Author's Notes: This story is a little diddy that's been floating through my mind for a while. I'm writing this for my enjoyment and for the enjoyment of others. I have no aspirations to become a professional writer and view scathing, sarcastic commentary as a sign of mental illness. (In other words, criticism is welcome if it is constructive. If you don't know how to do this, then learn the art as it is perhaps the most lucrative job and social skill one can hone.)
Sorry the last chapter had a few errors. I've corrected those and replaced the chapter with an .html file instead of a .doc (seemed that a .doc file loses a lot of the punctuation, changing commas into periods and whatnot).
I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2 – Cup of Sugar"This must be a picture of Regulus," Hermione said softly as she handed the framed photo to Ron. "It looks like a seventh year Prefect photo." She read the inscribed bronze label affixed on the bottom of the frame, "Center: Bartholomew Couch – Head Boy, Ravenclaw; Deanna DeVille – Head Girl, Gryffindor. Left to Right: Regulus Black, Slytherin; Ruedella Lestrange, Slytherin; Nina Umbridge, Ravenclaw; Siaban Green, Gryffindor; Lukas Bones, Hufflepuff; Cassiopia Diggory, Hufflepuff."
They studied the photo for a few minutes before putting it to the side. As they began to sort through another box, they heard someone clearing their throat and turned to the sound.
"That is something Harry should be doing, not you," Professor McGonagall sat down in an old worn chair next to them. "You know that little things now very much bother him and if I were in his shoes, I'd be quite cross."
"We'll put them all back just like they were," Hermione offered. "There's not much to do and, well, some of these photos are interesting. We were hoping to find something old with Sirius or even James Potter."
"Aside from Sirius' old portrait on the second floor landing, I highly doubt you will find anything of Sirius' here. I am even surprised that you found a few old photos of Regulus." The older witch levitated the photo that Hermione and Ron just looked at over into her lap. "Barty Couch, Azkaban and now dead; Deanne DeVille, became an Auror and died during training. Moody knows the details. Regulus Black, dead; Ruedella Lestrange…"
"Azkaban?" Ron finished.
"No," McGonagall sighed. "Missing, presumed dead."
"Dead then," Ron confirmed. "What about the rest? Can I be hopeful about Umbridge?"
"A second cousin," McGonagall said in a stern voice. "Wonderfully sweet girl and quite bright. I see where the talent and personality went with that family. She's quite alive and well. Thank goodness. Now, Siaban Green… He's Seamus Finnegan's uncle. I lost track of that boy, I probably should ask Seamus when the school year begins. Lukas Bones, dead, Cassiopia Diggory, dead…"
"Voldemort?" Hermione inquired about the last.
"Broom accident," McGonagall corrected. "Quite a decent Quidditch player she was, good hope for going professional. She was trying out for Puddlemere United when the charms failed on her broom. The fall wouldn't have killed her, I suppose, but when she tried to regain control, a bludger hit her squarely in the head." Hermione and Ron grimaced.
Taking the framed photo from McGonagall, Hermione packed it carefully in the box. As she and Ron were tidying up the living room, stacking old newspapers, photo albums and other items to the side, Remus Lupin rushed into the door.
"Hello Remus!" Hermione and Ron called. They watched as Remus gave them a quick nod and ran into the kitchen. Curious, they quickly finished up and then followed him.
~***~
"I know that Harry's a bit depressed and going through a rebellious stage," Remus explained to Moody who was enjoying an evening tea. "However, this really could get him expelled. He's been warned more than enough. And the list…" Remus produced a list of nearly two dozen infractions.
"Let me see," Moody took the list and studied it. "Dumbledore has his own list but took it with him to the Ministry. Hmmm… Apparating, Thermagentic Potions, Muggle wards… there's three right there that I'd bet a sack of Galleons he would have no clue how to do. Even Hermione, who is eavesdropping behind the door, might have a bit of difficulty with these."
"Sorry," Hermione and Ron stepped into the large eat-in kitchen. "What's going on with Harry? Not magic again…"
"I'm afraid so," Remus scowled. "Although Moody does bring up some interesting points? Well…" Remus smiled at the large white owl that just flew into the kitchen, "What do we have here?" He took the letter from Hedwig's foot while Moody fed it some of his biscuit. Unfolding the letter, he read it out loud:
Remus –
I don't know what the Ministry is talking about. I swear I haven't done a spot of magic, intended or otherwise, all summer.
Harry
Below it in barely legible scrawl was:
The boy is telling the truth. He was even out of the house during one of the events. Your Ministry is full of incompetent freaky loons!
Vernon Dursley
"If it weren't for the fact that the lunatics escaped the Asylum this afternoon, I'd probably chalk this up to a good Ministry bungle," Moody read the offered note and then set it on the large wooden table. "However, I was never fond of coincidences, being that I was nearly killed by a few…"
~***~
The evening was too hot to sleep, and Harry, given that the evening's events disturbed him so, paced around his room, hoping that fatigue would get the better of him. Deciding that the downstairs would be cooler (and grateful that the Dursleys had this year abandoned their tradition of locking him in his room), he cautiously opened the door and proceeded quietly down the steps, careful to not wake his aunt or uncle. Reaching the kitchen, he poured a small glass of milk and then wandered into the living room. The bright half-moon pushed through the sides of the shade, illuminating the room enough so that Harry could navigate without turning on a light. Reaching the window, Harry sat on the sill, and carefully pried open the shade. It was 2 am and the street was deserted, save for the neighbor at Number Seven who was digging something up from her front lawn.
Harry opened the shade a little more; knowing that the darkness of the room he was in would conceal him. He studied the woman, who was busy digging a small hole. When she was through, she reached in and pulled out a small silver object, about the size of a golf ball and then reached in her pocket to retrieve another, placing it in the earth and the covering it with soil. After that, she reached behind her and grabbed a small bag, shaking out the contents into her hand and then spreading it on the ground as if they were seeds.
"What are you DOING!" a voice hollered behind Harry, causing him to jump.
"Shh!" Harry put his finger to his lips, "The neighbor is planting something…"
"It's 2 am you fool," Vernon said nastily. "No one plants at 2 am…"
"She dug a hole, pulled out some silver thing and replaced it with another," Harry tried to explain.
"Nor does anyone replace their property stakes at this time either!" Vernon argued.
"Can't sleep either?" Harry asked, knowing that the former conversation was going nowhere.
Vernon settled into his chair with a thud. "Too bloody hot. Had we not been stuck raising you, we could have used the money for central air…"
"Why didn't you put me in an orphanage or foster care?" Harry inquired. The tone of his voice was calm, indicating he wasn't trying to be contrary but was, in fact, curious.
"Your Aunt would have nothing of it," Vernon replied. "Lord knows I tried more than once to talk her into it."
"Selfish bastard!" a voice echoed. Mad Eye Moody and Remus Lupin had disapperated in the center of the kitchen.
"Don't you freaks know about breaking and entering?" Vernon asked. "How about you leave and come back another time… like NEVER!" His yell echoed through the house. A second later, he could hear Petunia and Dudley coming down the stairs. "See what you've done, you've woken my family! And it's Saturday, we normally enjoy sleeping in on Saturday."
"Dursley, will you shut up? If we're not careful, your family will be sleeping soundly all right… dead that is!" Moody hissed. Turning his attention to Harry, he asked, "Now what's going on here?"
"I don't know," Harry replied. "About 10 pm we heard a huge explosion that rocked the house. We took shelter but when we realized it wasn't anything magical…"
"Does this have to do with those escapee freaks?" Vernon demanded.
"Potentially," Remus said. "Go on Harry."
"After I sent Remus the note, we went outside. All the neighbors were out too, looking around. Since there wasn't any damage, we came back in."
"One of the neighbors," Dursley pointed his finger towards the living room window, "Said that it was probably an experimental military aircraft flying overhead. We had something similar about ten years ago."
"Of course, but you know better than the rest of the Muggles, don't you?" Moody replied sharply. "We're here because of the report. Dumbledore told the Ministry that Harry wasn't capable of such magic and your note, which I immediately sent to him, help smooth over a few things…"
"I was hoping that the note would explain enough to keep the likes of you out of my home," Vernon grunted, "Otherwise why would I care?"
"Nonetheless, the question remains… who did the magic?" Remus continued for his colleague. "We know that Arabella Figg lives nearby, but she is completely incapable of such feats. She can do some potions, but Thermagentic potions do require a considerable bit of magic and one has to be licensed in order to do it. In addition, the set-up required is rather elaborate. One simply doesn't do this type of potion in a standard 3 gallon cauldron."
"Aside from you, Harry, there is only one other wizard registered in this area," Moody pulled out a parchment. "A Mark Evans who will be starting Hogwarts this year."
"The little runt I've beaten up is a Freak?" Dudley asked with disgust. "Had I known that, I would have hit him harder! Freak…" Dudley scowled as he pummeled his fist, over and over, into his other open hand.
"And he's hardly capable of a basic levitation charm. In fact, I doubt his parents have even purchased his wand yet." Moody explained, eyeing up Dudley in distain. His stare was sufficient to stop the oversized young man from pounding his fists.
"I saw something odd today," Harry said now deciding that it might be important. "Two owls circled the neighbors house and then flew off. At first I though they were for me, but the birds… two Eagle Owls… well they looked confused and lost. I also though I saw gnomes in the bushes too. And just a few minutes ago, the lady was digging up something… looked like a silver golf ball and replaced it with another."
"What is a golf ball?" Moody asked.
"A small ball, about this big around," Harry made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. He trailed off as the two wizards eyes grew bigger and they exchanged apprehensive glares.
Moody reaching into his worn cloak and pulled out a lady's vanity mirror. Looking into it, he said, "Albus, are you there?" He tilted the mirror so Harry could see Dumbledore's concerned face.
"Did they round them up yet?" Moody asked.
"They were able to bring in the Malfoys, Macnairs, Rookwoods, and Notts and a few others into protective custody and questioning although I am not happy with detaining innocent…"
"Albus you know that they will try to establish contact with their families for supplies and resources. The less support they receive early on increases the odds we will catch them. Besides, as if Narcissa Malfoy is innocent. Spare me." Moody snorted. "However, it seems we have a little problem here. As we concluded if it wasn't Harry doing the magic, then it had to be someone else. The intelligence was pretty spotty and they could not give an exact location, so they just hung it on Harry's record. Anyhow, Harry thinks he saw a gnome next door and a few Eagle Owls circling, but not stopping at a neighbor's house."
"The house was just purchased in early March," Petunia interrupted. "Never met the woman. Had been meaning to, but every time I went over, I remembered something I forgot to do…"
"Muggle and Squib wards. Must have known Arabella is here. I also suspect they have planted magical dampening pods around the home. That explains the odd intelligence; one must have been going bad and the fact the owls didn't land. Whoever is living there is trying to keep a very low profile." Moody added, taking into account Petunia's information.
"Eagle Owls are favored by Death Eaters," Remus added quickly. "Do you think that the escapees are trying to contact whoever is there."
"Trying, but apparently the person does not wish to be contacted," Dumbledore replied. Pursing his lips and scratching his beard, the old wizard thought for a few moments. "The first thing we need to do is find out who this person is and if she is, indeed, a witch."
~***~
"Good morning, ma'am," Dudley Dursley said in a cheerful voice as the neighbor opened the door. It was a fine Saturday morning, about 9 am. "Mum was in the process of baking a cake and noticed that she was short on sugar. She was hoping, if you didn't mind, if you could spare some? She also wanted to say 'welcome to the neighborhood'… err… and that she has been amiss in introducing herself." Dudley then held up a large measuring cup, moving it back and forth between his pudgy fingers.
"Your name?" the woman in the silver and green housecoat asked suspiciously.
"Dudley Dursley," the boy said animatedly. "My parents are Vernon and Petunia Dursley. We live right across the street. Number Four." The woman studied him for a second and then panned her eyes past the boy over to the spot she dug last night. Biting her lip and frowning, she took the boy's cup.
"I'll be back," the woman said with a sigh, closing the door. In a few seconds she returned, handing the full cup to him, brimming with pristine white sugar. "For a cake?"
"Yes, my cousin's birthday," Dudley said. "My cousin Harry."
"Harry Dursley?" the woman asked, as if she was slightly curious and staring at Number Four.
"No, it's my Mum's sister's son. His name is Potter. Harry Potter," Dudley offered. He watched as the color drained from the woman's face. She quickly backed away and slammed the door shut. Shrugging, Dudley turned and made his way across the street.
~***~
"Here's your sugar, Mumsey," Tonks said when she entered the kitchen, morphing back from Dudley's huge frame to her normal lithe, petite self. She smiled at Dudley who was sitting at the table, eyeing up his cantaloupe half with disgust.
"Well? Moody asked, looking at the half-full cup. "Let me guess, you spilled half of it on the way…"
"I think she fell for it, that she believed her anti-Muggle wards were down. She kept on looking at the spot Harry pointed out this morning. There are gnome holes, but I didn't see any gnomes, although there was some white powder on a few of the holes. I think she might have taken Harry's clue and poisoned them in the middle of the night. She kept close to the door, so I couldn't see inside." Tonks gave her report, ignoring Moody's other comment.
"What did she look like?" Moody asked. He pointed to a large album of wizard mug shots. "Could you pick her out?"
"Yeah, I could," Tonks said confidently. She took out her wand and tapped the album. "A witch, about five feet six inches, mousy brown hair, pale grey eyes… I'd say she was in her mid thirties, between the ages of 33 and 36." The book flipped open and the page glowed as the charm enchanted the book rearranged the photos like a magical database. In a minute the page displayed a variety of photos, all witches who were snarling and trying to hex Tonks as she looked at them.
"I don't see her," Tonks replied after about 15 minutes of studying the pictures. "Maybe she was one who was never captured? Someone we don't know is a Death Eater."
"Perhaps," Moody took out his mirror and called Arthur Weasley's name. Waiting for a few seconds for the man's image to appear, he asked, "Do you have a complete list?"
"All families of the fugitive are accounted for except for a few. Vladimir Dolohov has not been located, although the Russian Aurors think they know where to find him. We should hear shortly. Ruedella Lestrange has been missing for several months now… Back in early March she went on sabbatical from her position in Gringotts. They have not heard hide or hair from her since and they don't expect to hear from her until next March when she is scheduled to return to work," Arthur Weasley reported.
"Remus, you were watching Tonks, did you recognize the witch? She's about your age, perhaps a bit younger." Moody asked.
"No," Remus answered, "but there were a fair number in Ravenclaw and Slytherin whom I didn't know. Especially if they were younger than I. Plus a number of years have gone by…"
"I could have this witch pulled in for failing to register. The problem is that would cause a commotion and we'd have to have a squad of Aurors tap off all the neighbors' memories. The false report in the newspapers and media would be enough to tip off the fugitives and they would come here; assuming someone in the Ministry doesn't leak it first. No, it's too dangerous. Even if we take Harry with us, they might find the Dursleys."
Vernon sat at his dining table, his fists clenched. He had put up with the tomfoolery this long simply because of the potential danger to his wife, son and himself. However, he had enough of the cat and mouse game and was going to demand immediate action. "Why don't you pop into her house, like the lot of you do here, and blast her with your wands… or whatever it is you do?"
"Because, we don't know if she's alone," Moody replied. "Right now we have the advantage. She probably doesn't know Harry's here and is unaware that we're onto her. First thing, is to figure out who she is." He held up the morning London Times that sported the picture of the fugitives on the front page. "She's probably quite aware that they're free again… if she wasn't contacted directly already."
"There are no floo hookups in the area, even Arabella doesn't have one. I checked before I came here this morning," Tonks added. She walked over to Harry who had picked up the paper and was studying the pictures. "I did, however, mention something to her innocently to see her reaction."
"What was that, Tonks?" Moody said trying hard not to sound irritated.
"I said that she was baking a cake," Tonks motioned towards Petunia, "a birthday cake for my cousin… Harry Potter. She went white as a sheet and then slammed the door. I somehow think that she didn't intend to…"
"You did what!" Moody leapt up from his chair with such force that it fell backwards onto the tile floor. Remus looked equally agitated. "She's probably sent a thousand owls by now…"
"You're jumping to conclusions. It's apparent, at least to me, she's hiding," Tonks said.
"That's great! Let's compare your less than two years as an full-fledged Auror to my seventy! I think, girlie, that I may have a wee bit more experience. Next time, let's just paint a large target on Harry's chest!" Moody ranted, snorted, and spat as his magical eye spun around randomly in its socket.
"Wait…" Harry laid down the paper and pointed to two of the photos. "She kind of looks like these guys, in a way. Same eyes. Like Malfoy's in color, but the shape is the same—deeper. Same nose too. Strange, but she also reminds me a lot of Madame Pince."
"Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange," Moody pronounced, looking over at the faces to which Harry pointed. "Their younger sister is the one who is missing." He looked up to Harry and then sternly to Tonks. "I'm afraid, Harry, that everyone here could be in very great danger. We must be careful and try to apprehend her without any of the neighbors finding out."