All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.
Beta: Roman's Sundial
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Intruder
Harry Potter – Present Day
January 3, 2000
Harry arrived at his house after receiving Hermione's message, to see Draco Malfoy sitting there. "Quick, get inside," he told him, "before someone sees you." The pair entered the house, and Draco went into panic mode.
"You need to send people to the manor, quickly! There's an intruder outside of it and my mother is there alone and unaware, and now Hermione is there by herself too!"
Before Harry could reply, he felt his galleon grow hot again. He took it out and read a new message from Hermione. "Send an owl to your mum and tell her not to leave her room and that Hermione will be coming in shortly to protect her." He handed Draco parchment and a quill and watched Draco scribble away.
"Where's your owl?" Draco asked him. Harry froze; ever since he lost Hedwig, he didn't have the heart to get another one.
"Kreacher!" Harry yelled, thinking quickly. A small 'pop' was heard, followed by the sudden appearance of an old elf-like creature with grey hair protruding out of his large ears.
"Master called?" said the house elf, Kreacher.
"Kreacher, take this letter," he said, grabbing the finished letter from Malfoy, "and take it to the Burrow. Tell Ron to send this with Pig right away, it's urgent!"
"Of course, Master."
"Then come back." Kreacher bowed and apparated once again, heading towards the Burrow.
"Pig?" Draco asked Harry, once the elf had left.
"It's the name of Ron's owl," Harry answered. He began pacing back and forth.
"We need to send help to the manor, now!" Draco said, in a panicked voice.
"I know, but everyone is out doing Order stuff."
"But my mother and Hermione!"
"I'm thinking, Draco!" Harry continued his pace. The only few people who were not doing Order stuff were the Weasleys, who were in hiding as Grindelwald had already declared that he would kill them. But how could Harry ask them to come out of hiding and risk their lives? Yet how could Harry leave Hermione alone and risk her life? "The fidelius charm," Harry whispered to himself.
"What about it?" asked Draco.
Harry frowned. He needed to cast the charm on his house to bring the Weasley's there, but still have them protected as he couldn't bring Malfoy to the Burrow since he was not the secret-keeper. Harry, however, was already secret-keeper for the Order, and the spell only allowed someone to be the secret-keeper for one place at a time. That only left Malfoy… "Malfoy, I need you to cast the fidelius charm on my house and be the secret-keeper."
"No problem," said Draco, clearly willing to do whatever it took to save his mother.
"Malfoy, listen. I am trusting you with the lives of many people. If you tell anyone, if you are the reason any of them get hurt…" Harry was already having doubts.
"Potter, the two people I love most are in danger and I am trusting you to save them. Let me repay the favor." Harry thought long and hard. How could he trust the one person he hated most at Hogwarts? Lost in thought, Harry didn't realize that Kreacher had reappeared until the little elf spoke.
"Weezly has sent the letter that Master gave to Kreacher," said Kreacher. Harry looked to Draco and studied him. In return, Draco stared back. After a moment, Draco extended his hand. Nodding, Harry shook it, then grabbed his wand.
"Okay, let's do the charm." It didn't take long for the fidelius charm to be put into place, and soon only Harry and Draco had access to The Potter Flat. Once completed, Draco took a piece of parchment and wrote out Harry's address, then folded it up and handed it to Kreacher. "Take that to the Burrow." Harry told Kreacher. "Make sure Ron, Arthur, Charlie, and Ginny read it, then make sure they destroy it." Kreacher disapparated at once, and then, after a few minutes (which would allow Ron to have read the parchment), Harry sent him a message on his galleon:
The four of you take the floo to my house.
Before long, four red-headed Weasleys were making their way into Harry's living room through his fireplace.
"You've put a fidelius charm on your house?" Ginny asked.
"I needed to keep you all safe. Draco has agreed to be secret-keeper and I trust him." Harry chose to add the last part as a way of silently stating that it was not up for discussion. "There's an intruder at Malfoy Manor and Hermione is there alone. Draco attempted to help, but if he were caught by the wrong person, him and Hermione would go to Azkaban and we can't have that. Everyone else is out taking care of Order business, so it is up to us. I know you are all in hiding, and need to be," Harry added, as the looks he was receiving showed that none of them wanted to be in hiding anyway. "But I don't think Grindelwald would think to look for you at a place like Malfoy Manor and we need to go help Hermione and Draco's mum, who is trapped inside."
"No problem," said Charlie. "What's the plan?"
"Well, that's what we need to figure out," answered Harry. "And quickly."
Hermione Granger – Present Day
January 3, 2000
Hermione hid herself in the shadows near the front door. She did not bother trying the Alohomora spell on the front door as she knew it would not work. Her only way in to help Narcissa Malfoy was with a key. It wasn't long before she saw a familiar small and over-excited owl approach Narcissa's window. Pig! she thought to herself, recognizing Ron's miniature owl. So Draco had been successful in contacting his mother. Not long after Pig had flown away, Hermione saw something levitating out of Narcissa's window and making its way towards her. When it was just above her head, she reached up and grabbed it, realizing at once that it must be the key to the front door. Hermione quickly let herself in through the front door, locked it once again, and made her way up to Narcissa's bedroom. Having received a tour in the past by Draco, this was a very simple task for her. "Narcissa?" she whispered, slowly opening the master bedroom's door.
"I am here," replied Narcissa, just as quietly. She was standing in her dressing gown with a robe overtop. Based on the hour, Hermione assumed that she must have been getting ready to sleep when she received the owl. "What is going on? Who is here?"
"I don't know," Hermione answered truthfully. "The intruder went to the back, though. Are all entrances to the house are sealed?"
Narcissa nodded. "If a seal is broken, I would be notified."
"Good. Is there a window that we can see the backyard clearly?"
"The guest room. Come this way." Narcissa led Hermione to the end of the hall into a large empty bedroom. The pair slowly peered through the curtains to try and get a look at the intruder.
"Can you see him?" Hermione asked.
"There, there is a shadow by that bush, look!" Narcissa said, pointing towards the right side of the enclosure.
"Do you recognize who it is?"
Narcissa shook her head. "I can barely make out the shadow." The pair stood silently as they watched the intruder.
"What could he be looking for?"
"I am not sure; we do not keep anything of value outdoors."
"We need to get closer." Before Hermione could come up with a plan, she felt her galleon grow hot. "Stay here," she said to Narcissa, after reading the message. "Back up is here, I am going to let them in. If you see that intruder head towards the front of the house, scream!" Hermione made her way to the front door and let Harry and a bunch of Weasleys inside.
"Where is the intruder?" Harry asked as soon as they were safely inside.
"In the back, but we can't make out who it is."
"You can see them, though?" asked Arthur.
Hermione nodded. "There's a window upstairs."
"Okay," Harry said, going into leader mode. "Hermione, you and Malfoy's mum stay up there and keep watch. If he leaves, galleon whoever is closest to him. Ginny, you stay in here and guard the front door. Charlie, you take the left side, Mr. Weasley, you take the right. Ron, you guard the front but on the outside and I'll go through the house to the back door."
"What's our plan once we have him?" asked Ron.
"Stun him; we will figure out what to do from there." Harry answered. Everyone moved to their assigned positions, and Hermione went to join Narcissa once again, after showing Harry where the back door was.
"What is happening?" Narcissa asked her, once Hermione was at the window again.
"They are going to make a move on him. Look, I can see Charlie there now." Hermione pointed to a shadow that was slowly approaching the intruder from the left of the manor. It wasn't long before Charlie, Arthur, and Harry were all within a clear shot of the intruder.
"He does not realize," Narcissa said, noticing that the intruder still had his back to them.
"He's looking for something," Hermione said, watching him scramble through a bush. "Wait, is he digging?"
"Digging? What could he possibly be digging for?"
"Narcissa, there's nothing out there that can hurt Harry and the Weasleys, is there?"
Narcissa turned her nose up. "I do not have anything buried in my yard, Ms. Granger. The Malfoy's are not dogs; we do not bury our possessions."
"No, you lock them in a room and refuse to allow anyone in." Hermione was pushing her limit, and she knew it, but she needed to determine what this intruder could possibly be after.
"What is in my husband's study is none of your concern. Kindly deal with the intruder and then leave my home."
Hermione snapped. "I am here protecting you! I think you should show some respect!"
Narcissa looked as if she were going to retaliate, but then stopped. "Let us focus on this intruder. It seems as though your friends have him cornered." Hermione looked outside and sure enough, Harry, Charlie, and Mr. Weasley were all within a proper distance to cast a stunning spell. Harry, however, was the first to act. The intruder had turned around seconds before Harry casted his stunning spell, and he was able to jump out of the way, just missing being hit by the spell. Hermione and Narcissa watched as the intruder ran through bushes and trees, ducking and dodging the spells being thrown at him, until finally leaping into the air and landing on what looked like a large twig. The instant his body had touched the twig, he vanished into thin air. "What, where did he go?" Narcissa asked. "Nobody can disapparate inside the gate!"
"He didn't disapparate, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said, realizing what had happened. "He used a portkey."
Jessica Ferguson – Present Day
January 3, 2000
After almost a full day of travelling, Jessica and Andromeda finally arrived at their destination in the middle of the night. "Here we are, love," said Andromeda, smiling.
Jessica looked around and saw nothing but an empty field. "Uh, Andromeda, I don't see anything."
"You will soon, love." She fumbled with a piece of paper that was in her pocket. "Now read this in your mind, then return it to me, please." Jessica took the piece of paper and read something about a burrow.
"What's the Bur-"
"Shh! Not here! Hand me that!" Andromeda took the paper from here and magically set it on fire. "Now look ahead, love!"
"Wow!" Out of nowhere, a house had appeared. It wasn't a normal house however; this one was lopsided and uneven, with several rooms hanging out at different angles. Jessica wondered how the house was even standing. Magic. She needed to start accepting that she was going to come across a lot of it. As Jessica crossed what must have been an invisible threshold, a familiar voice called to her.
"Jessica! I'm so glad you've arrived safely! Come on in, Dear! Oh, Andromeda, thank you ever so much!"
"Of course, Molly! I am off to Shell Cottage now, I need to pick up Teddy."
"Kisses to them all! Please come by for tea soon, I think Amelia and Teddy would get along wonderfully!" Jessica listened to the conversation happening in front of her. There was absolutely too much to take in at one time.
"Molly? Where's Amelia?" Jessica finally asked.
"She's asleep, Dear, in the room we have put together for you. Come on inside, I am sure you have plenty of questions." Molly lead Jessica inside the odd house, and sat her down at the table with a cup of tea. "Now, I am sure you have a lot running through your mind. Go on, Dear, ask away!"
Jessica thought it best to start with where she was. "Where am I?"
"This is where I live with my family. We call it The Burrow."
"And why was it invisible when I first got here?"
Molly hesitated before responding. "It's under a spell," she stated. "Many families put their houses under what's known as a Fidelius Charm when there's danger around. One person, known as the secret-keeper, casts the charm that makes the house invisible to anyone, unless the secret-keeper allows them to enter."
"So that paper I read…"
"Paper?" Molly questioned.
"Yeah, it said "The Burrow" on it."
"Oh, you mean parchment, Dear. It was from Arthur," Molly said smiling, happy that Jessica was catching on. "He is secret-keeper, so by giving you that note, he has allowed you to enter. The beauty of the magic is that you can go and tell anyone you'd like that this house is here, but unless it comes from Arthur himself, nobody can enter, even if they stood directly outside."
"And why do you think you're in danger? Is Amelia in danger? Am I?"
Molly smiled sadly. "As long as you are here, you are both safe."
"So, outside of here, we are in danger?"
"You and Amelia are not directly in danger, but the world as a whole is." Jessica looked at Molly confused, and so Molly tried again. "There is only so much that I am permitted to say. There is a bad wizard currently out there, and so, just like any criminal, he is a danger to anyone."
"So, you're basically protecting us from a general threat," Jessica said, trying to understand.
"Exactly, Dear."
"Where's Ron?"
"I do not know, to be honest." Molly chuckled. "He comes and goes as he pleases, a mother can only control their children for so long!"
"But isn't it dangerous for him too?"
"Ron can travel between houses that have the Fidelius Charm, so he is safe wherever he goes."
"I guess being a wizard has some perks," Jessica admitted, more so to herself.
"There are many wonderful things about being a witch or wizard, Dear, you'll soon learn. Once Amelia starts at Hogwarts-"
But Jessica cut her off. "Molly, I really appreciate everything you're doing for us, but I don't want to discuss Amelia and magic."
"I understand, Dear. Shall we call it a night, then?" Jessica followed Molly up a few flights of stairs, and stopped outside of a door on one of the lower landings. "This is Ginny's room, but she has been staying elsewhere lately, so we've turned it into a room for you and Amelia. I know it is small, but it's the best that we've got."
Jessica looked around and saw a sleeping Amelia on a small toddler bed in the corner. There was a bed for Jessica as well, two dressers that Jessica was sure was full of clothes for both her and Amelia, and a book shelf full of what she could only assume was books about magic. "It's great," Jessica said, politely. "Really. Thank you, Molly."
Molly beamed. "Please help yourself to whatever you'd like. This is your home while you are both here. If there is anything else you would need, you just simply need to ask. All I will say, however, is not to leave the grounds, okay?"
Jessica nodded. "Goodnight, Molly."
"Goodnight, darling."
Lily Potter – The Past
August 16, 1980
"Lily, what's the matter?" James walked into the room, with a look of concern on his face.
"Oh, James, I didn't want you to see me like this," Lily responded, wiping away the fresh tears that were falling down her face.
"Lily, you can tell me, what is bothering you?"
Lily looked down at the little bundle that she was holding in her arms. "Harry isn't even a month old yet, and already he is in so much danger."
James put his arm around his wife. "We will keep him safe, Lily. As long as we stay inside the house, the Fidelius Charm will protect all of us. This won't be forever, Lily, they are going to find him."
"And what about Sirius? We are safe here, but he isn't safe. Voldemort will make his Death Eaters torture him for our whereabouts. Severus knows that you are best friends, he will probably tell them," Lily admitted sadly.
"Sirius can take care of himself, Lils, and he would love to run into Snivellus, the things he would do…" James stopped however, when he saw the look on his wife's face.
"And what about Remus?" Lily continued. "They will torture him, too."
"Remus is in hiding with the Werewolves, undercover work for The Order, they can't get to him."
"And Peter?"
James chuckled. "Peter is one of my best mates, but he is also one of the biggest cowards I know. Even the Death Eaters would know that we would never make him secret-keeper. In fact, that's probably a good reason why we should!"
This time, Lily laughed. "With all jokes aside however, why couldn't you just be secret-keeper, James?"
"We've been over this already, Lily. I am secret-keeper for The Order and a person can only be secret-keeper for one place at a time. In the few seconds it would take for me to drop the Fidelius Charm on headquarters and let someone else do it, the Death Eaters will move in. They know where Headquarters are, they guard it everyday just waiting for it to fall!"
"So, let's move Headquarters, then!"
"To where? Lils, you know this is the best option. We can't risk every Order member by moving everything just for us. We are safe, Sirius will never betray us."
"Okay," Lily said sadly. She looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms. "He's perfect, isn't he?"
"Just like his mother," James said, smiling.
"Once this world is safe, Harry," she said to her sweet son, "mummy and daddy will take you out to see it. Sweet dreams my love," she said, and she rocked her son to sleep.
Author's Notes: I chose to add that Lily and James scene because it always bugged me why James wasn't in fact secret-keeper for his own house, so I answered my own question!
This chapter has a lot of meaning, but you may not pick up on it right away.. That's all I will say here for now, so that your minds can try and figure out who the intruder was and what they wanted!
The next chapter opens up something very large and I was excited (yet sad) to write it.. Hope you enjoy!
Thanks as always =)