Dinner With Voldie and the Escape of the Spies
Making a Move…Or Two
The Ministry of Magic
"So, do you have a boyfriend?" asked Fudge while pretending like he was busy by shuffling papers around his desk. Just a foot away stood Alice, or Tonks as we know her,
"Huh?" came the reply. Alice, or Tonks, was thoroughly confused. She knew that Kingsley had told Fudge that she was close with Dumbledore and Harry, and so of course she expected odd questions from her new employer. But did she have a boyfriend? What in the name of all that was magical did that have to do with Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore?
Fudge repeated himself seemingly unaware of how odd his random question had appeared. Now he had given up all pretense of being busy and was staring intently at his new maid who was totally under his control and required to do everything that he asked of her…the possibilities…
Tonks, or Alice rather, hesitantly responded, "No…I mean yes…err no!"
"Oh that's good," said Fudge as he edged closer. Discreetly placing a hand on Alice's upper thigh he said, "You could go far in the Ministry without some poor little boy hanging on to you."
Alice, or Tonks really, slapped his hand away from her hard. Glaring up into Fudge's leering face she angrily asked, "Are you hitting on me?"
"I'm a man who knows what he wants. And you, my girl, are a girl who just so happens to need this job," said Fudge. He was looking extremely proud of himself. "I know that your family is all dead and that you are here working for me because no place else would take you. With your fiery temper, all other companies sacked you within your first week. You need me."
"Well aren't you just the smartest man to ever walk the planet since Albert Eistein. Did you work that out all by yourself," sneered Tonks in response to Fudge's sickening revelation.
"Who?"
Tonks however ignored him. She was rambling under her breath as she usually tended to do when put in a stressful situation. A stressful situation that didn't involve dueling, that is. "Why did I accept this job? I just knew something like this would happen." She threw a dirty look at Fudge before continuing her muttering, " Now, I remember how I ended up here. Stupid Dumbledore wanted to know what the heck this idiot called himself doing as the Minister of Magic." Fudge's ears perked up at the mention of Dumbledore's name. His face screwed up in anticipation for information on what Dumbledore was doing. Unfortunately for Fudge, the look on his face was enough of Tonks to realize that she was still in Fudge's hearing range and since the man wasn't totally dumb…
"What? What about Dumbledore?" begged Fudge like a kid begging his mommy for Chocolate Frogs or Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. But he might as well have worshipped a Cockroach Cluster for all the response Tonks gave.
"Well, fine don't tell me. But you can go on and tell you friend Harry that he's going to have to accept the Order of Merlin, Third Class for his continued efforts against Lord…Thingy."
"Lord who?"
"You know who I mean Alice."
"I'm sorry. You'll have to clarify because I am afraid I really don't know who it is that you are talking about."
"Well, isn't that too bad," replied Fudge in a nasty voice. He was obviously trying to cover up for his cowardice and inability to even say the name of the wizarding world's arch nemesis.
"Ohhh, you mean Lord Voldemort," said Tonks as if she had only just understood who it was that Fudge was trying to say. "Well, don't worry about that, I'll make sure Harry gets your message. Whether or not he shows up…you'll have to take it up with him."
Fudge's face turned as red as a MacIntosh apple. That was the second to last straw. He'd had it with this girl. As his anger welled up inside, Tonks goaded him on, "You know, it's not good for your health to bottle your emotions like that Minister. Do you need to for me to arrange Anger Management classes for you? I happen to know an excellent mentor. He'll whip you right into shape…literally."
Fudge exploded. "That's it!" he yelled. "I've had it with you! Your stupid sassy mouth is driving me insane! It's not worth the day to day torture! Get out! Get out right now! I never ever ever ever want to see your face in the Ministry of Magic as long as I live!"
Tonks gratefully grabbed her stuff and leisurely walked toward the door. Pausing before stepping out she asked, "Does this mean I'm fired?"
Whoosh! Fudge's shoe swept by her ear by way of response. "I'll take that as a…yes!" said Tonks as she went out of the door.
Number 4, Privet Drive
Bam!
Instantly, Harry Potter, wizard extraordinaire and future destroyer of the Dark Lord awoke. There was movement and loud talking in the kitchen. It sounded much the same as the Advance Guard had the summer before. The murmur of voices grew louder as it moved toward the stairs. Yet Harry still didn't move. It could be Dumbledore's hand-picked babysitters, but it could also be Voldemort's dim-witted lackeys.
There was a high-pitched scream just then. Then there was the sound of said scream being muffled, probably by an intruders hand.
While Harry was still deciding whether he should let the murmuring people-really they should have been more quiet!-come to him or to get the hell out there, something else, or rather someone else awoke. Throwing the bedroom door open, a mini elephant marched down the hallway toward the steps. It wasn't until it had stepped into the light that the people below could see…Vernon Dursley?
Vernon blanched as he caught sight of the people who had interrupted his wonderful dream where the world was magic did not exist and scruffiness was punishable by law. From his off white color, Vernon Dursley's face passed through all the colors of the rainbow before settling on a nasty acid green. He had come to wake up the boy from his stupid nightmares. Honestly, the boy really needed to learn how to keep his troubles to himself and inside his room!Before him stood about nine adult w-w-w-wizards and standing in the middle of the passle of freaks, shaking like a leaf stood his own son, Dudley Dursley.
Everyone stared in front of them directly at the other. Vernon the wizards and the wizards at Vernon. The only exception was Dudley who had the pinched look of a toddler trying extremely hard not to pee in his pants. It was at this point that Harry decided to burst out of his room, thoroughly ending the staring contest.
A middle-aged man who looked like the leader with blonde-grayish hair spoke first. "Hello Mr. Dursley, Harry," the person said in a tight, clipped voice while glaring at Vernon.
Vernon, however, had regained the use of his voice box. "What the hell are you doing with my son?" he yelled at the top of his lungs before Harry could politely respond.
"We found him lurking about the house. You're lucky Dursley, if Remus here hadn't stopped me, your son might've been dead," growled Mad-Eye Moody. He frowned at trembling boy in question. "You need to be more careful. These are dangerous times and you don't want to be caught by the wrong people," Moody shoving Dudley up towards his gaping father.
Turning towards Harry he said, "Harry, we've come to bust you out."
Voldemort's Lair
Voldemort watched silently as his Death Eaters walked quietly inside the dining room, paid their homage to him, and took their assigned seat. "So, Kingsley, has Alice reported to you lately on her progress with the Minister of Magic."
"Erm…yes…," stammered Kingsley. "Actually there isn't any progress with the Minster, My Lord."
"Come again?"
"She erm got...sacked today." Voldemort had a look of utter outrage on his face. Shoot. He's going to throw the Cruciatus at me. I just know it. Unless…I mean he's going to find out the in the Daily Prophet tomorrow anyway...
"But she did find out just before he fired her that he is ordering Harry Potter to accept the Order of Merlin," added Kingsley quickly. Voldemort's face swiftly turned happy or as happy as Voldemort's face ever looked. He let out a sinister laugh (a/n: think Imhotep's laughter at the beginning of The Mummy Returns). Weakly, the other Death Eaters followed. This could be one of those times that the Dark Lord wanted them to share in his humor.
"Shut up. What are you laughing at, you half-wits?" Apparently not. The Death Eaters stopped immediately. Just as suddenly, Voldemort turned to Barty Crouch- or rather Severus Snape. Crouch (Snape) trembled slightly. "Barty Crouch, Junior," began Voldemort, " Do you think that it is acceptable that Kingsley has no news of extreme great import to announce."
Crouch gave a dirty look toward Kinglsey. Although they were technically on the same side, Snape gave the man across from him a foul look. Turning his Polyjuiced face toward Voldemort he said, "No, I don't."
"Then you agree with my decision to tell Kingsley to get out until he can come up with news that someone as important as I would care about," said Voldemort. By this time he was staring Kingsley down as if he were trying to kill him with his eyes alone. All heads turned toward Kingsley.
"Yes, my lord. I apologize."
"Oh Kingsley, I don't recall asking for any apologies. I do, however, recall ordering you to get out of my dining room immediately. You have three seconds to move."
Kingsley froze. "Three," said Voldemort before even getting to one."Crucio!" Kingsley's horrible screams of pain echoed through out the silent room. At the end of the curse Voldemort icily said, "Next time, when I say to get out Shacklebolt, I mean, get out! Now LEAVE!" Kingsley dragged himself to his feet and Apparated out of the dining room.
Once Kingsley was gone, Voldemort turned to Crouch again. "now Barty, let's begin. I believe a certain Mr. Potter has a date with the Minister of Magic. Let's not be a party pooper…." Voldmort waved his wand. In the background played a song.
"Every party has a party pooper (pooper)
That's why we invited you, oh you,
'Cause if we didn't have a party pooper (pooper)
We wouldn't sing this song (this song)…"
12 Grimmauld Place, London
Sirius came down the steps and walked into the kitchen. There were several numbers of the Order huddled around the kitchen table talking. When the group saw Sirius, they gave him one of two looks. A look of pity and sympathy or a look of confusion.
"What?" asked Sirius. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No," said someone from behind him. It was Remus. "We just got back from Privet Drive," he said by way of explanation.
Sirius' face didn't change. He was if anything, even more lost. Why wouldn't they just say what happened. Se shook his head at Remus and the group as if to say, "Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Remus merely gazed at Sirius with a somber expression upon his face.
"Well? Are you going to explain it or what?"
Remus sank back down into a chair and heaved a great sigh. "Sirius, you remember when Dumbledore said that he didn't tell Harry that you were alive, right?" Sirius nodded while thinking, Where is he going with this? "Well we brought back Harry from Privet Drive."
Sirius brightened like the sunshine. His godson was back. And now that the house a habitable, they could settle down for a nice, long summer of relaxation and pranks. Really it was a good thing that Voldemort found out that he was a spy.
"So where is he? And why are you looking so grim Remus. I would've thought you'd have been happy that Dumbledore finally brought Harry here.
Remus sighed again. Sirius wasn't making this easy for him. "Sirius…Harry doesn't…he doesn't…"
"Spit it out already Moony."
He doesn't believe that youre alive. He thinks that we all lied to him. He thinks that we're just trying to hurt him for some odd reason. Something about being a weapon and getting the job done."
"Where is he now Remus," said Sirius gravely.
"He's in Buckbeak's room with the door locked so that we cant get it in, with or without magic. And on top of that he's threatened to really commit suicide because he says that he just can't live like this.
Sirius' smile dropped faster than an Acme canon from the Tex Avery show.
Hours Later At Grimmauld Place
Sirius knocked softly on the door of his old mother's room, now Buckbeak's room. There was no response. He knocked again a little bit louder.
"Go away," he heard from inside the room. It was Harry's muffled voice that sounded as if he had been crying. His heart broke; his poor godson.
"Harry it's me, Sirius."
"Yeah right," scoffed Harry. "If you're was really Sirius, then tell me what he g-gave me last year of C-Christmas right before the start of the second term."
Sirius smiled. Harry wasn't giving in too easily. Whatever that prophecy involved, he knew Harry would put up a good strong fight to see to it that it came true or didn't come true, whichever was better.
"The two-way mirrors that your father and I used to talk to each other during detentions during our Hogwarts days."
The door creaked open slowly. Sirius winced. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Standing at the doorway he peered inside. Harry was on the floor in a corner rolled in a ball. He looked up.
"S-S-Sirius?"
"Hey Prongs Jr. How you feeling?"
Harry simply stared. Suddenly his throat was parched. "How?"
"Well, it turns out the veil isn't actually death, at least for people who are generally good and still have purpose on this earth. Your father helped me get out somehow…he showed me the light, literally."
"No, this isn't happening. You're just a-just a dream." Tears welled up in Harry's eyes again. He yelled,"Go away! Leave me alone! Just STOP it! Isn't it bad enough you killed Sirius?" He shook his hands at the sky; well really it was the ceiling.
Sirius took a step forward to hug the suffering boy. He had to convince him that he was real.
Harry closed his eye to block the man in front him out. Quietly he said in a dead hollow voice, "Everyone saw you fall. And everyone knows that that veil is the Veil of Death."
Sirius leaned down and hugged Harry, like a father would his troubled son. Harry could feel a dampness on his shoulder and realized the man was crying. None of his dreams of Sirius had ever been so real. He could never actually feel him there. Could it be true?
They sat hugging each other speechless for a few minutes enjoying one another's company. Sirius then shifted so that he could see Harry's face. Looking him in the eye he said, "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this summer so far believing that I had died. I wish I could have been there...But you should know…I came back the very next day after having been thrown behind the veil." Harry's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something. Sirius raised a finger for silence. He continued, "I truly thought that Dumbledore told you that I had come back."
"WHAT?"
Sirius clapped his hands to his ears as Harry ranted.
"As if it's not bad enough that he told me that accursed prophecy just after you quote unquote 'died,' he has to go and do something like this! I knew I was right! He does just think of me as a weapon."
"Harry, I need to know. What is the prophecy? Dumbledore said he had told you, but that he thought that you would be able to handle it. Judging from the emotional mess you were after I quote unquote 'died,' I think it might be helpful for you to tell me about it."
Bitterly Harry replied, "I don't know if I should tell you. Voldemort might try to kill you again, and I don't think that I could live with myself if you died…again."
"Harry, I just got caught spying on Voldemort and his Death Eaters and escaped; trust me, I'm at the top of Voldemort's list of people to kill," bragged Sirius proudly.
Harry sighed and began to tell Sirius of the words that had haunted him for the past month, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…."
Sirius' face change expressions as fast as the speed of light; from anger to pity to sadness to determination. I just cant wait to get my hands on Albus Dumbledore. What the hell was he thinking when he told a FIFTEEN year old BOY that he had to destroy the world's most evil man or be killed himself? Poor Harry. You know, the world lucky to have its burdens placed on this boy and not me. I sure as hell would have run away, left the world to its own damn devices…I can't let Harry go. James and Lily would never forgive me. Hell, I would never forgive me.
"I will train you," said Sirius suddenly.
"Huh?"
"I will train you. Remus too. We won't let the world go to those disgusting things that call themselves humans, let alone wizards. And we sure as hell won't let you die. You just mean that much to us Harry," he teased. "Now, I know this summer will be the best yet since my own dear Hogwarts days. By the way, we have a prank war with Dumbledore that lasts at least until the end of the summer. And NOW we can practice magic in this room." Maybe if I say this enough, I'll believe it. In any case, its Hary that's got to believe me. We can do this. We will never give up. Never surrender. We will win, thought Sirius
"No. No prank war," said Harry.
Sirius' face fell. "Why?"
"I want to focus on training. Have you ever seen Voldemort dueling? Really dueling. It's incredible. The power that radiated through the room at the Ministry of Magic after you fell behind the veil was incredible. If I even want a fighting chance, I've got to train the whole summer nonstop."
Sirius smiled at his godson. "Well, let's get to it then." They both got up and shook hands. "To a good summer," they said together and with that they both marched out of the bedroom and down the steps.
Inspiring music plays
The End of Making a Move…Or Two
I hate to end this chapter with so serious a note but I hadn't posted in…well a really long time. Thing is, my internet broke. Of course, you're thinking yeah, right. Just like all those other authors out there- "my computer broke" is the oldest excuse in the book. So of course, you don't believe me, but that's what happened. I swear it on my reserved copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! So yeah, hopefully something funny next time but definitely not until after my prom. Sorry my life's coming first (yes I have a life)
Anyway, please review! Like I said in Musings and Heartbreak, even if its just the word 'the' review! That's all I'm asking for-just 'the'! Wishing you lots of laughter, love, and Harry Potter
wannabewitch
p.s. so you know, I'm not goth or anything like that…my pen name is the result of too much time spent with Harry Potter and lack of creativity (aka all the good names were taken!)