Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I wish I did coz that'll mean I'll have lots of money but I fortunately I don't so... please don't sue ^^.
Dark Order Rising
Chapter 4: Voldemort's Hand
by ARaZhi
"Boy! Get up! GET UP!" Petunia screeched through the closed door of the smallest bedroom in number 4 Privet Drive. It is nearly 10 a.m. and her lazy nephew is still asleep.
Thoroughly annoyed, Petunia pushed open the bedroom door and stomped in. "HARRY POTTER GET UP NOW!"
Harry didn't even twitch. The boy continued to sleep, on top of his blankets, a small smile playing on his lips. He looked so peaceful. If Dudley is the one sleeping with such a peaceful expression on his face Petunia will not wake him up. But this isn't Dudley. This is Harry. Her dratted nephew.
Petunia began shaking Harry awake, violently. But still Harry slept.
"Damned boy!" Petunia released Harry's shoulders and let him drop onto the bed.
At least if the boy wouldn't wake he will not be getting on her family's way. Vernon never liked the boy. Also, she'll save money. If Harry slept through the whole summer that's one less mouth to feed.
Dismissing thoughts that Harry might be in a coma, Petunia went down the stairs to make sure there's enough food in the fridge to satisfy her Duddlykins. After that accursed diet last year, Dudley deserves all the food that he wants.
~*~
Elsewhere, later that afternoon, in a dark forest, Sirius is quietly considering his current situation. Trapped in a forest surrounded by Ministry wizards. Unable to do magic because of the wards. Unable to create a portkey because he can't do magic. Unable to use any portkey that he might have because of the wards. Unable to disapparate because of the wards (and even if he can it will undoubtedly set off alarms). He is accompanied by a vampire who is slowly gaining her memory. A vampire with a soul. A vampire who happens to be Voldemort's second in command. Life is just so wonderful, isn't it?
"I've always wondered, you know, if Voldemort really had a second. We thought it was Lucius Malfoy," Sirius said, breaking the silence.
"Malfoy?" Anya frowned. "I remember him as a wealthy, talentless git who successfully perfected the art of scaring those who are easily scared. He likes playing with Muggles because Muggles can't fight back. Can't hold his own on a duel. He's all talk. I think I've wanted to kill the bloody bastard for years but Voldemort wouldn't permit it."
"They are still out there. Death Eaters, I mean. Will you join them after this?" he asked. He wasn't going to reveal the fact that Voldemort is back to life. She seems to believe he's dead.
"Join them?" she shook her head, "Those bastards hate me because I'm a vampire. They're obssessed with this so called purity of blood crap. They want me dead. The only reason they never touched me is because they feared Voldemort."
"You'll just go back to bounty hunting then?"
"Yeah. It's a good job. Besides, I need the money. I've found the perfect beach house in Australia. I don't have a house there yet. The weather in this country ruined my tan and Australia is the perfect place to fix it. However, it's winter now in Australia. Hm, perhaps I'll fix my tan in Hawaii instead. Too bad my conscience can't handle turning you over anyone who'll pay for you after..." she sighed. "Anyway, I'll just help you out of here then I'm leaving."
"We're in the middle of a forest, surrounded by Ministry wizards and you're worried about your bloody tan!" Sirius exclaimed, "And Remus called me vain."
Suddenly, Anya stumbled and clutched her head in her hands. A moment later, she fell on all fours, panting hard. Her face changing from her vampire visage then to normal then back again.
Sirius got up to help her.
"Don't," she rasped. "Run. Run, now."
"Wh--what?"
"Do it!"
Sirius had barely taken two steps back when Anya let out an ear splitting shriek of pain or agony. He was thrown down as a green light of pure energy erupted from Anya's body.
Sirius heard a snake's hiss. He turned on his back and found himself looking at a green snake (created out of pure energy), cackling with power.
A moment later, the snake disappeared and Anya lay unmoving on the grass. No longer a vampire. A reddish glow surrounding her body.
"Help me," she whispered in a trembling voice.
Sirius quickly moved towards her and took her hand, a golden glow appeared between their clasped hands. He could feel jolts of electricity traveling from his fingers spreading throughout his body. The pained expression on her face was already dissipating.
"Thanks, Sirius."
She called me by my name!
He was just beginning to chastise himself for thinking of something so trivial and irrelevant to the current situation when he heard several pop of Apparating wizards. They've dropped the Anti-apparition and the anti-magic wards! He grabbed her wand, took her into his arms, and ran. Hopefully, the green mist still surrounding the area will block them from view.
He placed down the semi-conscious vampire behind a tree. "Can you run? We have to get out of here!"
She moaned and grabbed his hand, "I can feel him calling to me..."
Sirius shivered. Voldemort.
"How can he do this? Isn't he dead? Unless... unless..." she closed her eyes, a look of utter defeat crossing her face. "He's back, isn't he?" she whispered weakly. "The truth, Sirius..."
He nodded.
She leaned back on the tree horrified. "No. I don't want to go back. Not again." She tightened her grip on his hand. "Swear to me that you will kill me before Voldemort or any of his death eaters get their hands on me. Swear to me that you will stake me if the vampire takes over again. Swear it to me, Sirius, please!"
Sirius stared. The vampire within her wants to go back to Voldemort! But to kill someone in cold blood...
"I'm taking you to Dumbledore. He can help you. I can promise you that. Now, let's get out---"
"Too late," a gruff voice announced.
Sirius felt the tip of the wand touch his temple. He turned sideways and found himself looking at a grim faced auror.
"You surely gave us quite a chase, Black. But no more. You are going back to---" the auror didn't get to finish his gloating because the half-vampire tackled him.
Sirius grabbed the wand he got from the vampire, he muttered a stunning spell but the wand suddenly let out a squawk and turned into a rubbed duck. "What the hell!"
The vampire back-handed the auror, causing him to fall into unconsciousness. Her hand glowed and Sirius heard her mutter, "Obliviate."
"Let's go," Sirius whispered hurriedly. "Can you walk?"
She nodded and Sirius helped her up.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing with a fake wand?" he demanded of her, annoyed as they walk east ward.
She gave him a smile, "It's nice isn't it? Very convincing."
"I'd say," Sirius waved the rubber duck and it turned back into a wand.
"I got it from the Quidditch World Cup."
"They sell these things at the Quidditch World Cup?" Sirius asked in surprise.
"Nah. I saw it laying on the ground. Someone probably dropped it."
"Don't you have a real wand?"
"I never bought one. I don't need it. Dark creatures are capable of focusing magic without wands."
Sirius nodded, "I know. One of my best friends is a werewolf. He could cast simple and several complex spells without a wand. But aren't vampires supposed to be non-magical?"
"Vampires aren't supposed to have souls, either. You have a friend who's a werewolf?"
"Yeah. He's--- What's wrong?"
The half-vampire doubled over in pain. "Vampire -- trying to b--break fr-free."
"What can I do?"
"Just get me to Dumbledore," she gasped out several moments later.
"Can you hold her back?"
"Yeah. That power blast awhile ago drained Anya."
"This is strange, you know, you talking about 'Anya' as though she's in a different body. Aren't you two one and the same?"
"No. I don't think so. I think we've been separated right from the start. It's like having two souls in one body. In my case, one is demonic soul... the other one is not...at least not anymore...
"And you have only one name? Anya?"
"No. That's the name Voldemort gave me. I don't want it."
"Alright. What shall I call you then?"
"Angel. I remember it now. That---that's what m---my mum called me."
~*~
"Professor!" Remus called.
"Honestly, Remus, how many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Gus' instead of 'Professor'? I haven't thought a class in more than two decades!" Fletcher said.
"Look!" Remus pointed out the window where a humongous green snake was floating on the air.
"Merlin's beard," Fletcher whispered.
"That's not the Dark Mark. It's too solid and it doesn't have the skull---"
"That's worse than the Dark Mark."
"What is it?"
"That's the signature attack of Voldemort's second."
"Voldemort's second?" Remus said in surprise.
"Few people know that Voldemort had a second. Dumbledore, myself, Moody, and Frank Longbottom are the only ones who know. No one know's the name or gender of Voldemort's second. We simply called him Voldemort's Hand. He rarely shows in Europe. Stays mostly in Asia, America, and Africa, spreading Voldemort's Dark Order. Frank took it upon himself to search for him after Voldemort fell. We never found him. And if Frank did find him, we will never know," Fletcher smiled grimly, probably thinking of the currently state of mind of Frank and his wife in St. Mungo's.
"It seems that Voldemort's Hand is alive, after all," Fletcher's expression became grimmer. "Voldemort by himself is bad enough. With his Hand, he might as well be infallible."
"He's in the forest... Sirius..." Remus whispered, his heart freezing in fright.
Fletcher gripped Remus' shoulder, "We'll just have to hope for the best."
~*~
The sun was long gone, yet they continued to walk. The sky was dark, few stars, no moon.
"Are we stopping?" Sirius asked.
"No. Unless you're tired?"
"A bit. But I can manage."
"Are you sure? If we walk the whole night we'll be able to get there just before sun up. They ought to be tired and sleeping by then. It'll increase our chances."
"And we're neither sleepy nor tired?"
"I'm always tired, Sirius. I fight an endless battle with this demon in me even when I sleep."
"Doesn't that vampire in you ever give up?"
"The demon's just as stubborn as I am. Now that she knows Voldemort is back, she'll do everything in her power to go back to him," Angel took out a small flask from her backpack. "Drink this."
"What is it?"
"An energy potion. It'll revitalize you and keep you awake."
Sirius took a swig of the potion and true enough the drowsiness and tiredness he felt left him.
"Do you know how to create a portkey?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I want you to start creating one once I've started a diversion. I'll get you a wand. Is there a safe place near Hogwarts that we can use?"
Sirius nodded. "There's a cave in Hogsmead. Only Dumbledore, my godson and his friends know about it."
"Alright. Set the portkey to that location. Set it to go off within two minutes--"
"Will that be enough?"
"Hopefully, yes. I don't want to linger in the midst of Ministry wizards. It's too risky," she locked gazes with him. "Don't attack anyone, Sirius, it'll only get you in more trouble. I'll handle the fighting. You take care of that portkey."
"But--"
"I know what I'm doing," Angel sighed, tiredly. "When you see me turn into a vampire, I want you to stun me, give it as much power as possible. I can't risk the vampire in me gaining control."
"I understand."
"Once we get to Hogsmead. Stun me again then chain me up. I'm not taking any chances."
Sirius grinned, "I never thought I'd live to see the day when a woman is asking me to chain her up."
Angel laughed, "Don't get any ideas, Black."
"Believe me when I say I've had enough romantic entanglements with vampires to last me a lifetime."
Angel grinned, "She tried to bite you didn't she?"
"She tried to turn me!"
"Ohhh she really liked you then!"
"I prefer to stay alive, thank you."
"Alright. Don't get shirty on me. Let's run through those plans again."
"As soon as we get out of this anti-magic wards, you'll get me a wand. I'll create a portkey. You'll create a diversion. I'll stun you if you vamp out. Then we use the portkey to escape."
"Sounds good enough?"
"Yeah," Sirius looked at her shadowed face, "will you be alright?"
Angel smiled grimly, "I'll live."
~*~
It was barely five in the morning the following day, when Fletcher shook Remus awake. "Wake up, Remus, time to go."
"Huh? Wha---" Remus is not a morning person, none of the Marauders were.
"Time to get up. I just received a message that Sirius spent the whole night walking. He'll exit the forest before sun up. We'll have to help him out somehow."
Remus nodded and tried to shook off sleep. Dumbledore have contacted them last night and told them that Sirius might be with a bounty hunter. Dumbledore did not seem too worried about bounty hunter but this did little to appease Remus' worry.
Remus and Fletcher Apparated a good distance away from the Ministry wizards. They hid behind several large rocks which gave them a good view of the wizards and the archway welcoming passerby into the village half a kilometer away. The ministry had their hands full trying to shush up the whole thing from the wizarding world and hidden from the muggles. Currently, the wizards are wearing muggle clothing. They've also placed wards around the area to repel muggles.
"Now what?" Remus ask. "Are we just going to sit here and wait?"
"We can't just burst in there! Besides, Dumbledore didn't want us seen. If we get caught helping Sirius we'd get in trouble. That's why I brought this," Fletcher held up an Invisibility Cloak.
Two full grown men trying to fit under the cloak is hard. Nevertheless, the finally succeeded in covering themselves entirely. Quietly, they walked closer to the ministry wizards.
"Now, we wait."
~*~
"Are you sure about this? They probably haven't spotted us yet. We can still go back," Sirius said.
"We've come this far."
Sirius clenched his teeth and tried not to think of Remus and Harry and what they'd say if he gets himself killed. Here he is, about to do what is possibly the most stupid thing he'd ever done in his entire life. He's about to walk into the waiting hands of no less than fifty Ministry wizards. With a vampire who might just sell him out for the highest price. A vampire called, Anya, Voldermort's second-in-command. What are the chances that she's the same woman Alex the time traveler told him about in that weird non-dream he had in Azkaban?
"Good thing those cuts and bruises we gave each other the other day are still visible," she said, changing the subject.
"Yeah. They might get suspicious if Voldemort's second didn't even put up a fight," Sirius said.
"Here, put this on," she held up a pair of muggle handcuffs.
Sirius sighed, "You will unlock this, won't you?"
"Don't you trust me?"
"With your fangs, who would?"
It was Angel's turn to sigh, "I understand. Don't worry. I can't do this on my own. We have to help each other. You want to escape the ministry. I want to escape Voldemort. If we don't help each other. We're done for."
"Alright, fine. Put on the damned cuffs," Sirius allowed Angel to snap the cuffs on his wrists.
"You reckon they'll fall for the wand?" Sirius asked as she pressed the wand at his back.
"You fell for it didn't you?"
Sirius grunted, "No need to remind me of how I made a fool out of myself."
"Here comes the ministry," she whispered as they caught sight of a couple of young men in muggle clothes, walking towards them with wand drawn. "Act like a properly deranged Azkaban escapee."
"No need to tell me that," he hissed.
"What do you have there?"
"You lot were supposed to be looking for him these past two years, you tell me," Angel said haughtily.
Sirius did his best to look as menacing as possible. He glared at the two wizards and noticed that they began to tremble. Did he look that scary? He used to be the best looking boy to ever set foot in Hogwarts! Only that twit Lockhart had the nerve to challenge that. It must be the 'he-is-Voldemort's-second reputation. They're scared out of their wits of Voldemort. They will undoubtedly be just as scared of Voldemort's second-in-command.
"We'll take it from here," the sandy haired one said.
"Sorry. It took me a long time to catch him. Gave a nasty fight. You're not getting him."
"Who are you?" the curly haired one demanded.
"Name's Anya. I'm a bounty hunter. And I want to talk to your superior. I want my money."
"Give me your wand. We'll take it from here."
"This man killed thirteen people with one curse and you want me to hand you over my wand? Think you can protect me from him when you can't even catch him? No. Now get me to your superior!" Angel spoke in a voice of someone who got what she wanted whenever she wanted or else.
Both men visibly shook even more.
"Ye--yes, ma'am," Curly-haired stuttered.
As they walk, more wizards and witches began to escort them. They kept away from him and allowed Angel to keep him at wand point. Apparently, none of them are eager to get too near him. It was amusing. What's even more ironic is the fact that they think he's Voldemort second while the real one is the vampire behind him.
As suddenly as he felt the warmth of his magic coming back to him, Angel gave him a push causing him to fall forward.
"Your friends are here. Twenty meters to your left. Tell them not to interfere," Angel whispered hurriedly. "Sorry about that, Black," Angel said loudly as she pulled him to his feet. "Should have known you've gotten weak after all those years in Azkaban."
Sirius glared at her as the other wizards around them lowered their wands and resumed walking. In two quick motions, he executed the Marauder hand signal of let-me-handle-this.
~*~
Remus gritted his teeth, his muscles tense as he watched his friend being led into the archway where no less than fifty warlocks, a collection of Aurors, members of the Dark Force Defense League, Hit Wizards, and others. About twenty other warlocks are escorting Sirius. They're definitely not taking any chances.
Some distance away stood Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself, with him are Lucius Malfoy and Macnair.
"Here they are," Fletcher whispered as Sirius approached the archway and suddenly fell down.
"What the---" Remus exclaimed in surprise as his friend nearly hit the uneven and rocky ground.
Fletcher grabbed his arm, "Contain yourself. We can't move now. We must wait until they're closer."
"Look!" Remus whispered as Sirius touched two fingers to his heart then to his right eyebrow. It had been so long since he last saw that. The last one was in seventh year while doing one of their two last pranks just before graduation. That was when Sirius nearly gave himself away after they sneaked in the staff room...
"He doesn't want us to interfere," he whispered, surprised.
"What? How---"
"He's got a plan. Let's just---"
Before Remus could finish his sentence, the stone archway exploded and all hell broke loose.
~*~
The cuffs fell on the ground as Angel pushed him out of the line of fire and placed a wand into his hand.
"Get on with that portkey! Keep your head down, I'll take care of them."
Sirius summoned a rock toward him and began turning it to a portkey.
~*~
Remus watched in open-mouthed shock as the woman holding Sirius at wand point a moment ago, move effortlessly among the wizards and witches. Avoiding the curses thrown at her with lightning speed and knocking the wizards unconscious with a perfectly aimed kicks and punches.
At least fifteen wizards are trapped and unconscious under the fallen rubble. The others are trying to regroup. Most of those guarding Sirius are already down.
The woman's hand began to glow with power, moments later the wizards surrounding her were hit consecutive flashes of light. The wizards fell on the ground, stunned.
~*~
The air around him was alive with electricity. With magic. So this is what it's like to be caught in a magical crossfire.
He raised his head and tried to spot Angel amidst the flashes of curse hurling above him. But instead of Angel what he saw was a rat. Stunned and trapped beneath a boulder. A very familiar fat rat with a silver paw. Wormtail.
Ignoring the danger. Sirius darted behind his hiding place and ran towards the stinking rat. With one hand, Sirius grabbed Wormtail. With another, he conjured up a very small cage, barely enough to fit the rat. He stuffed the rat in it. "I hope that hurts you real bad," Sirius hissed as he shut the small door with some difficulty and placed an Unbreakable Charm on the cage.
Where in Merlin's name is Angel?
He continued to look for her.
Forty-five seconds left before the portkey goes off.
"Stun her!" A voice shouted. "On three!"
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
"Damn!" Sirius cursed as stunning spells broke out eight meters away from him.
Forty seconds.
Sirius ran towards the target and met a shocking sight. Angel is levitating, surrounded by eerie greenish-glow, her eyes fire red, her fangs bared.
Twenty seconds.
"Necare!"
The green serpent made of pure energy seemed to leap out of her arm and charged the terrified warlocks.
Sirius gripped his wand tightly and summoned all his power in preparation for a stunning spell.
The serpent stopped before hitting anything or anyone, as though being pulled back.
Fifteen seconds.
A moment later the serpent disappeared and Angel's face returned to normal with a shuddering gasp. She fell on the ground, barely conscious.
Ten seconds.
The vampire was still fighting. Her face was still changing.
"STUPEFY!" Sirius yelled pointing his wand at Angel as he ran towards her.
Five seconds.
Angel slumped on the ground unconscious. Sirius pulled her into his arms and ran, dodging curses from every direction.
His leg went numb as it was hit by a stunning spell.
Then he felt the familiar tug behind his navel as the portkey took them to safety.