Chapter Twelve

Radu's Ultimatum

We stood in the middle of Diagon Alley. I refused to go anywhere secluded with this man. The streets were crowded enough that we'd be noticed, but not so busy that we'd get in anyone's way.

"Very well," Simon conceited. "I'd place an imperturbable charm around us but I doubt that would work on you."

"Get on with it."

Simon regarded me somewhat analytically.

"The Abomination sent me," he said finally. "Frankly I'm quite sick of his presence. But the Dark Lord insists that we work with him."

"I guess when you've betrayed your people no depth is too low." I retorted.

"At least they are my people. You…you're just pretending to be one of us. All of you freaks sicken me. You parade around among society, totally above the law as you remain unchanged and ageless."

"Do they have a potion for whatever's wrong with you?"

"Clever." Simon removed a small envelope and gave it to me. "This part was my idea. You may wish to open it in doors."

He looked down suddenly and padded his pockets, confused. Then he returned his gaze to me and grinned.

"Don't take too long."

He dissaparated leaving me angry and bewildered. Mr. Weasley caught up with me to see if I was all right.

"Yeah, he didn't pull anything," I said. "He did give me this though."

"A howler." Mr. Weasely recognized the design of the envelope. "From Radu?"

"It must be. Good. Saves me the trouble of having to look for him."

We returned to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. A girl was running the register, wearing the standard shop robes.

"Morning sirs," she greeted George and Fred.

"Morning," they said in unison.

We went into the alley behind the shop, where Fred and George had charms in place to keep out unwanted intruders. It would work on the mortal population at least.

"CEDRIC DIGGORY!" The howler screamed. "BRILLIANT MOVE EVADING YOUR CAPTORS! BUT REMEMBER, I WILL NOT BE AS EASILY FOOLED AS A HANDFUL OF DEMENTOR FODDER."

The Howler paused for a moment.

"CEDRIC'S NOT ALIVE, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME-"

Another pause. Adrenaline began to rush.

"SHE'S A PRETTY GIRL DIGGORY. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER ALIVE AGAIN YOU WILL BRING THE HORCRUX TO THE QUIDDITCH FIELD AT HOGWARTS."

The Howler tore itself apart and the pieces fell to the ground while I seethed.

"He's got Cho," I told Mr. Weasley when we were back in the shop. "How did they know…what sources…"

"They could have found out from Snape," Mr. Weasley guessed. "He's returned to them recently. I wouldn't put it passed him to have told them all he knew."

"We don't know that for certain, dear," Mrs. Weasley reminded him. "Let's not bring that up for now. Cedric, you can count on our help if you need it."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley. But Cho's life is all ready in danger and I hadn't intended to. George, Fred, it was wonderful while it lasted."

"No problem, mate," George said, sincerely. "We'll make it a tradition, aside from the vomiting part."

"I'd like to avoid that myself." Fred added.

"You'll need to get into Hogwarts," Mr. Weasley pointed out. "There are all sorts of spells and charms preventing the death eaters from breaking into the school again."

"Those won't affect me. Even if I get killed I'll revive again."

"Cedric, what if it's a trap? Radu could be counting on you to go to Hogwarts and have a dozen enemies waiting to ambush you."

I hadn't thought of that. I sunk into the chair and rested my head on my elbows. Getting drunk again seemed like such a good idea.

Mrs. Weasley sat down and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You can't do this alone," she said. "Arthur's right dear, this man can't be trusted. None of them can be trusted."

"But if I bring others he might kill Cho."

"And if you go alone he'd probably kill her anyway." George said, matter-of-factly. "Just to get you to slip up long enough to-" He made a cutting motion across his neck.

"What do you suggest?" I asked.

Mr. Weasley thought silently for a few moments.

"I agree that we shouldn't bring too many people in on this." He said. "But I think we can trust Remus and Tonks."

"Tonks?"

"An Auror," Fred explained. "Pretty woman, with a few interesting traits."

I would have protested had it not been for the horcrux. I was its secret keeper and if it fell into the wrong hands, Voldemort would become even more powerful. I owed it to the Weasleys and to the Order of the Phoenix to let them help.

"All right," I said. "But I need to bring in someone else I can trust. She won't understand everything at first, but she'll be worth it."