Chapter 5: A Sunset Visit
"Harry," said Dumbledore's portrait, "I suggest you go with them."
Harry blinked. "Who is it?"
"You will find out," he replied, "But it is someone whom I was looking for during the past...oh, two years or so."
"Wotcher, Harry! Let's go!" Tonks exclaimed.
Harry got up from his seat and followed the rushing Tonks out of the office after a brief farewell to the former Headmaster. Tonks put a hand on his arm, "I'll apperate us to the meeting point, alright?" Harry nodded, and closed his eyes as the pressure and darkness of apperation overwhelmed him. He took a deep breath of air as they reappeared; he came to the realization that he preferred a portkey to apperation...
Tonks hurried towards the Burrow, tripping over the occasional pebble or plant root, and Harry followed quickly after her. When they got inside, Harry saw Remus, Moody, Kingsley, Bill, and Charlie all waiting. Why such a big group just to go find someone? He wondered.
"Everyone here?" barked Mad-Eye, "Good, let's go." He held out a long piece of rope, which everyone held tightly with one hand. Harry grasped it as well, his curiosity growing.
"Where are we going?" he asked Remus.
"Mexico," he replied with a faint smile, "I'll explain when we get there." Just then, Moody barked the keyword and Harry felt a sharp jerk behind his navel. The sensation, however, did not go away quickly, it fact, it felt as if he were speeding around in a painful circle for several minutes, the jerk increasing in force. With a last spin, they reappeared in an entirely different setting. Harry blinked, and swallowed, feeling his breakfast coming up.
After fighting back down, he looked at where they were: on a beach. The water was blue, the sand was warm, and the sun was setting, much to his surprise. The sky was painted with colors of orange, purple, and pink, melding together to form a masterpiece of color. There were palm trees waving slightly in the breeze, and the smell of saltwater was tangy and sharp in his nose. He stood there, gaping at the sea, and turned, looking at the city that was sprawled along the coast as well as further inland. The main lights came from the enormous hotels, and from the headlights of the few cars that were still traveling at this time. People were still at the beach, swimming in the ocean's depths as others sold things from mobile carts and stands.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Remus' soft voice said. Harry nodded. "I never would have thought she'd come to a place like this."
Harry came out of his thoughts and asked, "Who are we coming here for?"
Remus beaconed for him to follow as the Order group began to walk towards an unkempt-looking shack. "During the first war, the Order spies didn't attend meetings, so their identities couldn't be leaked out."
"You mean he wasn't the only one?" Harry said, shocked.
Remus nodded. "There were three, but one was killed on duty by aurors who didn't know he was working for us. Snape was one; the other was a woman, also in Voldemort's service." Harry's hand clenched in instinctive anger. "Dumbledore had gotten her out of some...well, some big trouble, for lack of a brief explanation. He never really told us what it was until a little while ago, but form her character back then, it wasn't hard to guess."
"What'd she do?" Harry growled.
"I'll get to that later," he replied as they got closer, "But basically, she left after the first war ended; she disappeared. We couldn't find her at all, until now, that is."
"So you want her to spy again," Harry continued, catching on. Remus nodded, just as they reached the shack. Harry raised an eyebrow, "And this is where she lives?"
He smiled slightly, but did not answer. "Lupin," Moody growled, "You're up."
Harry looked at him in confusion. "Huh?"
"We sort of know each other," he explained, and walked forward. With a brief hesitation, he knocked on the crooked door of the shack, earning a splinter in his knuckle.
There was a long silence as the Order members waited; Remus knocked again. There was a slow, ominous creaking noise and the door opened a crack. Harry could barely make out a pale face looking out at them; the door promptly slammed shut. "As friendly as always," Kingsley remarked dryly.
Remus smiled grimly and knocked again. This time, the door did not open, but a blood red flash of light exploded from the door, knocking them over. Harry spat out sand from his mouth and glared at the door; he did not like this witch. "She always did have a rotten sense of humor," Remus sighed in aggravation, and pounded on the door again.
"Open up already!" Tonks called, brushing the sand out of her purple hair.
The door opened up a crack once more, this time wide enough for Harry to see the entire face. She was pale, had dark hair and eyes, but was actually very pretty, he was surprised to find. "I thought I made it clear that I don't want anythingto do with you," the woman said in a cold, venomous voice.
"Nice to see you too, Diega." Remus said cheerfully, though the tone was slightly forced.
She sneered. "You'll leave if you know what's good for you."
"Just let us in for a moment," he said, "and talk over a cup of tea, for old time's sake."
She glared, "Oh and such times they were." Remus smiled in replydespite the bitter tone of her voice. With an annoyed sigh, she opened the door and let them in, "And I don't drink tea," She growled, closing the door behind Tonks.
Harry looked around in the dark room. It was indeed only one room, with no lighting and barely enough room for them all to fit comfortably. The only other thing in the room besides them was a stone archway, which—with its glittering black space—reminded Harry of the veil Sirius had fallen through.
"I would say welcome if I wanted you here," Diega drawled, "But, as it is, I won't. This way." She walked over to the arch and stepped through, disappearing. They had no choice but to follow her. Harry was the second-to-last person to step through, and when he did, it felt much like a portkey, but the pull came from his shoulders, as if someone were gripping them and yanking him through. He jerked as his feet landed on solid stone, and he was surprised at his new location.
They stood in front of an enormous hacienda, with large water gardens in the front, and gardens of unknown plants at the sides; the large home was located on a cliff over the sea, with the setting sun behind it, bathing the beige-colored building in a bright light. Diega led them up the front, speaking to the servants working in the gardens as she passed in a different language Harry didn't recognize. "Spanish," Bill murmured when Harry asked.
They passed through a large pair of double doors, which were solid oak with bronze hinges and handles, into a large, open room that reminded Harry of a hotel lobby. There were large glass windows stretching from the floor to the arched ceiling, and exotic plants everywhere in their pots; some trees were indoors as well.The floor was a pale blue marble, polished to a high shine. A fountain was in the center, gently pouring water over its sides. However, even in this beautiful décor, Harry saw a darker shade of things. There were serpents carved into the columns that lined the room, their emerald eyes glinting menacingly at the newcomers. An ominous air hung about everything, laying hidden behind the comforts furnishing the home, waiting to strike it seemed, much like a serpent lay in the grass before it bit. A chill crawled up Harry's spine as they were led through the room and into another.
"A bit too sunny here for you, isn't it Diega?" Remus asked with a tone of dislike Harry had never heard.
She gave him an icy smile. "What, would you prefer a moonlit cabin, my dear Remus?" She pushed open another large set of twenty-foot doors with ease, and Harry marveled at the feat; the doors were at least five inches thick, if not six. The room they entered was much darker than the other room, lit mainly by globes that glowed with a shady light. Tall bookcases were filled with volumes that reminded Harry strongly of the restricted section at Hogwarts. There were dark leather armchairs in this room, and Diega sat in one, her slim frame looking smaller yet more deadly as she looked at them with mocking sincerity.
The members of the Order sat down even though she did not offer them seats, and Harry decided that he did not care for this witch, Diega. For one thing, she seemed rude, and another, she and Remus did not get along. She raised a pale hand and a house-elf appeared. She said something to it in Spanish and it disappeared.Diega ran her dark eyes over the members, settling on Harry. "So, you are the one who caused the Dark Lord to fall." She said, her voice a low purr.
Harry tensed; only Death Eaters called Voldemort the 'Dark Lord'. "Yeah, that was me." He said, meeting her gaze squarely.
She smiled, and the hairs on the back of Harry's neck rose. "And you are the one who cause him to rise again."
"You knew he was back?" Moody growled.
She took her gaze from Harry and looked at the auror, raising an eyebrow. "Naturally, how could I not?"
"You're a Death Eater, aren't you?" Harry said icily.
Diega looked back at him. "No one has told you, have they?" she inquired softly.
"Do they have to?" he challenged, stiff with anger. Death Eaters deserved to rot in Azkaban or die, not live comfortably in a place like this.
"Harry," Remus murmured, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Then the house-elf reappeared, bearing a silver tray with drinks, which it then served to the guests and Diega. Harry did not drink, but kept his gaze on the witch seated on the opposite side of the room.
"Well," she said, "I believe so, but if they haven't, then I have nothing to discuss with you."
Harry fumed inwardly. She was treating him like a child! His grip tightened around his glass. "Stop playing around, Diega," Kinglsey sighed, "You know why we're here."
She smirked. "I do?"
"We need your services again." Charlie told her firmly.
Diega's eyes narrowed. "I do not need to serve!" she hissed, suddenly angry. "I have done my part!"
"You still have a debt to pay," Tonks told her.
Diega rose from her chair, her dark robes billowing slightly. She glared at the auror. "I have been released from my debt!"
"You released yourself!" Remus growled.
She turned her back on him, stalking over to a door. "You may leave now." She hissed, putting a hand on the doorknob.
"Albus is dead!" Remus cried.
It was as if she had been hit by a freezing hex. Diega's back went rigid, her hand tightened slightly around the doorknob. "You're lying." She said in a deadly soft voice.
"Why would I?" he retorted. "We've lost all our inner activists; we're blind to what He's doing! Believe me, we're not here for your company!"
She turned around. "Why don't you get my dear cousin to help you!" she growled. "I'm sure he would love to be in the spotlight again."
"He's the one who killed him!" As Remus said this, Harry's eyes widened. This woman was Snape's cousin? He didn't want anyone related to that traitor helping the Order!
Diega's harsh expression slipped from her face, to be replaced by one of disbelief. "He would never." She whispered.
"He did." Harry said firmly. She looked at him with venom. "I was there," he continued, "I saw him do it."
Her eyes narrowed in thought, "Tell young Mister Potter what is going on," she ordered them, "I will think about your request." With that, she exited the room, her robes billowing behind her just like her cousin's.