Embracing His True Self

Chapter 68

Harry had gone with Luna, Rodolphus and Malfoy to the Lovegood home. He had the poison with him, and it was just a matter of time waiting for the opportune moment. Which might take a while, since Harry didn't want to risk her bloody eating the food that was poisoned before anyone got there. They couldn't risk putting her under the Imperius curse, Harry was welcome to the Burrow, but the use of those spells? They didn't know what wards were up around the Burrow, which for all intents and purposes might have alerted the Order to her predicament.

"Hey, do you have a piece of parchment and a quill I could borrow?" Harry asked quietly, as they watched on.

"Sure, my room is the second on the first floor, there's plenty of paper and quills and ink on my bureau," the writing desk used to be her mums, she'd always taken very good care of it. "Once you're done shrink it down, I think I'll take it with me." If anything happened to her home…she didn't want to risk losing it. It wasn't just a piece of furniture, it held her mums jewellery box, her favourite perfume, scarfs she's enjoyed wearing. The Lovegood's had never gotten over the death of Pandora, and had never really thrown anything of hers away, but claimed their favourite things of hers for their own.

"Thanks," Harry said, giving her shoulder a squeeze, he made quick work of the spiral staircase. Missing Rodolphus' glare at his familiarity with Luna, in his opinion nobody should get to touch her. The second room he entered into, was evidently Luna's. It was…just like the rest of her, unpredictable but just so…very Luna. The ceiling was strewn with stars, planets, moons, suns, similar to the great hall but staggeringly different, it was obvious it wasn't the outside stars she was seeing like Hogwarts. One wall was pink, one green, yellow and the other purple and all different subjects. Woodland creatures in the green one. Pink wall was housed with a whole slew of words, encouraging words such as 'Never change for anyone else' 'always be yourself unless you can be a unicorn then be a unicorn' just small funny but heartfelt quotes like that. The Orange walls were filled with domino runes, and the yellow was two different coloured yellows with hand prints on it, not all of them human either.

Harry sat down at the desk and wondered if Rodolphus was aware of what he was setting himself up for. That's if she wanted to be in a place like Lestrange manor. Although technically it wouldn't belong to Rodolphus until his father died, if he chose to give his eldest son the manor to begin with. Although it was customary to give nearly everything to the first born, the second born didn't get nearly as much. Although Rabastan and Rodolphus were treated as equals by their father more than 'heir's' with the 'Spare's' were from what Harry observed during his time here.

Harry stared at the parchment in front of him, not sure what to do or think with the information Luna gave him. He could make sure that they had a fresh start…made sure they couldn't come back here…but it was dangerous business, letting enemies live. The Longbottom's as well as those he was intending on contact… weren't his enemies but he cared about them enough to give them one chance…just one chance to leave. To go live somewhere else, to be at peace.

Stiffening his spine, he swiftly wrote the letter before he changed his mind. picking up a second piece of parchment he wrote to a healer he knew in St. Mungo's informing him of his suspicion and to send the medical bill to him. One chance was all they were going to get. Spelling both dry, he folded them up and put them in his cloak pocket to send at the right time.

Once he was done, he shrunk down the writing desk as Luna asked before he made his way out of her room. Making short work of the stairs, grinning at how uncomfortable Lucius was sitting on one of the chairs. "Progress report?"

Lucius and Rodolphus both glanced at Harry for a moment, wondering if he even realized how much like the Dark Lord he sounded right then.

"She's still baking," Luna commented, still facing the screen.

"How much longer do we need to wait?" Lucius asked with a sneer in his voice, he didn't want to remain in this little hovel for very much longer.

"As long as we need to," Harry told him, "You can head out if you like," nobody was forcing the prejudice bigot to remain here. Honestly, you'd think they were somewhere contagious the way he went on. So what if the Lovegood's didn't have a big ass fancy manor that there was no need for, this place was comfortable, homely, he doubted Malfoy manor was.

Lucius pursed his lips and said nothing in reply.

"How about now? That's the second batch just about to go in, the first batch is cooling she is likely to eat that instead," Luna suggested, peering at the monitor that was watching over the Weasley abode. She was still in awe of what Muggles were capable of really, the video camera had originally been quite big but with a single flick of Harry's wand, it had been so small and significant that it hadn't been found.

Luna's suggestions were never truly just suggestions though.

Her 'second' sight made sure of that.

"Okay," Harry agreed, already stalking towards the middle of the room, where he couldn't be seen from the windows. Unlike the Muggle ones, there was no button to test the smoke alarm system, the wards were placed and harnessed until they deteriorated which took decades. Flicking out his wand, he pressed his wand to the ceiling, murmuring the words to a simple flame spell, smoke didn't actually work it had to be flames.

Only when Harry gave a nod of satisfaction and actually looked around did he notice that all of them had their hands covering their ears, even Lucius. Blinking in confusion, only to wince and clasp his own hands over his ears, his wand sliding back into his holster after he let go of it. Damn, it was shriller than the book he'd accidentally opened in his first year.

"Go!" Rodolphus stated curtly, noticing from the monitor that predictably, Molly Weasley was being nosy, and practically running from her kitchen to see what was happening.

"Dobby! Now!" Harry called out, summoning his house-elf, and without waiting for any orders, Dobby clasped his hands around Harry's and popped them both into the Burrow. He already knew what was going down.

Harry sighed, his ears no longer ringing with the wailing, it looked as though nobody could sleep through fires in the magical world then. Harry made a beeline for the oven, and placed the Sarin into the batter, in the three different batches she was cooking, and each individual cookie she had placed onto a baking tray. His hands shaking as he worked, not out of fear of what he was doing…no the worry that she was going to catch him in the act and ruin everything.

Dobby kept his fingers hooked in Harry's pocket, ready to act as soon as possible.

Harry barely had a second to cork the remaining Sarin in the vial before he whispered out, "Now," not daring to be too loud just in case she was already on her way back.

With a pop they were out of the Burrow and back in the Lovegood abode.

Harry noticed Rodolphus was kneeling on the floor, watching the video feed, ready to act if need be. Rodolphus' tense shoulders relaxed when he noticed that Harry was no longer on the screen, and back here safe and sound. Lucius had his back to the window, making no effort to sell the performance, but he was doing his job Harry supposed so he couldn't say anything. Molly would just assume it was Luna's father and that's what they were counting on.

"She's out there talking to Molly, apologising," Rodolphus told Harry quietly, not liking her out there with someone he considered his enemy. "Did you get it all done?"

"Yes, everything, hopefully it's enough," Harry admitted, watching the screen, straining to hear anything Luna was saying to Molly but she was too far away. Judging by Rodolphus' spaced out look, he was definitely listening in, an eavesdropping charm by the look of it. He was so protective of her that it was…a sight to see. She would always be protected by Rodolphus and Harry took comfort from that.

"Can we leave now?" Lucius drawled, bored out of his mind.

"We've been here for an hour, if that," Harry said wryly, "You're acting like we've been here days, haven't you been on missions that are longer than this in the past?" genuine curiosity on his part, as green eyes met grey.

"I was much younger then," Lucius said haughtily, trying to refrain from shuddering in reminder of some of the places he'd been on the Dark Lord's orders back in the day.

Rodolphus snorted, giving Lucius a knowing look from where he remained crouched.

"Well, we've done what we set out to do," Harry shrugged, "There is no need to remain here after, I'll be keeping an eye on the video though." Maybe from the lab and actually get to brew at least part of his potion, and not let Severus have all the fun.

"What are you planning anyway?" Rodolphus asked, well aware of the looks Luna and Harry liked to share, especially when Harry was up to something. She'd given him that very look when he'd asked if he could borrow parchment. It wasn't due to distrust, Harry had more than proven his worth, even if he hadn't the Dark Lord wasn't stupid. He wouldn't allow Harry so much trust with them if he thought for a moment he was playing games.

"Something I hope won't come back and bite me in the ass," Harry admitted, a sheepish look on his face.

"Thank Merlin," Rodolphus muttered, "I thought she wasn't going to shut up," remaining crouched until he saw her back on the laptop feed. Only then did he gratefully stand back up and stretch out.

Harry grinned, "I told you she was extremely nosy," and judgemental, only something he noticed as he got older. He'd thought she was an amazing mum when he was just a young eleven-year-old kid. She'd always been kind to him, but given what she knew…it was hardly surprising really. He felt nothing knowing she would be dead soon, the death of a few were worth it in the long run, if it would protect the magical world.

"Indeed," Lucius said, screwing up his nose in distaste, he loathed the Weasleys and hated the fact they had so many offspring when he and his beautiful wife had only been able to have Draco. He was grateful for Draco, don't get him wrong, but he would have loved a second child. To expand the Malfoy name a little, for the past few generations it had been single births, no girls for generations.

Luna closed the door and sighed in relief, "Well, did you get it done?" she asked, sounding entirely too hopeful. She did not want to go through that again, being bombarded with questions as to what happened, why she was there, where her father was, what had happened, if she needed help, that she should be able to cook without causing fires by now.

"It's done," Harry confirmed, "Is there anything you want from here before we go?"

"Might as well seen as we are here," Luna nodded, "I'll be right back," she added before disappearing up the stairs.

Rodolphus watched her go, the desire to follow her strong, but he didn't, it wouldn't be proper without a chaperone. Despite the fact Luna didn't care much for doing things properly, Rodolphus couldn't help but try to do so, it's just the way he was raised. It had been the same with Bellatrix, although he hadn't spent all that much time with her before their marriage.

"Do you think it will work?" Rodolphus asked, staring at the screen, it just seemed all too smooth. Surely something would go wrong, it was just…very unlikely that everything would happen the way they planned. It had never happened in the past, usually though it was the Order screwing it up, with a traitor making sure they were aware of what was going on. It would just be like the order to mess up with their plans like always.

"Who knows?" Harry mused, shrugging his shoulders, "If we manage to get some of them…well, it would be worth it, plus, it would have them in disarray, which would make them useless anyway. Plus, they'll not have a clue how it was done…the wizarding world doesn't keep up with Muggle poisons and it's going to work in our favour." Everyone would surely think they died of natural causes, as unnatural was it was for so many to die at the same time, they wouldn't find anything.

Rodolphus wished he had Harry's confidence, he just couldn't help but wait for the other shoe to drop.

"It's an interesting way take them out," Lucius conceded, "I would prefer a hand on approach," it was a bit of a cowardly way to deal with ones enemy, but if it took them out of the picture, well, he would be grateful for it.

"And that's why you're still fighting," Harry said wryly, smirking at him in amusement, "All the while they're just gaining numbers, and soon the next generation will be joining them if we don't nip it in the bud." Also very true.

"Not enough of the Order had children to be concerned about," Lucius said dismissively.

"It isn't just Order members children," Luna pointed out as she made a reappearance, "You know Dumbledore takes picks from the most powerful and promising of the students and starts bringing them onto his side."

"Not that he's had time this year," Harry grinned, "Too busy looking for me I reckon."

"Until he was arrested anyway," Rodolphus agreed, "Are you ready to go?" speaking solely to Luna, she was practically living at the Dark Lord's manor now, and when the war ended…hopefully they would get a place of their own, after they were married of course.

"Yeah, I have everything," Luna nodded, she'd cleared out the rest of the things she wanted from her now childhood room. She doubted she'd be back living with her father again, her visions showed her that much.

"Then let's go," Rodolphus said, holding out his hand for her, and within seconds, both she and Rodolphus was gone.

Lucius didn't waste time leaving either.

Harry put his laptop lid down before scooping it up and Apparating himself back to the manor.

"I'll see you guys later, I'll be in the lab if you need me," Harry told them, already moving towards the direction of the lab.

"Remember to send the letters," Luna called after him.

"When do you suggest?" Harry asked, pausing in his steps before turning to face her.

"Two hours," she informed him, it would get to them just in time for them to act.

"Done," Harry said, "Have fun!"

Lucius huffed before stalking off, annoyed with the whole thing, glad it was over with. Contemplating informing the Dark Lord that he refused to work with Potter again. The thought was truly laughable, he knew he'd never have the guts to state as such. Especially with the shaky grounds they were on with the Dark Lord as it was. He wasn't in good standing with the Dark Lord and truthfully, he didn't know how to right it. Or if it could be righted, he was so close to losing his inner circle status. He was just waiting for the shoe to drop.

"Come on," Luna said, grasping Rodolphus' hand and dragging him away, ignoring his protests.

"Hey," Harry said as he wandered into the potions lab as though he owed the place.

"You're earlier than I expected," Severus murmured, as he focused on his own potion.

Harry hefted the laptop onto the desk, and opened it up, relieved when he noticed that Molly Weasley was still alive for now. If she had eaten any of it, well, he would have been seriously disappointed. Luna hadn't let him down yet, so it was unlikely to happen, but he knew better than to begin relying on her second sight.

Severus scowled, annoyance written across his features, but it was subdued very quickly as he focused back on the potion.

"Didn't take long," Harry commented, as he plucked the required ingredients and begun preparing the first circle. "Have you spoken to the healer yet?" he asked while he worked.

"I've written to him, but as of yet, I've not heard back, but it's not unexpected, he lives a fair bit away." Severus informed him, relaxing his stance and shoulders, now that he had a little break in between one ingredient from the next. "I suspect I will hear back from him either late tonight or early tomorrow morning."

Harry nodded, "Enough time to set up an appointment just before the potion is ready…" he mused, "At least if I screw up there's still yours," he wasn't a master at potions like Severus. Sure he knew how to create them, was good at potions…but he was nowhere near a Master's level.

Severus just gave him a look that it deserved, quite frankly, Severus felt like stamping him as completing his Mastery, for it would be well deserved. The fact he thought he wasn't good enough…could well be on him. He could very well have squashed that brilliance with his vitriol. Thankfully the boy was made of stronger stuff, and did not allow it to affect him or his desire to learn, to create.

"I don't believe that will happen," he eventually said sardonically.

"There are a few tricky stages," Harry admitted, gently adding his ingredient, and stirring the requisite number of times counter-clockwise. "I'll need to watch out for them, I've never done anything quite so tricky before."

"Indeed," Severus said with savage gleefulness, those were the challenging parts of the potion he was most looking forward to. He rarely found a challenge these days, the last one that had excited him had to be the Wolfbane potion and that had been marred by who he was brewing it for.

Harry's lips twitched in amusement, he had never heard his Potions professor sounding quite so happy before. Not even while giving out detentions or taking points of everyone. Perhaps this was the actual first time he'd seen Severus genuinely happy and it made Harry rather amused. "I'll bet Rabastan isn't happy with me." For creating something and having Severus so busy.

Severus raised his head and stared at Harry blankly for a few seconds, before he went silently back to his work. Back stiffer than it had been moments before, lips pursed a little showing how discomforted he was at the moment.

"I didn't mean that in a derisive way, Severus, I was teasing you," Harry said bluntly, seeing Severus' reaction, stirring his potion, realising Severus may have taken it the wrong way. "As I've said before, you deserve to be happy." And he meant that from the bottom of his heart. He held no grudge against Severus.

He was still a shit teacher though. No doubt about that.

"Thank you," Severus replied his tone slightly pained, as if he loathed saying those very words, but felt the need to actually say them. He didn't have many people in his life that cared, and most of the 'teasing' he'd been party to was done in malice. He gave his loyalty to people and they always seemed to repay that loyalty by abandoning him. It's why he so rarely gave his loyalty to anyone, Rabastan, the Dark Lord and Harry were the only ones.

No matter how old one got, they never stopped wanting people in their lives, regardless of whether they were a social butterfly or an introvert. Severus was the epitome of an introvert, always had been, even while being friends with Lily, who was a social butterfly, she could befriend anyone.

Harry just smiled at him, it was a little broken and crooked, but there nonetheless. For the rest of the two hours that Harry was there, they worked opposite each other, on their own potions just happy to be in each other's company and brewing.

"Can you finish the very last circle of this stage? I have something I need to do?" Harry asked quietly, so not to jolt Severus due to his current place in stirring the potion. "It doesn't need it for five minutes," he added still waiting for an answer and not just leaving.

"Go ahead," Severus answered after he finished mentally counting up the stir's required, normally he'd allow magic to do it, unfortunately, he didn't know how volatile the potion could be so he wasn't going to use magic while creating it for the first time.

"Thanks," Harry replied, grabbing the laptop and making his way out of the lab, "The showdowns soon, if you want to join us, we'll probably be in the office." It wouldn't be for everyone, but he reckoned there were enough people who wanted to see the downfall of the majority of their enemies in one fell swoop.

He kept the lid open as he moved, noticing the battery was getting low, but once he was done with this particular thing, he wouldn't need it again. If he did, he'd just need to head to the Muggle world to recharge it, maybe have a coffee and talk to Hermione or something when he did. He was thinking about telling her about the fact she was related to the Malfoy's, she did deserve to know she had magical ancestors. Plus, the Malfoy's had largely listened to him and Narcissa obviously hadn't approached her.

"Can I leave this in here?" Harry asked peering around the office door, to find Voldemort in the middle of a meeting. He didn't apologise and back out like everyone else would. He had no interest in overhearing what they were saying or doing, he just needed somewhere to put it before getting Hedwig out to send the letter along with one of the owls that belong to Voldemort so send the other letter to St. Mungo's.

"Very well," Voldemort said in amusement, seeing the unrepentant look on his partners face.

"Don't blast the screen," Harry warned him, "We don't have any other way to enjoy the show tonight." Placing it in front of Voldemort's desk, grinning darkly, a chuckle leaving his lips as they all startled hearing Molly's voice before grimacing.

"Don't worry she can't hear you," he taunted them, before winking at Voldemort in a brave move, but what could he say, he was feeling rather adventurous right now. His eyes did however, widen when he saw Voldemort's nose flare and eyes narrow silently promising retribution. In turn, Harry almost rammed face first into the door, only saving himself at the last second.

He ignored the muffled snickering at his near miss, but the quieter still whimpers let him know Voldemort had more than likely glared at them in retaliation, the glare that promised heaps of pain. Oh, to suddenly be a fly on that wall…too bad he didn't have Skeeter's talent, now that would have come really in handy.

Well, not really, not in this instance, he really did need to get those letters sent off.

He was giving them one chance, what they did with that chance was up to them.

"Hey girl," Harry said, approaching Hedwig with a fond and loving smile on his face, stroking her belly and head. She'd taken to living in the Owlery with other birds, especially after he got Aadarsh, his snake. Not that Aadarsh spent much time with him, or in his room, he followed Nagini around like a star struck Snakelet. Where you found one, you'd be more than likely to find the other, and Voldemort fed both of them, so he didn't even need to come to Harry for meals. "I need you to send this letter for me, as fast as you can." He'd always spoken properly to her, she was a smart owl, and he loved her dearly.

Hedwig hooted in understanding, leg stuck out, waiting impatiently, flapping her wings ready to go.

Harry laughed softly, shaking his head in fond amusement, before attaching the letter to her. "Go ahead, St. Mungo's Healer Walsh." Walsh was a Death Eater sympathiser, she'd been here during the lockdown, spent a lot of time with Healer Grant. She wasn't marked, none of the sympathisers were.

He chose a nondescript brown barn owl to send his other message. "Send this to number 93 Diagon Alley," he'd kept up on their progress, and was very proud of how far they'd come on their own.

The owl hooted and took off, not far behind Hedwig, who as always looked majestic as she flew through the air.

Well, there was nothing to be done about it now.

93 Diagon Alley

"Maybe we should have waited to open up a shop," Fred said, staring at the books with a worried frown on his face. "Most of our orders are Owl Orders anyway." Which was true enough.

"Right now that might be true, but it's only because our usual customers are at school, we're breaking even, it's better than some do." George placated his worried brother. The problem was, he was thinking the exact same thing, and his brother knew it judging by the look he gave him.

"Yeah, for the shop, we still have rent to pay," Fred pointed out, "And that's due in two weeks."

"Then maybe we should think about buying that with what we have left," George suggested thoughtfully, they had a fail safe in place in the shop didn't do well in the first few months. Money in their vault that was all that was left of the years of buying and selling jokes.

Fred made a considerate face he pondered on that, "If we do that and the shop doesn't work we're stuck with a flat and a shop that's no good to us."

"Not really, we can keep up with Owl Order, just use this place as storage if it comes to it," George suggested, "It's ours anyway," it's not like they were paying rent for the shop, just the flat above them. The flat could be too if they bought it, it was tiny, shouldn't cost more than what they had, but if they spent that…and didn't make much, they would struggle. With the war escalating they might be suggesting the worst idea in the history of ideas.

"Alright, I'll owl him," Fred sighed, "See if he's willing to sell us it," it might be their only chance to get their dream up and running. They'd never deluded themselves that it would be easy, but they just sort of which they could catch a break. They knew if they asked their brothers, they'd lend them money when they could, but the twins didn't want to have to ask.

A hoot interrupted their commiserating party.

"Another Owl Order," George said, taking the missive from the owl, "See, we'll be fine…" he trailed off it definitely wasn't their Owl order form, unfolding it completely, his eyes slowly got larger.

"What's wrong? Is it a big order?" Fred asked, from where he sat just about to write to their landlord.

"Not an order at all," George croaked out.

Fred was instantly out of his seat and making his way around to his brother, alarmed by the tone of voice. He didn't think he'd ever heard their brother sound that way since their father gave them a thrashing for trying to get Ron to swear an unbreakable vow. The only time their father had lifted his hands to them, they'd had a sore backside for days. It was ironic that their father probably felt worse than they did. The guilt had been written across his face for a week. "What is it?"

Fred and George

Your father is slowly being poisoned. If you want him to survive take him to St. Mungo's for a thorough checking. There's an appointment for him at seven o'clock, with Healer Walsh. Be there. The bill is on me.

A Concerned Citizen

"That writing…it's familiar," George said, clearing his throat, "I've seen this before," frowning in thought, trying to figure out why it was familiar.

"I agree," Fred said, breathing out in shock, running his hands through his hair, his mind reeling over the information just given. "Do you think they're telling the truth?" did they take this to someone? But who? Moody? Nobody in the Order would take them seriously…plus, if he was being poisoned it would need to be someone close to him. Unless…well, unless, it was happening while he was at work.

"They're paying for the bill," George said incredulously, "I don't see why they'd do that if this was all an elaborate joke." Fear beginning to shoot through him, their father was being poisoned. If this was true they needed to get him to St. Mungo's.

"We have fifteen minutes to get him there," Fred pointed out, it was forty-five minutes past six. The Order meeting was already wiped from their minds too worried about their father to care for the meeting where they were practically invisible anyway. "Let's go!" flicking his wand shutting up the shop as hastily as possible.

"Alright, alright," George said, calming himself, if he was being poisoned the healers would find it and he'd be just fine. The handwriting was still bothering him though. He knew it, he knew he knew it, he just couldn't figure out who it was. "I'm coming," grabbing his pouch, both of them apparated out of the shop, making haste towards the Ministry of Magic, towards their father.

"Hello boys, what are you doing here?" Arthur asked, after literally walking into his sons, ready to leave for home.

Fred and George glanced at each other, did they tell their father or not?

"Come on, we have to go," Fred said, grasping his father's upper arm, and slowly guiding him towards the lift, George right at his back.

"What is going on?" Arthur spluttered, trying to ease his arm back, but failing, "Fred, George," he stated sternly, as they guided him into the lift. "What is going on?" his tone of voice demanding answers.

"Just come," Fred told him.

"With us," George said sombrely finishing their sentences, as they always did out of sheer habit.

"Molly…is everyone…" Arthur was beginning to panic, the boys were being extremely evasive to say the least. Which was causing his mind to go to worse case scenario. His stomach twisting, not just because of the abrupt drop in the lift. He still felt sick when the lift stopped and the doors opened.

"Mum's fine," George said,

"Everyone is fine, we promise," Fred reassured their father, as he guided him out.

Arthur pursed his lips, "Stop and tell me what's going on immediately!"

"We've got to go, we have to be there for seven," George explained, not even pausing for a second, as Fred continued to all but push his father out of the Ministry of magic. He didn't want to think about someone from the Ministry poisoning their father…but the alternative was…impossible. There was no way the Order would be behind it, it was just not possible.

"Go where?" Arthur asked exasperated, walking under his own power, annoyed by his sons constant prodding. The speed they were going, it didn't take them long to emerge from the Ministry and out into the street.

"St. Mungo's," Fred told him, "Hold on," and that was the only warning Arthur had before he was side-long apparated by his twins sons.

"Why are we here? Are you ill?" Arthur asked, beginning to look very apprehensive, checking his twin boys over, fearing the worst.

"We're both fine," George insisted.

"We're here for you," Fred finished.

"Me?" Arthur cried out in surprise, "I'm fine!" he protested.

"We're here to see Healer Walsh?" Fred had barely got the words out when the aforementioned healer cleared his throat from the double doorway.

"Mr. Weasley? Follow me please." Healer Walsh spoke, her name tag identifying her as the Healer Fred and George had been told the appointment was for.

"We're coming with him," Fred insisted, a stubborn look gracing his features. If the letter was right, well, they wanted answers immediately.

"Of course, follow me," Healer Walsh barely blinked at their demands, holding the door open for them, so that the receptionist didn't need to guide them in.

"This is a waste of time!" Arthur argued with his sons, "We cannot afford this!" practically spluttering.

"It's already paid for," George whispered intently at his father.

"What? By whom?" Arthur asked utterly flummoxed as he was led into Healer Walsh's consultation room.

"It has been paid for, right?" Fred asked, staring intently at the Healer.

"Indeed it has," Healer Walsh agreed, taking her seat, smiling in reassurance, it was clear the boys knew some of what was going on while the father was completely out of his depth. He was about to be even more so if what Harry had suggested was actually true. When they sat down, she begun, "Now, it's been suggested that I do a full scan…but of course, I would need your written consent to do it."

"Full scan?" Arthur's voice became strangled, those sort of scans were expensive.

"Full Blood Rune Scan, yes," Healer Walsh gently explained, these people were her patients, loyalty didn't come into it. It was always left at the door, she would help anyone that required aid. It was the only blood magic they were allowed to use, and even that was getting a lot of heat from the light side.

"But why?" Arthur cried out in exasperation.

"Someone suggested you're being poisoned, they've paid for everything too, dad…even if it turns out to be wrong…it will help us feel better." George explained, for once they weren't speaking in 'twin speak' as they liked to call it.

Arthur went pale at the thought of being poisoned.

"Do I have your permission?" Healer Walsh asked, documents in hand, passing them over, she couldn't do it until she had actual written consent.

"Come on, Dad, just do it, for us," Fred said, he was genuinely terrified that there was someone poisoning his father. If there wasn't he was going to track down whoever wrote to them and pulverise them.

"Very well," Arthur sighed, signing his name on the documents, giving his approval for the procedure to go through.

"Alastor! Come in! Coffee?" Molly beamed at the sight of the wizard, wiping down the table, as if she hadn't been working hard all afternoon for them.

"Got something here," Patting at his chest where his drink flash resided, he didn't drink anything he didn't make himself. The smell of her baking though, was as always, enticing to say the least.

It didn't take long for Shacklebolt to make his appearance, then another Order member, then another until they were all situated around the family table. Molly hard at work, getting enough coffee and cups for them to all enjoy her brew and home baked food.

"Where's Arthur? Working overtime again?" Minerva asked, as she accepted a cup of coffee from Molly. Her face more weathered than normal, it wasn't easy running the school while constantly worried about Albus. His trial was tomorrow, and it was a tense time for all of them.

"No, he must be running late," Molly said, glancing outside, as if she expected to see him making his way into the field and home. He was never good at walking away when someone begun speaking to him, so she wouldn't be surprised if he was chatting away to someone still in the Ministry. Honestly, her husband sometimes.

Nobody asked about the twins.

If she'd thought to glance at her clock, she would have noticed that three of the hands were pointed at 'Hospital' and hers…well 'Mortal peril' would soon be her hands appointment.

"Tell me I didn't miss it!" Barty exclaimed as he skidded into the office, almost toppling over Severus in order to get in.

"Not quite yet," Rabastan said, giving Barty an amused look, he was like a kid in a candy store. Rodolphus though, was tense, had been for ages, like he was just waiting for it to all go wrong.

"Goodie!" Barty said, sidling closer, crunching on a big share bag of Muggle crisps. Hermione had bought them for him.

"You do realize you're still in disguise?" Rodolphus questioned him, staring him up and down, his voice was the same, but his metamorphamagus abilities had him looking like a young teen. The same one he used while out with Harry often.

Crips half way to his mouth, his looks melted away into his own older and more natural look. "Better?" he commented before munching away.

Rabastan sneaked a handful of the crisps as he watched the monitor, all of them almost holding their breaths as Molly Weasley begun to put all the cakes and treats she'd spent the morning making on the table calling for them to "Help yourselves!" positively beaming with pride over her accomplishments.

"How long will it take for it to start working?" Barty asked, almost jumping up and down on the spot.

"Anywhere between one to ten minutes," Harry confessed, he'd told them that last time they spoke about it, oh, no, Barty hadn't been there.

"Given the doses I'd say four to five minutes," Severus mused, even low concentrations death can and will occur quickly. Suffocating due to lung muscle paralysis, it wouldn't be pretty even over a computer. He almost felt sorry for Arthur Weasley, who would undoubtfully come home to this.

"Yep," Harry agreed, "Also depends on how much they eat I reckon."

"YES!" Barty cheered as they all seemed to take something to eat, even Alastor Moody, who much to all their shock begun to check it for any traces, causing them to hold their breath. Was this the moment it all came crashing down?

Even Voldemort watched Moody intently, eyes narrowing in on the figure on the screen.

Arthur sat back down on his seat, after donating his blood to the rune stone. Content that this was all an elaborate joke. It was just unfortunate that his sons were so worried about him, poison! As if, he would have felt it by this.

Now all they had to do was wait for the all clear.

"Calm down boys," Arthur tried to soothe his worried sons. "Everything is going to be just fine." He was fit and healthy.

"Yeah," Fred murmured, clearly not believing it for a second, just waiting bated breath for the results, which the healer was just starting to get the results for.

All three male Weasley's just watched her expectantly, but her face did not change even a little. She didn't give them a clue as to what the results were as she continued to read the information. The urge to grab it from her hand was strong, but the twins refrained. They wouldn't understand it, these sort of things were only understandable to those who had been taught it.

Once she'd perused it, she walked calmly back over and sat down, "I'm afraid to say that you've been the victim of a long term love potion, Amortentia. By long term…I'm talking decades, since you were seventeen-years-old." Doing the math quickly in her mind. "There is also small amounts of draught of the living death has been administered to you for the past month." Miniscule, it should have begun to show its affects soon, make him look ill so when he eventually passed…nobody would think anything of it.

"Why draught of the living death?" Fred blurted out, his confusion prominent, reeling over the information and feeling sick to his stomach.

"Its poisonous, it will slowly shut the body down, it's a slow excruciating way to die," Healer Walsh explained in sympathy. "Now, I'm afraid I must report the use of Amortentia and the draught of the living death use, to the authorities, the Aurors will want to talk to you about it."

"What?" Arthur croaked out, shaking his head, none of this made any sense.

"Dad!" Fred called out, catching his father as he swayed on the chair, hearing Walsh move but paying no mind to her.

"Sir, I need you to drink this for me, it's a calming draught," Walsh said pushing the vial to his lips after approaching, but when it became apparent he wouldn't do it on his own, she spelled it into his stomach. "I'm going to find a room for him to stay in,"

"What?" George said, "Why? Is he worse than you thought?"

"He needs both potions flushed from his system, it will leave him weakened and in need of care," Walsh explained, care they couldn't give him, "We need to watch for any negative effects it might have on him."

"I see," George sighed, closing his eyes, feeling sick to his stomach.

"I must warn you that nobody will be allowed to visit while the Aurors investigate," Walsh explained, walking over to her desk and pressing a rune sigil on his desk.

"What? Why we didn't do it!" Fred protested, concerned for his father, who was leaning into him completely out of it.

"Protocol." It was their job to protect Arthur Weasley from further harm, while he recovered. She wasn't stupid, neither were the Aurors going to be, there was only one person would be dosing him with so much Amortentia and for such a length of time. Their sons were understandably in denial, who wanted to think the worst of their parents?

"How can we help you, Healer Walsh?" was asked by one of the two Medi-wizards who stepped into the room, they had been called there after all. The sigil alerted them to their presence being needed in a specific room.

"Take Arthur Weasley to a private room, I want the Aurors here immediately, inform them I have an emergency on my hands. I will deal with my patient myself, and his visitors is restricted to myself and you two, is that understood?" the Healer ordered them.

"Yes ma'am," came the immediate reply, neither even so much as argued with her.

"Mr. Weasley? Can you stand?" the Medi-wizard crouched down to see his patient.

"He's had a rather large shock as well as a calming draught, he will be rather dazed briefly," Healer Walsh explained. Gathering up her evidence, ready for when the Aurors got there, "As for you Medi-wizard Locke, I need these brought to his room, asap," handing him a scrap of parchment with potions written on it.

"Yes ma'am, right away," Locke agreed, taking the parchment he left to see to his latest order, while Medi-wizard Abbott eased Arthur to his feet, and begun slowly guiding him out of the room.

The twins watched him go, never having felt so utterly defeated. Their world was being torn asunder, they felt sick to their stomach. They wanted to go and confront their mother, demand answers as to why she'd do something like this but they remembered there was an Order meeting…they didn't want to address their dirty laundry for everyone to hear…but the reality was, everyone would find out during the course of the Auror's investigation whether their father pressed charges or not.

"I'll keep you updated," Walsh promised, feeling sorry for the pair of them, plus considering they'd dragged their father there, it was indeed unlikely to have been them. She was still going to be cautious though.

Fred swallowed thickly, his throat dry like sandpaper, "Thank you," he rasped out, and with that, both twins silently left the room.

Both of them having a silent conversation with their facial features, they decided against going home. No, they were going to get in touch with their siblings, well, those not at Hogwarts anyway, they needed to talk. Right away.

Harry, Voldemort, Severus, Rodolphus, Lucius, Rabastan, Lestrange Senior and Barty were the only ones given permission to be in the Dark Lord's office while the video feed played. Not that many others were actually aware of what was going down. The least amount people knew the better it was for them all, and little to no chance of it getting out.

"I don't believe it," Rodolphus whispered as Moody ate the food, gaping at the screen as if he couldn't comprehend the fact the most paranoid son of a bitch on the planet was actually eating poisoned food. Just how vulnerable were they to Muggle poisons? He made a mental note to recommend someone come up with a Muggle version asap.

"Everyone's actually bloody eating!" Barty chortled.

"I didn't poison everything though," Harry said, "Someone might have been lucky enough to eat from the first batch," not that he was aware or not if Molly ate it before they came.

Then came the coughs and discomforted looks, then the wheezing, as slowly the poison begun to affect them, paralyzing their lungs. Moody staggered to his feet, roaring as he used his not so considerable strength to use his arm to fling as much of the table as possible. Platters, food and coffee went smashing to the floor, the china splintering into tiny pieces. Eventually that strength left him, as he grasped his throat uselessly, trying to breathe but unable to do so.

Their lips begun to take on a blue tinge, as they struggled to breathe, falling from their chairs, or full on falling to the floor when they stood. Eyes bulging, until eventually every single Order member went still, for a few moments their chests continued to go up and down until they stilled completely, in a way only death could accomplish.

They had managed to get the majority of the Order in one fell swoop.

"Thank fuck he's on our side," Barty muttered, admiration and how impressed he was shining through.

Severus silent conceded that as the truth, he was quite vindictive and more importantly creative to an extent that…not even Muggle-borns were capable of.

"We are one step ever closer to our goals, soon, we shall control the magical world and bring back our belief and traditions." Voldemort stated firmly, eyes gleaming with vindictive happiness. "Our world will soon flourish."

"It will," Luna agreed, as she slid into the room, eyes gleaming with worldly knowledge.

And with that the screen went blank, having finally ran out of battery.

Beanz this is for you as promised within 24 hours ;) Thank you for the wonderful donation! It started off slow I know but I think it sped up a little as I continued and I know you're thinking 'They repeat themselves too much' but I think you'll find that we as humans do too ;) realistic in all things including that! BUT we're finally here! The Trial will be the next chapter after soooo long! :D Poor Arthur! I wonder how many of you actually saw that coming! I do find it a little cliched but it's not going to be the focus of the story, just a little side line! Plus, I haven't done it myself so ;) hahah R&R please!