A/N: I know the chapter title is a bit of a contridiction, but ... it's what fits. See another Author's Note at the end of this chapter.
CH19: Untainted and Marked
Teresa Johansson swore as she exited the Bronze that night. It was already two o'clock and she had to get up early for work the next morning. Why she had let her friends talk her in to staying so late she would never know. She fumbled through her purse for her cell-phone, preparing to call her sister and tell her she was on the way home. But she never got a chance.
A long arm wrapped around her neck, snapping it. It pulled her into the shadows. The alleyway was momentarily illuminated, throwing shadows around the walls.
Anyone looking out the windows at that moment would see a six-foot tall figure leaning over the prone form of a young woman. The glow was coming from her, swirling around the pair. Then there was darkness.
Harry walked around the perimeter created by the yellow police tape. A body covered with a sheet was being led off the scene.
He sighed to himself. This was the seventh murder that had occurred in the area. And each was exactly the same. The victim was found, lying on the cold cement, eyes wide open and glassy and fearful. Not a mark on them.
It was the same effect the Avada Kedavra curse had.
But, after every incident, he had done a magical scan of the air. There was no trace of the spell being cast. It just didn't make sense.
Taking one last look at the street, Harry took off. He had to get to school.
Flame watched as Harry came into the library, where they had taken to meeting during lunch period. She gave him a concerned look. Ever since his trip back to Hogwarts two months ago, he had been distracted. She couldn't blame him, though. It must be hard to leave someone you once loved.
Yes, she was sure that Harry had been in love with Hermione. He may never have admitted it to himself, but … it was obvious that he had cared for the girl deeply at one time.
Harry slid into the chair next to her.
"Find anything this morning?" she asked.
"Same as always. One mysteriously healthy girl. Only problem is that she's dead." He looked around the room. "Where are Draco and Dawn?"
"They said they had to talk to Mr. Kennewick. They'll be here later."
Dawn moaned as Draco pushed her up against the wall and started kissing her neck.
"Hold on, Draco." She slowly pushed him away. "We're supposed to be in the library right now."
"Screw the library. We'll go in a few minutes." He moved forwards, knocking over a mop in the crowded closet.
Dawn shook her head. "We can't keep doing this. We have to tell Harry and Alex." Draco pouted. "Don't look at me like that. Harry's your best friend, he should know."
"I know. We have to tell him soon anyway. It's almost summer vacation, so there will be no more broom closets to sneak around in." She swatted his arm and he laughed. "Alright, alright. Seriously. We'll tell them tonight."
"Where have you two been?" Harry asked, eyes twinkling mischievously. He quickly took in their messy hair and rumpled clothes, and smiled to himself.
"We were … catching up on some missing homework assignments for Spanish," Draco explained quickly. Flame and Harry shared a look.
Harry wryly rolled his eyes, causing Flame to giggle. 'I can't believe they really think we don't know what's going. We live in the same house, for Merlin's sake!' It had been a relief when Draco and Dawn had stopped showering each other with desperately longing looks three weeks ago, but it was getting ridiculous that they still hadn't told anyone that they were dating. However, it did make for an interesting betting pool among the group.
"So, did you go by the Bronze this morning?" asked Draco as the pair settled into their regular seats. Harry's eyes darkened.
"Yeah. We've got another one on our hands."
"Are we any closer to figuring out what's been causing it?" Dawn inquired.
Flame answered. "Nope. The only thing that seems to match is the Killing Curse, but ..." She trailed off.
"If they weren't dead, I'd say it was a Dementor," added Harry, mulling over the subject. "Do we know of any other creatures that suck a person's soul out?"
Flame shrugged. "I can look." She made a note of it on a small index card she was carrying. "Has Willow found any pattern between the victims?"
"Not yet." He rubbed his forehead. "I'll drop off the new report with Giles this afternoon." He turned to Draco. "How did patrolling go last night? You got in so late that I didn't get a chance to ask …"
"It was uneventful. Three vamps ambushed me down by Lexington Street. Buffy said she was hit by four near the center of town."
"Same here. There seems to be an odd amount of bloodsuckers in the area lately." Harry absentmindedly ran a finger along the scar marring his cheek.
"Did someone say my name?"
They turned around to see Odd standing there, in all her mismatched glory. She was wearing a long flowery skirt, stripped tights, and a polka dotted shirt. Harry smiled. This strange girl always seemed to have a way of brightening up the day.
"Come and join us, Odd?" He pulled out an empty chair for her.
"No thanks. I have a letter to write to my cousin."
"How is she?"
"Wonderful. She and my uncle are traveling to Sweden this summer to look for Crumple-Horned Snorkacks!"
"Oh?" He looked amused.
"Yes. And they said that I might be able to come with them!"
"That's great, Odd." She grinned and practically skipped out of the library.
Draco watched her leave. "What is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
"No idea." Draco opened his mouth again, but was interrupted by a tapping sound at the window. There was an owl out there.
Checking to make sure that the librarian didn't have a good view of the window, Flame stood up and went over to it. She pushed open the glass and the owl dropped a letter into her hands, before taking off again. She glanced at the envelope.
"It's for you, Harry." She handed it to him. Taking one look at the flowing script on the front of the letter, he threw it onto the table.
"Burn it," he said decisively.
"Why?" asked Dawn. "Who's it from?"
"Dumbledore."
"You should at least open it, Harry," Draco pointed out. "At least see what it has to say."
"No news is good news."
"But what if it's bad news," he pressed. "Wouldn't you rather find out now?"
"I hate it when you're right," Harry grumbled. And he reached for the letter.
Dear Harry, the parchment read.
After our unfortunate encounter in my office, I understand that I am the last person you wish to hear from. So I shall make this brief.
Peter Pettigrew has escaped from Azkaban. We have word that he has returned to his former master. Please be on the look-out for him.
Once again, I am sorry, Harry.
Albus Dumbledore
"I knew this couldn't be good news." At his friends' looks he continued. "Pettigrew somehow got out of prison. One guess as to where he is now." The bell rang. "We should be getting to class."
Back at Hogwarts …
Sirius looked at the paper in disgust. "That dirty, rotten rat has managed to weasel his way out again!" Remus looked at his sympathetically.
"It'll be alright, Pad – " The door of the classroom opening cut him off.
"And speaking of weasels," muttered Sirius as Ron Weasley entered.
"Can I talk to you?" the red-haired boy asked, looking strangely humble.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley," answered Remus. "Our door is always open." Sirius shot his friend an incredulous look. His door was most certainly not open to this child. Not after the way he had treated Harry!
Ron closed the door behind him and approached the desk. "It's just – I – well, I – "
Remus smiled gently. "What is it, Mr. Weasley?"
He rolled up the sleeve of his sweater. "I think I did a stupid thing."
The Dark Mark was tattooed on his arm.
"Pettigrew showed up at last night's meeting," Ron explained as he sat in the Headmaster's office with the two former Marauders. Dumbledore sat in front of him, hands resting on his desk, his eyes grave. "He was all torn up and sick looking." Sirius made a noise of contentment and Remus elbowed him. "I thought the Dark Lord would welcome him back in, that we'd celebrate the returning of one of our own. But he was tortured. The Dark Lord said that Pettigrew had failed him and that this was what happened to failures." He looked at the Headmaster pleadingly. "Please. I don't want to be like them. I thought I did, but …"
"This is a very serious thing, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore began. "Once one takes the Dark Mark, it is almost impossible for one to get out again." Ron whimpered. "You have one of two options. The first, we put you into protective custody, at least until Voldemort is defeated. Two, you become a spy for our side. The choice is yours, Mr. Weasley."
Ron looked at his hands. "Are you going to tell my parents?"
"I have to."
He swallowed loudly. "I'm supposed to be a Gryffindor, you know. The House of the brave. And the brave don't run and hide." Slowly, he raised his eyes to meet the Headmasters'. "What do I have to do?"
Dumbledore stood up and walked over to the fireplace, throwing a pinch of Floo Powder into the flames. "Severus Snape."
A/N: Yes, Ron is a spy. I have no idea how that happened. These last two scenes just appeared when I decided that this chapter wasn't long enough. Strange how characters just sometimes take over their own lives ...