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Chapter 22
During the week the members of the Order flitted in and out of the Three Broomsticks. Analise made sure to converse with them loudly so people sitting near could hear also, it was a good way to get gossip going.
Not to make it look too suspicious, they would talk about different topics then slip the journal in the conversation casually. Sure enough, one day while talking with Tonks they noticed a man who was leaning so far back in his chair he was in danger of falling out of it.
No sooner than Analise had the thought, he did fall out of it. She shot a triumphant smile at Tonks before rushing over to help the eavesdropper.
"Sir? Goodness, are you alright? Can I get you some ice. That looked painful." Analise gushed as she took in every detail of this man. He was quite short, with watery blue eyes and messy blonde hair. He looked like an overgrown rat and she knew at once she didn't trust him.
The small man shook her off determinedly as he removed himself from her grasp.
"I'm fine. No ice is needed." He said in a whiny voice. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm late for an appointment." He finished as he rushed out the door, glancing over his shoulders in obvious excitement.
She turned back to Tonks, who nodded at her and Disapparated with a pop. She then made her way to where she knew her Protectors were stationed, today it was Arthur and Severus. She closed the door behind her before she spoke.
"Did you see that?" She asked.
"We certainly did. And you can be sure that your message will be delivered to Voldemort himself." Arthur said.
"Who was it?" Analise asked curiously.
"Name is Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail." Snape injected smoothly.
"And he works for Voldemort? Why is he not on the Deatheater list?" She inquired.
"Because he's not a Deatheater. He's the loyal servant." Snape answered.
"Ahh." She said. "And he'll definitely tell Voldemort?"
"Probably doing it right now. Now you better get back out there before it looks too suspicious." Severus said.
"Tonks has gone to warn everyone at headquarters." Analise said as she turned to go.
"How long do you think before Voldemort comes?" She asked from the doorway.
"Couple of days probably." Snape answered. "Now please Analise, go."
She slipped out of the back room and stood behind the bar feeling very jumpy. Now every unknown wizard who came in was going to be a source for worry. It's going to be a long couple of days.
On the third day Analise began to wonder if Wormtail had told his master, since he had yet to show up. Every time the door clanged she looked up, expecting to find a wand pointed at her.
It was almost closing time and the bar was completely empty as she mindlessly scrubbed the tables.
She turned around to move on to the table next but instead ran into a solid object. She screamed in surprise and glanced up into the face of a hooded man. She was instantly on awares but tried to appear normal. At least my scream has the Protectors paying attention now, if they weren't before anyway.
"Sorry. You scared me." She said as she took a step backwards toward the bar. "What can I get for you?" She asked as natural as she could.
"I don't want anything to drink." The man said in a creepily hoarse voice.
"How can I help you then?" She asked with mock curiosity.
The man reached for his hood and pulled it down. It took everything Analise had not to scream again. He had glowing red eyes and very pale skin that was stretched almost too tightly over his face. You could clearly see his bones protruding making him look like a walking skeleton.
"Do you know who I am Analise Shimmer?" He asked in his eerie voice.
"No." She said.
"You lie. Do not lie to me Shimmer. I can be very unpleasant when lied to." Voldemort said as he grasped her arm tightly with his spindly fingers.
"Yes. I know who you are." She said as she looked down to see the red marks he was pressing into her skin. "Now let me go you're hurting me." She demanded as she reached for her wand with her free hand.
Voldemort shoved her back into the chair and pointed his own wand at her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said.
"Oh? And why wouldn't you?" She taunted.
"Fools and their bravery." He said snidely before answering. "Because, I have a little bargaining chip you see."
With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore took the chair opposite her. He was bound and gagged but alive nonetheless and Analise felt relief wash over her.
"Albus!" She cried before turning her attention back to Voldemort. "Let him go." She ordered.
"Can't. You see for each of my questions you refuse to answer Dumbledore will have an excruciating spell performed on him. Of course, we'll start out small. Do you understand?" He asked with a cold cackle. "Now about that journal. Tell me what you've heard."
Analise spit at the ground and watched as his red eyes became angry. He pointed his wand at Dumbledore and cried "Crucio!" Dumbledore instantly slid lower in his chair as the spell knocked him out.
"Now, tell me! Or suffer the consequences." He commanded.
She stubbornly remained silent, enraging Voldemort further. He pointed his wand at her and yelled "Expelliarmus!" She felt her wand fly out of her hand as she was knocked mercilessly from the chair. She landed with a loud oomph and quickly rolled under the table.
She heard Voldemort cry the stunning spell just a moment too late to hit her and Analise yanked Dumbledore out of his seat and pulled him under the table with her and began removing his bindings.
The crash of the doors as members of the Order spilled from the back and side rooms distracted Voldemort long enough for Analise to get her wand back.
"Accio wand!" She said amongst the commotion. It flew immediately from Voldemort's hand back to hers. She quickly revived Albus then she pointed it at back at Voldemort.
Spells began flying as Voldemort pointed his wand at the members surrounding him. Some of them hit but some of them missed as he was frantically outnumbered.
"Lupin watch it!" McGonagall warned as a spell was sent his way.
The warnings continued to be shouted out until only Tonks, Mundungus, Kingsley, and Molly were lay immobile on the floor from various stunning spells. Not too bad.
Voldemort ran over to where Analise stood and wrapped his fingers around her arm in effort to Disapparate with her but Remus and Snape teamed up on him and sent a stunner his way which hit him directly in the chest, knocking him backwards.
He was so powerful though the spell only lasted seconds before he was awake again but it was long enough for Analise to get away from him. He raised his wand at her and began to speak.
"You've taken my Deatheaters from me! Now you'll have to pay! Avada Ked..." He started with a sinister delight.
Remus whipped around in fear as he heard the killing curse and noticed that Weasley and Snape had done the same. He shared a quick look before the three of them simultaneously raised their wands and cried "Stupefy!" They watched as Voldemort fell to the floor a second time. The three men rushed over to a shocked Analise to make sure she was ok.
Voldemort rose again and glanced around at the twenty or so remaining Order members who all had their wands trained on him.
"This isn't over you filthy Mudblood lovers!" He roared and Disapparated in cloud of smoke.
As the room cleared, Analise looked around at the wrecked state of her bar and watched as the stunned victims awakened and shook the fog from their brains.
"Well, who needs a drink?" Analise asked as she turned a chair upright.