll get the hand of all those buttons eventually it isn't too tricky…" Got him. Harry signalled to the twins and said slowly "that's funny, I was only teasing, you actually started lessons?" stalling enough time before 'Diggle's' brows creased as he processed the trickery and before he could think of an excuse or reach into his wand Fred had cast an immobilising spell and George had cast a silencing spell on the mole before taking out a book he used to appraise the three of them away. Harry was left to wonder just what the hell he'd been roped into all so suddenly in the lonely street before shaking his head and making his own sweet way back to the castle.


Once the spy was transported to the Castle in one of the many private rooms 'Diggle' was forced a potion down his throat and the tiny unique man changed in an unpleasantly bulbous manner into Goyle Sr, father of Gregory Goyle. It was no surprise, Severus having found out the man was a Death Eater long ago but more useful gullibly offering information than exposed he had gone unpunished until now. The newly revealed plump man was immobilised on a sofa, face red with anger and strain trying to break free and his wand was confiscated for good measure too.

In the room with him stood Albus Dumbledore, the twins and Alastor Moody, Minerva covering the headmaster and Hagrid respectfully dealing with poor dear Mipsy. The fat man eventually ceased struggling and aggressively spat at the twins instead, thoroughly indignant at their capturing of him "a pair of Weasley's, unhand me this instant" but of course the order held no authority.

But rather than looking to the elders for guidance the twins were more than prepared for what might be a violent information gathering and with a seriousness rooted in every fear for their beloved the twins stared down at their captive and Fred warned "Mr Goyle, I wouldn't bother trying to escape, and everyone knows you're a coward. So tell us why you are here…or between ourselves, the headmaster and Moody I think you're in for a painful time."

Gulp.


A sudden wave of nausea was ignored with some difficulty, but the taste of blood did scream at his tongue and teeth as Severus tried to control his breathing. He hadn't moved from the cellar he was caged in, but had been further tortured for information much to his captor's dismay they had gotten nothing from him. He even regularly took potions and ingredients to stave off truth inducing potions or elixirs to make him loose lipped, he was good for a week at least and he doubted they would keep him that long. He either had to escape or he would be killed. But they would not receive any information from him.

He refused. No matter if they broke his ribs, which they had, one eye bruised shut, which it was, bruises and slashes all over him, which they were, hair and clothes soaked in blood and sweat, which clung to his skin, or hours of curses, which he had endured. He had only seen the Dark Lord when he was first ambushed, a couple of curse spells as punishment so strong he'd thought his head might implode from the pain and next he knew he was in this dark place. He'd gathered that Voldemort was likely engaged in other matters for the moment so he had placed the responsibility of his imprisonment to many of his followers just for safety until he could deal with it himself. At least that was what he could surmise from the few torturers without strong Occlumency.

So he had time. There were only, what? dozens of extremely loyal and powerful wizards? So…there was a chance. A near impossible chance, but a chance. Through his near delirious state, from a mixture of exhaustion, blood loss and dehydration, he had picked up a few things. The Death Eaters were not motivated by more than pride, a.k.a. wanting to punish a traitor, reduce the risk of their secrets meeting their real lives, and a desperate need to impress and not disappoint their leader. Should the Voldemort return and a large number of followers be unable to pull any information from one captured wizard? Pathetic.

There also didn't seem to be any one particular leader, Bellatrix likely yelling the loudest and threatening the most in the Lord's absence but she would find herself opposed on many an occasion. Overall he might find the number of guards and measures put out for him in fear of his skills slightly flattering if he weren't so terribly disadvantaged. His one comfort came from knowing no one knew of him and the twins, no one would search to kill them to hurt him in spite. But he needed to get back to them, he might have resigned himself before but so long as there was breath in his lungs he had to try.

Think. Think harder. Think better.

It was then one of the Death Eaters entered the cellar, he didn't torture, he seemed to just check up on him more than anything else. It was odd really, they usually taunted or punched him or…something. Why was this guy so regularly checking in?

He was an upper-middle-class pureblood, wholly uninteresting, had an extensive knowledge of plants and loves to talk at length in his dreary voice about all the unique ones from his travels. Trying to think of anything that might be helpful, racking his brain but struggling, he really was a frightfully boring person and so monotone he was a pain to listen to. 'An algae that will mimic your hiccups', nope…not helpful. 'A corn that wants to be eaten by unicorns so badly it just drops from its stem for them', not that either, 'a deadly vine that loves music.'

A deadly vine that loves music…well fucking hallelujah.

So the man was checking if the vines were getting too close to crushing him, now that he thought of it there had been a particularly close moment earlier and he'd been put under a sleeping spell, likely only a few minutes to find his confines loosened slightly. That had to be it.

Overall the Death Eaters were a little predictable, he could only guess that it was evening the day after his capture, Bellatrix was his most frequent visitor and it had been a while so she was likely hosting the function she'd had scheduled. Otherwise the followers had a burst or two in them of anger and beyond that they were just on guard duty or making some attempt to get information out of him, luckily he seemed to be in the 'let him stew' part of their tactics. He couldn't be exact in his timing but he knew once certain people had been and gone he would have a not insignificant window.


With a heavy thunk the door to the cellar closed shut and Severus found his moment, though at first he struggled to find his voice. Many coughs, the taste of blood and vines tightening later he eventually cleared enough to hum. And though the vines seemed more forgiving while he hummed they did not surrender their grip, taking in a risky deep breath he began to sing. Luckily no one seemed to hear him and slowly the vines twisted and loosened mostly free of him, thorns tugging and tearing as they left his flesh..

Able to stand on shaky legs though still in some binds his voice choked dry for a moment, breaking the melody and immediately the vines started to coil again and quickly he forced himself to sing again, weakly and close to a whimper but it would suffice until he could stumble free. Dragging one injured leg hurriedly as he moved to the other side of the room hidden in pitch black he caught his breath, the vines without prey in their hold just curled up around the chair and reserved its energy.

He'd gotten out of his 'chains', good, but he couldn't just walk up stars, enemies would be waiting for him and the door itself likely trapped or alarmed, he does have some wandless magic, but he was so tired, so sore and all kinds of injured. Chances were he wasn't making it out of this, frankly he had always imagined things might go like this, he'd been prepared for it for years, some gruesome humiliating slow demise or something shockingly sudden at the hands of the enemy.

He didn't want to die. That was normal. But he had a realistic expectation that he would, and he had for the longest time accepted this fate. That had…changed. He didn't want to go, he didn't want the twins to miss him, he wanted to see them again and spend any time he could possibly afford with them. He needed to try - no matter what.

And just as he considered his options he heard someone descend the stairs, flat shoes from the sound of it and luckily the snare like plant was so bundled up and the room so dark it wasn't immediately noticeable he was free. Severus didn't have his wand but he did have duelling practice including some of the practical, and what wandless magic he could muster would have to do for now.


Goyle had talked like his life depended on it, which perhaps it could have given the glares from the twins, and they'd come to know Severus was being kept in an old Rosier property and the place would be swarming with Death Eaters. The twins were not the most experienced with these kinds of missions but Moody was leading the advance along with Hestia Jones and Sturgis Podmore, and their training from Severus had been extensive. He clearly had wanted them to be as prepared as possible to defend themselves.

Memories of Severus flooded their minds for a moment, whether it was training or talking about the shop, dates or the more intimate things, that very private but genuine smile just for them. Shaking those thoughts free they had to remain clear headed and follow Moody's lead as they neared the property. From the outside it looked almost abandoned, but it likely had a fireplace inside so they could travel unseen, no doubt crawling with people, and hopefully one very special person.