Framed, Defamed and Dismembered
Chapter 51
Thursday, July 17
When the Order was informed of the news of Harry leaving home during the next meeting, their reactions were mixed. While the adults were concerned, the younger members were upset with Harry for having abandoned them. With the full moon that night and only hours left before his transformation, Remus was feeling exceptionally annoyed with everyone while the verbal fight ensued.
"What sort of an idiot risks his life by running away into the open when he's the one person You-Know-Who wants to finish off the most?" Fred's words were echoed by most of Harry's Quidditch team, who knew he had a penchant for putting his life on the line carelessly.
"Look, I'm upset with him too! But stop talking about my best mate like that!" snapped Ron, who was attending with Hermione for their first Order meeting.
Remus knew that in any other situation it would have been impossible for them to attend as Molly would have been against it at all costs. But after having tried to wheedle the "secret" out of them unsuccessfully, she had been willing to allow them to attend the meeting. Remus suspected she thought she could pressure them along with the others into revealing it to her.
Which was fruitless, in his opinion. If Ron and Hermione were as devoted to Harry as Sirius was, they would guard the secret with their life.
"Quiet," barked Mad-Eye. "If Molly is to be believed, you said Albus left him some mission." He was looking at Ron, but his electric-blue eye found Hermione, who paled.
"What sort of mission?" asked Kingsley.
"That should somewhat explain why he had been leaving for days on end last year," said Doge, putting together two and two. "He never told us what it was himself."
"Albus must have thought he could handle it alone," said Dedalus, his voice lower than usual. "But, the fact is he's gone."
"And Potter thinks he's the one who should do it himself?" growled Mad-Eye. "The Order is more than up to any job that Albus might have to do!"
"See?" Molly rounded sharply towards her youngest son. "I've told you, Ron, you're not helping anyone by keeping secrets! We all have Harry's best interests at heart too."
"I'm not betraying—" started Ron, but was cut off when Arthur said, "Sirius, these are kids. We know Dumbledore trusted you with it too. Why don't you tell us?"
Everyone turned towards Sirius simultaneously, who had bags under his tired eyes and the beginnings of a stubble. Remus wondered if he had slept at all but when Sirius spoke, his words were sharp and not at all unfocussed.
"Dumbledore trusted me – us," he amended, looking around at Ron and Hermione. "—because we're capable of taking care of it on our own."
Molly opened her mouth to argue when Sirius cut in with a solemn expression. "I'm not opposed to your help, if it means my godson can come home sooner."
For one moment, Remus was almost glad Sirius was willing to allow the Order to help before Sirius uttered the next few words.
"But, this is out of my hands," continued Sirius, looking around at everyone, his jaw tensing visibly. "I cannot and will not reveal anything; there is a reason Dumbledore wanted as few people as possible to know. I reckon I don't know a lot myself and I might have to discuss with Ron and Hermione first. We may or may not need your help, but I want you to know, it is not our choice that we keep it under wraps."
Remus closed his eyes and sighed. Sirius had clearly thought about this in the last couple of days and Remus knew he ought to respect that. But it irked him to wonder what was so important that Sirius kept refusing to reveal it to him and he consciously chose to accept it for now, instead of question Sirius in front of everyone.
Maybe Sirius had promised it that night out of desperation to find Harry soon. Or it might have been the alcohol in his system, thought Remus wryly.
Hermione and Ron looked visibly relieved by Sirius' admission.
Fred and George, however, were upset while the rest of Harry's friends were merely curious. The adults wisely refrained from pressuring him further, as it was clear as a Demiguise in hiding that Sirius was too heartbroken.
"We already have a new problem at hand anyway," said Arthur, adjusting his wire-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose and sufficiently calming the tense atmosphere. "I just received information from the Minister this evening. He wants to meet with Ron, as well as Harry and Hermione regarding Dumbledore's will on July the thirty-first. The official letter will be sent within a few days."
"Dumbledore left something for us?" asked Hermione in amazement. "Me and Ron?"
Ron was speechless. "Blimey!"
"Why would they need to meet with the Minister?" wondered Hestia. "This is only a matter for the Department of Magical Records."
"Dumbledore isn't any ordinary man," said Remus. "It must be of vital importance if the Minister himself is involved."
"No," announced Molly firmly. "I can't speak for Hermione, but I will not agree to allow Ron to meet with the Minister."
"You can't stop me—"
"Molly is right," said Arthur, overriding his son. "You both are Harry's closest friends, and if Scrimgeour really is Imperiused, there must be some hidden agenda of the Minister if he wants to meet with the three of you."
"I say we go ahead anyway," barked Moody. The entire room quietened and stared at Moody like he was mental.
Molly's eyes widened in alarm when Moody explained, "Hear me out. We have a suspicion on Scrimgeour, which may or may not be true. But this gives us the opportunity to get close to him and verify for ourselves. With Potter missing—" His blue eye settled on Sirius, who, Remus noted, was frowning in deep thought. "—it's obvious that Sirius will be the one to go in his place. We should not raise alarm to the fact that Potter's not with us. As long as the Death Eaters think Potter is safe under the Fidelius, the better for him. But Sirius should go, as should Arthur along with you two." He nodded at Ron and Hermione. "We get the chance to see with our own eyes if he's under the Imperius."
"And if he is?" asked Molly faintly.
"You get the hell out of there as fast as you can," said Moody nonchalantly. "But that's nothing to worry about. I doubt Scrimgeour is actually Imperiused. He has a strong mind. Any Death Eater would have taken whatever Albus left in the will for himself instead of inviting you."
"It could be a trap to get Harry," pointed out Bill. "They don't know he's missing."
"I have to go with Moody," said Kingsley, his deep voice commanding the attention of the room. "I've known Scrimgeour for a long time and I do not think that he is Imperiused. Say what you will about his political acumen, but he does have a brilliant threshold against Imperiuses. Gawain Robards has told us Aurors on multiple occasions on how he could break four consecutive Imperiuses on him during training. He's best friends with Scrimgeour. One would think his best friend would recognize if he behaved differently."
"If only he put that brilliant mind of his to do something instead of holing up in his office," muttered George. Fred and Lee broke into sniggers, and Remus wondered if there was some private joke in there.
"More importantly," Sirius said grimly, leaning onto the table, "it is of great necessity to acquire the contents of Dumbledore's will. I'm not sure what exactly he has left for Harry and Ron and Hermione, but we need to know. If it could help us at all with this mission, then we need to lay our hands on it, no matter the risk."
"It is decided then," Moody announced. "Weasley and Granger will be accompanied by Arthur, along with Sirius. We'll have Nymphadora, Kingsley, Weasley—" He nodded at a nervous-looking Percy. "— and… where is Johnson? The meeting's halfway through!"
Remus noticed only then that Catherine was missing and almost everyone turned to Angelina for an answer.
Angelina frowned. "She said she told you she would be a little late today, Mad-Eye."
"A little late is very different from—"
The sound of hurried footsteps preceded her entry into the meeting room.
Tonks sniggered, "Perfect timing!"
"I'm sorry I'm late," said Catherine, peeking through the half-opened door before turning towards Moody. "I've brought him, Mad-Eye."
Mad-Eye leaned back in his chair, at ease. "Took you long enough, eh? Let him come in then."
The sight of the tall, muscular wizard in expensive robes that were fitted too tight to be comfortable put a damper on Remus' already fragile mood.
"Everyone," announced Catherine, "This is –"
"Proudfoot?" came two voices in unison. Dora and Charlie glanced at each other before staring back at the man with horror.
"Hello, Weasley," said Proudfoot smoothly before turning to wink at Dora. "—and it's good to see you again so soon, Nymphadora."
Dora was too stunned to respond and Remus breathed through his nose, counting backwards and trying to calm himself down.
No, it did not matter to Remus that the wizard who constantly flirted with Dora and derided him was joining the Order. It absolutely did not.
"What is he doing here?" asked Dora finally, with accusation in her tone as she glanced towards Mad-Eye.
"He's our newest Order member—"
"What?!" blurted Charlie.
"—so I suggest you act like it!" finished Mad-Eye with a threatening growl.
Both of them turned quiet, but Dora wasn't going to heed so quickly. "Who thought it was a good idea to have him in the Order?"
Catherine cleared her throat. "Actually, I did."
Dora looked at her like she had been betrayed, but Remus was studying the look on Catherine's face. He did not miss her embarrassed expression when Charlie spoke, "But Cathy, do you realize he's a Slytherin—"
"And what has that got to do with anything?" asked Catherine hotly.
"He doesn't think highly of Muggleborns!" cried Dora.
Proudfoot intervened, "Things can change, Nymphadora—"
Dora spoke over him. "And he thinks werewolves need to be banished from our society!"
Proudfoot clicked his mouth shut and his sharp eyes found Remus' before darting back to Dora. "I may have been wrong about things. I am not saying I haven't said everything you listed before, but I recently had my eyes opened."
At this, he glanced at Catherine for only a second, but it was enough for Remus to make sense of everything.
"I don't have to join this Order," he announced to the wizards and witches gathered in the room. "I am a pureblood from a neutral family. I am safer than most. But I don't wish to be a bystander in this war when it is my friends whose lives are on the line."
"Which friends?" echoed Charlie and Dora.
Proudfoot opened his mouth ready to answer, but he shut it again, swallowing.
The rest of the Order was watching the man before them with curiosity and even anxiousness in the case of Doge and Diggle. Remus had no doubt what they were thinking. Letting in people who they couldn't trust fully could be a potential problem.
Bill spoke up with a polite yet cautious tone. "How can we be sure he isn't just here to spy on us for the Death Eaters?"
A lot of them tensed at the question and Remus even saw the twins clutching their wands inside their pockets.
Proudfoot calmly lifted both his sleeves and showed his bare forearms. "I am not a Death Eater and I never intend to associate or work for them. I realize that is not enough for all of you, but I can't give anything more than my word that I care very much to see You-Know-Who gone once and for all."
"I give you my word, we can trust him," spoke up Catherine, and Remus was impressed with her upfront confidence in him. Proudfoot gave a winning smile towards Catherine, who beamed in return.
"That is good enough for me," said Mad-Eye with a nod towards Catherine who returned it back. "And since we have at least half an hour left, we'll have a practice session to break in our new recruits and also the duelling room we've set up here."
And with that the meeting ended and everyone began dispersing amidst the usual clamour. Remus had a quick word with Arthur when he heard Molly.
"Fred! George! You can't drop dungbombs on top of the ghoul!"
Molly glared furiously at the twins, who were hurriedly stuffing something into a bag. "We had to try something! That dumb ghoul hasn't moved in days, and nobody seemed to be bothered…"
Remus couldn't keep up with the rest of their conversation as the ache in his bones began to magnify. He had to get himself away from people as quickly as he could. Dora was chatting with Hestia, and Remus knew she would be leaving only later because he wouldn't be home tonight. He was just making his way to Dora when Sirius called for him, "Remus, wait up!"
"Sirius, you don't have to accompany me this time, I know you're—"
"—alone at home anyway," finished Sirius moodily. "It'll be good to forget everything for a while, maybe even a few days."
"Are you sure we can trust Kreacher with the house all by himself?" asked Remus. Sirius had been depressed that he had been proven right about the fact that Twitchet was not coming back the next day. But Remus helped him look on the positive side: that Harry was safer with Twitchet than without.
Sirius had conceded the point and had decided to call Kreacher to take care of the house in Twitchet's absence. Remus had been puzzled that the elf actually liked being in Harry's house, but Sirius was past the point of caring. So Remus refrained from questioning.
"He's not that bad nowadays, not since—" Sirius cut-off abruptly, clenching his jaw. "He's not that bad," he finished.
Dora broke the dismal mood with a curious question. "What do you guys do during the full moon anyway?"
"Bark and howl at each other, probably." Hestia spoke casually, but Remus' attention was on Sirius' face where he could have sworn he saw the shadow of a smile.
Dora grimaced. "Sounds better than having to be stuck here for practice with that prat!"
"You shouldn't let him get to you," said Remus. "I don't know him enough to judge him—"
"Oh, but I do," muttered Dora.
"—but maybe all he needs is a second chance," finished Remus. "He sounded very genuine."
"You're too trusting for your own good, Remus," sighed Dora, shaking her head despite the small smile quirking her lips.
"One of my better faults," said Remus with a wry grin and Dora laughed, the happy sound filling him with a carefree joy.
"I'm going to miss you," she lamented and stood up on her toes to kiss him full on the mouth.
Remus knew they were quite possibly locked into their kiss for too long as Sirius cleared his throat and they broke apart.
He noticed Hestia and Sirius pointedly looking away and feeling suddenly self-conscious, Remus decided to call it a day.
"I have to be going," said Remus, sincerely sorry that he had to leave.
Dora pecked him on the cheek. "I'll be seeing you on Sunday…" She leaned to whisper something in his ear that made him grow hot all over.
Dora snickered before speaking to her second cousin. "Just bring Remus back safely, Sirius."
Hestia frowned. "Shouldn't it be the other way round?"
They began to bicker in earnest and Remus left with Sirius, who was once again gloomy. He smirked to himself at the look on Sirius' face, which he had witnessed for just a fleeting second that anybody would have missed. But Remus wasn't just anybody.
oOo
Thursday, July 31
The Ministry of Magic was busy as usual on Thursday morning. It seemed strange to Sirius that it could still be functioning normally with everything that had happened in the past week.
Then again, it was only himself that had got the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath his feet.
For the umpteenth time, Sirius wondered what Harry was doing. Was he safe? Had he eaten? Did he sleep well?
Because Sirius sure hadn't.
And it was Harry's birthday today. His godson was turning seventeen, a very important number in a wizard's life, and Sirius wouldn't be able to celebrate even that with him, like the many birthdays of his that he had missed while in Azkaban. He must be the worst godfather in existence.
While lost in his thoughts, he bumped into someone.
"Sorry," he murmured automatically, but it was only Tonks.
"This isn't the time to be thinking about him," she hissed, walking off without stopping.
Sirius steadied his mind and walked with sure steps, pushing aside his worry for the time being. He noticed Kingsley and Percy on his way, and they nodded discreetly. Reassured, he took the lift to Level One, ignoring the openly staring crowd and finally meeting with Arthur and Hermione, the latter clutching a book in her hands.
They had arrived ten minutes earlier as part of Moody's plan to keep suspicion off of Arthur. Sirius' name was mentioned in the Daily Prophet as being a member of the Order after all, and it was safer if they pretended in front of the Ministry that they had no contact.
The two Aurors checked and double-checked him with their Secrecy Sensors when Ron finally walked out of the Minister's office. He was baffled and furious in equal measure, but Arthur hurried off with the both of them just like they had discussed.
The Aurors had some questions, as Harry was not present, but they decided to allow Sirius inside anyway. Scrimgeour watched Sirius like a hawk when he walked up to him.
"The meeting was scheduled with Harry Potter," snapped Scrimgeour.
"You're not even going to ask me to sit down?"
"Take a seat, Black." Sirius did not let the missing title before his name go unnoticed, but he sat down anyway.
"Where is Potter?"
If only he knew…
"I'm afraid I don't feel safe with letting Harry enter the premises. Not after the mass breakout from Azkaban two days ago that has gone unreported by the Prophet."
"You'd know all about how that happened, wouldn't you?" barked Scrimgeour. "Being the first one to break out of Azkaban in the first place? Why did the Wizengamot not bother to ask how you did that?"
He sounded supremely frustrated for having let go of the opportunity of questioning Sirius thoroughly during his trial.
Sirius spoke with a calm he didn't feel, "The guardians of Azkaban were Dementors when I escaped. It must have been very simple for the Death Eaters to do it with only your people stationed now. But let's not steer away from the heart of the matter – Dumbledore's Will."
"Since it involves only Harry Potter and not you, I will not be able to divulge confidential information—"
Sirius bristled, "As his guardian—"
"That doesn't matter," cut in Scrimgeour. "Potter turned seventeen today. He's officially an adult and he will be treated as one."
No wonder Scrimgeour had waited until Harry's birthday to call him to the Ministry.
Sirius spoke sharply. "With Death Eaters breaking out of Azkaban, who's to say they haven't already infiltrated the Ministry? I deem it unsafe and he's not stepping foot in here. I don't care about a bloody Will."
A moment passed with both of them locked in a battle of resolve, after which Scrimgeour finally conceded, "Nothing I say will change your mind?"
"None."
Scrimgeour stared at Sirius, before pulling out a golden, walnut-sized ball. "This is what Dumbledore left for him. 'To Harry James Potter,'" he read from a scroll of parchment lying unfurled in front of him and Sirius sat up straighter, "'I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill.'"
Sirius stared at the feebly fluttering Snitch before his brain caught up with the reason why Scrimgeour was very stubborn to give it to Harry in person. He believed something was concealed inside the Snitch and Sirius was actually grateful that Harry wasn't here at the moment, lest his touch reveal whatever Dumbledore might have left inside.
Sirius put his hand out to take it when Scrimgeour retracted his hand. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to give it to you, not unless Potter himself were to collect it."
"What part of 'I'm his guardian' don't you understand?"
"I'm the Minister for Magic, Black. It's decided and it's final."
Sirius glared at the man before him. "That's all there is to discuss, then?"
"Not quite," said Scrimgeour, who looked bad tempered now. "Dumbledore left Potter a second bequest."
Sirius stared at him warily. "What is it?"
"The sword of Godric Gryffindor," he said.
Sirius felt like an ice cube had slipped down his spine. What if this was what they needed to destroy the Horcruxes?
"Well, where is it?" asked Sirius hastily.
"Unfortunately," said Scrimgeour, eyeing him with undisguised curiosity, "that sword was not Dumbledore's to give away. The sword of Godric Gryffindor is an important historical artefact, and as such, belongs to Hogwarts." He scratched his unshaven cheek, watching Sirius appraisingly. "Why do you think—"
Thud. Thud.
There was the sounds of two heavy objects falling to the ground before the doors were slammed open.
There was the swift, successive shouts of "Avada Kedavra!" twice and Sirius had instinctively transformed to Padfoot and jumped out of the way. The two Killing curses narrowly missed Padfoot's smaller frame and hit Scrimgeour squarely on his chest, the golden Snitch fluttering out of his limp hands.
"It's Black!" shouted one of the masked wizards, and the other one tried to fire a spell at him, but Sirius was quicker than humans in his Animagus form. He pounced on top of the man, biting into his wand arm. The wizard screamed and the other tried to throw Padfoot off of him.
Padfoot knocked the other one off his feet and, with a huge leap, caught the Snitch hovering near Scrimgeour's dead hands before bolting out of the room. He ran past the two Aurors on the floor, who were stunned or dead, he had no clue. The corridors were eerily empty and he hurried into the lift, turning human again. He stuffed the Snitch into his pocket and clutched his wand at the ready.
The lift stopped at three Levels and Sirius fidgeted uncomfortably, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He had just reached the Atrium when the man he had knocked out caught up to him from another lift. Sirius broke into a run, pushing past confused employees.
"Murderer!" The man cried, pointing at Sirius. "He murdered the Minister!"
Wizards and witches were screaming and yelling, some pulling out their wands to stop him. Sirius saw Kingsley and Catherine raise their wands, but Sirius was not alarmed. He stunned both of them, sparing them the necessity of firing spells at him, when Tonks jumped to his aid to shield him from the other Ministry employees.
They dodged the spells that were thrown at them and Disapparated together, once they reached the Apparition point past the empty plinth where the Fountain of Magical Brethren once stood.
oOo
Harry woke up late on the thirty-first of July, and he hardly remembered it was his birthday until Twitchet reminded him. While he was sad he didn't get to spend it with his family, he couldn't feel too depressed and was rather cheery when Twitchet made him his birthday breakfast.
He realized only during the afternoon, when he had unwittingly fallen asleep while going through Regulus' books, that the happiness he had been feeling all day wasn't his at all.
He had witnessed Voldemort congregated with his Death Eaters, who Harry had thought were in Azkaban until now. And they had been discussing gleefully about the Minister having been taken out. Being cut off from any type of news except his insight into Voldemort's mind, he was shocked by the information and resolved to learn more about it.
He put on his Invisibility Cloak and Apparated to a dark alleyway behind Madam Malkin's. He found a garbage bin by the corner of the street and quickly tried to find a used copy but was disappointed when there was nothing. He waited beside it under his Invisiblity cloak, hoping someone would throw a newspaper. He didn't dare summon one lest a flying newspaper give him away. He was in no hurry and he didn't mind waiting as long as he was hidden.
After around ten minutes, a flying roll of newspaper caught his eye before it even hit the trashcan.
He successfully nicked the Evening Prophet and quietly Disapparated to the shack.
He stuffed the Invisibility Cloak into his green backpack that had been Sirius' gift for Christmas. It was charmed to be bottomless, and Harry had all of his things inside it. He noticed Twitchet had laid out his dinner for him.
"Thank you," he said gratefully, and she gave a small smile. Pleased that she was finally starting to forgive him, he sat on the moth-eaten couch and perused the paper he had just filched.
His happiness was short-lived and his stomach lurched when he saw his godfather's face sprawled across the front page.
SIRIUS BLACK MURDERS MINISTER FOR MAGIC
He didn't believe even for a moment that it could be possible. He quickly scanned the article and was certain Sirius had been framed, even though the article painted his godfather in a bad light. To make matters worse, Tonks was mentioned as having helped Sirius escape and she was also wanted by the Ministry besides Sirius.
This proved that what he had seen in his dream was true though he had never expected Sirius would be framed for it. No wonder Voldemort had been in a good mood all day.
Harry turned the page and was startled again when he was met with a picture of Dumbledore, striding along looking harried, under the headline:
DUMBLEDORE – THE TRUTH AT LAST?
Harry's frown deepened as he read through the article about Rita Skeeter's new book. It was – in two words – complete lies. About Dumbledore, his youth, his achievements, and about his relationship with Harry himself.
Furious, he balled the newspaper and threw it into the fire, pacing the room in agitation.
Random phrases from Rita's article echoed in his head: An entire chapter to the Potter-Dumbledore relationship… It's been called unhealthy, even sinister… He dabbled in the Dark Arts himself in his youth… I've had access to a source most journalists would swap their wands for…
His blood was boiling at the fact that Dumbledore was being openly defamed and his godfather was framed again for a murder he didn't commit. This was the worst birthday ever.
A headache began to build again and Harry tried to calm himself. He sat on the couch and rubbed his forehead with his fingers, trying to ease the pain.
He knew he had made the right decision leaving home because his nightmares had progressively worsened. He was having them almost every day and even sometimes when he was awake. Often, he was just watching Voldemort talk with his snake or sometimes discuss matters with his Death Eaters.
But other times, he had not been very fortunate. He had been privy to seeing things that he would never have wished to have lay eyes on in his life. He had watched an old warlock being tortured before getting murdered. He had seen through Nagini's eyes when she had swallowed whole one of the teachers of Hogwarts, Charity Burbage. He had promptly vomited after that incident and for a moment was certain he had been the one to eat her. He could almost taste the flesh and blood, and simply thinking about it, had made him sick again.
It would have been a blessing if he had been blind, but Harry supposed it wasn't him that needed to be blind, as he was seeing it all through Voldemo—You-Know-Who's eyes.
Since Sirius had warned him, Harry was trying hard to remember to not speak his name. It wasn't easy, but it helped a lot that he had nobody to talk to and had less chance of slipping up.
To remove himself from the pain, he pulled out his wand, distracting himself with a few sparks and relishing in the fact that he could use magic freely. Two weeks of depending on Twitchet for everything from lighting a fire to travelling had made him appreciate the freedom that came with turning seventeen.
It took some time, but the headache slowly receded and Harry sat up again. The sky was inky-black outside and he supposed a lot of time must have passed. Shrugging it off, he pulled a rickety chair beside the small table and sat down to find his dinner stone-cold.
oOo
"So Scrimgeour wasn't Imperiused after all."
Moody leaned back against the chair ostensibly like he had made an interesting discovery. Only half of the Order was present for the emergency meeting they had gathered to discuss the day's events.
Sirius glared at him. The Evening Prophet had just announced Sirius as having murdered the Minister, and he had evaded capture by a hair's breadth.
And Moody found it as fascinating as a game of Wizard's Chess.
"It was Pius Thicknesse who raised the alarm against you, Sirius," said Catherine. "He must have been Imperiused days or even weeks ago."
"What are they discussing about the replacement Minister?" asked Remus.
"The vote is leaning towards Thicknesse, I'm afraid," said Kingsley. "Either half of the Ministry is already Imperiused or they must feel better with Thicknesse in charge. People might be thinking that he is on their side if he identified Scrimgeour's murderer."
"But you know what this means, don't you?" said Charlie. "You-Know-Who has successfully installed his puppet as the Minister for Magic."
"And Dumbledore thought we ought to fight against him with a children's book and a Put-Outer?" said Fred, playing with the Deluminator. "The Prophet wasn't lying then. This just proves he was off his rocker after all."
"What was it that Dumbledore left in his Will for Harry?" asked Molly, while an annoyed Ron snatched the Deluminator from Fred.
Sirius pulled out the golden ball and let it flutter. "The Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch game."
George followed the Snitch with his eyes. "I hate to say this, but I reckon these aren't supposed to help you in your mission at all. These are just toys with sentimental value."
"Scrimgeour also said he left the Sword of Gryffindor for Harry."
George shrugged. "I suppose it must be the only way you can defeat You-Know-Who – slicing him in half with that sword."
Even to Sirius' ears, it sounded laughable.
"If the Ministry has fallen, I think we are on our own now." Remus looked around at them all as he said it, and everyone shared troubled glances. This was worse than the last time in Sirius' opinion. They had had Dumbledore and they couldn't win even with the Ministry on their side.
"Whatever are we going to do tomorrow, Arthur?" said Molly, grasping Arthur's hand. "I can't trust that the Ministry can properly protect us if the Death Eaters have taken over."
"The Order can help with the protection," said Tonks readily from beside her. "What do you think we're here for if not for having each other's backs?"
"Thank you, dear," smiled Molly. "I'm very grateful. It would make more sense to cancel the wedding, but Fleur's family is already here and the invites are sent. We'll just have to hope everything goes without a glitch. I'll breathe easy when every one of our guests gets home safely after the wedding."
oOo
Saturday, August 2
It was a truly magical evening with the sound of music and laughter in the air and twinkling fairies fluttering above their heads. Witches and wizards danced in pairs, twirling around in their fancy dress robes, blissfully unaware of the difficult times ahead.
Sirius wasn't one of them however. He was in no mood to take part in the festivities. He was patrolling the boundaries of the Burrow along with a few of the other members of the Order. Disguised under the Polyjuice lest an unsuspecting wedding guest recognize him, he leaned against a silver birch tree feeling quite bored.
He lit a cigarette and took a deep pull. He had quite forgotten the taste of it for the last couple of months. But for the past week, it had become good company in his lonely abode that was the Potter Manor.
He was lazily keeping watch of the sky and the grounds when he felt his disposition lighten at the sight of Hestia, who waved at him once she caught his eye and made her way towards him. He wondered how she recognized him despite being disguised.
He automatically snuffed out his cigarette and smiled in greeting, taking his time to appreciate her as she walked up to him. She was clad in deep plum robes with her hair slightly mussed like she had come straight from work and Sirius found himself unintentionally staring at her.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she was saying. "My editor wouldn't let me off unless I'd – what?"
Sirius blinked and shook his head. "I was just – er, what were you saying?"
"Oh, forget it," she said flippantly. "I presume the marriage itself is over?"
"Half an hour ago," said Sirius nodding. "Remus and Tonks just went in to enjoy some time together. Kingsley and Dedalus are already on the other side keeping watch."
"No sign of any Death Eaters?"
"As much as I am thankful there is no sign of them, I can't help but wonder if something bad is going to happen," said Sirius, turning towards her and resting his elbow against the tree, his other hand clutched around his wand. "It would be much better if the guests left early. We could put up the protections in place as soon as everyone leaves and be done with it."
Hestia frowned in concern as she pulled out her wand too and kept it at the ready. "Let them enjoy it. We don't know when we could be having a party again. I just heard on my way here that Thicknesse is likely to be sworn in tomorrow."
"Wonderful," muttered Sirius. "Are people that dim-witted to not recognize an Imperiused wizard when they see one?"
"Who knows how many others are also Imperiused?" said Hestia. "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell my suspicions to anyone. How can I trust they aren't too and already working for the other side?"
Sirius nodded in agreement. "Just like last time. That snake-face sure knows how to reign in chaos…"
Hestia broke into giggles. Sirius raised an eyebrow at her and she looked up at him, amused. "Is that what you're going to call him now since Mad-Eye said you aren't to call him by his name?"
Sirius smirked. "Doesn't sound as frightening as that You-Know-Who codswallop."
Hestia hummed in agreement, still smiling as she glanced around her, making sure they were safe. They lapsed into a comfortable silence when Sirius found a way to break it. "What were you saying earlier about you being late?"
"Oh, it's nothing. My assignment was just overdue."
"Miss Right-on-time is not punctual for once?" said Sirius, huffing a laugh.
"Very funny," said Hestia, looking decidedly unimpressed. "I've been researching my pet project for the last month and I've been behind on my work."
"What kind of project?" asked Sirius, knitting his eyebrows together. Hestia looked uncomfortable and Sirius backtracked immediately. "That's alright! You don't have to—"
"It's not a big secret or anything," said Hestia. "Well okay, it kind of is. But since it's you…"
She took a moment to decide before waving her hand dismissively. "It's about Transfiguration and Potions and stuff. I don't want to bore you with the details."
She seemed to be hoping Sirius would drop the question, but Sirius could never let go of something once he had been sufficiently enticed.
"You might be surprised," said Sirius, his interest peaked. "What are you working on?"
Hestia sighed. "You've heard of blood maledictions?"
"Unfortunately, yes," said Sirius with a grimace. "My dear mother used to tell stories about that when I was young. Said it was a curse to be proud of because it proved you were a true pure-blood."
Hestia's eyes widened in astonishment. "How mad can a woman get?"
"You've seen her portrait," said Sirius. "What did you expect?"
Hestia stared at him before nodding. "Good point. Still, it's unbelievable to think that she's your mother."
"Was," corrected Sirius. "And who cares? I was done with her when I was sixteen and –"
Sirius broke off, unbiddenly reminded of Harry at that moment and the worry that came with it.
Hestia was gazing at him, bemused and Sirius forgot what he had been about to say. Whether she took pity on him or was kind enough to move the conversation forward, Sirius didn't know.
But he was grateful when she ignored his lapse and said, "Well, my mother died because of it."
"Oh." Sirius momentarily remembered her saying that she had dropped out of the Healing programme to take care of her ailing mother. But to think she had a malediction…
"She was an odd circumstance," continued Hestia, nodding. "It began only after she'd given birth to us and it was a rather late onset compared to the previous recorded cases. Still, no one bothers to find a cure for it, because it's incredibly rare and only resurfaces in purebloods who are pretty uncommon already. I'm looking to find a counter-curse or antidote or a combination of both. I've worked on it for seven years and I might be at a breakthrough."
Sirius blew out a low whistle, impressed. "That sounds remarkable."
"Thanks," grinned Hestia. "I'm great with Potions but Transfiguration is not my strength. I've been getting some help from McGonagall—"
"That explains that post she asked me to send you," said Sirius immediately, remembering the envelope she had asked him to pass on to Hestia. "That day when Tonks had just told us she was engaged. It was your research wasn't it? It wouldn't have been safe to send by owl, I presume?"
"Yes," nodded Hestia before hurriedly adding, "You should promise me you won't go talking about this to anyone though, not even the Order. If word got out—"
Sirius laughed. "Are you joking? Excluding Harry, my social circle consists of Remus, Tonks, and you. And those two are too busy with themselves nowadays. Who am I going to talk with about this?"
Hestia looked taken aback before she beamed and in the dim light reflecting from the torches beside the marquee, her flushed cheeks and bashful smile were the sweetest things he'd seen in a long time.
Hestia averted her eyes and cleared her throat while Sirius too looked away, for he had just spotted something in the sky.
An explosion of red sparks that could only mean one thing.
"That's Kingsley or Dedalus," said Sirius, exchanging a worried glance with her. He immediately raised his wand to produce a Patronus that would warn the guests if Kingsley hadn't already.
They dashed together towards the marquee and as planned, Hestia went in to help the guests leave as quickly as possible while Tonks and Moody joined him on his way to Kingsley and Dedalus on the other side of the Burrow. All of them were disguised to ensure the Weasleys would not be blamed for hosting some wanted criminals and put them into more trouble.
Death Eaters, masked and hooded, were firing a volley of spells that collided in mid-air against an invisible barrier. Kingsley and Dedalus watched in horror with their wands raised, wanting to fight back, but not willing to leave the safety of the Burrow either.
"What are you waiting for?" yelled Mad-Eye. "Attack them before they break in!"
That was the wake-up call everyone needed and the five of them rushed out of the barrier together in one coordinated movement. Sirius and Moody cast the Ferrifors together that would protect them from the oncoming barrage of spells till they got out and it dissolved soon after, unable to withstand them. But, it had got them outside in relative safety and the battle began.
Sirius couldn't see who was fighting or where everyone were, but he took on a Death Eater and they sparred with such speed that he missed a handful of spells by a hair's breadth only. His Reducto successfully destroyed the Death Eater's mask and Sirius realized that he was duelling none other than Lucius Malfoy of all people. He was thankful now that Molly had insisted the Order be disguised for the evening.
Sirius threw a Bone-Breaking Hex on his wrist, effectively disarming him. Sirius' elation at gaining the upper hand was short-lived when the Carrows took over immediately and Lucius Disapparated with his tail between his legs.
Now he was up against two mad Death Eaters instead of one. Sirius quickly transformed a garden statue behind the Carrows into solid iron. The Carrows hadn't noticed as it was out of their line of sight and continued firing spells at him that he shielded himself from.
He levitated the heavy iron statue and it whooshed from behind and fell straight on Amycus' head knocking him out cold.
Alecto snarled, intent on landing a Cruciatus on him and while Sirius dodged as swiftly as he could, he couldn't outmanoeuvre her forever and was struck by a Crucio that knocked him to the ground where he writhed in agony.
He tried to get up on his feet before another one made his way to him but he needn't have worried as the twins were there, taking Alecto on with practiced ease.
Sirius took a moment to look around him. Dedalus was injured and Sirius saw him turn on his spot and disappear just as something heavy collided into him and he fell flat on the ground.
It turned out be a disguised Tonks and she immediately Stunned the Death Eater whom she had been duelling, from her position on the ground before he could attack them.
The air suddenly crackled with heat and thin web-like strands of golden light crisscrossed in the sky above. Sirius realized that the shield they had erected over the Burrow had been taken down and the Death Eaters were casting the Anti-Apparition Jinx over them when he heard Mad-Eye yell something and Kingsley too turned on his spot and vanished. Sirius knew they had to Disapparate before the Jinx was fully in place.
"Let's go," said Sirius urgently, taking Tonks' hand in his.
"Not just yet," she said before pulling away and rushing towards the twins who didn't seem to be going down with a fight.
Sighing, Sirius too joined her and so did Mad-Eye who had also stayed behind once he caught sight of them. Mad-Eye was duelling ferociously, yelling for the twins to leave immediately. But the fight was so rapid that the twins had no time to stop and Disapparate.
The interweaving light above spread farther and they had to get out now if they had any chance of escaping, when the worst happened.
A blinding flash of green light and the sound of insane high-pitched cackling. Sirius was shocked when the rather stout man that had been Mad-Eye's disguise fell to the floor with a thud.
"NO!"
Sirius conjured the Ferrifors with all his might and the wall of iron that appeared between them and the Death Eaters was immense.
Before Tonks could go any further, Sirius caught hold of her and shouted at the twins. "Get out of here!"
The iron wall began to dematerialize, and he Disapparated with an unwilling Tonks by his side.
"Let me go, you twat!" Tonks yelled at him once they reached the gates of Headquarters, trying to pry her hand away from his but Sirius held on tightly.
"No," he said firmly. "Not unless you promise you won't Disapparate."
A pop sounded and both Sirius and Tonks jumped in alarm, but it was only Remus.
"They killed Mad-Eye! They killed him!" blurted Tonks as soon as she laid eyes on him. Remus walked up to her and Sirius felt safe enough to let her go. She ran to him and hugged him, sobbing into his shoulder. It looked odd to see Remus hugging another girl, even though he knew it was only Tonks in her disguise.
"We're not safe until we get inside," reminded Sirius and they hurried into the Abbott's mansion. Sirius saw Kingsley, Hestia, Ron, and Hermione gathered in the drawing room. Ron jumped up from his seat in the couch. "What happened to Mum and—"
"I don't know," said Sirius quickly. "There were too many of them."
"So you left them on their own?" shouted Ron. "Shouldn't you be helping them? How could you leave them?"
"All the guests had left safely and Arthur insisted I leave too before the Anti-Apparition Jinx was secure," said Remus. "They will be fine, Ron. As much as it seems foolish and unimaginable, You-Know-Who would not kill pure-bloods for no reason, even if they are blood-traitors."
"You're delusional!" proclaimed Ron, his face contorting in bitterness.
"We've gone over this," said Remus, rubbing his eyes. "If they were to attack the Burrow, it would be for the primary reason to find Harry. They would have guessed correctly that he would attend Bill's wedding. The most they would do is question your parents. Arthur has already set up your ghoul so he can cover for you when the Death Eaters come looking. You and Hermione are safest here."
"Sirius, where's Mad-Eye?" Kingsley spoke up for the first time and Tonks sniffled.
"Mad-Eye's dead," said Remus. Kingsley was shocked and Hermione covered her mouth in horror. Hestia was as white as a sheet when she spoke up, "And Dedalus?"
Sirius frowned. "I saw him Disapparate before Kingsley."
Hestia shook her head in confusion. "But he didn't return…"
"I think he was injured," recalled Sirius. "He must have left for his house."
Now that he thought about it, Dedalus should have arrived at Headquarters first.
Hestia was frowning in worry and she suddenly took off when Kingsley called out. "Where are you going?"
"I have to check on him," she said behind her shoulder.
"We can send a Patronus," suggested Remus, who pulled out his wand and conjured his Patronus.
But Sirius hurried to catch up with Hestia anyway.
"I'm coming with you," he said resolutely. Hestia simply nodded and they jogged together through the long driveway when they caught up with a pale and shaken Fred and George near the gates.
"What happened?" asked Sirius, halting in his tracks.
"They were waiting to ambush us— in our flat," said George, out of breath. "We were lucky we noticed them before we entered."
Hestia's face darkened and she ran out of the gates, Sirius on her heels. She grabbed hold of his hand and they Disapparated.
When they arrived, Hestia gasped in fear and Sirius felt his insides turn cold. The Dark Mark was floating above Dedalus' house and the front door was missing.
They ran towards the door, Sirius poising himself for a fight if there were Death Eaters inside. He put out a hand to stop Hestia, whose eyes were already bright. He signalled for her to follow him wordlessly and they cautiously entered the house.
Sirius jumped when Hestia called out, "Dedalus?"
He quickly turned to shush her but there was a commotion inside and Sirius rushed towards the source of the sound.
Past the dining area, they reached the kitchen where he saw three Death Eaters escaping through the back door. Sirius fired a non-verbal spell, but the man ducked and turned on his spot. Sirius caught a glimpse of straw-coloured hair before he vanished out of his sight.
His ire at the sight of the man's face took a back seat when the strong smell of blood hit his nose. He turned and gasped at the scene in front of him. All he could see was red and his mind went blank. He instinctively turned towards Hestia, yelling, "Wait! Don't—"
But, he was too late.
The air was filled with her piercing scream of shock and horror and he pulled her towards his chest to shield her from the gruesome vision behind him.
"NO! Dedalus! DEDALUS! What have they done to him?"
Sirius hugged her smaller frame tightly, her heaving sobs rocking through him. "We should get out of here," he murmured. He tried to steer her out of the kitchen but she pulled away from him, trying to get closer to Dedalus.
"No, I'm not leaving him like this—"
"There's nothing you can do here," he said softly, stopping her from going anywhere near the kitchen with a strong grip. "You shouldn't see him like this."
She kept sobbing but she didn't stop Sirius from guiding her out of the house, and he took her away from the horrendous sight.
oOo
A/N: Thank you to everyone who followed or added to favourites and a big thank you to my reviewers.
