ICLYLM chapter 24 "Fuel for the Fire?"
(A/N: The wonderful Jeffrey Barnes is appearing in this adventure with the kind permission of his creator: Raven Dancer)
Sirius didn't bother trying to send an owl. He skidded to a stop behind an old shed he'd been using as an appartion point, and moved inside. He transformed and waved his wand, disappearing in an instant and re-appearing in the Forbidden Forest outside the border of the Hogwarts grounds. He transformed back into Snuffles and ran headlong for the castle as fast as four legs could carry him.
Several students emerging from dinner in the great hall squawked in surprise at the sight of the large black dog running through the entrance hall. The dog was up the stairs in a flash and soon they were all laughing at a comment Fred Weasley made about the dog heading up to scare Trelawney.
Sirius was breathless as he transformed, once again, into himself in front of a surprised Lupin and Dumbledore.
"Gone," he panted, "Voldemort's gone. Don't know how long. Wormtail, three others with him."
"Now's our chance." Lupin said tensely and both he and Dumbledore began to move toward the door.
"Snape's gone too," Black panted.
Dumbledore stopped dead.
"He was the last of the wizards who went out into the garden to apparate... I don't think anyone but Voldemort can apparate in and out of the house itself," Black said, breathing more easily, now. "He didn't look as if he wanted to go, but he went."
Dumbledore's face had a touch of unmistakable sadness to it as he replied, "We must go now and bring Phoebe and Jeffrey out... it may be our only chance and the cost of not doing so is too high."
"But Severus-" Lupin began.
"Sirius, did it appear that Professor Snape was being held prisoner or compelled to act?"
"No, he didn't look happy, mind you, but he wasn't being forced." Black said thoughtfully.
"Then we may hope that he is still regarded as a loyal death eater. If we do not betray his true loyalties he may be able to return to us on his own. In any case, we have little choice but to go now and rescue those we can."
Dunderhead was in a pouty mood when he brought in a dinner tray consisting mainly of crackers and cheese. He dropped it on the desk under the window and began to shuffle moodily toward the door. Before he could think Jeffrey spoke,
"What's wrong?"
Dunderhead stopped and turned back with a dull, suspicious look, "Eh?"
Jeffrey thought fast. Yes, this was good... he could maybe earn some confidence, some sympathy... "What's wrong? You seem upset." He said in his warmest most unthreatening voice.
"Humph. 'S your fault."
"I'm sorry, what did we do?" Jeffrey asked feigning concern... boy this one was dull witted, thank Merlin.
"I can' go, I have to watch you." he said grumpily
Others had left!
"Oh, I see," Jeffrey said companionably, "Well, I'm sure you're not the only one who couldn't go?" Internally he crossed his fingers...
"Me and th' one in the kitchen's all that got left." Dunderhead said more grumpily still.
Jeffrey repressed a grin. How this idiot became a death eater in the first place escaped him, but he was grateful. Phoebe, who had been listening intently caught his eye. She knew this was their chance, they just needed to get past Dunderhead, go fetch Severus and get the hell out! Dunderhead's back was mostly toward Phoebe so he didn't see her hands close carefully around the bowl of a heavy old oil lamp. Biting her lip she slipped out of bed.
Jeffrey moved slightly so that Dunderhead would turn his back on Phoebe more fully.
"Well, that hardly seems fair!" He said sympathetically, "Surely you'll get to go another time?"
"No. 'S only tonight they're at Malfoys. Rich git." Dunderhead muttered. He opened his mouth to give a further opinion of Mafloy but was prevented from doing so by the heavy glass base of an oil lamp being smashed, two-handed, into the back of his head. Dunderhead collapsed as the sharp smell of kerosene filled the air. Pheobe sat very heavily on the floor beside the unconscious Dunderhead, reaching over to wipe her kerosene-soaked hands on Dunderhead's robes.
Jeffrey looked at the ruin of the lamp around Phoebe and raised his eyebrows, "Rather a heavy blow, don't you think?" he said his voice laced with amusement.
"I felt it best to hit him extra hard since that head is so thick," Phoebe replied with grim humour.
Even as she replied, Jeffrey was rummaging through Dunderhead's robes. With a small cry of victory he pulled out a very worn wand.
"Move back." He told Phoebe raising it and pointing at Dunderhead, "Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus!" he barked in rapid succession. "That ought to hold him! Now, lets go fetch Severus, shall we?"
Phoebe moved to rise but was unable. She muttered a curse under her breath and tried again, with little success. Jeffrey was beside her in a flash, pulling her to her feet and feeding some energy into her.
"Okay, I'LL go fetch Severus... you'll wait at the top of the stair," He said pointing the wand at her and helping her along with a levitation charm. Once they were at the top of the stair Jeffrey paused, indecision written on his face. Finally he shoved the wand at Phoebe. "Just in Case" he said, "Stay put, We'll be back." With that he slipped off into the darkened mansion in search of the kitchens.
Phoebe noticed that the kerosene on her hands was starting to burn the skin. She raised the wand and whispered "Lavarse". The burning of the kerosene was gone but her ears were assaulted with a loud, tinny ringing. "What the.." she thought just before she fainted.
Jeffrey had made several wrong turnings but, thankfully hadn't run into any death eaters. Dunderhead might have been as thick as a post, but at least he seemed to be accurate. Finally, he stumbled into the dark dining room and began to search for the second door that would doubtless lead to the kitchens.
He found it and moved quickly through the passage with the sideboard through to the kitchen. He could see a wizard sitting in the flickering light of a small candle.
"Hey!" he called excitedly, "We-" his voice died in his throat.
The wizard had turned his face toward him. It was not Severus, but whoever he was looked angry... and mean. Jeffrey backed away as the wizard went for his wand. Throwing caution to the wind, Jeffrey turned began to stumble back through the dark passageway at a dead run.
