Chapter 8, Part II
Harry started up the lift and got out on the floor which he knew the Longbottoms were in. Surely Order members would be found there, if nowhere else? He wondered how long St. Mungo's had been run by people on Voldemort's side. Of course there was Lucius Malfoy, but Harry honestly couldn't think of many people besides him, nevertheless people who didn't denounce Voldemort once he disappeared. Had someone ended up purposely making powerful witches and wizards sicker? Again the Devil's snare sent to Bode in Harry's fifth year popped into his mind.
He stepped out in a deserted corridor very nervously. It was so quiet! If the Death Eaters were sticking to their plan, wouldn't they be here in only minutes? The hospital should be in chaos right now, not quiet and empty! Suddenly, as if to answer Harry's thoughts, an old witch with graying hair walking with a limp came walking slowly down the hall. Harry tried to look inconspicuous, his eyes darting into the open doors to look for anyone he knew. He nervously pushed his bangs to cover his scar as the old witch drew closer. As they passed, Harry caught her eyes for a moment.
"Wotcher," said the witch in a somewhat crinkly voice. Harry stopped and looked at her.
"Tonks?" he whispered disbelievingly.
"Yes, you idiot!" she snarled in a rushed whisper. "What do you think you're bloody doing here? We told you to stay at Headquarters!" Suddenly a thought popped into Harry's head. What if this wasn't Tonks?
"What were all of the babies' names born today, and who were all their godparents?" he asked hurriedly, gripping his wand.
The woman sighed. "There was Austin, whose godparents were you and Calista, Adele, whose godparents were Charlie and Gabrielle, and Laela, whose godparents are Fleur's best friend Danielle and Bill's best friend, Gavin Prewett, who's also his cousin. Happy?"
"Prewett?" asked Harry.
"On Molly's side, you dolt!"
"The name sounds familiar," commented Harry truthfully. How had he heard that name before? Prewett....
Tonks sighed. "Molly's two brothers, Gideon and Fabian were in the Order last time around. Poor blokes died like heroes, as far as I remember. Gavin was one of Fabian's kids." Harry was surprised to learn this. He had known since last year what Mrs. Weasley's maiden name was, but he'd never connected it with this before. It was no wonder why she was so frightened this time! At least two of her siblings had perished in the last war, and who knows who else… "Do you believe me now?" asked the woman.
"Yeah," said Harry. "Sorry for coming, but what's going on? Did you find the baby?"
"No," said Tonks sadly. "But the reason it's so quiet is because we're evacuating people right now. We're using some of Fred and George's inventions, actually, with silencing charms on them. We think the Death Eaters are already here," she continued in an even quieter voice. "But they're waiting until they see one of us. We think the entrances are being blocked, or they're trying. We have people guarding them as well, and they saw you all come in. One of the fireplaces has already broken out in battle, and we have three Deatheaters down and one Auror. But that's all the Death Eaters we've seen so far. But we think they're here. And you, Ginny, Hermione, Lenore, and Draco are in big trouble right now, and are in mortal peril if you're spotted by a Death Eater! So I want you to Floo to the place where you had protection." Harry frowned.
"What?" he asked, puzzled.
"There might be people in this hallway," she whispered urgently. "Think about… what was it? Oh, yes. The place where we met." Harry frowned once more. How could she mean the Dursley's?
"You're sure?" asked Harry unbelievingly.
"Yes! Come on; we're going to the Fireplaces."
"What about the others?" asked Harry.
"They'll be there shortly," said Tonks in a soothing voice.
"I am not going without them," said Harry decisively.
"Yes, you are!" said Tonks hotly. "Come on!"
"No!" said Harry angrily. "I wasn't there for Sirius! I'm waiting for my friends…" Tonks sighed exasperatedly.
"Harry! Please! I am begging you- the Order needs you! Your friends will be there!" Suddenly, Ron came bursting through the corridor door.
"Harry! It's not Tonks!" yelled Ron loudly. Harry turned in surprise.
"Yes it is!" said Tonks, starting to morph into her real form. "See?" Harry looked back at Ron. Suddenly another woman burst through the door. Another Tonks—"
"Is she a metamorphmagus, too?" asked Harry quickly. Ron nodded.
"This is the real Tonks, though, Harry!"
"Don't go to the Dursley's Harry!" the new woman warned. "They're waiting- it's a trap! Here- take this portkey! Quickly!" Harry looked around, very unsure of what to do. Suddenly both Tonks had their wands out, pointed at each other.
"Harry! Trust me," gasped Ron. But how was Ron here? He was at Grimmauld Place…
"Ron!" yelled Harry, wand out, and backing up slowly towards the door. "What was the dragon's name in our first year, who was my first date, and what was Hermione holding when she was petrified?"
"Norbert, Cho, and—the page from the basilisk book and a mirror!" he said hurriedly.
"What are you most afraid of-?"
"Spiders!" yelled Ron. "Now come on, please!" Harry, though he had a horrible feeling, grabbed the Portkey, along with Ron, that the second Tonks threw. A moment later he fell to the ground in a very cold, dark house. There were murmurs of voices for a moment, and a second later, Harry was greeted by a very not-so-comforting voice.
"Potter; Weasley, get off the floor."
Harry groaned and rolled over, sitting up. "Snape?" he asked disbelievingly. Where was he? A moment later, Ron voiced Harry's question.
"Where are we?"
"Even though this is the summer holiday, I am still your Professor and will be addressed as so!" snarled Snape. Harry could tell he was in a very bad mood.
"Legilimens-" began Snape suddenly, but Harry, almost expecting this, had a shield up before Snape had finished the curse.
"Good, Potter," he said shortly. Harry rose to his feet. The room they were in was dark and empty. It was lit poorly with several candles and on the far end of it stood a large fireplace, which looked as if it hadn't been used in years. The room was very chilly, and somehow reminded him of Headquarters as he'd first seen it. The windows were boarded up, and long, black draperies made of velvet and silk hung from the high ceiling. Snape observed Harry and Ron looking around for a moment. Nobody else was in the room.
"Where are we, Professor?" asked Ron loudly.
"We are in Siberia." He answered simply.
"Siberia?" asked Harry and Ron at once.
"Yes. We are currently in the house Calista stayed in for fifteen years. We're using it as a temporary hideout, as it's rather large, and nearly better protected than the Black Manor." Harry looked around, in a rather bad temper. "Who else is here? And why are you here? Professor?" he added contemptibly. For once, Snape looked quite amused.
"Well, I am here to tend to several… invalids being evacuated here, and at the moment, it is only Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Calista, Charlie Weasley, you two, and myself who are here."
"Where are the Lupins?" asked Harry. "And Hermione and Lenore?"
"The Lupins are at Grimmauld Place and are quite safe. I believe Miss Felkes is in the Black Forest, where Evelyn stayed, and I have no idea where Miss Granger is, nor do I care." Harry noticed Ron tense up next to him.
"Hermione's not back? Is she still at St. Mungo's?" asked Ron worriedly.
"I have already said that I don't know. Last I heard about her, Lupin mentioned her name on the list of people's names to release to the press who were inside the Pyramid."
"Why did we do that?" asked Harry. "Won't the Muggles be sure to notice us now? And Death Eaters are probably working on opening the pyramid everyday! How is it protected?"
"That, Potter, is not your business, but I assure you, it is well protected." Harry nodded.
"Fine. Where is everyone?"
"I have no idea," said Snape, bored. "But don't get lost while you're searching. This is a big manor which holds very dark magic. I am not in the mood to form a rescue team to save your sorry asses." Ron's eyes widened.
"We're not in school, Weasley. I can use profanity when I so wish."
"Er… right," said Ron, slowly backing out of the room. Harry quickly followed Ron out the door to find himself in a room nearly as big as the Great Hall in Hogwarts. The ceiling was very tall and demeaning. Several spiral staircases wound up beyond the ceiling in different places, and doors dotted the walls.
"How would someone be able to live here alone for fifteen years?" marveled Ron. Suddenly a voice answered from an above balcony Harry hadn't noticed.
"It wasn't easy," came the dry voice of Calli. Harry looked up.
"Hello, Calli… er, Prof-"
"Harry, don't call me Professor," said Calista, laughing slightly, and starting down a staircase to meet Harry and Ron. "For two reasons. One, we're not in school. Two, I won't be teaching next year."
"You won't?" asked Harry quickly. "Just Evelyn, then?"
"No," sighed Calli. "We're too busy with Order work. Someone new will be teaching. You may know her, but I doubt it. She was Headgirl your first year of Hogwarts. She then entered Auror training but at the end decided she'd like to teach. And, be warned; she is no Order member. But not a Death Eater, either, I don't think."
"Who is she?" asked Ron, puzzled. "Why couldn't it be Professor Lupin?"
"Her name is Ceridwen Inmal. And Remus is spending a lot of his time doing Order work and trying to get legislation passed- he has a job in the Ministry now, and a son."
"So what exactly is going on?" asked Harry. "What happened with St. Mungo's? How long has it been under power of the other side? And why did they pick today to raid it?" Calista sighed.
"Let's sit down. Tea? Cocoa?" she offered, walking over to a large couch next to a coffee table.
"No, thanks," said Harry and Ron both, but Calli fixed herself tea. Finally, she sat down with them and began talking.
"Well, it seems our Order has more spies than we previously thought. We can't trust anyone… today we realized that the hospital was going to be under siege, because for some reason someone wanted one of the babies that was born. Laela was taken. We asked ourselves how the Death Eaters would have access and then found from several undercover members, quite suddenly, alarming evidence that St. Mungo's was wholly given funds from people siding with Voldemort, or previously alleged Death Eaters. We believe Bagman has been the one watching to be sure previous Order members, like the Longbottoms, stayed ill. It may be too late for them all now- it's been so long, and—"
"Bagman?" asked Ron. "Isn't he the one who has Rita Skeeter blackmailed?" Calli nodded sadly. Suddenly a crash was heard from the other room- someone had portkeyed here. Harry arose and hurried into the room where Snape sat. It was Hermione, looking positively frightened.
A/N: Yay! Chapter is FINALLY up! :-D Thanks to all who reviewed! Tell me what you think of the chapter! The next update will be no later than July 3rd. Thanks!
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