Possession
Chapter XLIX - They Know Not
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Daily Prophet - Special Afternoon Edition

Boy-Who-Lived Kidnapped!
From Elliot Bryant

In the confusion of last night, another nefarious plan from You-Know-Who is only now coming to light. Last night, Hogwarts, the only place, long considered safe from His wrath came under attack. It was not a large-scale attack but rather a small surgical strike at the castle with the intention of kidnapping the Boy-Who-Lived and information has come to this paper that the strike was regrettably successful.

It is a sad state of affairs when those, many of us consider too young, turn against their own but the Dark Lord's strike relied heavily on help from within, help he has silenced with his customary brutality. Several students were killed last night and while their names have been withheld, for the benefit of their families, it is known that the Dark Mark was burned into their arms. It is not known if the Mark was added post-mortem to add to the confusion or if they were all willing participants. At the moment Auror teams are blanketing the scene searching for clues.

Concerned parents have been owling both the Ministry and Hogwarts with their worries but Albus Dumbledore, esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, member of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Head of the Order of the Phoenix had this to say. "We must remember that Lord You-Know-Who's (Editors Note: Dumbledore did actually speak the name but we are loath to publish it) forces only gained entry to the castle with inside help. They did not breach any of the defensive charms. At the moment, we are currently conducting interviews with the Aurors, with all students involved and review of security will be undertaken. This is a most unfortunate turn of events and it is at times like this that we must unite against the Dark. The Order of the Phoenix is already looking for young Harry and we must remember that Mr Potter is well known for his resourcefulness in difficult situations. Neither the Ministry, or I believe other students to be in danger of attack as it is regrettably true that Lord You-Know-Who has shown obsessive interest only in Mr Potter."

When asked if he was concerned about You-Know-Who's actions and the fact that it appeared Death Eaters were being recruited so young, Dumbledore said, "There is no denying he is an immensely powerful wizard but he is not invincible, providing that we remain true to that which we hold dear. The students who have followed him disappointingly strayed from the path. I can only pray that their souls are at peace and that they may serve as a warning to others that he does not show mercy, not even to his own. I share the sentiments of Auror Captain Sturges, in that we must unite and stand strong." After these comments Albus Dumbledore was called away for a conference with the Minister, to co-ordinate the efforts of Aurors and the Order of the Phoenix in the search for our young saviour as well as to offer advice on the events of last night.

We will of course keep you, dear reader, updated of all events but at the moment, there is nothing else left to report. We can only pray that young Harry has the strength to endure until he is rescued. We will not consider anything else.

---

Snape was more than concerned. Things weren't adding up and he didn't like it when nothing made sense.

He had known of the internal plot against the Dark Lord and had told Voldemort of the brewing unrest, even though he had known nothing more of the details. But what he had not known was that the Dark Lord's forces were moving last night, nor had he known about the plot to capture Potter.

And that was what was worrying him. At the very least, he should have known about the orders to attack. That would have been a general order to every Death Eater. But he had known nothing!

Nothing about the students who had been consecrated into the fold, nothing about the pinpoint attack on Potter, nothing!

He knows.

That was the obvious conclusion, that the Dark Lord knew of his duplicity and had consciously and with great care excluded him from everything but that was not Voldemort's style. He'd seen it happen before. Once the Dark Lord found a spy he exploited them for all they were worth, used them to sow confusion and distrust before he struck.

That's what he is doing now. Do you really think that Dumbledore and the Order will believe you when you say you knew nothing?

No! Dumbledore had to believe him. They could even drug him but it wouldn't change the facts. He had known nothing.

Yes... As if you would really know nothing.

He did know nothing... Unless... Now that was an interesting thought. Black eyes narrowed and he flicked greasy black hair away from his forehead. Perhaps the reason he had known nothing was because there was nothing to know. He couldn't have helped with last nights general attack so there was no reason to mention it to him and if the attack last night on Potter only looked like it was the work of Death Eaters but was really the work of the Rebels then of course he would know nothing about it.

It made sense. It more than made sense that with a rebellion so wide spread that they would also attack the perceived source of the Dark Lord's weakness in an effort to prove that they were stronger. And if the people he suspected had been helping Lucius were truly involved then the death of the students was not so surprising.

All of this meant nothing though because it still meant that he knew nothing and could essentially provide nothing solid which might help retrieve Potter from whatever fool hardy situation he had gotten himself into. Although why the Rebels would kidnap Potter was a question itself. He frowned again as more things with the theory came to light. It didn't make a lot of sense for the Rebels to attack Potter, no matter what point they were trying to make. It was a waste of resources they would have better spent attacking the Dark Lord and killing the students was not something that should have happened unless they were supremely confident that the belief that it was all Voldemort's work would hold.

Nor did it answer a more interesting question, in so far as he was concerned, about the fate of the Rebels or the Dark Lord. He had read the paper several times and still was no closer to discerning the truth and as much as it grated, he was reluctantly drawing the conclusion that the idiot reporter was right. The only people who would know the outcome were those who had seen it for themselves.

They'd know soon enough who'd won the night, when victims began appearing but soon enough was not now and they really needed to know.

He resisted the urge to scratch at the Dark Mark on his arm, running through what he knew and what he thought as he prepared for the meeting with the Order of the Phoenix. Potter's lap dog was going to want answers and he knew he couldn't give them.

---

Sirius paced back and forth in Dumbledore's office. He'd stayed here to avoid the reporters who would have no doubt loved to get his version of events but it had been better that way. Now all he had to do was make it through a meeting of the Order without revealing that he knew Harry was safe. That was going to be a challenge.

-We will help you,- the voice sounded in the back of his mind, smooth and calming. -Dumbledore will not know a thing.-

He nodded, confident that if they were sure, it would be okay but he couldn't help harbouring a small feeling of unease. He would have felt better if he had spoken with Harry but he still didn't know where his Godson was and with the Prophet saying that Lucius had escaped...

-Lucius only escaped the Aurors, we were not about to let him get away, the same way as we are not about to let Draco get away.- The voice feel silent as the fire flared and Dumbledore appeared, followed by several other members of the Order.

Sirius nodded to them briefly, ceasing his pacing and taking a seat. The far door swung open to admit Snape and Sirius wasn't quite controlled enough to suppress the sneer of dislike. This was their much vaunted spy, who had told them nothing about last night, so how good was he really? Besides, it was the students he was responsible for who done everything last night. He was controlled enough though, to hold his tongue, snorting instead at the just slightly disbelieving look the other man directed at him. It was subtle and Sirius only picked it up from years of baiting Snape but it was there.

"So this is the famous, Sirius Black."

"And you would be the infamous, Elliot Bryant," Sirius returned the greeting, glaring at Dumbledore, wondering what the ancient wizard was thinking, bringing a reporter here!

"Sirius," the older wizard smiled as the reporter simply laughed. "Mr Bryant is a member of the Order and has been very helpful in rallying everyone. You may not always like the Press Sirius, but we are going to need everyone."

Sirius sighed, not something he really wanted to do but the Shadows indicated he should. "I just want Harry back," he said quietly.

"We all do, Mr Black, we all do."

"So why didn't you know anything about this?" Sirius turned back to Snape, eyes smouldering as he asked the question.

"Which bit dog?"

"Any of it."

"Sirius, Severus!" Minerva tried to calm them down.

"No, Minerva, he does have a point," Snape said calmly. "I didn't know because this wasn't the Dark Lord's work."

"You seriously expect me to believe that someone else wanted Harry kidnapped?" Sirius snarled as the Shadows seemed to nod, apparently impressed with Snape's thought. -He is very intelligent,- they commented softly as they continued to direct him.

"I don't have any power over what you believe but it is a theory that makes sense. The Dark Lord does want Potter but to get to him, he'd have to go through half the school, no matter who was helping him. And despite what you may be thinking, I would know if any Slytherin's were Death Eaters. Those one's were too young. There are a few who have nearly been inducted but they are all seventh years. In Dumbledore's presence, marking any student is stupid and the Dark Lord is anything but. You can examine the arm of every student, and I guarantee you, none will be marked. With no servants here, the Dark Lord had no way of getting your precious Potter, but there are other factions as everyone is now away and they have connections with students who are that young. Why they killed them though, I do not know."

"How many factions are we talking about?" Bryant asked.

Snape took a deep breath, glancing towards Dumbledore but the older wizard just nodded. "After last night, one faction - Voldemort's."

"How do you know he won?" Bryant seemed sceptical.

"Oh, he won. One way or another, he won," Snape said softly but sincere assurance.

"You can't know that though."

"If Lucius won, do you really think he'd be hiding?" Severus snapped, black eyes flashing. "No, Lucius did not win and the reason I know there is only one faction now, is that to be as effective as he was, Lucius would have had to get every faction following him and even then enough remained loyal. The Dark Lord doesn't care if your beliefs are slightly different to his, providing that you follow him, without question but right now, no one will be displaying any differences."

"So who were the other two?" Sirius asked the question, even though he knew the answer. Snape had developed his theory and from the general feel of the Order, most of them were buying it, so the shadows wanted to know what the man would make of them.

The man looked pensive and Sirius caught the slightest trace of fear before it was covered with the usual stoic mask. "They are the reason the Dark Lord won. If what they inferred was true, then we may need to concentrate on them."

Sirius sighed. "All this is well and good but it doesn't help us get to Harry," he said, drawing the conversation back to his Godson. There was a laugh in his mind. -He really is good.-

"Given that every faction got themselves crushed last night, you'd better hope it was either one who is taking him to the Dark Lord, or one that will let him go now that they've lost. I doubt that though. They were smart enough to get around the defences, if that's the case they'll probably try to use Harry as a bargaining chip."

"And until anyone approaches the Dark Lord, I won't know a thing. No one will." Snape glared back at Sirius, daring him to object.

"Great!" Sarcasm dripped from Sirius' voice. "What do you want to do now, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore looked grim, he didn't want to admit this but it seemed there was no choice. "I'm sorry, Sirius, until we know anything, there isn't a lot we can do. I have members of the Order searching for Harry but he could be anywhere and until any new information comes to light, we don't even know where to look."

"But..."

"I know Sirius, I know. I want Harry back as much as you do and the instant we get him back, because we will, we will induct him into the Order."

"Albus! He's still a child!"

"That may be but he is fast becoming a man, and he is central to these events. He deserves to know the truth."

"And inducting him will give us a way of tracking him," Sirius added, nodding. -Only if we allow it,- the Shadow's added smugly.

-You guys know where his is, don't you?-

-Yes.-

-So why don't you tell me?-

-What would you do with the knowledge?-

-Go to him.-

-Then you'd just be in the way.-

It was the way they said it that gave Sirius pause. -Is he..?-

-Quite enthusiastically.-

He resisted the urge to groan. -I didn't need to know that!- But he was reassured that Harry was safe and unharmed.

"Yes," Dumbledore was saying. "You know we can track all Order Members. But it will do something else, it will allow us to fully begin training Harry's power. He is only now coming into his birthright and we are going to have to train that. The Dark Lord, as you all know, wields the ancient power, Harry is capable of it as well, and to fulfil his destiny, we will have to teach him its use."

"You don't seem that concerned." Bryant stated, more that a little confused at the apparent lack of worry being shown and while he didn't direct the question, it was to several people.

"Raging's not going to get me anywhere," Sirius said delicately, "but when the time comes..." The shadows underscored his tone, making his voice chilling with power.

Elliot nodded, shivering, before turning to Dumbledore.

The ancient wizard sighed. Bryant was loyal but he was still a reporter and he was very perceptive at times.

"This goes no further," he said firmly, the threat implied in his voice echoed by Fawkes' trill. "I don't think it was a faction," he said. "I do believe it was Voldemort himself who ordered Harry taken but the Dark Lord will not kill Harry. Tom doesn't want that, not anymore."

"What does he want then?"

"A mate."

"What!"

"A mate," Sirius repeated for Dumbledore as Bryant turned to face him.

"You can't be serious."

"We are, and if this ever comes to light your obituary will be in the next edition."

"How..?" Elliot gulped, trying to work his mind through the implications.

"Harry was kidnapped over summer by the Dark Lord, very briefly," Sirius said matter of factly, the voice not his own. "The Order got him back in a day or two, so no one knew about it but the Dark Lord was gentle with him - kept him asleep, healed wounds and allowed no one else to touch him."

"So what does Harry think of this?"

Dumbledore took up the explanation, impressed with the maturity Sirius was showing and the groundwork of his small explanation. It was truthful without revelling everything, without even hinting that anything else more intimate had happened. "He's understandably confused, but he was asleep most of the time so that the only thing he is really sure about is that someone healed his wounds."

"Wounds?"

"Harry's relatives, while providing him with excellent protection are rather against the use of magic and were over firm in their discipline. I regret it every day but at the time it was the only choice."

Elliot suddenly laughed mirthlessly. "They're dead, aren't they?"

"I hope so," Minerva said. "Lord Voldemort," she grimaced at actually saying the name, "isn't known for his forgiving nature and if he believes that they hurt something or someone he wanted... I really hope they are dead."

Bryant shuddered but nodded before his reporter instincts took over again. "If it weren't so serious it could be funny, a Dark Lord courting."

"So now you now why it is imperative that we act on any information to get Harry back. Tom didn't gain all his followers by force," Dumbledore said, quashing any amusement.

"You don't think Harry will give into him?"

"No, but I do fear that Harry may sympathise and while in the long run we will be able to bring Harry back to our side, we do have to remember that he is an impressionable teen. It wouldn't be his fault but we are in a position to prevent him making these mistakes and we need to pursue this duty actively."

The members of the Order nodded as Dumbledore spoke. Some of them were old enough to remember how alluring Lord Voldemort had been in his prime. Charismatic, handsome, with the ability to make you believe that helping him was the only choice. While his looks may have been destroyed by his retreat into spirit form, he still had his charisma and his charm and when applied with the right implications, that could be enough to sway anyone.

"We'll get him back," Mad-Eye said gruffly as the meeting broke up.

---

Harry snuggled comfortably against Voldemort as he felt the older man fall asleep. He was tired himself but that was the momentary lethargy of completion and it was fading already. He smiled, feeling the Dark Lord's sleeping presence. A few things had changed and he could feel that they had changed for the better but right now he didn't need to consider it, it was something Voldemort would tell him in time. He squirmed, extracting himself from his lovers embrace before moving to sit on the side of the bed. He flicked the covers back over the Dark Lord as he stood, looking around the room.

He recognised it. He'd been here before and the thought brought him a slight smile. The Dark Lord had always known where his bed would be, it had just taken him a while longer to work it out but if this was to be his home, he did want to know about it. Harry looked around. There were a few serpents present but most of them were asleep.

$May I help you, Shadow Lord?$

The polite question came from above him and Harry twisted slightly to look directly into the eyes of a cobra that was lowering itself from the canopy. He nodded, extending his arm for it to descend. Harry gestured towards the door, with its many locks. $Do you know which one is the bathroom?$ He needed to clean up before he could go exploring.

$The second lock.$

$Thank you. Is the top one the way out?$

$No, that's the middle one.$

Harry nodded as he walked towards the door, his feet silent on the carpet. $Do you know who is in the castle?$

$The King ordered everyone away so there is only a few House Elves and a few other servants. Nothing that will disturb you, Lord.$

$Thank you,$ Harry said to the cobra as he placed it on the carpet and opened the door.

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