Chapter 12: Lestrange
Days slowly turned into weeks, and weeks to months, but still Harry had not bothered thinking about his Animagus form. It was not until his first trip to Hogsmeade that year that he began to think about it.
It was October, and Quidditch season had begun; their first game would be the week after the first Hogsmeade weekend. Harry wasn't sure which one he was looking forward to the most; seeing Fred again had its joys, and so did Quidditch. "Can't wait to see Fred's shop," said Ron, "should be quite interesting, although I hope he doesn't take the opportunity to sneak a Canary Cream into anything I'm eating."
That weekend they lined up outside, Filch ticking off on a list which students were allowed into Hogsmeade, and finally they were on their way to the village. The first place they went, naturally, was Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes; it seemed, however, that the rest of the school had the same idea, as it was filled with Hogwarts students. "Oy Fred! Oy!" shouted Ron. Fred looked up over a booming cash register, the line stretching out beyond the store and around the corner, "Hullo there Ron! Harry! Hermione! Buy some Skiving Snackboxes why don't you?" he asked. "No thanks Fred," said Harry, "still got mine," he said as he watched the line growing ever longer. Fred leaned over to Harry, "Got business to discuss with you. Stop by sometime this evening and we'll talk. I'm closing early tonight." Harry nodded and said, "Come on Ron, Hermione, let's get out of this madhouse and get some butterbeers." And with that they headed to the Three Broomsticks, where they were served by Madam Rosmerta, who made Ron's ears turn red.
After enjoying their butterbeers, they went past Zonko's, which they noticed was mostly deserted with the exception of a few Slytherins whom were refusing to buy from the Weasleys, which Harry found rather unsurprising.
After milling about for around an hour or two they headed back to the Weasley joke shop to find that Fred was still selling a few last minute things before closing up shop, "Just go round to the back room," he said, "I'll be there in a minute." They went to the back room to discover a whole stock of Weasley products, which made Ron's eyes grow wider than dinner plates, "Whoa..." The shelves of stock reached the ceiling easily, and were at least ten rows long, each row being about six feet wide.
They sat down at a table that they suspected Fred used for his lunch hour, and waited for him to show. Finally they heard the "No more customers this evening, sorry, off with you now," said Fred. The bell announced the exit of some put-off customer, and the door shut and locked. Fred appeared a moment later carrying the register, "Some business we're doing!" said Fred, "Can't get 'em through here fast enough!" He sat down happily and placed the cash register on the table, and quickly began to go through it, counting the mounds of Galleons that seemed to endlessly fill the register.
Harry personally suspected that he had enchanted it to hold more than the usual, as the Galleons seemed to keep reappearing, but finally Fred finished after about ten minutes of counting, then said, "Well I suppose you three are wondering what's going on here." They nodded but said nothing, "Well luckily," said Fred, "nothing bad has really happened, although I spoke with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mundungus Fletcher not too long ago and they both said that things are moving in the underground. Apparently, You-Know-Who's growing stronger than ever."
Harry's heart sank; he wished someone would have good news for once. "And luckily," added Fred, "the Order is close on his tail. You see, You- Know-Who made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of leaving behind a victim at one of his main hideouts. Rather stupid mistake on his part, and although he's already abandoned the area, we still have a good lead on where he'll be next." Harry looked up, "Some good news, then?" "Sure," nodded Fred, "we're just trying to stick real close to him, pressuring him, and eventually, with some luck, he'll make a mistake and we'll nab him."
"Who was the victim you found?" asked Hermione. Fred stiffened a bit, "Ah, well, I'm not allowed to say, Mad-Eye's orders..." Ron gave Fred a nasty look, "Me own brother!" "Don't I know it Ron," said Fred, "but I'm not allowed so give it a rest. Besides, you'll find out eventually. But for now, I won't say, and don't bother asking George because he can't say either." "Say, how is George?" asked Harry, "I haven't heard from him or you since school started; I was beginning to wonder." "Oh, sorry 'bout that," said Fred, "we've both been getting sidetracked with the shops. We're opening up a third, you know." "A third?!" said Ron, "Who's running it?!" "Lee Jordan of course," said Fred, "his Mum finally gave up on him having a decent job so she let his lack of O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s rest. And since we're doing so well, she figured he might as well make good money and work for us. Lee, naturally, is quite happy about it."
"I'll bet," said Harry, thinking about Lee Jordan, the long time Weasley family friend. "Yeh, so that's about the gist with the two of us," said Fred, "otherwise we've just been making some connections at the Hog's Head for the Order. 'Bout it though." Harry shrugged, "Well, thanks for telling us what you could, Fred. I appreciate it." "Sure mate," said Fred, clapping him on the shoulder, "now...how would you like to be the first person to try a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes Snow Cone Surprise?" Harry grinned nervously, "Ah...what does it do?" Fred grinned back, "Well that's for me to watch and you to find out!"
"Ah no thanks Fred," said Harry, "actually, I think we ought to be going back to Hogwarts now." Fred looked put out, but said, "Well come back later and have one, on the house even!" Harry grinned, "Sure I will Fred. Me and Ron both," he lied.
A moment later the three of them were outside in the increasingly chillier weather, walking back to Hogwarts. "Certainly is a nice shop," said Hermione, "although I still think they should have finished their schooling at Hogwarts." "Yeh, mum thinks the same thing," said Ron, "but they're legal age and she really can't stop them. And besides, with them doing so well, I don't know why she'd want to."
They walked through the gates with the winged boars, hardly taking notice of the purples, oranges, and reds of the sky as the sun slowly set. "'Spect we should go to dinner," said Ron, "although I don't feel like eating after having all those sweets." "Say Harry," said Hermione, "whatever happened with Cho Chang? I saw her today; she's out of the hospital ward." "Oh, ah, nothing," lied Harry, not much feeling like discussing the note sent to him via Cho. Hermione had a feeling that Harry wasn't telling the truth but refrained from pressing the matter; they all had enough on their minds as it was.
The following week, it seemed, dragged on forever. Until finally Saturday arrived. Harry and Ron were pulling on their Quidditch gear nervously; the first game of the year was always the most exciting, or so it seemed, until the Quidditch Cup.
But as Ron and Harry were heading out to the pitch, Angelina came running up to them, "We have to go back to the school, game's been cancelled, everyone's been sent back to their dormitories," she said breathlessly. "What? What's going on?" said Ron. "Dunno, but it's Dumbledore's orders," she said, swallowing hard, "I have no idea what's going on, but hopefully we'll find out later. Game's rescheduled for two weeks from now. Now get up to the school, and hurry up!"
They both nodded and changed again quickly, stowed their gear, then hurried back to the castle, only to find that the houses were lining up in the Great Hall. The Head Boys and Girls were calling out, "Ravenclaws this way!" or "Slytherins over here! Hurry it up!" Harry glared at Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, the Slytherin Head Boy and Girl, but said nothing as he got in line with the other Gryffindors and headed up to the portrait hole, following Ron and Hermione. "Stay close together!" said Ginny Weasley, Prefect badge shining, "And hurry along now!" Some of the first years looked scared, and Harry tried to block out of his mind the thought that somewhere, somehow, Voldemort might be near by.
Suddenly Harry felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Lupin there, looking grave, "Harry, I need you to come with me." Harry nodded and said, "Let me tell Ron and Hermione," and dashed ahead, saying only, "I'll be with Lupin. Don't come looking for me." Ron nodded, "See you later," and continued ushering some first years, who had fallen behind, in through the portrait hole.
Harry ran back to Lupin and said, "Let's go." Lupin nodded and said "Follow me," and slowly they began wending their way back down the stairs to the front doors. Harry thought it odd that they were walking outside, but he didn't argue as they were headed in the general direction of Hagrid's hut. It wasn't until they went right past it that Harry grew worried, "Where are we going?" he asked furtively. "The Forest," said Lupin, "Dumbledore's already there, and so is Hagrid." Harry nodded and said no more, following Lupin into the gloom of the Forbidden Forest.
After ten minutes of walking, the trees thickening quickly, it seemed as if it were black as pitch, and soon Lupin was nothing more than a shadow in front of him. "Can I use my wand?" asked Harry, tripping over a root. "Sure, good idea," said Lupin, pulling out his own wand. They both said "Lumos!" and their wandtips alighted. Now they could see, and Lupin continued along the trail, until finally he stopped and said, "We're going off the trail now Harry. Be cautious," and he delved to the left, deeper into the Forest.
Harry followed solemnly, then said, "Professor...why were the students ordered to their dormitories?" "You'll see that soon enough Harry," he said simply, "and watch out for those nettles there. Careful now." Harry tore a large gash in his robe, but continued on. He was starting to think that they would never get to their destination when he saw someone stoking a fire not far off, a circle of grass around them. Whoever it was, they were facing away from Lupin and Harry, although he thought for a moment that it was Dumbledore.
Then he realized that it wasn't.
Bellatrix Lestrange turned to face him, and Harry almost ran, but realized that Lupin was holding him by the shoulders. "Professor what're you doing?!" he shouted, "Let go of me! Run! It's Lestrange!" "He can't hear you," said Lestrange easily, almost with a giggle, "he doesn't even realize what he's doing, do you, Remus?" Harry looked up to see that Lupin had a strangely dead look in his eye; it seemed like he wasn't even conscious. "What's going on?!" snarled Harry, "Come to murder me? Going to try again after messing up last time? I'll bet Voldemort wasn't happy with that was he?" "Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" she snapped, "You filthy Mudblood!" "What've you done to Professor Lupin?!" shouted Harry, ignoring her insult. "Stupid boy, haven't you ever heard of the Imperius Curse?" she asked smoothly. Harry felt his stomach turning into a pit of dread, and he shook with rage, "You conniving murderess, you deserved Azkaban! Traitor! Death Eater!" he shouted. She shrugged, "One person's traitor is another's loyal servant, yes?"
Harry groped for his wand, then heard her cry "EXPELLIARMUS!" He tried to duck but too late; the spell hit him and his wand went flying. Lupin held him still as Lestrange picked up his wand, then turned to Harry, "Just because I'd love to see what you can do...Imperio!" A flash of green light hit Harry, and he heard a voice in his head.
'Get down on your knees and bow to me,' said the voice. His legs buckled, and he shuddered with force; he was desperately fighting the curse, but having not done so since Moody had tested him his fourth year, he was not used to it. He did, however, fight valiantly, and finally ended by falling over backward, still struggling against the curse. Lupin in turn collapsed, as he had been placing the majority of his weight on Harry's shoulders to prevent him from escaping, and Harry took the opportunity to grab Lupin's wand. He pointed the wand straight into the air and shot a stream of red sparks from his wand, and they flew high into the canopy, and Harry hoped, into the air. Red sparks being the international wizard distress signal, he could only hope that someone would see them.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" shouted Lestrange, but this time Harry ducked at the right time and bellowed "TARANTALLEGRA!" and Lestrange fell to the ground, her legs dancing uncontrollably. However, he was not so lucky when she yelled, "CRUCIO!" and he felt white hot pain surge through his body. He screamed, not knowing for how long, his body wracking with pain, and he twitched and groaned, wishing it would all end, wishing for death to take him, spare him from this terrible pain, his scar almost bursting, head splitting, legs straining, arms stretching uncontrollably, feeling as if he would retch...
Lestrange snatched up his wand, watching Harry twitch and cry on the ground, hands curled with pain, trying to make it stop. "Feel the pain, boy," she hissed, "because it will be nothing compared to what's waiting for you." She produced a portkey of a skull from her pocket, and readied herself for the journey; it would be difficult indeed to get her and Potter to the Riddle House without trouble, but as soon as she released him from the Cruciatus Curse, he should be unconscious with pain. The Dark Lord will like that. He would like that very much.
Harry continued to sob as the pain slowly began to drive him insane, 'I don't want to be like Luna's dad,' he thought hysterically as he continued to squirm, 'please kill me, don't let me be insane, just take me...'
And suddenly the pain stopped.
A voice had shouted something.
He couldn't remember what.
Harry passed out.
Days slowly turned into weeks, and weeks to months, but still Harry had not bothered thinking about his Animagus form. It was not until his first trip to Hogsmeade that year that he began to think about it.
It was October, and Quidditch season had begun; their first game would be the week after the first Hogsmeade weekend. Harry wasn't sure which one he was looking forward to the most; seeing Fred again had its joys, and so did Quidditch. "Can't wait to see Fred's shop," said Ron, "should be quite interesting, although I hope he doesn't take the opportunity to sneak a Canary Cream into anything I'm eating."
That weekend they lined up outside, Filch ticking off on a list which students were allowed into Hogsmeade, and finally they were on their way to the village. The first place they went, naturally, was Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes; it seemed, however, that the rest of the school had the same idea, as it was filled with Hogwarts students. "Oy Fred! Oy!" shouted Ron. Fred looked up over a booming cash register, the line stretching out beyond the store and around the corner, "Hullo there Ron! Harry! Hermione! Buy some Skiving Snackboxes why don't you?" he asked. "No thanks Fred," said Harry, "still got mine," he said as he watched the line growing ever longer. Fred leaned over to Harry, "Got business to discuss with you. Stop by sometime this evening and we'll talk. I'm closing early tonight." Harry nodded and said, "Come on Ron, Hermione, let's get out of this madhouse and get some butterbeers." And with that they headed to the Three Broomsticks, where they were served by Madam Rosmerta, who made Ron's ears turn red.
After enjoying their butterbeers, they went past Zonko's, which they noticed was mostly deserted with the exception of a few Slytherins whom were refusing to buy from the Weasleys, which Harry found rather unsurprising.
After milling about for around an hour or two they headed back to the Weasley joke shop to find that Fred was still selling a few last minute things before closing up shop, "Just go round to the back room," he said, "I'll be there in a minute." They went to the back room to discover a whole stock of Weasley products, which made Ron's eyes grow wider than dinner plates, "Whoa..." The shelves of stock reached the ceiling easily, and were at least ten rows long, each row being about six feet wide.
They sat down at a table that they suspected Fred used for his lunch hour, and waited for him to show. Finally they heard the "No more customers this evening, sorry, off with you now," said Fred. The bell announced the exit of some put-off customer, and the door shut and locked. Fred appeared a moment later carrying the register, "Some business we're doing!" said Fred, "Can't get 'em through here fast enough!" He sat down happily and placed the cash register on the table, and quickly began to go through it, counting the mounds of Galleons that seemed to endlessly fill the register.
Harry personally suspected that he had enchanted it to hold more than the usual, as the Galleons seemed to keep reappearing, but finally Fred finished after about ten minutes of counting, then said, "Well I suppose you three are wondering what's going on here." They nodded but said nothing, "Well luckily," said Fred, "nothing bad has really happened, although I spoke with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mundungus Fletcher not too long ago and they both said that things are moving in the underground. Apparently, You-Know-Who's growing stronger than ever."
Harry's heart sank; he wished someone would have good news for once. "And luckily," added Fred, "the Order is close on his tail. You see, You- Know-Who made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of leaving behind a victim at one of his main hideouts. Rather stupid mistake on his part, and although he's already abandoned the area, we still have a good lead on where he'll be next." Harry looked up, "Some good news, then?" "Sure," nodded Fred, "we're just trying to stick real close to him, pressuring him, and eventually, with some luck, he'll make a mistake and we'll nab him."
"Who was the victim you found?" asked Hermione. Fred stiffened a bit, "Ah, well, I'm not allowed to say, Mad-Eye's orders..." Ron gave Fred a nasty look, "Me own brother!" "Don't I know it Ron," said Fred, "but I'm not allowed so give it a rest. Besides, you'll find out eventually. But for now, I won't say, and don't bother asking George because he can't say either." "Say, how is George?" asked Harry, "I haven't heard from him or you since school started; I was beginning to wonder." "Oh, sorry 'bout that," said Fred, "we've both been getting sidetracked with the shops. We're opening up a third, you know." "A third?!" said Ron, "Who's running it?!" "Lee Jordan of course," said Fred, "his Mum finally gave up on him having a decent job so she let his lack of O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s rest. And since we're doing so well, she figured he might as well make good money and work for us. Lee, naturally, is quite happy about it."
"I'll bet," said Harry, thinking about Lee Jordan, the long time Weasley family friend. "Yeh, so that's about the gist with the two of us," said Fred, "otherwise we've just been making some connections at the Hog's Head for the Order. 'Bout it though." Harry shrugged, "Well, thanks for telling us what you could, Fred. I appreciate it." "Sure mate," said Fred, clapping him on the shoulder, "now...how would you like to be the first person to try a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes Snow Cone Surprise?" Harry grinned nervously, "Ah...what does it do?" Fred grinned back, "Well that's for me to watch and you to find out!"
"Ah no thanks Fred," said Harry, "actually, I think we ought to be going back to Hogwarts now." Fred looked put out, but said, "Well come back later and have one, on the house even!" Harry grinned, "Sure I will Fred. Me and Ron both," he lied.
A moment later the three of them were outside in the increasingly chillier weather, walking back to Hogwarts. "Certainly is a nice shop," said Hermione, "although I still think they should have finished their schooling at Hogwarts." "Yeh, mum thinks the same thing," said Ron, "but they're legal age and she really can't stop them. And besides, with them doing so well, I don't know why she'd want to."
They walked through the gates with the winged boars, hardly taking notice of the purples, oranges, and reds of the sky as the sun slowly set. "'Spect we should go to dinner," said Ron, "although I don't feel like eating after having all those sweets." "Say Harry," said Hermione, "whatever happened with Cho Chang? I saw her today; she's out of the hospital ward." "Oh, ah, nothing," lied Harry, not much feeling like discussing the note sent to him via Cho. Hermione had a feeling that Harry wasn't telling the truth but refrained from pressing the matter; they all had enough on their minds as it was.
The following week, it seemed, dragged on forever. Until finally Saturday arrived. Harry and Ron were pulling on their Quidditch gear nervously; the first game of the year was always the most exciting, or so it seemed, until the Quidditch Cup.
But as Ron and Harry were heading out to the pitch, Angelina came running up to them, "We have to go back to the school, game's been cancelled, everyone's been sent back to their dormitories," she said breathlessly. "What? What's going on?" said Ron. "Dunno, but it's Dumbledore's orders," she said, swallowing hard, "I have no idea what's going on, but hopefully we'll find out later. Game's rescheduled for two weeks from now. Now get up to the school, and hurry up!"
They both nodded and changed again quickly, stowed their gear, then hurried back to the castle, only to find that the houses were lining up in the Great Hall. The Head Boys and Girls were calling out, "Ravenclaws this way!" or "Slytherins over here! Hurry it up!" Harry glared at Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, the Slytherin Head Boy and Girl, but said nothing as he got in line with the other Gryffindors and headed up to the portrait hole, following Ron and Hermione. "Stay close together!" said Ginny Weasley, Prefect badge shining, "And hurry along now!" Some of the first years looked scared, and Harry tried to block out of his mind the thought that somewhere, somehow, Voldemort might be near by.
Suddenly Harry felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Lupin there, looking grave, "Harry, I need you to come with me." Harry nodded and said, "Let me tell Ron and Hermione," and dashed ahead, saying only, "I'll be with Lupin. Don't come looking for me." Ron nodded, "See you later," and continued ushering some first years, who had fallen behind, in through the portrait hole.
Harry ran back to Lupin and said, "Let's go." Lupin nodded and said "Follow me," and slowly they began wending their way back down the stairs to the front doors. Harry thought it odd that they were walking outside, but he didn't argue as they were headed in the general direction of Hagrid's hut. It wasn't until they went right past it that Harry grew worried, "Where are we going?" he asked furtively. "The Forest," said Lupin, "Dumbledore's already there, and so is Hagrid." Harry nodded and said no more, following Lupin into the gloom of the Forbidden Forest.
After ten minutes of walking, the trees thickening quickly, it seemed as if it were black as pitch, and soon Lupin was nothing more than a shadow in front of him. "Can I use my wand?" asked Harry, tripping over a root. "Sure, good idea," said Lupin, pulling out his own wand. They both said "Lumos!" and their wandtips alighted. Now they could see, and Lupin continued along the trail, until finally he stopped and said, "We're going off the trail now Harry. Be cautious," and he delved to the left, deeper into the Forest.
Harry followed solemnly, then said, "Professor...why were the students ordered to their dormitories?" "You'll see that soon enough Harry," he said simply, "and watch out for those nettles there. Careful now." Harry tore a large gash in his robe, but continued on. He was starting to think that they would never get to their destination when he saw someone stoking a fire not far off, a circle of grass around them. Whoever it was, they were facing away from Lupin and Harry, although he thought for a moment that it was Dumbledore.
Then he realized that it wasn't.
Bellatrix Lestrange turned to face him, and Harry almost ran, but realized that Lupin was holding him by the shoulders. "Professor what're you doing?!" he shouted, "Let go of me! Run! It's Lestrange!" "He can't hear you," said Lestrange easily, almost with a giggle, "he doesn't even realize what he's doing, do you, Remus?" Harry looked up to see that Lupin had a strangely dead look in his eye; it seemed like he wasn't even conscious. "What's going on?!" snarled Harry, "Come to murder me? Going to try again after messing up last time? I'll bet Voldemort wasn't happy with that was he?" "Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" she snapped, "You filthy Mudblood!" "What've you done to Professor Lupin?!" shouted Harry, ignoring her insult. "Stupid boy, haven't you ever heard of the Imperius Curse?" she asked smoothly. Harry felt his stomach turning into a pit of dread, and he shook with rage, "You conniving murderess, you deserved Azkaban! Traitor! Death Eater!" he shouted. She shrugged, "One person's traitor is another's loyal servant, yes?"
Harry groped for his wand, then heard her cry "EXPELLIARMUS!" He tried to duck but too late; the spell hit him and his wand went flying. Lupin held him still as Lestrange picked up his wand, then turned to Harry, "Just because I'd love to see what you can do...Imperio!" A flash of green light hit Harry, and he heard a voice in his head.
'Get down on your knees and bow to me,' said the voice. His legs buckled, and he shuddered with force; he was desperately fighting the curse, but having not done so since Moody had tested him his fourth year, he was not used to it. He did, however, fight valiantly, and finally ended by falling over backward, still struggling against the curse. Lupin in turn collapsed, as he had been placing the majority of his weight on Harry's shoulders to prevent him from escaping, and Harry took the opportunity to grab Lupin's wand. He pointed the wand straight into the air and shot a stream of red sparks from his wand, and they flew high into the canopy, and Harry hoped, into the air. Red sparks being the international wizard distress signal, he could only hope that someone would see them.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" shouted Lestrange, but this time Harry ducked at the right time and bellowed "TARANTALLEGRA!" and Lestrange fell to the ground, her legs dancing uncontrollably. However, he was not so lucky when she yelled, "CRUCIO!" and he felt white hot pain surge through his body. He screamed, not knowing for how long, his body wracking with pain, and he twitched and groaned, wishing it would all end, wishing for death to take him, spare him from this terrible pain, his scar almost bursting, head splitting, legs straining, arms stretching uncontrollably, feeling as if he would retch...
Lestrange snatched up his wand, watching Harry twitch and cry on the ground, hands curled with pain, trying to make it stop. "Feel the pain, boy," she hissed, "because it will be nothing compared to what's waiting for you." She produced a portkey of a skull from her pocket, and readied herself for the journey; it would be difficult indeed to get her and Potter to the Riddle House without trouble, but as soon as she released him from the Cruciatus Curse, he should be unconscious with pain. The Dark Lord will like that. He would like that very much.
Harry continued to sob as the pain slowly began to drive him insane, 'I don't want to be like Luna's dad,' he thought hysterically as he continued to squirm, 'please kill me, don't let me be insane, just take me...'
And suddenly the pain stopped.
A voice had shouted something.
He couldn't remember what.
Harry passed out.