Lost: Young Man, Answers to Harry
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"Disable the anti-apparating wards, old man."
"You know I can't do that, Bellatrix."
"You better not, Dumbledore, or you'll have more to worry about than Death Eater scum!"
Bellatrix, Dumbledore and Moody stood a few feet away from each other, just inside the entrance to the great hall, the air between them electric with stress. The rest of the Death Eaters had settled themselves at the far end of the hall, on the raised platform where the professors ate at meal-times. They had turned the long dining table onto its side, to use as a barrier against attack. Behind the wall formed by the overturned table, the Death Eaters waited, wands at the ready, surrounding the hostage children. Dumbledore had ordered the aurors to leave the room so that Bellatrix could approach to talk with them. Only Moody and one other auror, who was standing ready to summon the others in a moment, remained in the hall.
"Very well," said Bellatrix. She was nearly a head shorter than Dumbledore, but she stood before him with all the self-assurance of someone twice her height, "then we will kill one of your students every hour until you remove the wards and allow us to disapparate."
Dumbledore did not flinch at her words, "this is madness, Bellatrix. You must know that the Minister will not allow you to escape this castle with your lives, let alone taking Harry or any hostages will you. But if you cooperate, if you would only return my children to me, then I would be able to protect you long enough for you to leave unscathed."
"You'll do nothing of the sort," Moody growled, rounding on Dumbledore, "don't you go offering them asylum now, Dumbledore! I want every one of them in jail cells by nightfall!"
"Alastor, this is not the time for us to turn on one another," Dumbledore said firmly, "if you would kindly cease undermining my negotiations, then we might actually come to some result."
"Don't you speak to me like that," Moody thumped his stick on the stone floor, "you've been too complaisant for too long, Dumbledore. Hogwarts would have been a smoking ruin years ago if it wasn't for the support you get from the Ministry."
Bellatrix began to laugh, a cold and cruel giggle, "like children fighting over a trinket," she sneered, "raise the wards, Dumbledore, then we release the hostages. I will not ask you again."
She turned and began to stride back down the hall to where the Death Eaters under her command were waiting. Dumbledore paused, then said, "wait."
Bellatrix turned, a sickly smile on her face, "yes, old man?"
"I will raise the wards," said Dumbledore, "and allow you and your men to leave the castle by apparation. But only once you have released every one of my students."
"Dumbledore…!" growled Moody, but the headmaster silenced him with a sharp glance.
"Do you swear to that?" Bellatrix asked coldly.
"I will swear," said Dumbledore. Bellatrix approached him again. She was holding a wand in each hand. Now she transferred them both to her left hand and raised her right.
"Would you swear the Unbreakable Vow?" Bellatrix asked quietly.
Dumbledore considered her thin, white hand appreciatively. Then he said, "I would."
"Very well," said Bellatrix, and she glanced at Moody, "lend us a wand, auror."
"Dumbledore," Moody snarled, "I won't participate in this."
"You will, Alastor, if you wish to keep me as an ally in this war," said Dumbledore, and his voice was so grim at Moody seemed to stagger a little under it. Then he limped forwards and raised his wand. Dumbledore clasped Bellatrix's hand and Moody touched his wand-tip to their linked fingers.
"Do you swear, by your own life, to raise the wards of this hall and allow myself and my comrades to disapparate to safety after we have released your students?" Bellatrix asked.
"Yes," said Dumbledore heavily. A sharp, glittering tongue of flame shot out of Moody's wand and linked the two hands, "and do you swear to release all of my students without harming them?" the headmaster said in a commanding voice.
"Yes," said Bellatrix, and another tongue of flame streamed out and wrapped around their entwined hands. A moment later, both flames faded away like leaves scattered in the wind. Bellatrix released Dumbledore's grip, and he saw her rub her hand on her robes, as if she had touched something foul and unclean.
The black-robed witch paused for a moment, gathering herself, then gave Dumbledore a mocking bow, "it is done. I will speak with my men. Once you see the students leave our custody and walk towards you, you must raise the wards."
Dumbledore did not speak, but he nodded stiffly, his hands clasped in front of him like a man in mourning.
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At the other end of the hall, the Hogwarts students sat huddled together, frightened into silence by the hooded Death Eaters that were arrayed around them, wands held at the ready. Several of them were crying, or clinging to their friends with their faces so white they looked like corpses. Percy Weasley was walking among them, trying to calm the most distressed first-years and reassure the stammered questions of the students.
Harry sat a little apart from the other children, with Ron and Hermione beside him, both looking as if they might be sick at any moment. He knew that three Death Eaters had their wands pointed at his back, ready to stun him if he tried to escape, but he was determinedly ignoring them. He watched Percy Weasley stroking the shoulder of a blonde first-year named Luna, who was telling him in an agitated voice that Death Eaters could turn you to stone if you looked them in the eye.
He was surprised by Percy's calmness, even though he knew the Prefect must be scared stiff. When the Death Eaters had first surrounded them and herded them up the staff table, Percy had quickly taken charge of the panicky children. When some of the second-years had pulled out their wands, Percy had ordered them not to attack the Death Eaters. And when the black-clad wizards had begun disarming the children, Percy had actually helped them, taking the children's wands with stern words for those who resisted.
Ron had yelled at Percy when his brother had demanded he hand over his wand, but Harry understood, now, where Percy was coming from. It was not cowardice or selfishness that was making Percy cooperate with the Death Eaters – it was desperate concern for the children's safety. Percy knew, very well, that if any of the students had resisted the Death Eaters, they would have been killed without mercy. None of them stood even the faintest chance of fighting the dark wizards. There were only about fifteen students, none of them except for Percy older than third-year, and at least a dozen masked wizards, all of whom knew far more cruel and powerful spells and were practised in magical warfare.
When the Death Eaters had seen Tonks, lying stunned on the bench, Bellatrix had glimpsed the auror's badge on her shoulder and ordered her killed. But Percy had intervened, suggesting to Bellatrix that Tonks was a good hostage to hold against Minister Moody, who (he claimed) would be more concerned about one of his "favourite" students than the children from Hogwarts. One of the Death Eaters had struck Percy around the head for daring to speak to Bellatrix. But Bellatrix, to Harry's great relief, had seemed to decide this was good advice, and told the Death Eaters to spare Tonks.
Now the revived auror-in-training was sitting a little way away, her hands bound and a sour expression on her face. She looked flushed and irate. Bellatrix had taken Tonks' wand with a scornful smirk, and slapped Tonks sharply when she had resisted. Apparently, the dark witch could wield two wands, since she now carried Tonks' in her left hand.
The Death Eater who had first grabbed Harry was sitting a little way away, spinning Harry's wand between his fingers.
"Get your stinking hands off it," Harry muttered to himself as the Death Eater threw Harry's wand in the air and caught it casually. Hermione put her hand on Harry's arm.
"Don't do anything rash," she pleaded quietly. She was shaking and her face was white, "let Dumbledore handle things. He won't let us down."
Ron had his head tipped back, still trying to stem his bleeding nose. Bellatrix's kick had not broken it, but a huge purple bruise was swelling between his eyes. He glared at his brother as Percy came and squatted down beside Tonks. The nearest Death Eater watched them suspiciously, but all the dark-robed wizards seemed reluctant to act while Bellatrix was still at the other end of the hall, talking to Dumbledore and Moody. Besides, Percy had already built up their trust in him by keeping the children quiet and cooperating with their orders.
"What are you doing here?" Percy said quietly to Tonks, "the rest of the aurors didn't show up until long after you. Were you coming against orders?"
Tonks did not answer. She still looked too incensed to make a sensible reply.
"Don't you dare try and pull anything funny," Percy continued, "I won't let these children get hurt."
"You think they won't kill us if you do as they say?" Tonks snapped, "Percy, you're being a fool. They're going to slaughter us anyway."
"Not so long as they can still use us to bargain with Dumbledore," Percy replied. Harry was listening intently, and he could hear the determination in Percy's voice, "just don't try to play the hero, Tonks, or I swear, I will kill you myself."
Tonks bared her teeth at him, "you're a coward, Percy."
"You're a maniac," Percy hissed back, "you don't care about anything except your own glorious death. Ever since you wanted to be an auror you've been like that. Well, I'm not going to let you take these kids with you."
"You should have been a Slytherin," Tonks said bitterly. But Harry, looking at the fear Percy was barely constraining, did not agree.
"You should have been dead," Percy replied, "long ago."
He stood up and turned back to the children, just as a ripple ran around the Death Eaters. Bellatrix was returning, heading up the hall towards then. Her black cloak flowed out behind her like a solid shadow. She hoisted herself over the upturned table, shot a twisted smile at Harry that made a shiver run down his spine, then turned to the Death Eaters, who were waiting eagerly for her news.
"We're releasing the hostages," she said, "Dumbledore has sworn to raise the anti-apparating wards."
"You can't trust him!" one man next to her said savagely.
"He has sworn by his life, Radolphus," Bellatrix said, "you think I cannot judge which oaths to trust and which to discard?" she glanced over her shoulder at Dumbledore and Moody, who were now deep in conversation at the other end of the hall, "get the children moving. We will not escort them, they will walk the hall themselves."
Percy Weasley had been listening as she spoke, and Harry saw the relief break across his face. At once, he went to the hostage children and urged them to their feet, encouraging them with cheering words. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood up as well. Harry wanted to ask for his wand back. That wand had been his birthday present from Sirius. But he did not think the Death Eaters would return it to him, and he supposed losing it was better than losing his life.
Percy went over to Tonks, who was having difficulty with her bound hands, and helped her up. But suddenly Bellatrix had a wand pointed at Tonks' neck.
"Uh-uh," the heavy-lidded woman said softly, "not her. The deal was for the students only."
"No," Percy stepped in front of Tonks, "you have to let all the hostages go."
"You are too insolent, boy."
Bellatrix's wand jerked forward and struck him in the chest. Percy doubled over and fell to his knees, clutching at his throat. Ron gave a muffled yell but Hermione grabbed him before he could attack Bellatrix. After a moment, Percy raised his head, gasping for breath, and slowly got to his feet. Whatever spell Bellatrix had cast, it had caused him a lot of pain but not much damage.
"Go," said Bellatrix, jerking her wand at the frightened children standing in a ground not far away, "before I change my mind."
Percy, still clutching his chest, glanced once at Tonks. She was standing with two burly Death Eaters on either side of her, and her hair was a dull pastel blue. She shook her head, "go, Percy."
Percy adjusted his glasses and went towards the children, "come on, first years at the front, walk quickly, but don't run," he said in a bossy tone. But his voice was strained, and it cracked at the end as if he was holding back a dry sob. He looked over his shoulder, "come on, Ron, don't dally."
Ron, Hermione and Harry walked past Bellatrix to where Percy was waiting, directing the children around the side of the table, around the silent Death Eaters. Harry did not see Bellatrix give a quick nod to the men behind him. All he felt was a sudden, vice-like grip above his elbows. He yelled in surprise, and Hermione and Ron both spun around and saw him struggling in the arms of a large, blonde Death Eater.
"Let him go!" Hermione shrieked, grabbing Harry's hands and trying to pull him free. Harry clutched her wrists, feeling panic rise in him. Ron raised his fists and another trickle of blood streamed out of his nose. This couldn't be happening, when they were so close to safety!
"Get back," said Bellatrix, striding forward. She was smiling again, "students only, remember? The boy stays with us."
"He is a student!" Ron shouted.
"Let him go, you bitch!" Hermione snarled.
Bellatrix threw back her head and laughed, "watch your mouth, girl, or you'll see what a bitch I can be. We know the boy is not a student of Hogwarts. We do not have to release him. Now go before I kill you both."
"Ron," Percy had come back and grabbed his brother's shoulder, "please, Ron, we've got to go now or never."
"No!"
But Harry, seeing the other Death Eaters close in, waiting for Bellatrix's word, knew then that Ron and Hermione would die if they tried to protect him. He slowly let of Hermione's hands. She clung to him anyway, until one of the Death Eaters pulled her away. Percy grabbed both of them and pushed them towards the rest of the children.
Harry watched the group of stumbling students file out around the table and down the hall. Ron and Hermione did not even look where they were going. Their eyes remained locked to his the entire way.
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"No," said Dumbledore, as he and Moody watched the group of students hurry down the length of the hall towards the great double doors, Percy Weasley walking at the back to help any stragglers. Harry was not among the freed students. The Minister saw this as well.
"Your bargaining went nowhere," Moody hissed, leaning on his staff, "she hasn't released Potter. We're stuck where we started, Dumbledore – expect that now you've got to raise the wards. All I can hope is that that Lestrange cow drops dead for breaking the Vow."
"No," Dumbledore shook his head, and his voice was strangely hoarse, "she hasn't broken it. She swore to release all my students. But I ripped up Harry's letter," Dumbledore took a breath, "he was never invited to Hogwarts. No."
"What?" Moody turned to Dumbledore, fury twisting his already ugly features, "what have you done?"
Bellatrix's voice, magnified once more, echoed down the hall, "my half of the Vow complete, Dumbledore! Raise the wards!"
Moody was going purple with rage now, but Dumbledore raised his wand and pointed it at his own throat, muttering "sonorus."
The hostages who had reached them put their hands over their ears to muffle Dumbledore's amplified words as he called back to Bellatrix, "not until you release Mr Potter."
"That wasn't the bargain, muggle-lover!" there was definitely a note of glee in Bellatrix's voice, "but you swore to raise the wards once you had the children!"
"No, Bellatrix," Dumbledore replied, "I swore to raise the wards after you released the children. But you did not specify how long after. So we have returned to a stalemate. Two can cheat a bargain, Bellatrix. You should well know that."
Bellatrix did not reply, but Percy Weasley fancied he could hear her snarl of fury from where he stood. He sent the children through the doors of the Great Hall to safety, pushing Ron when his brother refused to leave, then hurried up to the headmaster, "Professor Dumbledore," he said, nearly stumbling on his robes. Now that his ordeal was over, he felt weak and dizzy, "Professor, they've still got one hostage."
"They will not hurt Harry," Dumbledore said calmly.
"No, one other," Percy explained, "Nymphadora Tonks."
Moody and Dumbledore's heads both swung around to look at Percy, who felt rather as if he had been suddenly pinned down by the beam of a spotlight.
"That second-year auror-in-training?" Moody frowned, "what? What's she doing here?"
"I don't know," Percy cringed under Moody's furious glare, "she was talking to Harry when I first arrived. She was stunned by the Death Eaters."
"She came to warn him," the Minister shook his head, "she must have been in contact with him before now. Foolish girl! As if we didn't have enough problems as it is," his magical eye rolled crazily in its socket, "well, I'll be damned if I leave yet another young auror in the hands of Death Eaters."
Dumbledore thanked Percy and then headed out of the hall, striding so quickly Percy nearly had to run to keep up.
Moody called after him, "where the hell do you think you're going, Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore looked over his shoulder to reply, "to let Mrs Lestrange stew for a while. Leave a pair of aurors to watch them, but you won't need more than that. Bellatrix will not hurt her only hostages, not yet. We have been granted some time, Alastor, and we must use it."
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TBC
A/N: I think I am actually twitching from distaste. This chapter is a mess. Ah, well, at least Bellatrix was fun.