Repost because like a muppet I uploaded the wrong version.
Chapter 43
"It's not that bad up north," James said, as they wandered down a footpath towards a pretty village in the Peak District.
"Mate, you lived in the Highlands for seven years. If that's not up north, then I don't know what is," Sirius replied, with a slight raised eyebrow.
"Come now Sirius, remember when I took you on that wonderful holiday to Foula."
"We were destroying a horcrux, you madman," Sirius exclaimed with a grin, thankful for the light-hearted banter. "And anyway, from memory it pissed with rain the whole time."
"Have you ever been north of the Watford gap, Londoner?"
Sirius smirked. "What apart from the seven years at school and this year's horcrux hunting? Probably more times than you, you west country bumpkin."
James laughed and slapped his friend on the back. It was almost as if he could forget what he was doing on days like this. Taking a casual walk through beautiful countryside with his best mate. But he couldn't. He was too painfully aware of what, or rather why he was here. To destroy another horcrux. Each one brought them closer to bringing Voldemort down. But with that, it brought them closer to losing Sirius forever. "Doesn't Moony live somewhere near here?"
"Honestly mate, your geography is shit. Moony's place is in the Lake District, it's about 150 miles north west from here. Honestly, Prongs how the fuck did you pass your auror tests?!"
"From memory Geography wasn't a key part of the entrance exams."
"Sure, but Appariting a hundred miles from your intended destination isn't the best of looks, and probably a tad inconvenient."
"Okay, fine. Geography has never been my strongest point, but I passed, didn't I?" James protested.
"I guess, how I don't know," Sirius replied grinning.
"You are such a twat," James laughed, punching Sirius' arm. "Shall we make camp here for the night? There's a pub nearby, maybe we can have food there."
"James are you mad?! What if someone sees us? What if someone recognises us?!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Padfoot, we are in the Peak District in the summer. It's full of muggle hikers, no one would bat an eyelid if we walked into that pub with a couple of glamour charms," James replied lightly, with a smile.
"Really, and this is coming from someone, who moments ago mixed the Lake and Peak District up?" Sirius snapped.
"Padfoot," James said calmly, resting on his hand on his friend's shaking shoulder. "It's okay mate, we don't have to go to the pub, I just thought it would be a nice change from eating on the road. We wouldn't be noticed, but if you think it's too risky. That's fine mate, we can eat in the tent."
"Prongs," Sirius sighed, looking away. "I'm sorry mate, just all a bit, I don't know."
"Stressful?" James offered.
"Yeah, I guess so. I know you don't expect me to have all the answers, but everyone else does! And I don't have them! I think I am doing the right thing, but am I?" Sirius ranted, pushing away from James, as he started to pace.
"I don't know mate. Your guess is as good as mine. I'm sorry if that doesn't offer you any comfort, but it's all I've got mate," James replied, watching his friend with concern.
Sirius stopped, and stared back at his oldest, and greatest friend. "Actually mate, it does. It means I am not alone in this fight. Back in the real, I don't want it is, but back there, in the Ministry everyone expects me to know what to do. Within the Aurors, not so much. I'm obviously their boss, their leader, but they don't lean on me for everything. Back at the Ministry they do. They all seem to think I can save them all. I return from the seeming dead and then challenge Fudge, and all of a sudden, I am this great inspirational leader, but I am not."
James rocked back on his heels, as he thought of what to say next. He wanted to say, 'no, Sirius, you are wrong. You are this great inspirational leader.' But he knew it would put more pressure on his already pressurised friend. "I dunno mate, I guess people were scared. They were terrified, they still are terrified of what Voldemort might do. Then you return from the supposed dead, and well it gave people hope."
"Even though most thought I was going to betray you, Lily and Harry, and had murdered twelve innocent people," Sirius said bitterly.
"People are stupid. They are scared and stupid," James put bluntly.
"So, someone who they thought was a mass murder. Someone who they thought would betray his best friend, gave them hope?!"
"What can I say mate? It's fucked up!"
Sirius sighed and let out a choked laugh. "Prongs, I've gone through that scenario a thousand times, and none made any sense apart from what you've just said."
"I know it doesn't make any sense, but the whole sodding situation doesn't."
Sirius looked down for a moment. "Mate, I don't think I've ever probably thanked you."
"What?" James questioned, frowning.
"Everything you and your family have done for me."
"Mate, it's nothing."
"It is," Sirius shot back. "Do you know what my happy memory for the Patronus charm is?"
"No," James said, shaking his head.
"That first Christmas after I ran away and your parents told me I could live there as long as I wanted to, and they wanted to adopt me. I would have never survived if I had gone back to my parents. Your parents saved my life. They made me think I belonged somewhere."
James nodded. "It's nothing mate, you deserved it," he replied, patting Sirius' shoulder.
"James, this is a big ask but when this is all over. Can you-" Sirius stopped and took a breath, as he tried to compose himself. "Can you find Reg, and well." He stopped again, as a couple of tears slipped down his tired face. "Can you, well, can do the necessary? I hate, I just hate that he's not at peace. That he will never be at peace if he remains there."
"Of course, I will," James replied, hugging Sirius. "Of course, I will, you don't even need to ask. We will find him and the other Inferi. We will do the necessary and I will bring Reg home. We will bury him in our family's graveyard."
"James, you don't have to. He's-"
"He's your brother, so he's, my brother. We will honour him. I will make sure the wizarding world knows what he did. I will make sure the Ministry gives him full honours. The Black name will no longer be associated with dark, evil wizards, but strong, brave, good wizards, who made the ultimate sacrifice."
Sirius stepped back, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. He was getting his affairs into order. He knew James and his dad already had a copy of his Will. He knew he was going to die. He knew he had to die. He didn't want to but in order for the world to be free, he had to. "Thanks James," he finally replied thickly.
"It's alright Padfoot," James replied in a tight voice. He looked around for a moment. He felt trapped. He felt tired but he couldn't imagine what his best mate felt. "So, the pub? I think we should go there. Maybe we could find out about the area and narrow down where this shack is."
"James, it's dangerous. How are we going to do that?"
"Well, we can pretend we are film producers or something, looking for filming locations or something," James started, watching his friend carefully. "And in any case this fucking horcrux hunting is hard, depressing and shit. Going to the pub. Having a couple of pints with my best mate before he dies, well mate, I fucking need to."
Sirius looked up, his whole body feeling heavy. He found a smile for his best mate. "I guess so. I mean, we're British. In times of crisis, we head to the pub. The time we don't because it's too dangerous, well, fuck, we are really screwed. I don't have much time left, but as shit as it is, I want to have a couple of good memories."
Half an hour later Sirius made his way to a quiet corner in the nearby village pub. It was semi full, a mix between locals and tourists, given the warm June evening. He made a quick glance around, noting the mix of clothes; casual jeans and shirts, a few loud t-shirts, old hiking gear. They fitted somewhere in the middle. Non-descript. Forgettable. Just what they wanted. They had decided on their cover. They were two film producers for a small independent production company, Marauders productions in London. Yes, it was unimaginative, but as his former mentor had drilled into his head. Keep it simple. Keep it as close to the truth as you can, then you are less likely to slip up. Well, he thought with a small smile, Moody would have added a few expletives but that was the essence.
"There you are Simon," James called out, holding two pints with a couple menus under his arm. "I've got a couple of Spitfires."
"Cheers mate," Sirius replied, taking one. "Never had one before."
"Bob," James replied, pointing over his shoulder. "He's the landlord, he recommended them."
"What did you say?" Sirius asked hesitantly, wondering if their cover was already blown.
"Just asked what was best on tap," James replied, sitting down pulling out the menu.
"Did you learn anything?"
"Mate, I may have not done the job as long as you but even I know, starting asking someone random questions will raise suspicion."
"Of course, sorry mate," Sirius replied, as he took a careful sip and looked around.
"Sirius," James whispered, as he lent in. "Mate, we've fine. We don't look any different to anyone else. They've had tonnes of films filmed up here. I bet they barely raise an eyebrow when some independent production company comes up to scout locations."
"I guess," Sirius replied nervously, as he looked down at the menu. "What are you thinking?"
"Well, we ask about-"
"No, food you muppet!"
"Sir- Simon," James corrected himself.
Sirius leaned forward. "Mate, I know you are not a complete moron. We used to do this the whole time," he whispered.
James grinned. "You bloody git. You are paying this time," he replied, as he leant back on the chair.
"Jason," Sirius laughed, grinning at his friend's scowl. "We'll just put it on the company."
"Well, if we are putting this on 'the company' I'm bloody having the steak and chips and another pint," James growled, eyeballing his friend.
"Not the venison pie?"
"Again, you are a sick individual. What the fuck are you having and are we putting it on the company card?"
"Steak and chips with a pint," Sirius replied, trying not to grin, as he handed James his bank card.
James frowned as he looked down at the card. The letters magically change to say 'Marauders Productions'. "We have a company card?"
"Of course," Sirius replied with a grin. "For cover purposes, of course. It doesn't get you out of your debt."
James rolled his eyes. "So, steak and chips times two, and another two pints?" He watched his friend nod. "Right, try not to get yourself in trouble between now and when I get back."
Sirius smirked as he watched his friend walk away. He scanned the room, and nervously began to tap his finger against the table. Over the last ten months he had only himself for company or James. They had briefly stayed with Remus but apart from that it had been just James. They had actively avoided crowded areas for obvious reasons. They had no contact with the outside world. So, to be sitting in the middle of a pub, causally ordering a meal somewhat unnerved him. He couldn't see any known Death Eaters, but then they could be wearing disguises, like they were.
"It'll be about 20 minutes," James said, sitting down. "Yo Si-, Simon," he said, just managing to correct himself in time. "Earth to Simon!"
"What?! Sorry mate," Sirius replied distantly.
"I said food will be about 20 minutes," James repeated, pushing the pint in front of his friend.
"Cheers," Sirius replied, taking a sip, before continuing to scan the room. "So, what do you think we should do tomorrow?"
"We need to scout the area for an abandoned and haunted looking shack for the film," James replied, as he too looked around the room.
"Then what?"
"Find the fucking thing and destroy it," James whispered, as he leant in.
A silence fell between the two old friends, both lost in their own thoughts. Both knew what this meant. Their hunt was almost over. Then all that would stand between them was destroying the final two horcruxes. Something neither of them wanted, but both knew it had to be done in order for Voldemort to be defeated.
"Right, two steak and chips, both rare," Bob, the landlord, said, pulling both men out of their thoughts.
"Thanks," they both replied.
"So, are you here for hiking, or sightseeing?"
"Scouting film locations," James replied casually.
"We get a lot of films up here. Anything in particular?"
James exchanged the briefest of glances between his friend but communicated everything he needed to know. "Somewhere haunted and run down," he started.
"Well, there's the old Riddle Manor," Bob replied, involuntary shuttering.
"That bad?" Sirius replied, exchanging a quick glance with James. Riddle? Could this be Voldemort's family?
"Ooo, you could say that," Bob replied, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. He loved telling visitors local folklore, always delivering a dramatic twist. "The Riddles were local landowners and not much liked in these areas. Then as the legend is told, their only son falls in love with a local, I don't know what they were, but they were a strange family. Kept themselves to themselves. There was always a strange feeling around their shack and odd stuff, like snakes nailed to their front door. Anyway, the Riddle's only son and heir appeared to fall in love with this family's daughter and later they got married."
"Do you know what the family was called?" Sirius asked, with interest.
"Oh, God, I think. Let me think for a moment," Bob replied, stroking his beard. "Yes, the Gaunts, that's it. Anyway, as quickly as their romance started, it was over. The son, I think his name was, Thomas, returned to the family home. The Gaunt girl disappeared, never to be seen again. It was rumoured she was pregnant."
"Wow, quite the local scandal!" James exclaimed. "Do you know what happened to the child, if there was one?"
"No," Bob replied, shaking his head. "But it doesn't end there. About fifty years ago the family was discovered dead, not a mark on them. The police had no leads, they couldn't work out how they have been murdered. The prime suspect was Frank Bryce, their gardener. He had access to the house, and it wasn't broken into. But in the end, they had to release him without charge. All the evidence they had on him was purely circumstantial."
"Did they ever catch the real killer?" Sirius asked with interest.
"No, they never did. The Gaunt's, the girl's father and brother, disappeared for a while, I think. But then, to be honest, they could have been there the whole time. They always kept themselves, to themselves."
"Wow, I don't want to sound crude, but this is the stuff of legends. The history and everything, the locations sound ideal," Sirius replied enthusiastically, as he pulled out a map from his bag. "Do you think you could mark the Riddle Manor and the Gaunt House on here?"
"The Riddle Manor, for sure. The Gaunt house is a little harder. It seems to change location, I know that sounds weird, but it does," Bob replied, as he scanned the map. "Do you mind me marking your map?" He watched as the other two men shook their heads. "Right, the Riddle Manor is here. The Gaunt house is, well I think it's here. It's just outside of the village, and just off the road in the woods. I'm sorry, I can't give the exact location, but you'll know it when you see it." He shivered and added. "It gives me the creeps."
"Thank you," James replied, as he watched Bob mark the map. "This is fantastic, and with the history, and the way you have described them, they will be perfect locations. Well, we think so, it just depends on what management thinks."
"Oh management, the bane of my life," Bob laughed, slapping James' shoulder. "I'll leave you know, I don't want your steak getting cold."
"Thank you," Sirius said, nodding. "It has been really helpful."
"Yeah," James added. "It definitely makes our lives easier. Maybe management won't bother us until Tuesday morning."
Bob let out a throaty laugh. "Oh yes, do not have management on your back. Well lads, I'll leave you to it. Do you want another pint?"
"That would be great," James replied.
"No problem at all. I'll bring them over with the bill, and avoid management myself," Bob replied, pointing towards the bar, at the well dressed, and very out of place, suited man at the bar.
"Cheers, and good luck," James replied, grinning. He watched Bob walk away, before leaning in towards his friend. "Mate, what do you think?"
"I think we have found Voldemort's parents," Sirius started, as he looked around. "We know he's a half -blood. We know his surname is Riddle. I mean, what is the coincidence that a strange and short love happened between a wizard and muggle, with the surname Riddle. They had a child, who would have been a half blood. I'm sure there might have been others, but honestly. A Riddle half blood, with all the information we haveā¦" he trailed off.
"I know, it has to be," James started, he looked at his friend for a moment, before looking at the map. "It's Voldemort without question. The question is, we know where we think the ring is, but with this new information. Do we know where Voldemort is hiding out?"
Sirius shook his head. "I don't know mate. I'll tell you what I want. Why don't we finish our pints and then head back? Let's find the Gaunt shack and hopefully the ring and destroy the damn thing. Then we can figure out when we meet the lovely Voldemort and his pet snake."
James nodded. "Sounds like a plan mate. Anyway, you're double parked," he said, looking at the two pints on Sirius' side. "Drink up, or I might give you a penalty."
