All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.
Beta: Roman's Sundial
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Portkey
Hermione Granger – Present Day
January 4, 2000
After searching the grounds well into the early morning, the group finally called it quits and gathered just inside the front door of Malfoy Manor. "The intruder is definitely gone, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry told Narcissa.
"But how did he escape?" she asked him.
"It looked like a portkey," Harry answered her.
"But how?" Hermione asked him. "Portkey rules are very clear; they are to be registered with the Ministry," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Hermione, this is war," Ron reminded her. "People aren't going to follow the rules."
"But regardless if they did it illegally, portkeys still only work at a scheduled time. Don't you remember the Quidditch World Cup? Portkeys leave at a specific time, there is no way that the intruder's portkey was scheduled to leave at the exact time that you all tried to stun him."
"That's not exactly how they work, Hermione," said Arthur.
She looked at him, bewildered. "What do you mean?"
"Portkeys are supposed to be registered with the Ministry so that they can control it. They work at a scheduled time so that the Ministry can track who is going and when. At the World Cup, for instance, imagine the chaos if everyone was coming in at whatever time they would like. A schedule helps to keep everything organized." He paused for a moment to clean his glasses on his robes, before continuing again. "It is illegal to create a portkey that is not tracked by the Ministry, but it is not impossible to do so."
"Just like the Triwizard Cup during the tournament," Harry said, catching on. "It transported Cedric and I the moment we touched it; it wasn't on a timer."
"Exactly," said Arthur.
"But the Ministry-" Hermione started, but Arthur cut her off.
"We should continue this conversation at Headquarters; The next meeting is about to begin. Narcissa," he said, turning to her. "Your property is safe. I would, however, recommend casting a Fidelius Charm on your house for your protection."
"Where is Draco?" she asked, turning to Hermione. "He is supposed to always be with you."
"He's safe," Hermione answered. "I couldn't bring him near trouble as it could implicate him. I'll go and see him now, though, tell him you're safe, and take him directly to his Slytherin common room. You should be able to owl him shortly." Narcissa nodded her thanks.
"Alright everyone," said Harry. "Back to my place." Hermione arrived first and walked through the door, almost colliding with an anxious Draco.
"Where is my mum? Is she okay?" he asked nervously.
"She's fine, the intruder is gone." Hermione explained what had happened at the manor, as well as what she had just learned about portkeys.
"What if he comes back?"
"I've advised her to cast the Fidelius Charm on her property," said Arthur, informing Draco as he entered the house. "We need to go, the meeting has probably already begun," Arthur said to the group.
"I have to take Draco to Hogwarts," Hermione said.
"He's safe here, Hermione," Harry told her. "I'll put some protective charms up, just in case," he added in an undertone.
"Okay," said Hermione, slightly uneasy. "But after the meeting, we are going back to Hogwarts. Draco, while I'm gone…"
"Don't worry, Hermione, my neck is on the line too, remember?" Hermione nodded and followed Arthur through the floo, and off to Grimmauld Place for the Order of the Phoenix meeting.
Harry Potter – Present Day
January 4, 2000
Harry watched everyone leave through the fireplace in his living room, until it was just him and Malfoy left. "I, uh, told Hermione I would put some charms up."
Malfoy nodded. "Go ahead." Harry waived his wand around a few times and charmed the place that Draco would be staying alone in for awhile.
"There," he said, once he finished. He also added a spell on his bedroom door as well for good measure; he would prefer Draco did not go in there. "Help yourself to anything in the fridge and there's the spare room upstairs if you're tired."
"Thanks, Potter. Can I borrow your owl? I would like to send mother a letter."
"Er, I don't have an owl."
"What?" asked Draco, confused. "I've always seen you with that snowy owl."
"Hedwig died," Harry said sadly. "I never had the heart to get another."
"Oh, sorry."
"Nobody knows where my house is now, since you casted the fidelius charm, so nobody will bother you here," Harry said, changing the subject.
"Okay."
Harry hesitated before speaking again. "Malfoy, we never liked each other in school…" he started.
"And you're worried that I might do something since I'm the secret-keeper?" Malfoy offered. Harry nodded. "I'm on the same side as you, Potter. Hermione trusts me, so should you."
"Your word isn't enough."
"You saved my mum, I owe you a debt now and I can assure you that I"ll repay that debt with my allegiance. I've told you before, I love Hermione. I'm not about to sell her best friend out and lose any chance that I have with her."
"You say you're on our side, then?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then why won't you tell us about the Abracadabra spell?" Harry watched Malfoy freeze; he had not anticipated that at all.
"It's not that simple," Malfoy said quietly.
"Why isn't it?"
"I'm a man of my word, Potter. I gave my father my word that I would not tell a soul."
"Malfoy, your father is in Azkaban and he's not coming back. You can help people with this information! You can help your case! Think about it, they are bound to let you off if they know that you provided crucial information that saved lives!"
"So that's the only way I'll get off, then? Provide information in exchange for my freedom, even though I haven't done a thing wrong?" Malfoy said, his voice rising in anger.
"I don't agree with you being watched either, but it's out of my hands! This can really help you though!"
Malfoy looked away. "My word is all I have, I cannot break it."
Harry walked towards the fireplace, accepting that he was defeated. Just as he was about to leave, he turned to Malfoy. "Hermione trusts you, and she's literally put her life on the line for you. The least you can do is save her friends." Harry dropped some floo powder into the flames, yelled "Number 12, Grimmauld Place," and found himself facing the empty kitchen at Headquarters. He made his way to the far room where everyone was gathered, already mid-meeting.
"We should keep an eye on Malfoy Manor; this intruder may return and may be of importance to us," Kingsley said, clearly having just heard what had happened at Malfoy Manor.
"Narcissa Malfoy is putting up the fidelius charm," Harry said, taking his seat at the front of the group.
"I can keep an eye on it," said Hermione. "I'll be visiting there every so often with Draco so that he can see his mother."
Kingsley nodded towards Hermione. "Alright then, I think that concludes today's meeting. Patrol groups, send word if you see anything suspicious at your location. We should meet again in about a week-"
"Excuse me, Minister, I do not mean to interrupt, but I do have a question," chimed in Andromeda quietly.
"Of course, Andromeda."
"Where are we with the answer for those asleep upstairs?"
Kingsley frowned. "I am sorry to say that we are not very far at all. We have yet to find out where their souls are hiding, and therefore cannot restore them as of yet."
"Grindelwald knows," Harry interjected. "We find him, we get our answer." He saw Hermione looking at him out of the corner of his eye. She was frowning; they both knew the person they needed to ask, yet have failed to get an answer.
"The girl's parents need to know what is going on, they must be worried sick!" cried Molly.
"They are muggles, it won't be an easy thing to explain," said Aberforth.
"That doesn't mean they don't deserve to know!" argued Molly. "I can go and speak to them and try to explain."
"No Weasley is to leave the security of the fidelius charm," Harry said firmly.
"I can do it," offered Andromeda.
"I can help you," said Fleur.
"No, you're pregnant," Essa interrupted. "I'll go with her."
"It is settled then," said Kingsley. "Until next week everyone, and remember to stay sharp."
"Constant vigilance," Harry muttered under his breath, thinking of the late Alastor Moody.
Neville Longbottom – Present Day
January 6, 2000
Neville walked around the small shack on the other side of the big hill. It was his turn, along with Luna, to guard Grindelwald's hiding place. Even though they could not see the large mansion that Ginny told them about, they knew that location, and so Order members took turns watching it and forcing Grindelwald to stay in there, unless he wished to show himself and risk capture. Tired, hungry, and slightly agitated, Neville stopped pacing and sat down on the grass.
"Is everything okay?" Luna asked him, joining him on the grass. Neville shrugged. "Why won't you guard St. Mungo's?" she asked him, when he did not reply to her first question.
"What?"
"Anytime we are scheduled to guard there, you always switch with another pair."
"My parents are there," Neville lied. "It's hard to go there and not visit them."
"It's not nice to lie, Neville," said Luna. She had a skill in knowing when the truth was being told to her or not. Neville often wondered if she was part Seer. "We are friends," she said, when she realized that he was not going to respond. "You can trust me, I won't tell anyone."
Neville considered what she said. It was killing him to keep everything in, perhaps it would be good to finally talk to someone about it. "I met this muggle a few years back," he started, just letting the words spill out. "Luna, I fell in love with her."
"What did it feel like?"
"It was the most wonderful feeling, I can't even explain it. It was like nothing at all was wrong with the world. I didn't know pain when I was with her, just happiness. It was as if sadness didn't exist."
"That's a wonderful feeling," she said to him.
"Yeah, it really was. Only, there was something very wrong with the world. You-Know-Who was in power, my friends were in danger, and I was needed to help fight the war."
"What happened with the muggle?"
"Well, I couldn't tell her, could I? The Statute of Secrecy was still in effect, and I didn't want to bring her into all that danger, regardless. You-Know-Who was killing muggles, it was safer if she didn't know." Neville sighed, but continued his story. "So one day, I just left. I didn't even say goodbye," he said sadly.
"It's a different time, Neville," said Luna, smiling. "You should try and contact her."
"I could tell you everything about her, Luna. How she hums in her sleep, how she has one small little dimple on her left cheek when she smiles, how she throws her hair back when she laughs. I can describe every inch of her body," Neville said blushing. "But I don't know where she's from, I don't know where she would be now, I don't even know her last name!"
"Oh, I'm sorry Neville! I'm guessing this war has brought back thoughts of her?"
"I've never stopped thinking about her, Luna. But, the other day… Luna, I saw her!"
"How wonderful, Neville!"
"No, it wasn't. She saw me first and she called my name and when I looked at her… Luna, it wasn't happiness I saw. It was shock, but also anger. I didn't realize the pain I had caused her until I saw her face the other day."
Luna put her hand on his arm. "You should talk to her and explain, I'm sure she would understand."
"There's more," he told her. "Luna, I saw her at St. Mungo's."
"St. Mungo's? But I thought you said she was a muggle."
"She is," said Neville. "Which means she is now somehow connected to the wizarding world. Maybe she's dating a wizard or something. Either way, I can't face her."
"What a touching story," came a deep voice that Neville did not recognize. He and Luna immediately jumped up, but both their wands had been taken away from them with the expelliarmus spell, before either of them could react. "Let's play nicely, shall we?" said the man, who Neville knew must have been Grindelwald.
"If you kill us, the Order will know that you escaped," Neville said.
"Escaped?" Grindelwald chuckled. "Neville, is it? I believe that's what she called you," he said, indicating towards Luna. "Neville, I did not escape, as you say. I come and go as I please; did you honestly think a few wizards standing outside of my house would stop me from leaving?"
"If that's true, then why are you only showing your face now?" asked Luna bravely.
"Because I need something, and when I need something, I ask for it. Since Gloria has decided to stop paying me visits, I have resorted to this." When neither Neville or Luna said anything, Grindelwald continued. "I heard about the Minister's speech and I must say I am disappointed with Harry Potter. I offered him such a wonderful deal, yet he decided to do this instead. What a pity," he said, shaking his head. "I am, however, a man of chances and therefore am willing to give Potter one more chance. Just one more, however. But, I am also a man of my word. I informed Harry that I would hurt his people if he did not listen, and how could anyone take me seriously if I don't keep my word? Oh, no, don't worry, I don't mean you two," he said, when he saw Neville and Luna tense up. "No, you two are my messengers. Please tell Harry Potter that he has one more chance to send Gloria here, tomorrow, with my requested items. If he does not, then more will die."
"More?" repeated Neville.
"Yes, Neville, more. Two of yours have fallen today at the hand of my men, as you will soon learn. Let that be a sign to Harry Potter that I mean what I say. You will find your wands-" he held up their wands and they instantly disappeared. "-in the little shack behind you. Now go and deliver my message and bury your dead. Oh, and Neville," he said, as he turned to enter the protection of the fidelius charm, "my men do not know how to use the Abracadabra curse, so yes, your friends really are dead." With that, Grindelwald walked through the invisible barrier and disappeared.
"Let's go." It was all Neville needed to say to Luna before they took off running to the shack. They immediately retrieved their wands, ran back over the big hill, and apparated back to Headquarters, sending galleon messages to every member in the Order.
Fred Weasley – The Past
March 18, 1998
Fred sat at the back of his and George's shop examining something in a small package. It was rather quiet in the shop, as it was most days. The war was taking a toll on every shop in Diagon Alley as nobody wanted to be out and about anymore. When the war had first begun, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was thriving; people needed happiness during their time of despair and that's exactly what the shop brought. Now it was different, though. People were dying left, right, and centre, and Death Eaters were killing anyone who crossed their paths, regardless of their blood status. The twins' mother kept begging for them to return to the Burrow where it was protected, but neither Fred nor George wanted to leave their shop. They were not being careless, however; they had charms to protect them and knew to lock up and hide when trouble was approaching.
"What'chu doing, Freddie?" came the voice of his twin brother.
"Just checking something out, is the shop locked up?"
"Yeah, three Death Eaters walked by today, I think it's best we stay closed for the rest of the day."
Fred nodded in agreement. "Okay, I'll see you upstairs in our flat in a bit," he said, not looking at his brother.
"What's up, Fred?" George asked, knowing something was off with his twin. Fred sat silently for a moment, deciding on if he should tell George. He was going to tell him eventually, may as well do it now. He passed the little box off to George without saying a word. "Is that-? No… Really?" Fred smiled and nodded. "Freddie…" George said, still at a loss for words.
Fred reached out for the box again and stared down at the shiny diamond inside. "I love her, George, and we could all use some happiness right about now."
"Does Mum know?"
"Not yet, but I'll tell her."
George patted his brother on the shoulder. "Well done, Fred, Angelina is a wonderful person, I'll be glad to call her sister. When will you ask her?"
"Harry said there is going to be a fight soon, I'm thinking of doing it after."
"A wedding to celebrate the defeat of You-Know-Who! Wonderful idea, brother!"
"George," Fred said, in a very serious tone. "There's something I need to discuss with you, brother to brother."
George caught on to the seriousness of his voice and provided his full attention. "What is it, Freddie?"
"Angelina is a remarkable person and it is my job to protect her…" He trailed off for a moment, thinking of how to word what he was trying to say. "Should there every be a time that I cannot provide for her… If I die in this war…"
"Come on now, Fred, don't be so foolish! We are the Weasley twins, we don't die!"
"I'm serious George, no joking around right now. If anything should happen to me, then as my brother, I need you to promise me that you'll take care of her."
"Fred, I-"
"Promise me, George!"
George swallowed hard. "I promise, Fred."
"Good. You will take care of her and you will take this ring and marry her."
"Marry her? Fred, she's your future wife!"
"And I hope that I survive this battle to make that happen. But if I do not, I will find peace in knowing that she is taken care of by my best friend. Now come on, I want to finish those expansions on the invisibility hats, I really think we have it now." Fred and George went upstairs laughing, with the thought of death already behind them. It was probably the most serious conversation that the pair had ever had, yet Fred knew that it was one that had to have been said.
Author's Notes: Well, I had said that there would be deaths (this is a war, after all) and so they have begun. I started slow, but we are about to enter a full fledged war so here we go.
In regard's to the intruder, you will eventually find out who it is.. Guesses?
The next chapter tells the story of who Grindelwald attacked and what happened to them, so lots of info coming up, followed by a Sirius/James/Lily flashback.
Enjoy, and thanks as always!