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PATH to DARKNESS by Tyde
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Chapter Twenty Three – Fidel Me This
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He was pacing in his office which usually meant he was under pressure but it never showed on his face. Albus Dumbledore had the uncanny ability to make others feel at home even while their lives were in grave peril. The Potters found it particularly comforting. He'd had some people on the case to find a spell to protect them and it looked to be their best option yet. 'It's called the Fidelius charm. It contains a secret within a living being, within their soul. Unless they freely tell someone the secret it will be kept forever. We could use the Fidelius charm on your location, a trusted friend could hold the secret for you. That way Voldemort will not be able to locate you. It's worth a try.' Dumbledore noticed Lily slowly nodding her head with a thoughtful look on her face, charms had never failed her before and they couldn't go on forever existing under James's invisibility cloak.
'Sirius' the junior minister said without hesitation. 'Sirius is the only one I feel I can trust with something as important as this. He's been there since the beginning. Do you agree Lily?'
'Yes. If You Know Who and his supporters try to torture it out of him, he won't fold. He's ferocious when cornered. I'd like to see them try'
'Very well. This is ancient magic, something stronger than contemporary enchantments, you'll need as my sources tell me Voldemort has also invoked ancient magicks. May I suggest that to-' Lily interrupted Dumbledore before he could go any further.
'Albus, who is your source? You speak of them often but you've never told us who it is'
'Lily, think about what you are saying. This person has put themselves in grave peril to become a double agent for me. If I were to breathe a word of their identity it could endanger their lives. I'm sure you and James of all people would understand that'
'Of course' she felt ashamed for even asking. 'I suppose I wasn't thinking, I just, I suppose I wanted to thank them, for risking their lives to bring about the fall of the Dark Lord. Are you positive they are loyal to you?'
'Yes. They know the consequences if they try to deal double with me. I'm more deadly than anything Voldemort can throw at him. I will pass on your thanks though' It will mean the world to him. 'Now as I was saying, send Sirius here tomorrow and I will hand over the parchment with the incantation to him. Then you must go to your new residence and perform it there. The barrier will be instantaneously erected the moment the incantation has been completed.' His sparkling eyes looked over the young couple and their son. No matter how old James got his hair would always be wild, he could start to see the same thing happening with the wisps on Harry's head. Lily's earnest face hadn't seemed to change since her first day at Hogwarts, he'd remembered those bright green eyes shining in the candlelight of the Great Hall as she'd stepped up to Sorting Hat. Harry slept in the basket but Dumbledore knew he had those same iridescent eyes and earnest face. A lot of folks had said how much Harry looked like James but if they'd ever taken the time to really examine his face they'd see the qualities of Lily shining through.
James handed over a package to Dumbledore and told him not to open it. It's for later was all he said. Lily stepped forward tentatively with her arms outstretched. Dumbledore leaned forward and held the ex-Head Girl in his embrace tightly. She kissed his cheek lightly and picked up Harry's basket. James also found himself in the embrace of the Headmaster and he found himself choking up a little. He looked over at Lily and saw she already had tears streaming down her cheeks.
'There, there Lily, James' Albus said kindly. 'It's not goodbye, not really. It's just 'see you soon'. The Order and I are very close to bringing down Voldemort, you know it, you've seen the parchments. We'll miss your input but you'll be back soon enough. Take care'.
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It was a grey morning just like every other morning had been that October. Snow was on the mountains but not yet in the villages. Sirius Black walked briskly down the main street of Paddlebury with a look of determination on his face. He was on his way to a seer, hopefully she would be able to advise him on some recent information he'd obtained. 'Padfoot, wait up' Peter Pettigrew jogged after his old school friend whose lengthy strides were making it harder and harder for him to catch up. 'Where are you going?'
'Down the pub. Hagrid and I are making up a four for bridge tonight with the old ladies from the bowling club' Sirius managed to keep a completely straight face.
'What?' The chubby man had caught up and was now blocking his path with a thoroughly confused look on his face.
'It was a joke you twat. None of your business Wormtail. Now get out of my way!' Pettigrew gripped his wand in his pocket and thought to himself do I have enough courage for this? Yes, he was a Gryffindor, of course he did! Peter hit him with two spells at once. The first silenced Black's cry of amazement and the second was an Unforgivable. 'Come with me Padfoot' he snivelled. 'It's time you and I had a little chat'. He took a quick scan of the street to make sure no one saw them and led Sirius down a back alleyway by his forearm. They headed toward a rundown shack surrounded by the stench of rotting rubbish and cat urine. A few rats scuttled through the refuse often chased by a feral cat or two. Wormtail pushed the unlocked door open with one hand and led Black to a sofa with the other. The sofa was losing it's stuffing at parts and also had a few dubious stains down the sides.
'Where are James and Lily? Do they have Harry with them? You will answer all my questions' it appeared the little rat had finally grown a pair.
The slightly glazed over eyes of Sirius Black turned towards his questioner. 'I don't know where they are but Harry is with them. They've bought a new house somewhere, but no one knows where.'
'But you're their trust friend, the one they hold above all others' Voldemort's follower pressed him.
'Yes, trusted enough that I am to be their secret-keeper'
'Secret-keeper?' the man looked bewildered.
'Fidelius charm, it's very old magic. Secret contained within a living soul. Tonight the enchantment is put in place. No one can find them unless the secret is willingly volunteered.. As soon as the charm is broken then all will know the secret' His eyes fluttered then and Wormtail could see his Imperious curse was fading as Padfoot fought it. In a panic he administered it again and Black went back to being extra helpful and as docile as a lamb.
'Tonight – where are you meeting them?'
'In Llanelli, it's a village near Swansea. James will Apparate to me and then tell me where to go from there.'
'Is their house in Wales?'
'I don't know' The question seemed to be wearing a bit thin with him and a small patch of the trademark Sirius Black hotheadedness was shining through.
Peter thought quickly. If he gave Padfoot a drop of Imperio serum he could plant the ideas in his head that he wanted. Then Voldemort would have the Potters on a platter. He returned Black to the street after performing a swift memory modification and lifted the Imperio curse. He disappeared into a pile of rotting cabbages with a squeak and all Sirius saw was a hairless tail squirming under a slug. Black stuck his wand had out and waited for the knight bus to trundle up. The conductor charged him 9 sickles for a bed and a small glass of Elderberry wine. It wouldn't take long to get to Hogwarts he was assured. Thanks to Wormtail and his memory modification spells he'd totally forgotten his appointment with the seer and continued on straight to Dumbledore. Sirius snuggled down into the comforter and thought again about James and Lily's predicament. Dumbledore was sure there was a traitor among their friends and Black certainly had his suspicions about one in particular. Remus Lupin had seemed awfully distant of late and shifty besides.
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'I have a meeting, leave' For a brief second Snape thought he saw disappointment flash in Voldemort's eyes. It didn't seem an emotion the Dark Lord would be capable of and this puzzled Sev. Is he disappointed in me? Is he having a meeting with Malfoy or Crabbe or Karkaroff, asking one of them to kill me?
'But my Lord, no instructions today?' Voldemort had never failed to give him orders every time he'd summoned him. This time Severus noticed not only a sliver of disappointment in the evil wizard's eyes but also a slight note of exasperation to his tone of voice.
'No. You...I don't...just consider it a holiday. Time off if you will. You're tired I'm sure. Just go' Confusion twisted itself around in Snape's mind, it was the first time he'd seen Voldemort's exterior slip to something almost human. Had the ancient magicks he'd obtained in Egypt worn off? Was he starting to doubt his own authority? Was he mortal once again? And as quickly as the barrier had gone down it shot up again and Severus found those piercing red eyes looking at him again with a stone cold intensity. 'Do I need to show you how to walk? OUT!' Snape shut the door behind him and wracked his brain to think whom it could be he was having a meeting with and why. In the dark corridor he almost tripped over Nagini as she slithered past him, a rat secured in her mouth. The rat was still alive, Severus noted, it's nose twitching a mile a minute.
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Author's note: I swear when I get that email from bot at fanfiction.net telling me that I have a review my heart swells up with happiness. And this time it was a new player Colleen and fish (the fish) giving my story review-love. Best, she used the word best! I'm gushing with pride.
Okay that moment of self-involvement is over. Phew. Sorry bout that. I'm going into surgery tomorrow (tonsils out – how much of a child am I? HA!) so I won't be able to update until I get back to work – about the 25th of November. I may have finished the story by then...who knows.