Disclaimer: "Harry Potter" and every one of its characters belong to JK Rowling! I own only this plot, and all the characters you don't recognize.
Summary: In the future, Voldemort is no longer the terrible threat that begins to loom over the horizon. How can the survivors of the war believe the truth they have been told - a truth that condemns someone they loved and honored? A story of love, faith, loyalty and the legacy somebody left behind ...
Note: Set in the future. The trio are all 21 years old, and I think some of this story might be A/U.
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Stained Legacy
Chapter Eight: Deja Vu
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It was about five o' clock when Hermione, opening her eyes as she lay curled up into the warmth of her bed and blankets, saw Sirius walking into the room. She guessed by the fact that she was feeling cooler already that he'd been gone for a while, and she silently surveyed him as he came towards the bed. He was wearing his jeans, but no shirt, and she swallowed as she looked at him, wishing he could be just a little less attractive.
"Hey," He murmured huskily, sitting down on the side of the bed and smiling devastatingly down at her, "I was hoping I'd find you all sweet and drowsy when I came back ..."
He leaned down to kiss her, and she automatically responded, trying to quell the involuntary surge of need and desire that shot through her. Hell, but she'd missed him. No, 'Mione, don't cry again ... She warned herself angrily as that very thing threatened, Haven't you shed enough tears over all this? Over him? But she couldn't deny that it hurt, and she was so sick and tired of hurting.
"Sirius ..." She pulled away slightly, biting her lip, "I - I can't."
His expression darkened, and for a moment, as the front of his short hair fell into his eyes, he looked so young and vulnerable that she wished she could forget everything in her past. But then, he pushed his hair back and straightened up, looking at her with a expressionless mask on his face. He didn't look surprised, she realized, which meant he must have seen this coming.
"I know," he nodded, his voice toneless. "I understand."
"But - "
Before she could finish, he just shook his head slightly, that forbidding darkness descending over his features. He stood up, turned around and finding his shirt thrown across the back of a chair, pulled it on without buttoning it. As he did, Hermione saw a piece of parchment flutter out of the breast pocket and fall to the floor, but Sirius was in such a hurry to go that he clearly didn't notice, because he merely left the room in silence. And Hermione stayed still, leaning against the headboard with the bedclothes pulled up to her neck. A few minutes might have passed - or maybe just seconds, because they felt like eternity - and there was a soft knock on her door.
She looked up again, and saw Harry and Remus standing there.
Because of the concern lacing their expressions, she forced a smile. "Hi," She managed. "Who won the match?"
"Gryffindor, of course, you should have seen the look on Snape's face," Remus gave her a grin that was oddly reassuring, "Would you like some Butterbeer, Hermione? I wouldn't mind a bottle, so I'll get some," He shot Harry a look and departed, and Hermione guessed he'd gone after Sirius as well as to get the Butterbeer. Harry came over to the bed and sat down next to her.
Hermione looked at him. "I suppose you saw him come out."
"We saw him," Harry admitted, "He looked like hell. Walked out onto the balcony and slammed the door. Tonks and I both considered talking to him, but didn't want to be hexed, so Sean wandered out instead. Figure a child has the best chance of lightening someone's mood. Remus will join them now, I'm guessing."
"Where's Ron?" She asked, trying to distract herself from the thoughts. She did not want to cry.
Harry chuckled. "The Minister of Magic gave him some work to finish up when we checked in after the match. I cried off because of my mission early this morning, but Ron couldn't manage it, so he had to go on. He'll be here soon. Oh, and we're having another meeting on the 19th, here, at seven. This seems to have become the new official Headquarters."
"Better than Grimmauld Place."
"That's true." Harry shrugged, "And better for Sirius, thankfully."
Hermione murmured something unintelligible under her breath, feeling like something was squeezing the breath and life right out of her. Apart from everythung else, there was still the shadow of Sirius's guilt? How were they supposed to prove his innocence? Was he supposed to play the role of a dead man forever?
But doesn't he deserve it?
She tried to tell herself so, but unfortunately, couldn't claim that the intonation inside her head really worked very well.
"'Mione," Harry ventured, paused, and then said, with a hopeful look that cut right to Hermione's heart, "I - er, well, it's probably none of my business and you can tell me so, but I suppose you couldn't bring yourself to - ?"
"Harry," She said softly, "You know I can't."
"I can't help hoping, though. I mean - I can't think of anything better - you and him. And you were both so happy back then, together, and I know how happy you are seeing him alive." He hesitated again. "I - I think he loves you, 'Mione," He muttered tentatively.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, but a small tear trickled out traitorously anyway. If Harry had noticed it, he didn't bring it up, but the compassion in his eyes was enough to tell he he'd witnessed that first sign of a breakdown.
She shook her head, forcing her emotions to steady themselves. "No, Harry, he doesn't. Think about Ron and Luna - are Sirius and I anything like that? He cares about me, sure, like he cares about Ron, Tonks, Dumbledore, maybe even like he cares about you and Remus. But as for just me - well, the fact remains that he just wants me."
"I know this hurts, but I don't believe that's all it is, but what do I know? I'm sorry," Harry croaked sympathetically, reaching out. That did it for Hermione's control, that compassionate brotherly touch around her. She crumbled into Harry's hold, ignoring the inner voice inside her that warned her against crumpling again, and broke down onto his shoulder, sobbing all her grief and pain and fear out until she was utterly drained and there were no tears left inside her.
At least, for now.
"Come on," Harry said gently at last, kissing her awkwardly on the top of her head, "Let's go see what the plans are for dinner."
Because there were important things to discuss and there would be a few more people at dinner that night, Hermione, Harry and Tonks watched TV with Sean (Ron, Sirius and Remus firmly declared they wanted nothing to do with 'that ridiculous box') as he ate his dinner, and waited until he'd fallen asleep before Hermione carried him into his room. When she came out again, Tonks was seeking out plates and forks with immense gusto, sending plates flying haphazardly so that Ron was repeatedly ducking reproachfully.
However, this was nothing to Fred and George, who resumed they habits of chaos as soon as they arrived. It was nearly ten o' clock by the time they all sat down at the living room, using the coffee table to put their plates on. Hermione glanced around. She was sitting in an armchair, and George was draped over its arm. The others there were Harry, Ron, Sirius, Remus, Fred, Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody.
"Bad idea," Moody was grumbling irritably, jabbing at his food, "To meet here like this - in a penthouse, of all things! We're providing evidence, I tell you, to any member of evil wandering about searching for the Order of the Phoenix and the Chosen One - "
"Oh lighten up, Moody, if you smile and enjoy yourself a bit, no member of evil will recognize you!"
"Very funny, Sirius."
"If you ask me," George cut in with dulcet tones, "I'd personally say we're all rather safe actually. If, by some pessimistic chance, the new Dark Lord were to burst in here anytime now, he'd be so excited that he wouldn't know which one of us to curse first."
In spite of herself, Hermione laughed, and she wasn't the only one. This continued for the while, until finally, Remus will his usual mild authority, said, "I think we'd better get down to the actual issue at hand here," He said gently, having finished his food and levitating his plate over into the kitchen, "Fred and Tonks have some rather unnerving news, I'm afraid."
Harry and Hermione exchanged anxious looks, but said nothing, only looked at the two expectantly. Ron piped up with, "Let's hear it," He said, beaming at his brother and Tonks eagerly.
They glanced at each other, and Fred motioned for Tonks to begin the tale. She gave them an engaging grin, and said, "Well, after Dumbledore mentioned what Hermione brought up yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea for us to scope out the underworld bars and see what we could gather from those circles. I disguised myself as a warlock, took Fred along because he's so darn charming - " (Everyone laughed) " - And we went down there."
"Needless to say, with some persuasion," Fred continued dryly, "Our evil friends were very forthcoming. For one particularly nasty-looking fellow, I had to buy him six Firewhiskeys before he was drunk enough to answer my oh-so-casual questions."
Tonks shot Fred a dirty look. "Fred, of course, couldn't resist sparking a little entertainment, so when I accidentally tripped and spilled my drink, he started up a proper brawl. If I hadn't been an Auror, I'd have been beaten to a pulp with hexes and jinxes and flying fists, I'll tell you that! And in the meantime, no one bloody noticed our pal here stuffing magical alcohol down that nasty chap's throat."
"Get to the point," Moody requested testily.
"All right, Moody, don't get your underwear knotted," Fred said sweetly, "As it happens, you're all aware of how excellent I am at causing distraction, and it was a truly marvellous scene - you'd have been proud, Sirius - and Tonks, no matter how dirtily she might look at me now, rose nobly to the occasion. So there I was, having a slurred conversation with the drunken man." He paused for dramatic effect.
George rolled his eyes, grinning, "Really, Fred, didn't I ever teach you anything about the right moments for those suspenseful paused?"
"Well?" Sirius asked Fred, his brow furrowing slightly. "What did he tell you?"
Fred cleared his throat, "I tried to get names out of him, but unfortunately, he was a little too tight-lipped for that. However, what I did manage to get was fairly valuable." His expression actually sobered for a moment, which made Hermione unnervingly aware of the fact that this had to be very serious indeed. "Apparently, they've been talking a lot in the evil circles, and he's been hearing things about the New Lord - as they call him - plotting some schemes to secure his power."
"And what are these schemes, could you find out?" Hermione asked.
Remus looked at her, and said, "Well, Fred? Tell them."
"Er - yeah," For the first time, Fred looked hesitant about it. "Well, the Sphere of Pagnon is definitely going to be put into use at midnight on the 31st - of that we can now be absolutely sure - but well - er - the 'New Lord' also seems to know that there might be a small hitch in his plan."
Moody looked like he might explode from the long-winded, mysterious way Fred was spilling the story. Harry, however, frowned at Fred and said, "Meaning what, Fred?"
"Meaning - " Fred broke off abruptly, and said, "Remus - maybe you should - er - close Sean's room door."
Remus nodded, and did so without question. Hermione's heart thumped suddenly.
"Meaning," Fred continued, shifting awkwardly. Ron and George both looked at each other with suddenly worried expressions. It seemed that they knew Fred's reactions far too well, and what they were seeing was not comforting. "Well - basically - meaning that the New Lord - whoever he damn well is - knows about the Chosen One who can destroy his precious Sphere, and knows - knows - well - who is it."
"WHAT?" Sirius thundered. "How?"
A few people were shooting looks at Hermione, who sat stock still, her heart freezing over.
Fred hesitated, seeing the black look in Sirius's eyes.
"Spit it out, Fred," Harry and Ron both said together. Tonks shuffled her feet and stared at the floor, then at Hermione and then at Remus, who sighed, and finally back at Fred.
Fred gave it up, and said heavily, "Well, apparently Dung and Elphias Dodge went to the Hog's Head a couple of days ago, and Dung made the rather - uh - foolish mistake of bringing up the topic of the Chosen One in there. According to our drunken friend, and Elphias, who I asked, he said something along the lines of 'only three years old, the poor kid - and damned pity for his mother - always a sweet girl, that Hermione'."
There was dead silence in the room. Hermione felt like her ears were buzzing and tried to distract herself from the reality by observing how purple Moody's face was going.
"And well," Tonks shrugged helplessly, reaching out and squeezing Hermione's numb, cold hand, "We all know that any New Lord would have done his research, and would know exactly who the sweet girl Hermione was, and exactly who her son is."
"I'LL KILL HIM!" Moody roared. "HASN'T THE BLOODY THIEF LEARNED ANYTHING IN HIS YEARS WITH US?! WHAT WAS HE THINKING - OF ALL THE MORONS IN THE WORLD - DOES HE EVEN REALIZE THE BLOODY DANGER HE'S PUT US - AND THE KID - INTO?"
"You comfort us all, as always, Moody," George said sarcastically. "Are you sure you don't want to express a dash of gloom and doom in there?"
"I'M THINKING ABOUT BLOODY REALITY! I'LL KILL HIM!" Moody bellowed, and then stopped abruptly as his magical eye swivelled onto Hermione. He added gruffly, "I'm sorry. None of us wanted your son to be found out. I know it must frighten you."
"I'm fine." She said automatically. That was how it had always been, and how it had to be. Hermione was always fine.
Remus looked down at her from where he and Sirius were leaning against the window. Sirius's jaw was clenching and unclencing, his eyes burning dangerously black with suppressed rage, and Remus's eyes were full of only sympathy. "The New Lord will not find Sean," he said firmly, "No one but the Ministry's highest officials and Order members know where Harry and Ron live, and no one will guess Hermione and Sean are here. At least, not for a while."
"But like with us, time is also running out for him, Remus," Tonks pointed out miserably, "He's going to do anything at all in his power to discover the location of the little boy. And you know how effective evil can be when they want information."
Hermione's stomach turned over, and she felt sick, but she kept her expression carefully blank of any emotion. She didn't think anyone was deceived, however.
"Well," Moody growled, business-like and gruff at once, "It comes down to protection now, doesn't it? Hermione and the boy have to be protected, and that's that. Dumbledore's already thinking of ways to do it, so let's also get down to it."
There was a moment's pause, and then Fred said, "How about setting traps all around the apartment - you know, Weasley Wizard Wheezes traps - like the fireworks and all that jazz?"
"ARE YOU MAD?" Moody hollered furiously at him, making Ron, who was sitting next to him, jump and wince painfully. "FIREWORKS?! THIS IS NOT CHILD'S PLAY, BOY! DO YOU REALIZE WE'RE DEALING WITH ANOTHER YOU-KNOW-WHO HERE?"
George looked defensive. "It was only an idea." He said indignantly. "You said you wanted ideas."
"Well," Remus interjected hastily, "How - how about the Fidelius Charm?" He asked, hesitating slightly. "We could put Hermione and Sean under the Fidelius Charm and put the information inside one Secret-Keeper - like we did with Grimmauld Place ... and with Lily and James."
"Yeah well, look how that turned out," Ron said bitterly.
Everyone looked at him. "No one would betray them this time, Ron," Remus said quietly. "And there's no vindictive house-elf here to betray us either."
"Yeah?" Ron asked aggressively, "And how do we know that no one would betray any of us? What if it slips, like Dung? What if, what if, what if?" As everyone stared, shocked, at him, he sighed heavily, looking suddenly tired and a little sheepish. "I'm sorry. It's just that you and Sirius, Remus, lost your best friend to the Fidelius Charm - and we nearly lost Sirius for good once, to the inadequacy of the Fidelius Charm. I'm not going to lose one of my best friends to it as well."
There was a long moment of silence. Hermione, rather detached and frightened, could almost feel them all thinking Ron's words over, and finally Moody growled, "All right - throw the Fidelius Charm out of the window, for now, at least. Any other ideas?"
"Well, when I was in danger during my fifth year, I had a guard," Harry pointed out, "We could have a guard for Sean and Hermione. Choose people who are utterly reliable, which means Dung is not included, and keep someone on watch around the place at all times - "
" - And a couple of people to be with them anywhere they go - " Sirius added.
" - Make sure neither of them are ever left alone - "
" - Maybe they shouldn't be left alone together either, because who knows what might happen - "
" - And we don't know what Hermione might sacrifice to keep Sean safe, which means leaving them alone together would probably not be a good idea - "
" - But most important, I think, is to make sure neither of them are ever alone - "
"There have to be standbys too," Moody added gruffly, "Because we never know how many friends the New Lord may have helping him. There has to be a guard of more than one or two people at all times over the next sixteen days, and there'll have to be people always standing as backup to take over if someone dies or is killed."
"Killed?" Fred raised his eyebrows.
"And don't forget, if anything happens to Hermione, Harry and Sirius should probably stand by to take over full responsibility for Sean's safety - "
"I still think the most important thing is just making sure they're never left alone - "
Suddenly, Hermione couldn't take it anymore. They were talking about it like she wasn't even here, like she was on her deathbed or something. They planning what they were going to do in the event of someone's death - her death - and making all kinds of protection ideas, like she and Sean were about to be attacked the very next moment.
"Really?" She said, with slight contempt in her voice, and everyone looked at her, startled at her sudden resurface into the conversation, "So I suppose these plans mean that Ginny and Tonks and Mrs. Weasley will have to stand in the bathroom with their wands out while I'm taking a shower, does it?"
Ron sniggered, and was glared at by several people.
"Hermione, be reasonable here," Sirius said, "We're only trying to keep you and Sean safe from the hands of someone who is remarkably like Voldemort."
"Are you? And I suppose I'm an unreliable guard for my own son, seeing as none of you think it's safe to leave Sean and me alone together for long?"
"That's not what we said," Sirius said sharply.
Harry sighed. "'Mione, that was as an extra precaution. Of course we think you're perfectly capable of protecting Sean on your own. All mothers are. But the fact remains that someone as desperate as the New Lord will do anything to get to Sean, even if it means killing you, and we just don't want you to give yourself up in order to protect your son, because we all know that's what you'd do - "
"My God!" Hermione shrieked, springing up and staring at them all in disbelief. "You're all suffering from severe deja vu! Maybe I would be willing to give myself up in order to save my son's life, but what in hell makes you think I'm going to go down without a fight? None of you seem to remember that I'm a fairly powerful witch - that I've fought in a full-fledged battle before, that I could take on six Death Eaters on my own if I had to!"
"Hermione - " Remus pleaded soothingly, while the others stared at her, stricken.
She took a step back. "No," She was trembling now, trembling with anger and fear and sadness, her voice shaky and bordering on soft hysteria,"You're not seeing me and Sean right now, don't you understand? You're all expecting the New Lord to burst in here while Sean and I are alone, and you're expecting me to scream 'No, not Sean! Not Sean! Take me instead!' and you're all expecting me to crumple silently under an Avada Kedavra curse, before the New Lord walks up to Sean." She paused for breath, tears blurring her vision, her breathing coming out in gasps. "But this isn't the past, damn it!" She whispered, her voice choked. "What makes you think it's going to happen again? Sean is not Harry. I'm not Lily. I'm - not - Lily."
Everyone stared at her, and she saw Tonks' lower lip trembling. Then Harry said quietly, "I - I didn't realize I was thinking about my mother - but you're right - of course you're right. I - I'm sorry."
Without a word, Hermione walked over to the table, where Sirius's photo album lay, and she opened it to a certain page before turning around and walking back to them. "Look," she said sharply, sounding considerably calmer and considerably more tired, "I suppose you remember, Remus, who Scarlett Fetcherly was in Hogwarts. And I'm sure Sirius told the rest of you about him and Scarlett, and why she would want him to be framed. Well, I don't think that's enough. Maybe she did want to scar Sirius's name, but think about the fact that she waited three years to do it. Why?"
"Maybe - " Fred began, and then broke off as he realized there really wasn't a maybe in his mind.
Sirius stared at Hermione as if trying to see what was going on in her head. Remus, however, shook his head in marvel. "Of course you're right ... why would she wait three years? There's a whole lot more to this than we first thought, isn't there?"
"So why did she wait?" Harry asked Hermione curiously.
Hermione sighed. "Dumbledore tracked her down as an eyewitness, remember? But only because someone told him that they had seen her on the scene of the crime, standing by the alley, looking in. When Dumbledore tracked her down, she realized she would be brought in for questioning and concocted the story that it was Sirius she was watching with Aberforth. But in reality, I believe it was someone else she saw."
"And she was protecting that someone?" Tonks asked eagerly.
"Women," Moody muttered irritably. "Liars, all of them."
Sirius ignored this, and said to Hermione, "Looks like it's time to talk to Scarlett again. Someone should go and bring her here, maybe."
"Check with Dumbledore first," Remus warned, "We can't take action without his permission."
"I'll go," Moody grumbled, standing up, his wooden leg knocking against the ground. "I'll go to Hogwarts, talk to old Dumbledore, and bring our dear friend Scarlett Fetcherly back here. Where is she anyway?"
"Ginny's apartment," Ron told Moody, "Dumbledore thought Scarlett might be in danger as a witness, for speaking out about a murderer and his plans with the Sphere, so he left her with Ginny so that she could stay in London and still be safe. Bill's staying there too as protection. Protection," he snorted irritably. "The liar."
Moody grunted and Disapparated.
The others looked around, and began discussing the possibilities, speculating over what Scarlett might say when she was brought here and confronted not only with Sirius's life, but with the accusation. This conversation went on for a good ten minutes, and Hermione stood fairly silently, holding the photo album absently in her arms, thinking hard and trying to forget about the danger Sean was in.
Hermione was standing near Sirius and Remus, and Sirius turned to her. "Thanks," He said quietly, "For believing me."
"Yeah, well." She murmured, unable to look at him. "I know you're not a murderer."
"But you don't know I'm not a liar," He said with some wry sadness.
She shrugged. "I don't know much anymore, Sirius."
Remus, who was looking out of the window in an attempt to give them some privacy, shifted sadly, and Hermione knew that he couldn't help overhearing them. Sirius looked like he was going to say something more, but with a loud Crack!, everyone's attention was reverted to the spot where Mad-Eye Moody reappeared. He was huffing breathlessly, his face was livid, and his magical eye was rolling madly.
"What happened?" Sirius demanded. "Didn't Dumbledore give you the okay?"
"Sure he did," Moody growled angrily, "And I went right to that bloody apartment. Your sister Ginny was asleep, but Bill was there and he went into the guest room to find Scarlett and came out again, and wouldn't you know it! The wench is gone! Disappeared, with all her things! The Ministry will think she was kidnapped - by God knows who, since they think you're dead, but we know better. She fled!"
Sirius swore. The others, except for Remus and Hermione, uttered long strings of unintelligible curses, and only refrained when Hermione said quietly, "I thought so."
"THOUGHT SO?" Moody roared, appalled. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN - YOU THOUGHT SO? IF YOU KNEW SHE'D BE GONE, WHY IN HELL DID YOU MAKE BE DO A RIGHT DANCE ALL OVER TO THAT PLACE?"
Despite the situation, Hermione smiled. "I only meant, Moody, that I though Scarlett had more to do with this than anyone suspected. I don't think she was standing in the alley entrance as an eyewitness. I think she was a lookout. I believe Scarlett Fetcherly was - and is - the New Lord's closest accomplice."
"WHAT?!" The chorus came from Moody, Ron, Fred, George and Tonks.
Harry shook his head grimly. "I should have known. She looked too damned malicious, and clever, to be an innocent passer-by. Hell, but Hermione, how did you figure this out? Brilliant!"
"Yeah," The others seemed to agree, and Hermione felt faintly embarrassed but the situation was far too serious for her to feel overly modest. She shrugged, explained why she'd thought Scarlett too clever to have been there by accident, adding to that the fact that she framed Sirius obvoously to protect someone else. She looked across at Sirius, and saw dawning comprehension in his eyes as he looked from the photo album to her expression.
Remus looked at Hermione with something like pride in his eyes, and he smiled, "I have to admit, Hermione, we'd be quite lost without you. Now the problem remains: who is this New Lord?"
"I think Hermione has an idea about that too," Sirius said.
Everyone stared at her. Hermione opened the photo album again and turned to the right page, before dropping the book onto the coffee table. "Look," she said, pointing at Scarlett Fetcherly and the boy she was with. "The green-haired boy, Donny Tyler. Sirius told me Scarlett eventually found love with him, and my guess is that they're probably secretly married. I suspect he might be the New Lord."
"Hell!" Sirius suddenly said, "Remus, remember him? He was a Slytherin, the only Slytherin to date a Ravenclaw - Scarlett. He was always obsessed with the Dark Arts and was so awfully morbid."
Remus nodded. "I remember," He said slowly. "Merlin's beard, it looks like we've quite probably found out New Lord. Now our only problem is finding him, which will pose a difficulty, especially as Scarlett has disappeared. But maybe she let something slip to either Ginny or Bill while she was there, and we could ask them."
"We'll go ask them," Fred and George volunteered, "We know how to jerk people's memories."
Grinning, they Disapparated.
"Looks like we're going to be hunting down Donny Tyler now," Tonks said cheerfully, "Maybe I could disguise myself as him and check out the reactions of the underworld. Maybe someone will gasp and say something like, 'Lord Tyler, sir, I thought you were hiding out in the Scottish moors!'."
Moody snorted. "Fat chance, Tonks."
"We could find the Slytherins of that batch, Padfoot," Remus said to Sirius, "And see whether any of them are involved, or know anything about Donny Tyler and Scarlett Fetcherly at the moment. I'm sure that if Dumbledore accompanied us, none of them would have the nerve to lie."
"That's an idea," Hermione agreed. "Tonks and Ron, because of their jobs, could use the Ministry resources secretly and see whether they can track down anything, and Tonks could also certainly try disguising herself and scoping out some dicey areas."
"What about me?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed. "You and I, Harry, will need to train Sean to develop his magical skills." She said quietly. "Besides, I think you'll have to play the - er - guard too. Isn't that right, Moody?"
"First things first," Sirius said, "You and Sean will have to be protected, no question about that. Harry and Moody can do it when Remus, Ron and I aren't here. But I think right now, we need to let the leader of the Order of the Phoenix in on our latest developments."
Moody scowled at them all, as they all turned to look at him expectantly. "I am NOT making another trip to Dumbledore." He declared grouchily.
"Oh go on, Mad-Eye," Tonks gave him a shove. "You know you love being the important bearer of news."
With a growl and a glare and the female Auror, Moody Disapparated again.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, when he stopped suddenly. It took Hermione only a second to realize why he hadn't spoken, and soon, everyone was staring at a bedroom door. A low, very dull (almost muted) crash came from one of the bedrooms.
"Remus ..." Hermione said, a pang of fear shooting through her. Mother's instinct perhaps, but inside, something was screaming. "You closed Sean's bedroom door, didn't you? Did you also happen to put an Imperturbable Charm on it?"
Remus shook his head, worried gray eyes turning to her. "No - but Moody did. He didn't want Sean hearing our conversation, for good reason."
"That also means," Hermione whispered slowly, "That we wouldn't have heard Sean if he'd cried out for us."
In a flash of movement, both Sirius and Harry bolted for Sean's bedroom door. Hermione had moved first, but Remus and Tonks grabbed her around her waist and shoulders and held her back. She struggled, panic flooding through her, but their grips didn't loosen. Ron joined Sirius and Harry in trying to unlock and break open a locked door, and finally, Sirius, with a sudden burst of strength, smashed the door down.
Hermione's struggles subsided into limpness, and Remus and Tonks were suddenly holding onto her to keep her from falling to the floor. Slowly, Ron sank to the floor outside Sean's room, leaning against the wall and staring at them with shaken eyes. Harry emerged from Sean's room while Sirius stood in the doorway, staring inside at the obvious wreck as if Stunned.
"Harry?" Remus asked quietly, as Tonks' arms tightened around Hermione.
Harry swallowed: "He's gone."
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A/N: The tension is clearly building up, with the 31st of December approaching, Scarlett Fetcherly missing, and now Sean ... it's so much fun writing this! Please keep reviewing, and letting me know!
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