The Vow And The Consequences
Chapter 22
Reconvening the Order
Minerva hissed the password to gain entrance to the Headmasters office, stepping up the stone step, staying at the bottom as it moved. She was still reeling with all the information she had learned this past few days, Severus helping Harry, and everything she'd been told thereafter. Merlin everything she knew had altered so drastically, in such a short time too it was no wonder she had a migraine trying to put it all in some orderly fashion. She also wanted to meet Harry, but the guilt was stopping her in her tracks. She should have enquired further, pushed more to make Dumbledore see sense. Or better yet actually gone to see them, if she had done so Harry wouldn't have been abused for years. The thought of Harry being hurt by that woman or her obese husband caused her to tear up. There was no excuse for her negligence and she felt so bad for her inactions. No amount of gifts, or saying sorry could ever remove the responsibility she felt in her godson's tragic life. Shaking away her thoughts now wasn't the time or place for them. Albus couldn't know her part in this, or where Harry was.
Opening the door unsurprised to see all the Order members already present. They didn't know why they were meeting, especially if their confused looks were anything to go by, unfortunately she knew all to well. Moving to her seat she took it, staring around impassively, as she always was. Minerva rarely smiled everyone in that room could attest to that, so her actions weren't suspicious.
"Why are we meeting after all this time?" asked Moody frowning, his voice loud and barking. The Order had disbanded years ago; he'd been extremely surprised to receive the missive in the middle of his rounds. So here he was, more out of curiosity than anything else.
"I'd like to know too," said Dedalus Diggle just as confused as Moody.
"Harry Potter has gone missing," said Albus clearly perplexed, he had everything planned out, and this wasn't part of it. Albus Dumbledore did not like it when things didn't go his way, as a master chess player, he liked to think himself omnipotent.
Everyone blanched; the thought of anything happening to Harry Potter was intolerable to them. After all he had ended the war, he was a hero, and everyone revered him. They also felt extremely protective of him. It hadn't stopped them celebrating the night Lord Voldemort was destroyed. A lot of celebrating had happened; even the oblivious Muggles had noticed the commotion. As always though, they hadn't figured out why, and if they had - they wouldn't know for long. Magic had to be protected at all costs.
"What happened? I thought the boy was protected." demanded Moody clearly angry about this turn of events. He didn't even think for a second that the information he had was wrong. He'd been kept away from the magical world for his own protection this wasn't supposed to happen.
"How do you know he's missing? He may be with friends." asked Emmeline Vance.
Minerva turned to stare at Dumbledore, wondering what he would say, she noticed Dumbledore's temple twitching in obvious irritation at being questioned. Why had she never noticed this about him before? Not only was she devastated by Harry being abused, but at the fact she'd adored the ground Dumbledore trod on only to be betrayed.
"I've been doing some extra work for Albus," admitted Elphias Doge in defence of Dumbledore, they had been friends in Hogwarts, when the other students hadn't come near him because of his Dragon Pox, he hadn't been contagious but they didn't care. Albus on the other hand had been the one to make him feel welcome, even since then they'd always been best friends. "I kept an eye on the Dursley's and Harry, shadowing them when they went past the wards. For the past few days I noticed that I've not seen Harry."
"Doesn't mean anything's happened to him, he might just be sick." said Emmeline exasperated. They had been called to this meeting for this? She really was surprised she had to say.
"Not according to Arabella Figg, she was told Harry was with family, as we know he has no other family." said Doge.
"No but the Dursley's probably do," interjected Mundungus Fletcher.
"There is only one relative, and I've already checked it out, there is no magical presence in either homes." said Doge irritated beyond belief.
"What do you expect us to do? Interrogate the Dursley's?" asked Moody incredulity. "You should tell the Ministry what is happening."
"They cannot know, to keep Harry safe we must keep him oblivious to the magical world." said Dumbledore demandingly.
"Whether he knows about it or not he's still in danger." rebuffed Emmeline confounded by Dumbledore's logic, it made absolutely no sense and usually he did make sense.
"Don't you think finding Harry is more important than arguing amongst ourselves?" sniped Doge still as always firmly lodged up Dumbledore's backside.
"Yes why don't we all go and disturb the family, which might all be for nothing." said Minerva her tone clipped and controlled. Her anger was slowly bubbling under the surface, it took everything in her to just keep quite and not let loose the diatribe she had all planned out.
"No, only a few of us will go, once it's been confirmed Harry isn't there," said Dumbledore, he never doubted Doge, and he'd always been loyal to him. "Then we shall proceed."
"Why didn't you do that to begin with?" demanded Minerva, "If there is something wrong you have wasted valuable time!" This would be expected of her, Minerva had let it be known how attached she was to Harry as well as had been to Lily and James.
"You are correct of course, Minerva." said Dumbledore, noticing the Order members were agreeing with her and putting on a front. He couldn't alienate them, he may need them to find Harry and when Voldemort came back. She did have a point, but he wanted to establish a base and cover everything now. So if his worst fears were confirmed he would be able to get the Order and start an immediate search.
"Then can I get back to the Ministry?" asked Moody beyond irritated, his lunch hour was completely wasted.
"Of course, but be ready if I call again, if we cannot find Harry then we must." said Albus looking worried.
"Fine," said Moody aptly named at the moment, standing up he used Dumbledore's Floo and disappeared from the room.
"So who's going with you?" asked Emmeline, inwardly praying it wasn't her, she'd been at a party the night before, with only one hours sleep she wasn't exactly functioning properly.
"Doge and Minerva I think," said Albus solemnly, Severus would have been his original choice; he always had potions handy on him. Unfortunately he wasn't available, and he hadn't been able to contact him which was driving him to distraction. Plus Doge and Minerva knew where Harry was living, nobody else did.
"Very well," said Minerva as the rest of the order got up, and began making its way out of the Headmasters office with the exception of Doge.
"Let's depart," said Albus.
Minerva, Doge and Albus all Apparated to Arabella Figg's home, only to find nobody coming to greet them. Albus frowned in concern, looking around the room.
"She is on holiday, Albus. She isn't due back for a week." said Minerva before Dumbledore could panic.
"Oh yes, I quite forgot!" said Albus cheering up. "Now let us depart." he added as he flicked his wand and all of them were dressed in a Muggle design for outward appearances.
Minerva rolled her eyes, he had a habit of repeating himself, she'd found it amusing before, but this new side she saw - she now felt infuriated with him no matter what he did. He didn't even need to open his mouth for Minerva to be angry at him these days. She felt the need to get to Severus, see Harry for herself, before he got better, so she could remember the error of her judgement and never to ignore her instincts again. She didn't care how much it hurt to see Harry injured or small, if anything she deserved it. The guilt and the horror it would come with it too.
"Is that a for sale sign?" asked Albus clearly flappergasted.
"Yes, there is your answer, they've moved house," said Minerva as if it fixed everything.
"No, she knows how important it is to remain in that house." said Dumbledore quickening his pace.
"We aren't going to get answers, look the house is empty." said Doge, looking at the curtain-less windows.
"We must find them," said Dumbledore panicking.
"Perhaps the rest of the Order may help?" asked Doge, stepping behind Dumbledore so the elderly Muggle women could pass.
"Excuse me?" called Dumbledore once the women had passed.
Turning around they stared at him in curiosity, they hadn't seen him before, were they interested in the house? "Yes?" she asked her nosiness showing.
"Can you tell me about the people who used to live here?" asked Albus kindly.
"The Dursley's? Of course!" said the one with the pink coat.
The one with the grey coat nodded beside her companion.
"We thought they were a kind respectable family! To think we had a child molester amongst us is horrific!" shuddered the lady looking deeply disgusted and disturbed.
"Ch-chi-child molester?" stuttered Dumbledore his eyes going wide, oh no, please no, begged Dumbledore inwardly, don't let it be true, he hadn't left the boy with a child molester! Sure he'd expected him to be mildly abused but not that kind of abuse! It drove children to the darker side of life, not what he wanted for his hero. If this got out he'd lose his reputation and be kicked out of Hogwarts.
"No," gaped Doge looking terrified, he had been the one looking out for the boy after all.
"What happened?" asked Minerva, inwardly impressed, what had Lucius done to make everyone in this street believe that?
"One day the police showed up at the door, arrested them all, took the child to social services." said the grey coated lady.
"What about the other child? Harry?" asked Dumbledore urgently looking devastated.
"Harry? The nephew? I do not know." said the lady in the pink coat. "He was badly abused, the police said it was bad…they spoke to everyone in the street, asking us what we had seen."
"It was a detective we spoke to, he talked as though the poor child had been murdered by his own uncle!" said the grey coat lady shaking her head in sadness. There had been a time when family meant sticking together, unfortunately the older she got the more she realized life wasn't what it used to be.
"Thank you," choked Dumbledore, the women nodded smiling kindly before walking away.
"I think we may have to leave this to the Auror's," said Doge devastated, he'd failed not only Dumbledore but Harry by not noticing.
"The Ministry cannot find out," snapped Dumbledore terrified.
"If Harry is hurt or heaven forbid dead, we need to know." hissed Minerva.
Dumbledore swallowed thickly, "We can investigate this ourselves," said Dumbledore trying to calm himself more than the others.
"Oh I see, you know where to start? How to get questions from Police officers without raising suspicion?" asked Minerva pointing out where he would fail.
"Between us we can think of something," said Dumbledore frantically his blue eyes shadowed, his permanent twinkle was no longer present.
"I'm sorry Albus, but I have a duty, I must inform the Ministry," said Minerva standing her ground.
"I'm sorry too, I agree with Minerva, we need their help to find him if he's even alive, if not…" choked Doge, "We must give him the magical burial he deserves. If we failed him then I shall take any punishment they see fit to dole out." tears evident, swimming in his brown eyes.
"We can do this," said Dumbledore weakly, not able to summon up the need to manipulate the situation to his benefit. Truth be told he was still out of sorts, the rug was pulled from under his feet and he didn't know what to do. For the first time in one hundred and thirty years of independence actions, words and thoughts failed him.
"No, Albus we can't, now go to the Ministry or I will, and believe me I won't leave anything out!" snapped Minerva Apparating away, but she didn't go back to Hogwarts. No instead she Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron to make use of their Floo Network. Once she placed the Knut in the pot she took the Floo powder and whirled away from view. The silencing spells on the area prevented anyone from hearing what she said, wizards and witches were zealots when it came to their privacy."
"Minerva, what are you doing here?" asked Severus his irritation evident by his privacy being violated.
"It's either that or I go to Hogwarts and poison his lemon drops!" snapped Minerva her composure completely lost as she turned to face her co-worker or ex co-worker as it happened since he was no longer employed at Hogwarts.
"Hush!" admonished Severus seriously, gesturing towards the lump in the couch. Harry was covered completely by the duvet. The only visible part of him was a patch of messy hair; he'd at some point curled further into the warmth until he disappeared.
"Is he okay?" she whispered worried.
"He's had a tough morning," said Severus, "He is recovering."
"What happened?" Minerva asked as she removed her tartan cloak and placing it on the hook and seemingly making herself comfortable.
"I took him to Gringotts to have his magic unlocked," explained Severus, not mentioning the Horcruxes to her. When it was obvious she wasn't going to leave any time soon he added "Would you like some tea?" Lucius would arrive soon anyway, he had to tell him, he needed help in figuring out where they could be. Nobody knew the Dark Lord better than Minerva, Lucius and himself. Minerva knew him when he was at Hogwarts, Lucius had been his follower for a lot longer than him, nearing seven years, and he well his knowledge on the Dark Lord was extensive together they should come up with an idea or two.
"I wouldn't mind a cuppa," agreed Minerva.
There we go! so will they be able to find the horcrux? will dumbledore be dismissed at head of wizengamot and hogwarts headmaster when the news gets out about Harry and the fact he kept Sirius black imprisoned beside knowing? or will he worm his way out of it? he does have connections after all but would they survive the scandel or would the stop assossiating with him? will the world think harry is dead or will they find out he's with Severus? R&R PLEASE!