Chapter 30
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"What? But that can't be? I mean they got of the portal, right?" asked Ron, he was reading behind Harry's back. Harry was shocked. He read the letter again.
Albus
Dumbeldore,
We have captured two of your men, Sirius Black and Remus
Lupin. If you do not meet our demand,
they will be executed. The Dark Lord wants the necklaces you have gotten. You have one week to give what he want. Keep
in mind the threat we have given you, if you do not follow, suffer the
consequences. The Dark Lord is restless
and impatient. He can do anything to them,
even kill them.
"This had come four days ago. I did not want to tell you as it will worry you and will steer you out of your O.W.L.s," explained Dumbledore.
"But they can't be. I mean, how do we get them back?" asked Harry. The door opened. It was Professor Sullivan.
"You wanted to see me, unc-Harry, Hermione, Ron," she said. "What's going on?" Harry handed her the parchment. She read it and became surprised. "Kidnapped? I-I don't believe it!" she exclaimed. "How do we get them back?"
"Well, I don't mean to put you in such a position, Briana, but you will. You know how to operate the necklaces and I'm sure you will do fine."
"I want to come too," said Harry, "Hermione and Ron and I will come to help you, professor."
"I don't know, Harry. I reckon you should stay here and let me handle this," said Professor Sullivan.
"But you said we can take care of ourselves. You said we were all right. We won't get in the way, professor, please. I have to save Remus and Sirius," pleaded Harry. Professor Sullivan raised her eyes at Dumbldore, who eyes have grown brighter that usual.
"Haven't I told you? Just like him?" smiled Dumbledore.
"Hmm…More like Lily, I should say. Extremely stubborn, she was," said Professor Sullivan. She sighed, "All right, you can come with me. But stay with me at all times, understood?" Harry grinned broadly at her.
"Well, Hermione, are you coming with us?" asked Ron. Hermione hesitated.
"I don't know. I think you two should just go ahead with Professor Sullivan. I mean someone should stay here and two should come with her. I reckon it should be you two." Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"All right," said Harry. "So it's settled then."
That night, the old crowd had again assembled in the room that they had their meeting in.
"Everyone, Briana has acquired a dangerous task. We call it Operation Retrieve Alpha and Beta. She has four things to retrieve, the two necklaces and Sirius and Remus," said Dumbledore to the crowd. "She will do it tonight. She will be accompanied by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."
"But, Albus, are you sure about this? I mean they are just boys. They could get hurt," said Mrs. Figg.
"This boys have faced more gruesome things before. I have complete trust in them," said Dumbledore, smiling at Ron and Harry.
"Come on, we don't have much time," said Professor Sullivan impatiently. "Stand beside me, you two." Hermione came with them to say good luck. Ron and Harry stood beside Professor Sullivan. "Gates of the Key, seek thou partners, connect us to thy links." She threw the necklaces in front of her. It hanged there for a moment and then grew in door length. It was the same dark woodland that Harry was forced to go into. Professor Sullivan came in first. Ron and Harry followed suit. There wasn't any cauldron standing in the middle and there was a bright that was shining through the woods. A hooded man approached them, a Death Eater.
"Have you brought what the Master wanted?" he asked.
Professor Sullivan said, "Yes, we do. Now hand Sirius and Remus to us first."
"That I cannot do, Briana. See, I have direct orders from the Master to get the necklaces first, and then your boyfriend and the wolf."
"Avery, you know that I'm a good person, and good people keep their promises, don't they? Now, give us Sirius and Remus and then, I promise, that I will give you the necklaces. Do we have a deal?" Professor Sullivan put her hands behind her back and crossed them. Harry saw this, and she winked at him.
"All right, Nott, give them the captives," said Avery.
"But, the Master said," said Nott.
"Just do it." Nott brought out Sirius and Remus both had their hands tied. Nott untied them and they went to Professor Sullivan.
"Are both of you all right?" asked Professor Sullivan as she hugged Sirius, he nodded. Harry looked up at them.
"We're all right, really," said Sirius. He turned to Professor Sullivan and said, "Don't give them the necklaces, it's a trapp."
"Sirius, do you not know me yet?" said Professor Sullivan simply.
"So, Annie, give the necklaces," said Avery.
"Well, a promise is a promise," sighed Professor Sullivan. She gave him the necklaces.
"You fool, you are so trusting aren't you, Annie?" laughed Avery. "The Master will be proud of me."
"No, Avery, you are the trusting one. Accio!" The necklaces zoomed out of Avery's hands and Professor Sullivan caught it. "You should remember, Avery, that I'm not such a good person. Let's go."
"Not so fast, Annie. You are our guests and you are not leaving that easily," said a cold voice. As if on cue, Harry's scar burst with pain. "Please stay. I have a business proposition for you, Annie. I would like to duel with you again. If you win, you and your friends will leave but the necklaces will stay, but if you lose, which of course, you will, I will get the necklaces and the Potter boy. Is that all right with you?"
"Do I have a choice?" said Professor Sullivan sardonically.
"Well, of course, not, my dear, but either way, I still get what I want," replied Voldemort. "Now, I don't like wasting time."
The circle of Death Eaters came out again. Professor Sullivan put her hands as if she was praying on her head and then said, "Armus Circumdus!" She spread her hands and out came a blue dome the spread around them. "Stay in here and you will be safe. They won't get you here." Sirius grabbed Professor Sullivan's arm.
"Don't do it. Just come with us," he said.
"I can't. Whatever happens, take care of Harry," with that she left the dome. Harry watched her go.
"Harry, watch your godmother give her life for you. How very touching, isn't it? She'll die just like you parents. Now, let see, Annie, my memory isn't serving me right, so will you refresh my mind for me?" Professor Sullivan just stood there. "All right, I'll take that as a yes. Annie, who killed your parents?"
Professor Sullivan said, "You did, don't you remember?"
"And why did I killed your parents?"
"You killed my mother because she was on to your trail. One more evidence and she would have captured you. You killed my father because you hated him. He loved muggles and did anything for the magical people to accept them. You were afraid that he was gaining to much power and that if he became Minister of Magic, he would have eliminated all this pureblood nonsense."
"Well, if you put it that way, I guess I do remember it now. They did put up a fight. Now, enough talk. Let's duel. Where is your wand, Annie? I think you need it when you want to struggle for your life."
"I don't need it," she replied simply.
"Show me your tricks, girl, and we shall separate the weak from the strong. Let's start with something easy. Crucio!"
Professor Sullivan blocked it. "Stupefy!" A red aura surrounded her and it slowly lifted up like a laser beam and shot towards Voldemort. It hit him on the arm and made him back up a little.
"Is that what the best you can do, Annie? It's not very good." Harry wanted to help. He started towards the outside of the dome.
"I said to stay in there, Harry!" said Professor Sullivan.
"Oh, but let him go, Annie. If he wants to die early and waste that protection he had gotten from his parents, then let him be." But Professor Sullivan wasn't listening to him. She seemed to go on a trance. Her head was drooped down. She jerked her head up. This time, Harry noticed, she doesn't seem like she is herself. He noticed her eyes. They turned from brown to gray.
"What sort of stunt is this, Annie?" said Voldemort, his voice had a hint of quiver in it.
"I am not this Annie that thou is speaking of." Her voice seemed to change too. It sounded more superior and intelligent.
"Oh, and to whom am I speaking to?" said Voldemort.
"Why, the fair Lady Ravenclaw, of course. Now tell, sir Slytherin, why am I here?"
