The breakfast table was set up on the terrace so that they could keep an eye on the children who were frolicking on the lawn. Lucius listened curiously to the news they shared with him. Andromeda watched him the whole time with squinted eyes. Finally, she said, "I honestly still don't understand why you are suddenly so eager to undermine Tom's arrangements. By all rights, you should be thrilled that his cause is being pursued even beyond his death". Malfoy closed his eyes and groaned. "You know, Andromeda, anyone can change his mind. Like so many other true-bloods, I was a believer in the supremacy of wizards. But then, I never came close to any Muggles. Except to those who were victimised, you know. Curey was the first. I learned a lot about Muggles from her. I found that they are neither as helpless nor as worthless as I thought they were. Well, you know yourself. As for Tom and his arrangements, I think we have a problem. All of us. A massive problem. You have no idea what he was like. Before he attacked Harry Potter and disappeared, sometimes he was very pleasant. He could be incredibly charming, and he knew expertly how to wrap people around his little finger. He was great at probing other people's weaknesses. I admit that I was flattered when he singled me out in front of others, as if I were special to him. So were many others. Even then, of course, he was cruel. Whenever something didn't go his way, he could become incredibly hot-tempered and mean. Everyone tried to please him. But as I said, there were times when he was simply fascinating. And attentive. When he disappeared and reappeared fourteen years later, none of that was left. Only his cruelty. He wanted revenge. On everyone and everything. I can admit it now. I was afraid of him. Scared for my life. For Cissy and Draco. Honestly, I felt better in prison than I did at home. And he could do magic that was far beyond an average wizard like me. I just hoped that this nightmare would end someday".
Mercuria looked at him, "You did fall in disfavour with him when the prophecy was lost, back in the Chamber of Death. Why didn't you save the prophecy too when you rescued Sirius?". Lucius covered his face with his hands. "I heard it". "You what?". "Potter was about to give me the recording. But at that moment Sirius and the Aurors arrived, and the fight really started. At one point that oaf Longbottom had the recording in his pocket. Potter tried to drag him out of the room. They had climbed the stairs already. I was blasted against the dais by then. I stood up and run at the stairs. That very moment, Potter gave Longbottom another heave and tore his robes. The prophecy fell from his pocket and Longbottom kicked it. It flew away from them and landed on a step below, where it shattered. From the shards rose a pearly-white figure and repeated the prophecy one last time. That's when I heard it. Potter and Longbottom didn't notice me because they stared at the figure. But I was the only one close enough to hear the words over all the yells and crashes. When Sirius had fallen through the veil, I was among the few who could escape. I apparated to you. I promised you to save him and I told you that I would fetch the time-turner and be back in an hour. During that hour, I thought about what to do. How I was going to rescue Sirius, I knew at once. That was easy. But what was I going to do about the prophecy? In the end, I decided to do nothing. We had failed to retrieve it. Now the recording was destroyed. What could Tom do? Therefore, I used the time-turner to travel back in time. I saved Sirius, provided a portkey for him and let myself being arrested by the aurors". "But why, Lucius, why?". "The prophecy said that either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. So, I was convinced that Tom would die while he tried to kill Potter. Determined as Tom was, I was convinced that it was only a matter of time, until he would attack Potter again. The prophecy said that then he would be gone once and for all. Therefore, I left it at that". No one said a word. Finally, Sirius muttered, "When Dumbledore told us about the prophecy and informed us that it referred to Harry, all we could think of was how to protect him. You know what happened. When I escaped from Azkaban and thought about the matter, I was convinced that the prediction was true, and that Harry would be the one to vanquish Tom. Hadn't he survived the Killing Curse? I didn't know that Harry was a horcrux. Dumbledore has kept that nicely to himself. I expected that just as James and Lily's deaths were inevitable to protect Harry, Harry's death would be essential to bring Tom down. Fortunately, I was wrong". He nodded at Malfoy. "It was good that you didn't tell him about the prophecy".
Suddenly Sirius looked up and said, "We have a visitor". He waved his wand to let the stranger pass the Protecting Charms on his premises and shortly afterwards, a wizard on his broom came zooming at them. When Sirius recognised the young man who had been observing them in Diagon Alley, he kept his wand ready. The young man landed on the terrace. When he realised that Sirius eyed him suspiciously, he threw his wand on the table and held up his hands. He hesitated, before he approached the table and looked at them insecurely. "Please excuse me for disturbing you, Mr Black". "You followed us yesterday, right? What brings you here, Mr. ?" The young man said, "Oh, my name is Fin Northam. I was a colleague of Dora. Mrs. Lupin that is. I have already been looking for Mrs. Tonks for quite some time, until yesterday I ran into you by chance. I wanted to talk to you in private, but the occasion just didn't arise. That's why I came here today". Sirius pocketed his wand, beckoned Fin to have a seat and asked, "Did you have breakfast already? If not, help yourself". He summoned a cup and plate for their guest, who hastily began to eat.
Andromeda asked, "And why have you been looking for me?". For a moment, the young man hesitated and looked insecurely at Lucius and Sirius. Then he took a decision and said, "I came to warn you. What I am going to tell you is strictly confidential. Therefore, please keep it to yourself. As I told you, I work as an auror. In February, we were called to a house in the Cotswold District. The owner was an elderly wizard, who lived quite secluded. This is the reason, why it took so long to find him. Nobody noticed what had happened to him. We found him in his garden. Because of his age, we weren't really surprised. It was supposed that he had died while gardening. We only wondered at the expression on his face. You know, it looked like every trace had been wiped off. Completely blank that's what it was".
They listened without interrupting. "Next time it was an elderly couple. End of February, beginning of March it was. Nearly the same circumstances. Both found outside the house. Blank faces. By the way, the Protecting Charms on both premises were still intact. We had to lift them, before we could enter. That's the reason why nobody gave it a second thought. To cut it short, up to now we have registered twelve cases in total. The circumstances are always the same". Lucius rose an eyebrow and asked arrogantly, "Will you share with us, what is so surprising about elderly people dying?". The young man was quite intimidated. "Two weeks ago, we had another case. A young woman and her six-year-old son. This time it really made everybody think. Secretly it was concluded that all these people suffered a Dementor's Kiss. And since all of them were living so isolated, they died after their souls had been sucked out. Died from hunger and thirst because they couldn't care for themselves anymore. It is only a supposition, because nobody has actually seen them, but we think that the Dementors have returned. And that they are attacking people. The Ministry keeps it hushed-up not to alarm people without having conclusive evidence. But for me there is proof enough. I think that it is a certainty. Dora has always been very kind to me. And you care for her son. That's why I came here to warn you". Sirius addressed him, "And the Protecting Charms on their premises were intact?". Fin nodded. Lucius asked, "Did the Dementors enter the houses?". "No. We didn't find any evidence that they did". Sirius interfered, "What about their wands? Did you check them?". The young man smiled approvingly. "This is another strange thing. You know that a Dementor's Kiss sucks out your soul. You lose your mind, you lose your memory, you are nothing but an empty shell. Yet as long as your heart beats, you are still alive. As I said these people couldn't care for themselves anymore. But obviously they wandered around on their premises for quite some time. Days even. Until they lost all energy and fell to the ground, where they eventually passed away. We found their wands on the spot where presumably they had been attacked. We scrutinised them thoroughly and discovered that each of them had cast a Stunning Spell. Only the young woman had last conjured up a Patronus. But either she had not been successful, or it had been too late already". He got up. "Will you now excuse me please? And don't tell anybody about this. The Minister still has objections against this theory. As I said, I wanted to warn you. Be observant. And be always ready to defend yourselves". Andromeda gave him a hug and said, "Thank you, Fin. Thank you for telling us. And please be careful yourself". He greeted them, mounted his broom, and left.
Sirius summoned the portraits of James, Remus and Regulus and explained to them what they had just heard. He concluded, "Now we know that we are not chasing phantoms. Tom has indeed taken measures to secure his powers and they have sprung to action". Remus said, "It seems that he made a pact with the Dementors. Tom put something into that casket. Some spell which calls them to duty. Now they will attack everybody who casts a Stunning Spell". Malfoy murmured, "That is impossible". Sirius asked, "Why? Dumbledore has always been convinced that they would eventually take his side. And so, they did, when they freed Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters way back then". "But shortly after Tom showed himself at the Battle of the Ministry, they disappeared". "Yes, they disappeared, and nobody heard of them anymore. Still, something that happened at the beginning of this year must have called them back".
Andromeda said, "Perhaps our assumption that Tom arranged this before he attacked Harry Potter and lost his powers might be wrong. He could as well have made this contract after he returned". "No, the photo is proof that he did it way back then". "But why didn't he call them to his side after his return then?". Mercuria guessed, "Perhaps he was convinced that he would eventually take over and that his horcruxes would give him sufficient protection while doing so. His pact with the Dementors obviously aimed at securing his powers once he had taken over. They should then help him to suppress a possible revolution. But while he was still on his way to power, perhaps he thought it better not to involve them. I remember that in the wake of events at the Ministry a press release was published saying that the Dementors couldn't be controlled anymore. Tom's original intention might have been to integrate them into his troops. However, to use them purposefully, you need manpower to supervise them. But when Tom returned and gathered his loyal followers, he found that he could not spare anyone for that job. Because some of his disciples had backslid, like Karkaroff. Others had gone insane at Azkaban and were of no use to him anymore. And a great number had died. In short, he had far less supporters than before. Probably he then decided not to involve the Dementors, because acting on their own accord, they would not distinguish between a Death Eater and any other wizard. His remaining supporters should concentrate on helping him to power and not be distracted or even hindered by marauding Dementors. So, he probably left it at that. If he needed their support, he could always start them up. Then they would attack anyone using a Stunning Spell. But like Remus said: Some event must have called the Dementors to duty lately. And now they haunt the country and attack every wizard and every witch, who gives them a reason". Malfoy said, "What would that event have been? I cannot imagine that somebody called them back deliberately. Even former Death Eaters would not unleash Dementors carelessly. Besides, it looks like this was all triggered by accident, don't you think?". Mercuria said, "Tom was afraid of a possible revolution. How does a revolution in the Wizarding World happen? I mean, what exactly would revolutionaries do?". Regulus explained, "There hasn't been a revolution for decades. Centuries even. But I remember from history lessons at school that the last time there was an uprise the revolutionaries used magical fire to attack the Ministry troops. They immobilised them with Stunning Spells and consequently burned them". Malfoy said, "That is what I remember too. This would explain why the Dementors show up whenever someone uses a Stunning Spell. But what about the fire?".
Mercuria shook her head in disbelief. "Oh my God". Everybody turned to look at her. "I know what happened. You remember his hint at 'Rivers of Flames' on Tom's list? Every New Year's Eve we light fireworks and put up a party. But this time it was different because it wasn't just a new year coming up. It was a new millennium. At midnight, every bell in this country rang. And in London, a huge fireworks display, called the "River of Fire", went along four miles of the River Thames. The Dementors misinterpreted this as the start of a revolution. And they returned. Fin said that the first victim was found sometime in February. But he didn't say when the man actually was being attacked or died". Everybody looked highly concerned. Andromeda said, "So it is true that Voldemort haunts us from his grave". Sirius could not believe what he had heard. His worst fears had come true. He had had a bad feeling since the beginning of the year. His nightmares had returned and the intervals between them had become shorter and shorter. He had suspected that something terrible had happened and now he knew for sure. He leaned forward and said in a husky voice, "We must find that casket. As quickly as possible. We must put an end to this".
The others agreed fervently. Andromeda said, "Then let's look at what we have. There is Merope's grave. Perhaps Tom hid the casket there". Lucius answered, "I doubt it. Tom despised his mother for being so weak. And he despised her for having fallen in love with a Muggle. A Muggle by the way, who didn't love her in return and whom she had to seduce with a love potion. But he hated her because she died and left him behind. Still, the grave must have had some meaning for him, and we should find it. Can you do that, Mercuria?". She nodded. "I will look for it the Muggle way. If necessary, I will check every graveyard and cemetery in the capital. I suppose that they have chosen a last resting-place for the dead close to the former graveyard. Nevertheless, there are several possibilities, all of which must be searched". Sirius said, "Kreacher and I will join you".
Lucius continued, "Then we have the key. But we have no idea, where it belongs to. Unless we find another hint, there is nothing that we can do about it". Mercuria said "I faxed a picture of it to some locksmiths. It belongs to a locking system. Therefore, it is possible that someone can identify it". Andromeda asked, "Something else?". Sirius said, "Peter's notes in that Muggle novel". Andromeda said, "I can read it". Sirius, "No. Lucius should read it. He has much more experiences with the Dark Arts than you do. He might know what the effects of certain spells are. And besides, I want you to stay here and watch over the children. I am not sure, whether Lizzy can conjure up an effective Patronus in case of need. If you want to help, you can read Tom's textbook 'Defence against the Dark Arts' and compare it to the copy I bought in London. Perhaps you'll find something, which doesn't fit in properly". Everybody agreed. Malfoy took the novel. "I'll read this in your library. I will take the portraits with me in case that I need to discuss it with Phineas, James, Remus, and Regulus. And perhaps I might want to look something up". The library was famous. The second largest in the country after the one at Hogwarts. In his time Phineas Black had been a well-known researcher and scientist and had collected countless books. This alone had been a reason for his family to keep their distance. When on top he postulated his belief that non-magical persons should also be granted rights, he was disowned by his relatives. He did not care much and took revenge on them by not only gaining an excellent reputation in the Wizarding World for his outstanding magical abilities, but also by amassing immense wealth, which he bequeathed to his great-great-grandnephew Sirius.
Mercuria and Sirius mounted the motorcycle. Sirius said to Kreacher, "We'll fly down to London. When we arrive there, I will call you, and you can apparate, ok?". Kreacher nodded, and they departed. They landed next to a graveyard and dismounted. Sirius called Kreacher over and the three of them entered the grounds. Sirius tried to locate Merope's grave with magic. To no avail. "I'm afraid we'll have to walk the entire grounds". They split up and began their search. After more than an hour, they met at the starting point. "What now?". "On to the next one". At dusk, they had not made a step further. Mercuria groaned, "And yet we haven't been to any of the seven great cemeteries. It will take us weeks to search each one of them. I really wonder if we shouldn't concentrate on something else for the moment". Sirius said "Let's return home now. Then we'll decide how to carry on".
When they arrived at Black Manor, they found Andromeda and the children in the kitchen. "Have you found the grave?". Sirius shook his head. "This will take a lot of time. How about you?". "I read through the textbook. There is one chapter where I have doubts. In any case, it was unknown to me, but perhaps I wasn't paying attention at school. Still, it doesn't figure in the recent copy either. You should have a look at it. By the way, Lucius has returned home. He also had some questions for you. He will be back tomorrow around noon".
Sirius buried his head in his hands. "This means that we are at our wit's end. There is nothing else we can do". Suddenly Mercuria called out, "I have one more idea. Kreacher, do you remember when we took Regulus' photo from the house at Grimmauld Place? There were some newspaper clippings on the bed in Regulus' room. Can you go there and fetch them?". The house-elf nodded and disapparated. A short time later he returned with the newspaper clippings. "What do you expect to find in them?". "Perhaps there is something mentioned that will help us". Mercuria gave each of them a few articles to read. Suddenly Sirius shouted, "I've got it. This is an article about a visit Tom made to Jacques Rosier. The photo is apparently taken at Rosier's house. Look at the portrait in the background. It shows one of Rosier's ancestors sitting in an armchair. On the table next to him is the casket". Mercuria and Andromeda examined the photo. Andromeda agreed, "You are right. This is the casket. Now I remember it. My mother was Druella Rosier. She had two brothers. Jacques and Simon. Jacques lived at the family estate on the Scottish border, next to a Muggle village called Pensouth. His son Philippe vanished without a trace just like Regulus. Simon had a house in London. His son Ewan was killed by the auror Alistair Moody. Some of them were Death Eaters, I guess. Anyway, when I was a child and we visited the Rosiers, the casket was there. The real one. In Jacques' study. Perhaps Lucius knows more about it. We should ask him when he comes tomorrow. Cissy was Jacques' godchild, and they were really close". By now it had become late, and the two women went to bed. Sirius stayed behind and considered the situation over a glass of whisky. So far, everything had been going rather disappointingly, but in the end, they had made a small step ahead after all. He hoped that the new findings would help them.
