Chapter 13: Some Secrets Shared
Thanks for all the reviews. This chapter was already written, which is why I can post it. My hands are rebelling on being used too much. I'm going to have to take a few days off.
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Harry and Sirius had just gotten back from watching Disney's 'The Three Musketeers', which was okay, but they were disappointed that the main characters didn't have the correct accents. Still, it had the actions scenes they craved and was funny in all the right places. That and it had Tim Curry in it. Who was one of Harry's favorite actors, for all he had seen him in two films. Well, heard him in two films, but still…
They had bought the potion detecting ring for Hermione before the movie, and had done a bit more clothes shopping, and were now settling down to a lunch of onion soup with roast beef sandwiches.
"I have to write Tom when we're done. Did you have anything you wanted to ask or tell him?" Sirius said, looking at his godson. He wasn't looking forward to quilling the letter. He wasn't sure if he should keep it casual or make it professional. He'd just have to wing it when he put the quill in his hand. Go with his gut feeling.
"No, not really. Though I do wonder what he was thinking about writing to Madam Bones without talking to us first," Harry said, taking a large bite of his sandwich. He wiped the mustard off his mouth with his napkin and put it on the table next to his plate.
"I'll ask him. We can't work together if we don't know what each other is doing," his godfather said in agreement. He was working on the onion soup. It was delicious. There was just enough onion in it. Not too overwhelming and not too little that he couldn't taste them.
"When are we going to talk about Remus?" Harry wanted to know. They had discussed him in passing, but never in depth. Only enough to agree that the werewolf was not to be allowed on the family floors. He knew his godfather loved the other man as a brother and missed him something fierce.
"I would like to talk to Snape first. He could get us a purging potion. We can slip it to Moony. That way we know if he's under some potions. The problem with that is, if he's been brainwashed, and we do that, he'll hate us forever. There will be no going back," Sirius said with a great deal of sadness. He feared it was brainwashing and that was much harder to break. That took months of therapy and cheering charms. It included isolation and reprogramming, and none of them had that kind of time right now.
"Isn't there a spell or something? Can't you take him to St. Mungo's?" Harry asked, trying to think of anything less drastic. "They can run a blood test," he added. "Like we're going to get for Hermione."
"They won't take him at St. Mungo's. He's a werewolf, remember. We're lucky that they'll see Hermione, and only because we'll be with her," Sirius said, looking despondent. "There are no spells that detect potions. The only way we can know for sure is to either isolate him and have them run their course, or to purge them," he said, pushing his bowl away having lost his appetite. He hated that his best friend might hate him, but he also hated that the man was under Dumbledore's thumb.
"That's not fair," Harry said, sulking a bit at the cruelty of the world.
"Welcome to the wizarding world. Like I said, we're lucky we can get Hermione seen," Sirius said, miffed at the unfairness of it all.
"Can we talk to Remus first? Before we do anything drastic, I mean," the teen asked, still eating.
He wasn't quite as affected as his godfather. Lupin was more of an afterthought in his life. He barely knew the man. Sure, he had taught him the Patronus Charm, but he had spent most of his third year avoiding him. It was only after he begged him that the then professor taught him anything outside of class. Remus had been someone he had hardly thought of in his fourth year.
"We can try, I guess. I don't see that ending well," Sirius said, picking apart his sandwich. He really wasn't hungry anymore. Bits of bread and meat, covered with mustard, fell to his plate and the surrounding table.
"Maybe we can have Tom kidnap him and do the dirty work. That way he won't blame us," Harry said, thinking that might be the best bet. Tom wouldn't have a problem with that.
"Now, there is an idea," Sirius said, thinking that over. "I can ask to speak to him in my letter. He can always say no," he said, liking the idea better and better. This way Remus wouldn't blame him or Harry. Though it might come out in the end. By that time, they might have told the whole world about Dumbledore's manipulations and Moony will have to forgive them. Maybe. Hopefully.
"Yeah," Harry said softly. While he had been the one to suggest it, it had a lot a potential to go wrong. Still, Tom did have a flare for kidnapping. "So, tell me about that pink woman. Not the girl this morning, the one at the ministry," he said instead. He had held off his questioning about her long enough. That woman was just plain creepy, and he wanted to know why.
"That is Dolores Umbridge. She's a nasty piece of work. Because of her most creatures, or those with creature blood, can't find work. She's the one to introduce the laws that prevent them from finding jobs," Sirius said, shredding his sandwich worse than before. He'd kill her himself if he had that kind of fortitude. Maybe in the heat of battle, but not in cold blood. Hence, asking the cold-blooded killer.
"How does she get away with it?" Harry asked, finishing off his sandwich and taking the last bite of soup.
"She's the Senior Undersecretary," Sirius said, like it was a foul word.
"What exactly is an undersecretary?" the teen wanted to know.
"It's a junior political officer that uses its position as a stepping-stone to a higher political office. In this case, she's under the Minister," his godfather said, his voice grim. "She uses it to get any law she wants passed. It was her and Malfoy, but Malfoy is gone. He's dead, I think. Now she has her meaty hooks into the Minister and she's not letting go. So, like I said, I hope Tom offs her," he said with conviction.
Letting Tom do all the dirty work sounded like a good plan to Sirius. If Tom was agreeable that was. He didn't think the man would mind. He was a Dark Lord after all. Still, in his note to Amelia he said, he was going to try to do some things legally. So, maybe he might be offended if they foisted off their luggage on to his shoulders. He'd talk to him about it.
"If she's that bad, I hope so too," Harry said, not the least bit upset by that statement. They didn't need someone like that high-up in office. "Write that in your letter too," he added, thinking the sooner the better.
"I will," Sirius said, getting up to start said letter. He had a lot to say now. He went to the study where the supplies were and started writing. He kept it casual, yet still well mannered. It read:
Dark Lord
I hope this letter finds you well.
Why did you write to our mutual acquaintance? You took them by surprise, and we had to tell them everything. They want to parley and have decided to do so in the muggle world. There are many restaurants in my neighborhood that should suffice. They have picked this one, The Boho, and would like to meet within the week. Give us a time, and we will relay it to them. If it is agreeable, we will just meet then. If not, then we will tell your spy.
Our youngest member is upset that you did this without consulting us. How are we to make plans if one hand doesn't know what the other is doing? Please, keep us in the loop.
I have a favor to ask and would like to converse with you soon. Before the aforementioned meeting. Could you contact me via your spy. I can meet you this evening or the next.
Thank you for your time,
The Star
"There, that should do it," Sirius said to himself as he put the drying powder on the missive. He shook it off and folded the parchment. "Harry," he called through the house. "Can I borrow Hedwig?" he asked, knowing the boy would say yes.
"What? No," Harry said, coming up to his godfather. "I'm not endangering her to deliver a high-risk post. Use one of the regular post owls," he stated, glaring at the man for even asking. How did he even think for a moment that was a good idea?
"Oh, sorry," Sirius said, contrite. He didn't think it was high-risk, but if Harry said no, then that was the end of it. He had coded the letter.
"She's my first friend. That and anyone who saw her, would know I was writing the Dark Lord. How would that look?" he asked, giving the other man a look that made him feel small. "She's quite recognizable," he pointed out.
"I didn't think of that. You're right, of course," the dogman said, going to the rookery. There were three plain barn owls and Hedwig.
Hedwig immediately flew to Harry and started preening him, which made the teen smile. She was always doing that and making his hair more of a mess than it already was. He never stopped her though. It made her happy, and that was okay by him.
Sirius put the letter on one of the owls and sent it off. He then started going back down the stairs to the house proper.
"Sirius, there's a post owl coming," Harry said, pointing to the owl he had spotted. It was an eagle owl, and it had the Malfoy crest.
They could receive mail here, but not in the house. It was a weird set up, and they had Dobby check for mail every day. The addressee didn't know the address, but they could get ahold of them via post owl. It was a gamble on the addressee's part because they could be anywhere in the world, and they wouldn't know how long the post would take to get to them.
"That's Narcissa's owl, well it's probably Lucius's, but he's dead. I wonder what she wants," Sirius said, waiting for the owl to land. It did and he took the missive. In it he read that Lucius had lost all the money by means of an inheritance test. He didn't understand that, but it did mean that Narcissa was in dire straits. She needed money and wanted him to take her and her brat into the family. "What can you tell me of Draco Malfoy?" he asked Harry as he tucked the letter in his pocket.
"He's a miniature version of his father," Harry said, trying not to be condescending. His godfather looked serious and wanted the truth, not some schoolyard bashing. "That's the nicest thing I can say of him," he added with a shrug. "We don't get along."
"Well, it seems that Lucius lost his money to someone else, by means I'm not sure I understand. However, this leaves Narcissa and Draco in the lurch," Sirius said, making his way down the stairs. "I can take them back into the family, but that means the brat is my responsibility." He made his way to the study where he called Dobby to bring him some whiskey and Harry a butterbeer.
"What does that mean exactly?" Harry asked, not sure how that worked.
"It means I support them," his godfather answered, raising his glass in a mock salute. "And if they break the law, I am responsible for their legal fees."
"Like a parent or guardian? So, you give them an allowance?" the teen wanted to know. That was the only thing that made sense.
"Just so. And yes, a very large allowance," the dogman agreed, making a gesture to show how large.
"So, tell Draco to behave or you cut off his allowance. That's what most parents, or guardians, do," Harry said, lifting his butterbeer in a salute.
"Good call," Sirius said, touching his glass to Harry's.
It was then that the front door opened, and Tonks came in. "Hello, in the house," she called as she stumbled over the troll umbrella stand.
It was a good thing Dobby had gotten rid of Mrs. Black's portrait. That girl always seemed to trip over that blasted stand. They would get rid of it, but no matter what they put there, she tripped. So, it wasn't worth the trouble. That and Sirius liked the troll stand. It had been on the stairs, but the dogman had put it by the door.
"Tonks, why are you here so early?" Sirius asked, looking at the clock and seeing it was only two in the afternoon.
"A late lunch," the pink-haired woman said, sidling up to Harry and cozying up to him. "Madam Bones had to work late, so she took a late lunch. Something about an appointment for Susan," she said, snuggling with Harry.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked as he tried to wiggle away. She had a tight grip on his arm though, so he couldn't move very far.
"You're comfy," she said, putting her head on his shoulder. "All nice and soft."
"Get off my godson, you tease," Sirius said, though he was laughing. He knew she was just playing with him. The teen was far too young for her. She liked her men more mature.
"I'm just playing with him," Tonks said, echoing his thoughts, taking the butterbeer that Dobby brought her. She took a swig and gave a satisfying sigh, like she had been dying of thirst.
"Would Missy Tonks be wanting lunch?" Dobby asked, there being more than enough left over.
"What are you serving?" she asked, then took another large swig from her bottle. It had been a long morning at work, and the sweet drink hit the spot.
"Onion soup and roast beef on wheat with mustard," the elf said, looking at Harry to get his commentary on how it had tasted.
"It's good. The best onion soup I've ever had," Harry said dutifully. It was the truth after all.
"I'll take it here," Tonks said to the elf, her tummy grumbled making everyone know she was hungry.
"Are you going to report this morning to the Order?" Sirius wanted to know. He hoped not. The girl was family, and he hated to have to memory charm her.
"No, you're family. What you two get up to is nobody's business," she said, taking the tray Dobby had just popped in with. It smelled delicious.
"Let's keep it that way. How good is your occlumency?" the older man asked, wanting to have her here if he had to leave the teens alone for any amount of time.
"Not bad. Mum taught me when I was younger, and I've been keeping up on it," Tonks answered between bites of her lunch. She was dunking her sandwich in her soup and eating it that way. Her napkin was getting plenty of use.
"I need a vow from you that what goes on in this house goes no further than the people it happens too. You can apply that to the Order if you wish," Sirius said, his tone firm. He liked Tonks, but she was enamored with Remus, and he wasn't ready to share his news with the werewolf.
"Not even Remus?" came the inevitable question. She had her eye on that hunk of a werewolf, for all he was such a downer at times.
"Not even Remus," Sirius said, looking her dead in the eye. "I can tell you more after your vow," he said, hoping she would take it.
Tonks continued to eat her lunch, dunking her sandwich in her soup, and eating, dabbing her mouth with her napkin, repeat. Soon the sandwich was gone, and she needed to use her spoon. She had a thoughtful look on her face the entire time. "Okay," she said when the soup was finished. "I'll take your vow, with the caveat that it doesn't go against my Auror vows," she added.
"I can live with that," Sirius agreed, while Harry let out a sigh of relief. They had both been worried that she would refuse. It would be handy to have her onboard.
Tonks took her vow, and they told her a watered-down version of what was going on with Albus. They left out Tom for now but mentioned Snape as an ally. She listened to them and noticed they were leaving quite a bit out.
"What aren't you telling me?" she asked, a bit miffed. She thought she'd be brought into what was going on with what they had discussed with her boss. She knew this was only part of it.
"We need to talk to a few people before we tell you anything else. It is not just our secret to share. Right now, we need your help to keep Harry and Hermione away from Albus, and possibly Molly," Sirius said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder from where Harry was sitting on the arm of his chair. The teen had gotten up earlier and had paced while he talked and then sat next to his godfather and away from Tonks.
"I can understand that," the pink-haired woman said, then she looked at the clock. "Shite," she yelled and rushed out of the house.
"I think she's late," Sirius said with a chuckle.
"Yeah," was all Harry could say as he laughed along with his godfather.
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Tom was sitting in the dining room eating a late lunch. The elves didn't serve the lunch until the mistress was awake. They were having some French dish he couldn't pronounce and didn't care to learn. It looked like snails, and he was sure there were mushrooms as well.
"Narcissa, are you feeling better?" Tom asked, trying to come off as comforting. He pulled it off better than he had this morning.
"Yes, my lord," she said, since she was. She had written Sirius and was sure the man would rescue her from her plight. So, yes, she was feeling much better about her future.
"Were you ill, Mother?" Draco asked, taking a bite of his food. He looked at her face and could see that she had been crying. He wondered what could have happened to make his mother lose her composure. Was she finally grieving over his father? She had not as far as he knew.
"It is nothing for you to worry about quite yet, my love," she said to her son. She didn't want him to worry. He was such a delicate child.
"On the contrary," Tom said, in total disagreement. "I believe you should tell him that his father lost him his fortune now and not later. You don't think that Black would make him his heir, do you?" he laughed at the thought. There was no way that Black wasn't leaving everything to Potter.
"My lord, please. He is just a child," Narcissa begged, her hands in fists on her lap.
"He is a young man," the Dark Lord disagreed as he turned to the confused teen. "Your Malfoy fortune is gone. Your father left it to someone else unwillingly. It was claimed through an inheritance test," he said and watched the plethora of emotions play across the boy's face.
"That is impossible. You're lying," the brat said, standing abruptly and making his chair fly out behind him, hitting the wall. "I am the heir of the Malfoy fortune," he said, his face red with anger.
"The goblins disagree," Tom said, his temper rising at the disrespectful way the boy was talking to him. "Sit down, child," he said through gritted teeth.
"No," Draco said, his anger getting the better of him. He was just too confused as to what was going on. His father had lost him his inheritance. That didn't sit well with him. He never noticed how quickly his lord's wand came up. He did notice the pain when it hit.
