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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

LESTRANGE STRIKES AGAIN

The moon was high in the sky, with the stars twinkling by it, as the occupants of the Burrow slept the night. The covered trees outside shivered in the windy ground and the sounds of the crickets were not heard. Everything was silent.

Soon, the silence will be broken by the most shocking news tonight but as of yet, Harry was lying on his bed, dreaming. Deaths were always in his dreams, repetitive every night like the repetitions of drum beats. They keep on coming, one after another, though Harry knew not the meaning of these.

He dreamed first of his parents, his father's death and his mother's frantic race to try and escape with the baby Harry. He saw how Voldemort cornered both of them in a room, giving no way of escape. He dreamed how his mother apologized for not being able to protect him, though she actually was able to with the power of her love, before the beam of Voldemort's wand hit her, making her collapse on the floor, dead.

Next, Harry visited in his fleeting nightmares a graveyard. Next to him was a marvelous, glinting cup lying on the grassy floor. The tombstones jutted out of the ground in peculiar angles as the eeriness of the surroundings overpowered Harry. Then he saw Wormtail against the night atmosphere, carrying a small wrapped object wrapped around a dirty piece of cloth. At the sight of it, Harry's scar started to burn, causing his hand to touch it. He felt his forehead was moist from sweat though it was not warm.

Suddenly, a same beam erupted from Wormtail's wand and instantly, caused another boy by his side to collapse on the floor, open-eyed and dead.

Another dream drifted to Harry's sleeping, tormented mind. This time, they were in a building standing atop a dais. Lights were flashing here and there, all from wands of different people. Harry saw them, a man and a woman dueling relentlessly as though one of them somehow knew that this was going to be his last duel. Suddenly, the man was defeated as he collapsed on the floor with force that caused him to slide further towards a black, rotting veil. A yelp issued from Harry's throat as the man disappeared behind the veil, gone for good.

The final episode of his many dreams then commenced. Harry was lying on a floor, unable to move. He could see the night sky, dotted with stars, and against it was the Dark Mark. He then saw a boy accompanied by other hooded people clad in black robes. On the opposite side was a man with snow white hair and a long beard tucked beneath a belt. The bearded man was looking up towards another man who had slimy, greasy hair and evil eyes. The greasy haired man pointed his wand towards the old bearded wizard and uttered the Killing Curse, causing Harry's heart to leap as though the end of the world has happened.

The next thing he saw was the ceiling of his room in the Burrow, his body lying on a bed sweating profusely. The lights were on and everybody was downstairs, which puzzled Harry. It was three in the morning. Why was everyone up?

He started to wear his glasses and stepped into his slippers. He stood up and exited his room, entering a hallway which ended with two stairs, one going up and the other down.

As he approached the descending staircase, he heard something from downstairs.

Knock knock! Someone was knocking on the door of the Burrow.

"Coming!" said Arthur Weasley downstairs.

Harry was now in the living room, which was filled with the rest of the occupants of the Burrow, all tired and groggy.

Arthur opened the front door and revealed Lupin, his form limp and his clothes tattered. He was weak as he hobbled inside the Burrow, the chill from outside now entering in. Arthur closed the door gently.

"Remus, dear, what happened!" yelped Molly as she stood to go to the kitchen. "Let me make you some hot coco."

Lupin sat down on the ornate couch by the fire and looked at everyone. Harry was sitting opposite him, his shirt creased with folds due to his frequent tosses and turns during sleep. Hermione and Ron were staring at the fire, waiting for Lupin to explain his sudden visitation. The twins and Ginny were sitting on the carpeted floor, looking at everyone with piercing eyes.

Everyone was silent. Harry did not understand. Why has Lupin come? Why was he looking as such? He appears as though from a war! Suddenly, Molly came back with a tray of hot coco for everyone and settled on the couch beside Hermione.

"So," began Arthur as he offered Lupin with a cup of drink. "What is this about?"

"Thank you Molly, Arthur," said Lupin as he sipped his coco a bit. Harry could see he was savoring the warmth of the coco, the smoke and the heat of the mug. Then, Lupin started to talk. "I just came back from the raid of Voldemort's lair."

"Voldemort's lair?" blurted Harry uncontrollably. "You mean the hiding place of the final Horcrux?"

"Indeed," said Lupin.

"Did you get Hufflepuff's Cup then?"

"Yes, it is in my pocket." He then took out a beautiful golden cup from his back pocket and placed it on the coffee table for everyone to see. It was gleaming against the blazing light from the fire place. "We started the raid a few hours ago, around six in the evening. I was there, as well as Alastor. We were both tasked to obtain the Horcrux from the lair and give it to the Order's hands. We proceeded cautiously for we knew the consequences we are to meet if we are detected.Voldemort's lair was in Little Hangleton. It was the house that is very prominent in that area, the manor of Voldemort's very father—Tom Riddle. We were outside a great metal gate, crows on top and all."

Lupin continued his story, his mind visiting the place, the terrible things that went in there, and the loss that was incurred. He recounted it as though it was his duty to do as such. He recounted it as vividly as possible. He told them how the gate was unlocked, and as they entered, the grounds of the huge yard. Plants were everywhere, creeping about as a sign of years of neglect. The moss covered stone steps on the grassy ground was almost invisible due to the foliage growth. Lupin and Moody stepped slowly into the ground, looking at possible signs of people guarding the area. There were none.

As the crickets buzzed, Lupin and Moody crept towards the back of the house. Their feet scurried quickly yet silently, their breathing controlled to a minimum. Judging from the ouside, some of the rooms within where occupied due to the presence of light emitting from the windows. Lupin was crouching on the floor, with his back against the side of the house, together with Moody.

"We go through the back door," said Moody as his magical eye swiveled. "There is no one there in the back room."

The both of them then crept slowly through, the grass crunching under their footsteps. They could hear each other's breath and as the reached a corner and turned, they were in the exterior of the back of the manor.

There were two doors on this area, set against the stone body of the mansion. Here, the yard was still unkept. Weeds were everywhere and an old, destroyed swing was standing slantly on the overgrown grass.

"Which door?" whispered Lupin, eyeing both entrances.

Moody's eye swiveled around, surveying the inside of the house since this eye was capable of doing so. "That one, the left one. It goes to some sort of storage room,"

"Lupin then walked towards the door and carefully, turned it. He expected it to be locked with some magic charm and so, the knob did not budge. He then took out his bruised wand and said "Alohamora."

The lock gave a clicking sound and was now unlocked.

"Huh?" said Lupin.

"Whats the matter?" whispered Moody gruffy, both his eyes focusing on Lupin.

"Its just that I expected a more complicated locking charm to be cast on all entry ways of the manor. I never expected that the locks would open with a simple unlocking charm most eleven year olds can do."

Lupin finally turned the cold knob and pushed it. The door opened to a dark space which Moody and Lupin slowly occupied. Once inside, darkness consumed them. They were fearful of any traps or charms they may alert once they intrude and so, they looked carefully around.

"Lumos," said Lupin.

The light of his wand pierced the heavy blackness of the area, revealing a small room the size of a broom cupboard, full of dusty crates and covered statues. These were probably properties of Tom and his family before they were murdered by Voldemort.

On the opposite end of the room was another wooden door in which Moody opened. Again, the door led them to darkness. Moody now also lit his wand and then, they heard something.

"Did you hear that?" asked Moody, puzzled.

"Hear what?" replied Lupin calmly.

Moody looked around, considering if he was just hearing things. He could have sworn he heard something, a sort of whisper. He could confidently say that it was a whipser of a woman but he may have just have imagined it.

"Nothing," replied Moody, accepting that it was just probably the wind. He could not be more wrong.

As they traveresed now the dark, derelict, dining room, Moody spotted one of the occupants of the manor. Something was peculiar about this one. Lupin also saw her and stopped his movements, maintaining total silence.

"Something seems to be off with her," said Moody who was crouching near a small chair to hide..

"I think I know what is starnge about her," said Lupin.

Moody looked at him, expecting Lupin to say what it was. "What then,"

"I think she is a muggle,"

Suddenly, the woman turned back towards the room and walked around, fixing a box she was looking at and finally, carried it. When her face was visible for just a split-second, Lupin and Moody were startled. They knew who this muggle was.

"What is she doing here?" said Moody,"

"I think she is one of the muggles Voldemort was able to get into the Death Eater's Order earlier. Remember?" answered Lupin. "What bothers me is what is inside the box she is carrying."

The muggle carried the box and walked up the rickety steps a bit hurriedly, her feet causing the steps to creak. Moody and Lupin shortly followed up the stairs, slowly this time, and finally, ended up in the second floor.

As they walked throught he hall, they noticed something lying on the floor. It was white though covered with something. Moody and Lupin walked closer and saw a skeleton lying on the floor, wearing old, dusty, torn clothes.

"What's that?" asked Lupin, looking up at the chandelier stuck on the ceiling to avoid staring at the repulsive corpse.

"I think," said Moody, who was unafraid of kneeling by the skeleton due to his former Auror job—a profession which made him face numerous corpses to date. "I think its Frank, the caretaker who Voldemort killed three years ago."

"Oh, of course," still staring at the ceiling, noticing the cracks on it and the scampering of insects about. "Then that means that Voldemort's room is on this floor."

Suddenly, they caught sight of the muggle woman standing by another small, dark room, unloading the box. Moody silently crept behind her and then took out his wand.

"Muffliato!" hissed Moody, casting a spell which Harry has taught him a few months ago, claiming he learned it from Snape. Moody then quickly wrapped his arms around the muggle, causing her to shriek.

No one heard them of course for the Muffliato charm was still in effect. Moody, now with his arms around the muggle, led her towards the dark room and signaled Lupin to follow him.

Once inside, Moody questioned the woman. She though, was thrashing about, causing the contents of the room—boxes of china, some cracked furniture, and a few old portraits—to come crashing down.

"Stop moving!" said Moody as he struggled to make her immobile.

"Incarcerous," said Lupin, causing magical ropes to bind the woman's body and hold her in place, allowing Moody to let go of her.

"Now," said Moody gruffly, "Where is the Horcrux?"

The woman said nothing, her eyes reproachful, so intense as though an egg would crack with just her look.

"Where is Hufflepuff's Cup?" said Moody louder, "I am not playing games. We can and will hurt you if you do not cooperate!"

Lupin left Moody to reason out with her. He looked around the room with the light of his wand tip and saw that everything was broken. The beautiful china were splattered on the floor, its fragments reflecting the light of his wand. The artworks, still covered in white sheets, were disorganized, and suddely, he saw something. It was the box the woman was carrying earlier. He then knelt towards it and slowly, opened it.

Inside was confetti and so, Lupin placed his hands in and grabbed the confetti, throwing it away. Beneath the confetti was a small metal box. It was ornately made, with loopy designs of gold set against a maroon body. Lupin opened it slowly and inside was a goblet. It was made of Gold and it glowed slightly in the dark.

"Here it is," said Lupin to Moody, who stopped interogating the muggle woman to listen. "Hufflepuff's Cup!"

The muggle woman looked defeated at the sight of the Horcrux in the hands of members of the Order of the Phoenix. Tears started to fall down her cheeks.

"The master will kill me when he finds out," sobbed the woman. "All because of you."

"You deserve it if he will kill you!" said Moody, clearly annoyed. "To side with Voldemort is to side with death."

"I guess this means we can go now," said Lupin. "Never thought this whole operation would be so simple." He placed the Horcrux inside his large back pocket.

As Moody opened the door, a green light originating from the outside of the room suddenly hit Moody, causing him to collapse, dead.

"Ms. Lestrange!" screeched the muggle woman. "Help me!"

"Evanseco!" hissed Bellatrix, who was standing outside the room. The ropes that bound the muggle woman vanished, freeing her. She then ran outside.

"Petunia!" called Lupin towards the muggle woman as she ran out. "Mrs. Dursley! Don't go to him. The Dark Lord will surely kill you!"

"As the Dark Lord will also do so to you when he finds out you are here," said Bellatrix Lestrange with an air of arrogance. On the floor, Moody lay—dead. His eyes were still open though, as if death had taken him so swiftly he did not have time to close his eyes.

"You!" said Lupin in anger at the death of his friend. "How could you!"

"It was easy actually," said Bellatrix. "When I found out you were here a few minutes ago, I cast a Confundus Charm on you friend Alastor to confuse his stupid magical eye. Genius huh. I thought he heard me actually and was glad he thought he was just hearing things. Without the use of that damn eye, he was not able to see me coming. Well, enough talk. Lets get you to the Dark Lord. He will be very pleased to meet you."

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE