A/N: Read and Review! Enjoy the chapter! :-D
Harry's stomach dropped to the bottom of his stomach. There were about eight or so death eaters standing around outside, all in black hooded coats. The cat, or Professor McGonagall, narrowed its eyes and darted across the lawn and seemed to be talking with one of Mrs. Figg's cats, who Harry recognized as 'Pumpkin.'
"Harry?" asked Lenore quietly. "I'm beginning to feel a bit insecure. I thought the reason I came here was because I'd be safer?" Harry laughed in a hollow voice.
"Am I ever safe?" he asked. "Well, they know I'm here, but the real question is, can they get in?"
"They probably don't know that McGonagall and Lupin are here," reasoned Lenore.
"True," said Harry, as he studied the figures below. One of them was most definitely Lucius Malfoy- there was no mistaking the pale hair. And was that Bellatrix Lestrange? But she had gone to Azkaban last year… but ever since the dementors left, it was probably quite easy for anyone to escape, which was not a very comforting thought. The Death Eaters were sort of huddled together at the moment. Harry moved away from the blinds, which flapped shut, and grasped his wand. "Ready?" he asked Lenore.
"Ready fro what?" asked Dudley. "What's outside? Let me see! Dad's going to be so mad if it's more of your kind, you know…"
"Well, Big D, we don't exactly want these particular people of 'our kind' as you so nicely put it, here. So we have to go outside and fight. See you later," said Lenore offhandedly. She then turned to Harry. "So are we flooing somewhere, you think?" Harry arched his eyebrows.
"Floo? Where from, though? This is a Muggle house."
"But doesn't that squib woman live near here?" asked Lenore, frowning. "Can't we go from her house?"
"No; no," said Harry thoughtfully. "She lives three streets over; we'd never make it before being blown into smithereens." Harry watched as Lenore paced over to the window and looked outside.
"Harry?"
"Yes?" he asked, thinking as quickly as possible. How were they going to get out? They at least had to stall until Remus or McGonagall brought in reinforcements… But what if Remus wasn't near here, and he'd just somehow replied very quickly? What if that cat was just a cat and not McGonagall? His stomach swooped. They were in trouble!
"Like… well, the Death Eaters, like, aren't outside anymore." Suddenly the house was too quiet. Harry paused.
"Don't move!" he whispered urgently. He turned to Dudley. "Are your parents home?" he asked. He didn't care for them at all, but he wouldn't like their deaths on his conscience if Death Eaters were in the house.
"No," whispered Dudley loudly. ("Shh!" hissed Lenore.) "They went out on a drive in the new car…" Harry nodded. Suddenly, a voice floated up the stairs.
"Wittle baby Potty… where are you?" cackled an all too familiar voice. Harry gripped his wand and hatred and started towards the door.
"No!" said Lenore, stopping him. "We need to get away, you idiot! Don't go chasing them!" She nervously bit her fingernails. Suddenly, she looked excited, as if an idea had popped into her mind. "Dudley!" she whispered.
"What?" he asked fearfully.
"Do you have a black cloak with a hood?" He thought slowly and then nodded.
"I think so… As a matter of fact, yes I actually do. But I'm nto telling you why…"
"Good. I don't want to know," scoffed Lenore. "But where is it?" Dudley opened up his closet and sifted it out."
"Great!" whispered Lenore. "And it goes past your ankles… Okay, put it on, and put on the hood.
"Why?" asked Dudley impatiently.
"DO you want to live?"
Dudley nodded and pulled the cloak over himself. "Good; good," whispered Lenore.
"Suddenly, Harry's heart began pounding very hard. Bellatrix was in his room, next door."
"Come out Potter!" he heard her saying. "I know you're in here… no need to be afraid. We won't hurt you. Much." She laughed coldly.
"Dudley," said Lenore frantically. "Go out there, and pretend to be Goyle. Say that you looked in here and 'the boy' isn't here. Then say you're going to look around outside of the house. When you get outside, walk normally to the corner. Then, take off that cloak and run as fast as you can to Mrs. Figg's house! She'll understand… tell her what happened. Can you do this? It's the only way you'll live. We can Apparate." Harry was struck by Lenore's brilliant idea. How could she come up with something like that?
Dudley nodded. "Are you sure it won't get me killed or something?" he asked. "What about my computer?" he then demanded.
"Dudley! DO you want to live?" demanded Harry quietly. Dudley nodded sullenly. "The go!" Dudley nodded again.
"We'll probably see you tonight, if they take you to Headquarters," said Lenore. "Good luck, and thanks for your help."
"Bye," said Dudley, looking very frightened. He pulled the hood up.
"Go!" hissed Harry. With that, Dudley exited the room.
"Crabbe! What are you doing in there? You're supposed to be downstairs!" came Bellatrix's angry voice.
"Uh…" stuttered Dudley, "I'm Goyle…"
"Same thing," said Bellatrix exasperatedly.
"Well.. uh, the boy isn't in there. I checked."
"Did I ask you? No. Get out of my sight before I hex you, you big dolt."
"Er… all right, then," said Dudley nervously. "I'll check outside for him…"
"You do that," said Bellatrix in a mock-patient voice. "Now OUT!" The next thing Harry heard was his cousin thundering down the stairs and the front door swinging open. Lenore opened a blind and peered out of it.
"My, he doesn't run very fast," she observed. "Now where should we Apparate?" She locked the door apprehensively.
"Hogsmeade?" asked Harry; it was the first place that entered his mind. Lenore nodded. Suddenly the doorknob rattled.
"Avada Kedavra!" yelled a voice.
"You idiot!" shouted Malfoy, as he hurried upstairs, "You can't get doors to unlock by hitting them with a killing curse!"
"Goyle said they weren't in there," called Bellatrix.
"No I didn't!" came a voice.
"Then it was Crabbe," she called back.
"I didn't say that," someone grunted.
"Just get outside, both of you," hissed Avery. Harry looked at Lenore.
"The Hogwarts gates?" he whispered. She nodded. "One… two… THREE!"
Lenore and Harry both Apparated away as the door flew open.
After a huge lurch and a whirl of colors, Harry opened his eyes to find himself where he wanted to be. Hogwarts magnificently towered behind the lake. He looked around to see Lenore pop up right beside him.
"Hi!" she said happily. "Whew. That was close!"
"I know," said Harry seriously. "Too close. Thank Merlin we made it out… who knows what could've happened."
"Yeah," sighed Lenore. "But we should get in touch with some Order members soon, don't you think?" Harry nodded.
"You're completely right. But do you want to get a Butterbeer or something first?"
"Yeah," said Lenore. "That sounds great. Er… do you have any money on you, per chance?" Harry sighed.
"Of course not… Ah, well. I suppose we should Floo to the Burrow or somewhere?" Lenore nodded. They started walking towards the center of the village. The scenery was quite nice in mid-summer. The climate was actually quite warm, and, though it was rather moist as well, it was very nice compared to the bitter temperatures of their winter visits.
"Wait," said Harry suddenly. "Maybe we should just go to Hagrid's and Floo from there…"
"Is his hut connected to the Network?" asked Lenore thoughtfully.
Harry shrugged. "Dunno. But we should probably go there anyway; it might be safest."
"Okay then," said Lenore. "I just want to get out quickly. Is it just me or does the village seem a bit… empty?" Harry looked around. Sure enough, there was hardly a sole in sight. He squinted towards the shops, which were a pretty good distance away. There were only about five people that Harry could even see, and all of them were nearly running.
"IS SOMETHING WRONG?" called Lenore. "WHY IS EVERYONE RUNNING?"
Several people glanced their way, but only one answered. "WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING? DO YOU KNOW HOW UNSAFE IT IS, WITH ALL OF THE ATTACKS GOING ON? GO HOME, AND LOCK YOUR DOORS!" The woman that had yelled then scurried away. Harry and Lenore exchanged uneasy glances. They walked for a minute in silence, before Lenore's voice found its way into Harry's head.
"Harry?" she asked.
Yeah? He replied.
"Don't look now… but is it just me, or is that orange cat next to you following us?" Harry immediately looked down. "You idiot! Keep looking ahead! Don't let it know you're suspicious…"
Sorry, replied Harry. He looked at the cat again from the corner of his eyes. It was orange and fluffy, and looked very familiar, though Harry had no idea why. It was staring cautiously at Harry and Lenore and was avidly following them. Yes, definitely suspicious, thought Harry to Lenore. And it's staring at us! What do you reckon it is? Animagus? Death Eater?
"Probably. Look at that mark on it's front leg; it looks almost like a Dark Mark…"
You're right, thought Harry, peering inconspicuously at it's white spot on it's arm. On three, I'll put it in a body bind. You grab it and we'll start questioning it.
"Why do I have to touch it?"
Just do it, 'Nore. One… The cat was still following them, unawares. Two… It actually had a bright red collar around its neck. Harry vaguely wondered if it would electrocute them or something. Three!
"Petrificus Toatlus!" yelled Harry, spinning around quickly. A bright red light shot at the cat and it it full-on. It keeled over, hissing angrily. Harry looked at Lenore, and could tell that she wasn't going to pick it up.
"Okay, cat," said Harry, sounding stupid. "Show yourself. Why are you following us? Who are you? Who do you work for? Come on! Show yourself!"
The cat just hissed again and attempted to roll over. Lenore giggled. "Tell us who you are or we'll put a tickling charm on you!" she warned. Harry scowled.
"I have no qualms killing a cat," he lied. "If you don't change into a human this second, say good-bye." Harry honestly hadn't thought that this would work. But a moment later, amazingly, the cat slowly began growing, thought it was still in a body-bind.
The man it changed into also looked very familiar. He had dark auburn hair and glasses. He was tall, Harry could tell. "Please… I'm on your side; I'm in the Order. Let me explain, Harry; Lenore!" Suddenly, Harry's eyes fell upon the Ministry emblem on the man's robes, and he remembered how he knew him.
"Mr. Perkins?" asked Harry incredulously. It was Mr. Weasley's friend from the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department!
"Oh! You remember me," said Mr. Perkins, sounding rather relieved. "Er.. I'll explain, but d'you think you could… you know…" His eyes motioned down to his body.
"How come he's talking?" asked Lenore, disappointed. "You did the spell wrong, Harry!" Harry rolled his eyes and lifted the spell, helping Mr. Perkins up.
"So you're in the Order?" asked Harry quietly. The man nodded.
"We need proof," whispered Lenore into Harry's ears. He nodded.
"Who owns Headquarters?"
"You do," said Mr. Perkins. Harry and Lenore exchanged glances. Too easy.
"What is the screaming portrait of?"
"The late Mrs. Black," replied Perkins, grinning slightly.
"Still too easy," said Lenore. Harry nodded and then thought of the perfect question.
"Who was the traitor last year?" A Death Eater would probably answer, but an Order member would know that not all of them were told.
"I don't know," said Mr. Perkins, looking apprehensive again. "Were we supposed to know? When did we find out? I didn't even know we caught the traitor!"
"We did," said Harry in an undertone. "But good. You weren't supposed to know." Perkins smiled.
"Umm… Mr. Perkins?" asked Lenore.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Er… Why were you a cat?"
"It's a long story," he sighed.
"We have time," said Harry. They were very close to the lake by now, and Harry sat down on the misty grass. Lenore and Mr. Perkins sat as well. Harry watched as the man pulled off his glasses and wiped them off tiredly before replacing them.
"Where to start… Okay. Harry. When you were placed with the Dursley's, you were given a number of people to guard you, I guess you can say. Mrs. Figg was one of them, and her house was kind of a Headquarters or something. Well, I also was one of them. I could transfigure myself into a cat, of course, and so I acted as one of her pets. It was a favor to Lily. I never really knew James, but I was a family friend to the Evans'. So I helped watch you for a few years, spending some time at Mrs. Figg's or the Dursley's and then going to work. I also had a family to raise, so I didn't get out there much, but it was often enough. Of course, after the events of your fourth year, I rejoined the Order immediately, as a low-key member, kind of. You know, you two never needed to leave the house. We were all around them. There were at least two Order members or Aurors for every one of them. We were all going to blast at once if they found you. But I volunteered to go follow you, and, well… here we are."
"Is Dudley okay?" asked Lenore.
"Yes, yes… and so are the parents. That was a very good idea, Lenore, by the way. Oh, and Snape asked me to Legilimens you, but I think I'm not rather up for it at the moment."
"You're friends with Snape?" asked Lenore skeptically.
"Acquaintances," said Perkins shortly. He paused for a moment.
"You have a collar on your neck," said Lenore bluntly. Harry had indeed noticed; it looked quite out of place.
"Why does it have all those buttons?" asked Harry. The red collar was covered in different shaped buttons that were all different colors. Perkins slowly removed the collar, grinning. Lenore reached over Harry and started to touch a purple, shiny star. Perkins' eyes widened.
"No! They're Portkeys!" But it was too late. Lenore was touching the button already, and her arm was touching Harry's, and the collar was touching Perkins. Harry took one quick glance at Perkins again, to see that he looked absolutely horrified.
A/N: Sorry for the Cliffie! I will be updating soon, so make sure to review! Thanks!
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