Some quick author's notes. First of all, I was sorely disappointed with
myself with the last chapter. I apologize to many people, (who, Aly can
only hope in her wildest dreams, are reading, heh) I apologize for the
shoddy proof-reading job on that, I cringed every time I found a new
mistake, therefore I cringed quite a bit. I apologize for all of you
Sirius and Remus' fans who I left hanging with my last flashbacks. That
will be remedied here, have no fear. Mainly, I have to apologize for
muddying up both my plot and the purpose of the title. Again, remedy for
the ailment. Enough of my aimless ramblings, on with the fic.
Thanks for the feedback, also. It is always appreciated and is what keeps any writer going. Please continue. :-)
Special thanks to Kavish, who boosted my ego with great feedback and made me excited that my fics inspired some people to re-read the books. That's the highest praise I can think of.
**************************************************************************** **
Third One's the Charm- Part 3
"Sirius Problems and Malfoy Meddlers"
**************************************************************************** **
_Bang!_
Two loud guffaws and some colorful cursing. In a flat a few stories above Knockturn Alley, three hulking Slytherins were engaged in a game of Exploding Snap.
Or, they were that is, until the deck decided to backfire into one of the thug's faces. Needless to say, he wasn't too happy.
The flat was in a state that one would expect from three slothful Slytherin slobs. In complete disrepair. The walls were dingy and only a few pieces of dog-eared furniture showed that anyone inhabited the dump.
Rent was cheap, which was good and no one cared about the filth, which was better. Henry Wynken, Miles Knodd and Willert Blankton were three neer-do- wells who had better things to do with their time than sissy stuff like cleaning. Sissy stuff which extended to getting a job, getting good grades before that in school and basically anything constructive besides causing mischief.
They had been notoriously inept during their years in Slytherin, banding together to try and break into that hopeful, elite group that secretly saw the return of You-Know-Who.
That the three had usually caused more damage than good went without speaking. The fact that they were Slytherin and had cast a shadow on even that houses' name had some long reaching consequences.
It wasn't as if they knew any of the Weasleys personally. But that family was traditionally, even stridently, Gryffindor. And for lackeys of this variety, what someone else said was a bad thing meant they clung to it with fearful tenacity.
When rumors had begun to circulate in the dark by-ways of Knockturn Alley that the Dark Lord had finally made a return, of course the three saw their way to some much deserved glory. Without having to work for it.
Of course, the fact that most um, _respectable_ former and future Death Eaters had laughed in their faces meant that they had only become more determined.
Luck happens to shine down on even the most undeserving at times. It did for these three with the sudden arrival of two Weasleys in their midst.
The Welsh teenager and his two friends from Liverpool (fishermen's sons, only a few generations of wizards in each bloodline) had jumped on their opportunity.
Not only would Malfoy be made to listen to someone who had Ministry connections, he would be impressed by the fact that the three had forced a hated Gryffindor to do their bidding. It was a perfect plan.
Yes. Perfect.
Except for that one rather noisy, obnoxious thing......
"He's been awful quiet in 'ere, whadja do, gag 'im?"
"Naw, Mutin' Spell on the closet. Only took me four times at that!" Knodd looked quite pleased with himself as Henry Wynken rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Yeah, I'm surprised as anythin' you were able to do it t'all. 'Specially seein' as you two flunkeys didn'na even pass your'n exams. Dunderheaded prats, fer certain."
"Shut it, Wynin, t'ain't as though ya passed anythin' yerself."
"Won't matter me lads. That red-'eaded whelp in 'ere? 'e'll be a-helpin' us on our way to the top."
"Er....are ya sure o' this?"
Henry scowled dangerously at Willert, who cowered from the bully, though he was only a bit smaller himself.
"Now, now....we already talked o'er any problems. T'ain't the time to be backin' out, if ya take me meanin'"
Willert did. Still.....
"What if'n his folks put up some kind o' search party?"
Henry snorted derisively. "Them? Don' remember much but I know they 'ardly 'ave two knuts ta rub together. Too many brats ta count as well. Naw, it's a dodgy time fer 'em ta even 'member that one er two's gone missin'"
More gutteral laughter.
Ron Weasley, though any sounds he may have made (and he had made some definite ones trapped in the small closet) could hear the goons' conversation loud and clear and felt like screaming in frustration.
It was bad enough he had allowed himself to get caught. It was even worse that he was going to have to be rescued by Percy....._Percy_! Of all people!!
Ron moaned and put his head in his hands. He was doomed. Sure, he loved and trusted his brother....but he was still doomed.
But worse than anything else, was the fact that he and Percy were being used by three of the most dim-witted Dark wizards he had ever come across, except for maybe the silent and steady Crabbe and Goyle.
His parents were probably having kittens by this time. Ron felt a tendril of worry mixed with regret in his heart, at the same time he heard his stomach growl. Rubbing it, the red-head remembered he hadn't eaten since lunchtime the day before.
He was famished and thirsty to boot. Ron sighed and pushed against the door again, unwilling to give up though it hadn't been any use the last hundred times he'd tried it.
He hoped Percy was all right. As irritating as his older brother was....well, he didn't deserve to get hurt on his account.
Ron sighed even more deeply. He also prayed with everything in him that Harry, the twins, Hermione....but most of all that little ferret, Draco Malfoy, never, _ever_ found out about this.
Ron cringed with real fear when he thought of each one's reaction. His life wouldn't be worth a sickle, if that, if they did.
**************************************************************************** **
Cold dawn penetrated through the primeval forest which surrounded the vast estates of Malfoy Manor. The gray stone and forbidding iron gates which surrounded the house, as well as the front of the main living quarters themselves, had an evil aura radiating from it.
Percy Weasley had gotten a good look at the Manor, since he'd been staring at it for many hours. And even then, his plan was about as threadbare as could be.
Percy began pacing again in the small clearing beside the main road which lead to the huge estate. The gloomy place was about as different as the Burrow as possible.
Percy felt a pang of homesickness that surprised him. It wasn't a welcome distraction from the gnawing worry and outright foolishness he'd been feeling beforehand.
All right, so the Malfoys had money. Everyone in the wizarding world knew that. Didn't mean a Galleon when all was said and done, right?
Percy couldn't quite convince himself. It didn't help matters any that his father and Lucius Malfoy had been enemies for years, over reasons that Percy and his siblings weren't quite clear on, as Arthur had been hesitant to ever talk about them.
So, the stiff teenager, stiff from practice and from spending a night out in the damp English countryside carefully slipped in through the gates, since he knew from painful experience that apparating directly to the front door wasn't possible.
*What am I doing here, what in _bloody_ all am I doing here? This has to be the _thickest_ thing I've ever been forced to do.*
Forced, that was the key word. Bumblers or not, the three idiots who had put him up to this still had his little brother.
Percy closed his eyes for a minute, right before he lifted the huge gargoyle of a knocker to the Estates' heavy doors. A memory, one he'd used quite a bit over the years at Hogwarts, when ickle Ronniekins could be too annoying to take with his antics.
Ron, barely four years old, was sitting on the front porch crying bitterly. His hair glinted in the afternoon sunlight, casting light off of it and almost blinding his older brother as he came out to hear what the racket was.
"What's the matter?" Eight-year old Percy scooted next to the little boy, placing one hand awkwardly on his knee. Ron, shoulders still shaking, didn't answer or lift his head.
"Ron?" Finally the child lifted his dirt-marked face to Percy.
"I fell 'sleep and had a bad dream" His childish voice shook and those large hazel eyes looked at Percy with all the fear and anxiety a four-year old could have.
Percy lifted an eyebrow and pushed his glasses up farther in a practiced gesture. He looked eight going on eighty when he did that. Like a little old man. Still.....
"Ron, it's childish to get so upset over some silly dream. Dreams can't hurt you and they don't mean anything. Now, stop making such a fuss, come here."
Percy's voice softened a bit and he gave the little boy a small hug. To his great surprise Ron grabbed him tightly and continued to sob.
Percy was now rather concerned. This wasn't Ron. The little boy had been loathe to show his emotions even when he'd had the life scared out of him by Fred, when the twin turned Ron's beloved teddy bear into a large spider about a year ago.
"I-I...I saw that you didn't like us no more!!"
"_Any_ more Ron. What on earth do you mean?"
"You...you said that dad was wrong and all the rest of us were wrong too. You didn't want to be here and you left. Even when things were so sad you left and didn't come back. Do you really hate us Percy?"
Percy was genuinely stunned. The pain on his little brother's face was real, as were the large tears that kept streaking down his freckled face. He didn't know where any of this could have come from, sure he had often wanted to disown the twins but that was the twins. Everyone had strong emotions towards those two, for good or for ill, at some point or another.
But the babies, Ron and Ginny, he'd only felt some fierce protectiveness for, especially Ron. Ron, not being the baby and not being the only girl, had a bit less of the coddling that Ginny had. Although with five older brothers it really was only a bit.
The point was that he loved them. He couldn't imagine a time or a situation that could change that. Percy hugged little Ron as hard as he could, telling him this, telling him that it was only a bad dream and that dreams like that don't come true.
Okay, now he was ready. For Ron, this was for Ron. Percy rubbed the bridge of his nose. After all these years, the memory had never left him. Never.
The door opened and a sour-faced young girl in a uniform stood there, open hostility on her face.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?!" She didn't wait for Percy to answer.
"We don't want any!! Didn't you see the sign? You are trespassing and I'll contact the authorities if you're not gone in less than three minutes. Get OUT!!"
Percy, whose mouth hung wide open like a codfish, barely had the sense to shove his foot in the way before the ill-tempered girl could slam the door shut again.
He nearly howled in pain as the heavy door pinched his foot brutally. Ron had better be grateful that he was his little brother or Percy would have thrown him to the wolves, or Slytherins, at this point.
"Gerroff! Are you daft?! I said....."
"I need to speak to Lucius Malfoy! It's a matter of utmost urgency!! Uh.., um, uh...Ministry, Ministry stuff, important stuff!" Percy felt like biting his tongue. He was never very good at lying.
The girl was staring at him with open suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at Percy's large feet, as though contemplating how best to slam the door shut while still causing him as much pain as possible.
"What kinda stuff?"
"_Private_ stu...er, things. Things I refuse to speak to anyone else about."
The girl looked him up and down. Percy was suddenly very aware of his bedraggled appearance after spending a night in the woods and running his hands through his hair. His robes weren't in the best condition either.
"The Ministry sent _you_?" Percy scowled.
"Yes, are you questioning me?"
"Well, yes. Can't be too important if they sent a kid instead of someone that actually meant somethin'"
Percy thought it was rich that she was calling him on his age when she barely looked over sixteen herself, even with tacky make-up caked on.
"Just go and get him. I really need to speak to him about something."
The girl stared at him intently before a light seemed to come on. "I know you! You're one of them Weasley rabble. The one's that can't even feed their children and have to steal robes to dress 'emselves."
Here Percy lost his temper. *Ron....think of Ron. Blast it all to bloody...*
"_As_ a matter of fact, I can't ever remember a day going hungry and at least I wear have enough magic in me to wear robes."
That hit a mark. Percy had guessed, (accurately it seemed) that this girl's uniform and the fact he had never seen her before had marked her as a squib. A Malfoy squib. He almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
"If'n you want to talk to Mr. Malfoy, it'll have to be on _his_ time. Now...go back to wherever you came from and don't bother decent people any more."
Percy's foot was still in the doorway. He hadn't been a Prefect and Head Boy just on academic merit.
"You will go and get Mr. Malfoy this _instant_ and you will bring him down here so that I may speak to him or else you will have to deal with some very _serious_ consequences. I have six siblings, try and figure out if I can get past you."
The door did end up slamming but Percy could hear the girl's grating voice calling out. Sadly, that had been the easy part.
The door opened again a few moments later. The girl, looking surprised, opened it all the way and motioned Percy inside.
"He wants to see you in his study. Don't track dirt in." The girl made it sound like he himself was the dirt she was referring to.
This was going to be even harder than he had first anticipated.
Malfoy Manor was beautifully decorated, there was no doubt about that. It resembled a museum. Full of wonderful things that weren't touched, appreciated to their full merit or even used to any good use, other than to display. Cold and forbidding.
Percy hated to think of what the place was like in the winter.
Rich, oak doors opened to a truly gorgeous study. The only off-putting thing about it were the heads of many different magical creatures on the walls, including some hippogriffs and even a, *gulp* werewolf if he wasn't mistaken.
The books, though. Percy wanted to take stock of each and every one of them. He could only imagine Hermione's reaction.
The man sitting in a large, stiff-backed chair, looked as inhospitable as his home. His long fingers were clasped together and his pale, cold eyes had focused on Percy from the moment he had entered into the room.
Percy gulped, not even bothering with a greeting of any kind. The hostility in the room was nearly visible.
"Harper, leave us." Malfoy dismissed the girl, who now looked very curious, with a wave of a hand and regarded Percy with an arrogant sneer.
"Never did I think that Weasley vermin would enter my house. To what do I owe the _pleasure_ of this visit, young Percival?"
The unpleasant sarcasm sent chills down Percy's spine. So did the fact that Malfoy knew his name.
"I-I.....I need....I need your h-help." Percy finally got the sentence out and waited for a reaction.
Lucius merely stared at him for a long time, coldly surprised. Then, a low chuckle followed by a deep laugh echoed in the room.
It didn't abate for some time and Percy stood, fists in his robes' pockets and waited for the other man to stop.
Finally, Lucius pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "Well, that was the most amused I've been for quite some time. Truly now, did Fudge send you? Does he finally realize that a Weasley who is unafraid to be a boot-licker is a good thing? Or has your wonderful father sent you on an errand?"
The way that Malfoy's eyes glittered with hate at that last question caused Percy to find his voice again.
"No, my father wants nothing to do with you......"
"And I him. Seems we agree on something. But you aren't your father, are you?" Eyes that were calculating now. Percy's back stiffened.
"No, but I still need your help."
Lucius smiled darkly. "Why would I ever help sewage like you? Especially when it comes to your family? Entire lot should be thrown into the sea and drowned as I used to do with a litter of kittens when I was young."
"My brother Ron was taken by some of your goons."
Malfoy's smile was gone at this blunt statement. "Explain yourself boy or prepare to be very sorry indeed."
"Slytherins, they said that they were trying to contact you but you refused to have anything to do with them. They want to join in your little circle and they told me to deliver the message."
Malfoy's face twisted with some unpleasant memory and the corners of his mouth twitched up a moment later.
"Absolute, complete idiots. All three. Should have been Hufflepuffs, I simply _cannot_......" Malfoy stopped muttering to himself when he saw Percy waiting for his answer.
"I will not go into any details about what you have now heard but I can assure you that it isn't safe for you to leave these doors. You see, there are people who would be concerned over information you now have."
Percy's stomach was now a block of ice. He knew coming here had been the worst in a succession of bad ideas.
"S-so, you think you can actually keep me here? Against my will?! You're barking mad, I'm a Ministry employee, besides, ah, well......" Percy pointedly ran a hand through his bright hair. "The first place anyone will look is......"
Percy trailed off, trying to hold back his growing fear.
Malfoy pulled out a wand and spoke a few words. Percy recognized the spell, A Summoning Charm, not like Accio but for people, like a call button.
Now he was very concerned that Malfoy was actually serious. "What about my brother?!" He asked before he could stop himself.
"Yes, your little brother. Too bad really. The three that have him are as cruel as they are stupid. I don't think it will go too pleasantly for him in the next few days, they couldn't even care for a pet in school let alone a boy."
Percy now felt very ill. This couldn't be happening. Malfoy was still speaking.
"Also, I think that with two of you missing, no one will think of looking anywhere around here for sometime."
The doors swung open and Percy was dragged away by two large figures whose faces were concealed by dark robes. He was yelling at Malfoy to reconsider but that individual merely smiled cruelly and waved goodbye.
"Malfoy, listen....I'll tell you anything you want, just see to Ron. I'll even stay here but my brother....."
Lucius ignored Percy's pleas, calling after him. "Not to worry. I'm sure my own employer will have some very important questions to ask you, as you were most unhelpful the first time around. Very good bargaining with you."
The doors remained open and the sounds of Percy being dragged away grew fainter. Malfoy still sat at his desk, tapping his wand against it.
"Knodd, Wynken and Blunten. The idiots three. I had no idea they could be so stubborn. Perhaps......"
Malfoy stood up and scratched a note quickly before waking a large eagle owl and tying the message to its leg.
"Knockturn Alley, maybe this will throw them off, keep them from making nuisances of themselves for a time. Besides, what fine time we could have with my _favorite_ family."
And, skulking in the shadows, Draco Malfoy smiled.
**************************************************************************** **
~Mists. Remus was surrounded by mists. He was on the moor. His parents had taken him here when he was a small child. They never forgave themselves.
A long, low howl, followed by a vicious snarl. Remus screamed in terror and threw his hands up before feeling the burning pain in his side.
He could smell the coppery smell of blood, see the werewolf's long teeth and the madness in its eyes.
Then, suddenly, the mists cleared and a full moon shone down upon Remus.
*NO!!!* He cried out, terrified, though he heard no noise. "Not this, please not this!!! I can't be a monster!! Mum, Dad, help me! Someone please......I'm a monster, I'll always be a monster!*
Remus began transforming, his form twitching and stretching with agonizing pain. Finally, the wolf howled loud and clear at the moon, like a cry of despair.~
Remus didn't know where he was. The pain was so terrible, the realization that he would never be normal, never be wanted.
He saw his parents, faces filled with revulsion as they turned away from him, joining in an angry mob. Lit torches were everywhere, flames licking angrily at him. He pleaded with them.
He wasn't a monster! He was just himself, although with each passing year he wasn't sure who that was. Wasn't Remus Lupin now just the wolf in human form?
*NO!!* Again, that terrible denial. He was more than that. He was a person, he felt things, enjoyed to read and liked a good prank. He had a good sense of humor and was unfailingly optimistic at times. He was also kind, the type of kindness that years of toil and pain couldn't take away. He had friends, they cared about him.
James, Lily, Sirius, their faces swam before his eyes, their voices clear and harsh. "You lied to us, Remus!! You lied! Keep away, you're nothing but a beast. We can't be friends with you, what would our families think? What about our children, did you really think that a werewolf could ever live a normal life? Leave us in peace......"
Remus cried out. This couldn't be happening. He saw Peter, he looked so unfamiliar with a cruel light in his watery eyes. Peter was smiling as he destroyed everything Remus held dear. Shadows screaming in a small house. A baby's cry. Laughter of a mad man...what was happening?
Then, Wormtail was smiling as he grasped a long silver knife to drive it in......
Remus screamed terribly and felt a soft, cold hand on his forehead.
"Shhh....I'm here"
*Where am I?*
*Remus.......I'll help you. Don't you want to forget? So much pain, so much anger. I'm the only one who knows, the only one who understands.*
*What? My friends, they became Animagi for me. They're my true friends.....*
James and Sirius turned their backs on Remus in the cold, gray mist. 'Werewolf, monster, beast....dangerous! You're nothing but an evil creature, you don't belong with the likes of us! We have talent, brains, a future, what do you have?!'
Remus was crying and that cold hand wiped away the tears. Instead of being comforting it sent chills down him. He was cold.....so very cold.
*Sweet boy, I'll help you. We can be together. Forget them, forget them all. Lies, betrayal, I'm the only one who can help you. I"ll help you to forget.*
*Yes* Remus nodded and looked up into those eyes before losing himself in that grey mist, the words were so appealing. He wanted so much to forget.
He was all alone, no one understood him. But those eyes, they held him and didn't let him go. Swirling and magnetic, he was falling into them.
*Who am I? How did I get here? Do I know her? It seems as though I should know her....*
*Forget everything, you're mine. Leave them and come with me.*
Three people, a pretty girl and two handsome dark-haired boys were on the outskirts of Remus' conscious. Who were they? Didn't matter, he didn't care. All that mattered were those eyes.
Mappe Maleficent stroked Remus' thick brown hair and hummed softly to herself, content. What she wished, she could have. That was her new life.
He was hers and no one else's. The witch snarled when she thought of his friends who would surely come looking for him. She would have to make sure that he never wanted to come back, that he would always stay with her in the world she created for him......deep within his mind.
Remus' gray eyes, so full of intelligence and good humor, were now flat and expressionless. His face was dazed and his body was completely limp. Mappe just smiled and kept humming to herself.
It was a good hiding place she had found. She discovered that he liked it when she had invaded his mind. It was safe, though not forever. She had to leave soon, very soon.
She could feel the others coming. Setting her bony face grimly, her mouth a thin line, Mappe began focusing everything she had into Remus' subconscious.
*Stay....*
**************************************************************************** **
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was in a grave mood. And that, for anyone who knew him, was saying something.
All traces of the characteristic twinkle were gone from his light blue eyes. He pushed his half-moon glasses up onto his crooked nose and waited patiently, lost in thought.
Fawkes' peaceful cooing beside him wasn't broken by the abrupt arrival of Remus Lupin, former Hogwarts professor and his large, black dog.
Remus' face held confusion and concern, as did Sirius Black's, once that individual had transformed back into his true form.
"Dumbledore? You said it was urgent."
Dumbledore motioned for the two to sit down. "Gentlemen, I have some very disturbing news."
"Well, don't spare our feelings with small talk, Headmaster." Lupin said lightly, though his brow creased with anxiety.
Sirius, a worried look in his dark eyes, spoke up. "I'm afraid that we don't exactly have the best news ourselves."
Dumbledore looked at him with increased interest. "Do tell. Is something amiss with young Harry?"
"Well, we were hoping you could tell us. Have you, um.....received any unusual messages from Harry lately? Has he seemed disconnected or distant at all?"
Dumbledore took the letter that Sirius was extending out to him and glanced over it quickly, concern apparent in his blue eyes after he set it down.
"No, I've not heard from Harry for a few weeks. Neither has Hagrid, though the gamekeeper has sent several owls. Very unlike the boy, but I simply chalked it up to normal teenage moods. Harry is usually somewhat communicative out of necessity, or at least he has been in the past. This, however, does not sound like him at all." He waved a hand at the parchment on his desk.
Sirius and Remus exchanged a look. "That's what we were afraid of. Also, Hedwig is at Remus' home. She refused to fly back and was acting oddly. Flapping her wings, making a great deal of noise, she kept nipping at me even though I couldn't get what she was saying even in dog form. All she said was that her boy wasn't himself. If an owl is worried, Headmaster, shouldn't we be?"
Sirius stopped talking long enough to rub his forehead. When he had first received the letter, he had been a bit angry and put off. The longer he examined it though, and Hedwig's strange behavior, had caused his godfatherly alarms to go off.
Dumbledore looked pensive for a while before answering. "The wards surrounding Harry have not yet given any cause for alarm. He must leave of his own free will for the magic to let me know, a necessary measure for his safety, I'm afraid."
"But Dumbledore.....!"
"Please allow me to finish, Sirius. I understand your concern. Harry has undergone some terrible trials, especially in these past few months. I think that for us not to trust him and to put him under constant surveillance might worsen the situation. He craves normalcy, this letter can possibly be interpreted as a reaction to that."
Sirius looked hurt. "I didn't think that he would go so far as to not want to have anything to do with us."
"Now, now Sirius. Don't be so sensitive. Harry isn't a small child, he will be fifteen in only a few days. I know you want to be a part of his life, but I would wait for an invitation."
Sirius remained silent after Dumbledore's comment, the deep-seated hurt in his eyes still present.
Remus, quiet through all of this, extended out a hand to the older wizard. "You said you had news for us, Professor?"
Dumbledore now looked very grave. "Yes, I've called you both here for an important reason. You both have had closer contact with the Weasleys than many other Aurors or Ministry officials that I would trust, and not just because of Harry."
Remus looked startled. "The Weasleys again! Dumbledore....what...."
Sirius sat up a little straighter.
"I'm afraid that young Ronald and Percival have both been missing for nearly two days. Molly and Arthur, as you can imagine, are frantic. Search parties are already being organized but anxiety is running especially high because of the recent interrogation of Percy."
Sirius swore softly. Remus gave him a reproaching look before speaking. "Anyone checked Malfoy Manor?"
Dumbledore nodded. "One of the places on a growing list. Proof is essential before attempting it. Unfortunately, the problem lies in that the two boys are not together."
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"Sirius, has Harry told you of the measures Molly and Arthur have taken with their family's protection?"
Sirius thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Percy had an argument with his father, Ron overheard and an accident happened where they both ended up somewhere near Diagon Alley. Now, both hands continue to go from 'Mortal Peril' to other spots on the clock but neither will stay in one direct position long enough for us to determine anything. They two hands strayed from each other a few hours after both had gone missing."
Remus stared at the floor. "Lord, they must be terrified at the Burrow."
Dumbledore gazed sadly at the two younger men. "Yes, their family was unscathed in Voldemort's earlier reign. I'm saddened at this sudden make- up of lost time. I must ask you both to take some measures of your own."
Both nodded gravely.
"Remus, Molly has not yet informed either Harry or Hermione of Ron's disappearance. I fear that both would react very badly, especially taking into account Harry's recent attitudes." Another gesture toward's Harry's letter.
"Sirius, I know that you've felt a certain connection to young Ron?" Sirius smiled a bit and nodded.
Remus grinned also but it didn't reach his eyes. "Those two could be twins in some regards. You want Sirius to help in trying to find Ron?"
"Padfoot, more precisely. Both of you to be exact. The Clearwaters, Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood and several others have requested to join in searching for Percy. Those that have the clearest idea of what could have possibly happened to them both and why are probably the best ones to search. Besides, the Ministry is of little help here because of their more, uh..._conservative_ attitudes towards former Death Eaters and Voldemort."
"First, though, I would greatly appreciate it if you would spread news of Harry to the Burrow, as well as offer some support. I know that you both are trusted there and since I have requested Molly to stay there to wait for news, perhaps you can bolster them up. Yes, Sirius, _both_ of you."
Sirius closed his mouth like a chastened school-boy. Somehow the venerable old wizard could always make one feel like they were back in Hogwarts again.
"Another thing, since Ron has seemingly vanished, I think that just a few precautions should be taken with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter, don't you think?" Remus smiled and nodded.
"I'll see about Hermione, Arabella has already said that she's been keeping an eye on Harry. I don't think she'll mind stepping it up a bit."
"Good." The two younger wizards left Dumbledore just as he was preparing to leave by floo to the Burrow itself.
"Very good" He muttered to himself. "I hope young Harry is strong enough to master whatever other darkness I feel massing on the horizon."
**************************************************************************** **
The scene that the two former Marauders' found at the Burrow defied description. Utter chaos was the closest that could come to it.
There were wizards and witches everywhere outside, families, friends, everyone who had found out what had happened and had been contacted by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley or Dumbledore.
Remus and Padfoot cautiously rapped on the front door. A white-faced Ginny opened it and managed a half-smile when she saw who it was.
Inside the Burrow was surprisingly quiet, taking into consideration the whirlwind outside. One could see the organization of search parties already being formed, as well as more heart-wrenching items in the small kitchen.
Pictures of Ron and Percy, all moving, some smiling and waving, were up everywhere. The wizard radio was on for news, though any direct information had not yet leaked to the outside of the boy's disappearance.
Maps, papers, documents, everywhere. A tattered teddy bear, an old pair of large sneakers and a wand. Ron's.
There was also a smaller, scratched pair of glasses, a prefect badge and several parchment rolls.
Remus took everything in with a glance and laid a hand on Padfoot's head, who whimpered to show that he understood how Moony felt.
In the living room were five red-headed, very worried people. Ginny, after showing Remus and Padfoot in, sat next to her mum and laid her head on Molly's shoulder. Molly hugged her daughter to her, her face drawn from exhaustion and fear.
Arthur was deep in conversation with his two oldest sons, Charlie and Bill. All three looked terrible, Charlie and Bill both looked as though they had dropped everything to get there. Arthur appeared as though he hadn't slept in some time.
He did manage a small smile for Remus as the ex-professor took a seat. Lupin noted two others there, Mundungus Fletcher, his grizzled countenance deep in thought and Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody who looked even more paranoid than usual.
The big guns had been pulled out, apparently. "Dumbledore sent us here to try and help." Remus said softly.
All eyes moved to the large dog at Remus' side. Arthur cleared his throat a bit.
"Um...they can be trusted. Everyone here knows the truth, Sirius. We're on your side."
With a *pop* Black appeared as well, looking sympathetic.
"Molly, Arthur, Dumbledore told us that you thought it best not to contact Harry or Hermione yet."
Molly nodded, her eyes brimming over. "Y-yes.....we don't want to worry the poor dears, I just hope they don't have to hear about it second-hand."
"That seems to be a mutual fear. Harry already has some close eyes on him and I'll make sure Hermione is taken care of." Remus smiled his calming smile, though his gray eyes were turbulent.
Sirius clapped a hand on Fred and George's shoulders. "There hasn't been any news at all?"
"None, the last we heard from either was when Percy contacted us to say that he was bringing Ron home the night before last. He never made it back and that was when the two hands separated. We know that Percy would never leave Ron alone. I-I'm just afraid of what that might mean."
Arthur looked old and tired when he said this. Ginny buried her head into her mum's shoulder to cry.
Sirius and Remus glanced at each other helplessly.
A swish, bang! of the door let everyone know someone else had entered the house.
"Not to worry, we'll find the boys, and they're both quite resourceful. I'm sure that Percy will look out for young Ronald.......or even vice versa."
The Weasley family, with its several additions now, prayed that Dumbledore was right.
**************************************************************************** **
"You can't be serious, keeping me in here!! You're all mad...as, as starkers! I won't tell, I just need to check on my brother, please....."
Percy's voice was very hoarse after yelling for longer than he cared to realize. He didn't know how long he'd been in this room, with no light and little room to move around.
All he knew was that his pleas had fallen on deaf ears and he was now completely frantic. It wasn't as though he had enough to worry about with his own skin, but Ron.....who knew what those lunatics would do to him when there was no outside word?
Percy received a new burst of energy at that, banging on the door and yelling, cajoling. No response.
He carried on hour after hour, trying to talk to his jailer when he'd set some moldy bread and warm, scummy water inside. It was like speaking to a brick wall.
He demanded to speak or see Malfoy again. All to no avail. His entire family must be up in arms right now, having no idea of what could have happened or why. Percy was still a little fuzzy on things himself with how quickly they had occurred.
After one last frustrated kick to the door, the young wizard sank to the floor and put his head between his knees. He tried to tell himself that he didn't care, or that things would be fine......but he didn't believe it.
Harry, Hermione, besides his family's voices kept coming back to haunt him. Telling him that he had let them down.
Percy swallowed painfully. If only there was a way to somehow switch positions with his younger brother. After all, he himself would hardly be missed by anyone. Maybe his mum and Penelope. Maybe.
But Ron had so many people who would be devastated if anything happened to him. A single tear coursed down Percy's stiff face and he swiped at it viciously. He hadn't cried for so long, he honestly couldn't remember when the last time was.
He just didn't cry. Maybe that was why his family found it so hard to relate to him, as well as the other way around.
He wished for a time when things were less complicated, but those times were far away and slipping farther with each year that passed.
Percy's head lolled as he finally gave in to sleep. His dreams were troubled nightmares......
~The Gryffindor Common Room was absolutely still. Fred, George and Ginny all stood close to each other, shocked and pale.
Percy approached Professor McGonagall who seemed afraid to speak to him. Hermione was sobbing and Harry......God, Harry looked as though his best friend had died.
"What happened?" Percy asked, though deep inside he knew the answer. He didn't want to feel it yet, it was too terrible.
McGonagall held up a long, bloody knife. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr. Weasley. We couldn't stop him from getting into the castle. At least Harry's safe."
Percy looked over at Harry Potter with a virulent hatred in his eyes. Harry, whose face was twisted with anguish, began shaking terribly. But Percy didn't care. Ron was dead because of him. If only Ron had never met him, things would perhaps be simpler.
No matter that Harry was alone in the world and could not control the things that happened to him. Percy hated him at that moment more than he had ever hated another human being.~
With a loud bang, the door swung open, pushing Percy down the few stairs to land painfully on his side.
A snort of laughter and Percy felt himself being hauled to his feet. He pushed the brute away but the guard was a lot bigger so it didn't help much.
"Malfoy wants ta see ya. Guess he's tired o' yer bellowin' as much as the rest o' us."
Percy felt a rush of hope, forgetting any kind of retort. Maybe there was a way to get out of all of this after all.
Back in Malfoy's study, Lucius appeared much as he had a day before. Except now he looked even more calculating and instead of his tone being condenscending, it held a bargaining note to it.
Still, he smiled in a self-satisfied kind of way. He knew that Percy was ready for any kind of arrangement. In fact, he was counting on it.
"There haven't been any messages from your younger brother."
Percy gulped.
"I have heard, however, that the three that have him are willing to negotiate with me. As long as _I_ provide the terms."
Percy didn't reply but waited.
"I will make this very easy for you. Do you wish to see your younger brother in one piece any time soon?"
A pause. "Answer!!"
"Yes, yes....I do. What exactly do you want?"
Lucius smiled maliciously. "I want you to chose loyalties young man. We received some information from a source which does not wish to be named." Here an obvious smirk at Percy who felt his temper giving way.
"That information stated that a certain Harry Potter, who has made more enemies in our world than most realize, I'm afraid, could only get around the wretched wards and counter-magic surrounding him by voluntarily leaving his place of sanctuary. Imagine my delight."
Percy didn't think he liked where this was heading.
"What I need from you, dear boy, is to write Mr. Potter a letter. I want you to tell him that Ron is missing, who has him and the conditions of his _friend's_ release." Malfoy's upper lip curled in distaste at his choice of words.
"So you can just wait for him to leave wherever he is and take him?"
"Kill him, actually. And yes, that is the general idea."
Percy was shaking with rage. "You want me to turn Judas and give you Harry's life."
"For your little brother. If not, not only will I not intervene in Ronald's behalf, I'll will give those three explicit instructions for the treatment of the boy. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
Percy felt like he was going to be sick. "Perfectly." His voice shook and he was as white as a sheet.
"How long do I have before I have to make my decision?"
"You have no time, decide now or I take whatever action I wish."
Percy's head was swimming. He kept hearing his own voice, how he hated Harry, how wouldn't it be better if they had never met him.
Ron would be devastated. There was no doubt about it. But Ron would be safe, and wasn't that what mattered? But still, Harry! He was just a boy, he had always been civil to Percy. At the Triwizard Tournament, at the Yule Ball, at Hogwarts, and he had looked after Ron, given his younger brother a sense of true friendship.
Ron might not have known it, but Percy had seen his brother's loneliness, his sense of isolation. He had shared it.
"Your answer, _now_."
Ron or Harry? Harry or Ron?
"I need more time."
"That's too bad." Malfoy drawled, taking out a sheet of parchment. "Choose your poison. Just how irritating can your dear little brother be? I have it from some reliable sources that you two can hardly stand to be around each other. Shall we test that?"
Percy couldn't do it. He couldn't.
His hands were in fists, down at his sides. "Tell me what to write, but I want you to contact those three pyschopaths and tell them to let Ron go. Tell my parents where he is just in case."
"Done."
Percy didn't even bother to ask about himself. He knew he would probably not get out of this in one piece. He only begged that he wouldn't have to see You-Know-Who face to face. That would just be adding insult to injury.
"Here you are. I write, then you write, fair enough?" Percy wanted to spit in Malfoy's evil, smug face.
He grasped the long quill he was handed and paused again, before writing.
**************************************************************************** **
*Harry.....*
*So tired, I'm so tired. What's wrong, what's happening?*
*I can help you, let me help. Forget, just forget*
*Yes, I....d-don't feel....something's wrong.*
Harry lay tossing and turning on his bed, the snores of his cousin drowning out any low moaning he made.
*It's time Harry*
Angry faces, backs turned. 'You don't belong with us Harry, you've never belonged. How could we have put all of our faith in you?'
Sirius turned away, leaving Harry all alone. 'I'm your godfather, but I have a life of my own. Just leave me in peace Harry, if it wasn't for you, I'd be safe, starting over somewhere.'
He was all alone. He was in the graveyard and Cedric's eyes were open, accusing. Ron and Hermione were walking away, hand in hand. 'We just want to forget all about you Harry. Let us live in peace, you're a danger to us, to everyone.'
Snape was grinning at Harry. 'Didn't I tell you Potter? Didn't I?! Fame isn't everything. Sooner or later everyone sees you as who you really are, a nasty, spoiled little boy who isn't wanted or welcomed by anyone.'
Tears flowed freely from Harry's bright green eyes, once vivid, they were now closed and frightened, like a caged animal.
The voice, calling to him. Those eyes, he was drowning.....he wanted to forget.
*Listen Harry, forget. You can trust me. I'll help you and you can help me in return. Aren't you tired?*
Harry was so tired. His poor body was shaking and weak from lack of good food. Dark hair lay matted on his forehead, a high temperature just one symptom of neglect and apathy.
*Pain, I'm tired of feeling the pain.*
*I know, sweet boy. Let me help you. Escape, just escape. I'll help you....*
Down the stairs, Harry moved without a sound. The creaking door, the squeaking steps, nothing registered in the Dursley house.
A small light could be seen in the living room. "Harry? Harry, are you here?" An anxious whisper.
Harry felt a sliver of panic. A new voice, different from the one comforting him. It would try to stop him.
*Go Harry.....leave this place. You can, I'll help you.*
Harry crept out through the back door.
The voice called out again. "Harry? Harry, do you recognize me?! I-Is that you?"
Harry was running out of the door, leaving the voice behind. He thought he knew it from somewhere, before the memory was gone. Swallowed up.
*Dear boy, leave them, leave them all. I can help you, I'll never abandon you.*
Harry liked this place. The swirling eyes drew him in, it was empty and clean, free from pain. All he knew was the voice as his feet carried him forward.
Down the street, out of the protective wards surrounding the Dursleys.
"Harry!!" The other voice, now sounding very frightened was getting closer. He had to escape it, it would make him stay.
A tall, thin figure stepped from the shadows for a moment.
Harry paused in front of her, unseeing. Mappe grasped the young wizard's shoulders and stared down at him, surprised.
He looked so different than what she had pictured. Hard to believe he was such a threat to the Dark One.
Innocent face with those large glasses. Soft, messy black hair. He was thin and small also. Mappe felt something different surge through her. Different than with the other boy, her boy so long ago.
This was a different feeling. This child......and he was a child. _Her_ child.
Harry followed Mappe without a word. *Sweet boy, I'll help you always. We'll keep them away, so that they can't hurt you any longer.*
Harry was shaking with relief, and his fever. *Leave....I just want to leave it behind. I don't want to be Harry Potter any more.*
*I know, you can stay with me. You'll be safe. I never had a child, never had the opportunity. You can be mine, my boy.*
A frantic "HARRY!" was heard before Mappe and Harry disappeared.
**************************************************************************** **
Arabella sat on Harry's bed to compose herself. The consuming worry she felt wouldn't leave her in peace.
Harry was gone, probably abducted, and she hadn't been able to stop it. Dumbledore probably knew already, knew as soon as Harry had left his protective boundaries.
Yet, he had done it voluntarily. That was the only way......
Arabella began sorting through Harry's room quickly, searching for any kind of clues. She knew that time was of the essence, and she didn't want to think of the consequences of tonight.
*Sirius is going to have a fit, he'll be out of his head. Remus too...for that matter.* Arabella's self-blame was starting to get to her. How many times, seeing Harry grow up had she longed to step in and help him, let him know that he wasn't alone and that he was dearly loved by someone.
Now, the only time she had hesitated, it could very well be too late. *NO! Can't think like that, have to find something, anything.*
Arabella began sorting through the parchment on Harry's small desk. His wand lay beside different rolls. More bad news......
Surprised, the older witch began thumbing through some of the letters. They all had the same tone to them, and all were unfinished. None of them sounded like Harry at all, they were detached, distant, sometimes charged with emotion....
Professor Lupin;
I appreciate your concern but it's unfounded. I don't need anyone looking out for me, I don't want to put anyone out or anything. Plus, tell Sirius to go back to wherever he was before this whole tournament and to stop bothering me. I know how he feels, he left me right after everything fell apart last June.....
Arabella quickly grabbed another one, shocked.
Hermione;
I hope you and Ron have finally settled all of your feelings, since it is bothering me to no end watching you and having to put up with both of your fights and mood swings. I know what the conclusion will be so how about letting me get prepared to find some friends who won't leave me out in the cold. Good luck being a prefect next year, I trust we won't see a lot of each other but I imagine that suits you and Weasley just fine.......
Now Arabella was truly stunned. She had never heard such a tone from Harry addressed to anyone before, and certainly not to Hermione or Ron.
This wasn't him. Now she was truly worried. She pictured the past few hours events again in her head. Harry's light was on and she had a funny suspicion that something was wrong.
How she wished now that she would have acted on it sooner! She had seen that tall figure step out and grab Harry and her heart had stopped. Both had been gone before she could get to them and she couldn't trace how they had left or where they went.
For that matter, she had no idea of who it was who had done it in the first place.
A loud flapping at the open window caught Arabella's attention. A cruel- looking eagle owl stood there haughtily and immediately flew off as soon as the witch had detached the parchment.
Opening it, Arabella Figg felt her blood freeze in her veins.
Harry;
This is Percy Weasley, I can't say much here but I have to tell you that Ron has been kidnaped. The ones who have taken him want an exchange for you, if not, they'll kill him. I have no choice but to believe them and I'm begging you to take this seriously. As a friend and former prefect, you know what I would say to this, but as a brother, I'm asking you, please.
I'm sorry
Percy
At the bottom of the letter was instructions on where to go and when. Arabella looked over the letter again, confused. According to Percy, Harry was supposed to meet these people sometime tomorrow afternoon. But.....
She was now royally confused. How could these two things have no connection to each other?
**************************************************************************** **
"I will _not_ calm down. My godson's missing! And everything else is going to hell faster than we can stop it!! I knew something was wrong, I _knew_ it! This isn't Harry!!" Sirius was pacing around Lupin's small living room with Harry's half-finished letters in his hand, looking as though he had seen better days.
Which he had.
Remus, although he was sitting, didn't look much better. "Arabella, what did Dumbledore say after you told him what happened?"
Arabella, who had been graciously invited to stay by Remus after delivering her harsh news, tore her eyes away from the stricken Sirius to answer.
"He asked me to come to you, which I was planning on already. He's taken Percy's letter to the Weasleys so that they can try and decipher where it could have come from."
"I'll take three guesses but the first two don't count." Sirius growled, a dangerous look on his face. "And I'll bet that son of a snake has Harry too! It's just like him!!"
"We don't know that Padfoot."
"Fine, you can wait around to find out Moony, I'm going after Harry right now!"
Remus slammed a fist down on his table, surprising the other two in the room. "Before you do anything serious, _Sirius_, we need to find out exactly what's going on. Just think, use that dazzling intellect for a moment to figure this out. If it was Lucius, why would he need Percy to send this message, and for Quidditch's sake _don't_ say to throw us off of the trail!"
Sirius closed his mouth with a snap.
Arabella was silent, still racked with guilt over not stopping whoever took Harry.
"And you didn't get a good look at whoever it was, Arabella?" Remus asked softly, his hands clasped together.
She just shook her head.
"Y'know, it's not your fault....." Arabella glanced at Lupin gratefully who smiled a bit.
"He's right, whatever was going on with Harry sounded like it was escalating." Sirius' voice trailed off, drawing his own conclusion as to what that meant.
Remus took one of Harry's letter to read through it again. Something about them....the pattern, the tone....
"Moony?"
Cold, gray mists. A voice and hypnotic eyes. He was falling, he was forgetting, he wanted to forget. The wolf cried out from deep within him, wanting release and......
"Remus!!" Sirius hands were on his shoulders, face a mask of fear. "God, Remus don't _do_ that! Don't we have enough problems without you phasing out?"
Remus knew from long years of experience that Sirius' tone hid real concern. He shook his head to clear it. There was something though.....something just out of his reach.
Arabella stood up suddenly, glancing at Remus to make sure he was all right. "I have to go check in with Dumbledore, see if there's any way to track Harry."
"Did he give any advice as to what we should do in the meantime? So far searching for Ron hasn't proved fruitful, I don't think I can take another child missing without any leads." Remus' voice was unsteady when he said this.
Arabella regarded him seriously. She knew that Sirius would be worried but Remus just looked so worn down, aged.
She turned away, her eyes burning. "The only advice he had for me to deliver was for you to try and investigate any leads you can. I think that Harry's relatives have pretty much given up on him, they had long before this even. Also, try and keep options open for Ron, maybe somehow these things are connected though I fail to see how."
"Dumbledore and some others are going to continue looking for the two Weasley boys, but I agree that they don't need to be told of Harry's disappearance, it sounds as though Percy's letter is disturbing enough."
Arabella threw some powder into the fire and yelled, "The Burrow" before she was gone.
Sirius ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair. His face was white and strained. "What are we going to do Moony? Tell me you have some kind of advice or else I'll crumble."
Remus shook his head, though he was unnerved by the defeated tone in Sirius' voice. "I don't know old friend. I really don't know."
"What'll happen to me if he...if anything...." Remus shook his head again, this time violently. He couldn't think of that either, and had avoided such thinking since hearing the horrible news of Harry vanishing from his relatives, the one place where he was supposed to be completely safe.
Once again, his eyes rested on the paper. An old, half-formed memory came to him.
"Some godfather I am. Don't even stick around long enough for the kid to trust me.......how am I supposed to...well," Sirius put his face in his hands.
"Padfoot?"
"What?" Sirius' reply was muffled.
"Do...do you remember something happening....our last year at Hogwarts?"
Sirius turned to him, a small bit of comprehension coming through.
"But....what's that got to do with any of this?"
Remus didn't even want to know.
**************************************************************************** **
Thanks for the feedback, also. It is always appreciated and is what keeps any writer going. Please continue. :-)
Special thanks to Kavish, who boosted my ego with great feedback and made me excited that my fics inspired some people to re-read the books. That's the highest praise I can think of.
**************************************************************************** **
Third One's the Charm- Part 3
"Sirius Problems and Malfoy Meddlers"
**************************************************************************** **
_Bang!_
Two loud guffaws and some colorful cursing. In a flat a few stories above Knockturn Alley, three hulking Slytherins were engaged in a game of Exploding Snap.
Or, they were that is, until the deck decided to backfire into one of the thug's faces. Needless to say, he wasn't too happy.
The flat was in a state that one would expect from three slothful Slytherin slobs. In complete disrepair. The walls were dingy and only a few pieces of dog-eared furniture showed that anyone inhabited the dump.
Rent was cheap, which was good and no one cared about the filth, which was better. Henry Wynken, Miles Knodd and Willert Blankton were three neer-do- wells who had better things to do with their time than sissy stuff like cleaning. Sissy stuff which extended to getting a job, getting good grades before that in school and basically anything constructive besides causing mischief.
They had been notoriously inept during their years in Slytherin, banding together to try and break into that hopeful, elite group that secretly saw the return of You-Know-Who.
That the three had usually caused more damage than good went without speaking. The fact that they were Slytherin and had cast a shadow on even that houses' name had some long reaching consequences.
It wasn't as if they knew any of the Weasleys personally. But that family was traditionally, even stridently, Gryffindor. And for lackeys of this variety, what someone else said was a bad thing meant they clung to it with fearful tenacity.
When rumors had begun to circulate in the dark by-ways of Knockturn Alley that the Dark Lord had finally made a return, of course the three saw their way to some much deserved glory. Without having to work for it.
Of course, the fact that most um, _respectable_ former and future Death Eaters had laughed in their faces meant that they had only become more determined.
Luck happens to shine down on even the most undeserving at times. It did for these three with the sudden arrival of two Weasleys in their midst.
The Welsh teenager and his two friends from Liverpool (fishermen's sons, only a few generations of wizards in each bloodline) had jumped on their opportunity.
Not only would Malfoy be made to listen to someone who had Ministry connections, he would be impressed by the fact that the three had forced a hated Gryffindor to do their bidding. It was a perfect plan.
Yes. Perfect.
Except for that one rather noisy, obnoxious thing......
"He's been awful quiet in 'ere, whadja do, gag 'im?"
"Naw, Mutin' Spell on the closet. Only took me four times at that!" Knodd looked quite pleased with himself as Henry Wynken rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Yeah, I'm surprised as anythin' you were able to do it t'all. 'Specially seein' as you two flunkeys didn'na even pass your'n exams. Dunderheaded prats, fer certain."
"Shut it, Wynin, t'ain't as though ya passed anythin' yerself."
"Won't matter me lads. That red-'eaded whelp in 'ere? 'e'll be a-helpin' us on our way to the top."
"Er....are ya sure o' this?"
Henry scowled dangerously at Willert, who cowered from the bully, though he was only a bit smaller himself.
"Now, now....we already talked o'er any problems. T'ain't the time to be backin' out, if ya take me meanin'"
Willert did. Still.....
"What if'n his folks put up some kind o' search party?"
Henry snorted derisively. "Them? Don' remember much but I know they 'ardly 'ave two knuts ta rub together. Too many brats ta count as well. Naw, it's a dodgy time fer 'em ta even 'member that one er two's gone missin'"
More gutteral laughter.
Ron Weasley, though any sounds he may have made (and he had made some definite ones trapped in the small closet) could hear the goons' conversation loud and clear and felt like screaming in frustration.
It was bad enough he had allowed himself to get caught. It was even worse that he was going to have to be rescued by Percy....._Percy_! Of all people!!
Ron moaned and put his head in his hands. He was doomed. Sure, he loved and trusted his brother....but he was still doomed.
But worse than anything else, was the fact that he and Percy were being used by three of the most dim-witted Dark wizards he had ever come across, except for maybe the silent and steady Crabbe and Goyle.
His parents were probably having kittens by this time. Ron felt a tendril of worry mixed with regret in his heart, at the same time he heard his stomach growl. Rubbing it, the red-head remembered he hadn't eaten since lunchtime the day before.
He was famished and thirsty to boot. Ron sighed and pushed against the door again, unwilling to give up though it hadn't been any use the last hundred times he'd tried it.
He hoped Percy was all right. As irritating as his older brother was....well, he didn't deserve to get hurt on his account.
Ron sighed even more deeply. He also prayed with everything in him that Harry, the twins, Hermione....but most of all that little ferret, Draco Malfoy, never, _ever_ found out about this.
Ron cringed with real fear when he thought of each one's reaction. His life wouldn't be worth a sickle, if that, if they did.
**************************************************************************** **
Cold dawn penetrated through the primeval forest which surrounded the vast estates of Malfoy Manor. The gray stone and forbidding iron gates which surrounded the house, as well as the front of the main living quarters themselves, had an evil aura radiating from it.
Percy Weasley had gotten a good look at the Manor, since he'd been staring at it for many hours. And even then, his plan was about as threadbare as could be.
Percy began pacing again in the small clearing beside the main road which lead to the huge estate. The gloomy place was about as different as the Burrow as possible.
Percy felt a pang of homesickness that surprised him. It wasn't a welcome distraction from the gnawing worry and outright foolishness he'd been feeling beforehand.
All right, so the Malfoys had money. Everyone in the wizarding world knew that. Didn't mean a Galleon when all was said and done, right?
Percy couldn't quite convince himself. It didn't help matters any that his father and Lucius Malfoy had been enemies for years, over reasons that Percy and his siblings weren't quite clear on, as Arthur had been hesitant to ever talk about them.
So, the stiff teenager, stiff from practice and from spending a night out in the damp English countryside carefully slipped in through the gates, since he knew from painful experience that apparating directly to the front door wasn't possible.
*What am I doing here, what in _bloody_ all am I doing here? This has to be the _thickest_ thing I've ever been forced to do.*
Forced, that was the key word. Bumblers or not, the three idiots who had put him up to this still had his little brother.
Percy closed his eyes for a minute, right before he lifted the huge gargoyle of a knocker to the Estates' heavy doors. A memory, one he'd used quite a bit over the years at Hogwarts, when ickle Ronniekins could be too annoying to take with his antics.
Ron, barely four years old, was sitting on the front porch crying bitterly. His hair glinted in the afternoon sunlight, casting light off of it and almost blinding his older brother as he came out to hear what the racket was.
"What's the matter?" Eight-year old Percy scooted next to the little boy, placing one hand awkwardly on his knee. Ron, shoulders still shaking, didn't answer or lift his head.
"Ron?" Finally the child lifted his dirt-marked face to Percy.
"I fell 'sleep and had a bad dream" His childish voice shook and those large hazel eyes looked at Percy with all the fear and anxiety a four-year old could have.
Percy lifted an eyebrow and pushed his glasses up farther in a practiced gesture. He looked eight going on eighty when he did that. Like a little old man. Still.....
"Ron, it's childish to get so upset over some silly dream. Dreams can't hurt you and they don't mean anything. Now, stop making such a fuss, come here."
Percy's voice softened a bit and he gave the little boy a small hug. To his great surprise Ron grabbed him tightly and continued to sob.
Percy was now rather concerned. This wasn't Ron. The little boy had been loathe to show his emotions even when he'd had the life scared out of him by Fred, when the twin turned Ron's beloved teddy bear into a large spider about a year ago.
"I-I...I saw that you didn't like us no more!!"
"_Any_ more Ron. What on earth do you mean?"
"You...you said that dad was wrong and all the rest of us were wrong too. You didn't want to be here and you left. Even when things were so sad you left and didn't come back. Do you really hate us Percy?"
Percy was genuinely stunned. The pain on his little brother's face was real, as were the large tears that kept streaking down his freckled face. He didn't know where any of this could have come from, sure he had often wanted to disown the twins but that was the twins. Everyone had strong emotions towards those two, for good or for ill, at some point or another.
But the babies, Ron and Ginny, he'd only felt some fierce protectiveness for, especially Ron. Ron, not being the baby and not being the only girl, had a bit less of the coddling that Ginny had. Although with five older brothers it really was only a bit.
The point was that he loved them. He couldn't imagine a time or a situation that could change that. Percy hugged little Ron as hard as he could, telling him this, telling him that it was only a bad dream and that dreams like that don't come true.
Okay, now he was ready. For Ron, this was for Ron. Percy rubbed the bridge of his nose. After all these years, the memory had never left him. Never.
The door opened and a sour-faced young girl in a uniform stood there, open hostility on her face.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?!" She didn't wait for Percy to answer.
"We don't want any!! Didn't you see the sign? You are trespassing and I'll contact the authorities if you're not gone in less than three minutes. Get OUT!!"
Percy, whose mouth hung wide open like a codfish, barely had the sense to shove his foot in the way before the ill-tempered girl could slam the door shut again.
He nearly howled in pain as the heavy door pinched his foot brutally. Ron had better be grateful that he was his little brother or Percy would have thrown him to the wolves, or Slytherins, at this point.
"Gerroff! Are you daft?! I said....."
"I need to speak to Lucius Malfoy! It's a matter of utmost urgency!! Uh.., um, uh...Ministry, Ministry stuff, important stuff!" Percy felt like biting his tongue. He was never very good at lying.
The girl was staring at him with open suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at Percy's large feet, as though contemplating how best to slam the door shut while still causing him as much pain as possible.
"What kinda stuff?"
"_Private_ stu...er, things. Things I refuse to speak to anyone else about."
The girl looked him up and down. Percy was suddenly very aware of his bedraggled appearance after spending a night in the woods and running his hands through his hair. His robes weren't in the best condition either.
"The Ministry sent _you_?" Percy scowled.
"Yes, are you questioning me?"
"Well, yes. Can't be too important if they sent a kid instead of someone that actually meant somethin'"
Percy thought it was rich that she was calling him on his age when she barely looked over sixteen herself, even with tacky make-up caked on.
"Just go and get him. I really need to speak to him about something."
The girl stared at him intently before a light seemed to come on. "I know you! You're one of them Weasley rabble. The one's that can't even feed their children and have to steal robes to dress 'emselves."
Here Percy lost his temper. *Ron....think of Ron. Blast it all to bloody...*
"_As_ a matter of fact, I can't ever remember a day going hungry and at least I wear have enough magic in me to wear robes."
That hit a mark. Percy had guessed, (accurately it seemed) that this girl's uniform and the fact he had never seen her before had marked her as a squib. A Malfoy squib. He almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
"If'n you want to talk to Mr. Malfoy, it'll have to be on _his_ time. Now...go back to wherever you came from and don't bother decent people any more."
Percy's foot was still in the doorway. He hadn't been a Prefect and Head Boy just on academic merit.
"You will go and get Mr. Malfoy this _instant_ and you will bring him down here so that I may speak to him or else you will have to deal with some very _serious_ consequences. I have six siblings, try and figure out if I can get past you."
The door did end up slamming but Percy could hear the girl's grating voice calling out. Sadly, that had been the easy part.
The door opened again a few moments later. The girl, looking surprised, opened it all the way and motioned Percy inside.
"He wants to see you in his study. Don't track dirt in." The girl made it sound like he himself was the dirt she was referring to.
This was going to be even harder than he had first anticipated.
Malfoy Manor was beautifully decorated, there was no doubt about that. It resembled a museum. Full of wonderful things that weren't touched, appreciated to their full merit or even used to any good use, other than to display. Cold and forbidding.
Percy hated to think of what the place was like in the winter.
Rich, oak doors opened to a truly gorgeous study. The only off-putting thing about it were the heads of many different magical creatures on the walls, including some hippogriffs and even a, *gulp* werewolf if he wasn't mistaken.
The books, though. Percy wanted to take stock of each and every one of them. He could only imagine Hermione's reaction.
The man sitting in a large, stiff-backed chair, looked as inhospitable as his home. His long fingers were clasped together and his pale, cold eyes had focused on Percy from the moment he had entered into the room.
Percy gulped, not even bothering with a greeting of any kind. The hostility in the room was nearly visible.
"Harper, leave us." Malfoy dismissed the girl, who now looked very curious, with a wave of a hand and regarded Percy with an arrogant sneer.
"Never did I think that Weasley vermin would enter my house. To what do I owe the _pleasure_ of this visit, young Percival?"
The unpleasant sarcasm sent chills down Percy's spine. So did the fact that Malfoy knew his name.
"I-I.....I need....I need your h-help." Percy finally got the sentence out and waited for a reaction.
Lucius merely stared at him for a long time, coldly surprised. Then, a low chuckle followed by a deep laugh echoed in the room.
It didn't abate for some time and Percy stood, fists in his robes' pockets and waited for the other man to stop.
Finally, Lucius pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "Well, that was the most amused I've been for quite some time. Truly now, did Fudge send you? Does he finally realize that a Weasley who is unafraid to be a boot-licker is a good thing? Or has your wonderful father sent you on an errand?"
The way that Malfoy's eyes glittered with hate at that last question caused Percy to find his voice again.
"No, my father wants nothing to do with you......"
"And I him. Seems we agree on something. But you aren't your father, are you?" Eyes that were calculating now. Percy's back stiffened.
"No, but I still need your help."
Lucius smiled darkly. "Why would I ever help sewage like you? Especially when it comes to your family? Entire lot should be thrown into the sea and drowned as I used to do with a litter of kittens when I was young."
"My brother Ron was taken by some of your goons."
Malfoy's smile was gone at this blunt statement. "Explain yourself boy or prepare to be very sorry indeed."
"Slytherins, they said that they were trying to contact you but you refused to have anything to do with them. They want to join in your little circle and they told me to deliver the message."
Malfoy's face twisted with some unpleasant memory and the corners of his mouth twitched up a moment later.
"Absolute, complete idiots. All three. Should have been Hufflepuffs, I simply _cannot_......" Malfoy stopped muttering to himself when he saw Percy waiting for his answer.
"I will not go into any details about what you have now heard but I can assure you that it isn't safe for you to leave these doors. You see, there are people who would be concerned over information you now have."
Percy's stomach was now a block of ice. He knew coming here had been the worst in a succession of bad ideas.
"S-so, you think you can actually keep me here? Against my will?! You're barking mad, I'm a Ministry employee, besides, ah, well......" Percy pointedly ran a hand through his bright hair. "The first place anyone will look is......"
Percy trailed off, trying to hold back his growing fear.
Malfoy pulled out a wand and spoke a few words. Percy recognized the spell, A Summoning Charm, not like Accio but for people, like a call button.
Now he was very concerned that Malfoy was actually serious. "What about my brother?!" He asked before he could stop himself.
"Yes, your little brother. Too bad really. The three that have him are as cruel as they are stupid. I don't think it will go too pleasantly for him in the next few days, they couldn't even care for a pet in school let alone a boy."
Percy now felt very ill. This couldn't be happening. Malfoy was still speaking.
"Also, I think that with two of you missing, no one will think of looking anywhere around here for sometime."
The doors swung open and Percy was dragged away by two large figures whose faces were concealed by dark robes. He was yelling at Malfoy to reconsider but that individual merely smiled cruelly and waved goodbye.
"Malfoy, listen....I'll tell you anything you want, just see to Ron. I'll even stay here but my brother....."
Lucius ignored Percy's pleas, calling after him. "Not to worry. I'm sure my own employer will have some very important questions to ask you, as you were most unhelpful the first time around. Very good bargaining with you."
The doors remained open and the sounds of Percy being dragged away grew fainter. Malfoy still sat at his desk, tapping his wand against it.
"Knodd, Wynken and Blunten. The idiots three. I had no idea they could be so stubborn. Perhaps......"
Malfoy stood up and scratched a note quickly before waking a large eagle owl and tying the message to its leg.
"Knockturn Alley, maybe this will throw them off, keep them from making nuisances of themselves for a time. Besides, what fine time we could have with my _favorite_ family."
And, skulking in the shadows, Draco Malfoy smiled.
**************************************************************************** **
~Mists. Remus was surrounded by mists. He was on the moor. His parents had taken him here when he was a small child. They never forgave themselves.
A long, low howl, followed by a vicious snarl. Remus screamed in terror and threw his hands up before feeling the burning pain in his side.
He could smell the coppery smell of blood, see the werewolf's long teeth and the madness in its eyes.
Then, suddenly, the mists cleared and a full moon shone down upon Remus.
*NO!!!* He cried out, terrified, though he heard no noise. "Not this, please not this!!! I can't be a monster!! Mum, Dad, help me! Someone please......I'm a monster, I'll always be a monster!*
Remus began transforming, his form twitching and stretching with agonizing pain. Finally, the wolf howled loud and clear at the moon, like a cry of despair.~
Remus didn't know where he was. The pain was so terrible, the realization that he would never be normal, never be wanted.
He saw his parents, faces filled with revulsion as they turned away from him, joining in an angry mob. Lit torches were everywhere, flames licking angrily at him. He pleaded with them.
He wasn't a monster! He was just himself, although with each passing year he wasn't sure who that was. Wasn't Remus Lupin now just the wolf in human form?
*NO!!* Again, that terrible denial. He was more than that. He was a person, he felt things, enjoyed to read and liked a good prank. He had a good sense of humor and was unfailingly optimistic at times. He was also kind, the type of kindness that years of toil and pain couldn't take away. He had friends, they cared about him.
James, Lily, Sirius, their faces swam before his eyes, their voices clear and harsh. "You lied to us, Remus!! You lied! Keep away, you're nothing but a beast. We can't be friends with you, what would our families think? What about our children, did you really think that a werewolf could ever live a normal life? Leave us in peace......"
Remus cried out. This couldn't be happening. He saw Peter, he looked so unfamiliar with a cruel light in his watery eyes. Peter was smiling as he destroyed everything Remus held dear. Shadows screaming in a small house. A baby's cry. Laughter of a mad man...what was happening?
Then, Wormtail was smiling as he grasped a long silver knife to drive it in......
Remus screamed terribly and felt a soft, cold hand on his forehead.
"Shhh....I'm here"
*Where am I?*
*Remus.......I'll help you. Don't you want to forget? So much pain, so much anger. I'm the only one who knows, the only one who understands.*
*What? My friends, they became Animagi for me. They're my true friends.....*
James and Sirius turned their backs on Remus in the cold, gray mist. 'Werewolf, monster, beast....dangerous! You're nothing but an evil creature, you don't belong with the likes of us! We have talent, brains, a future, what do you have?!'
Remus was crying and that cold hand wiped away the tears. Instead of being comforting it sent chills down him. He was cold.....so very cold.
*Sweet boy, I'll help you. We can be together. Forget them, forget them all. Lies, betrayal, I'm the only one who can help you. I"ll help you to forget.*
*Yes* Remus nodded and looked up into those eyes before losing himself in that grey mist, the words were so appealing. He wanted so much to forget.
He was all alone, no one understood him. But those eyes, they held him and didn't let him go. Swirling and magnetic, he was falling into them.
*Who am I? How did I get here? Do I know her? It seems as though I should know her....*
*Forget everything, you're mine. Leave them and come with me.*
Three people, a pretty girl and two handsome dark-haired boys were on the outskirts of Remus' conscious. Who were they? Didn't matter, he didn't care. All that mattered were those eyes.
Mappe Maleficent stroked Remus' thick brown hair and hummed softly to herself, content. What she wished, she could have. That was her new life.
He was hers and no one else's. The witch snarled when she thought of his friends who would surely come looking for him. She would have to make sure that he never wanted to come back, that he would always stay with her in the world she created for him......deep within his mind.
Remus' gray eyes, so full of intelligence and good humor, were now flat and expressionless. His face was dazed and his body was completely limp. Mappe just smiled and kept humming to herself.
It was a good hiding place she had found. She discovered that he liked it when she had invaded his mind. It was safe, though not forever. She had to leave soon, very soon.
She could feel the others coming. Setting her bony face grimly, her mouth a thin line, Mappe began focusing everything she had into Remus' subconscious.
*Stay....*
**************************************************************************** **
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was in a grave mood. And that, for anyone who knew him, was saying something.
All traces of the characteristic twinkle were gone from his light blue eyes. He pushed his half-moon glasses up onto his crooked nose and waited patiently, lost in thought.
Fawkes' peaceful cooing beside him wasn't broken by the abrupt arrival of Remus Lupin, former Hogwarts professor and his large, black dog.
Remus' face held confusion and concern, as did Sirius Black's, once that individual had transformed back into his true form.
"Dumbledore? You said it was urgent."
Dumbledore motioned for the two to sit down. "Gentlemen, I have some very disturbing news."
"Well, don't spare our feelings with small talk, Headmaster." Lupin said lightly, though his brow creased with anxiety.
Sirius, a worried look in his dark eyes, spoke up. "I'm afraid that we don't exactly have the best news ourselves."
Dumbledore looked at him with increased interest. "Do tell. Is something amiss with young Harry?"
"Well, we were hoping you could tell us. Have you, um.....received any unusual messages from Harry lately? Has he seemed disconnected or distant at all?"
Dumbledore took the letter that Sirius was extending out to him and glanced over it quickly, concern apparent in his blue eyes after he set it down.
"No, I've not heard from Harry for a few weeks. Neither has Hagrid, though the gamekeeper has sent several owls. Very unlike the boy, but I simply chalked it up to normal teenage moods. Harry is usually somewhat communicative out of necessity, or at least he has been in the past. This, however, does not sound like him at all." He waved a hand at the parchment on his desk.
Sirius and Remus exchanged a look. "That's what we were afraid of. Also, Hedwig is at Remus' home. She refused to fly back and was acting oddly. Flapping her wings, making a great deal of noise, she kept nipping at me even though I couldn't get what she was saying even in dog form. All she said was that her boy wasn't himself. If an owl is worried, Headmaster, shouldn't we be?"
Sirius stopped talking long enough to rub his forehead. When he had first received the letter, he had been a bit angry and put off. The longer he examined it though, and Hedwig's strange behavior, had caused his godfatherly alarms to go off.
Dumbledore looked pensive for a while before answering. "The wards surrounding Harry have not yet given any cause for alarm. He must leave of his own free will for the magic to let me know, a necessary measure for his safety, I'm afraid."
"But Dumbledore.....!"
"Please allow me to finish, Sirius. I understand your concern. Harry has undergone some terrible trials, especially in these past few months. I think that for us not to trust him and to put him under constant surveillance might worsen the situation. He craves normalcy, this letter can possibly be interpreted as a reaction to that."
Sirius looked hurt. "I didn't think that he would go so far as to not want to have anything to do with us."
"Now, now Sirius. Don't be so sensitive. Harry isn't a small child, he will be fifteen in only a few days. I know you want to be a part of his life, but I would wait for an invitation."
Sirius remained silent after Dumbledore's comment, the deep-seated hurt in his eyes still present.
Remus, quiet through all of this, extended out a hand to the older wizard. "You said you had news for us, Professor?"
Dumbledore now looked very grave. "Yes, I've called you both here for an important reason. You both have had closer contact with the Weasleys than many other Aurors or Ministry officials that I would trust, and not just because of Harry."
Remus looked startled. "The Weasleys again! Dumbledore....what...."
Sirius sat up a little straighter.
"I'm afraid that young Ronald and Percival have both been missing for nearly two days. Molly and Arthur, as you can imagine, are frantic. Search parties are already being organized but anxiety is running especially high because of the recent interrogation of Percy."
Sirius swore softly. Remus gave him a reproaching look before speaking. "Anyone checked Malfoy Manor?"
Dumbledore nodded. "One of the places on a growing list. Proof is essential before attempting it. Unfortunately, the problem lies in that the two boys are not together."
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"Sirius, has Harry told you of the measures Molly and Arthur have taken with their family's protection?"
Sirius thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Percy had an argument with his father, Ron overheard and an accident happened where they both ended up somewhere near Diagon Alley. Now, both hands continue to go from 'Mortal Peril' to other spots on the clock but neither will stay in one direct position long enough for us to determine anything. They two hands strayed from each other a few hours after both had gone missing."
Remus stared at the floor. "Lord, they must be terrified at the Burrow."
Dumbledore gazed sadly at the two younger men. "Yes, their family was unscathed in Voldemort's earlier reign. I'm saddened at this sudden make- up of lost time. I must ask you both to take some measures of your own."
Both nodded gravely.
"Remus, Molly has not yet informed either Harry or Hermione of Ron's disappearance. I fear that both would react very badly, especially taking into account Harry's recent attitudes." Another gesture toward's Harry's letter.
"Sirius, I know that you've felt a certain connection to young Ron?" Sirius smiled a bit and nodded.
Remus grinned also but it didn't reach his eyes. "Those two could be twins in some regards. You want Sirius to help in trying to find Ron?"
"Padfoot, more precisely. Both of you to be exact. The Clearwaters, Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood and several others have requested to join in searching for Percy. Those that have the clearest idea of what could have possibly happened to them both and why are probably the best ones to search. Besides, the Ministry is of little help here because of their more, uh..._conservative_ attitudes towards former Death Eaters and Voldemort."
"First, though, I would greatly appreciate it if you would spread news of Harry to the Burrow, as well as offer some support. I know that you both are trusted there and since I have requested Molly to stay there to wait for news, perhaps you can bolster them up. Yes, Sirius, _both_ of you."
Sirius closed his mouth like a chastened school-boy. Somehow the venerable old wizard could always make one feel like they were back in Hogwarts again.
"Another thing, since Ron has seemingly vanished, I think that just a few precautions should be taken with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter, don't you think?" Remus smiled and nodded.
"I'll see about Hermione, Arabella has already said that she's been keeping an eye on Harry. I don't think she'll mind stepping it up a bit."
"Good." The two younger wizards left Dumbledore just as he was preparing to leave by floo to the Burrow itself.
"Very good" He muttered to himself. "I hope young Harry is strong enough to master whatever other darkness I feel massing on the horizon."
**************************************************************************** **
The scene that the two former Marauders' found at the Burrow defied description. Utter chaos was the closest that could come to it.
There were wizards and witches everywhere outside, families, friends, everyone who had found out what had happened and had been contacted by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley or Dumbledore.
Remus and Padfoot cautiously rapped on the front door. A white-faced Ginny opened it and managed a half-smile when she saw who it was.
Inside the Burrow was surprisingly quiet, taking into consideration the whirlwind outside. One could see the organization of search parties already being formed, as well as more heart-wrenching items in the small kitchen.
Pictures of Ron and Percy, all moving, some smiling and waving, were up everywhere. The wizard radio was on for news, though any direct information had not yet leaked to the outside of the boy's disappearance.
Maps, papers, documents, everywhere. A tattered teddy bear, an old pair of large sneakers and a wand. Ron's.
There was also a smaller, scratched pair of glasses, a prefect badge and several parchment rolls.
Remus took everything in with a glance and laid a hand on Padfoot's head, who whimpered to show that he understood how Moony felt.
In the living room were five red-headed, very worried people. Ginny, after showing Remus and Padfoot in, sat next to her mum and laid her head on Molly's shoulder. Molly hugged her daughter to her, her face drawn from exhaustion and fear.
Arthur was deep in conversation with his two oldest sons, Charlie and Bill. All three looked terrible, Charlie and Bill both looked as though they had dropped everything to get there. Arthur appeared as though he hadn't slept in some time.
He did manage a small smile for Remus as the ex-professor took a seat. Lupin noted two others there, Mundungus Fletcher, his grizzled countenance deep in thought and Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody who looked even more paranoid than usual.
The big guns had been pulled out, apparently. "Dumbledore sent us here to try and help." Remus said softly.
All eyes moved to the large dog at Remus' side. Arthur cleared his throat a bit.
"Um...they can be trusted. Everyone here knows the truth, Sirius. We're on your side."
With a *pop* Black appeared as well, looking sympathetic.
"Molly, Arthur, Dumbledore told us that you thought it best not to contact Harry or Hermione yet."
Molly nodded, her eyes brimming over. "Y-yes.....we don't want to worry the poor dears, I just hope they don't have to hear about it second-hand."
"That seems to be a mutual fear. Harry already has some close eyes on him and I'll make sure Hermione is taken care of." Remus smiled his calming smile, though his gray eyes were turbulent.
Sirius clapped a hand on Fred and George's shoulders. "There hasn't been any news at all?"
"None, the last we heard from either was when Percy contacted us to say that he was bringing Ron home the night before last. He never made it back and that was when the two hands separated. We know that Percy would never leave Ron alone. I-I'm just afraid of what that might mean."
Arthur looked old and tired when he said this. Ginny buried her head into her mum's shoulder to cry.
Sirius and Remus glanced at each other helplessly.
A swish, bang! of the door let everyone know someone else had entered the house.
"Not to worry, we'll find the boys, and they're both quite resourceful. I'm sure that Percy will look out for young Ronald.......or even vice versa."
The Weasley family, with its several additions now, prayed that Dumbledore was right.
**************************************************************************** **
"You can't be serious, keeping me in here!! You're all mad...as, as starkers! I won't tell, I just need to check on my brother, please....."
Percy's voice was very hoarse after yelling for longer than he cared to realize. He didn't know how long he'd been in this room, with no light and little room to move around.
All he knew was that his pleas had fallen on deaf ears and he was now completely frantic. It wasn't as though he had enough to worry about with his own skin, but Ron.....who knew what those lunatics would do to him when there was no outside word?
Percy received a new burst of energy at that, banging on the door and yelling, cajoling. No response.
He carried on hour after hour, trying to talk to his jailer when he'd set some moldy bread and warm, scummy water inside. It was like speaking to a brick wall.
He demanded to speak or see Malfoy again. All to no avail. His entire family must be up in arms right now, having no idea of what could have happened or why. Percy was still a little fuzzy on things himself with how quickly they had occurred.
After one last frustrated kick to the door, the young wizard sank to the floor and put his head between his knees. He tried to tell himself that he didn't care, or that things would be fine......but he didn't believe it.
Harry, Hermione, besides his family's voices kept coming back to haunt him. Telling him that he had let them down.
Percy swallowed painfully. If only there was a way to somehow switch positions with his younger brother. After all, he himself would hardly be missed by anyone. Maybe his mum and Penelope. Maybe.
But Ron had so many people who would be devastated if anything happened to him. A single tear coursed down Percy's stiff face and he swiped at it viciously. He hadn't cried for so long, he honestly couldn't remember when the last time was.
He just didn't cry. Maybe that was why his family found it so hard to relate to him, as well as the other way around.
He wished for a time when things were less complicated, but those times were far away and slipping farther with each year that passed.
Percy's head lolled as he finally gave in to sleep. His dreams were troubled nightmares......
~The Gryffindor Common Room was absolutely still. Fred, George and Ginny all stood close to each other, shocked and pale.
Percy approached Professor McGonagall who seemed afraid to speak to him. Hermione was sobbing and Harry......God, Harry looked as though his best friend had died.
"What happened?" Percy asked, though deep inside he knew the answer. He didn't want to feel it yet, it was too terrible.
McGonagall held up a long, bloody knife. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr. Weasley. We couldn't stop him from getting into the castle. At least Harry's safe."
Percy looked over at Harry Potter with a virulent hatred in his eyes. Harry, whose face was twisted with anguish, began shaking terribly. But Percy didn't care. Ron was dead because of him. If only Ron had never met him, things would perhaps be simpler.
No matter that Harry was alone in the world and could not control the things that happened to him. Percy hated him at that moment more than he had ever hated another human being.~
With a loud bang, the door swung open, pushing Percy down the few stairs to land painfully on his side.
A snort of laughter and Percy felt himself being hauled to his feet. He pushed the brute away but the guard was a lot bigger so it didn't help much.
"Malfoy wants ta see ya. Guess he's tired o' yer bellowin' as much as the rest o' us."
Percy felt a rush of hope, forgetting any kind of retort. Maybe there was a way to get out of all of this after all.
Back in Malfoy's study, Lucius appeared much as he had a day before. Except now he looked even more calculating and instead of his tone being condenscending, it held a bargaining note to it.
Still, he smiled in a self-satisfied kind of way. He knew that Percy was ready for any kind of arrangement. In fact, he was counting on it.
"There haven't been any messages from your younger brother."
Percy gulped.
"I have heard, however, that the three that have him are willing to negotiate with me. As long as _I_ provide the terms."
Percy didn't reply but waited.
"I will make this very easy for you. Do you wish to see your younger brother in one piece any time soon?"
A pause. "Answer!!"
"Yes, yes....I do. What exactly do you want?"
Lucius smiled maliciously. "I want you to chose loyalties young man. We received some information from a source which does not wish to be named." Here an obvious smirk at Percy who felt his temper giving way.
"That information stated that a certain Harry Potter, who has made more enemies in our world than most realize, I'm afraid, could only get around the wretched wards and counter-magic surrounding him by voluntarily leaving his place of sanctuary. Imagine my delight."
Percy didn't think he liked where this was heading.
"What I need from you, dear boy, is to write Mr. Potter a letter. I want you to tell him that Ron is missing, who has him and the conditions of his _friend's_ release." Malfoy's upper lip curled in distaste at his choice of words.
"So you can just wait for him to leave wherever he is and take him?"
"Kill him, actually. And yes, that is the general idea."
Percy was shaking with rage. "You want me to turn Judas and give you Harry's life."
"For your little brother. If not, not only will I not intervene in Ronald's behalf, I'll will give those three explicit instructions for the treatment of the boy. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
Percy felt like he was going to be sick. "Perfectly." His voice shook and he was as white as a sheet.
"How long do I have before I have to make my decision?"
"You have no time, decide now or I take whatever action I wish."
Percy's head was swimming. He kept hearing his own voice, how he hated Harry, how wouldn't it be better if they had never met him.
Ron would be devastated. There was no doubt about it. But Ron would be safe, and wasn't that what mattered? But still, Harry! He was just a boy, he had always been civil to Percy. At the Triwizard Tournament, at the Yule Ball, at Hogwarts, and he had looked after Ron, given his younger brother a sense of true friendship.
Ron might not have known it, but Percy had seen his brother's loneliness, his sense of isolation. He had shared it.
"Your answer, _now_."
Ron or Harry? Harry or Ron?
"I need more time."
"That's too bad." Malfoy drawled, taking out a sheet of parchment. "Choose your poison. Just how irritating can your dear little brother be? I have it from some reliable sources that you two can hardly stand to be around each other. Shall we test that?"
Percy couldn't do it. He couldn't.
His hands were in fists, down at his sides. "Tell me what to write, but I want you to contact those three pyschopaths and tell them to let Ron go. Tell my parents where he is just in case."
"Done."
Percy didn't even bother to ask about himself. He knew he would probably not get out of this in one piece. He only begged that he wouldn't have to see You-Know-Who face to face. That would just be adding insult to injury.
"Here you are. I write, then you write, fair enough?" Percy wanted to spit in Malfoy's evil, smug face.
He grasped the long quill he was handed and paused again, before writing.
**************************************************************************** **
*Harry.....*
*So tired, I'm so tired. What's wrong, what's happening?*
*I can help you, let me help. Forget, just forget*
*Yes, I....d-don't feel....something's wrong.*
Harry lay tossing and turning on his bed, the snores of his cousin drowning out any low moaning he made.
*It's time Harry*
Angry faces, backs turned. 'You don't belong with us Harry, you've never belonged. How could we have put all of our faith in you?'
Sirius turned away, leaving Harry all alone. 'I'm your godfather, but I have a life of my own. Just leave me in peace Harry, if it wasn't for you, I'd be safe, starting over somewhere.'
He was all alone. He was in the graveyard and Cedric's eyes were open, accusing. Ron and Hermione were walking away, hand in hand. 'We just want to forget all about you Harry. Let us live in peace, you're a danger to us, to everyone.'
Snape was grinning at Harry. 'Didn't I tell you Potter? Didn't I?! Fame isn't everything. Sooner or later everyone sees you as who you really are, a nasty, spoiled little boy who isn't wanted or welcomed by anyone.'
Tears flowed freely from Harry's bright green eyes, once vivid, they were now closed and frightened, like a caged animal.
The voice, calling to him. Those eyes, he was drowning.....he wanted to forget.
*Listen Harry, forget. You can trust me. I'll help you and you can help me in return. Aren't you tired?*
Harry was so tired. His poor body was shaking and weak from lack of good food. Dark hair lay matted on his forehead, a high temperature just one symptom of neglect and apathy.
*Pain, I'm tired of feeling the pain.*
*I know, sweet boy. Let me help you. Escape, just escape. I'll help you....*
Down the stairs, Harry moved without a sound. The creaking door, the squeaking steps, nothing registered in the Dursley house.
A small light could be seen in the living room. "Harry? Harry, are you here?" An anxious whisper.
Harry felt a sliver of panic. A new voice, different from the one comforting him. It would try to stop him.
*Go Harry.....leave this place. You can, I'll help you.*
Harry crept out through the back door.
The voice called out again. "Harry? Harry, do you recognize me?! I-Is that you?"
Harry was running out of the door, leaving the voice behind. He thought he knew it from somewhere, before the memory was gone. Swallowed up.
*Dear boy, leave them, leave them all. I can help you, I'll never abandon you.*
Harry liked this place. The swirling eyes drew him in, it was empty and clean, free from pain. All he knew was the voice as his feet carried him forward.
Down the street, out of the protective wards surrounding the Dursleys.
"Harry!!" The other voice, now sounding very frightened was getting closer. He had to escape it, it would make him stay.
A tall, thin figure stepped from the shadows for a moment.
Harry paused in front of her, unseeing. Mappe grasped the young wizard's shoulders and stared down at him, surprised.
He looked so different than what she had pictured. Hard to believe he was such a threat to the Dark One.
Innocent face with those large glasses. Soft, messy black hair. He was thin and small also. Mappe felt something different surge through her. Different than with the other boy, her boy so long ago.
This was a different feeling. This child......and he was a child. _Her_ child.
Harry followed Mappe without a word. *Sweet boy, I'll help you always. We'll keep them away, so that they can't hurt you any longer.*
Harry was shaking with relief, and his fever. *Leave....I just want to leave it behind. I don't want to be Harry Potter any more.*
*I know, you can stay with me. You'll be safe. I never had a child, never had the opportunity. You can be mine, my boy.*
A frantic "HARRY!" was heard before Mappe and Harry disappeared.
**************************************************************************** **
Arabella sat on Harry's bed to compose herself. The consuming worry she felt wouldn't leave her in peace.
Harry was gone, probably abducted, and she hadn't been able to stop it. Dumbledore probably knew already, knew as soon as Harry had left his protective boundaries.
Yet, he had done it voluntarily. That was the only way......
Arabella began sorting through Harry's room quickly, searching for any kind of clues. She knew that time was of the essence, and she didn't want to think of the consequences of tonight.
*Sirius is going to have a fit, he'll be out of his head. Remus too...for that matter.* Arabella's self-blame was starting to get to her. How many times, seeing Harry grow up had she longed to step in and help him, let him know that he wasn't alone and that he was dearly loved by someone.
Now, the only time she had hesitated, it could very well be too late. *NO! Can't think like that, have to find something, anything.*
Arabella began sorting through the parchment on Harry's small desk. His wand lay beside different rolls. More bad news......
Surprised, the older witch began thumbing through some of the letters. They all had the same tone to them, and all were unfinished. None of them sounded like Harry at all, they were detached, distant, sometimes charged with emotion....
Professor Lupin;
I appreciate your concern but it's unfounded. I don't need anyone looking out for me, I don't want to put anyone out or anything. Plus, tell Sirius to go back to wherever he was before this whole tournament and to stop bothering me. I know how he feels, he left me right after everything fell apart last June.....
Arabella quickly grabbed another one, shocked.
Hermione;
I hope you and Ron have finally settled all of your feelings, since it is bothering me to no end watching you and having to put up with both of your fights and mood swings. I know what the conclusion will be so how about letting me get prepared to find some friends who won't leave me out in the cold. Good luck being a prefect next year, I trust we won't see a lot of each other but I imagine that suits you and Weasley just fine.......
Now Arabella was truly stunned. She had never heard such a tone from Harry addressed to anyone before, and certainly not to Hermione or Ron.
This wasn't him. Now she was truly worried. She pictured the past few hours events again in her head. Harry's light was on and she had a funny suspicion that something was wrong.
How she wished now that she would have acted on it sooner! She had seen that tall figure step out and grab Harry and her heart had stopped. Both had been gone before she could get to them and she couldn't trace how they had left or where they went.
For that matter, she had no idea of who it was who had done it in the first place.
A loud flapping at the open window caught Arabella's attention. A cruel- looking eagle owl stood there haughtily and immediately flew off as soon as the witch had detached the parchment.
Opening it, Arabella Figg felt her blood freeze in her veins.
Harry;
This is Percy Weasley, I can't say much here but I have to tell you that Ron has been kidnaped. The ones who have taken him want an exchange for you, if not, they'll kill him. I have no choice but to believe them and I'm begging you to take this seriously. As a friend and former prefect, you know what I would say to this, but as a brother, I'm asking you, please.
I'm sorry
Percy
At the bottom of the letter was instructions on where to go and when. Arabella looked over the letter again, confused. According to Percy, Harry was supposed to meet these people sometime tomorrow afternoon. But.....
She was now royally confused. How could these two things have no connection to each other?
**************************************************************************** **
"I will _not_ calm down. My godson's missing! And everything else is going to hell faster than we can stop it!! I knew something was wrong, I _knew_ it! This isn't Harry!!" Sirius was pacing around Lupin's small living room with Harry's half-finished letters in his hand, looking as though he had seen better days.
Which he had.
Remus, although he was sitting, didn't look much better. "Arabella, what did Dumbledore say after you told him what happened?"
Arabella, who had been graciously invited to stay by Remus after delivering her harsh news, tore her eyes away from the stricken Sirius to answer.
"He asked me to come to you, which I was planning on already. He's taken Percy's letter to the Weasleys so that they can try and decipher where it could have come from."
"I'll take three guesses but the first two don't count." Sirius growled, a dangerous look on his face. "And I'll bet that son of a snake has Harry too! It's just like him!!"
"We don't know that Padfoot."
"Fine, you can wait around to find out Moony, I'm going after Harry right now!"
Remus slammed a fist down on his table, surprising the other two in the room. "Before you do anything serious, _Sirius_, we need to find out exactly what's going on. Just think, use that dazzling intellect for a moment to figure this out. If it was Lucius, why would he need Percy to send this message, and for Quidditch's sake _don't_ say to throw us off of the trail!"
Sirius closed his mouth with a snap.
Arabella was silent, still racked with guilt over not stopping whoever took Harry.
"And you didn't get a good look at whoever it was, Arabella?" Remus asked softly, his hands clasped together.
She just shook her head.
"Y'know, it's not your fault....." Arabella glanced at Lupin gratefully who smiled a bit.
"He's right, whatever was going on with Harry sounded like it was escalating." Sirius' voice trailed off, drawing his own conclusion as to what that meant.
Remus took one of Harry's letter to read through it again. Something about them....the pattern, the tone....
"Moony?"
Cold, gray mists. A voice and hypnotic eyes. He was falling, he was forgetting, he wanted to forget. The wolf cried out from deep within him, wanting release and......
"Remus!!" Sirius hands were on his shoulders, face a mask of fear. "God, Remus don't _do_ that! Don't we have enough problems without you phasing out?"
Remus knew from long years of experience that Sirius' tone hid real concern. He shook his head to clear it. There was something though.....something just out of his reach.
Arabella stood up suddenly, glancing at Remus to make sure he was all right. "I have to go check in with Dumbledore, see if there's any way to track Harry."
"Did he give any advice as to what we should do in the meantime? So far searching for Ron hasn't proved fruitful, I don't think I can take another child missing without any leads." Remus' voice was unsteady when he said this.
Arabella regarded him seriously. She knew that Sirius would be worried but Remus just looked so worn down, aged.
She turned away, her eyes burning. "The only advice he had for me to deliver was for you to try and investigate any leads you can. I think that Harry's relatives have pretty much given up on him, they had long before this even. Also, try and keep options open for Ron, maybe somehow these things are connected though I fail to see how."
"Dumbledore and some others are going to continue looking for the two Weasley boys, but I agree that they don't need to be told of Harry's disappearance, it sounds as though Percy's letter is disturbing enough."
Arabella threw some powder into the fire and yelled, "The Burrow" before she was gone.
Sirius ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair. His face was white and strained. "What are we going to do Moony? Tell me you have some kind of advice or else I'll crumble."
Remus shook his head, though he was unnerved by the defeated tone in Sirius' voice. "I don't know old friend. I really don't know."
"What'll happen to me if he...if anything...." Remus shook his head again, this time violently. He couldn't think of that either, and had avoided such thinking since hearing the horrible news of Harry vanishing from his relatives, the one place where he was supposed to be completely safe.
Once again, his eyes rested on the paper. An old, half-formed memory came to him.
"Some godfather I am. Don't even stick around long enough for the kid to trust me.......how am I supposed to...well," Sirius put his face in his hands.
"Padfoot?"
"What?" Sirius' reply was muffled.
"Do...do you remember something happening....our last year at Hogwarts?"
Sirius turned to him, a small bit of comprehension coming through.
"But....what's that got to do with any of this?"
Remus didn't even want to know.
**************************************************************************** **