A/N: I dedicate this chapter to Mugglenet. Without them I would've spent hours looking up information in the books for this fiction.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling created the Harry Potter series, on which this fanfiction is based, and sadly I am not she. All the genius is her's not mine. However anything you don't recognize is mine. Please do not steal from me. Or at least let me know that you are stealing from me. I'm really quite generous.
BANG! Percy jerked awake, without even thinking about it his wand was in his hand and pointing at the intruder. Broder was leaning against the doorframe and panting for breath. The light from the hallway cast his face into shadow. Behind him half-clothed Death Eaters, pulling on masks and black robes, were running and shouting to each other down the hallway.
"Broder!" Percy exclaimed lowering his wand, although his heart was pounding. "What are you doing here?" They couldn't have found out already….
"Aurors… attacking the mansion…." Broder panted, "We're supposed to go to the Great Hall… now!"
Percy rolled quickly off his bed. He knew this was coming, but he still hadn't been prepared for it. He and Dumbledore had been meeting in the dead of night for days trying to work out the location of the Lestrange mansion. Last night, in the wee hours of the morning, they finally figured it out. Obviously Dumbledore hadn't waited anytime telling the Ministry that he'd discovered the location of a Death Eater base.
His mind raced as he pulled on his black robes, he had to be careful. He couldn't kill any Aurors, or Order members if they happened to be there, but neither could he be captured.
He might not go to Azkaban, but his usefulness would be over.
Don't forget not to get killed. He reminded himself grimly. Finally he was ready. Broder grabbed his arm and halfway dragged him out into the hallway. It wasn't until they were halfway down the stairs at the end of the hall that he realized he left his mask behind. It didn't seem to make much difference, looking around he noticed that most of the block robed figures weren't wearing their masks either.
The stairway was narrow; it felt like he was suffocating in the crowd of Death Eaters around him. Finally they were down the stairs and pouring into the Great Hall on the first floor.
Percy ducked and pulled Broder down as a curse shot over their heads. They both dropped to the floor and crawled to cover. Beside him a blond haired witch was caught in the chest with a Stupefy spell, her face went slack and she crumpled to the ground. Percy saw another Death Eater caught with a bad stinging hex, he began twitching around, shooting off sparks from his wand in pain.
Percy and Broder hurried, keeping low to the floor, until they reached a particularly large statue in the corner of the hall. It depicted an old man, probably the Lestrange patriarch, gallantly standing on the head of an ogre with his wand raised high in victory. Or at least he did until a curse from a violently pink haired Auror smashed it's head to peices. Percy aimed a Trip Jinx at her, she triped over her own feet and fell to the floor. When she got up she was red in the face, she was so enraged that, oblivious to the curses firing around her she began running towards the statue, aiming Ruducto Curses at it until it was little more than the Ogre head.
Percy cursed as Broder lifted his wand, he knew that the Death Eater wouldn't hesitate to use a killing curse. Before Broder could get the curse out Percy raised his wand and cried "Stupify!" The pink haired witch crumpled to the floor.
"Good shot." Broder said, grinning at him. He didn't see to think it was strange that he hadn't used an Unforgivable. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he thought. That hope was dashed as he saw Broder cry, "Crucio!" and another Auror on the other side of the room collapsed in pain.
Percy winced, but there wasn't anything he could do. Ignoring the Death Eater beside him he just kept flinging out Stupify curses, hoping that he wasn't tipping the odds into the Death Eater's favor too badly. He intentionally shot most of his curses wide of their marks, so the Aurors in question would have a chance to duck underneath whatever cover they could find. Fortunately Broder was too busy to notice what a lousy job he was doing of fighting.
The fight didn't last long before it was apparent to Percy that there were far more Aurors than Death Eaters, not that it was surprising, that had been the plan all along. The next time he had a chance he glanced around the room, there were only three other Death Eaters in sight, the rest were all either unconscious on the floor or had fled. On the other hand there were still nearly twenty Aurors in the room.
"Broder!" Percy nudged him, "We've got to get out of here, we don't stand a chance!" Broder looked around and nodded. He raised his wand up as high as he could and cried "fumarus!" Black smoke began billowing out of his wand, it quickly filled the room until Percy could barely see Broder three feet in front of him.
"We've got about three minutes to find an exit." He whispered, "They've got an anti-apparation jinx on the house we have to find some other way out."
Percy nodded. Together they dashed through the nearest doorway, as they got a little ways from the room they heard the curses begin again. They were running down a hallway that Percy didn't recognize.
"There's an escape at the end of this hallway!" Broder said, "My family used to visit the Lestranges on occasion. I discovered it a long time ago at a boring dinner party."
"What about the others?" Percy asked, "Shouldn't we help them or something?" He hoped Broder would say no.
"No." Percy sighed in relief, "The Gread Hall was the focal point of the attack, most of us were sent there. Since we didn't win there they've more than likely flooded the rest of the mansion. By now everyone else has probably either fled or been captured." Broder was panting now; the hallway seemed endless and was always twisting and turning. "How did they find out about this place?" He wondered out loud, "The Lestrange Mansion hasn't been breached in over a thousand years."
Percy didn't say anything. He just shrugged and kept on running. Every once in a while they would come to a fork, without hesitating Broder would veer off to one side or another. The hallway twisted and turned, always heading downward, until it began to resemble tunnels more than anything else. Finally after running for what seemed like hours they came to small, nearly invisible door, set back against a grey stone dead end. "Alohomora!" Broder whispered, pointing his wand at the door, which gave an audible click.
"Help me with this." Broder said, going over to the door. Together they grasped the handle and tugged with all their might. Slowly, and complaining loudly, the door opened, scrapping against the stone floor.
As soon as the opening was large enough, Broder squeezed through with Percy close on his heels. Once they were both free of the door, they sprinted into the nearby forest. Percy looked over his shoulder at the Mansion, it was sitting high above them and glowed strangely in the darkness. He couldn't tell if the fighting was still going on or not.
They managed to get about a hundred feet into the forest before they finally stopped. Percy leaned against a tree and tried to get his breath back, Broder was panting beside him. Suddenly Broder gasped and grabbed his forearm just as Percy's brand began to burn as well.
"Are we out of the anti-apparation yet?" Percy asked, the pain in his arm began to intensify.
"I don't know." Broder replied, his face contorted in pain.
They both tried to apparate, but didn't go anywhere. By now the pain in Percy's arm was searing. "We…'ve… got… to keep… moving…" He gasped, cradling his arm to his chest, "We'll… come… to the…. end… of it soon…"
Grimacing and moaning they managed to keep walking, trying to apparate every few feet. The Dark Lord must be furious to keep them in such pain. "It's for the people who were caught." Broder groaned, "He wants to make sure they know how angry he is."
Percy nodded. Finally, after about twenty minutes they finally managed to apparate away from the Mansion.
They reappeared in Voldemort's chamber, the torches on the wall were blazing. Percy and Broder both immediately fell to their knees in front of Voldemort's silver throne. Percy felt a little lightheaded as the pain in his arm abated and disappeared completely.
"Look at me!" Voldemort hissed.
Percy prepared himself and looked into Voldemort's red glowing eyes. Images began to rise to the surface of his mind, he forced down all the memories he didn't want Voldemort to see and instead concentrated on the flight through the forest, the fight in the Great Hall (he imagined himself killing several Aurors, hoping Voldemort would take this as a true memory), and finally on his initiation. He held his breath, fear slowly beginning to rise, until the Dark Lord finally looked away and focused on Broder.
Percy sighed, silently, in relief. He was surprised that he'd learned enough Occlumency to repel Voldemort. He'd expected it to be more difficult.
Broder shuddered as the Dark Lord looked away.
"I am most displeased that the Aurors were allowed to take the Lestrange mansion." Voldemort hissed. "And that so many of my followers allowed themselves to be captured." His eyes narrowed, "You both fled, you allowed the mansion to be taken. I will not let that go unpunished. Lucius, take them and deal with them, then return to my presence."
Lucius stepped forward out of the shadows, "As you wish my lord." His face was white and his fingers trembled as he waved Percy and Broder to follow him. They looked at each other for a moment, each reading their own fear in the others eyes, before they followed him out of the chamber.
Without saying a word to either of them Lucius led them down the hallway. Although Percy was terrified of what was coming, he couldn't help but look around. He had never been further than the hallway outside the Dark Lord's chamber and anything he could remember would be useful to the Order. They didn't go very far, however, before they came to a little black door off to the side. Lucius pushed open the door and strode in without even checking to make sure they were following. Broder squared his shoulders and walked in after him, he kept his head high and his face impassive, his hands shook a little but that was the only thing that gave away his fear. Percy did his best to imitate him as he followed him into the room.
The room was small, and not very impressive. Just to the right of the door there was a small table, but otherwise the room was bare. It was lit dimly by an assortment candles floating magically above them and along the sides of the room.
"Put your wands on the table there." Lucius commanded. Without hesitating Broder walked over and set his, delicately, on the table. Percy did the same. They returned to the middle of the room and faced Malfoy. Percy tried to stop his hands from trembling and to keep his face impassive, but his courage wasn't helped with Malfoy said;
"I have always hated your family Weasley. It was a mistake to let one such as you join us. I shall enjoy this." Lucius flung out his wand and cried, "Crucio!"
Percy cried out as blazing white agony enveloped him. Sinking to the floor he writhed in pain. Dimly he was aware of Broder doing the same beside him, but all he could do was shriek until the pain began to diminish. Finally he lay on the floor, gasping for breath.
"When you are able to move," Lucius said coolly, "Rooms have been set up for the both of you." Percy heard a faint rustle of paper, "This will tell you where to go. I suggest that you go to these rooms and stay there until you are summoned." With that he swept from the room.
Percy lay on the floor for another moment after he heard the door shut, trying to catch his breath. Slowly and gingerly he began the process of getting to his feet. His muscles began to spasm as he sat up. Broder was already standing, leaning against the wall. "He must have hit you harder than he hit me." He said, giving Percy a faint smile.
"Wouldn't surprise me." Percy muttered, remembering the fight his father picked with Lucius his sixth year with some amusement. An ache in his chest, another kind of pain but no less intense, began as he thought of his father.
"Come on." Broder said, going over and offering Percy a hand, "We'd better find these rooms they've set aside for us." Percy grimaced and pulled himself up. As soon as he stood the room began spinning. Broder noticed him swaying and steadied him, "That's to be expected." He said, "Close your eyes for a moment, it'll pass."
Obligingly Percy did as he was told. Within moments the room seemed to stop whirling and he could stand on his own. He went to where the paper was innocently lying on the floor and picked it up.
Fortunately they didn't have far to walk, talking it slowly they managed to find their way to the rooms, which were located next to each other. Broder gave Percy one more faint smile before he disappeared through his doorway. Percy gave a little wave and walked through his own.
The room was nicer than the one in the Lestrange mansion. Instead of a little cot shoved to the side of the room there was a large bed in the middle of the floor, and a dusty book shelf shoved back into the corner. Percy walked over to the large window. The sun was just beginning to rise. Everything was peaceful and still, it seemed like the world was holding it's breath.
Percy sighed. The day was just beginning.
A/N: Well I hope this chapter will serve as a nice contrast to all of the introspective emotional soup that this fic has been so far (not that I don't like soup… I love soup… I'd just like a sandwich every once in a while.) Of course, reading over it I realize that there isn't nearly as much action in this chapter as I thought there was.
Umm… I usually don't write any action. At least not like this. Let me know how I did..
Artemis Moonsong: Thank you for replying to every chapter. Seeing all those reviews really made my day. Yeah, Fudge is a bit of a pain in the you-know-what. I like your metaphors, pudding thickening in the fridge? It's great! I think the same thing about Percy. Right now in the series I think he can go either way. The 3827 is the last four digits of the trash compactor that Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie almost got smushed it. I was trying to think of an unusual number and that's just the one that popped in my head.. I read back over the book and you're right it is a gargoyle. My mistake. Thanks for catching that. I'm glad I made you gasp like that, it's a compliment to me that you could get that engrossed in this story. And no, it's not the end. There are still quite a few chapters left to go. By the way… have I ever mentioned how much I love your name?
GMUXMenSoaps: Thanks! Here's the next chapter for you!
LaAmateuredeTrappes: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you like it so far!
Rutu: Yeah, it's a bit of both. I think Percy, like Neville, is too often shoved into other houses in people's minds. It would've taken a lot of courage for Percy to stand up to his family, misguided though it was. He was definitely in Griffindor for a reason. I'm glad that this is suspenseful enough for you to say that. :D It's a bit stressful for me though. My countdown clock on my desktop has become a constant reminder that I need to get the next chapter out. It saves me from being too anxious about the next book.
Xtin2000: (grins) Thanks. I'm trying to make this fic as exciting as possible. I'd hate for it to get boring. Percy's first assignment is coming up soon! By the way, I haven't forgotten about your stuff. It's on my to do list for tonight. Expect it back soon!
Thank you everyone for reviewing! I'm sorry if I missed anyone, let me know if I did!