AN: I've been getting PMs from people asking questions they'd know the answers to if they actually read instead of skimmed. If you have a question I have no problem answering, because people do forget things, but it's obvious when you ask a question that was answered in the chapter you just claimed to have read.
Murder at the Ministry
By Rita Skeeter
My dearest readers, it is with great sympathy and a heavy heart that I must impart this most distressing news. Yesterday morning, while preparing to leave the Ministry of Magic, after being cleared of all charges on account of misconduct, James Carrow and his barrister, Alexander Lincoln, were murdered. James Carrow leaves behind his wife, Anna, and their five year old daughter, Anna Junior. While Alexander Lincoln has no issue.
I can confirm that at quarter till 8 yesterday morning, Lord Carrow and barrister Lincoln were standing in the Ministry atrium surrounded by dozens of protestors who were shouting profanities and spewing such vile hate that I dare not repeat it here. As they were preparing to leave, Dora Smith, age 93, cast the killing curse at both men, killing them instantly.
Why would this woman want to murder Lord Carrow and his barrister in cold blood? As many of you no doubt will remember, fifteen years ago Lord Carrow's father, Atticus, was accused of murdering Nathaniel Smith. Mister Smith was the oldest son of Dora and Stanley Smith, and left behind a wife, Beth. While the late Lord Atticus Carrow was not found guilty, it is known that the Smith family believes him to have been guilty.
"My mother blamed the entire Carrow family for the death of my older brother," Lord Samuel Smith stated during a press conference last evening. "While I do not agree that murder is an acceptable punishment, my mother's mindset must be understood. For fifteen years my mother has believed Atticus Carrow's father murdered Nathaniel. This morning, my mother, who is an old woman, could not bare to see the Carrow family get away with another heinous act. When I asked her why she too felt the need to murder his barrister, she would do nothing but look straight ahead. I fear that my mother has lost her grip on reality, and I ask for leniency."
The press conference, held by the Lord Smith and his barrister, ruffled many feathers. Including the Lord's of the majority of Britain's oldest and wealthiest families.
Lord Lucius Malfoy was enraged by Lord Smith and last night had this to say. "It is egregious that Lord Smith would compare murder with the procuring and stowing of dark artifacts. While Lord Carrow should have known better than to purchase illegal artifacts, he in no way deserved to be murdered in cold blood in the middle of the Ministry of Magic. As for Alexander Lincoln, he was merely doing his job. How Dora Smith was able to murder not one, but two wizards in the Ministry shows a complete lack of regard for basic safety procedures. I have spoken to my fellow Lord's and we are in outrage. Tomorrow morning we will be holding an emergency session of the Wizengamot, and I expect immediate action to be taken in order to ensure nothing of this nature happens again."
Lord Malfoy asks a good question. Why, after the first illegal and unforgivable curse left Dora Smith's wand, was she not subdued before she cast the killing curse for the second time? There were more than enough aurors in the Ministry atrium, surely one of them could have subdued a 93 year old woman?
When asked during yesterday's press conference Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, had this to say. "I want to assure the public that every auror, and the entire Department of Magical Law Enforcement would have done anything to prevent today's deaths. I would like to personally send my condolences to the friends and family of both Lord Carrow and barrister Lincoln. As the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I will do everything in my power to ensure an event like this never happens again."
Will Madame Bones stay true to her word? What new measures will be put into place to ensure nothing like this happens again? For now, one can only wonder why this horror was allowed to happen. Were the aurors on site not adequately trained? Were some of the aurors, including questionable Auror Nymphadora Tonks, unqualified to be walking around with a badge? Only time will tell.
Lord Carrow's siblings, Lord Amycus Carrow and Lady Alecto Carrow refused to comment until after today's emergency meeting of the Wizengamot, which Lord Amycus Carrow will attend.
Dora Smith will be arraigned this evening. It is expected that her son, Lord Samuel Smith and his wife will attend the arraignment. It is not believed their son, fourth year Hogwarts student, Zacharias Smith, will be in attendance.
Harrison looked at the photograph that accompanied the article. James Carrow and Alexander Lincoln lay motionless on the atrium floor while panicked witches and wizards ran in every direction. He flipped the Daily Prophet over.
"Poor Abigail," Jenna said quietly with a quick glance to the far end of the table.
Harrison looked over at James Carrow's niece. Abigail was sitting, her head slightly bowed, no emotion showing on her face. Harrison and Abigail had never been close, they were barely even friends, but he felt bad for her. Snape had barged into the Slytherin common room after breakfast the day before and pulled Abigail into the corner. Harrison could still hear her choked cries and see Millicent Bullstrode chase after her when Abigail ran for her dormitory. Abigail had stayed ensconced in her dormitory until dinner, and when she came down she refused to talk about her uncle's death with anyone. Although, Pansy told Harrison she had been up all night crying.
"At least she isn't letting the stares get to her," Pansy said. "She's put on a brave face."
"She needs to," Daphne said. "Can you imagine if the Gryffindors saw her crying? They'd never let her hear the end of it."
"I still can't believe it happened," Jenna said, tucking a strand of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. "In the middle of the Ministry of Magic."
"Father was furious," Leo said. "I could feel the anger radiating from his letter."
Harrison blocked his friends out as he looked at the Gryffindor table. He saw Ron glaring moodily at Ginny and Viktor who were leaning in close and whispering. Dean appeared to be talking Ron down from getting angry. Harrison had been waiting for Ron to flip out and attack the famous seeker, but so far he'd kept his displeasure down to glaring and the occasional muttering.
Harrison had been watching Ron, Dean, and Seamus more, and he still couldn't figure out what they were up to. In Potions, the three boys would occasionally glare and shoot suspicious looks towards the Slytherins, but they had yet to engage them all school year. Although, once Harrison and Fleur had begun to date, the glaring from Ron had intensified, and it was obvious he had a crush on the veela.
"I just hope mum doesn't do something crazy," Cass said quietly.
Harrison pulled himself from his thoughts at Cass' worried tone. After Bellatrix lost her unborn child she had been on the warpath — planning raids, demanding that Rabastan and Rodolphus duel her at their best together for practice, and cursing anyone who got in her way. According to Barty Crouch Jr, Bellatrix almost crucio'd a new Death Eater to the point of his mind snapping when he didn't move out of her way fast enough. Harrison knew Cass was worried, especially because of the last bit. There was only so much Voldemort would tolerate her doing to his Death Eaters before he used his wand to teach her a lesson.
"Aunt Bella will be fine," Harrison said. "She just needs some time."
"Some time for what?" Fleur asked as she took the seat next to Harrison.
"To tell us what she wants for Christmas," Leo said with a shrug and a side glance at Cass.
Fleur looked at Leo in a way that said she didn't believe him, but she didn't say anything about it. She looked at Harrison instead.
"My father heard about what happened yesterday," Fleur grimaced in sympathy. "He's not pleased."
Harrison immediately snapped all of his attention to his new girlfriend. "Oh?" Harrison said, with a disinterested tone.
"He was worried about me coming to Britain for eight months by myself," Fleur said. "Mother assured him I would be safe, and then two men are murdered in your ministry. Par Dieu!" She shook her head. "He wanted me to come home immediately, but…."
"The Goblet of Fire is a magically binding contract," Harrison finished.
"Oui," Fleur said, with a delicate shrug of her shoulders.
"What is your father going to do?" Harrison asked.
"He wasn't going to come visit until the final task, but now he's decided to come for the winter holidays," Fleur said.
"That's wonderful." Harrison was thinking it would be wonderful for him. He would be able to get a read on Fleur's father, and make a good first impression. He could get Fleur to invite her parents to the Malfoy's for their Christmas ball, and since they were dating, her father would be obligated to speak to his father. Although, the two men had met, it would be the first time Minister Delacour would see Voldemort as a father and not a Dark Lord. This could greatly benefit them.
"My parents will bring my sister," Fleur grinned.
"That will be nice," Harrison said. An idea hit him. Something that had nothing to do with their fathers. "Fleur, do you want to see something…unusual?" His eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Must you ask?" Fleur teased.
Harrison grabbed her hand and led her out of the Great Hall, ignoring his friends inquisitive looks.
Tonks sat motionless in a chair as everyone argued around her.
"This is all a bunch of dragon dung," Moody barked.
"You know they're Death Eaters," Sirius snarled. "They shouldn't be allowed to make the laws!"
"What is this going to mean for us?" Molly asked, wide eyed.
"I should've—"
"That's enough," Dumbledore said. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear the warning in his tone. His blue eyes were hard and his hands were sat unmoving on his armrests. "I understand that we are all upset by the new rules put into effect today."
"Upset?" Moody barked. "You know very well we're more than upset! These new rules are going to stretch us aurors so thin, Merlin knows we won't be able to protect anyone properly!"
Dumbledore sighed. "We all knew something like this would come to pass after what happened yesterday at the Ministry. Amelia ensures me that she will be hiring new aurors as soon as next week. The number of aurors will—"
A loud swoosh sounded as several owls came swooping in through the living room window. A rolled up newspaper fell into Tonk's lap. The words Special Edition Daily Prophet written in bold at the top. Tonks hadn't expected the special edition to arrive this early.
"They printed this issue extremely fast," Remus murmured, as he adjusted his dress robes. Tonks thought he looked nice in his teaching robes, she blushed at the thought.
"That surprises you?" Moody growled. "We all know who really runs the Daily Prophet. Those bloody Death Eaters!"
"Alastor," Dumbledore sighed.
Tonks blocked out her fellow Order members and unrolled the paper. A picture of Cornelius Fudge, wearing his ridiculous bowler hat and grinning like a five year old with a sugar high stood behind a podium. Amelia Bones was standing slightly behind him, her hands clasped behind her back. You could see a dozen photographers and reporters asking questions and snapping photos on their cameras. Tonks knew she wasn't going to like what it said, but she began to read.
Ministry of Magic Implements New Rules
By Rita Skeeter
This morning, the Wizengamot met for an emergency session which lasted a mere three hours. After the Wizengamot disbanded, Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, held a press conference. The press conference was broadcast live over the wizarding wireless network, and transcripts can be requested. However, for my dear readers I will list the new rules that the Wizengamot has placed into effect.
1.) All entrances and exits at the Ministry of Magic MUST be guarded by at least one auror at all times.
2.) No less than ten aurors will patrol the Ministry atrium in groups of two at all times.
3.) All future victims, witnesses, and accused will enter and exit the Ministry of Magic through an unspecified and secure location.
4.) All aurors will undergo psychiatric evaluation to ensure they are able to perform all required duties.
5.) The number of auror patrols will increase at all public wizarding locations including, but not limited to, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, Birsch Lane, and Highgrove.
"Along with these new rules, which are all effective immediately," Madame Bones said, "I will begin the process of hiring a new batch of aurors. I have received hundreds of applications from qualified witches and wizards. The Minister and I hope to see the number of aurors double within the year."
With these new rules put into effect, we, as citizens of Britain, can hope that nothing like yesterday's tragic events will happen again. These rules will also help ensure that all aurors are mentally healthy enough to wear the red robes and golden badge representative of an auror. With the recent speculation surrounding some of the aurors, I see these rules serving to ensure our safety. And I for one am extremely pleased that the number of aurors is increasing, as these are dark and dangerous times.
Tonks threw down the paper in disgust.
"That vile woman!" Tonks spot. The dig Rita made towards her made her blood boil. She knew that everyone would know Rita was talking about her, the foul woman had only mentioned her by name in half a dozen articles.
"People know you aren't mad," Remus said gently, laying a hand on her shoulder.
Tonks blushed and Remus quickly pulled his hand away, as if he were burnt. Sirius stopped glaring for long enough to give Tonks a pitying look. Tonks figured it was because he too had been on the receiving end of Rita's name smearing in the press, with the whole Regulus thing.
"Forget the new rules," Bill said, "did you read the article about Dora Smith? After their emergency meeting, Dora Smith was arraigned. She refused to be defended. She's going to Azkaban."
Molly gasped.
"She should be receiving a medal," Moody growled.
"We all knew that was coming," Arthur said calmly. "Death Eaters or not, James Carrow and Alexander Lincoln were murdered, and with an unforgivable no less. The sentence was always going to be Azkaban."
Sirius scoffed. "Had Lucius Malfoy or one of those bastards killed someone, it would take them months to get arraigned, and an hour after their arraignment they'd be buying their way out of Azkaban."
Dumbledore sighed. "Be that as it may, what happened today cannot be undone. Dora is an old woman, a woman who gave up on life long ago. I'm afraid her life ended long before she was sentenced to Azkaban."
Tonks shifted uncomfortably.
"What do we do?" Remus asked.
"For the moment, we continue with our plans," Dumbledore said. "These new rules will stretch the aurors thin for the time being, until Amelia is able to add to their ranks."
"It'll take them a year to train," Tonks said glumly. "And you and Moody are right, the aurors will be stretched so thin, what if the Death Eaters plan a coordinated attack? Everyone will be sitting ducks. That has to be why Malfoy and the rest of the Lord's voted for these rules."
"That's what happens when sixty percent of the Wizengamot is full of traitorous scum," Moody barked. Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Unfortunately, you are both correct," Dumbledore admitted, "so we must be extra vigilant. This would be the optimal time for Voldemort and the Death Eaters to strike. We must listen for any whispers, or signs of whispers. I will speak with Severus tonight," Sirius snorted, "and inquire as to whether Voldemort has told him anything."
Sirius opened his mouth but Remus shot him a silencing look.
"Unless there is anything else," Dumbledore looked around the room and everyone shook their heads, "then we should all return about our day."
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Dumbledore watched as everyone left the kitchen at Grimmauld Place except Moody. Dumbledore waved his hand and silencing wards went up. Moody's magical eye spun quickly in its socket.
"What is it Albus?" Moody grunted as he opened his flask and took a swig.
"What did your sources say about Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
Moody grunted. "None have heard anything of the boy. Not even a whisper."
Dumbledore ran a hand over his face. He had been searching for Harry Potter for over a year. Ever since he had found out that the boy was still alive. He had searched records, and even went so far as to use legilimency. For a moment, he had thought Harrison Riddle was Harry Potter. That theory had been thrown out after Severus cast a paternity charm on the boy. No, Tom Riddle was Harrison Riddle's father. And as far as he knew, no spell could change your DNA. That left Dumbledore not knowing where to look.
He had told no one except Elphias Doge, McGonagall and Moody that Harry Potter was still alive. Elphias was now dead, so that left two others who knew the truth. Both had been subtly trying to track Harry using old friends, but to no avail. Of course, without being able to actually use Harry's name, he hadn't expected much to come of it.
"I still think you should tell Black and Remus," Moody said. "If they knew the boy was alive, they would move heaven and hell to find him. They could be your two greatest allies in this search."
Dumbledore sighed. "Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban, to get his hopes up would be cruel. And Remus…"
"We're in the middle of a war!" Moody barked. "The time for sparing feelings is over." Moody looked at Dumbledore with both eyes.
"Soon," Dumbledore said at last. "If we don't find him soon." He closed his eyes, "then I'll tell them."
Fleur laughed as Harrison led her out of the Room of Requirement. Fleur ran her fingers through her hair, because for the first time that she could remember, it was messy in public. Fleur looked at Harrison, with his gorgeous green eyes, and perfect arms, and wanted to drag him back inside that wonderfully magical room to continue their snogging. She loved the feeling of him pulling her in close and his lips on her neck. She wanted to go further than merely taking her top and bra off, but she wanted to wait until the time was just right.
Fleur and Harrison rounded the corner, as Fleur was tucking her shirt back into her skirt. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed her shirt was messed up. 'I must be losing my mind.'
"Harrison," a voice said breathlessly.
Fleur snapped her head up and came to a halt. A short red haired girl, with freckles and a pale face was looking between her and Harrison. 'The ex, Susan.' Fleur eyed the girl up and down, and her lips curled. She was a pretty girl, but nothing compared to Fleur. Susan's eyes widened on Fleur's half-tucked in shirt then they narrowed.
"Pardon us," Fleur said amusedly.
Susan ignored Fleur and looked at Harrison. "Is she why you broke up with me?"
Harrison sighed. "Susan, you know that Fleur and I didn't started dating until almost a year after we broke up."
"She's seventeen," Susan said. She looked imploringly into Harrison's eyes. "Three years older than you."
Fleur felt less amused. She hadn't seen Harrison and Susan talk at all since Fleur had arrived at Hogwarts, and now Susan wanted to talk? No.
"He is no longer any concern of yours," Fleur said coldly. The words sounded harsher with her accent. "Harrison shouldn't even be a thought to someone like you."
"Excuse me?" Susan said, her cheeks tinged red. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Fleur once more looked her up and down, her eyes landed on her chest and she smirked. "You are obviously a little girl." She smiled coldly, showing off white teeth. "Harrison is mature for his age, he needs a woman."
Susan looked embarrassed. "The last thing Harrison needs is some French hussy!"
"I would watch what you say, Susan," Harrison said warningly.
Fleur placed a hand on Harrison's shoulder. There was nothing Fleur being a veela hated more than being called a whore. The part of Fleur that was a veela wanted to throw a ball of fire into the red heads face. The part of Fleur that was a politicians daughter knew that it would hurt Susan more to see what she'd never have again.
"There, there Susan," Fleur purred. "I knew we would get to the root of your issue with Harrison and me." She slipped her hand off Harrison's shoulder and around his waist. She pressed herself into his side and Harrison wrapped his arm around her waist in turn. "You want to be the one Harrison thinks about at night. The girl whose breasts are in his hands, and whose lips get to taste his." Fleur didn't think it was possible for anyone to become more red than a tomato, but Susan was proving her wrong. "But you aren't. I'm Harrison's girlfriend, and chéri, he'll never touch you again. I doubt he'll even think your name."
Fleur pulled away from Harrison, grabbed his hand, and pushed past Susan. Fleur knew if she didn't get away from the red head she'd burn her to a crisp. With the death stare Susan gave Fleur as she walked away, she knew she'd have to watch the girl carefully.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Harrison would normally be against being dragged along, but he had to admit, Fleur being possessive was a turn on. And Susan had been giving him puppy dog looks across the Great Hall and in class since they'd broken up last December, and it was grating on his nerves in a big way.
When they were far enough away from Susan, Fleur spun around towards him and pushed her body to his. Fleur's lips crashed onto his, and Harrison pushed her against the wall. A moan escaped Fleur's lips as she pushed her hips forward against his.
"I can't believe you dated her," Fleur said, pulling back for air.
Fleur pressed her lips against Harrison's neck, and ran her hand through his hair.
"I was thirteen," Harrison said, his hands digging into her waist. "Let's say I was young and dumb."
Fleur laughed, her breathe tickling his neck.
"Something tells me you were never dumb," Fleur whispered, before her lips once more crashed to his.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Susan stared in shock at the spot where Fleur and Harrison had just stood. When Harrison had broken up with her she had been devastated. She had loved Harrison, she still loved Harrison. She had hoped that over time would realize that he loved her too, but now that French girl had her claws in him.
She couldn't believe what Fleur had said to her, and it hurt that Harrison didn't say anything to Fleur in Susan's defense. They had dated, they had been friends since first year. Susan felt like crawling into a ball and crying for a week. A tear ran down her cheek, and she wiped it off. Two could play Fleur's game.
Dumbledore sighed. He had lived for more than a century, but he had never felt as old as he did in this moment. He had run out of options. There wasn't a spell that could help him, and no one that could give him the answers he needed. The past few days, since his conversation with Moody, he had weighed the pros and cons of telling Sirius and Remus that Harry Potter was alive. He hadn't wanted to get them involved. He knew how they would react. But in the end, he knew that Alastor was right, Sirius and Remus would move heaven and hell to find Harry. They might know something that could help, without knowing it. More importantly, the longer he waited to tell them the truth, the more angry they would be.
He looked at the old, cracked clock that hung above one of the fireplace in Grimmauld Place. He had told Sirius he would be arriving at noon, but when Dumbledore arrived Kreacher said he had gone out, and it was five past twelve. Suddenly, the fireplace roared to life.
"Sorry, Albus," Remus said, as he stepped through the floo. "I lost track of time while grading papers."
"It's quite alright, Remus," Dumbledore said.
The floo flared to life again, green flames roaring, and Sirius stepped out.
"Bloody, goblins," Sirius muttered. He looked up and gave Dumbledore and Remus a lopsided grin. "Sorry, Albus. Hey, Remus."
"Sirius," Remus smiled, as he took a seat near the fireplace.
Sirius patted down his robes. "So, Albus, what's all this about?" He sat down and threw his feet up on a short glass table.
"I am afraid that you will not be happy with me after what I tell you," Dumbledore began.
Remus looked bemused, and Sirius' eyes narrowed.
"Please know that I wasn't always aware." Dumbledore said honestly. "Last June I went to Gringotts. In retrospect, I should have done so sooner, and know that I will always regret that I didn't. The war, the Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts, and attempting to stay on top of everything else, it diverted my attention. It didn't seem important." He sighed. "With James and Lily dead, and their son dying with him, the Potter estate would be sent to the Ministry to be added to the emergency budget."
Sirius growled at the mention of his friends, and pain flashed in his dark eyes. Remus' eyes flashed amber, and his hands gripped the armrest of his chair.
"That's why I failed to feel the need to speak with the goblins at Gringotts," Dumbledore continued. "However, I wanted to ensure the Potter estate had, in fact, gone to the Ministry and not into the vault of someone…unscrupulous. That's when, as Harry's legal guardian due to your incarceration," Sirius flinched, "I was told that the Potter vaults were still active."
"Still active?" Remus shook his head. "That isn't possible. There are no more Potter's."
"What does it matter if it was still active?" Sirius snarled. "What's this all about?"
"Sirius," Remus said, "there must be a reason why Albus is telling us this." He looked questioningly at Dumbledore, his eyes flashing between brown and amber.
"A vault cannot be active unless an heir is alive," Dumbledore said.
The room descended into silence, then the flames in the fireplace flickered and died. The glass table where Sirius' feet were shattered, and Sirius jumped up. A furious power radiated from Sirius, his eyes darkening until they looked like two lumps of coal. His face hardened until he appeared no more than a statue, a cold glare etched into his face.
Remus' eyes had turned amber, and Dumbledore would swear to his last breath he saw the reflection of a wolf in their center. He too appeared frozen.
"Are you telling me," Sirius said quietly, his tone venomous, "that Harry…that my godson is alive? That he's alive and you've known for more than a year? And do not start with the riddles, old man, I want the simple truth."
"Yes," Dumbledore said.
A sound like a bomb exploding burst throughout the room as vases shattered, the marble surrounding the fireplace went flying in every direction like shrapnel, and the chandelier hanging above their heads rained diamonds down on their heads.
Dumbledore didn't cast a spell to shield himself, and he felt his skin cut open. He could feel blood trickle down his cheek, and could see blood blooming from his knuckles like a demented sort of flower.
Dumbledore looked at Remus who appeared to be frozen in shock. He too failed to place a protective charm, and blood was gently flowing down from his forehead and into his eye. Remus didn't seem to notice and his breathing came out in shallow bursts.
"Harry is alive," Sirius growled. His eyes boring into Dumbledore's. "Tell me right now why I shouldn't kill you."
"You couldn't kill me," Dumbledore said. Another vase shattered. "You wanted the truth." Sirius' breathing was coming out ragged and a twitch danced in his cheek. "You're angry, Sirius, you're both angry. Believe me, I understand, I do. But what you don't understand is why I didn't tell you." Dumbledore waved his hand and the room began repairing itself. Bits of broken vase glued themselves back together, diamonds flew up into the air, linking together to form a glittering chandelier.
"You weren't ready," Dumbledore said. "When I found out about Harry you were still an escaped convict, and when you were discovered to be innocent, you were in a fragile state of mind. Do you see how you reacted now? Imagine how you would've reacted a year ago. And Remus? He blamed himself for everything, finding out Harry was alive, that he could've cared for him for all those years, that would've killed him. You both deserved to know, but I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I would have, had I found Harry, but I've yet to locate him. I have yet to even decipher what happened that night. Who took him."
Sirius let out a choked sob as he fell back onto a chair. He buried his face in his hands. Dumbledore didn't say a word as Sirius attempted to reign in his emotions.
"You ran out of options," Remus said quietly.
Dumbledore hadn't expected the man to talk. He looked at Remus, whose eyes were still amber, and his hands were still gripping his arm rests.
"You ran out of options," Remus repeated, "and you thought that by telling us we would help you. Am I right?"
"Yes," Dumbledore answered.
"You want him because of that stupid prophecy," Remus accused. His voice void of all emotion.
Sirius' head snapped up. "Like hell!" he snarled.
"Harry can defeat Voldemort," Dumbledore said.
"Harry is a fourteen year old boy," Remus said. "A fourteen year old boy none of us have seen for thirteen years. When we find him, the last thing he will need is to be put out in the vanguard. Who knows what he has endured all this time?" A low growl escaped his throat. "You've done enough, keeping this from us."
"We haven't found Harry, I cannot make him do anything he doesn't want to do," Dumbledore admitted. "However, Voldemort aside, James and Lily were my friends too."
Remus and Sirius deflated a little. Dumbledore knew that reminding them that James and Lily had been on his side would tug at them.
"I would do anything to find Harry," Sirius said. "But know this," Sirius said lowly, "I will never forgive you for this."
"I only hope that in time you can understand," Dumbledore said.
Sirius merely glared at Dumbledore, a tear falling down his cheek. Dumbledore looked at Remus, whose nostrils were flaring. Without another word, Dumbledore stood up, grabbed a pinch of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Remus watched as Dumbledore disappeared in a flash of green. Harry was alive. James and Lily's son was alive. After all these years of crying and screaming and wishing for a miracle, one had finally come. His cub was alive.
Remus was furious at the situation. Thirteen years had passed since James and Lily had been murdered. Thirteen years since Harry had been taken Merlin knows where. He wanted to kill Dumbledore for keeping the fact that Harry was alive from him. The rational part of his mind knew that Dumbledore had only known for a year, but that part also knew that Dumbledore could've told him immediately after finding out. He understood why Dumbledore hadn't, Remus knows he wouldn't have reacted well, especially because last June he had thought Sirius was a murdering escaped convict. His mind would've led him down the road of thinking Sirius hidden Harry away, and his precious cub was being raised by Death Eaters.
But he was still furious with Dumbledore. Once Sirius had been cleared of all charges he should've waited until Sirius was of sound mind then told them both. That was months ago, many months ago. They could have spent the past several months searching for Harry.
"I want to kill him," Sirius growled.
Remus pulled himself from his thoughts and looked at his best friend. Sirius looked almost as bad as he had immediately after Azkaban. His face looked aged, his cheek was twitching, and his eyes shone with a crazed madness.
"Sirius," Remus forced himself to sound calm. He was furious, and he wanted to cry with both anger and joy, but he knew he needed to be the calm and rational one. "We can't change the past. Albus didn't tell us, and I can understand—"
Sirius rounded on him. "Don't you dare defend him!" Sirius roared.
Remus raised up his hands like he was in front of an animal about to charge.
"I'm not defending him Sirius," Remus said calmly. "What Albus did was unforgivable, but we're in the middle of a war. We can't turn on Albus now. No matter how much you hate him right now, what will happen when we find Harry? No matter how hard we try to hide him, Voldemort will find out Harry is alive. If he doesn't know already. Whether you want to admit it or not, Albus is the only one who will be able to protect Harry."
"We can protect him!" Sirius said fiercely. His face was contorted with a pain Remus had never seen before. It was as if Sirius was under the cruciatus curse and having his heart broken at the same time. The look twisted Remus' stomach.
"You know I would die for Harry," Remus said, "even after all this time. He's my cub. But Voldemort isn't considered the most powerful Dark Lord of all time because he's a big softie. Voldemort will come after Harry. Albus will be our best bet at protecting him. And we are still a part of the Order. So please, Sirius, curse Albus all you want in your head, shout out your hatred for him from the rooftops even." Remus looked at him imploringly. "But we cannot turn our backs on him. We promised James and Lily we would do anything to look out for Harry. Anything. And right now, working with Albus falls under the category of anything, as unpleasant as that thought right now is."
Sirius flinched, but Remus' words had the desired effect. Sirius deflated, he fell back into his chair and let tears flow down his cheeks. Remus' hand twitched as he watched his best friend cry. He wanted to strangle Dumbledore, or turn into his werwolf form on the full moon and rip his face off. But he couldn't. He needed to be rational if they were going to find Harry.
The girl's smooth stomach glinted with a thin sheen of sweat as her hips swung from side to side. A tiny green and black plaid skirt clung to her hips and barely covered her firm ass. She reached one hand behind her back and then leaned forward, her green lace bra falling to the ground. A scrawny man watched as she ran her hands up her stomach before twisting them through the air as though she was twirling something.
"Did you hear a word I said?" Lucius drawled. He gave the girl, who looked a day over eighteen a disdainful look, before sneering at the man. "If you are going to insist on meeting at such a place, the least you can do is ensure my time here is kept to a minimum."
Lucius looked around the small room and felt the urge to burn the place to the ground. Surely such a place was riddled with disease and other muggle filth.
"I'm listening," the man said murmured. "You'll kill me if I'm wasting your time, blah blah blah." The man licked his lips as the girl bent over, her eyelashes fluttering.
Lucius' eyes narrowed. He had received an owl from Timothy, a pathetic little man who spent his days attempting to rip people off in Knockturn Alley, telling him that he had important information for the Dark Lord in regard to Sirius Black. Lucius had been skeptical to say the least, but Timothy had given him true information in the past, so he had to look into it.
"Timothy," Lucius said coolly. A threat issued with each syllable.
"Ok, ok," Timothy pulled his gaze away from the girl. He licked his cracked lips.
The girl continued to dance, a bored look in her eyes, her body moving mechanically.
"I was in Knockturn Alley this morning, working," Timothy said. Lucius rose a brow at his choice of words. "I overheard someone talking, Sirius Black."
"And?" Lucius asked, when Timothy had paused.
"Where's my payment?" Timothy asked.
Lucius' eyes narrowed. "If your information is of any importance to the Dark Lord you will receive a fair payment. However," he said slowly, "if you are wasting my time…"
Lucius saw the girl out of the corner of his eye, she had frowned at the mention of the Dark Lord, and her dancing slowed. Lucius glanced at her and she jumped before dancing again, this time at a much quicker pace.
"I wouldn't dream of wasting your time!" Timothy said, his eyes shifting from side to side. The words tumbled out of his mouth. "Sirius Black was there and he was talking to some man, I couldn't make out the guys face, because I never saw him from the front, but Sirius was looking around, obviously he didn't want anyone to see him there."
"Obviously," Lucius drawled. "And you were not seen, how?" His eyes were narrowed.
"I bought an invisibility cloak off old Mundungus Fletcher," Timothy said. Lucius felt a wave of revulsion at the mention of Mundungus. "Anyways, I couldn't hear much of what they said," he went on quickly when Lucius' hand twitched, "but i did make out a name." He frowned, as if he couldn't believe what he'd heard. "Sirius Black said a name I haven't heard in a long time, not since…"
"What was the name?" Lucius said, his patience was wearing thin.
"Harry Potter," Timothy said.
Lucius froze. Sirius Black knew that Harry was alive. It was only a matter of time before Sirius was led to Harrison. The mutt would never give up. Voldemort was going to go on a rampage. Lucius smoothed out his features. He pulled out a small silk bag from his cloak and tossed it to Timothy, a clink sounding.
Timothy smiled, showing a missing tooth, as he greedily opened the bag. His eyes as wide as galleons. He stood and bowed mockingly. Lucius' mind was racing too fast to care and he waved Timothy away.
"Hey!" The girl shouted, as Timothy opened the door to leave. "You didn't pay me."
Lucius turned cold eyes to the girl. He pulled out his wand and the girl looked at him in confusion. "Avada Kedavra!" A green light filled the room and the girl slumped to the ground, her eyes wide.
"I liked that one," Timothy sighed. He walked out muttering, "Such a pretty little muggle."
Lucius disapparated on the spot.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Tom stared at Lucius, the blonde man attempting to look at ease. Tom could understand why. With the news Lucius had just delivered, he no doubt thought that Tom would kill whoever got in his way. It's true, he wasn't happy with the news, but it wasn't the end of the world. In fact, he had always known that one day the truth would come out. If Sirius Black found out the truth and told Dumbledore, he knew just how to deal with it.
"Lucius," Tom said. "I will summon Severus, then tell you both the roles you will be playing should Harrison's identity be revealed."
"Tomorrow is December first," Ginny said quietly.
"Are you hinting that Christmas vill be here soon, so I should buy you something?" Viktor teased.
Ginny glared at Viktor then frowned.
"Tomorrow is the day of the first task," Ginny said. "Aren't you scared?"
"I'll be fine, Ginny," Viktor said. "Hardly anyone has died in this tournament." He shrugged.
Ginny went wide-eyed and smacked Viktor on the arm making him laugh. He threw his arm around her shoulder and looked down into her eyes.
"Tomorrow vill be here and over before you know it," Viktor said gently.
"I know," Ginny sighed.
Ginny didn't know how to vocalize it, but she had a horrible feeling in her stomach. She didn't know if it was about Viktor and the first task, she just knew that something bad was going to happen. Ever since James Carrow had been murdered along with his barrister a few weeks earlier, Ginny had the feeling that something big and horrible was looming on the horizon. The professors were more tense than ever, attacks on muggles were once again become more frequent, and even Ron had been acting more strangely than usual.
"Is something else the matter?" Viktor asked.
"No," Ginny forced a smile. "I'll just be glad once the tournament is over."
"Come then," Viktor began leading her away from the bench where they'd been sitting, "it's cold out here in this snow, let us go inside."
Ginny followed Viktor inside, his arm around her providing warmth, as the dread in her stomach grew.
Luna shut her eyes, hoping to block out the images. Since Halloween Luna has woken up in the middle of every night to images flashing in her head. Different images of different possible futures, some good and others unspeakable. But since the night James Carrow had died, the same images have floated through her head, the only difference is the order they appear: the whitest snow she has ever seen that's suddenly splattered with blood, blue and black silk, a peaceful lake, fireworks dancing across a starry sky, ice sculptures melting, faces so mangled that they're unrecognizable, and a large black dog.
As the last of these images leaves her, intense pleasure flows through her core, followed by a sharp pain searing her hip and teeth marks appear. She's become accustomed to the pain, and she doesn't even suck in a breath at the sting anymore, although she does grimace slightly.
She had told Tom, but after a week of the same visions and the same pain, he told her to only write to him in their linked journals if the visions stop or change. She looked up at the ceiling, listening to the gentle breathing of her dorm mates, as the same feeling of dread she's felt for weeks floods through her. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, intent on falling asleep and forgetting her worries, if only for a few hours.
AN: PLEASE REVIEW! I would love to know what you like and don't like, and what you're looking forward to. There is a poll on my site for another story!