Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Thanks to everyone who has followed, favourited, reviewed or read my story so far and special thanks to Grimlock987 who is the latest person to both favourite and follow my story.
Chapter Forty Two:
Back at Grimmauld Place, the morning and afternoon of Tuesday the eighth of August passed by slowly as many of the inhabitants of Number Twelve waited for news on Remus.
Mr Weasley, Jacob and Sirius had all gone in to work that morning explaining that they needed to keep busy in the effort to find Remus.
Hermione, Neville, Daphne, Astoria and Millicent had all managed to contact their parents. All of them used the floo network to speak with their parents except for Hermione who had to owl hers using Ron's owl Pigwidgeon.
The rest of that morning and the early afternoon was spent lazing about and not doing much. Harry and Lauren especially were not much in the mood for games of wizards chess, I-spy or exploding snap.
After a rather subdued lunch, Mrs Weasley and Mandy, who had the day off work, came to speak to the pair of them. They were kind but firm. "It's not good for any of you to sitting around moping or fretting over Remus" Mrs Weasley said.
"You all need something to keep your mind busy" Mandy added. "To that end, Molly had the idea that you can join her in cleaning up the house one room at a time and getting it into a liveable condition".
"But we won't be staying here will we?" Lauren seemed upset "what about the cottage?".
Mandy sighed. "Lauren love, I don't know when we'll be able to return there. First of all we'll need to put up new wards and then we'll need to make sure it's not still being watched by Death Eaters".
Harry, who was sat next to Lauren, gave her hand a squeeze and a reassuring look to show that he was concerned too. Lauren smiled at him appreciatively.
The rest of the afternoon was thus spent by the youngsters tidying up several rooms on the first floor to make them properly habitable to be slept in or used as bathrooms.
They had to deal with doxies on the curtains, nifflers inside bedside cabinets and chest of drawers and, on one occasion, they even had to deal with a rather nasty boggart which had changed into a rather large spider when in front of Ron. To give the redhead credit, he dealt with the boggart superbly. It was fortunate indeed, that the Ministry could not detect magic usage within Grimmauld Place, as it meant the group had each been able to confuse the boggart.
That evening as Harry sat at the table in the basement kitchen, the fireplace flared up and Harry's uncle Jacob stepped out followed soon after by Sirius and ten minutes later, Mr Weasley followed.
"Any luck?" Mandy asked from her position in front of the oven. Jacob, despite his obvious tiredness, nodded and seemed happy.
"We know where they're keeping him now" he said. He looked at Harry and Lauren and said "Dumbledore has agreed to the pair of you sitting in on the meeting about Remus. He'll even allow you to inform your friends what gets said. There is one condition however".
Harry's face fell. "condition?" he asked warily "what, exactly?".
"In exchange for the pair of you sitting in on this meeting, you are NOT to go off and do anything drastic to get Remus back. Dumbledore said, and I agree with him, that Remus wouldn't want either of you getting hurt for his sake".
"But...".
"Your word Harry" his uncle said severely.
Harry gritted his teeth "fine. I give you my word" he said reluctantly after some time.
Jacob turned to Lauren and raised an eyebrow. Lauren stared back at him stubbornly for a time before sighing and nodding. "Alright, I promise not to do anything reckless" she swore.
"And now uncross your fingers and say it again" Jacob said his lip twitching slightly.
Lauren huffed in frustration. "Alright, alright!, I promise I won't do anything to endanger myself!".
"Good" said Jacob as he went to sit down at the kitchen table. "The meeting will be held tomorrow night at eight o'clock to allow us to eat dinner first".
All further talk on meetings, Remus and reckless action was abandoned as Mrs Weasley and Mandy approached the table with several pots. When the lids were lifted, Harry smelt food that made his mouth water.
A quick inspection found that they had made a stew consisting of beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, swede, parsnip and herbs in a thick and rich gravy.
That evening, if not better, was at least more pleasant than the previous evening and most of that day had been and when Harry turned in for the night he felt glad that at last something was going to be done to help his uncle and that he would be involved. With these thoughts, he felt asleep.
Harry looked around him in surprise. The corridor he was standing in was very opulently decorated. Clearly, someone of immense wealth and power lived here.
As Harry continued to walk, he found himself entering another room. It seemed to be either a hall or if not a hall then some sort of vast dining room. It was imposing. A coat of arms stood proudly on one wall over a cold fireplace. The walls were oak panelled. The windows were stained glass and horrified Harry for they bore on them wizards and witches subduing unarmed people.
Harry heard a scream of pain. A scream so horrible it tore at his heart and made his insides turn to water.
He walked down the length of the room until he found himself level with what appeared to be a throne of some kind. Harry frowned. Was he in some sort of palace?.
He decided to see if anyone was sat in said throne and went around to the front. What he saw as he stood there, made him freeze in horror. Sitting casually as you like on the throne, was Voldemort, his red eyes glaring down malevolently at a figure who was hunched on the floor.
Voldemort had his wand pointed at the man and did not seem happy at all. "You do not refuse to tell Lord Voldemort information". Voldemort sneered at him "you will tell me or you will pay!".
"N...never" the figure on the floor croaked out. Harry looked closer at the figure was shocked and dismayed to see that it was Remus. He was stripped to the waist and bore numerous cuts, bruises and scars. Many of them seemed fresh. His nose was broken and his lip split. Obvious he'd been worked over by other wizards and witches before Voldemort had got to him.
"Tell me now!" Voldemort demanded heatedly.
"Go. To. Hell" Remus gasped defiantly, deliberately pronouncing each word.
"You do not speak to Lord Voldemort in such a way you filthy half-breed!". Voldemort sneered at Remus and shouted "crucio!".
Remus fell backwards writhing in agony.
Just then, Harry felt a hand upon him. The dream vanished, he sat up in bed and fumbled for his wand and glasses.
Once he'd slipped his glasses on he relaxed as he saw that it was only Ron. Neville was stood near him too, looking just as concerned as Ron did.
"Harry, you were thrashing about and moaning in your sleep" his best friend said. "It wasn't a vision of Voldemort was it?".
Harry took a sip of some water that was in a glass on his bedside table and put it back down shakily. At length, he nodded. "Yeah" he said. He shut his eyes for a moment as tears formed and he tried to hold them back.
When he opened them again he said emotionally "they're torturing him Ron, Neville, they're torturing Remus. They want some sort of information from him". He shook his head "I don't know what it was but Remus was refusing to give it to them".
Harry smiled slightly feeling proud of his uncle but the smile soon fell. "He was in such a bad way...". He sighed "if he doesn't give them the information soon I fear they'll...they'll kill him".
"You can't think like that Harry!" Neville said forcefully. The dark haired boy added "as long as he's alive, there's always a chance".
Harry knew that Neville was not only talking about Remus but about his parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom who had been long time patients at St Mungo's as a result of a Death Eater attack when Neville was only a year and a half old.
Harry thought about what Neville had said and decided that his friend was right. 'I can't give in to despair. I just can't" he told himself firmly. He had to stay strong. His cousin was bound to be even more upset than him.
The pain was unbearable. It flared up every part of Remus' body and it hurt to even breathe.
"I will break you Remus John Lupin" Voldemort stated coldly. Remus wanted to stare back defiantly but he could barely focus.
"N...no!" Remus moaned hoarsely.
Voldemort chuckled. The sound was cold and made Remus shiver all over. "You think you will defy me. You will not. I will invade your mind, take it over and you will do my bidding. You will kill Harry Potter".
N...n...never" Remus moaned weakly. He was losing the strength to resist. His free will faded as well with every curse, every hex and every invasion of his mind.
Remus knew that unless someone saved him soon, then he would be turned. 'If that happens' he thought bleakly 'they may not be able to turn me back'.
Eventually, Remus was thrown roughly back into the cellar. He was once again chained and left to rot. He had lost track of the time. His stomach rumbled hungrily and he was beginning to hallucinate through lack of water. If this carried on, he'd be too delirious to resist Voldemort.
He wanted to cry in frustration at the whole thing. Where was Jacob? where was Sirius? where was Dumbledore? did they know where he was? when would they save him?.
The rest of the day went by in a rush and on the evening of the fourth of August, Harry found himself and Lauren sitting in on their first meeting with the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry found himself feeling grateful to Dumbledore for allowing he and his cousin to attend given their age.
"I thank you all for coming tonight as I know so many of you are busy with work and...other commitments". As Dumbledore said the last part of his sentence he stared at a bald headed man opposite him who shrugged and grinned. Harry knew the man as Mundungus Fletcher. He was a friend of both Sirius and Remus having known them from their Hogwarts days.
Harry's Uncle Jacob didn't much trust him, hardly surprising as the man was a thief and rather dodgy trader.
"I turn first to the man who I have tasked to find out the most key part of our information" Dumbledore said before turning towards a man who made Harry scowl.
He still had no idea why Dumbledore had invited such a man into the Headquarters of the Order and even less idea why the old wizard trusted Snape so much, especially given his past as a Death Eater.
Snape stood up, cleared his throat and said in a flat, emotionless voice "through my interrogation of Wormtail, I have learned that Lupin is being held securely at Malfoy Manor where Voldemort is temporarily residing. He is being held in a jail like section of the cellars".
Harry felt angry at the indifference Snape was showing to Remus' plight and was about to say so when Sirius got in first. "You really don't care do you" the curly haired wizard shook his head. "He could die and you're speaking like he's in no greater danger than crossing the road".
Harry watched the exchange as Snape turned towards his godfather, raised an eyebrow and said "you would be right about that Black, I don't personally care. But despite my animosity towards you and your friend I am keeping the Order informed as per the request of Headmaster Dumbledore".
Sirius stood up, wand in hand and ready to duel. "He's twice the man you'll ever be Snivellous!" he shouted.
Dumbledore stood up and motioned with his hands to the two wizards who were glaring daggers at each other. "Gentlemen please" he said calmly. Two wizards continued to glare as he said "we are here to speak about Remus and how to free him. Not to bicker about events in the past or about rivalries".
Slowly, reluctantly, the two men sat down and Dumbledore said, in a relieved voice, "thank you gentlemen".
He looked at each person at the table one by one before turning to Snape. "Severus, I believe you also have information on who is guarding the entrance to the manor".
Snape nodded. "Indeed Professor" he said in a soft, clear voice. He reached into a pocket of his robes and withdrew what seemed to Harry to be a rolled up bit of parchment.
When the man unfolded it, Harry gaped in surprise, for it was clearly the layout a house and its grounds. He couldn't stand Snape but for once he did have to admire the mans courage.
Snape began gesturing at various points. "There area here" he tapped his index finger at one spot where there was a gate "is the front gate and despite being the obvious way in is the only actual entrance for outsiders" he informed them.
He pointed at various other sections of the map. "The rest of the house and grounds are surrounded by thick, wide hedges, a hundred feet high and forty feet thick, with repelling charms for anyone not personally invited to Malfoy Manor as a guest".
Harry looked at his godfather and noticed that Sirius was staring thoughtfully at the map. His fight with Snape forgotten it seemed, Sirius spoke "how many guards are on the gate Sni...Snape?".
Snape seemed to bristle at the brief lapse but then sighed and replied by pointing at the gate "there are only two men right now. The guard in shifts".
The next words he spoke made Harry's blood boil. "Peter Pettigrew is one of the men. The other is Igor Karkaroff". Snape snorted as he mentioned Karkaroff's name "no doubt he's attempting to redeem himself in the eyes of the Dark Lord". Snape shook his head "he doesn't seem to remember who he's dealing with. The Dark Lord never gives second chances to those who betray him. He'll use Karkaroff until his usefulness ends and then...".
Snape left the last part hanging and Harry was sure that all within the room could well guess what a dark wizard like Voldemort would do to a follower who betrayed him.
"So only one way in...and the same way out" Sirius mused. He sighed and threw his hands up "Remus is the one who's good at planning" he said after a moment.
Jacob spoke then, jumping in on the pause after Sirius' sentence. "I think we need three teams of wizards and witches. One to deal with Voldemort. The second to deal with the gate guard or guards and the Malfoy's and the third team to rescue Remus".
Most everyone was nodding at this plan. Even Snape, though the man seemed loath to say anything positive.
"As that is the case, I will assign teams now, assuming that everyone around this table is happy to be involved".
Everyone except Snape nodded. Usually, Harry would have been annoyed at that but this time he understood as the potions master could not be seen openly to help them or his cover as a spy would be blown.
"Arthur, Jacob and Sirius, you will take the team that rescues Remus. The other two teams will hold off all opponents enabling you to escape, before making it to the gates and disapparating once outside the grounds".
Dumbledore gestured to Harry's Aunt Mandy. "Mandy, as current Head of Magical Transportation, will have a portkey ready for the four of you to use as I doubt Remus will be in any fit state to travel by sidealong apparition".
Harry shuddered at these words, wondering just how bad of a state his uncle would be in when rescued from his captivity.
"The three teams will be as follows" he informed them "team one will be Sirius, Arthur and Charlie Weasley". The three men nodded acknowledgement as Dumbledore said "they will be responsible for actually rescuing Remus".
He looked at the three men. "You are to ignore everything else and head straight for the cellars and get Remus out. Once you have him, you head to the gates with the portkey and you get out of there, no delaying, understood?".
The three men voiced affirmatively their agreement and Dumbledore continued "the second team shall consist of Hestia Jones, Nymphadora Tonks...".
"Wotcher!" said a bright face witch with pink hair. Harry caught her eye and she grinned at him. He smiled back. Tonks had always been great fun and acted like a big sister to him.
"...Alastor Moody and Elphias Doge". Dumbledore informed them before stating "you're objective will be to deal with any guards at the gate and secure it for the rescue party's escape".
They all nodded understanding and so Dumbledore came to the final team. "And the final team will consist of myself, Minerva McGonagall, Dedalus Diggle, Mundungus Fletcher, Bill Weasley and Sirius Black. Our job will be to deal with Voldemort...".
Several people flinched but Dumbledore did not appear to notice "...if he is there and, of course, to suppress any opposition by the Malfoy's to our unauthorised visit" he said with faint smile "once Remus has been taken safely out of the grounds and portkeyed back here, we shall retreated along with team two and apparate to either here, or if injured, to Hogwarts where Madame Pomfrey will be on standby to treat us if needed".
Dumbledore looked around the table. "I am afraid that I shall be quite busy with staff meetings and paperwork for the next few days and so the rescue operation will have to take place at night on the seventh of August".
Harry was horrified at such a long wait in-between and would have said so, were it not for a look from Dumbledore.
"That is all for now, meeting dismissed. Thank you once again for coming and will those on the rescue teams please note that you must be here at midnight on the eighth".
The meeting broke up and many people left. A few, those close to the Potter and Weasley families, stayed for supper.
As the kitchen emptied of people, Dumbledore walked slowly over to Harry and held up a hand as Harry went to speak. "I'm sorry my boy" he said simply.
Harry was stunned. An adult apologising for a mistake?. "I truly wish that we could mount the operation sooner but I am having to head off Minister Fudge and a dangerous new idea he has in the works".
Harry raised an eyebrow so Dumbledore explained. "The Hogwarts liaison that the Minister wished to install at Hogwarts School, would report back to him on anything she felt wasn't being done right and the Minister would then potentially change such an issue using legislation".
"But she won't hold any power over the staff or students will she?". Harry felt outraged at the idea of some outsider coming in a ruining the school.
Dumbledore shook his head. "At first, no" he replied and then sighed heavily "but alas, that state of affairs will not last long if I know Fudge as well as I think I do" he said.
"It is only a matter of time before he names her to a new position, one with the ability to make changes directly to policy, procedure, the curriculum even".
"But you can stop it right?" Harry asked anxiously.
Dumbledore sighed again. "I am trying Harry. truly I am, but Fudge is a stubborn man as you've seen by the stance he has taken against ourselves and Cedric Diggory over the graveyard resurrection".
"Why is he so opposed to us Professor?" Harry really couldn't understand it. It was feeling like Fudge had some kind of personal vendetta against the three of them.
"Fear is the answer Harry" the old wizard said after a moments silence. "Fear of Voldemort, fear of what Voldemort would do if returned to power. Fear of having to be the one to inform the wizarding public of what has happened".
"You can't leave Uncle Remus there!" came a loud, angry voice. Harry and Dumbledore around warily to see Harry's blonde haired cousin storming towards them. Harry looked up at Dumbledore and swore he could see the normally calm wizard, gulp.
"They could be doing anything to him there! he needs our help" Lauren shouted.
"I understand your feelings Lauren, I absolutely do but...".
"There are no buts. Nothing can excuse leaving him there to be tor...tor..." he voice caught as she croaked "tortured". She shook her head as tears began to fall and she began to sob.
Speaking between the sobs she said. "He's my godfather Professor, I just want him to be safe".
Harry pulled his cousin into a fierce hug and held on strongly as he reassured her "Professor Dumbledore and the others know what they're doing Lauren, trust them and Moony will be back safe soon".
"Your cousin is quite correct Lauren" Dumbledore said softly. "We shall get Remus out of that manor house and to safety where he will be cared for. You have my word".
Lauren looked up at him "do you really mean that?" she asked hopefully.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at her. "My dear Miss Potter, I never say anything that I do not mean". He looked at Harry "isn't that so my boy?".
"He's right Lauren. The Professor doesn't lie, you can trust him".
Eventually, Lauren nodded, pulled away from Harry, wiped her eyes and said "thank you Professor".
Dumbledore smiled at her. "You are quite welcome Lauren. I shall bid you good night".
Dumbledore turned to Harry "and a good night to you too Harry".
The old wizard turned on his heel, his high heeled boots clacking off the flagstone floor of the kitchen as he strode towards the staircase.
As the Headmaster walked out of sight, Harry breathed out just four words "thank god for Dumbledore".
The night of the sixth of August.
Malfoy Manor:
The pain by now was unbearable in both Remus' mind and his body. He hoped deep within his soul that Voldemort would not torture him again for he was sure that he would crack. That Voldemort would take over his mind.
He heard movement in the dark. Familiar footsteps approached the door. Keys jangled in the lock. The door swung open with a clang and footsteps echoed off the stone floor of the cellar as the traitor approached him.
"Up you get Remus" the voice was high pitched and taunting. Hands grasped him under the arms as his chains were removed. He was dragged across the cellar. He had neither the strength nor the will to resist further.
Remus was thrown down on his hands and knees in front of the now familiar throne in the rooms centre. He just barely managed to restrain himself from crying out.
"Tonight I break you Remus John Lupin" said the cold voice of Voldemort. "You shall do my bidding and destroy Harry Potter, forever".
Remus was so weak he couldn't say anything. He couldn't fight. He couldn't refuse. He tried to stand and promptly fell back to the floor.
Voldemort stood up and stepped down from his throne. He walked over to Remus and gazed down at him looking thoughtful. Remus dully saw a wand being pointed at him before he felt a sharp pain in his skull. It was as if someone was attempting to slice into it.
Moments of his life flashed before his eyes. Many of them included Sirius, James, Pettigrew the rat or Harry.
It soon became evident that Voldemort was centering on the one thing he always centred on. Harry.
"Harry Potter is your enemy. Harry Potter must die. Harry Potter must be destroyed. You must kill Harry Potter Remus. I command it. Your Master commands it". The voice went on incessantly.
Something snapped inside Remus' mind as all thoughts fled him to be replaced with the one thought. The one belief. He must kill Harry Potter. His Master commanded it.
Faintly, he whispered two words in response "yes Master".
Voldemort looked satisfied. He motioned to a familiar wizard. "Take Remus back to his cell" he said with a cold smile "we don't want that old fool to get suspicious when he's not in the cellar now do we?".
Remus felt himself being taken back across the hall and down the cellar steps. All the while as he was taken back, the one thought swirled about inside his mind. It had become obsession. 'I must kill Harry Potter. My Master commands it'.
The next two days were agony for Harry and the rest of the occupants of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Harry, Lauren and the other spent the time practising their spell work and working mastering new spells.
On the morning of the seventh, Harry received a response to a letter that he'd written to Daphne on day after they'd arrived at Grimmauld Place. She was overjoyed to hear that he was safe and that the others were also. She said that she missed him, loved him and wished she could see him before the new term.
Harry wished with all his heart that this would be possible but knew for a certainty that the Order would not chance such a meeting. Reluctantly, he told her that while he hoped they could, it didn't seem likely. He made sure in his reply, to let her know he loved her and missed her, which was absolutely true. He missed Daphne so much it felt like his heart had been ripped out of its chest ever since she had returned to her family home the same night they had arrived.
That night at midnight, the kitchen was very crowded. Harry, Lauren, Ron and Ginny were sat around the kitchen table along with Fred and George as they watched the rescue teams talking with Molly and Mandy before leaving the kitchen to head to their apparition point.
When it came time for Harry's godfather and his uncle to leave, he hugged them both tightly and demanded that they return in one piece or he'd hex them himself.
As the clock struck one, the kitchen was empty save for Harry, Ron, Ginny, Lauren, Fred and George and Mrs Weasley and Mandy who were talking over by the oven.
"Right, come on you lot, time for bed" Mrs Weasley chided as she chivvied them out of their chairs.
Mandy did the same. "But I won't be able to sleep" Harry protested.
"Can't we stay up Mum?" Lauren pleaded. "Please!" she added desperately.
"You lot need your sleep" Mandy said firmly and was backed up by Mrs Weasley who added "you won't be in any fit state to greet Remus when he returns unless you're all fresh from a nice long sleep".
They gave up protesting and headed up the stairs. They said goodnight to each other and entered their rooms, closing the doors and leaving the two adults on the landing.
Half an hour went by as Harry and Ron waited in their room for the tell tale sign of Mrs Weasley and Mandy closing their bedroom doors.
Harry and Ron gathered up pillows and their duvets, headed out onto the landing and promptly met Fred, George, Lauren and Ginny. "Ground Floor living room I reckon tonight" said George as he took charge.
The Twins led the way along the landing and down the stairs as they reached the living room without incident. They turned over some of the sofa's creating two dens next to each other and settled down under their duvets, heads resting comfortably on their pillows.
Fred and George left for a short time and returned laden down with trays containing snacks and hot chocolate and the group talked into the small hours of the morning on matters great and inconsequential as they waited for sleep to claim them, taking comfort from each other.
Knowing his cousin needed comfort, Harry allowed Lauren to snuggle in to him. Eventually, sleep overcame Harry as his eyelids closed fully and he entered the world of dreams.
Instead of nightmares, he dreamed of happy things. He dreamed of the times Sirius and Remus would play football with him. He dreamed of Remus helping teach him to read and Remus explaining to him, Lauren and their friends about the different flora, fauna and wildlife as he took them on nature rambles.
As the early hours of the morning ticked by, Harry slept on, engulfed by his happy dreams and blissfully unaware of the threat that would soon await him from the most unlikely source.