Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
TW/ mentions of rape (one mention, very brief) – I'll put a warning above and below in the chapter so you can skip it if you want to.
Now that that's out of the way, let's begin…
Last time,
Harry steps outside, walking down the road and into an alleyway. He pulls out his phone and calls Anthony.
"Hey, so, ask Greyback if he's ever heard the name Sevrin Lupin… Who? …okay, yeah, we've got a problem."
Now,
28th December 2001
Harry stands in the study at Black Manor with Greyback and Anthony. Anthony sits at the desk while Greyback takes the armchair by the floo, turned to face the room instead of the fireplace. Harry stands in front of the fireplace, once again looking at the photos on the mantle.
"So Bellatrix knew Sevrin." Harry runs a hand through his hair. "Dear fuck Remus never needs to know about this."
"Do we have any idea when she turned on the Dark Lord? Whose side would she have been on at that point?" Greyback questions, both he and Anthony looking to Harry for an answer.
Harry thinks of Delphini and what had to have occurred for her to exist. "Sometime after she –" He cuts himself off.
Reversed…reversed…broken. What happened before will happen once more while the cure waits beyond the shore. Power lost he will regain until only sad is allowed to remain. No one had ever told him exactly what that meant, but he gets it now. It's Azkaban, the dementors, taking all the happiness. But if that's the case then everything that happened after she escaped Azkaban was to keep up appearances while she tried to stop him.
"A time will come, Potter," Bellatrix suddenly says quietly and…sanely. "Be ready. Make it worth all of this in the end."
"Hello, Miss Black."
"Mrs Lestrange," Voldemort corrects.
"Angling for Mrs Voldemort," Harry mutters, he receives two exasperated looks. Bellatrix, no longer being watched by either leader, shudders in revulsion. When they look back, she's looking at Voldemort with doe eyes.
While Voldemort and Dumbledore duel, Harry locks eyes with Bellatrix. 'I'll make it worth it,' Harry mouths to her. She looks at him and Harry gets a minor look at the strong, intelligent, and caring person she's pretending not to be. She nods at him.
Trigger Warning
Harry comes to a really rather unfortunate realisation that she'd let herself be raped and carry Voldemort's child to try and save the world. Continued interacting with him for months after to try and stop him hurting anyone else.
It's over
He looks at the picture of her holding Jamie, a smile on her face. How could anything I do make it worth all this? And then he remembers the pain on Jamie's face when she spoke of Sevrin. He thinks of his love for his children and the smile Bellatrix holds just being near her daughter. If it protects Jamie, if it makes her happy, if it keeps her safe, of course it's worth it. To Bellatrix, to protect Jamie and Delphini, it is more than worth it.
"…Riddle?"
Harry snaps back to the other two at the sound of Greyback speaking, seeing the expectant looks on their faces. "Sometime while in Azkaban the effects of the dementors counteracted the spell. But who knows how long that would have taken. Either she helped Sevrin out of love for Remus or out of a desire to cause him pain."
"Regardless, I think I have an idea who might have helped Sevrin. From the inside at the very least. Someone no one would talk about to the Aurors, they'd be too afraid," Anthony tells the others, continuing when they give him their attention, "Rodolphus Lestrange."
Harry nods slowly, "Right, because Bellatrix would've told him anything he asked while keeping up pretences, couldn't have predicted things turning out this way."
"And the little brat would've been more than willing to listen to what the husband of his ally had to say once Lestrange landed himself in Azkaban," Greyback concludes.
"Question is, how do we get in to talk to him without tipping off the Aurors?" Anthony questions with a frown. "We keep letting them get too close, they're going to close in on Greyback eventually, and at that point we're all fucked."
"Maybe we don't. We go in, we get what we need, and if Aurors come afterwards then let them. He's a lot more likely to speak to us than to them. Besides, anyone can visit a prisoner, technically speaking. He's not part of an active case, so unless the Warden demands it, we don't actually need to explain ourselves. Trouble is getting Rodolphus to agree to speak to us."
"Voldemort's son asking to see him? Something tells me he'll agree," Greyback replies.
"Voldemort's what now?" Anthony asks.
Harry looks to him then sighs, "You know what, it's a long fucking story including a shit ton of possession, mind-altering spells, and spies."
Anthony looks unimpressed but nods, "I'm gonna want to hear that long story at some point. But it can wait."
Harry smiles a little, acknowledging how much Anthony really must trust him to hear a statement like that and be willing to just put it to the side.
"Okay, I'll book the visit and we'll see how difficult they make it for us."
"In the meantime, I'm gonna go into the office and do some actual sanctioned work before I lose my job," Anthony tells them both. He looks to Harry. "You going to be okay here?"
Harry shrugs, "Hey, if I die, you know who to blame."
Greyback has the gall to fucking snort at that.
Draco's sitting in a briefing room, Ron's team, Crown's team, Tonks' team, and Robards, all in the room.
"Panar Avery is a member of Blood Moon, which I'm sure comes as a surprise to absolutely no one. We don't think it's a coincidence that an old friend of Bellatrix is involved with people helping the kid she hung out with in Azkaban," Ron tells everyone.
"I still don't understand why we're all working this, what's the Lupin case got to do with ours?" Mandy Brocklehurst asks as a member of Crown's team.
The heads of the three teams exchange looks before Ron nods and looks back out at them, and their boss, and speaks confidently as he explains.
"We have strong reason to believe that Sevrin Lupin is working with Blood Moon to implicate Greyback in these attacks. They want to turn the world against the werewolf community. We don't believe Greyback is behind this at all."
"That tip, could it have come from one of them?" Williamson questions to which Ron nods.
"It's a possibility we consider to be highly likely. It was sent in anonymously, without just cause we can't try and find out who sent it."
Robards looks them all over before he rubs at his forehead. "You all better be damn sure about this before we turn our backs away from Greyback."
"We understand, sir. But we're right about this," Crown tells him.
He sighs and nods, "Then I'd consider this just cause. Identify that tip, find these bastards, and let's take this kid down."
"Yes, sir."
"What reason would Avery have for helping Lupin?" Sim asks, "I mean there's the Bellatrix connection and the hatred of werewolves, but this is a lot of backing for an untrained kid." No one seems to have an answer to that until Ron remembers something from years ago.
"Remus. It's personal. Avery hates Remus, obsessively. Has for years."
"Why?" Draco asks him, surprising Ron because he figured if anyone would know it would be Draco.
"I don't know, but remember when we were captured by Death Eaters? Avery took more delight in torturing Remus than anyone else."
"Right, said he'd promised years ago to break Remus down to scrap, whatever that means," Draco remembers, eyes vacant as he thinks back.
"Avery's got Blood Moon involved by the werewolf angle but he's not in it to make them suffer, he's in it to make Remus suffer and he's using his son to do it," Crown concludes.
Ron nods, "Exactly."
"Warn Lupin, find out what happened, anything he knows that we can use. Let's move on this, people!" Robards orders.
"Right, Sim, work with Crown's people, track down that tip. Branson, you and I are going to Lupin," Ron directs.
"Williamson, you and I will push the Blood Moon angle," Crown tells him, "Romano, you're with Sim."
"I'll track down Avery," Tonks states, "Brocklehurst, take Kerr and ask around Azkaban again, dig up anything about him you can get, try and find out when and how the two first got in contact, if at all."
"Have Malfoy help you look into Avery, he's gonna know more of his old friends than you," Ron says, Tonks nodding.
Draco winces at that slightly, "These are the people I betrayed, you realise that, right?"
Ron sighs, "You're all we've got."
Remus is reading peacefully at home, enjoying his Christmas break, when he gets a floo call from Ron asking if he has time to answer a few questions. He allows him and his partner through.
"Remus, you remember –"
"David Branson, yes, of course," Remus replies, smiling to his old student. Branson was a few years above Ron in Hogwarts so he only had Remus for one year during his first teaching post, he's quite flattered that Remus remembers him at all. He invites them in, making them all tea. They sit at the kitchen bench before the topic is actually broached. "I'll help in any way I can, but I'm not sure what I can tell you about Sevrin that you don't already know."
"We're not here about him. Not directly, anyway," Branson explains earning much confusion, which he supposes is fair enough.
"We want to talk to you about Panar Avery," Ron tells him. He watches as Remus' expression shutters closed and heaves an internal sigh. Why can't they ever make this easy for them?
"What about him?"
"You two don't get along, is that correct?"
Remus huffs and nods, "You could say that."
"You mind telling us why that is?"
After a few moments of internal debate over the best way to explain this, Remus explains, "During the last war, you kids decided to leave it all on the platform, within the school you banded together. That's not how it happened the first time. That war was fought within the halls of Hogwarts and we fought bloody. Avery didn't like the fact that inside of the school, we won, and they unequivocally lost. In short, I humiliated him in front of the entire school in a time where proving yourself meant being handpicked to fight for whomever you supported. He never really got over that." Remus shakes his head in something resembling pity. "It's amazing the frivolous things people allow to drive their entire lives."
"When's the last time you heard from him?"
"Four years ago, when we were held captive by Death Eaters."
Ron frowns at that, "He wasn't there the day Mundungus and Malfoy Sr died? What about that battle?"
Remus winces a little, "If you'll recall, Ron, I wasn't there for that. I don't know if he was there, and if I saw him at any point in that time, well, I wouldn't know that either." Ron clears his throat awkwardly and nods, waving off Branson's questioning look in a way that suggests he'll explain later. Remus frowns, "Why are you asking about Avery? What's he got to do with Sevrin?"
"I'm afraid we can't give out information about an ongoing case," Ron replies calmly, "This rivalry between the two of you. How…" Ron struggles to find a word other than 'bad' to describe what he's trying to ask. "parlous, would you consider it?" Internally, Ron thinks Hermione's rubbed off on him a little too much, but Remus is as equally well-spoken as she so he doubts it will be a problem this time.
"It's never enough to win for you is it? You have to rub it in everyone's faces. Why is that? Compensating for the fact that without your precious protector you were defenceless and scared? He won't always be around. I'll make sure of that much!"
"Going to deal with me, are you? …This is not like last time. There will not be some big dramatic victory song, or even a dangerous inter-house war. You or any of yours pull shit like this again, and it will be the last time."
"You are a mere weapon Lupin, we've seen that you can be disarmed, I will find a way to break you down until you are nothing but scrap. That is a promise."
Remus just smirks and releases him. "Bye Avery."
"It's had its moments. But it's been years since I even thought about it and I'm sure it's the same for him. Nothing I ever did to him was that bad, which certainly can't be said vice versa." He frowns again, "Then again, he may have been quite put out about me continually escaping and never actually giving in."
"Do you have any idea where we might find him?"
Remus shakes his head, "None at all."
"Any old acquaintances who might lend him a hand?" Branson asks.
"Most of his old acquaintances are in Azkaban. There's Greyback, they worked together with Voldemort. But Avery's not exactly fond of Werewolves, I don't imagine they'd work together without Voldemort bridging the gap."
"Alright, thank you, Professor. We'll be in touch," Branson tells him as he and Ron rise.
Ron hesitates a moment as something occurs to him. "As far as we know, Sevrin has no idea you aren't a werewolf anymore. Should he find out, he might pay you a very different visit from the one we've been expecting. If and when he does, shoot us a floo call. No matter how much you may want your son back, Remus, please, don't let yourself be swayed."
Remus gives him a hard look. "He came for Benni. Again. I'm not giving him another opening to hurt the people I love, least of all his sister who still lives in this apartment."
"See that you don't," Ron states before he and Branson move through the floo.
Harry and Anthony are led through Azkaban, jeers and shouts following them past every cell. Finally, they reach the one they are here to see. He stands facing the back until the guard bangs on the bars.
"You got visitors, Lestrange."
The man turns, a smirk gracing his face.
"I had wondered who would come. I have to admit, I was hoping for your traitor of a boyfriend."
"Well, unfortunately, you're stuck with little ol' me," Harry replies, hands in his pocket, portraying a casualness he certainly does not feel being in this place.
"There are worse people to be faced with than the son of my master, Riddle."
There's a lot Harry wants to say to that, but they need his help, so instead he simply offers a smile. "I'm here because I'm hoping you can answer some questions for me. About Sevrin Lupin."
"Still can't find him, eh?" Rodolphus chuckles, "Never have been very good at their jobs those Aurors, huh? I mean, you've killed more people than some of the people in this place. Yet here you stand. A saviour. Tell me, does your partner know about all that nasty business? Or are you still hoping it'll be buried along with everything else you've done in pursuit of your so-called noble cause?"
"We aren't here to talk about me."
"Hm. Little baby Lupin. He's a good one, that one. Dark and powerful, truly a thing of beauty. Hates his father, even more than I do, and he nearly stole my wife from me."
Harry's jaw tenses minutely as he pushes that aside. "We hear you two were close while he was in here. He was close with Bellatrix as well."
Rodolphus nods, "Enemy of my enemy and all that. How is Remy doing with all this…unfortunate business?"
"We aren't here to talk about him either."
"Well, Riddle, it's hard to have a conversation when you shut down every topic."
"What do you know about Sevrin Lupin?"
"A bit. I'll give you three questions. What is it you really want to know?"
Harry frowns at that, thinking it over. He looks to Anthony who seems thoughtful and then nods. Harry waves him on.
"Where is he likely to be hiding?"
"Well, I don't know much about his life before coming here, but being seven, I imagine there are few places he would know to hide. Have you considered that he may have gone home? Or perhaps to someone he cares for, a parent, maybe?"
"We're thinking it's more likely someone's helping him hide."
Rodolphus puts on a look of intrigue. "And why, exactly, would someone do that?"
"Well, that, and who, is our second question," Harry replies with a smile poorly masking his frustration.
Walking forward in his cell, Rodolphus curls his hands around the bars. "Remus caused so very many problems when we were young. Did you know that he and Lucius were once enemies?" Rodolphus nods absently to himself, "Yes, once upon a time, Lucius created a plan to gain his trust in order to turn him to our side. You see, he had this idea that when one comes across a superior power that cannot be defeated, the logical thing is to gain its help." He grins widely as he steps back again. "This kid… he's powerful. Maybe even more so than his dear pops. More importantly, he is bound by no ethical code preventing him from being used. You think someone is helping him? No, I doubt it. That boy is a weapon. You want to find him? I suggest you find the target."
Harry and Anthony are silent for a moment as they digest that, then Harry steps forward slightly.
"Last question. How is it he knows how to use magic?"
Rodolphus smirks, "He learnt through Hogwarts. Doesn't every British wizard?"
Though confusing, the two reporters get the feeling he won't be elaborating on this one. Instead, Harry simply glares, dropping all pretence.
"I think you'll find he's French."
Anthony and Harry return to Black Manor where Greyback is waiting and fill him in on the interaction.
"So, yes, not an especially helpful interaction," Anthony concludes.
Greyback hums, then shakes his head, "Obviously the boy's previous home will have been searched. That being said, Lestrange is right. He was seven, how much of the world could he truly know?"
"You're right," Harry agrees, "But the only other place I know of that he spent a great deal of time is with the Malfoys and their mansion is occupied."
"By whom?"
"No one that would help him," Harry replies shortly. Greyback looks unimpressed.
"Hold on, he also suggested something about a parent," Anthony reminds them.
"Sure but we know Remus and Severus aren't."
"Right, but Sevrin's got to have had a mother at some point, hasn't he?"
"She's dead, Anthony."
Anthony huffs, "Yes, I figured that much. Like you said, Professor Lupin's old house would have been searched, but what about hers?"
Draco and Tonks are catching up with Crown and Williamson when Sim and Romano suddenly come rushing over from their desks.
"You aren't going to believe this. That tip? It came from Potter and Goldstein," Romano tells them.
Crown stares at the two for a moment. "You're kidding," She finally says.
"Nope!" Sim replies as she leans back against Williamson's desk.
Everyone of them sits in a discombobulated silence, because why does every step of this make things even more confusing. Eventually, Draco breaks the silence.
"What the fuck is going on here?!"
"I don't know. I hate to say it, but I think we're gonna need to bring them back in."
"Who?" Ron asks as he and Branson get back, "Got basically nothing from Remus by the way."
"Harry and Anthony sent in the tip about Greyback," Draco fills in.
Crown runs her hands over her face, "I don't understand, isn't Potter the one who first suggested it wasn't Greyback doing this? He handed me the Blood Moon connection." She looks up to Ron, "You got nothing?"
"Well, only confirmation that they didn't like each other."
Romano nods, "Lupin didn't seem to think the whole thing was a big deal. Just Hogwarts stuff Avery never let go of. You lot got anything else?"
"We checked in with Narielle Avery, she's his sister," Tonks explains, "Claims not to have heard from him, says she's never heard of Sevrin at all. She did, however, confirm that Avery's a long term member of Blood Moon which apparently put him at odds with quite a few of the other Death Eaters due to their connection to Remus. Only one she remembers him still being close with was the Lestrange brothers."
"How interesting," Robards says as he walks up to the group, "Just got a floo call from the warden at Azkaban. Our two favourite reporters paid an inmate a visit."
"Who?" pretty much every one of the aurors working this asks.
"Rodolphus Lestrange."
Again, they lapse into silence, then Draco curses under his breath. "He's gonna make me bring him in again, isn't he?"
Ron snorts, "Well, he's not gonna offer up the information. What I want to know is where they found that connection!"
"You and me both."
