Chapter 25 The Muggleborn Rescue Project Pt. 2
Sirius lands on unsteady feet at just outside the burrow. "no no no NO!" he waits his hands grasping bits of earth. He had lost her again; he turned an engagement ring between his thumb and forefinger in his jacket the disorientation from the curciatus curse lingering. He wretches painfully cursing in the most colorful way he can think of. His hands form fists, he had apparated back the front of the house soon after leaving but Hermione and all else were already long gone. He had only gone to the burrow because he didn't know where else to go, and he was hoping Remus would some kind of idea, any one would do.
Sirius observes, in the near distance Harry, Ginny and Fred who seemed to be covered in blood be ushered inside by Molly. The ignorance that they had resided in, the bubble of safety, had burst. He itched to at least assure the safety of Harry, be the one to tell Remus about Tonks, but he knew what came next.
"Sirius old boy. You know how this goes "Arthur greeted him before pointed his wand unhesitatingly in his direction, "what was the first thing I ever said to you" . Arthur Weasley asks the question sure and unweaving but despite knowing the answer Sirius struggles to answer. It is on the tip of his tongue, but he just can't reach it. Arthus steps closer, almost dangerously. Faltering on an identification question was dangerous ground.
Remus jumps in, he too is covered in blood, his eyes lit golden and is nursing a brusing cheekbone with a raw steak, there is no doubt the wolf would also eat it later. "Merlins sake, Arthur, he's clearly suffered some kind of curse, but you know him" Remus attempts to reason but Arthur doesn't waver, he is adamant at following protocol.
"My boy is missing bloody ear so Sirius Better gather his wits and answer the question "Arthur responds with a sharpness that was almost foreign in the usually joy man. Sirius let out a laugh, a dry but loud laugh.
Arthur has his eyes narrowed and at this close proximity Sirius can tell the stress, the exhaustion he was under. Or that he had just laughed at his sons injury, both possible, either way he was red with anger.
"it was the first order meeting, you told me that Walberga must bloody hate my arse" Sirius manages to force out the words, his tongue felt tied and the wolds was spinning.
"well, right I was I innit" Arthur responds but the voice feels faraway. The men entered to door and locked it, Sirius warding the entry, an unusual precaution, only a mumbled "it's been a bad night "as an explanation". It had, and Sirius had the feeling it was only about to get worse.
He wipes blood off his brow, blood he cannot determine the origin, but he tried not to think on it too hard. He pulls his hair back and out of his face and has to restrain the urge to rip his hair out. It felt so useless at this debriefing, he wanted to be out there getting her back. He probably would be, if he knew where to look. The urge to show up at Malfoy manner and blow some stuff up is prominent and he barely manages to restrain himself.
Sirius joins the group in the sitting room, curling up near the fire in the form of padfoot. Remus pats him comfortingly and Sirius is thankful for his friendship especially now. She wasn't just his friend, and Remus undoubtedly at noticed her absence.
"Tea or cake?" Molly offers passing a dish 'round. "we're just waiting on Tonks and moody now. Sirius barks and grows loudly, barring his teeth.
"Molly," starts Remus an eyebrow raised "why don't we start, I'll catch them up later" he offers to which she nods taking a seat. Remus bites into a cake with a satisfied smile.
"Fred, honey why don't you start" Molly requests which colors the boy's cheeks red, but he speaks nevertheless, the room feels cold and empty despite the crowd.
"we were ambushed, there were only dead bodies when we arrived, even a few of the kids Blacks group were supposed to retrieve" he glared, and Sirius let him, soon the dead students would be the least of his worries.
"At least we didn't lose any of our own, lost me ear though, we were spotted in Surry and I was hit by something nasty. But I suppose the ladies still appreciate a one-eared bloke" Molly hit him on the shoulder and the group laughed. Sirius felt ill at the joke.
Sirius, now in human form prepared to speak. "What do you mean six. Fred" He speaks slowing, he had been told one. One girl. It hadn't made sense why they had sent three order members for one girl, but he hadn't questioned it. "There were supposed to be six" the response came quick. Sirius hands shook and the room spun. He hadn't just killed one girl, but possibly six, he held back the bile the buildup in the back of his throat. "Tonks told us one, we only looked for one, we saw her killed, the girl".
The ground became unstable under his feet and Sirius slumped down to the floor.
Sirius tries to articulate well, but the words just spill past his lips "We were set up, betrayed. We've had a traitor in our midst- Tonks. She betrayed us and led the death eaters right to us. And Hermione…she told me to leave and I didn't want to but there's nothing I could do" His face twists in anguish. So concerned in his own pain that he misses Remus face paling and his fists tightening. The faces of the others are shocked, appalled but it is Fred who asks the question, "where is Hermione, Sirius, where Is Hermione!"
"I'm getting there" Sirius hisses glaring at him and continues. "Moody was the first to go, saved Hermione's life but gone all the same. Quick and painless, if you've got to go its best I suppose." He thinks about the explosion and then to the girl who had a long painful death. He can almost see her young face, her hair matted with blood.
"how do you know Dora betrayed us" It is Remus who asks the question quietly with barely masked emotion, and this is the one Sirius doesn't want to answer. He had known they were shacking up, but he hadn't suspected her to be anything but an aurror fighting for their side.
"She cast curio on me and seemed quite chummy with Bellatrix Lestrange, if you have another answer I'm all ears." Sirius replied more bitter, more anger than Remus deserves. Remus remains silent, having no answer, no reason to give.
"What about Hermione "Fred asked again, impatient his eyes wild. Sirius had known the two had been friends, but he had half the mind to fight the boy for the possessive way he talked about Hermione. He had to remind himself that she was not his, not yet at least
"I escaped when hermione saved me from another crucio that would have killed me. The witch shoved me down a flight of stairs" Sirius looks annoyed. "we go to get her help, she doesn't have long before they realize how important she is" he confirmed frantically.
There is a long pause and Sirius hopes they are thinking, composing strategies, he is wrong. They are shocked to silence, no one had been taken before, that is, no one had been taken alive.
"I'm sorry Black but there gone" Sounds a voice bitterly and Sirius is at his throat before he's finished his sentence. Sirius sees only red and despite his shakey ability to stand up straight he comes for Snape.
"I'm going to kill you" Sirius growelds his wand biting into Snapes Adam's apple. "I didn't know. Not until I was with you and her, I didn't know" Sirius blood is boiling, he wanted to set snape on fire, to throw his fist in the wall. He wanted to decimate buildings, but they would not help get her back. "What a crap spy are you" Sounds Remus and Sirius is reminded that they are all there watching him.
"I didn't want to hurt her. "speaks snape trying to prove his continued worthiness "I couldn't do anything, not without breaking my cover" Sirius glares at him.
"Is she not worth breaking cover" He asks, knowing the question is unfair.
"She wouldn't want me to" Snape replies, guilt evident on her face.
"tell me she's at least still alive, or I swear -" Sirius begins
"She's alive. She passed out after you left and they apparated leaving me behind." Continued Snape " I looked for a while, but I couldn't find her. I looked everywhere I could think of I swear" Sirius nodded. "I bbb-elieve you sniviliousss" In these words Sirius language is slurred, and he sways for a moment.
"you absolute idiot" cursed Snape reaching into his pockets and administering potions forcibly down Sirius throat. "Stupid mutt" he curses but Sirius doesn't correct him only looks at him questioningly, "why are you helping me?" he asks to which Snape responds almost immediately,
"Because she would kill me if you got yourself killed and I'm going to need you when we find her"
"when" questions Sirius, now supported by Remus
"when" affirms snape.