Prince Consort

Chapter 3

Nymphadora Tonks warily made her way to Grimmauld Place. She'd tried looking for him yesterday but she'd been unable to find him anywhere. She had written a missive, in which he had responded with a Patronus Message informing her he would speak to her at her earliest convenience. Which meant right away and the 'earliest convenience was merely a politeness.

"Headmaster," said Tonks as she entered the kitchen, the place was so different from when she first saw it. Black, disgusting and run down, it truly lived up to the name 'grim' 'auld' 'place' but once Molly tore into it…she'd wondered if it was truly the same place. Now they rarely thought about how it used to be, at least she rarely thought about it except rare circumstances when she hadn't been to the place in a while.

"Ah, Tonks, how did it go?" asked Dumbledore, he didn't hold out much hope that she could convince Remus to join. Especially seeing that Sirius had failed so spectacularly and Sirius was the only one the werewolf listened to. Or had been in the past, the falling out they'd had over Sirius not taking Harry in had been permanent much to his disbelief. Still, he didn't quite care as much as he had a few days ago; he had the vampires on his side. All it had required was the promise of Harry Potter.

"He refused, I don't think anything we say could win him over," said Tonks seriously, feeling a tremendous amount of guilt that she couldn't do as he asked. Especially seeing the weight on the Headmaster's shoulders.

"That is disappointing," said Dumbledore quietly, "Even if you had succeeded I do not think he would have stuck around long." he was very aware of the bond Lupin had with the Potter boy. No doubt he would cause some trouble, but in the end, there was nothing he could do. It was all legal and above board, at least it had the appearance of being so.

"What do you mean?" Tonks asked surprised, and then she saw the look of renewed hope on his face.

"The Vampire Lord has agreed to join our side," said Albus, his eyes twinkling brightly with triumph. "At long last, we now hold sway over the war,"

Tonks jaw dropped, vampires never agreed to join sides, never mind a vampire lord. What the hell, had Dumbledore promised them to even begin the negotiations? She couldn't help herself, she was totally impressed, and awe was evident from the look on her face. "How?" she eventually managed to ask wide-eyed. Renewed hope beginning to flare, they might just actually be able to successfully end Voldemort's reign of terror after all.

"I have my means," Albus said with an indulgent smile, he always played his cards close to his chest. No doubt they would be quite upset with the measures he took, despite their faith and loyalty. So, no, they would never know the truth, but he would give a fairytale version of it.

The awe on their faces would just make him feel even more powerful. He loved the hero worship. Always had, right from the very beginning, it began with his teachers at Hogwarts at the age of eleven. They'd been impressed with his magic, his power and he'd been hooked from then on in. He needed the approval, the acclamation, the adoration. Then he'd been determined to prove the Deathly Hallows were real, prove they weren't just a myth as they believed. That had gone to pot when it all went wrong, his sister had died. Then all of a sudden he was known everywhere for defeating the Dark Lord Grindelwald. He had been offered the Minister of Magic position, electing to refuse and become Headmaster, reveling in the awe children would give him and the fact he would be the deciding factor in the belief of generations of children. Hand picking certain ones along the way to join his cause.

"I see," said Tonks thoughtfully, he was amazing, he could get anyone on side. It was no wonder Voldemort was scared of him, with his resources and ability to talk anyone into anything. He truly should have become Minister of Magic, but she liked that he never let power get to his head. Speaking of Ministry, she had to get to work; she was going to be late! "I have to go sir; my shift starts in five minutes!"

"Of course, please use the Floo," said Albus graciously, once Tonks left he made his way to Hogwarts, he had a meeting with Sirius in a few hours. He held no fear that the portraits would do or say anything he didn't directly approve of, they had long ago been spelled with secrecy charms the day he stepped foot in the Headmaster's office after his appointing.

Sirius Black Apparated to Hogwarts, a yawn stretching across his face. He'd just done a double shift, he was exhausted. He would have gone straight to bed; unfortunately, Albus wanted him for something. The Sirius Black would never have run straight to Dumbledore, unfortunately, the undetectable compulsion potions were still running thickly through his veins. Everyone knew the Auror's were regularly tested for irregularities, potions, and spells the whole nine yards. When someone knew what the Auror's looked for, it was no surprise that they would find ways to beat it. Which was unfortunate for Sirius.

Fifteen minutes later, Sirius knocked on the Headmaster's office door exhaustion thrumming through him.

"Come in Sirius!" said Albus loudly, when the Auror entered he beamed at the man. Sirius had been much more successful than he'd ever dreamed he would be. It just cemented the fact he knew he'd done the right thing. Potter had been insignificant, a nuisance since he'd been born. He'd had to talk the Potter's out of leaving the Order, using their son living in a world of fear to inspire them to stay and fight. To think he'd almost lost Sirius Black to raising Potter, the thought was intolerable. He shook his thoughts off; it was after all in the past. Sirius had become an Auror, took a seat in the Wizengamot after the death of his parents, and always did as he requested. It was a shame he'd been forced to resort to it, he did not regret it.

"Hello Albus, you wanted to see me?" asked Sirius sitting down, smiling Albus like a grandson would a grandfather. Trusting him impeccably without even wondering why likelihood the original trust had a part to play in why that happened.

"I did indeed, Sirius, I want you to sign these," said Albus handing over three pieces of parchment.

Drugged or not, Sirius didn't just sign it, he read all paperwork that came his way, especially if he had to sign it. It was deeply ingrained into him; pureblood's always taught their children never to sign anything they didn't know. It was probably one of the first things they learned upon being able to read and write. Part of Sirius was horrified at what he was reading; he didn't want to sign them.

"Sign them Sirius," said Albus as if he could sense Sirius' hesitation.

"Why?" Sirius questioned sitting up straight, his face strained as he fought the compulsions upon him.

"Sign them Sirius, we can win the war with this," said Albus, a compulsion charm leaving his wand and hitting Sirius square in the stomach. Sirius doubled over, a small groan leaving his lips, and then he slumped down. His will once again fading into the background, as he signed the papers in front of him. Sealing his godson's fate to Dumbledore's tender mercies.

Dumbledore realized he would need to get his source to brew another batch of the potion, it seemed as though his hold on the Auror was weakening. He couldn't allow that to happen, not just because people would find out. No, it's also because he knew Sirius Black would murder him if he snapped out of it, or die trying. He was a Black, and Dumbledore had never forgotten that fact.

"Is that all sir?" asked Sirius docilely.

"That's all, you may go," said Albus, this time he felt no guilt as the Animagus left. He was doing what he had to do for the greater good, this time he knew it was for sure. Standing up he grabbed his Floo powder and exited out at the Ministry. The papers clutched in his hands, feeling extremely pleased with himself.

Ministry Of Magic

After making a grand entrance, Albus made his way through the Ministry, pressing the button to call the elevator to him. Stepping in he pressed the button and held on to the loop atop the lift. Keeping himself securely on his feet as he was zoomed towards the floor he had chosen.

The smugness was rolling off him in waves; he couldn't have suppressed it if he tried. Finally, he could have the boy picked up and send to the vampire Lord and complete the negotiations. It had been a tough couple of weeks, just laying low waiting until Harry turned sixteen.

He passed the Aurors stations, small cubicles that held the trainee Auror's, and all the way to the other end of the hall smiling in greeting. The door he entered was a large office, with ten tables scattered around, with the Auror's name written on it. Sirius Black's was the main one, but even he wouldn't force this on Black. He wasn't totally heartless, who was he kidding? No, he just didn't want to take the chance he could fight the compulsions he'd placed on him. Not until he acquired another dose of the loyalty potion he had been imbibing the wizard with for many years now.

"Ah Kingsley, glad I caught you," said Albus as he almost collided with the Auror.

"I've been called out," said Shacklebolt, who was just about to leave the room, slightly surprised that Albus was approaching him, he kept a low profile from anyone known to be in the Order of the Phoenix. His job was too important to risk being fired for joining a 'vigilante cause' not that it was a concern right now, but it had happened during the last war, and no doubt would come about this time too.

"Have one of the others do it, I need you to pick up Harry Potter," said Albus, "It's vitally important."

Kingsley stopped turning to face Albus, judging his seriousness for a few seconds.

"Smith!" barked the Auror, "New Assignment get to it." giving him over the paperwork, nodding his head abruptly. He was the leader when Black wasn't there, which adamantly was rare. Sirius rarely left the office, it's how he'd gotten so high up so quickly. He didn't have a life; he lived for capturing dark wizards. The death of his friends had broken something in the wizard.

"What do you need Harry Potter for?" asked Shacklebolt, a rare frown on his face, mentally calculating his age. He was what? Sixteen or turning sixteen this summer? Albus didn't normally recruit teenagers into the Order, and he'd never shown an interest in Potter before. Seeing the information he realized it was the boy's birthday today.

"He is now my ward and responsibility." said Albus without so much as batting his eyelashes.

"Yet you need an Auror to bring him in?" asked Shacklebolt his brown eyes regarding Dumbledore with rising suspicion. The big question was why, why on earth was Dumbledore so keen to get his hands on Harry Potter. He, unlike the others, wasn't blindly obedient.

"Yes," said Dumbledore his voice sharp, he did not like getting questioned by one of his own loyal followers.

"Fine," said Shacklebolt, it wasn't as if he had a choice really if it wasn't him it would be someone else. He wasn't stupid, the reason Dumbledore needed him was that the boy obviously wouldn't come quietly. He didn't feel right about forcing a sixteen-year-old anywhere, unfortunately legally Harry had no choice, nor did he have a leg to stand on. He was still curious about the why though, why was Dumbledore interested in Harry Potter.

"Thank you, bring him straight to Hogwarts." said Albus commanded, patting Shacklebolt on the arm giving him a look that said 'trust me I have a reason for everything I do' before he exited the Auror's office and out of Shacklebolt's line of sight.

Shacklebolt shook his head, something was up, and he just wished he had time to do a little digging. Staring at the papers again, he realized Black had relinquished his godfather duties, passing all responsibilities to Dumbledore. Black never mentioned Harry, truth be told he'd changed when the Potters' died. Choosing instead to work his way up the ranks.

"Hey Shack, what's up?" asked Tonks as she re-entered the squad room. She had called it that once, and it had stuck. Now everyone called it the squad room. Tonks had been raised in the Muggle world after all, with her pureblood mother and Muggle-born father.

"Just got an order, from Dumbledore." whispered Shacklebolt as he moved around her.

"You too huh?" said Tonks frowning, Dumbledore didn't normally come here; he didn't want anyone to know who the potential members of the orders were. The Headmaster wasn't widely liked in the Ministry, but it was the Death Eaters and the spies that made them really leery. "What has he asked you to do?" she asked curiously, it must be important if he had come here.

"Picking up Harry Potter." said Shacklebolt.

"Picking up?" asked Tonks "Why?" what had he done that would warrant an Auror to arrest him? What Dumbledore had told her earlier rang through her mind…'Even if you had succeeded I do not think he would have stuck around long.' oh no what had the Headmaster done?

Shacklebolt showed her the papers, watching her pale completely bewildered by the sick look crossing her features. She had a good idea what Dumbledore had done; she wasn't an Auror for nothing. Yes, she was clumsy but she sure as hell wasn't stupid.

"Tonks? What's going on…what do you know?" demanded Shacklebolt.

"You'll find out soon enough," said the normally bubbly girl still sounding completely shocked.

"Tonks," groaned Shacklebolt in frustration.

"I have to go," said Tonks beating a hasty retreat, not allowing Shacklebolt the chance to stop her. She ran as fast as she could, bumping into people, walls and tripping up on her own feet. She didn't let it deter her as she finally burst through the Ministry's doors and Apparated away. She wasn't one hundred percent sure but she'd rather act if there was even a possibility that she was correct.

"Thank Merlin you're here!" said Tonks her relief shining like a beacon.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Remus blinking at her sudden reappearance. Was he going to have Auror's bursting in? Why else would she be so relieved to see him? It made no logical sense whatsoever. It didn't have the social visit vibe to it at all.

"Where's the boy?" asked Tonks urgently.

"The boy?" asked Lupin at loss.

"Harry! Where's Harry!" asked Tonks, wanting to give him a warning, she didn't care about the vampires. This wasn't right, signing a sixteen-year-old over to vampires was sick. The horror she felt made her want to sick up, fortunately for her she'd not had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon. She couldn't believe what Dumbledore had done; she didn't know if that's the organization she wanted to be associated with. She had sworn an oath as an Auror to protect ALL innocents. Harry was an innocent; he didn't deserve what had happened to him. Damn Sirius Black to hell for going through with it! She'd kill him when she got her hands on him.

"Why?" asked Lupin now on the defensive. What the hell did an Auror want with the boy he considered his son?

"Where is he!" yelled Tonks her face filled with hopeless desperation, she only had minutes to warn him, if that Shacklebolt might have already located him.

"He's staying at his friends, he always stays there." said Lupin, in fact, he'd told Harry to speak to his friend, Teddy was going through a hard time right now with his father's persistence insistence that he return home to do his duty otherwise he would be disinherited.

"You have to warn him," said Tonks her eyes wide, "Dumbledore's gotten custody of him."

"Why?" Remus questioned utterly bewildered, Dumbledore had never shown Harry the slightest bit of attention.

"I'm not sure but…he just gained the allegiance of the vampire Lord…now he has custody of Harry…and he said you wouldn't stick around anyway after I told him you said no…"

She didn't get a chance to finish before Remus was reaching for the Floo Powder, determination written across his body. He wasn't about to let Dumbledore get a finger on his son! He'd run with him for a year if that was the case - he didn't know how but damn it, he wasn't going to let this happen. He shouted in the Floo destination, he whirled through, wishing it would hurry up….then he bounced back - spat out at his own house.

"We're too late," said Tonks horrified, "He's disconnected the Floo Network." which meant the Anti-Apparation wards were already placed up - he had no way of escaping. Damn it why had Shacklebolt not given her more time? Didn't he realize what they were doing? It made them no better than Voldemort.

"NO!" snarled Remus his entire body shaking with rage as his amber eyes conveyed a deep uselessness of the situation.

Edited 2/6/17