The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Thank you to my faithful and hardworking beta, ennui deMorte
15 REVIEWS: I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 15 reviews, for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this fanfic. Thanks JK.
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Chapter 10
Deadly Intent
++
Harry and Ron's portkey took them into a place of complete darkness.
Harry peered silently into the darkness, hoping his eyes would adjust and allow him to see at least a few feet in front of him. He didn't want to use Lumos and have the Ministry of Magic down upon them if there was no danger and it was dark because Hermione's parents were asleep.
Ron took two steps and collided with a glass table, upsetting several small figurines. The tinkle of broken glass was the only sound. "Hermione!" called Ron.
"OH! It's you, Ron. Harry," said Hermione in a hoarse whisper. "Be quiet. They're here."
"What?" asked Harry. "Why is it dark?"
"I shut off the lights," she whispered. "They're out on the lawn. At least three of them. I heard the Apparitions."
"And three of us," said Ron, raising his wand.
"Don't be stupid," said Hermione. "What about my parents?"
The threesome backed up against the wall, trying to peer between the folds of the heavy draperies. Gripping his wand tightly, Harry said, "Take your parents back to Sirius' house. I still have the portkey." He pulled the golden snitch wing out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
"No," she said. Turning to her mum and dad. "Grip your hands around this and say 'Fawkes.' It will take you to a safe place."
"Hel---looo! Harry Potter!" called one of the witches outside. "If you come out and play, we might leave your Muggle friends alone."
"Or not," giggled another witch, sounding bizarrely playful.
"And leave you here with the intruders?" said her Mum incredulous. "No."
"This is ridiculous. I'm calling the police," said her Dad.
"They're Dark wizards," hissed Hermione, grabbing his shirt sleeve. "Calling the police won't do any good. We have to get out of here, now."
"What was that?" said Ron as something brushed against his leg and he jumped back.
"The cat," said Hermione's Mum. "Crookshanks."
"So let's all go," suggested Harry, as Hermione picked up Crookshanks, and they placed their hands over the portkey together.
"Fawkes!"
Nothing happened, and Hermione let the cat go while they tried to think of what to do.
"Damn it. It's after midnight," swore Harry.
"Come out. Come out wherever you are," called a witch, and a swath of flame accompanied the words, setting fire to one of the bushes outside the house.
"Now what?" wondered Ron. "Could you make another portkey, Harry?"
"In the dark?" asked Harry
"Without a wand?" added Hermione.
"I don't think what the Ministry says about underage magic is real important right now, Hermione," spat Ron.
Hermione's Dad pulled away from them and started toward the phone. He dialed the police. "Dad!" said Hermione as loud as she dared. She could see the light from the dial of the phone and edged her way over to him.
"Hermione! The portkey to the Riddle house," said Harry. "It's upstairs. I'm going to get it. Ward the door."
She nodded. Harry could see the flames outside reflecting off of her golden brown hair as she moved her head. While Hermione's Dad gave the information to the police, she tried to get him to come with her. Whispering frantically to him, Hermione finally dragged him away from the telephone and towards the steps.
Harry had already moved half way up the steps when the door flew open, ripped right off of its hinges by the spell. Ron shoved Hermione's Mum behind him and raised his wand in readiness, but Hermione pushed him down. Harry saw that they were trying to sneak to the stairs in the dark. The shadow of movement on the lawn suggested the possibility of more witches or wizards than they had originally thought.
Harry headed the rest of the way up the stairs as one of the witches obviously ran into the same table that Ron had hit. The sound of breaking glass and muttered obscenities filling the air as Ron, Hermione and the doctors Granger caught up with him.
"Lumos!" called one of the witches, but the dim wand light did not allow them to see very well. Another crash issued as another of the clear glass tables was over turned and someone tripped sprawling in the glass. There was a hiss of someone cut by the glass shards.
"Lumos! Medico!" The wandlight was now considerably brighter, but still dimmer than electric lights. "Where are you, Harry Potter? Why are you hiding like a coward? What happened to that Gryffindor bravery?" shouted one of the witches.
"Why don't they turn on the lights?" wondered Hermione's Mum.
"Purebloods," said Ron, and Harry mouth hung open in amazement as he realized that Ron was right. They didn't know how to turn on an electric light switch. It just didn't occur to them.
Another sound upstairs caught their attention. "Portkey," mouthed Hermione.
"Harry!" screamed a very welcome voice from upstairs.
"Sirius," Harry said and sprinted the rest of the steps two at a time in the dark.
A flash of a spell fired and the room was thrown immediately into light as the white sofa went up in flames. Crookshanks yowled and took cover in the Christmas tree. They heard the rustle of branches as he climbed and then leaped to the upstairs balcony beating them all to the second floor.
A little cry came from Hermione's Mum but they all managed to get upstairs. Sirius thrust the portkey into Harry's hands. "Grab on all," he said, but Harry pulled away.
"You're coming too, aren't you?" Harry asked Sirius as the portkey activated taking Ron, Hermione, and Hermione's parents, along with Crookshanks, to safety.
"Bloody hell," swore Sirius as Tonks Apparated beside them. "You were supposed to go too, Harry!"
"I don't want to leave you here," said Harry. "There are at least two, maybe three of them. We heard two witches—"
"This is my job," said Sirius. "Not yours."
"It's Ok, Sirius," said Tonks, laying her hand on Sirius'. "Apparate Harry to safety. Send help. I'll keep them here."
"Tonks," said Sirius warningly.
"The brave Harry Potter hiding in the shadows," cooed a feminine voice. "Tsk. Tsk."
"That's Narcissa," said Sirius.
"Go!" Tonks urged, morphing before Harry's eyes into a nearly perfect replica of himself. She brushed her hair off of her forehead in a gesture much like his own and fired a spell in the direction of their adversary. She called, "Come and get me Death Eater!"
Her spell ricocheted off of Narcissa's shield spell and there was the sound of yet more glass breaking.
Sirius grabbed him around the waist and Apparated.
++
Voldemort Apparated to the house to find it strangely quiet and dark. Only a few Death Eaters guarded Harry Potter, who was standing hand in hand with his two friends, the Mudblood and the Weasley. He thought it strange that Potter would stand between his friends, holding hands, which meant he couldn't reach for his wand with either hand.
The threesome was held hostage by Narcissa and Valeriana. Lucius was still searching for other occupants.
"He's mine," said Voldemort as he strode into the room, he fixed his red eyes on the scene before him.
"You wanted me," said Potter in a strangely feminine voice and Voldemort frowned.
"An interesting trick you have there, Potter," said Voldemort, trying to sense the thoughts of the creature in front of him..
"Oh, I'm not Harry Potter," said the center figure with a strange smirk on its face.
"So who are you?" asked Voldemort still unable to determine exactly what it was he was faced with.
"Before you ask who," said the counterfeit Potter, "You should ask what happened to the real Harry Potter?"
"Very well," agreed Voldemort, narrowing his eyes and trying to discern if the sound of the voice was actually coming from the figure of Harry Potter or one of the other figures or somewhere else entirely. "What happened to the real Harry Potter?"
"Spirited away by that traitor to his name, Sirius Black."
Valeriana sucked in her breath.
The threesome in front of him melted, and changed, coalescing into a black dog, whose tongue hung out of its mouth as if it was smiling at Voldemort.
Voldemort raised his hands in readiness for a spell. "What are you?"
And it shape shifted again.
"And where is Harry Potter," He asked, reaching out, thinking he could venture to touch it.
This time the morph was a pretty young girl with auburn hair and emerald eyes: Lily Potter. "You won't kill Harry," she said. "I won't let you."
And Voldemort took a quick step backwards.
"Interesting," noted Lily Potter with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure Dumbledore would love to have that little piece of information. Not that it's surprising, really—that you fear Lily. What does surprise me is that you don't recognize me, since my mother had the same—"
The form of Lily Potter melted as Voldemort's spell flew from his hand, "Stupefy!" and missed.
Voldemort's hands clenched over the magic in anger as he looked around wildly for her. "She has to still be here," snapped Voldemort. "She didn't Apparate. She's something small, like a bug. Ward the doors!" He screamed at his Death Eaters. "Find her! I want her!"
Narcissa and Valeriana immediately began setting the wards as Lucius brightened his wand to search.
The scream of Muggle sirens in the distance was completely ignored. It was not a threat. Even the pop of several Apparations to the lawn did not pull Voldemort's attention from his goal; his tongue flickered trying to discern her whereabouts. "Alive," he said, his red eyes scanning the floor, searching for movement.
"Master," urged Lucius. "Aurors! On the lawn. We have to go." Lucius laid his hand on Voldemort's shoulder. "Sir!" he said. "Sir! Please!"
"Nymphadora!" he shouted. "You belong with us. Bloody hell!" He hissed through his teeth. "Nymphadora!"
"Sir! Now!"
"Itare Phantasma!"
++
Ginny was waiting in the Hall to tell Voldemort that Samara was awake, but when he returned to the Snow Castle, he was in a foul mood, and Ginny hesitated. She wondered if her news might put him in a better mood, but she was afraid to approach him. She wasn't exactly in a good mood herself, her head pounding from Draco's stupefy spell.
Death Eaters took one look and skittered out of Voldemort's way.
"Let's wait and see what he's angry about, Ginny Love," suggested Tom. "Stay out of sight and try to tone down the 'hate' thoughts."
"I'm going to get even with that little ferret," thought Ginny.
"I'm sure you will," replied Tom calmly. "Let's focus on the task at hand, shall we?"
"Ok, Tom."
She backed against the wall and slipped back out into the corridor with several other Death Eaters who had surreptitiously left the Hall when Voldemort arrived.
"Get Carman," he demanded of the house elf that slunk forward to take his cloak. "It's rare," he told Lucius who, along with Narcissa, was apparently brave enough to stay within cursing distance. He was pacing the hall with his cape billowing, and Ginny half expected to see flames dripping from his fingertips.
"He has more control than that," said Tom. "His anger is more likely to come out in a well placed Crucio."
"I know," Ginny agreed.
"Carman was almost certain that Andromeda was a Metamorphmagus," Voldemort continued in an almost conversational tone, "but it doesn't manifest until puberty and then she got pregnant so damned young. Fuckin Muggles."
"It isn't usually inherited," said Valeriana, who had entered the room, but was staying well away from the Dark Lord. "No one would have thought—"
"Andromeda's pregnancy would have caused her talent to go dormant," added Narcissa. "At least temporarily."
"That her child would—" began Voldemort. "Carman!" he roared as she finally came into the room. "Why didn't you tell me Andromeda's daughter was a Metamorphmagus!"
"I—" Carman was uncharacteristically at a loss for words.
He clapped both of his hands on her cheeks and lifted her physically from the floor. "Tell me you didn't know," he growled.
"I didn't—" said Carman, and his hands around her face began to smoke. "I mean, I wasn't sure—I thought maybe, but—Andromeda wouldn't let me near Tonks."
"Tonks!" screamed Voldemort, thrusting Carman from him. "Don't you ever call her by that foul Muggle name!"
Carman staggered back, rubbing her hands over the welts which had risen on her cheeks.
"She is your granddaughter," said Voldemort, his voice a low growl. "I want her with us—I want—YES! WHAT IS IT?" he snapped at the Death Eater who stood at the door.
"Master," he said softly. "It's about Harry Potter. We can't find him again. Walden suggested maybe he went back to Privet Drive."
Voldemort growled with agitation, and the messenger took several steps backwards.
"If he did, we can't touch him—" continued the messenger.
"Torch it," said Voldemort in a low voice.
"Sir?"
"Torch it! Bury it! Destroy the whole damned block! And send the Mark."
"But Master, we won't touch Harry Potter, and they'll just move him."
"Get out!" Voldemort screeched in anger. He paced the room several more times and then seemed to make a decision. He Accioed his cloak from just behind Ginny, but he didn't notice her. He threw it hastily around himself. "Valeriana, Narcissa, Lucius, come with me. You too, Carman."
"Yes, Master," said Lucius.
"Where are we going, Master?" asked Valeriana.
"Privet Drive," said Voldemort, and the entire group disappeared in the Apparition.
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief that they were gone.
"But Harry Potter isn't at Privet Drive," said Tom. "And when he comes back he's going to be in a fouler mood."
"Ohh-" groaned Ginny. "Don't tell me that, Tom. Maybe we can talk Samara into going back to sleep."
"Somnus," suggested Tom.
"Can we do that?" said Ginny hopefully.
"No. I was joking."
++
Privet Drive was asleep under a mantle of ice. Those who wanted to go to church on this holy Muggle holiday had done so, and those who made it back alive were sleeping in their warm beds, or putting together toys for their children in preparation for Father Christmas' arrival in the morning. Only a few lights were on when the group of wizards arrived. Methodically setting fire to number one Privet Drive, they moved down the block to the next house, and then the next, and the next, killing the Muggles as they fled the burning buildings. A Muggle firefighter unit arrived on the scene and, with a little help from Valeriana, its petrol added to the conflagration. At this point, all of the wizards' ire was strangely spent.
"The Aurors will be here soon," said Carman, doing yet another warming spell on her cloak. "There's no point in your risking being found here, Master."
"Yes," said Voldemort, "I was thinking the same thing." He nodded slowly. "It's the wards discouraging us. We are close. Keep burning."
"Yes, Master," replied Carman, turning back to the fire just as Valeriana raised her hands and spewed Elemental flame at the already burning building.
"Let's see the Muggles put that out," she laughed.
"It's always a mistake letting Valeriana play with fire," stated Narcissa while she gathered Elemental water, and loosed it on some of the Elemental flames, putting them out. "You're an accident waiting to happen, Valeriana."
"Isn't that what we're supposed to cause? An accident?" giggled Valeriana.
"A Muggle accident," said Lucius coolly. "They wouldn't have Elemental water to put out your Elemental fire, now would they?"
"But you do," said Valeriana, playfully throwing flames at Lucius.
With cool efficiency Lucius blocked, and through gritted teeth told Narcissa, "She's your sister," and Apparated to the other side of the house.
"How do you put up with him?" Valeriana asked Narcissa. "Does he ever have any fun?"
Narcissa smirked at her sister, but said nothing.
"The Muggles would have trouble putting that out," agreed Carman, spraying the area with Elemental water and then with the use of her wand, pronouncing "Incendio!" re-igniting the building.
"Where are we going next?" asked Valeriana. "I hope we do another wizard. Muggles are boring. How about the Longbottoms?"
"The Longbottoms are in St. Mungo's," said Narcissa.
"No, no, no. I know that, Narcissa. I put them there. I meant their brat. He lives with his Grandmum, doesn't he? I'd think you'd want to get even for the curse they laid on your family, Sister."
"Draco says he's the stupidest wizard in the school, almost a Squib himself," replied Narcissa. "It's not worth the risk."
"You didn't used to be like this Narcissa."
"Like what?"
"So—so cautious. So—so Malfoy."
"Perhaps I've grown up."
"Perhaps you've grown old," said Valeriana with a smirk.
And with a wave of her hand, Narcissa put several large warts on the end of her sister's nose.
"I'm not as concerned with beauty as you are, Narcissa" said Valeriana, but she still removed the warts rather quickly.
"Do you think we've reached Harry Potter's house?" wondered Carman as she and Voldemort sidled up beside them. The red welts on Carman's cheeks stood out sharply in the cold.
"Perhaps," said Voldemort. "I believe I will talk to the Muggles." Transfiguring himself into a semblance of his old Tom Riddle body, he walked up to a fat Muggle who was shivering with cold, but still nosy enough to stay outside to watch the fire. He stood beside the Muggle for a moment before saying, "Quite a fire, isn't it?"
"Yes," answered the Muggle without looking at him.
"Do you have any idea what started this fire?" he asked.
"Faulty wiring," said the Muggle. "People think their Christmas lights will last forever." He shook his head. "It's a shame how stupid people are."
"Yes, it is," agreed Voldemort. "So, I imagine you knew these people—your neighbors."
"Somewhat," agreed the fat Muggle, wiping a meaty hand over his reddened nose and bushy mustache. "Mostly we kept to ourselves. Privacy, you know."
"Indeed," said Voldemort, pulling his wand and toying absently with it. "So which house belongs to the Potter boy?"
"Ah!" the Muggle snorted, "the Potter boy doesn't own a house. Charity that's what keeps a roof over his head—you—" The Muggle gasped, suddenly understanding, and started away, staring at the wand. "You're one of them FREAKS!" He screamed. "Petunia, get inside."
But Petunia didn't have time to move. Neither did Vernon. Voldemort raised his wand and pronounced "Avada Kadavra!" Green fire engulfed his entire hand and Vernon dropped in the street. Voldemort stepped over his body to grasp the skinny woman with his left hand..
"Where do you live?" Voldemort asked, and he and Lucius followed the woman into the house. He searched the house for Harry Potter, but Harry wasn't there. He had no trouble ascertaining the truth from the Muggle woman. He would have continued to play with her for a while, but the Aurors arrived so he just set fire to the house, and Apparated.
++
"Alas, Harry, I have grievous news," said Albus Dumbledore. "Grievous news." He shook his head sadly, "Your mother's sister and her husband are dead. Killed by Death Eaters this night. I'm so sorry, Harry." Albus gripped his shoulder, and Harry sank silently into the sofa at Sirius' house. "At least Dudley was spared, safe at his school." Dumbledore's voice faded into the background of Harry's thoughts as he spoke about the devastation on Privet Drive and the Dark Mark hanging in the air above the carnage..
Someone else, Harry thought, Someone else dead because of him. NO, not just someone, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon. He felt like the room was closing in on him, closing off his air, like the closed area of the cupboard. Never again would he have to stay in the cupboard. Never again would he have to live at Privet Drive. A spark of joy flashed through him, immediately squelched by a wave of guilt. He should feel sad. They were his family and they were dead. A tiny voice said he felt sorrier for Ron when he thought Scabbers was dead. Of course, that was when he thought Scabbers was a rat not a Death Eater. Death Eaters. His mind rushed back to what Dumbledore was saying. The Dursleys were dead. They were Muggles; they had no chance. They were his family. And they were dead. Dead because Voldemort wanted him. If he had been there, perhaps they would be alive. "If I had been there," began Harry, but Sirius cut him off.
"If you had been there, you would be dead too, Harry."
"You don't know that," snapped Harry, the guilt suddenly replaced by anger. "I've faced Voldemort before and survived."
"Harry," said Ron. "They treated you awful—"
"They were my family," snapped Harry. "I didn't want them dead!" Sure you did, Harry. Lots of times you wished them dead. Every time they treated you like a house elf. Every time they skipped your birthday and locked you in the cupboard and fed Dudley like a king. You wished them dead. Not really, thought Harry. NOT REALLY!
"Of course not, Harry," said Dumbledore. "I blame myself for this," he continued. "We have known for some weeks now that information has been leaking from the Order to the Dark Lord, but I didn't think you or the Durlseys were in danger. I assumed the wards would hold. They must have been deteriorating over time. I should have been more diligent. The wards would have been somewhat weakened because Harry wasn't there, but still, I don't understand how this could have happened. The protections still should have held. You were visiting Hermione, but as long as you called Privet Drive home—"
"I haven't really called Privet Drive home since I came to Hogwarts," said Harry. "It's felt less and less like home every time I went back there."
"Ah—" said Dumbledore. "That explains some things."
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Harry. "Why didn't you tell me the wards were tied to my calling that—that place—home—I would have told you—I didn't—"
"They put bars on his windows!" snapped Ron indignantly. "That was supposed to be HOME?"
"The prophecy said your mother's blood would protect you," said Dumbledore.
"Not forever," snapped Harry. "At some point I have to stand alone, protect myself, don't I?"
"Not alone," said Hermione and Ron moved up beside her, nodding his head.
"Sir?" interrupted Tonks, "Professor Snape is here. He would—" But Tonks never got a chance to finish her sentence.
Sirius sucked in his breath with a slight growl as Snape pushed past Tonks to Dumbledore. He strode into the room, his billowing black robes reeking of smoke, and a myriad of small burn holes marring the usually perfect robes. The bottom was wet with ice and slush.
Even though Snape always wore black robes, Harry somehow knew that these were the robes. Death Eater robes. Snape shoved his greasy hair out of his face and announced, "I've brought the Longbottoms. They were attacked. Only the Longbottoms and Harry Potter, perhaps there is something we missed in the prophecy, Albus."
"Perhaps," said Dumbledore rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps." Then Dumbledore looked up. "Did you—compromise your position? Saving them?"
"I didn't save them," said Snape. "They were warded in—Mrs. Longbottom is injured. I have to get back," said Snape. "I'll be missed."
"And how did you know that Privet Drive was attacked? Were you there too?" snapped Sirius.
"I don't have time for you, Mutt," snarled Snape, and he turned abruptly. Trailing ash and slush, he strode back out of the room."
"That Death Eater scum," spat Sirius. "There's your spy, Albus!"
"Sirius, please," said Dumbledore, but Harry felt he could breath easier now that Snape was gone.
Dumbledore seemed to have forgotten them both. Dumbledore followed Snape out the door to invite the Longbottoms into the Order of the Phoenix headquarters..
"Come on, Harry," said Sirius. "You too," he glanced at Ron and Hermione. "There's a room next to your parents, Hermione. We'll go over there early in the morning and clean up the house before your parents see it. We're authorized to do memory charms on Muggles, but perhaps we should talk about how much your parents should remember."
"Nothing," said Hermione. "If they remember, they won't let me go back to Hogwarts. They were already talking about pulling me out of school."
"Well, I think you're old enough to make your own decisions, Hermione, but perhaps we should let your parents remember some things."
"Please," said Hermione.
"We'll discuss it in the morning," said Sirius.
"But Neville—" started Hermione.
"Will not be up to conversation tonight," stated Sirius. "Morning is soon enough for you to interrogate him. I'm sure he just needs to sleep right now, and so do you."
"Sirius," said Hermione, offended, but Harry wasn't sure he could handle any more tragedy tonight himself. He needed to do something positive—something for the side of Light and good.
"Sirius, could I just—" began Harry.
"No!" said Sirius sharply. "You will go to bed and go to sleep if I have to Somnus you myself. I'm all out of patience with you, Harry. Leaving the house instead of asking for help! Putting yourself and your friends in danger! It's bad enough the attack on Hermione's house confirms Albus' suspicion of a spy within the Order, but now the Longbottoms! Voldemort is gaining an alarming boldness now that he has his Prophecy child. I want you safe! Now, are you going to stay put, Harry, or do I have to ward your door?"
"I just wondered about Hedwig," said Harry softly. "I wanted to see her." Harry felt another twinge of guilt as he saw Sirius face crumple and he pulled Harry into a rough embrace. He knew Sirius wasn't thinking of the owl post. He just thought Harry wanted to see his pet owl, and bad as Harry felt about deceiving Sirius, he needed to send the portkey to Draco. "I just wondered if she was ok," said Harry. "I hadn't seen her since Hermione's house."
"She's here, with the Order owls," said Sirius.
"I'd like to see her," insisted Harry.
Sirius nodded. "Of course." Sirius turned back to Ron and Hermione. "Top of the steps, end of the hall," he said. "You're on one side of the corridor Hermione, and Ron on the other. Come on Harry. Let's go see your owl. Maybe the air will do us both good."
++
After Harry got back to the room he was sharing with Ron, Hermione asked, "You sent the portkey to Draco, didn't you?
"Yeah," said Harry.
"We aren't at my house," said Hermione.
"I know," said Harry. "But we'll be back tomorrow. That's what I told Draco."
"Harry, are you sure you're ready?"
"I'm ready," said Harry. "More than ready. Did you see Neville?"
"Asleep," said Hermione. "He looked awful—burns."
"So you didn't hear what happened?" asked Harry.
"Of course we did," said Ron, dangling a set of extendable ears in front of Harry. He bit his lip and got quiet. "Death Eaters burned the house down around them," said Ron, "but the ward held. He couldn't get it up fast enough. Sirius said there was an explosion."
"Is that what happened to his grandmother?" asked Harry.
"No," said Ron. "She was hit with some kind of death spell, but it's slow acting. She's at St. Mungo's. Neville said she was awesome. Took down that Valeriana woman before she fell. Then Neville levitated her back inside and did the ward."
"Neville did the ward?" asked Harry.
Ron nodded, "And you won't believe this—"
"What?"
"Neville said Edward was there. Dumbledore didn't believe him—a Gryffindor setting fires—"
Harry snorted. "Are you sure Neville's asleep?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, Dumbledore gave him some dreamless sleep. He left some for you too, Harry," said Hermione.
"Are you joking?" asked Harry
++
"Sit down," said Sirius. "Try to relax, Tonks."
"Relax!" she yelled, her hair and eyes rapidly tinting themselves various colors of the rainbow, from fushia to puce to purple and back to it's original blonde. It then began the color changes all over again. "I'm telling you it was Him. You-Know-Who." If Sirius had looked at her hands he would have realized that her fingers were also changing from claws to flippers to webbed fingers and back again in rapid succession.
"I thought we agreed that the Order would call him by name," said Sirius.
"You didn't see him!" snapped Tonks.
"His name is Voldemort," said Sirius.
"His name is Tom Riddle," said Dumbledore. "Please be seated. Is there anyone missing?"
"Kingsley is still trying to get in touch with everyone," said Arabella Figg. "We aren't sure if anyone else was attacked after the Longbottoms, and Molly is still with Neville. I think she wanted to wait until he was asleep. Arthur hasn't come back from St. Mungo's yet."
"Severus isn't here," noted Sirius dryly.
"Neither are the Scrimgoers," said Bill Weasley. "Oy, Kingsley? Did you get in touch with the Scrimgoers yet?" Bill went into the other room to give Kingsley some help with the fire calling.
"Did they find any traces of Voldemort's magic at Hermione's house?" asked Charlie Weasley.
"The Aurors who had Apparated to the scene examined the house for traces of magic. I don't think they found any with his signature," said one of the Aurors.
"He was there," said Tonks shortly.
"Then he didn't do any magic," said another Auror.
"Yes he did," said Tonks. "A Stupefy spell."
"Stupefy?" said a third Auror, confused.
"I'm so sorry, Professor," said Tonks to Dumbledore. "I let him know I'm a Metamorphmagus. He tried to take me with him."
"Why don't you tell us exactly what happened, Tonks." said Dumbledore. "And please, how many times do I have to tell you, call me Albus. We're all in this together."
"Well, I told Sirius to go," said Tonks. "I thought I could hold off my aunts for a few minutes. My aunts are Narcissa Malfoy and Valeriana Lestrange," said Tonks by way of explanation to the few Aurors who weren't privy to that information. Someone sucked in his breath, but no one interrupted her. "Even if Lucius was with them," continued Tonks, "they were familiar foes. I've known their magic since I was a child. I was sure I could be one step ahead of them, but Lucius used a stealth charm. Stealth! On me! I know stealth, but he was silent as the grave, and I walked right into him. I was so stupid."
"I'm sure that was Lucius' plan," said Dumbledore.
"It was, but I shouldn't have been fooled. I could have gotten away from them, I think, but He came. I kept thinking if I could keep Him here long enough, you could catch Him. I used the Metamorphmagus talent. I didn't think I could get away from Him with just my wand. I'm kind of clumsy," she admitted sheepishly.
"You did a fine job, Tonks," said Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"No I didn't," said Tonks. "He escaped."
"And He has escaped from older and wiser wizards than you, Tonks," added Arabella Figg, giving Tonks a motherly hug.
"She's right," said Sirius. "Don't worry about it. You couldn't have done anything differently."
Screeching obscenities from the portrait of Mrs. Black heralded the coming of another member of the Order, but the obscenities cut off with a sharp hiss and Severus Snape strode into the room. He was freshly showered and wore clean robes, but it didn't look like he had bothered to wash his hair.
Sirius listened to the silence in the corridor for a moment and then asked Snape, "What did you do to my grandmother?"
"Oh, I told her I had a potion for removing paint from canvases that I used on a picture of my cousin."
"That's it?" asked Sirius.
"I also told her my cousin thought it was a fun prank to wake me by screaming every morning at precisely four a.m. Of course, after I painted the potion on the canvas, she screamed all the time. Mother eventually had to burn the painting."
Sirius sniggered, "And my grandmother was gullible enough to believe that story?"
"It's true," said Snape, deadpan, and Sirius stared at him.
"Thank you, Tonks, for relating your tribulations at the Granger house," said Dumbledore. "Is everyone accounted for?"
There was a murmur of conversation as the Aurors and Order members checked around the room to be sure their friends and acquaintances were safe.
"Sirius," whispered Tonks for his ears only, "He knows I'm a Metamorphmagus. He wants me. He said, 'Nymphodora, you belong with us.' And then he Apparated, but only because the aurors were coming. Sirius," said Tonks, the panic starting to show more clearly in her voice and her rapid morphing, "That's what happened to Mum. Do you remember? They plagued her to the grave!"
"Oh Merlin," said Sirius.
"He came this close to touching me!" She held up a thumb and forefinger barely an inch apart. "You know he's a Legilimens. That's no match for a Metamorphmagus. He would have known everything from me. The Order plans—everything."
"You'll have to tell Dumbledore," said Sirius.
She shook her head, "He's so over-worked—"
But Sirius caught her arm and pulled her away from the others. "Not now," he whispered. "Later. Dumbledore suspects a spy among us."
"None of these," whispered Tonks, appalled.
"Keep your eyes open," said Sirius, "and don't tell Dumbledore I told you. Only Snape and I know. He hasn't even told Lupin."
"He can't suspect me?" said Tonks.
"Of course not," said Sirius. "Just be careful who you tell things to. No amount of polyjuice could duplicate your flickering hair," said Sirus. "You're making me dizzy."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Tonks seriously and then grinned at him, changing her hair suddenly to a dazzling silver that made him squint and blink. "I thought you already were pretty dizzy, Sirius."
Kingsley dashed into the room. "Lupin just called here on the fire call. Moody is still with him at Privet Drive along with some other Ministry Aurors. The whole block is still in flames and they're helping to Obliviate the Muggles."
"The Scrimgoers?" asked Dumbledore.
"I still can't get the Scrimgoers," said Kingsley. "Their fireplace is off."
Bianca said she didn't feel well earlier tonight," Arabella Figg said worriedly. "That's why the Scrimgoers left early. They should be home."
"I think we should check on them, Albus" stated Kingsley. "It won't take much to Apparate over to their house and see that they are alright. After the Longbottoms being attacked—" Most of the others began nodding their heads in agreement.
"Arabella, you take your group to Privet Drive," said Dumbledore. "Kingsley, your group should go and check on the safety of the Scrimgoers. Be ready for—anything. Sirius, your group will remain here with Arthur's group since Arthur isn't back from St. Mungo's." Dumbledore frowned. "I believe I will go with you to the Scrimgoers. And Severus, if you would tuck the children into bed, I'd be much obliged. I believe all three of them are on the landing listening to every word we have said."
Snape growled and headed for the stairway as Dumbledore started for the door. On the landing, the trio scrambled to get out of their niche in the wall and into their respective bedrooms and beds.
"Albus," said Sirius softly. "Be careful. We need you." Then Sirius hurried after Snape. He didn't want the slimy git to kill his godson.
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Answers to the ReviewersElfstoned: I will attempt to answer in "mindspeak" since I'm not sure how well you speak English. You learned the language from my friend Yoda, did you? "More Snape you shall have."
Harpy: Welcome back. Hope you are over your panic. Yeah for Hidalgo.
Garrett: Of course I like Volemort. He's awesome, and don't you forget it.
Reiven: Sorry about your loaded brain.LOL. That must be why you called Lord Voldemort, voldie-chan. CHAN? At least Sama. No, I think Oni sama.
Hope you like Sirius better in later chapters.
Dragonheart2: I know a fellow Slyth when I see one/hear one/feel your magic. I knew you weren't a mudblood right through the computer. Yes, the woman and maid were Asian.
Fuz: OK here were Hermione's parents.
Silverfox1: Do you think the trio are going straight to Volde with Draco looking out for them. Of course, I wouldn't put it past the Slyth to betray them. What do you think?
Sky: "Yes, I will update right now, and reviews be damned. Love Lady Lestrange." You know that's the first time Lady Lestrange ever signed a note with"love". Of course, it's all a lie anyway so it doesn't matter. Muhahaha.
Jager: Glad you like cryptic. I hope I didn't scare away too many readers.
Kemenran: astute as always.
Lucius Malfoy: How on earth did you get that name? Glad you liked. As far as noting that I never finished the "fire elemental" in the previous story. You're right. It's a "cookie challenge" though on yahoo group The_Seers_Truth.
w-groups.yahoo(dot) com/group/The_Seers_Truth
so if you'd like to see it, you are welcome to write it. I've read your other stuff. You might be just the person to write it—from Draco's point of view. The story though is PG-13, and I'm sure there are some who think that parts of THIS story are over the edge.
Ennui deMorte See ennui they didn't tar and feather me. They grumbled a little, but a little Draco goes along way to keep this crowd happy. Wait till they see my really good Draco chapters. You know, ennui, the ones that made you sick. Lol Thank you for your support and betaing. You help keep me in track and I appreciate you, even tho you don't wuv Draco.
Katty: No sorry. Harry isn't evil and actually, neither is his basilisk.