Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Bloomsbury Publishers!
Sorry this is late everyone. I came done with a cold and ended up with a full blown virus. Typical summer time condition here in Britain! Anyway this chapter is half of what was supposed to be the The Rescue because the argument scene I am not up to writing. So you will have to bare with me for another short chapter and kindly put up with me until tomorrow for added chapter, so it will total about 32 now.
But good news: I have been challenged by a reviewer to write a sequel. This person likes to email long emails telling me everything they hated and like, which is ok. Kept me from dying of boredom. So Beyond Happy Ever After will hit your computers before the end of August. It won't be as long as this story and is actually nearly finsihed. I hand write most of my stories before typing them up.
Again with the beta comments, did have someone but appears like they have disappeared into the void of the internet again. So if your interested but a notice up on your review! And I will be in touch! 40 reviews! Will do mentions in next chapter.
Chapter Four: The Rescue
Midnight in Dumbledore's office.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore sat in his office enjoying one of his famous cups of tea. Albus Dumbledore only drank tea for two reasons: one to relax after a days work with his students and two when ill news came his way. He definitely deserved this cup of tea today. What was troubling Albus that night was his Potion Master, Professor Severus Snape had been missing four days after being summoned by Voldemort.
Of course, Albus had taken immediate action and had half the Order making inquiries into where Severus could be. However, results were thin on the ground. The Death Eaters movements had become more secretive and without Severus to fill in the missing pieces of Voldemort's plots things were proving difficult.
"Headmaster Dumbliedore?"
Looking up from the latest report from Tonks. Albus saw the Malfoy's old house elf standing in front of his desk with another house elf, that he did not recognise as one of Hogwarts own. Setting down his cup, Albus studied the strange house elf before him. It was a she-elf, roughly about six summers of age Albus reckoned and from the remnants was mostly likely from one of the pureblood families who treated their elves with contempt.
"Yes, Dobby." Albus asked with a twinkle in his eye "Who is this?"
"Headmaster Dumbliedore, this is Dobby's old friend, sir. Dizty came to Dobby, sir with an important message, sir." Dobby explained gently nudging the nervous elf forwards
"My master, whose family I serve wished me to give you a message, sir." Dizty said knotting her ready ironed fingers in her sack dress. "I am to tell Dobby to tell Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts School that...the wizard...who-shall-not-be-named has foun...d...d his spy!"
So it was as he thought. Albus nodded to the terrified elf, "Thank you, Dizty."
"But that is not all sir," Dizty squeaked. "Master tell Dizty that the Black eyed Death Eater who is kind to us house elves, Sir. Is not yet dead. The evil wizard sir, plans to kill him tonight. But master say to mention that, sir's pet wolf is with Black eyed Death Eater."
"Did your master tell you anything else, Dizty?" Albus questioned as a frown drew across his face.
"Yes, he said to tell Headmaster Dumbledore people he needs to find are at Avery Castle."
Albus abruptly stood from his chair. Scaring the poor house elf. Dobby was quick to reassure Dizty all would be ok, as Albus quick stepped from his office his midnight blue robes with stars bellowing after him as he dashed away. Dobby took Dizty back to the kitchens and got her a nice drink of tea, after telling off Winky who had found a bottle of Muggle brandy in a cupboard and was drinking herself silly. Dizty was thankful for the tea but longed to return to her mistress. Lucius Malfoy might be harsh on his elves, but Mistress Narcissa was kind to Dizty as was Master Draco, whom she served. She had only ironed her hands because Master Lucius had told her too for keeping him waiting.
"Dobby, should not speak so harsh of his former family." Dizty scolded as Dobby rattled on about how Dizty could stay at Hogwarts if she liked and be free. "Master Draco is a good and fair master. Dizty likes serving him and Mistress Narcissa. Master Draco is going to take Dizty with him when he moves into his house next summer."
"But Dizty could be free and earn her own wage, working for Dumbliedore." Dobby protested upset that his younger sister preferred to serve his old family then be with her real family.
"Dobby is a selfish house elf!" Dizty squeaked before vanishing.
Dobby sighed and shuck his head as Winky fell off the crate she had been perched on. Some house elves were silly, like his sister. He liked his freedom very much. But he did sometimes miss Master Draco, who had shared his biscuits with Dobby and Dizty as a child. Dobby would have to remember to visit his former master when he returned to school in a month's time. No doubt his former master might be worried about him. Harry Potter, though a good wizard did not like his old Master Draco so he might not know Dobby was safe.
"Winky is drunk!" Winky giggled before she fell off the crate unconscious.
"Stupid house elf." Dobby muttered.
After leaving his office, Albus had used the secure floo link in his quarters to floo to Remus's house. It had been to check on the boy. It was the full moon, so he should be in the cellar of his parent's old house. But when Albus reached the kitchen, he knew Remus was not there. The smashed glass and spilt herbs had been the first clue. But Remus's wand lying beside an open book and a stale cup of coffee confirmed Remus had been taken at least three days ago.
Pulling out his wand, Albus apparated to the Orders headquarters were Tonks and Weasleys were staying while Harry, Ron and Hermione spending the rest summer together.
"Albus." Arthur Weasley greeted him, dressed in his Muggle dressing gown and slippers, as he stepped through the front door. "What brings you here so late?"
"Business, Arthur. Important business." Albus repeated. "I was wondering am I in luck that your eldest boys are still here and the lovely Tonks of course?" "Indeed, they are." Arthur replied motioning them to move to the library as they heard a murmur on the stairs that sounded like the young Miss Weasley. "Shall I call them down?"
"Yes, Arthur. And perhaps you best ready yourself as well." Albus said popping his wand into the pocket of his robe. "We are going to Avery Castle."
The confrontation that ensued at Avery Castle was short lived. Voldemort had already left talking most of his inner circle with him. The force that was left behind was small and soon fled as the Order members stormed the castle. In the end, all they found was the quite furious Rosa Avery.
"Look at this mess!" She raved on the sight of the muddy foot prints that Bill and Charlie Weasley had imprinted on her spotless white carpet. Jabbing her finger at Dumbledore she demanded. "Who is going to clean this up? Do you know how much that cost, Weasley? More than you'll ever earn in your life!"
She was quickly silenced though, by Tonks who mumbled on about white carpets being impractical. Then they quickly disbanded a group of Death Eaters in the Great Hall. Heading for the dungeons where they hoped they were not too late.
Severus stirred as he heard someone like Albus Dumbledore clear his throat. Blinking as the dawn's light shone through the barred window of the dungeon, he released that he was not dreaming. Standing at the door to the cell was Albus, a flushing red Arthur Weasley and Tonks with her back turn muttering "Oh my!"
Looking down, he released lying with his head in his lap was a very naked Remus Lupin. To preserve the still sleeping, werewolf's modesty Severus reached to the floor and picket up his and Remus's discarded shirts. He spread them over Remus sleeping form. Before Albus unlocked the door and sent Tonks away. Meanwhile, a sleepy Remus was just waking as the metal door squealed as it was pushed open.
Remus woke with a jolt, bolting upright from Severus's lap and whispering. "Severus." He then turned to face the confused look of Arthur but the very amused look of Albus, before sinking back into the safe warmth of Severus's now healed shoulder.
"Arthur, perhaps you could go see if Bill and Charlie would allow us to borrow their out robes." Albus suggested at seeing how uncomfortable Arthur looked.
With that Arthur Weasley left the dungeons and did not return.
"I am glad to see you both made it through the night." Albus said looking from Severus to Remus. "But how did you survive the night?"
Weakly Remus asked the question. "We're mates."
"I see." Albus said.
Just then Bill appeared with Charlie's and his over robes. Standing, Severus helped Remus dress in the borrowed robe of Bills. He declined Charlie's opting to remain in Remus's robe and dress in his own ruined clothing. After dressing and helping Remus to his feet by supporting his weight, Severus followed the solemn faced Albus up the stairs to the Great Hall were Arthur had prepared the chimney to floo directly to the hospital wing, where no doubt an anxious Poppy would be waiting for news of her two precious boys.
