Lost: Small Boy, Answers to Harry

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Dumbledore had refused to raise the wards. As he strode out of the hall, the Death Eaters surrounding Bellatrix Lestrange moved back a little from the Dark witch, who was bent over the overturned table, gripping the wood so hard her that knuckles were white. She was trembling, not with fear, but with an expression of such overwhelming fury on her face that she looked as if she might curse the next person to speak to her. Dumbledore had tricked her – she, Bellatrix Lestrange, had allowed herself to be tricked. It was impossible.

Several moments of silence followed, and at last, Bellatrix straightened up, seeming to gain some measure of control, and turned to the Death Eaters under her command.

"Have you made any progress there?" she asked, jerking her head at the door behind the staff table.

"No, Bellatrix…" one Death Eater said cautiously, "there are very strong magical locks…"

"Then keep working!" Bellatrix cut him off sharply. "Get Dobbin to help you, he knows locks…"

"Dobbin's dead, Bellatrix," said the man Harry recognised as Rodolphus, "the Aurors got him before we reached the hall."

Bellatrix's face twisted angrily for a moment, but then she composed herself once more, "Mulciber." Another black-robed man stepped forward, and Bellatrix pointed at the two Aurors standing at the door to the Great Hall. Minister Moody had left as well, but these two Aurors were keeping an eye on the situation inside the hall."You specialise in the Imperius curse. Can you hit one of those pigs with it from this distance?"

Mulciber gauged the distance for a moment before he spoke, "I can try, Bella, but it's not very likely. I can't get them both at once, so even if I managed to take one under control, the other might realise and stun his companion before I could do anything…"

"Shut up and try," she hissed, jerking the wand in her right hand at Mulciber, who hesitantly knelt behind the barrier and began positioning his wand as if looking down the sight of a rifle.

Bellatrix looked up at the long windows above them, then beckoned to two more Death Eaters, "Travers, Nott, start looking for a way to reach those windows."

"They'll be made of unbreakable glass," Rodolphus told her.

"Nothing is unbreakable," Bellatrix sneered. "As I have proved in the past," she glanced at Tonks and gave her a twisted smile. "We'll want to bait the Aurors into attacking too soon. If the Minister hears you screaming, will he come running?" she pondered aloud, "I think we should find out," she continued, advancing menacingly towards Tonks and raising the young Auror's wand.

Before he could stop himself, Harry found he was on his feet and standing between Tonks and Bellatrix. "You leave her alone," he said breathlessly.

"Get back, boy," Bellatrix said coldly. The Death Eaters who had been keeping their eyes on Harry lumbered forwards, but they seemed oddly wary of touching him.

"No," Harry shot back, repressing his panic. The last time someone he didn't like had pointed a wand straight at him, it had been the Dark Lord standing in front of him, and he had been four years old. But he had to protect Tonks, and this thought sent a thrill of daring running through him, mixed with fear. "Don't you hurt her," he growled, raising his fists.

"Would you prefer I hurt you instead?" Bellatrix said, stepping forward and pressing her wand to Harry's throat. "Don't tempt me. I can make you feel such pain, boy, you won't remember your name. Do you think I won't break you?"

"You wouldn't dare," Harry said. "You can't hurt me," he insisted, suddenly feeling a shiver run through him. "He needs me, and you know it."

"Oh, I can't kill you," Bellatrix corrected, the corner of her lips twitching in a sneer, "but I can hurt you as much as I want. And I will…" she raised her wand a little and touched the gruesome scars around Harry's right eye, "…or has somebody already done that for me? It doesn't look like my Sirius has been taking very good care of you, does it?"

Harry felt his heart give a tentative leap of anticipation. If the Death Eaters didn't know he had lycanthropy, then even if they took him away, he might have a chance to escape next full moon. But then he gut sank as Bellatrix continued to speak.

"But of course," she whispered, "those scars are from a werewolf. I remember now. No wonder the Ministry wants you dead, the way you are. I'm surprised Sirius didn't drown you himself, like a rabid dog. He was always one for the greater good."

"Sirius would never hurt me," said Harry hissing, his heart thudding in his chest.

"Are you so sure?" Bellatrix asked, and her voice dropped in a matching, low hiss. "How much do you know about my cousin, boy? Not much, I'll warrant. He was an Auror himself, remember? I fought him once, with his brother Regulus beside me. He would have killed both of us…his own flesh and blood…"

"He hated you," spat Harry. He wanted to hit Bellatrix, tear at her with his bare hands, but the wand was still at his throat, and he forced himself to stay still. "But not me. He's coming for me, you know," he said, feeling as if a balloon of hope was inflating inside him, "he won't rest until he finds me. He's going to kill you."

Bellatrix laughed, threw back her head and laughed in that chilling voice like wine. The laugh faded into a giggle. "You poor, deluded child. My cousin is a weak and broken wizard. The only people left who care whether you live, or die, are the Minister for Magic and my Master." She shook her heavy, dark hair away from her face and let the wand fall from his throat. Sneering at him, she turned away.

"You're wrong," Harry shouted at her back. "Sirius will be here. I know he will!"

Bellatrix tossed him a callous look over her shoulder, but paid him no more heed. Harry glared at her back for a moment as she began speaking in low tones to the other Death Eaters, then turned and dashed to Tonks' side. Two Death Eaters had picked Tonks up and then carelessly cast her to one side, and she was looking furious and humiliated,.

"Thanks, Harry," she said quietly, "I don't know what she was going to do to me…"

"She's forgotten about you already. Short attention span, see?" Harry tried to smile, but all that he managed was a weak sort of grimace.

Tonks nodded, and straightened her back, "Look, Harry… don't…don't be too hopeful about us…" she said softly, glancing at the busy Death Eaters surrounding them, "I don't know if we're can get out of this, okay? If it comes to it, you've got to leave me behind." She gulped. "Percy's right. All that's mattered to me since I started training as an Auror is dying. But not you, all right? You've got to take the first chance you get, and not think about me."

"Sirius will come," Harry repeated, interrupting her before she could say anything else. Did she even imagine he would leave her here to die?

Tonks shook her head slowly, her voice shaking a little, "I don't know, Harry …"

"You two, enough conversation," one of the Death Eaters sneered, stepping in to pull Tonks and Harry roughly apart.

Harry knew by the look of despair of Tonks' face that she did not believe him about Sirius. No one believed him. He was alone in his conviction.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment and thought of his Godfather's grinning face. He knew that Sirius was coming for him. He had to come. That was who he was.

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Dumbledore walked past the large group of Aurors who were sitting or standing around the door to the Great Hall, their faces stern and tense. They were waiting for orders from Moody, and by the frustrated glances they shot at the headmaster as he breezed through their ranks, they were not happy to be stuck outside the hall, where they could not participate in the action. Dumbledore spoke no word to them. He had nothing to say to them, the people who would have let his students – his children – die, just to get to the Death Eaters. He turned a corner and they were lost from sight.

He continued on to the marble staircase where his staff were waiting for him. The students who had been held hostage filled the hallway, many of them sobbing or hysterical from relief. Minerva McGonagall and Hagrid were doing their best to comfort them and send them back to their dormitories. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, Dumbledore noticed curiously, were furiously shouting at McGonagall as if she had unfairly punished them for something. Dumbledore caught only the words, "…we just want to know he's safe…!"

In the end it was clear the children were still too panicky to go anywhere by themselves. Hagrid stood behind them and began to herd them up the stairs towards the hospital wing, looking very much like a man trying to assemble a flock of distressed sheep.

Pomona Sprout, Filius Flitwick and Minerva were by Dumbledore's side as soon as they saw him. Sprout looked teary-eyed and her voice shook as she said, "Is it done, Albus? Have you apprehended those beasts that killed Sabyne Sinistra?" her voice rose at the end of the sentence as if she was holding back a shriek.

"Not yet, Pomona," said Dumbledore. "But we will, just be patient. Now I will ask you to go and check on Ravenclaw tower, before you return to your own common room. You must stay there with the students, keep them calm. Filius…"

"Yes, Headmaster?" Flitwick squeaked.

"What is the damage to the Wards around Gryffindor tower?"

Flitwick shook his head. "I don't know how they managed it, Albus, but they've ripped their way in like nothing I'd believe. Remus is guarding the students left in there. Don't worry, though, there's no charms that I can't fix," he added hastily. "A few hours is all I need."

"Good. Go at once, and make sure those inside are safe and well. Tell Remus he may return to me," Dumbledore said. Sprout and Flitwick nodded to him and hurried away. Dumbledore turned to McGonagall.

"Minerva," he said softly, "we have very little time. I have twisted the Unbreakable Vow, but it will still be the death of me if I do not raise the anti-Apparating wards eventually," McGonagall took a shocked breath but did not interrupt the Headmaster, "go and tell the Minister we have an hour at the most to clear the hall, and then I must raise the wards, or die."

"Headmaster, those wards are ancient," McGonagall said faintly, raising her hand as if she wanted to stop him. "How can you possibly…?"

"Have some faith in my ability, Minerva," Dumbledore smiled. "Now, once you have warned Alastor of our time limitation, go to the back door of the Great Hall, the one behind the dais, and make sure the locks are still holding up. Tell the Minister I will be with him in a moment."

Minerva turned, then looked back at the headmaster. She spoke tentatively, as if she did not want to know the answer. "Albus…if the Death Eaters are not gone from the Hall…when your time is up, will you raise the wards? Allow them to leave with Potter and Nymphadora? If you don't, you will die, but if you do, they may…" she did not finish her sentence. What would the Death Eaters do if they left the castle, taking Harry with them, and armed with the knowledge that Hogwarts was now completely open to attack?

Dumbledore's face grew cold. "We shall have to hope it will not come to that, Minerva. I believe that even when I remove the wards, I will be able to replace them just as easily. It will simply take more time. Go, now. I can hear Remus returning."

"Good luck," McGonagall breathed, and then she slipped away down the hall. Dumbledore was watching the staircase as Remus Lupin appeared at the top. It had been easy to hear his approach because he was running so fast he was taking the steps three at a time.

"Albus!" he shouted, sliding to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. His hair was falling over his face and his hands were shaking, "Albus, Filius said they didn't release Harry," Lupin gasped for breath. "Please tell me he was mistaken!"

"I'm sorry, Remus," said Dumbledore heavily, "I allowed Bellatrix to catch me out. We still have time to rescue Harry, but it may take a little longer."

"Oh, God," Lupin shook his head, his voice ragged with distress, "why didn't he go to Gryffindor tower like you said? What was he doing in the hall at all?" Lupin swayed a little, and Dumbledore grabbed his arm to stop him toppling over.

"If he had gone to the tower, he would be in no better a position," Dumbledore pointed out. "Someone knew Harry would be there and told the Death Eaters. We are lucky that once they realised they had been mis-informed, they abandoned the attack on Gryffindor tower before anyone was seriously hurt."

"Before anyone was hurt?" Lupin's voice rose hysterically, "Albus, they're going to kill Harry!"

"Remus, get a hold of yourself," said Dumbledore firmly. "Bellatrix will not dare hurt Harry. She has come here to get him alive. Now, I must go back to speak to the Minister. We have to act at once. But I promise you, I am doing everything I can to-"

"Ah – look out!" Lupin pushed Dumbledore to one side. A red jet of light whooshed past the spot where the Headmaster had been standing a moment before, slamming into the banister of the staircase.

"Don't move," said a husky voice. Sirius Black stepped out of the shadows, his wand pointed at Dumbledore's face. His eyes were narrowed to fierce slits, and he looked dishevelled and half-starved. There were leaves in his hair, mud all round the hem of his cloak, and scratches on his neck. But his hand holding the wand was very steady.

"Where is he?" he hissed, sloping forwards. His shoulders were shaking with suppressed rage as he looked at Dumbledore. "Where is my godson?"

"Sirius," Lupin stepped in front of the Headmaster, his face pale and his voice shaking a little. "Dumbledore isn't going to hurt Harry. He's…"

"Shut up!" Sirius barked. A flurry of red sparks shot out of his wand and Lupin fell silent. "You! You've been working for Dumbledore the whole time! You handed Harry to this killer!"

"You are upset and confused," Dumbledore said sternly, slowly reaching towards his own wand, "I do not know how you got into the castle, Sirius, but now is not the time for mad actions. Harry is in great danger and I am doing everything I can to save him."

"Liar!" Sirius shouted, his teeth bared like a dog. "What have you done to him? If you've hurt him – if you've touched one hair of his head –"

"There are Death Eaters in the castle!" Lupin cried, his voice rising in panic at the time they were wasting. "They're the ones who've taken Harry. Let us go, Sirius, we don't have time for this!"

Sirius made a noise like a wolf snarling, but the mention of Death Eaters seemed to have caught him off guard. His eyes widened a little, as if he was unsure of how to respond. Finally he settled by saying, "Stop lying!"

"I'm not lying!" Lupin raised his hands as if he wanted to punch Sirius. "Get out of the way, you idiot, they're going to take Harry!"

There was a bang and something hit Sirius in the chest, knocking him backwards. Dumbledore had pulled his own wand out of his robes and fired. Before Sirius could get back on his feet, Lupin leapt forward and grabbed his wrists, forcing his wand-tip towards the ceiling. A stunner shot out of Sirius' wand and hit the chandelier above them. Tiny shards of glass rained down around them as Lupin pushed his friend to the floor, pinning him down.

"Listen to me," Lupin panted, as Sirius growled and struggled. The teeth of both men were bared, and their breaths came in snarls. Lupin was neither as tall nor as heavy as Sirius, but the sheer desperation gave him the strength he needed. "Listen to me! Dumbledore does not want Harry dead. I do not want Harry dead. But he is in danger right now and we have to act!"

Sirius's struggles grew weaker, then stopped. He looked at his friend, whose face was tensed with desperation, and made a little sobbing noise like a wounded dog. Then he looked up at Dumbledore, standing over the two men with no trace of a smile on his lined old face.

"I must go, the Minister is waiting for me," said Dumbledore. "Sirius, do not follow me. If Harry can be saved, I will do it. I will bring him back to you."

Then he swept his robes up and strode away, his white hair streaming and glittering behind him in the flickering lights from the broken chandelier. Lupin released Sirius's wrists and stood up, pulling his friend to his feet.

"Tell me what happened," Sirius croaked, looking around as if searching for a sign that would point him to his godson. "Let me go after Dumbledore. How much time do we have? How did this happen? Why is the school so empty?"

Lupin did not answer his questions, but waited until Sirius had stopped babbling. His face did not look friendly. It looked hurt, and angry. "You thought I took Harry?" he said quietly.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I was driven…mad…I…I…" He made a hopeless gesture with his hands, his face filled with sudden remorse, unable to find a suitable apology.

"It's alright," Lupin put his arms around Sirius's shoulders and pulled him close. Sirius was shuddering with every breath. "I understand. You were mad. As if I didn't know that already."

"Tell me what happened," Sirius whispered. "Tell me Harry is alright."

"I will," Lupin replied softly.

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TBC

And so concludes a chapter which I am not ashamed to put my name to. Unfortunately, I cannot claim credit for it. ENORMOUS THANKS to the brilliantly and brutally honest Uchethegirl, who beta read the first drafts of this chapter and tore it apart with the sheer power of her will. THANK YOU!