"Sirius, you've got to be joking," Jenny said, staring at him. Sirius didn't look as if he were fooling, though. He seemed tired but firm. "We can't just walk in there!"
"Why not?" he asked stubbornly, staring at Jenny and Remus, who also looked unconvinced. "That's the best way to get the twins out."
"They'll throw us in the dungeons or kill us," Jenny pointed out.
"Not if they think we're coming to join them," Sirius said slowly. "Pettigrew would like that… no, Peter might not like that, but his master would." A look of hatred shone on his face for an instant. "They'd like all three of us to join them."
"They won't believe us, though," Remus said softly. "We sided with Dumbledore all those years back, you refused their offer…."
"But I hadn't been locked in Azkaban for twelve years then, and my children's lives were not at risk." Sirius stared off into the darkness. "One thing about a traitor, he's sure that everyone else also has a price."
"The idea of walking into that castle…." Jenny shivered. " 'Step into my parlor', and all that. But…. I'll risk anything to get James and Lily out."
"I know," Sirius said, his face grim. "We'll just have to wager that we'd be more use to them alive than dead."
"So we just walk up and knock at the gates?" Remus asked, skeptical. Sirius frowned.
"Well, no, I don't know if that's the best thing to do."
"Then I expect that's exactly what you're planning on doing." Jenny crossed her arms. "We need more of a plan before we try something so stupid."
"Go ahead and plan, then," Sirius growled, getting to his feet. "The more time you spend, the more likely it is that Pettigrew or Voldemort will decide he doesn't need the twins any more." He stood. "You keep going on about your children this, and your children that, but they're my son and daughter too!"
"Some father you are," Jenny spat, getting to her feet as well. "I keep them safe for twelve years, you show up, and two weeks later they're kidnapped by Voldemort!"
"Oh, so it's my fault?" Sirius challenged.
"Sirius! Jenny!" Remus shouted over the argument. They broke off and turned toward him. He was frowning. "Is this doing any good? At all? Stop it, both of you. You're both upset, and worried, but that's no reason to go and loose your tempers."
"You're right, Remus," Jenny said in a small voice. "And I'm – I'm sorry, Sirius, I shouldn't have said that, it wasn't true."
"I know you're worried," Sirius said. "I'm worried too. Remus is right, we both snapped. But maybe you were right about needing to think this through a little."
"And you were right that we can't take too long," Jenny admitted. "So we'd best start thinking." Just then, a bird shot out of the sky and landed softly near Jenny's feet. "It's Adhara!" she said in surprise, bending down. "She's got something, too." Jenny pulled the small chain from the eagle's talons. "It's – it's Lily's bracelet that I gave her…. She must be alive!"
"Perhaps the bird can be of use to us," Sirius said, staring at her. "If we could persuade it to carry a message to Pettigrew, telling him we're coming to discuss terms…."
"Right," Jenny said briskly, pulling out her wand. She conjured up parchment, ink, and a quill, but then stopped. "I can't write with this on," she said, motioning to her cast. "Remus, you do it."
"What should I write?" Remus asked, picking up the parchment and quill. Sirius rubbed his chin, pondering.
"Write, 'Pettigrew, we are coming to see if we can make an arrangement that will –' oh, how should we phrase this?"
" 'Make an arrangement that will benefit both us and your master,'" Jenny put in.
"Got it," Remus said, writing rapidly. "Now what?"
" 'We think we would like to accept some offers your master has previously made us,'" Sirius said slowly. " 'If you will meet with us, hang a red flag on the spire of the highest tower of your castle, and we will come.'" Remus grimaced as he wrote.
"We're not actually promising anything, are we?" Jenny asked nervously, reading the letter over Remus' shoulder.
"Not really," Sirius said. "Just implying things." He took the quill and signed his name. Remus followed suit, and Jenny, the cast making her clumsy, wrote 'Jenny Black' under the other two signatures.
"There," she said, standing up. "Let's see what that rat makes of this."
"Elaida! Elaida!" Pettigrew hurried through the dank corridors, holding the newly arrived missive. "Elaida!"
"What do you want now, Pettigrew?" the woman said coldly as he burst in. She was wearing green silk, again; Pettigrew wondered if she ever wore anything else. "I was making excellent headway with the Black boy until you started yelling."
"Never mind that, we have bigger thing to worry about!" he said eagerly. "Look!" He shoved the letter to her. She read it slowly, eyes widening slightly as the only sign of her surprise.
"Interesting," she commented, handing the letter back to Pettigrew.
"Is that all you have to say?" Pettigrew demanded, throwing up his arms and waving them in wild circles. "This is incredible! Our master will reward me for this! Those three, on our side…."
"A coup for him," Elaida said softly. "Three powerful wizards… of course, they haven't done much for the other side in recent years, but that's not because of anything they chose…. Yes, a definite coup." She crossed the room. "If it's genuine," she concluded.
"It's got to be genuine," Pettigrew said, hurrying over to her. "I checked the signatures, they're real, and one of my men is hanging the red flag now."
"Still, they were all quite ardent in their belief that they were right, the last time we met," Elaida said coolly, crossing her arms and staring at Pettigrew. She was a full head taller than he was. "I must say, though, it is gratifying to see that you put the good of the cause ahead of any personal desire for revenge."
"Revenge?" Pettigrew asked, bewildered. Elaida stared at him, a sneer on her lips.
"The last time you met your old friends, they tried to kill you," she clarified. "Most people might be upset at that."
"Oh, but if we're all on the same side," Pettigrew squeaked. "I mean, they were my friends, you know. I looked up to them all."
"You looked up to Potter, too, and that didn't stop you betraying him."
"I do as the Master commands," Pettigrew said simply. "I wonder what they'll want in exchange for their loyalties."
"The children, for one thing," Elaida said carelessly. "I won't have to finish my work on the boy if his parents really do change sides. Pity; he's quite an interesting subject. Reminds me of his father." Then she sneered. "And that girl –well, I shall let her mother deal with the little brat. They deserve each other." She stared coldly at Pettigrew. "I assume you've given orders to your men for suitable precautions?"
"Yes," Pettigrew said, glancing rapidly around the room at anything except Elaida's face. "They won't be permitted to keep their wands, of course, and the castle is on alert."
"That will probably be adequate," Elaida conceded. "I'd be on my guard, though – I will be, because I'm going to be there with you."
"Why? It's not likely to make negotiations any easier. Jenny hates you as much as you hate her,"
"I don't believe that is possible," Elaida said quietly. Pettigrew ignored her interruption.
"You were never on good terms with Remus, and after the way you fouled up with Sirius before, I doubt he'll want to see you either."
"Well, that's your problem," she said coldly. "I don't trust you, Pettigrew. You may claim that you want to serve our Master, but I know you're only in this for yourself. Besides, even if you are loyal, you'd probably mess up everything on your own." She sneered at him.
"I am in command here," Pettigrew reminded her. "Not you, or your brother."
"That's because my brother has much more important things to do than to sit here babysitting Black's brats," she spat. "Of course, that's all you can be trusted with right now." Pettigrew looked as if he might try to strike her, but they were interrupted by a guard coming in.
"Sir, three people are at the gates."
"Let them in!" Pettigrew barked. "Take them to the Council Hall."
"No," Elaida broke in, "Take them to my parlor." The guard nodded and turned. Pettigrew looked at Elaida.
"Any reason why you contradicted my order? After all, I am in command here!" His voice rose to a screech.
"Simply that my parlor is rather more impressive than that drafty council room. And it's very good for persuasion."
"Fine," Pettigrew nodded and started to leave. "Coming?"
"Of course I am." She rolled her eyes behind his back and followed him out.
Jenny looked around the room, trying to hide her nervousness. It was hung with green silk and a large fire blazed at one end. In front of her were Pettigrew and a woman she had hoped never to see again: Elaida Malfoy. Jenny and Elaida had never been friends at school, and afterwards… Jenny pulled her mind away from the afterwards to concentrate on Pettigrew. He was smiling and spread his arms expansively.
"Welcome, my old friends, welcome." Sirius and Remus were staring at him, trying not to show their disgust. Jenny had not seen him since a few days before he had betrayed the Potters, and she was amazed at the changes in him. He was quite thin, although it seemed he had put some weight back on recently. Most of his hair was gone, and he had the habit of shifting his gaze about rapidly. He also kept licking his lips nervously. The trio's wands were in his belt, and his hand kept touching them, seemingly wanting assurance that Jenny, Remus and Sirius were still unarmed. "Welcome," he said again.
"Where are my children?" Jenny burst out. She had tried not to say anything, had wanted to let Sirius handle things, but….
"I'll send for them shortly," Pettigrew said. "They are well, I assure you. Sit down?" He motioned to some chairs. Jenny, Sirius and Remus seated themselves. "Now, your letter said we might make a deal…."
"Your master offered all of us 'deals' years ago," Sirius said. He fastened Pettigrew's eyes with his own dark stare.
"And you'd like to accept them?" Pettigrew asked eagerly. "I assure you, you won't be making a mistake. My master can be most generous to his valuable servants, most generous. Power, wealth, fame… he can give it to you."
"All I want right now are my children," Jenny said firmly, staring at Pettigrew and wondering why Elaida didn't speak.
"But of course, you'll get them," Pettigrew said, flinging out his arms in an expansive gesture. "Remus, there are men on our side who can supply you with the Wolfsbane potion. Sirius, I'm sure we can find a way to get the Ministry off your tail." He smiled widely. Jenny rather thought he was enjoying his role of benefactor. "And, if you don't want to, er, well, that is, if you wish to remain out of the general –"
"He's trying to say, if you're too squeamish for killings, you needn't dirty your hands with such work," Elaida broke in coldly. "There are plenty of other things you might be able to do."
"I won't agree to anything until I see my children," Sirius said firmly. "Bring them here now." Jenny put her hand on Sirius' arm and stared at the scowling Elaida.
"I'd prefer to wait until we are sure of where we stand," Pettigrew said, shifting a little, nervously.
"How do we know they've not been harmed?" Jenny asked, clenching her hands into fists.
"I already told you they were unharmed," Pettigrew said. " Now, if we can…"
"Your word is hardly worth much to us," Sirius pointed out.
"The children are unharmed," Elaida said softly. "I agree, you can't trust Pettigrew-" she shot him a cold glance, "but I always keep my word. Don't I?" She stared at them. Jenny thought and realised that Elaida might be telling the truth. At least, she knew that the woman had kept her word before…
"I want to see them," she demanded. "They're my children, and I'm worried about them. Surely you understand that I cannot even think about making a deal with you until I have seen them?" She tried to make herself sound pitiful and desperate, the impression that she wanted to give Pettigrew and his flunkies.
"Very well," Pettigrew said. He clapped his hands. Two guards appeared instantly. "Bring the children here at once," he said to them. They nodded and left.
Five minutes later, they were back, James and Lily being force-marched between the guards. The children stared as they entered the room, then wrenched free of the guards and ran toward their parents.
"Mum! Dad!" James shouted.
"I knew you'd find us!" Lily exclaimed. Jenny hugged them both.
"My babies, my babies," she whispered, crying. They were both very dirty and Lily especially was cold, but they were alive. Jenny felt as if her heart would break with joy. Now all they had to do was get out of this castle alive. Not that that would be very easy…. Pettigrew cleared his throat.
"I apologize for breaking up the family reunion," he said, "but we have some things to discuss."
"Yes, we do," Sirius said, frowning. He looked at Remus, who nodded. Before Pettigrew realised what was happening, Sirius had leapt at him, changing to Padfoot in midair. The great black dog bore Pettigrew to the ground. Jenny ran forward and grabbed the wands from Pettigrew's belt. He squeaked and transformed. Padfoot seized the rat, who squealed and twisted, but to now avail. Lily and James had shrunk back toward the chairs, nervous.
Elaida had been taken off guard, but now she brought up her wand. Jenny saw her point it at Sirius, still in dog form. Without thinking, Jenny threw up her arm and knocked the woman's wand away. The curse shot harmlessly past Sirius, destroying a statue. Elaida turned to Jenny, her face a mask of hate. Jenny's wand had been knocked from her hand when she has stopped Elaida, and now the other woman pointed her wand directly at Jenny' heart. But instead of loosing some deadly curse, as Jenny had expected, her face went under a terrible series of spasms.
"No," she muttered. "I swore!" She spoke a charm and vanished from the room. As she did, an alarm began to sound, far off.
"We'd better hurry," Remus yelled. Smoke had begun to fill the room. Jenny began to couch, and heard the others doing the same.
"He's gone!" Sirius yelled. Jenny could see him through the smoke, looking around frantically. "I accidentally dropped him when Elaida tried to kill me, but I thought he was unconscious. There's no sign of him."
"We've got to get out of here!" Jenny choked out. She felt panic rising in her at the smell of the smoke, saw images in her minds' eye that had haunted her dreams for years, felt the old terrors creep over her… Sirius nodded and took his son's arm. Jenny, holding Lily, Apparated herself home.
The five stood in the entranceway of the old manor house. James and Lily looked about happily. Remus leaned against the wall, still coughing.
"This close!" Sirius muttered. "This close to having Pettigrew."
"We'll get him yet," Remus declared. "But you better get out of here, Sirius. I'm sure the Ministry's keeping a close watch on this place."
"I'm too tired to Apparate right now," Sirius admitted. "Maybe after I have something to eat…."
"Lily, come help me make a celebration dinner," Jenny said. She still held her daughter's hand. Lily grinned.
"I'm starving," she said. "We haven't had a decent meal in I don't know how long."
A half hour later, five hungry people sat down to a huge meal. Laughter and talk filled the room, and light danced on the ceiling.
"This is what life should have been like," Sirius said to Jenny. "This is what it will be like, I promise. I'll get Pettigrew and we'll be able to live happily."
"Ever after?" she asked playfully. "Maybe you'll be able to convince Remus to stay with us. I asked him a hundred times, but he was always afraid of hurting the children."
"I'll do my best," he promised. "It's a shame that neither of us is any good at Potions." She smiled at him, and his heart grew lighter within him. "Did I ever tell you that I loved you?"
"Once or twice," Jenny said, "but I don't mind hearing it again."
"And I don't mind saying it again."
Finally everyone pushed back from the table.
"I suppose I'd better go," Sirius said reluctantly. James and Lily both hugged him. Jenny gave him a kiss.
"You be careful," she warned him. "Please?"
"I will," he promised. Then he disappeared. Jenny stared at the spot where he had been for a minute, then turned.
"All right, we need to get you two cleaned up," she said. They headed for the stairs. Just then, a knock came on the door. Jenny pulled it open. The weather outside had turned nasty; rain was pouring down from the black sky. Three cloaked figures stood on the doorstep.
"Are you Jenny Black, sometimes called Jenny Anderson?" one of the men asked.
"I am," she said, confused.
"Then, it is my duty as a Hit Wizard for the Ministry of Magic, to put you under arrest for treason."
Oh, that was a nasty cliffhanger, wasn't it? Well, don't worry; I have most of the next part worked out, so it won't be long now. Although Jenny's life story is beginning to remind me of the Book of Job, I think that probably she's reached her lowest point and from here it's all back upwards. And I'm sure there were things in there that you didn't get – well, don't worry, you haven't missed something, I just haven't explained everything in the past yet.
All characters mentioned in the Harry Potter books are J.K. Rowling's, and Scholastic and Bloomsbury's. I promise I'm not making any money off of this –after all, who'd pay me? – and I am not claiming that any 'official' characters are mine. The ones I invented are my property, though, so please don't take without asking.
|
||||||