I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Visitor
Alex flicked his wand toward their visitor as the cloud of dust began to settle. The person yelped, sailing down the hallway and across the room, their wand jumping out of their robes to Alex's free hand just as he flicked his own wand at the obnoxious portrait's curtains, shutting them again just as she began to shriek. Finally, their visitor swung to a stop, upside down as if hung by the ankles, and watched Alex in a mixture of pride. Lupin. Hermione and Ron joined him and Harry from the drawing room where they'd been bickering over Ron's new habit of playing with the Deluminator. It had been three days since Kreacher and Winky had left, and so far, they hadn't seen hide nor hair of them, or of Mundungus Fletcher. The day after they'd left, Death Eaters had arrived, and whether the same pair or a group rotating out in twos, there had been cloaked figures standing across the street for the last three days.
"What spell did I earn the spell books Lupin gave me by using?" Alex asked.
"You used a Wandless severing charm to strip Draco Malfoy to his underpants, then a rather clever and fast-acting Wandless Fire-Making Spell to burn the remains of his clothes away," Lupin said. "You then escaped around the corner just before half the school arrived and found Malfoy in that unfortunate state, earning him a week's detention, and all of this a punishment for him tormenting Luna Lovegood her first year, back when you and she were still only friends and you still thought she was crazy."
"Oh, no, she's definitely crazy," Alex said, flicking his wand and letting Lupin down and tossing him his wand. "It's just one of the reasons that I love her now."
Lupin sighed. "It's good to see you all. No sign of Severus, then?" he asked.
"No," Harry shook his head. "What's going on? Is everyone okay?"
"Yes," Lupin nodded, "but we're all being watched. There are a couple of Death Eaters in the square outside."
"We know," Alex said. "Part of the reason for the greeting."
Lupin nodded. "I had to Apparate very precisely onto the top step outside the front door to be sure that they would not see me. They can't know you're in here or I'm sure they'd have more people out there. They're staking out everywhere that's got any connection with you, Harry. Let's go downstairs, there's a lot to tell you, and I want to know what happened after you left the Burrow."
They descended into the kitchen, where Hermione pointed her wand at the grate. A fire sprang up instantly. It gave the illusion of coziness to the stark stone walls and glistened off the long wooden table. Lupin pulled a few butterbeers from beneath his traveling cloak and they sat down.
"I'd have been here three days ago, but I needed to shake off the Death Eater tailing me," Lupin explained. "So, you came straight here after the wedding?"
"No," Harry said. "Only after we ran into a couple of Death Eaters in a cafe on Tottenham Court Road."
Lupin slopped most of his butterbeer down his front, and Alex waved his wand, cleaning him up and refilling his butterbeer. "What?"
They explained what had happened. When they had finished, Lupin looked aghast.
"But how did they find you so quickly? It's impossible to track anyone who Apparates, unless you grab hold of them as they disappear."
"And it doesn't seem likely they were just strolling down Tottenham Court Road at the time, does it?" Harry said.
"We wondered," Hermione ventured tentatively, "whether Harry could still have the Trace on him?"
"Impossible," Lupin said instantly.
Ron looked smug, and Harry felt hugely relieved.
"Apart from anything else, they'd know for sure Harry was here if he still had the Trace on him, wouldn't they?" Lupin asked. "But I can't see how they could have tracked you to Tottenham Court Road, that's worrying, really worrying." He looked disturbed, but as far as Harry was concerned, that question could wait.
"Tell us what happened after we left," Harry said. "We haven't heard a thing since Ron's dad told us the family was safe."
"Well, Kingsley saved us," Lupin said. "Thanks to his warning most of the wedding guests were able to Disapparate before they arrived."
"Were they Death Eaters or Ministry people?" Hermione interjected.
"Is there even a difference anymore?" Alex asked.
"Alex is right," Lupin nodded. "To all intents and purposes, they're the same thing now. But it was a mixture of actual Death Eaters and ministry workers. There were about a dozen of them, but they didn't know you were there, Harry. Arthur heard a rumor that they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Scrimgeour before they killed him. If it's true, he didn't give you away."
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. Their expressions reflected the mingled shock and gratitude he felt. He had never liked Scrimgeour much, but if what Lupin said was true, the man's final act had been to try to protect Harry.
"The Death Eaters searched the Burrow from top to bottom," Lupin went on. "They found the ghoul but didn't want to get too close. Then they interrogated those of us who remained for hours. They were trying to get information on you, Harry, but of course nobody apart from the Order knew that you had been there.
"At the same time that they were smashing up the wedding, more Death Eaters were forcing their way into every Order-connected house in the country. No deaths," he added immediately, seeing Alex's panic shoot through the roof, "but they were rough. They burned down Dedalus Diggle's house, but as you know he wasn't there, and they used the Cruciatus Curse on Tonks's family. Again, trying to find out where you went after you visited them. They're all right. Shaken, obviously, but otherwise okay. To my knowledge, they didn't do anything to Luna or her father to hurt them. They definitely made plenty of threats, but she's not hurt at all. We checked on her. I don't think you'll be too shocked to hear that she didn't give a rat's ass about the Death Eaters or their threats. She just wanted to know if you were alright."
Alex smiled, lighting his endless cigarette. "Yeah, that sounds like her."
"The Death Eaters got through all those protective charms?" Harry asked, remembering how effective these had been on the night he had crashed in Tonks's parents' garden.
"What you've got to realize, Harry, is that the Death Eaters have got the full might of the Ministry on their side now," Lupin said. "They've got the power to perform brutal spells without fear of identification or arrest. They managed to penetrate every defensive spell we'd cast against them, and once inside, they were completely open about why they'd come."
"And are they bothering to give an excuse for torturing Harry's whereabouts out of people?" Hermione asked, an edge to her voice.
"Well..." Lupin said. He hesitated, then pulled out a folded copy of the Daily Prophet. "Here." he pushed it across the table to Harry. "You'll know sooner or later anyway. That's their pretext for going after you."
Alex leaned over to read the headline, just above Harry's picture.
"Wanted for questioning about the death of Albus Dumbledore."
Hermione and Ron roared in outrage, but Alex just blew out a thick cloud of smoke in a sigh. He would have guessed something like that, though he was surprised they were relinquishing the credit for having overpowered Dumbledore. That achievement would have gotten them loads of followers.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Lupin said.
"So, the Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet, too?" Hermione asked furiously.
"What part of, 'the full might of the Ministry' escapes your understanding, Hermione?" Alex asked. "When was the Daily Prophet anything besides the Ministry's propaganda division?"
"Alex is right," Lupin said. "Them taking the Prophet isn't really all that surprising, after they took the Ministry itself."
"But surely people realize what's going on!" Hermione argued.
"The coup has been smooth and virtually silent," Lupin said. "The official version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned. He has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse."
"Why didn't Voldemort declare himself Minister of Magic?" Ron asked.
Lupin laughed. "He doesn't need to, Ron. Effectively, he is the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet, Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the Ministry.
"Naturally many people have deduced what has happened. There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is the point. They whisper. They don't dare confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust. They are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true, and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion. Remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear."
"And this dramatic change in Ministry policy," Harry said, "involves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort?"
"Doesn't it always?" Alex asked. "Case and point, our fifth year."
"That's certainly a part of it," Lupin nodded, "and it is a masterstroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you C the Boy Who Lived C were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hat's death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you.
"Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggle-borns." Lupin pointed at the Daily Prophet. "Look at page two."
Hermione turned the pages with much the same expression of distaste she had when handling Secrets of the Darkest Art.
"Muggle-born Register!" she read aloud, enraged already. "'The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called "Muggle-borns" the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets.
"'Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force.
"'The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.'"
"People won't let this happen," Ron said, aghast.
"It is happening, Ron," Lupin said. "Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak."
"But how are they supposed to have 'stolen' magic?" Ron argued. "It's mental, if you could steal magic there wouldn't be any Squibs, would there?"
"I know," Lupin said calmly. "Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment."
Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, "What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell everyone Hermione's my cousin."
Hermione covered Ron's hand with hers and squeezed it. "Thank you, Ron, but I couldn't let you."
"You won't have a choice," Ron said fiercely, gripping her hand back. "I'll teach you my family tree so you can answer questions on it."
Hermione gave a shaky laugh. "Ron, as we're on the run with Harry Potter, the most wanted person in the country, I don't think it matters. If I was going back to school, it would be different. What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?" she asked Lupin.
"Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard," he replied. "That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. And it's also another way of weeding out Muggle-borns, because students must be given Blood Status, meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard descent, before they are allowed to attend."
Alex felt his skin crawl and his stomach twist into knots. He'd have never made it in. He'd have never met Luna, or Ginny, the Weasley twins, Ron, Harry, Hermione, or any of his other friends. In fact, he'd likely have been killed for what he was.
"It's...It's..." Harry muttered, struggling to find words that did justice to the horror of his thoughts.
Lupin nodded and said quietly, "I know."
"What about Professor Flitwick?" Alex asked.
"He's been allowed back, but he's attending registry meetings like Umbridge set up," Lupin said. He hesitated. "I'll understand if you can't confirm this, Harry, but the Order is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission."
"He did," Harry replied, "and Ron and Hermione are in on it and they're coming with me."
"Can you confide in me what the mission is?"
Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick but graying hair, and clearly wished that he could return a different answer. "I can't, Remus, I'm sorry. If Dumbledore didn't tell you I don't think I can."
"I thought you'd say that," Lupin nodded, looking disappointed. "But I might still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to."
Harry hesitated. It was a very tempting offer, Alex had to admit, though how they would be able to keep their mission secret from Lupin if he were with them all the time he could not imagine. Hermione, however, looked puzzled.
"But what about Tonks?" she asked.
"What about her?" Lupin asked.
"Your marriage," Alex said. "Would she be okay with you just up and leaving with us? Probably not getting home for months, if we're lucky?"
"Tonks will be perfectly safe," said Lupin, "She'll be at her parents' house."
There was something strange in Lupin's tone, it was almost cold. There was also something odd in the idea of Tonks remaining hidden at her parents' house. She was, after all, a member of the Order and, if Alex knew her as well as he thought, was likely to want to be in the thick of the action.
"Remus," Hermione said tentatively, "is everything all right...you know...between you and..."
"Everything is fine, thank you," Lupin said pointedly.
Hermione turned pink. There was another pause, an awkward and embarrassed one, and then Lupin said, with an air of forcing himself to admit something unpleasant, "Tonks is going to have a baby."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Hermione squealed.
"Excellent!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"Congratulations," Harry said.
"I'm sorry," Alex said, the other three staring at him, both appalled and confused. "Is it hereditary?"
Lupin sighede, then said, "There's been no evidence of it, but there has also not been a very lomg list of cases to go off of. He paused for a moment before switching back to the original vonversation. So...do you accept my offer? Will four become five? I cannot believe that Dumbledore would have disapproved, he appointed me your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all. And I must tell you that I believe we are facing magic many of us have never encountered or imagined."
"You have no idea," Alex sighed, looking to Harry.
Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry, too.
"Just...just to be clear," he said. "You want to leave Tonks at her parents' house and come away with us?"
"She'll be perfectly safe there, they'll look after her," Lupin said. He spoke with a finality bordering on indifference. "Harry, I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you."
"Well," Harry said slowly, "I'm not. I'm pretty sure my father would have wanted to know why you aren't sticking with your own kid, actually."
Lupin's face drained of color. The temperature in the kitchen might have dropped ten degrees. Ron stared around the room as though he had been bidden to memorize it, while Hermione's eyes swiveled backward and forward from Harry to Lupin. Alex swallowed hard, putting his cigarette out.
"You don't understand," Lupin said at last.
"Explain, then," Harry invited.
Lupin swallowed. "I...I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment and have regretted it very much every since."
"I see," Harry nodded, "so you're just going to dump her and the kid and run off with us?"
Lupin sprang to his feet. His chair toppled over backward, and he glared at them so fiercely that Alex saw, for the first time ever, she shadow of the wolf upon his human face.
"Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and my unborn child? I should never have married her, I've made her an outcast!" Lupin kicked aside the chair he had overturned. "You have only ever seen me amongst the Order, or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the Wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've done?
Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage, what parents want their only daughter to marry a werewolf? And the child...the child..." Lupin actually seized handfuls of his own hair; he looked quite deranged. "My kind don't usually breed! It will be like me, I am convinced of it! How can I forgive myself, when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it will be better off, a hundred times so, without a father of whom it must always be ashamed!"
"Remus!" Hermione whispered, tears in her eyes. "Don't say that! How could any child be ashamed of you?"
"Oh, I don't know, Hermione," Harry said angrily. "I'd be pretty ashamed of him."
Harry had risen to his feet too. Lupin looked as though Harry had hit him.
"If the new regime thinks Muggle-borns are bad," Harry said, "what will they do to a half-werewolf whose father's in the Order? My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you reckon he'd tell you to abandon your kid to go on an adventure with us?"
"Enough, Harry!" Alex finally snapped. "You've seen how I'm treated for what I am, but Lupin's right. You haven't seen how werewolves are treated. I'd be the pride of all the Wizarding world before a werewolf would be accepted. And the son of a werewolf would get worse than I have. For a child who's bullied, it's very easy to learn to be ashamed of your parents." He turned to Lupin. "But that doesn't mean that you can abandon them. A child needs their father. If you're gone, it's that much easier for the child to hate you, but if you're there, and you show you child that you love them, they can learn to be proud of you, in spite of what everyone says. A child can hate a parent for any reason the world gives them, but they can only love a parent for a reason that parent gives them. If you abandon them to stop them being ashamed of you, you create a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Lupin was silent for a long while, and Alex could see both his and Harry's anger fading slowly. Finally, Lupin spoke again.
"Sirius would laugh if he knew that I was taking life lessons from a child," Lupin said. "I still want to join you. I'm still not sure it's right for me to be in this child's life, but...maybe you're right."
"You know I am," Alex said. "Otherwise you'd be arguing."
Lupin smiled resignedly. "Perhaps. I understand I can't accompany you, but if you ever need me, don't be afraid to call. Be careful. Before anything else, be careful."
They all nodded and Lupin righted his chair. Then, he left without another word.
"I can't believe him," Harry said, still angry, but less so than before. "A parent should never leave their kids unless they've got to."
"While I agree, there really are times when it's better that way," Alex said.
"You think he should run out on them, then?" Harry snapped.
"No," Alex said. "But before Hogwarts, I was accutely aware that it would have been better if my famiky had never met with my father thst day, or had let him kill me. Things are different now, but at the time, I'd have been better off dead. In Lupin's eyes, having experienced what it's like to be a werewolf first-hand, his child would be better off without him."
"Well he's wrong!" Harry snapped.
"Yes, he is," Alex said. "But he's mistaken based on experience, not premise. His child will be tormented, bullied, and ostracized. However, his experience as the werewolf is coloring his view of what's best for the werewolf's son."
Hermione nodded. "I hope he takes your advice."
"He will," Alex said. "Once the child's born, if he runs out, Tonks will just go drag him backk and use a permanent sticking charm to attach a chair to him."
Ron and Hermione laughed, and Harry smiled. Harry sighed and picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet, opening it at random. Ron and Hermione both sat down at the table, beginning to do their usual pass-times, and Alex sat down and pulled out the book he was currently searching, beginning to search once again.
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