DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: ::chuckles softly:: I enjoy the banter regarding my thoughts on the prophecy. Never did I realize it would upset so many people. My thoughts are it is entirely too vague for the time JKR says she worked on it. There is definitely more to it then meets the eye. What I think it means, ah well that would be telling, making the story rather pointless, don't you think. I will tell you this, no I don't think it refers to poor Neville so leave him alone, he has enough problems.
Also, sorry for the slow updating this week, haven't been at my best.
Chapter 21
Contemplations
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were in the girls' room at 12 Grimmauld Place. They spoke in hushed tones no closer to figuring out what was going on then they were last night. They had listened to the Order members for hours, but they appeared just as confused as the younger members of the household. Molly Weasley had interrogated, there was no other word for it, them last evening. Ron had even begun to wonder if his mum thought they had Harry stashed in one of their trucks with the veracity she used questioned them. Molly was as protective as a mother bear when it came to her children, and she considered Harry one of her own. Unfortunately, they had no more information then did the order.
They had been relieved when he sent letters to them, now they were terrified. Hermione had spent most of the morning comparing the letters they had received with ones Harry had sent previously. With the skill of a forensic graphologist, she scrutinized the writing, spacing, wording, and Contextual meaning. She could find no hidden clues as to where he might be, nor was there anything to indicate it wasn't written by Harry.
They waited. They watched. They listened. They would find out just what was happening with their friend.
Dumbledore was in his office at the school coming unglued. There was no other word for it. Even Fawkes notes, did little to ease his mind. He couldn't help but wonder what happened to all his careful planning. He had always known Harry would be something of a wild card. The Dursleys had actually done him a bit of a service there. Harry tended to accept authority figures rather easily. While on the surface this was true, what Dumbledore failed to realize is that once Harry's trust was broken, it was difficult if not impossible to earn it back.
Remus. This was all his doing. He had known the werewolf could be perilous. His loyalty to his pack was admirable, but at times it could be obstruction to long term goals. Remus placed the pack before everything, including himself. Somehow despite Dumbledore's warnings of getting to close to Harry, despite his natural wariness of others, Remus had claimed Harry. Some of the anger Albus had been feeling for the past few weeks seemed to burst through his chest. Flushed and shaking, he slowly regained the precarious control he had maintained since Harry had disappeared.
Dumbledore sighed softly, and set about trying to reorganize his plans. He needed to find somewhere for the Dursleys to go. He needed to find Harry and Remus. He needed to get Remus back in line. He needed to get the Order back on task.
Albus had just begun looking through the Orders reports when a fluffy brown owl flew through the window. It landed before him, holding its leg out. Albus quickly untied the letter. The owl circled overhead once and took off out the window again. The letter was in Harry's hand. Albus quickly read through the letter and sat back stunned. It was a list of demands. He blinked; certain he couldn't have read it correctly and read it through again. He held tightly to the shaky control he had maintained.
He felt a tinge of relief that Harry was certainly not in Voldemort's clutches. The boy was safe. Then a frosty chill ran up his spine and a sense of dread flowed through him. Harry was acting of his own accord, or at the very least susceptible to Remus' influence. This could be bad, very bad indeed. There was a sense of melancholy in Dumbledore's face, and the twinkle in the eyes was gone. Instead, there was a calculating gaze, and a cold, blank expression on the weathered face.
Tonks slipped out of headquarters. She apparated to her flat first, to be sure she was not followed, even though she knew Remus had used the Fidelius charm. She wanted no one questioning her about what she knew. Then, she headed to Lake Windermere.
"Wotcher, Remus." She greeted. She waved to Harry who was sitting lotus style down by the lake with someone she did not know. She headed up to the porch to sit with Remus.
"Hello, Tonks. What brings you here today?"
She smiled slyly. "Couldn't I just have missed you?"
Remus smiled impishly. "Certainly. So, what would you like to talk about the weather? It's been beautiful, hasn't rained since Sunday..."
Tonks chuckled. "All right, my motives may be a bit suspect. I was concerned about the two of you. Right state you have everyone in headquarters with that little stunt you pulled off yesterday."
Remus smiled softly, the pride of his accomplishment showing despite his attempt to hide it. "I imagine it has," Remus answered purposely not giving her any information.
"Humph." She frowned. "Gonna tell me about it, or are you going to make me learn about it the hard way."
Remus snickered at her frustration. "Well, let see..."
"Remus," Tonks snarled out.
He chuckled. "Okay. Okay. What do you want to know?"
She sighed. "I don't even know. I feel like I'm playing catch up. The Order thinks you may have been taken by, well, Him."
Remus smile faltered. "Oh Merlin, I never thought of that. I'll have to send another letter to the Weasleys. Though I imagine Albus will be aware soon enough that this was not Voldemort's doing."
Tonks quivered at the mention of the name but heaved in frustration yet again. "What d' ya mean by that."
Remus smiled audaciously. "Right, well, we sent him a letter regarding Harry's schooling. We need to ensure things go better."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Ya know what, I think I'll just step off right here. I'm not getting in between you to and your games."
Remus shot her a scowl. "This is Harry's life, not a game, Dora."
Tonks smiled up at him. "I know, it's just this power struggle is outta my league. When did you start calling me that, anyways?"
Remus startled. "What?"
"Dora?" Now it was Tonks turn to smile coyly. "You haven't noticed. You've been doing it a lot lately."
Remus stuttered. "Er, I hadn't noticed."
Tonks arched a brow but didn't say anything. "So, who's that with Harry and what are they doing down there?"
Remus was thankful for the subject change. "That's my friend Mikhail. He's here to help Harry with Occlumency. He needs to learn to control the link with Voldemort as soon as possible."
Tonks shivered. "I imagine it's got to be difficult for him."
"You have not idea, Dora."
"HA. You did it again. Care to tell me what that's all about?" She waggled her brows suggestively.
Remus groaned. He couldn't believe he had stepped right into it all on his own. What was he going to tell her?
