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.)
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I was quite busy with family and remodeling, so I apologize for not updating sooner. I promise in the next chapter I'll reply to some of the comments. I just wanted to get this up since its been a two month hiatus. Again, your input has been appreciated although I do warn some folks to not assume that everything is as it seems.... sinister laugh Bahhwwahhhaaa /sinister laugh Oh, and although the chapter is in decent shape, my apologies in advance for any errors – I did want to get this up and although my own review was thorough, a second set of eyes always does a better job.
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Chapter 14 – Puzzles, Enigmas and Riddles...
Harry bolted straight up in his bed. He was a restless sleeper, a condition he acquired over the past couple of years, and tonight his subconscious diligence paid off as he reacted to the soft scrape of his bed curtains and saw a blurred silhouette of a face that filled the parted space. He instinctively reached for his wand, which he kept securely under his pillow. Before he could issue a defensive spell, a thin bony hand quickly covered his mouth as another hand patted him reassuringly on the shoulder. Gathering his wits, he squinted to make out the face. It was a female face, older, and as his unaided eyes adjusted to the subdued light which emitted from the end of the witch's wand, he could see a blur of scarlet and green of a tartan nightcap.
"Sorry Harry," McGonagall said in a whisper. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to fetch you." She backed her head out of the bed drapes for a moment and then silently slid them open a couple of feet. She reached over and grabbed his robe that hung on a nearby hook and held it open.
Harry grabbed his glasses and put them on. He donned his slippers and his readied robe and quietly closed the drapes to his bed, lest someone would wake up at this ghastly hour to find him gone. He followed McGonagall out of the dorm and down the steps; finally reaching the backside of the portrait that guarded the Gryffindor entrance.
"Should we run into Filch," she said softly, but firmly, "we shall tell him that there is something with your Aunt and Uncle. Professor Snape will take care of any other 'questions' Filch has." She opened the door and they proceeded out.
Harry closed the door, waking the Fat Lady who was slumped in a rather uncomfortable looking position. She woke with a start and was about to admonish Harry for nighttime running, but immediately noticed McGonagall. The portrait drowsily issued a silent nod and let them on their way as it settled back into sleep.
"Professor," Harry said, finally in an area where he could talk. "What is going on?"
"You-Know-Who was at it again," McGonagall said. "Did you not feel it?"
"Not really," Harry said truthfully. Since the episode in the Ministry at the end of the last school year, he had managed to all but drive Voldemort from his head. He would feel high emotional spikes from time to time, but nothing that compared to the attempted all-out possessions of last year. "I do not think he killed anyone."
"Perhaps," McGonagall answered quickly and the picked up her pace. "Dumbledore has called an emergency meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. Everyone has been summoned." Harry inferred that more questions would be answered later.
They reached the Gargoyle and the witch issued the password, opening the spiral staircase. Just as they were about to get on, someone or something unseen bumped into them. Startled, they both pulled out their wands.
"Sorry," Tonks said as she pulled off her invisibly cloak, revealing a youthful female face framed with a mane of multicolored hair with a long curly pink lock snaking down the center of her forehead. "Borrowed this from Moody. Most are taking turns on brooms and entering through the Headmaster's window. Mad-Eye did not think it wise to mix me with brooms and flying near glass."
Harry nodded and smiled to his friend. It would be good seeing everyone from the Order, but that joy, he knew, would be overshadowed by the news Dumbledore felt it necessary to share.
~***~
Harry always assumed that Dumbledore's office took up the entire circumference of the tower it inhabited. That would be true in Muggle conventions, but not for wizards. A simple, unremarkable bookshelf off the left side of Dumbledore's desk was moved out of place, revealing a secret door. Harry followed behind the witches, stopping in the doorway as he marveled at the huge room within. The area, Harry estimated, was 10 meters long by 5 meters wide and was paneled with a deep reddish brown wood. A long pale table sat in the center, flanked by chairs with a taller chair at the far side of the table. Large scarlet banners, half adorned with Phoenixes billowed off the ceiling. At the far end of the room he could see Mad-Eye and Shacklebolt talking to Dumbledore while Snape sat nearby at the table, pouring over a parchment while his long fingers quickly leafed through a stack of large dusty leather tomes.
"Sounds like trouble," a familiar, tired voice said from behind Harry. Harry turned to see Remus Lupin. Realizing that he was blocking the door, Harry quickly moved to the table and took a seat, motioning for Remus and Tonks to join him. "Any idea what is going on?"
"Karkaroff was dropped off at St. Mungos," Tonks said. "Minus a soul. Seems that You-Know-Who fed him to the Dementors. There was some note about putting him with the Longbottoms..." she said but then abruptly stopped.
"Got that from the Ministry?" Remus asked.
"Oh, oh yeah," she said quickly.
Remus twitched his mouth and turned to Harry, his eyes lingering on Tonks for a second before turning his attention to the teen. "Although that is indeed bad news, I cannot see why he would call us for that..." He motioned his head towards Moody and Shacklebolt who were talking to Dumbledore. The discussion was heated and apparently there was some disagreement. They could hear the word 'Azkaban' and Snape stood up and took an intimidating posture against Moody, the Potions Master's low voice apparently agitated, but given the distance, and the speaker's attempt to be discreet, barely audible.
"What I wouldn't give for one of the twin's ear extenders," Harry said with a sigh.
"We will learn soon enough," Remus said, patting Harry on the shoulder.
~***~
When the last of the Order arrived, Dumbledore motioned for McGonagall to close the door and called the meeting to order. He stood at the edge of the table and said in an oddly calm voice, "Tonight Igor Karkaroff was fed to the Dementors. What was left of him was deposited at St. Mungos. In addition, Voldemort," he frowned as a few members winced, "is attempting to reconstruct the prophecy using Rune divination. I have reason to believe that the prophecy has been compromised."
"That is not entirely true," Snape quickly interrupted, "the parchment still has to be fully interpreted."
"If Lestrange did not go running off to aid her brother, she would not have been in a position to create the parchment!" Moody sprang up. "Really Albus, I think it is bad enough that you keep... HIM..." Moody pointed a stubby, gnarled finger at Snape, "...around let alone the other one. Coincidence my arse! Now she's 'accidentally' revealed the prophecy! Egads! Are you deft!"
"Oh, from time to time, undoubtedly," Dumbledore admitted with a shrug. "However, I still stand behind that she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time this summer." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter tossing it to Moody. "Rabastan gave her every indication that he was interested in defecting..."
"And why not tell you first thing?" Shackelbolt intervened, shaking his head. The light of the candles danced off his gold earring and bald palate.
"She did not believe him...entirely..." Severus replied instead.
"WAIT!" Harry said, standing up, waving his arms. "I am afraid that more than a handful of us are quite lost..." The quiet murmurs of agreement made Harry feel a bit better, as he hated to be the last one on the uptake.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "The best place to start is at the beginning. When Professor Lestrange was a student, I discovered, though a few...incidences...that she had a talent for Rune divination. I knew, given her bloodline, that she would be a prime target for recruitment-- as her eldest brother and cousin so I had learned-- received their Mark before they left these halls. I convinced the girl to keep the secret, however, as I learned tonight, her Grandmother was well aware of her talent and worked with her during the summers. Fortunately," Dumbledore smiled warily, "The elder Mrs. Malfoy knew that the girl's fate with Voldemort would be a dangerous road and elected to not share these secret classes with anyone..."
"Pity that she did not keep a better leash on her Grandsons," Moody interrupted.
Dumbledore nodded and then continued. "Karkaroff knew of one set of incidences. Between his attempt to spare his life and regain his status in the Death Eaters, her unwitting revelation with a clarification she performed in a recent class, and her cousin Lucius' deduction, her brothers set a trap. Rabastan wrote her claiming to have second thoughts about his involvement with Voldemort. She met him to investigate and was captured earlier this evening."
"Dear gods!" McGonagall said, holding her hand over her mouth. "Is she..."
"She is fine," Severus growled. "Aside from a few cuts from a Dementor claws..."
"And receiving the Dark Mark for her 'valued' services," Dumbledore added. He looked sternly at Moody who slammed his fist into the table. "I understand correctly, Severus, that Avery was executed so that she could take his place?"
"Correct," Severus said, his voice level and unaffected at the implication.
Harry stood up quickly, the force slamming the chair back onto the floor. "So, what she said about me...the runes for her class that Hermione prepared...are true...I should not even exist...that this timeline should not be occurring..." Harry said in a quick staccato, his face flushed with rising anger. "If Voldemort now knows the prophecy..."
"He does not know it... at least entirely," Dumbledore said holding up his hand. "The runes used were quite ancient and archaic, neither Voldemort or Lestrange could interpret them on the spot." He pointed his hand towards a rolled up parchment that sat in front of Severus. "She was instructed to interpret the Runes using the library here at Hogwarts, as it is perhaps one of the few places the information could be found."
"So you are simply going to let her interpret them and hand them over to Voldemort!" Moody yelled out, his magical eye quivering in its socket in raw anger.
"Absolutely not!" Dumbledore said. "She is not going to interpret them. I am."
~***~
"Albus, respectfully," Remus Lupin spoke up. "I am afraid I did not hear you correctly..."
"I am certainly confident in her skills," Dumbledore said, "but this is ultimately my responsibility."
"It is HIS responsibility that Voldemort even knows about the prophecy!" Moody yelled out pointing at Snape. "Had he not been sneaking around the Hogs Head Inn like the scum that he is..." Moody scowled and motioned 'come hither' with his fingers as Severus stood up.
"YOU!" Harry took a step forward, but Lupin grabbed him by the arm. "You were the one who told Voldemort! You were the one who betrayed my parents! Betrayed Neville's parents." Harry seethed, violently shaking off Remus who was trying to get him to sit back down. "My lowly so-called 'Mudblood' mother who was the only one to stand up for your pathetic...sniveling...self. HER BLOOD LIES ON YOUR HANDS!" Harry lashed out, not caring what he said and who was to witness. He watched as Snape reacted-- but not with a curse, nor a yell or some smarmy, hateful comment. The wizard simply collapsed into his chair and stared at the boy; his black eyes revealing to Harry, for just a brief second, pain. Harry's knees buckled and he willingly sat back down under the pressure of Remus' hand; fortunately the werewolf had righted his chair. Harry had always wished to get in the final word with Snape; however the victory was not as sweet as he would have imagined.
"And, this is a reminder again," Dumbledore said softly, but his voice carried solemnly through the room, "why Severus Snape risks his life daily for our cause. You may not like his methods or what he must do. But, we should be grateful that he does do it so honorably."
"What about Lestrange?" Shackelbolt said, not begrudging Harry his comment, but seeing the need to get the meeting back on track. "She has compromised everything and I am sorry, this is twice now...she cannot be that dense. Anyone that accident prone is doing it on purpose --"
"The fault is entirely mine," Severus said. "The past month we have had a rift and, as such, I was not in a position to advise her in the capacity that I should have. I saw her receive a note yesterday morning. It made me suspicious..."
"Considering it was sent by Hermes," Harry said, a bit too loud, but soft enough that it was not perceived to be an interruption. Bill, who was sitting two seats away turned immediately and gave Harry an odd look. Harry swallowed and continued to listen.
"...I saw her leave for Hogsmeade and eventually followed her to the Hogs Head Inn," Severus finished, his black eyes regarding Harry coldly with a steel glint in his eye.
"Popular place," Moody said sarcastically, "surprise Slytherin class reunion?"
Severus looked at Moody disdainfully. "I believe amateur comedy night is held at the Three Broomsticks Sunday evenings," Severus said. "If I may continue. I lost sight of her in the tavern; I assumed she was instructed to go to a specific room. As I began my search, I was summoned. There I found that she was captured."
"But you were arguing," Harry said.
"Excuse me," Snape looked at the teen, his fingers twitching as if he were fighting the urge to rip the young wizard's head off.
"I saw the two of you arguing earlier this evening," Harry said. "It appeared she was heading to Hogsmeade..."
"Mr. Potter, if your observations are material, then please elaborate, however, you are wasting everyone's time," Snape said, his low voice cut like a razor.
"Were you aware that she was going to see her brothers or what?" Harry said.
"Professor," Snape looked at Dumbledore, "Perhaps Mr. Potter would better serve the order in a few years, when he has matured enough to ask the right questions."
"Well..." Arthur Weasley said, taking his cloth hat and crunching it between his hands. "Since I have a few years on Harry, although I will not necessarily misinterpret it for maturity." He smiled slightly, as much as the solemn occasion would allow as the others softly chuckled. "Severus, if you will. Talking to her is much different than simply following her."
"I was not able to obtain any useful information," Severus said, flicking his hand dismissively to demonstrate his annoyance. "As I said, I suspected there was something amiss and I investigated. The level of detail is not important."
"No, but you did exclude important information," Moody said, sitting back in the chair, his natural eye looking up at the billowing tapestries as his magical eye riveted on the Potions master. "There are two things that concern me. First, of course, is the question of why Lestrange did not approach Dumbledore the moment she learned about her brother and second, why did you not tell Dumbledore that you believed something was wrong?"
"If I informed the Headmaster of every inkling," Snape said, he teeth slightly bared, "he would not have time to deal with important matters. You know very well that our jobs are to follow credible leads and report only when there is something of substance." He looked at Moody who appeared to be rather unconvinced. "You appear to have other issues...other unresolved questions?" His voice was calm, but it was apparent that he was forcing himself to be civil.
"You could say that," Moody said, both his eyes now staring at Snape and his fingers laced over his stomach as he balanced on the back hind legs of the wooden chair. "Like how such a talented Legumen like yourself, who made it a point to be Quirrell's 'new best friend,'" he said the last with icy sarcasm, "could not figure out that Voldemort's spirit was attached to the back of his head. How you, Lucius Malfoy's overgrown greasy crup, did not know about his plot to open the Chamber of Secrets and why, of all things, you suggested to Draco Malfoy to release a snake at Harry during that little duel. Your whereabouts during the last Triwizard event... and of course, where were you REALLY when you went out looking for Harry and that Granger girl last summer. You can hear the Giant fart from a mile away." Ignoring Hagrid's grumbling protest, he continued, "Don't tell me that you really had to scour the forest..." He sighed, "And I don't even want to go into the details about Lestrange. Her summer activities aside, you are ready with one excuse after another. The werewolf boggart and how she nearly killed Harry by 'accident' and how standard procedure was circumvented because you used your newfound wealth to 'influence' Minister of Magic." Moody leaned forward, "I've learned, Snape, that he's under the impression that Lestrange is your would-be wife? Now c'mon my lad, since when were you the marrying type?"
"ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY LOYALTIES!" Snape leapt up and in a smooth, seamless movement pointed his wand at Moody.
"THERE ARE SERIOUS QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED!" Moody said, matching Snape's pose.
"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore bellowed, his voice shot through the room like lightening. The two wizards turned to face the elder wizard. "Sit!" he commanded. When the two finally sat, he said, "Severus is often put in positions where he cannot be as straightforward in displaying his loyalties. Severus," Dumbledore looked at his Potions Master over his moon-shaped glasses. "Severus, I trust you completely. It may be difficult for some to accept your... duality... but I understand what you must do." He looked at Moody, Arthur, and Shackelbolt in turn, then panned his eyes over the rest of the group. "As I have said before and can only reiterate it now, we are only as strong as we are united. Voldemort will try to divide us..."
"Are you implying..." Moody looked a bit shaken.
"I trust you as much as I do Severus... as much as I trust everyone here..." Dumbledore scanned the room, meeting his eyes with each member in turn, spending a bit too much time, Harry noted, on Mundungus. "I am saying that Voldemort will try to divide us; our own internal squabbles can only make short work of his efforts."
"My apologies, Headmaster," Shacklebot volunteered, nodding towards the Headmaster. "However, our situation at hand is that you have a faculty member who is acting quite strangely and I would feel more...assured," he looked at Moody who nodded for him to continue, "if someone would keep a very, very close eye on her so that any more 'accidents' do not befall her, or more precisely, her 'accidents' do not impact others. This summer was one, and the boggart... and now this. The coincidence is simply too strong and if she is indeed innocent, then there is something else odd going on and one could reasonably conclude that her life may be in jeopardy..."
"I often thought that a certain brand of deadly, dumb luck only presented itself to a chosen few," Snape interjected, his black eyes darting to Harry for a split second. "However, due to some changes in circumstance, I am now in a better position to watch over her. I assure you that this will not happen..."
"Oh, Severus..." Dumbledore looked at his Potions Master, "You didn't..."
"I was hardly in a position to turn it down," Severus said cryptically, answering the Headmasters uncompleted question.
"Well, congratulations," Dumbledore said tersely, his blue eyes still had the twinkle, but not in the same lively manner. "However, although your diligence on this will be appreciated, I believe that we should employ another as well..."
"I thought you trusted her!" Severus said.
"Trust has nothing to do with it. She has a skill that is no longer a secret. I owe her protection no less that what I am supplying Sybil." Dumbledore took in a breath and scratched his beard, apparently rolling an idea through his head. "Yes, yes indeed... that would work just fine..." the old wizard congratulated himself, his voice now light with an edge of enthusiasm, as if he simply packed up and compartmentalized the rather terse conversation that occurred just moments before.
"What would work just fine?" Bill asked. "I could, if you wanted..."
"No, no," Dumbledore waved his hand. "This is perfect. She requires additional practice in Occulemency and he could use practice in that as well as Legumency. No... that would work."
"Who requires practice?" Harry asked.
"Why, Harry," Dumbledore beamed. "You do..."
~***~
"NO!" Harry and Snape said simultaneously, realizing what the Headmaster had in mind. The two quickly looked at one another, startled. Harry turned away, one ear listening in as Snape continued to debate with Dumbledore. Harry occasionally peeked over, afraid that if he said something that Snape would change his position simply to be contrary. Then again, he considered, with the way things were going the notion of he and Snape agreeing on something might be a sign that the universe was about to collapse upon itself. He fought the urge to join the debate, giving Snape... for the first time in his life... the benefit of the doubt that he could work this out satisfactorily. It was an awkward trust and one, given the revelations of the evening, which Harry was quite reluctant to extend.
"So," Remus tapped Harry on the shoulder, breaking him from his thoughts, "What was the deal about the werewolf..." Remus had leaned in towards the boy, and his voice was low, so not to disturb the main conversation.
Harry blinked a few times and turned to look at Remus. The werewolf looked rather worried, the lines on his face more defined than ever. Matching Remus' pose and keeping his voice to a whisper, Harry said, "Err... Bill had a boggart in his cupboard for his third year class. I guess Lestrange was visiting the class and the boggart attacked when Bill was in his office. The students rushed his office for protection..."
"The werewolf," Remus interrupted, "what did it look like?" His voice had a slight quiver.
Harry paused and then closed his eyes and swallowed. "It looked like you, Remus... but err... smaller, browner hair..."
"Like a younger version of me?" Remus asked.
"I can't be sure," Harry said, "But..."
"It did cross your mind," Remus completed his sentence. "But there's no way..."
"Maybe Snape told her," Harry said. "But the detail was too concise."
Remus looked over to Dumbledore. He and Snape had concluded their discussion, and, judging from Snape's fouler than normal expression, it was apparent that the Potions Master was on the losing side. The Headmaster looked at the werewolf for a second and then quickly turned his attention back to the Potions Master. Remus took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I knew that there was something else..."
"Huh?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore's punishment of Sirius was too light and James' reward for saving Severus too generous," Remus said in a whisper. "It was very odd, like there was other information we didn't know that he factored into account." Remus looked down on the table, his voice still low. "The look on his face that night—I will see it forever etched in my mind—he was older than I ever saw him, more solemn. Yet there was this underlying element -- as if he were relieved in some odd way. I knew that there was something else going on..."
"You're not making any sense," Harry said, his head cocked slightly as he was trying to understand what his older friend was saying.
"I always believed that Sirius was not expelled because Sirius' family would raise Hades with the Board of Governors, demanding an inquiry which would expose me as a werewolf," Remus said, "I was under the impression all these years that he spared Sirius simply to save me."
"But Sirius' family all but disowned him," Harry said, "from what I understand, he was estranged from them by his fifth or sixth year." Harry leaned closer towards Remus, "Why, Remus... why... Really-- why did he do it?"
Remus sucked on his lower lip, "Sirius was never fond of Snape and it wasn't until after that...event... that I learned Snape was his half brother. Sirius wanted to get Snape off of our backs... play a trick. Harry, Sirius really did believe that Snape could get away." Remus looked at Harry, "Err... I can't go into detail. But Sirius and your Dad had a theory. Sirius, without your father's advance knowledge, put it to a test. I guess Snape was too terrified..."
Harry looked over at Snape. The Potions Master was watching them intently; his arms folded across his chest as he stared down the table. Harry wisely avoided eye contact. "Err... I know it's silly," Harry said, "but was there a reason, all those years ago, that you assigned that vampire essay... you know... after he had us do the werewolf one."
"I'm afraid that I can be petty," Remus said with a sigh.
"So he's..." Harry said, his voice squeaked.
"You did not read very carefully or in very much depth, did you?" Remus said, his voice hinting some disappointment.
"I suppose that some reading is in order then?" Harry said.
Remus nodded. After a few seconds, he looked up, watching as Dumbledore was talking with Shackelbolt and Moody and the rest of the Order intently engaged in listening to their ongoing debate. Remus continued, "That night Dumbledore looked old... like he witnessed the most horrific scene imaginable. I knew he was disappointed... and concerned for Severus... but..." Remus paused for a few seconds, "But he had an intensity that night... as if something had happened that night and what transpired was a suitable alternative. I just can't explain it... a feeling..." Remus added, "One of the few benefits of being part dark creature is a deeper sense of intuition..."
"Do you think Voldemort struck somewhere that night, and since you were too young to be in the Order, you did not know about it? That, perhaps, you were mistaking Dumbledore's reaction to some unrelated event and projecting it onto your situation?" Harry offered the explanation.
"Plausible," Remus said, considering it thoughtfully. "Yet..."
"There's something else... that feeling," Harry said. He paused and looked at Remus, "You think that Lestrange was there? Maybe she saw Dad pull Snape away and saw you in the cave? That might explain how she knew what your werewolf form looked like."
"You father claimed that no one else was there," Remus said. "You know that the grounds surrounding the Whomping Willow offer little cover. There is no way that a girl, or even a man, could be close enough to witness what happened, yet get to cover in time that she was not seen."
"She could Apparate," Harry offered. "I've never tried it, but you cannot apparate onto Hogwarts, but perhaps one can apparate within... like the House Elves?"
"She was thirteen or fourteen," Remus offered, "I doubt she knew how."
"Considering her family," Harry said, "I don't think that would have made the list of forbidden spells not to learn at home."
"Dumbledore would have caught her," Remus replied, "assuming that one can even disapparate within the grounds." He added, "And, no, I am not into trying that experiment myself as I live dangerously enough." He offered a smile as Harry softly sniggered.
"Maybe," Harry concluded, "that is what happened and Dumbledore was trying to protect her and going through all that trouble to cover it up."
"A lot of work and a lot of hurt feelings for a simple apparation," Remus said. "You know that students try that all the time, especially on Hogsmeade weekends. No," he said carefully, "there has to be more to it."
~***~
"So what you are saying," Moody pronounced, closing his tired eyes. "Is that this whole scenario is based upon an old Slytherin betting pool and a recent clarification divination, which, I may add, we are assuming is about Harry, but have no real confirmation. Did anyone bother to ask the Granger girl or are we just going to hold hands and skip down this merry path hoping that if we believe something strongly enough it will turn into the truth? That's the catch isn't it? That through some sort of intricate web, you're deceiving Voldemort." The old Auror sighed, "Well, I suppose that is some constructive use for the likes of her."
"Lestrange has the ability," Dumbledore said, "but with all Rune divination, the accuracy is played as much through the interpretation as the throwing. Granted, in theory, anyone can learn to interpret runes, but there is a subtle art..."
"But you believe that the one... the one done in the class which made its way to Voldemort, piquing his attention and confirming Karkaroff's assertions, was accurate and about Harry?" Moody inquired.
"Not entirely," Dumbledore said, "but I have sufficient past evidence on her abilities in both areas that I feel our measures are prudent."
"Not entirely!" Moody parroted, "You are exasperating..." He slapped his hands over his face, wishing the night were over.
"But the clarification had to be about me," Harry interrupted. "It said I escaped death twice... once as a baby—that was with Voldemort—and the second time I would guess is when I saved myself from the Dementors when we were rescuing Sirius..."
"Harry!" Dumbledore cautioned.
"Saved yourself from the Dementors?" Moody looked at Harry and then to Dumbledore. "Care to explain, Albus?"
Dumbledore sat back in the chair, and tilted back his head while closing his eyes. After gathering his thoughts, and perhaps a bit of strength, he explained. "Hermione Granger was in possession of a time turner her third year. I advised her and Harry to use it to go back in time to save both Sirius Black and the Hippogriff, Buckbeak." He looked at Harry, and added, "The clarification said that the subject actually died. With you, that was not the case."
"But, as you said," Shackelbolt interjected, "a divination is only as good as the interpretation. Death or near death... or escaping from a deadly situation... I studied Runes, Albus, and although I would not claim to be an expert, you know as well as I that there are shadows and shades of interpretation that..."
"It was quite clear," Dumbledore said. "But, regardless, my task is here," he held up a rolled scroll.
"Excuse me," Arthur Weasley cleared his throat. Bill and a few others looked at Dumbledore anxiously. "Aren't there penalties for the illegal use of a time turner... regulations... whatnot?"
"Lots of whatnots, there are," Dumbledore answered. "Having written a few of those whatnots, I can say quite honestly that the spirit of the law was to prevent the use of the time turner for personal gain or to commit crimes."
"It is far too late in the evening to debate the implication of time and choices," Arthur said, "but what if saving Sirius Black wasn't intended to be? That perhaps though good intentions we've somehow extended the war?"
"Or assured our victory?" Albus said with a shrug. "If I saw you being pulled under by a Grindylow would I simply say that it was 'meant to be' although my wand or a wave of my hands could save you? A time turner is a tool... a powerful tool and one that should be used only with restraint and respect. Saving lives is worthy of the consideration it deserves—going back in time to get the numbers for the Leprechaun Lottery is not."
"But," Tonks added, "This clarification did say that Harry shouldn't exist. That this war, or at least this timeline or situation we're in, is happening because he should have died." She looked at Harry and offered a slight smile, "No offense because I do like you, just playing devil's advocate. What if You-Know-Who should have won and perhaps another set of people were supposed to be in place to win the war?"
"We can go on until the end of time itself," Moody said his voice slightly muffled as he laid his head on the table, gently tapping his forehead on the wood, as if he were mockingly beating his head. "No pun intended... But we must find out one thing first..."
~***~
The accent was appalling, Voldemort noted as he watched the head float above the basin. It was an image of a Muggle, Arab or Central Asian as far as he could tell, with an accent that combined the essence of his native tongue and an adopted East End demi-Cockney shrill. The floating head spun, repeating the words over and over, yet Voldemort could not entirely make out what he was saying. He sat back in his chair and stroked his snake's enormous head. With a wave of his hand, the image enlarged and instead of a head, he could see the entire scene. The Lestrange witch was sitting in a Muggle car and giving instructions to the man, apparently her driver. He did not quite understand why she was using a Muggle contraption and resigned himself to believing, for now, that it was part of her earlier ruse to situate herself as a Muggle so she could approach and abduct Potter.
"Looks like a cab driver," Wormtail said.
"Did I ask you?" Voldemort replied, his voice dangerous as he was quite annoyed. Realizing that he certainly was not going to understand the man any time soon, he turned to his servant. "Care to take a throw at it?"
"What is it, my Lord?" Wormtail asked. "I mean, I know it is a Muggle cab driver—at least from appearances. But...err..."
"Why do I have this image in my penseive?" Voldemort finished his servant's hesitant question.
"I can help better if I understand the context," Wormtail replied apprehensively.
Voldemort shook his head and lazed in the chair. "Lestrange was quite forthcoming when I asked if she had prior knowledge about the prophecy. She was so weak that ever single element about Potter, what he looked like, his known friends... every bit of information she knew about him came bubbling to the surface. It was not a lot of information, mind you, but she offered whatever she had. What I could retrieve was information I already knew—Dumbledore was quite thorough in his Obliviate spell. However, I did get this." He pointed to the image floating in the pensieve. "Since she could not disapparate without being tracked, so she apparently resorted to Muggle transportation." He waved his hand, replaying the cab driver's words. "It sounds like he is repeating an address. Surrey, I believe is part... but the town... 'Li ing'... No..." Voldemort shook his head, frustrated that he was so close to an answer.
"Well," Wormtail said, standing next to his Master. "Potter will not be returning until the summer; at least that is what Malfoy has reported in the past. We have until then to get your answers, my Lord."
"I want them now!" Voldemort screamed. Nagini hissed and slithered behind the chair. It knew when to get out of its Master's way.
"Them?" Wormtail asked, puzzled.
"Potter is afforded his protection because of his mother..." Voldemort began.
"But, my Lord, I thought that the resurrection – his blood – broke that bond," Wormtail queried.
"I can touch him," Voldmort said, ignoring, for now, that he was interrupted. "And although I believe that the bond has been broken, at the very least partially, I do know that I cannot be certain that it is terminated unless his relatives are. After Quirrell's failure, I prefer to be more certain that the various spells and protections placed on the boy are broken."
Wormtail nodded and then walked closer to the image, studying it carefully. The contraption the two were sitting in was clean and tidy. He could see a black box with number that appeared to display Muggle currency. Under the large front window he could see the driver's photo and some other information. "Master," he asked, pointing to the photograph, "could you enlarge this area?"
Voldemort nodded, somewhat curious what his normally insipid servant was trying to accomplish. Although not willing to admit defeat, he was desperate enough for the information to allow the fool to bungle around some. A cruel smile crossed his lips as the photo enlarged and beside it was the driver's name and name and address of the cab company.
~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~~***~
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