Chapter 4 ~ The Rescue

"Next stop – Little Hangleton Churchyard," the driver announced as the bus came to a steady stop.

Harry got off and looked up at the tall, black iron gates of the cemetery. The dark, creepy atmosphere of the place sent chills down his spine. The mere memory of being there only two months ago haunted him. After one deep breath, Harry walked in. The ground was black and covered in mist. Headstones jetted up from the ground at all angles. They were all different shapes and sizes, but made from the same, cold concrete. Harry pulled out his wand and muttered, "Lumos." The light from his wand extended outward and he was able to read some of the things on most of the headstones. Harry crept farther into the graveyard. He felt his feet begin to grow heavy and his book bag didn't seem to want to stay on the shoulder it was carelessly slung over. He looked up ahead and saw the black shape of the manor, propped up on a hill in the distance. With every step, the house grew larger, grander and more detailed. Lights could be seen in the windows of the upper stories – it flickered as though it were of candlelight.

"Nox," Harry whispered and the light at the end of his wand went out.

He snuck closer to the house in a stealthy manner. He stood up against the house and allowed the book bag he was carrying fall to the ground. He pulled out the invisibility cloak and threw it over his body. He figured that it would be easier to stay out of the Death Eaters' paths if he left his book bag where it sat.

Harry began to walk around the perimeter of the manor, careful to make sure that he didn't make any noise. He caught a group of Death Eaters talking by the back door. The French doors had been left wide open. Harry ducked in, but stood by them and listened to what the Death Eaters were talking about.

"Our Lord is an ingenious man," one of then said quietly and mysteriously; Harry did not recognize his voice and guessed that he was a new recruit that the lady was speaking of earlier, "Malfoy and I apparated and took Mrs. Weasley because Mr. Weasley stepped on Malfoy's toes. Our Lord has a better use for her – to lure the Potter boy here. He praised us endlessly for our great plan, but he is the real genius. Our Lord has ordered Malfoy and I to help put up guards around the manor and grounds. The boy does not know how to apparate, so he would not be able to sneak in that way. He will probably walk right up to the property and sacrifice himself for the well-being of Mrs. Weasley. We will take him up to our Lord and let him do with Potter what he wishes. However, my direct orders from our Lord is not to harm Potter in any way – he must be conscience and at his full strength. Our Lord does not want Potter to be tampered with in any way."

Harry listened as this Death Eater talked of him as though he were a toy. This went on for a few minutes as the other Death Eaters discussed plans with the leader – but this didn't apply to Harry. He was already inside.

"Just walk around the grounds and the graveyard," the leader ordered, "Capture Potter if you see him and bring him back here. No spells are to be cast on him. I am expecting that he will come willingly."

Harry managed to chortle under his breath and walked away. The dust that covered the floor a few months earlier had been lifted and the floor was bare and exposed. Harry was careful not to make the slightest noise as he crossed the hardwood floor. He pushed himself close to the wall, in the shadows. Finally, he came to a carpeted staircase that would take Harry up to the first floor. Slowly, he worked his way up the steps, taking his time, observing his surroundings and, on top of it all, keeping quiet. As he came closer to the landing, he heard several whispering voices. He followed the voices and came to a room where several Death Eaters were talking and meeting.

"Are you sure that we should be expecting Potter this early? It has been less than two days since we captured Mrs. Weasley."

Harry listened intently. He had heard this voice before – at Voldemort's rebirthing. Avery's voice was coming from behind the mask.

"Of course we should," exclaimed the voice of another Death Eater, who Harry recognized to be Malfoy's, "We should expect him at all times! Do not let your guard down!"

"Do you believe that he will get into the house without any of the Death Eaters seeing?"

Malfoy advanced on Avery, "I am giving you orders directly from our Lord's lips and you dare question them, Avery?"

Avery recoiled, "I apologize, Malfoy. I didn't mean to be disrespectful."

Malfoy backed off of the scared Death Eater, "I wouldn't do this if the order hadn't come straight from our Lord's lips, but Avery, you have the duty of guarding Mrs. Weasley in the third floor study."

"Where is our Lord?"

"He is in the bedroom across the hall from the study, resting and collecting his energy for when the time comes when he has to fight Potter."

Avery nodded under the cloak and was dismissed. Harry followed him up the stairs, careful to be in time with his steps and peeked into the bedroom where Lord Voldemort rested before quickly ducking into the study behind Avery. The old grandfather clock downstairs struck nine as Avery pulled a chair out from under the oak wood table and sat it across from Mrs. Weasley, who Harry had seen for the first time. Harry snuck into a corner, between two bookshelves and stood, watching and listening.

"Your little hero should be here soon enough, Mrs. Weasley," Avery said, running his hand along her cheek.

She tried to say something, but the gag in her mouth restrained her from doing so. Avery laughed at her attempts to escape from her bounds. She was tied securely to the chair, however, and it was impossible for her to get free.

"Silly woman. You can't try to prevent what is about to happen to your poor Harry Potter. Voldemort is stronger now – he will finish Potter off in no time at all."

Mrs. Weasley struggled with disagreement, which amused Avery and caused him to laugh. He backed his chair away from her, closer to the table and sat, watching the room and making sure nothing happened. Both the guard and his prisoner were unaware that a third body occupied the room – the hero, who sat only fifteen feet away and was eager to strike. However, Harry waited. Sooner, in this case, was not better. He must take precaution and make sure that everything was going to go correctly.

About an hour after Avery set up post, another Death Eater walked into the room. Harry, who was nearly asleep, sat up quickly and waited for what this newcomer had to say.

"Good news, Avery," the Death Eater, who was female by the sound of the voice, declared, "We have Potter. He put up a small fight, but was no match for the ones who caught him."

Harry's eyes widened under the invisibility cloak. Mrs. Weasley began to scream, though the gag muffled most of the sound.

Avery smiled, "That is good news, my dear."

"Care to come watch the show with me?"

Avery escorted his colleague out of the room and shut the study door quickly. Harry didn't know what was going on exactly, but he knew that he had to work quickly with Mrs. Weasley. He threw the invisibility cloak from his shoulders and ran up to Mrs. Weasley. Her eyes grew large at the sight of him. She tried to speak, but Harry hushed her quickly.

"Mrs. Weasley," he whispered, "I have to work quickly, so you need to cooperate and don't argue."

He pulled a Swiss Army Knife from his pocket and began to cut through the ropes binding Mrs. Weasley to the chair.

"Apparate out of here. Apparate home. Do not stay here, whatever you do."

"The Death Eater said that they had you," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "If you are here, though, who is with Voldemort? I mean, you are the real Harry Potter, right?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, but there is no time for talk now. You must get out of here. Go! Now ---"

Just then, one of Voldemort's servants walked into the study. They shut the door quickly behind them and locked it.

"Mr. Potter – there are two of you," the Death Eater asked in astonishment.

Harry couldn't believe whose voice he was hearing, "Snape? I thought you weren't a Death Eater anymore! Dumbledore gave you a second chance and this is how you repay him ---"

"You don't understand," Snape interrupted, "I am here as a spy for Dumbledore. He sent me here because I can get where I am now – into Voldemort's inner circle. Now, my question for you is – who are you?"

Harry looked up at his professor, "I am the real Harry Potter, I can assure you. Who the Death Eaters have with Voldemort now is a mystery to me."

Snape nodded, "All of the Death Eaters are watching you get killed. Finish what you were doing here and take that," he pointed to the invisibility cloak, "and follow me to the library on the second story. Then, we will both try to see who is posing as you."

Mrs. Weasley held Harry's wand with a scared look on her face, "What if you need this?"

"I wont! Just go!"

Mrs. Weasley nodded and after kissing Harry on the cheek, she apparated away. Harry picked up the invisibility cloak and threw it over himself. He followed Snape out of the study and Snape closed the door quietly. Suddenly, there was an uproar of laughter from downstairs. It seemed as though the Death Eaters downstairs were amused. Harry rushed down there and Snape led him to the library. There were about fifty or so Death Eaters lined along the walls and bookshelves of the room. Snape reached his hand behind him ever so slightly and Harry touched it so Snape knew that he was still there. Harry could hear Voldemort's voice, but could not see him. Snape's large cloak was blocking him and the victim from view.

"Had enough yet, Potter?"

Voldemort's voice was strong and bold, however, Harry failed to fear it. There was a small whimper and the Death Eaters laughed. Harry followed Snape as he walked up to a fellow Death Eater.

"What has happened so far, Heider," Snape asked.

"Our Lord has cast the Cruciatus Curse on Potter," the Death Eater answered; Harry noticed by the voice that it was the same Death Eater he had first listened to by the back door of the manor.

Snape nodded and walked to a corner of the room that was unoccupied and slouched down a few inches.

"Are you still there," he whispered.

"Of course," Harry replied.

"Alright. Go up to your imposter and tell him to apparate. Whisper it to him. There is too much noise; no one will hear you. Tell him that Mrs. Weasley is safe and that he should go before he is hurt."

"Yes, Professor."

Harry walked to the middle of the room where the imposter lay. Harry was scared by his appearance. He was a spitting image to Harry…it was weird. Harry kneeled down and began to speak.

"Listen to me, but don't speak," Harry whispered, "This is the real Harry Potter, though I am under an invisibility cloak. Mrs. Weasley is safe. I should thank you for your diversion, but you were foolish to come here. Apparate out of here – now!"

"I can't Harry," the imposter replied with unmoving lips, "Its me – Ron."

Harry couldn't look more surprised, "Ron? You idiot! I will have a talk with you…once we get the bloody hell out of here…"

Voldemort looked down at Ron. The image reflected in his red, albino eyes was of impatience and hunger…a hunger for death.

"Alright, at this point, I am desperate," Harry began as Voldemort raised his wand, "Stand up, say you are going to apparate, hold your wand above your head as though you mean to and I will wrap the cloak around you."

Ron nodded and did as he was told considering that he was just as desperate as Harry was, "H-hey Voldie! Yeah, I am talking to you, you bloody moron!"

Voldemort scowled and Harry leaned forward, "What in the name of Queen Elizabeth are you doing?"

Ron held up his hand towards Harry and continued, "You know, conquering the wizarding World isn't as hard as you may think it is, Voldy," Ron snickered, enjoying his power, "It is like taking candy from a baby – of course, some of us find it harder then others."

There was laughter from the Death Eaters as Ron stared pointedly at Voldemort. He looked none too pleased.

"Don't you mock me, Potter," Voldemort yelled, raising his wand.

"Oh, put that thing down before you put an eye out," Ron ordered in a laid back style, "Seriously, though! I have met chunks of cheese with more cunning plans than yours! I mean, you choose Quirrell as a host at one point in time! If you want to triumph over all, I would suggest you buy the book, Conquering for Dummies. That should give you some kind of start…"

"Er, Ron," Harry said as a roar of laughter trickled through the Death Eaters lined along the walls, "Start wrapping this up, will you?"

"Let us duel already, Potter!"

"You know, I would love to, but I have other things on my schedule. I just wanted to pop in, say hi and to encourage you to think happy thoughts and not to let the world get you down. Yoga classes may help. At any rate, I wish you luck achieving your dreams!"

Ron smiled, held up his wand and pointed it at his hand. A bouquet of flowers fell out of his wand into his hand. Boldly, he walked up to the steaming Dark Lord, placed the flowers in his hands and patted him on the head.

"This is a token of my apologies for foiling your plans, yet again. Now, without further a due, I bid you farewell, Tommy-boy!"

Ron raised the wand above his head and Harry, scared for Ron's life now, swiftly threw the cloak over him. The look on Voldemort's face was priceless.

"Quickly, to the door," Harry exclaimed as the Death Eaters roared with anger.

The two of them made their way out of the room, down the stairs and out the back door. Harry led Ron to where his backpack lay. There they stood for a moment, catching their breath.

"Ron…" Harry gasped, "You almost had me killed!"

Ron laughed, "You are the one Voldemort thinks threw all of those witty insults at him! Come on! We have to go before the Death Eaters come out and see us!"

Harry picked up his backpack and they were off again, racing through Little Hangleton Churchyard, dodging headstones and kicking up cloudy mist. Once they were by the road, Harry pulled the cloak off of them.

"Do you think…another bus…will be running," Ron gasped, yet again out of breath.

"Yes," Harry replied shortly and leaned against the fence enclosing the churchyard.

It was almost eleven when the bus finally arrived. The two boys boarded and sat in a seat near the back.

"Where are you boys off to," the driver asked them.

"Charing Cross Road," Harry answered.

Neither Harry nor Ron could get over what they had just been through. They each told each other their stories. Once they had entered Diagon Alley, they shopped for supplies for the Wizard Wheezes. Afterwards, they bought things from Gambol and Japes and headed on to the Burrow by Floo Powder.

Harry fell into the common room of the Weasley house closely followed by Ron. They were mobbed by a collection of several hands picking them up and dusting them off.

"Harry! Ron! You are okay!"

"Hey! The other Harry doesn't look too bad, either!"

"That is Ron, though."

"Which one is Ron?"

"That one!"

"How can you be sure?"

A chorus of voices spoke at the same time, trying to drown out each other enough to be heard. A loud whistle cut everyone off. Mr. Weasley stepped up.

"Boys, sit on the couch. You two have a lot of explaining to do."

Harry and Ron sat on the couch. Ginny sat on one side of them, Hermione on the other. The rest of the family assembled themselves around the room in either a chair or on the floor. Mr. Weasley remained standing, preparing to interrogate the two.

"First of all, which one of you is Harry," Mr. Weasley began.

"I am," Harry spoke.

"Ron," Mr. Weasley said, turning to the other boy that shared the same image, "how did you manage to take Harry's form?"

"Polyjuice Potion," he replied, "Fred and George made some a couple months earlier and had some left over. Hermione found a way to extend the amount of time that I remained Harry."

Mr. Weasley nodded, "How long have you been in Harry's form?"

"Well, it began at one this afternoon. I have had a bottle of the potion with me and have been drinking it every hour, just incase some of the effects began to wear off."

Mr. Weasley turned to Harry in a satisfied manner, "So, tell us about your day, since the time you left this house. Don't eave out a detail."

Harry didn't fail to leave out a thing. He recapped the entire day from three that morning until the time he landed in the Burrow (except for the part where he shopped for WW supplies). Mr. Weasley, who was sitting in a chair by this point, seemed satisfied.

"Harry and Ron – what you both did today showed both great bravery and extreme idiocy. I believe I speak for everyone when I say that I am relieved that this is all over. I also want to thank all of you children, for taking part in the rescue of your mother. I know that you both must be tired from the adventures of the day, so I will allow you to retire to bed."

Mr. Weasley hugged Ron and Harry and left the room.

"I am sorry I told Ron where you went, Harry, but I had to," Ginny explained, "He, Fred, George demanded that I did! They also shoved some sort of candy down my throat…"

Fred, who was sitting on the floor, leaned forward, "The Weasley/Potter Original Truth Spiller – comes in soft chews of every flavor known to man!"

Harry laughed and looked at Ginny, "Don't worry about it. Come on, Mini Me, lets get to bed. I am exhausted."

Ron (who was slowly regaining the red color of his hair) and Harry got read for bed. They hopped in practically half asleep.

"You know, Ron," Harry yawned, "If I weren't so tired, I would be chewing you out right now. However, you do make a very sexy Harry Potter…"

Ron laughed, but before he could reply, both boys fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.