Chapter 24: It Happens In One Week
Thanks for all the reviews. No Tom in this one.
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Amelia Bones was having a relatively good morning. No one had died, and no one was missing. Umbridge didn't count. Even if Fudge was still on her arse about finding her, he hadn't been this morning. Susan had been in a good mood when she had left her this morning. So, she counted it as a good one. She really hoped that nothing came up to ruin this mood.
She was just glad that Riddle had reined in his Death Eaters to just firing the idiots that worked at the ministry. For now. She knew he was planning on them raiding Azkaban, and she knew it was soon. With the funds that he and Black had given her department, and what he strongarmed Fudge in to allocating her, she already hired back many of the laid off Aurors. They were training as she was sipping her morning tea.
Sirius Black came into her office right then. Whether it was to ruin her good morning or not remained to be seen. He took a seat and handed her a sealed letter.
"It's from Tom," Sirius said, nodding to the missive he just handed her. He crossed his legs and sat back and waited for her to read it. He knew what it said, mostly. Both Snape and Harry let him know what the Dark Lord was planning. Razing Azkaban in a week. He was all for it. He hoped that Tom had a plan for the dementors.
She took the letter and read it quickly. So, she had a week to get her Aurors up to par. That wasn't much time. They were mostly okay, but few were up to taking on hardened criminals. Then again, most of the Death Eaters hadn't seen action since the last war, and Tom wasn't training them.
"One week," she said to the man across from her. He looked happy about the news.
"I know," he said, then added, "Harry told me. Remus wants in. He's got it bad for Greyback. He wants to deal the killing blow." He had told his friend he'd ask.
"I didn't think he had that kind of personality," Amelia said, remembering the kind and gentle man she had met a few times. If she remembered correctly, he was rather shy and wouldn't hurt a fly unless provoked.
"He's gone through a bit of an epiphany," Sirius said with a smirk. He really liked the new version of his friend. Moony was always right there on the surface. "He's become one with the wolf, but not like Greyback. He's got far better control. He's also in the know," he finished, looking at her with a knowing look.
"He knows about Tom?" she asked, warily looking around. While her office was secure, she was of Moody's school of paranoia. Nowhere was 100% safe.
"Yes," was all the answer she got.
"All those in the know can participate, bar Harry," she said, thinking hard on that. Normally she would keep civilians out of this type of operation, but she was grossly outnumbered. She only had about twelve good people who could defend the prison, and only she could control the dementors. And that was only with a certain amulet. She needed permission to have it. She'd get that from Fudge, she hoped. "I need to talk to Tom," she said, hoping the man would tell Fudge to get the amulet.
"I'll send him a message," Sirius said with a nod. He'd call Snape when he got home.
"Can you cast the Patronus?" she asked, looking at the man who had suffered from the demons longer than anyone she knew.
"No, but Remus, Moody and Tonks can," Sirius said with a great deal of regret. He had been able to before Azkaban, but now… There was little hope that he'd ever be able to again.
"I knew that Moody could, but I didn't know Tonks could," she said, wondering when the younger woman had learned.
"Remus taught her when he was practicing with Harry," Sirius said, looking for something to keep his hands occupied. His fingers were getting twitchy. He saw one of her quills on the desk and picked it up and started twirling it between his fingers.
"Aren't you taking Miss Granger to the hospital today?" she asked, noticing his edginess.
"Remus is taking her now, along with Harry," he told her, still twirling the quill. "I didn't want to be there. I might lose myself. Even though I already know, I don't have complete control over my emotions sometimes."
"Oh," was all she said, suddenly understanding his nervousness.
"We're getting Harry tested. He thinks that Tom got his potions, but I think they are still in his system. If they are, then they'll know right away that Harry was potioned to be loyal to Albus. Then it will be a hop, skip and jump to pinning the other children's potioning on him. Who by the way, according to Snape, has not been seen in a day or two," Sirius said, looking at the feather rotate back and forth in his hand.
"Albus is missing?" she asked, alarmed at that news. She did make a few notes on what he said, and was going to grab those reports as soon as they came in.
"We're not sure," the dogman answered. "It's not unlike him to take days to decompress. Well, I told you about the last Order meeting, right?" he asked, looking at her with a questioning look.
"No, but Tonks did," she said, nodding in understanding. "Albus might be laying low until the rumors die down," she suggested. She was thinking it might be more than that, and she would be keeping her ear to the ground. There were a lot of people talking about his dalliances with Grindlewald. It had been well known when he was younger, but most had forgotten. The older folks were more than happy to reminisce now. They were dragging Albus's name through the mud without even trying.
"Anyway, Snape is going to try and get word to Albus about the breakout," Sirius said, hoping to change the subject to something besides Albus's affair with a Dark Lord. He had better things to do with his time, like match his socks.
"How will he do that if Albus is missing?" she asked.
"He's going to leak it to Mundungus," Sirius said, thinking that was a great idea.
"That'll do it," she agreed.
"How did the questioning go at Hogwarts? About how you expected?" Sirius asked, hoping for some good news, but not holding his breath.
"Yes, no one knew anything," she said, with a sigh. "The professors that were there didn't know anything, and the house elves were told not to tell. I gave the order that they are not to put any potions in the food or drink unless it is from the mediwitch. I have the power to belay any other order to the contrary. Only the Minister can override mine," she explained.
She just hoped that the little guys didn't get punished for disobeying a direct order from whoever was potioning the children. She did tell them to come to her if that happened and she would do what she could for them. While there weren't many, there were a few laws on the books, if you dug deep enough, that protected elves. You just had to know where to look.
"What if it was Poppy?" Sirius asked, not sure if he liked that order.
"She can't order the entire population of the school to be dosed unless it is an emergency. Like dementor exposure. And even then, there can be no daily emergencies," she said, shaking her head. She had made sure to cover that as well. "I also made it clear to Poppy that she is not to administer potions without the patient knowing. It is part of the normal medical practice. I don't think Poppy is doing it. She was quite affronted that someone was giving potions without her knowledge. It could affect how she treats someone if they are injured."
"Oh, I didn't even think of that," Sirius said, knowing that some potions just didn't mix well.
"Neither did I," Bones confessed.
"I gave Hermione a ring, did you get one for Susan?" Black asked, remembering how grateful the bushy-haired girl had been. She had been less bossy according to Harry, but she was still a bit pushy. Still, she didn't nag near as much as she did last year. She didn't demand to sleep on the fourth floor, nor did she harp on him about his homework. She was still hung-up about being a house elf owner, but that was to be expected. Last he heard Winky was still recovering. She had her own bed in Hermione's room but was still sleeping off the month's long bender.
"Yes, and one for her friend Hannah. I didn't think I'd need to get her one for a few years yet. You know, when she got to marrying age," Amelia said, thinking of those men that would use potions to get the girl to fall in love to get to her aunt.
"I was thinking the same about Harry. Now though…" he said, trailing off. He hated that all this was happening. "Well, I'd better get back and see what the news is," he said, slapping his hands to his knees and raising.
"Make sure they send a report here, so we can file it correctly," she said, waving him off. She read the missive from Tom one more time and then burned it. Sirius raised an eyebrow at her actions, to which she raised a returning one. She thought it was quite obvious what she was doing.
"I will," he said, departing the room.
"A week," she said to no one, blowing out a breath of frustrated air. She wasn't sure she could be ready in a week. She went to the door and called Kingsley and a few others into her office. It was time to plan. She'd need to get ahold of Moody. If she was going to have civilians there, they needed to be trained too.
Hphphp
Sirius made it home and waited for the others to return. They shouldn't be too long. So, he went to the kitchen and waited. First thing he did was call Snape at Hogwarts. "Snape," he said, his head in the fire.
"What do you want, Black?" the dour man asked, not happy to see this man's face in his fireplace. He might have to be cordial but that didn't mean he had to be nice.
"Bones wants to talk to Riddle," Black said, giving his message, he pulled his head from the fire. He then decided to call Moody. He stood before the floo and called the man. "Moody," he said with his foot in the fire.
"What do you want?" the grumpy man said, his foot also in the fire.
"Come for lunch," Sirius said, hoping the man took him up on his offer. He liked Moody and wanted him to socialize with the group more. Alastor spent too much time by himself. He wasn't getting any younger.
"Why?"
"I have news, and we have plans to make. Well, after lunch, since the Granger girl is here, and she's not in the know," the dogman said, remembering that Hermione wouldn't be brought in on the whole Tom thing. He was 100% behind that plan. Harry was right, none of his other friends were going to be brought in, there was no reason to tell her.
"I'll come in about an hour and a half then," Moody said, not wanting to make nice with civilians.
"I'll see you then, then," Sirius said, taking his foot from the fire and moving back to the table. "Dobby, what's for lunch?" he asked the elf, who was puttering around the stove.
"I is being making toad in hole with gravy," the elf said, proud of himself.
"Sounds delicious," the man said, breathing deep to smell the sausage and loaf cooking.
It was then that the rest of them came in, including Tonks. "We're back," called Harry from the door.
"In the kitchen," Sirius called to them.
They all came trooping in, looking none the worse for wear, bar Hermione, who was dazed.
"I got the results," Harry said, handing over his parchment. "You were right, they were still in my system. And since the potions that were given to me were stronger there was more left than others. They can be traced towards Dumbledore and Ron, but not Ginny," he finished, letting the parchment go when his godfather took it. Hermione was standing next to him, staring at nothing.
"Probably because there wasn't as much for the youngest Weasley. Remus, do me a favor and call Arthur, will you?" Sirius said, wanting to get this out in the open with the man before it became public. He knew Arthur was wavering on the whole Dumbledore thing, and this would push the man to their side. "Ask him to come over."
"Sure, Sirius, when did you want to talk to him?" Remus asked, going to the floo.
"Moody is coming after lunch, see if he can get time off work then," Black said, reading the report, then he tucked it in his robe. "Hermione, were there any in your system?" he asked, seeing that the poor girl was in shock.
Harry answered for her as he guided her to a chair. "No, she's mostly clean. There were minute traces that the other students had, but they were very small," he said, patting his friend on the back and then handing her a glass of water that appeared on the table. "Come on, Hermione, snap out of it."
"What's wrong with her?" Tonks asked, not having been at the hospital with them. She had just come home for lunch.
"She got too nosey for her own good and read my report. She's shocked that the headmaster would dose me with loyalty potions. I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen," Harry said, feeling sorry for his friend. She had been doing so well since she got there, too.
"She'll snap out of it," Tonks said with little sympathy. It was the girl's own fault for reading something that wasn't any of her business. For all she said her bossiness was from potions, those potions had to have something to work with in the first place.
Remus came back and said, "He'll be here." He took his regular seat and waited for Dobby to serve the meal.
When everyone had sat, the meal appeared and everyone, but Hermione, served themselves some food. Harry put some in front of his friend in hopes that she'd get out of her funk, but she just sat and stared.
Tonks got tired of looking at the girls staring and used her wand to throw some water on her face. "Hermione!" she shouted, making Hermione flinch. "Knock it off, you aren't that delicate," she snapped.
"What?... Huh?..." Hermione said, looking around and getting a confused look on her face. "How did we get here?" she asked, making Harry laugh at her.
"Merlin, you were really out of it," he said, snickering. He picked up his fork and started eating. She would be fine now.
"Aren't we going to talk about what was in your report?" she asked, looking at all the adults at the table. They must know something. They all looked at her like they knew something. Would they tell her?
"No, we're going to let the Aurors do their job," Sirius said with a firm tone. There was no way he was going to tell her anything.
"But," was as far as she got, when Tonks raised her wand in a threatening manner.
"Don't make me drench you again," the pink-haired woman said, her eyes narrow. "The Aurors are investigating, you leave it alone," she insisted. It was her job after all that the girl was questioning.
"Fine," Hermione said, then started in on her meal. She knew when to leave well enough alone.
"After lunch, you and Harry can go to the library. Kreacher will tell you what books you can read, and what books you can't. You can only take out what he says you can, understand?" Sirius said, wanting to make sure she understood. "There are books in there that will physically hurt you. Don't touch anything that you don't have permission to touch," he reiterated.
"I promise," Hermione said, making a crossing motion over her heart.
"Harry, the same goes for you," Sirius said, not as concerned that Harry would try to read something he was told not to.
"I'll be careful," Harry said, eating some sausage dipped in gravy.
"Good," his godfather said as he too started consuming his meal. They ate in silence for a while and soon enough it was gone. The two teens went off to the library with Kreacher as their chaperon, and Dobby cleaned the table from everything but the cups. He made sure there was a teapot and two more cups.
Arthur Weasley came first, then Mad-eye Moody. They both sat at the table and were given tea. "Arthur first. Here," Sirius said, handing him Harry's report.
Arthur read it and paled. "Damn it," he said, slamming the parchment on the table. "The more I learn about that old man, the less I like him," he said, putting his head in his hands.
"What?" Moody asked, reaching for the report, he waited for the nod of consent from Sirius. he growled as he read it. "Damn it, Albus," he said, he too slammed it down on the table.
"We figured he was potioning the student body, why are you so upset over this?" Tonks asked, picking up the report and reading Ron's name. "Oh," was all she said, looking with pity to Arthur.
"Yes, oh," Sirius said, taking the parchment from her and tucking it back in his pocket. "Do you think Molly knows?" he asked Mr. Weasley. He was really hoping the man didn't take offense and had an honest answer.
"Yes, I do believe she does," the man said, his face still in his hands. "This will not stand," he said, lifting his head. "We've been fighting. Since the last meeting. This tips the scales. No more. I'm putting my foot down. She will either tow the line, or I'll cast her out," Arthur said, getting up and going to the floo. "Thank you for pointing this out. If you see Albus before me, let him know that he is no longer welcome at the Burrow." He threw some powder in the floo and went home.
"I almost feel bad for Molly," Tonks said, then looked at those who were looking at her queerly. "I said, almost."
"Anyway, Tom is going to raze Azkaban in one week. We have been invited to the party. Snape is going to try and leak it to Albus, if he shows his face before then. If not, then via Mundungus," Sirius said, letting Tonks and Moody know what was going on. Remus had found out last night when Snape dropped by. And again, when Harry let them know what Tom had written him.
"You are sure we can trust him on this?" Moody wanted to know. He didn't trust Riddle one little bit.
"Yes, on this I trust him. He wants them dead. They are a threat to Harry," Sirius said, knowing it was the truth in his very bones.
"I am taking your word on this," Mad-eye said, his magical eye trained on the two teens in the library. They were just reading, nothing interesting.
"If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that Tom Riddle feels like a father towards Harry Potter. Harry thinks of him as an uncle," Sirius said, looking at that one good eye. He didn't flinch when the magical eye trained on him.
"So you keep saying."
"I, for one, will relish getting some payback," Remus said, with a bit of bite to his tone. "Greyback is going down." It was a lifelong dream of his to put down the werewolf who had turned him. He was going to be there, even if he just had to show up by his lonesome.
"For the next week, we are going to be training to work as a group. I have a basement here, and we can work during the night when the kids are in bed," the dogman said, looking at his cohorts. They all nodded back. A few hours a night seemed like a small price to pay. "Alastor, if you would do the training," he suggested, hoping the man would take him up on that.
"Like I'd let any of you do it," the man said, with a wicked grin. "Bones already asked me to do so," he added. She had called him right after Black had.
A shiver ran down their spines, because with that look they all knew they were in for a week of hell.