Chapter 70: Repeating the Past
Albus felt his heart stop for a moment as he watched in fear as Harry, Ron and Hermione were looking around fearfully. At the last second, Hermione pulled out her wand and turned it to Harry, causing him to fall over, wincing in pain and his face began to swell up.
That was a Stinging Hex and Albus understood at once. It was all she could think of to try and keep them from realizing who Harry was and maybe even buy them some time to figure out a way out. But then the Snatchers came into the tent, knocking things over, and Albus recognized who it was first and upfront.
Fenrir Greyback…
He glared as he watched him drag Ron and Hermione out and another grabbed Harry.
"Get up, vermin," he snarled as he grabbed Harry roughly, dragging him up and quickly went through his pockets to find the blackthorn wand. Harry was still clutching at his face, and he barely seemed able to see as his glasses fell off and he was forced out of the tent.
Albus hated the fact that he felt so helpless since all he could do was watch. Greyback had grabbed hold of Hermione and Ron was losing his mind trying to get to her. Albus felt rage inside him at the sight of it and he felt the urge to curse that animal for even touching her.
"Get - off - her!" Ron shouted, trying to throw off all the hands that were trying to hold him back. Greyback only smirked and he rammed his fist into Ron's face, knocking him to the ground.
"No!" Hermione screamed in panic, fighting to get out of his grasp and over to Ron. "Leave him alone, leave him alone!"
"Your boyfriend's going to have worse than that done to him if he's on my list," Greyback hissed in a rasping voice, "Delicious girl… what a treat… I do enjoy the softness of the skin…"
Albus felt his skin crawl at those words, knowing what Greyback had in mind. That monster shouldn't be anywhere near them. The fact that the Death Eaters are actually using someone like him to their advantage, made him feel sick.
Another man by the name of Scabior ordered that the tent be searched and they threw both the three of them onto the ground by the other captives as they went inside, tearing the place apart as they tried to find anything valuable or useful that they could use.
Greyback was the one who was taking charge of trying to figure out who they were.
"Now, let's see who we've got," he gloated as he looked over them all, and they started with Harry as he asked, "I'll be needing butterbeer to wash this one down. What happened to you, ugly?"
Albus's hands clenched tightly, sick with fear. But at least Harry wasn't recognized… yet. He gave a silent thank you to Hermione for thinking so quickly.
Harry didn't answer right away, but Albus felt his rage grow when Greyback kicked him hard in the stomach and forced him to double over in pain as he barked, "I said, what happened to you!?"
"Stung," Harry wheezed, out of breath. "Been stung."
"Yeah, looks like it," Scabior spoke up, looking down at him like he was something he found at the bottom of his shoe.
"What's your name?" snarled Greyback.
Harry looked loss for a moment before he said the first name that popped into his head, "Dudley."
Albus couldn't help but feel his mouth twitch a little at that name.
"And your first name?" Greyback asked.
"I…" Harry said wonderingly, trying to think of another name and said at once, "Vernon. Vernon Dudley."
Though it does sound like the first thing that he could think of, it was quick. Being on the spot like that…
Greyback snapped at Scabior to check the list of escape Muggleborns who have yet to turn themselves in to the Ministry for registration. He then looked to Ron and asked his name.
"Stan Shunpike," Ron said at once and Albus bit his lip, knowing that these guys would know all about the poor man who was still under their control. Scabior quickly saw through this and kicked him in the face, almost breaking his nose and blood dripping from his mouth.
"Like 'ell you are!" he yelled and Albus wished that he could curse him for that. "We know Stan Shunpike, 'e's put a bit of work our way."
"I'b Bardy," Ron said, not giving his true first name, but his surname was spoken anyway. "Bardy Weasley."
Good and bad… though he didn't say he was Arthur's son, the fact that he said he was a Weasley wasn't going to help them.
"A Weasley?" rasped Greyback, looking at his red hair as if that confirmed it all. "So you're related to blood traitors even if you're not a Mudblood. And lastly, your pretty little friend…"
He was as disgusting as Albus had always pictured him. And he watched with dark eyes as Scabior told Greyback to wait a moment as the others began to jeer at Hermione, who was looking terrified.
"Oh, I'm not going to bite just yet," he said to them all before he leered down at Hermione and said, "We'll see if she's a bit quicker at remembering her name than Barny. Who are you, girly?"
"Penelope Clearwater," she squeaked out, sounding more convincing than Ron did.
"What's your blood status?" Greyback asked, licking his lips like she was a snack that he wanted to eat and Albus wished that he could stand between the two of them.
"Half-Blood," she said firmly.
"Easy enough to check," said Scabior. "But the 'ole lot of 'em look like they could still be 'ogwarts age -"
"We'b lebt," Ron spoke up, spitting out another mouthful of blood.
"Left, 'ave you, ginger?" Scabior sneered. "And you decided to go camping? And you thought, just for a laugh, you'd use the Dark Lords name?"
"Nod a laugh," said Ron. "Aggiden."
Ron, please stop. He knew that Ron was just trying to protect his friends, but he needs to stop talking because his answers weren't helping. The Snatchers began to laugh at him at the thought of saying Voldemort's name as an accident.
"You know who used to like using the Dark Lord's name, Weasley?" growled Greyback, "The Order of the Phoenix. Mean anything to you?"
"Doh," he tried to answer.
That would've been a little better if people hadn't heard it mentioned many times over on Potterwatch. In fact, that name even made it into the papers as well, about how they were now meddling with the Ministry or terrorizing wizards.
"Well, they don't show the Dark Lord proper respect, so the name's been Tabooed," Greyback stated. "A few Order members have been tracked that way. We'll see. Bind them up with the other two prisoners!"
All he could do was watch powerlessly as Greyback grabbed Harry by his hair and dragged him over to where Dean Thomas and the goblin known as Griphook were, forcing them to sit down and tied them up. They threw them into the pile and Harry was trying to see through his puffed-up eyes.
"Anyone still got a wand?" he asked the others in a whisper.
"No," said Ron and Hermione from either side of him.
"This is all my fault," he told them mournfully. "I said the name. I'm sorry -"
'Harry… now wasn't the time or place to blame yourself,' Albus thought mournfully. 'Focus on getting out of there before you start to apologize.'
But at the sound of their voices, Dean Thomas tried to twist his head around to see them.
"Harry?" he whispered in amazement.
"Dean?" Harry repeated in shock.
"It is you!" Dean whispered, just as shocked as Harry was. "If they find out who they've got -! They're Snatchers, they're only looking for truants to sell for gold -"
"Not a bad little haul for one night," Greyback spoke up once they finished tearing the tent apart. "A Mudblood, a runaway goblin, and these truants. You checked their names on the list yet, Scabior?"
"Yeah. There's no Vernon Dudley un 'ere, Greyback," he called from inside and Greyback smirked evilly at that.
"Interesting, that's interesting," he said as he crouched down next to Harry to try and make out anything that would tell him who he really was.
"Get away from them you monster," Albus couldn't stop himself from hissing.
"So you aren't wanted, then, Vernon?" Greyback asked, "Or are you on that list under a different name? What house were you in at Hogwarts?"
"Slytherin," said Harry automatically.
"Funny 'ow they all thinks we wants to 'ear that," Scabior leered as he came closer. "But none of 'em can tell us where the common room is."
And it was that moment that Albus realized that their little trip into the Slytherin common room five years ago wasn't completely wasted after all. Harry was able to tell them exactly where it was and even added in a few details like the green light and the skulls.
That was good, it gave them reason to doubt and maybe even bought them more time as Greyback and Scabior both glanced at each other for a moment.
"Well, well, looks like we really 'ave caught a little Slytherin," Scabior said, less suspicious. "Good for you, Vernon, 'cause there ain't a lot of Mudblood Slytherins. Who's your father?"
Harry then went on, speaking off anything that came to his mind and told them that his father worked at the Ministry in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Though Albus was grateful that he was able to think quickly, and he wondered if all the situation where he had been in before and tried to come up with a decent story helped that. For he remembered how Harry had been too honest for his own good when he was a child.
"You know what, Greyback," said Scabior, frowning hard as he tried to think. "I think there is a Dudley in there."
That greatly surprised Albus… for ironically, there was a Dudley that worked at the Ministry. Could luck really get them out of this? But then his more pessimistic side—that sounded like Phineas surprisingly—reminded him that Harry wasn't that lucky.
"Well, well…" Greyback said, uneasiness in his voice and Albus could guess that he was just wondering if he was now in trouble for attacking someone who might be the son of a powerful Ministry Official. "If you're telling the truth, ugly, you've got nothing to fear from a trip to the Ministry. I expect your father'll reward us just for picking you up."
He saw Harry gulp as he tried to make some kind of deal with him, but that was too late for they had just found the sword of Gryffindor in the tent and Albus groaned, knowing that they weren't going to be able to explain that one nearly as easily. Greyback's eyes widen greedily at the sight of it and walked over to examine it more clearly as he asked where he found it.
"It's my father's," Harry lied, and Albus was trying to remember if Greyback could even read the name engraved on the sword. "We borrowed it to cut firewood -"
But what he had been dreading happened. Scabior had held up the paper, and he quickly told Greyback about Hermione Granger and how she was traveling with Harry. He groaned at that, like a knife was twisting inside his stomach at those words.
Greyback stared at the picture before he turned back to Hermione with a critical eye, "You know what, little girly? This picture looks a hell of a lot like you."
"It isn't! It isn't me!" she said but she as good as told them who it was. Though, Albus doubted that it would've made a difference even if she was calm.
"… known to be traveling with Harry Potter," repeated Greyback quietly and Albus could almost see the gears going in his head. "Well, this changed things, doesn't it?"
No one dared to say a word as the Snatchers were all watching eagerly, as if they couldn't believe their luck. Greyback crouched down low to look directly at Harry's face before he touched one of his filthy fingers to his forehead and asking what was there.
"Don't touch him…" Albus couldn't hold back.
"Don't touch it!" Harry yelled; and he seemed to be in terrible pain and Albus knew right away that his scar was bothering him again. Of all the times for his scar to be hurting…?
"I thought you wore glasses, Potter?" Greyback said, wondering if he could have been the one to catch the boy that everyone was looking for.
Things didn't help when one of the Snatchers yelled out, "I found glasses! There was glasses in the tent, Greyback, wait -"
He then went inside the tent for a moment before he came out with them and he shoved them hard onto Harry's face.
"It is!" rasped Greyback, unable to believe it. "We've caught Potter!"
And suddenly they were all talking excitedly to each other about what they should do. When one of them suggested that they take them to the Ministry, Greyback put his foot down.
"To hell with the Ministry," he growled at them all as if he thought they were idiots. "They'll take the credit, and we won't get a look in. I say we take him straight to You-Know-Who."
That was the worst thing that they could do—and not just for their prisoners. Especially without any hard proof it was Harry. Even if Greyback had the mark and could summon him, it would've been foolish to do so. Besides, Tom wouldn't have allowed a part human to have the mark… Greyback's thirst for blood made him easy for the Death Eaters to manipulate and thus an easily controlled asset to them. There was no reason to brand him with it.
"No, I haven't got – " he stopped for a moment before he changed the subject. "They say he's using the Malfoy's place as a base. We'll take the boy there."
But Tom wasn't at the manor though, this was a small bit of luck on Harry and his friend's part. This was a relief to be sure, but that didn't make the tension waver in the least. He knew there would be plenty enough danger in there.
"You are completely sure it's him?" Scabior asked again, a nervousness in his voice at the thought of confronting the Dark Lord, "'Cause if it ain't, Greyback, we're dead."
"Who's in charge here?" roared Greyback, still looking angry that he wasn't given a mark on his arm and taking it out on his men. "I say that's Potter, and him plus his wand, that's two hundred thousand Galleons right there!"
They couldn't be that stupid to think that they would get a reward for that, would they? But then again, playing on people's lesser qualities is what Tom did best. He would know that people like them were easily driven by greed, so why not offer them what they want?
"But if you're too gutless to come along, any of you, it's all for me, and with any luck, I'll get the girl thrown in!"
Albus glared hard at him as Scabior thought it over for a moment but it seemed the idea of so much gold was too much of a lure for him and he stated, "All right! All right, we're in! And what about the rest of 'em, Greyback, what'll we do with 'em?"
Greyback looked to the others and added, "Might as well take the lot. We've got two Mudbloods, that's another ten Galleons. Give me the sword as well. If they're rubies, that's another small fortune right there."
Money… and blood. That was all they cared about. The Snatchers grabbed their prisoners, Greyback making sure to grab Harry by his hair and heaved him up.
"Grab hold and make it tight. I'll do Potter!" he barked at them all. "On three! One – two – three –"
They all disappeared and ended up just on the countryside, right outside Malfoy Manor and in front of the iron gates. One of the Snatchers strode to the gates and shook them.
"How do we get in? They're locked, Greyback, I can't – blimey!" he yelped and jumped back as the iron contorted itself like snakes and Albus had seen it enough times to know that it was enchanted so that none but those baring the Dark Mark will be able to open it on their own.
But then they twisted themselves out in furls and coils until it resembled a rather frightful face as it spoke, "State your purpose!"
"We've got Potter!" Greyback roared triumphantly. "We've captured Harry Potter!"
Well, if that didn't get their attention than nothing would. And he wasn't at all surprised to see the gates swinging open. After all, Lucius would love to be the one to claim that they caught Harry.
"Come on!" said Greyback to his men, and the prisoners were shunted through the gates and up the drive, between high hedges that muffled their footsteps, the peacocks that usually strutted across the lawn looking at them from the darkness as they were dragged inside.
Harry's attention seemed to be divided, as if he was lost in his own head and he remembered how he reacted when Greyback was asking questions. His scar, it was Voldemort doing something now. He knew that they were going to wait for hard proof it really was Harry before they would call Tom here and that gave them some time.
Albus had to check in on Tom, wondering just what it was that he was doing to cause Harry's attention to be split into two different ways. And what he saw saddened him greatly. They were in a familiar cell… one that he had visited himself several times over the course of his life. While sitting up on a hard bed in the corner of the cell was a man whom he once shared a dream of power with.
Tom was standing over him as the frail, old man just smiled with a mouthful of missing teeth.
"So, you have come. I thought you would… one day. But your journey was pointless. I never had it."
Albus's eyes widen. He lied… but why? He didn't expect that Gellert would do something like this. Something that Tom clearly noticed as well.
"You lie!" he snarled at him as Gellert only smiled wider.
Albus's eyes turned back to Harry and his friends, still at the front of Malfoy Manor, waiting for someone to answer as the door finally opened. They winced at the sudden light as Narcissa appeared, looking irritated. "What is this?" she demanded in a cold voice when she saw them all here.
"We're here to see He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" rasped Greyback, unable to keep the smug grin off his face.
"Who are you?" Narcissa asked, looking down at him in disgust before Greyback looked put out by that.
"You know me!" he snarled up at her, "Fenrir Greyback! We've caught Harry Potter!"
And he then dragged Harry up front so that they could see him and Narcissa looked skeptical at the sight of him.
Albus didn't blame her. Harry didn't look anything like himself, though that was a good thing. If he didn't look like him this might help at least give them time as they try to figure it all out. But… he looked back to see Ron and Hermione there and bit his lip, knowing that they did know what they looked like. And that was what got them here… because Greyback did recognize Hermione.
"I know 'es swollen, ma'am, but it's 'im!" Scabior added when he saw Narcissa's doubtful look. "If you look a bit closer, you'll see 'is scar. And this 'ere, see the girl? The Mudblood who's been traveling around with 'im, ma'am. There's no doubt it's 'im, and we've got 'is wand as well! 'Ere, ma'am –"
Wait, no he doesn't. That was a different wand. This was another tiny lucky break, but they would need a lot more than that to help. Narcissa looked closer at Harry, still looking doubtful, and even more so when she saw the wand. She raised her eyebrows, thinking of what to do. He could tell that she didn't believe that it was really Harry, but if there was a chance that he was, she wouldn't want to mess this up.
At last she said, "Bring them in."
As the Snatchers dragged and kicked them up the stairs and into the hallway, Narcissa glanced at them all before she said, "Follow me. My son, Draco, is home for his Easter holidays. If that is Harry Potter, he will know."
Albus felt cold at the thought. Draco would know… he would be able to tell even with the effects of a Stinging Jinx. But he also knew that Draco's attitude to becoming a Death Eater have changed greatly over the last two years. He could see that… he didn't want to be part of this war any more than he had to.
Though faint, there was faint hope that he might not be so willing to sell them out.
Narcissa led them all to the drawing room where Lucius and Draco were sitting by the fire—with Lucius attempting to talk to his son about more of the Dark Lord's plans. But Draco wasn't even looking at him, just staring at the flames with a moody look on his face. The group had all come in and Lucius stood up at once.
"What is this?" he asked when he saw them here.
"They say they've got Potter," Narcissa said coldly before she looked to her son and added in a slightly softer tone, "Draco, come here."
Harry wasn't even daring to look up as Draco got up and came over to them. Greyback shoved Harry forward harshly so that he was under the light of the chandelier and that they could have a clear look.
"Well, boy?" he demanded Draco.
Draco didn't answer him as he seemed to be forcing himself to try and look at Harry.
Lucius was looking at them both with eagerness in his face as he asked, "Well, Draco? Is it? Is it Harry Potter?"
"I can't – I can't be sure," Draco stuttered, not wanting to get any closer than he had to. There was confusion conflicted in his face and Albus knew. He didn't want to give them away… he was still a boy and no matter how much they may dislike each other while they were in school, he surely wouldn't want to wish them killed.
Lucius looked frustrated at his son's answer but that wasn't enough to block the excitement in his voice as he beckoned him closer. "But look at him carefully, look! Come closer! Draco, if we are the ones who hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be forgiv –"
Of course he would be excited.
He has lost favor in Voldemort's eyes only something like this would help him. He was willing to doom a young man to death just to get back in Voldemort's good graces. Yet this did prove that Draco had finally realized that supporting Voldemort isn't necessarily in his best interests anymore.
"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope Mr. Malfoy?" Greyback snarled at them both.
Lucius snapped impatiently back at him as he came forward as well so that he could try and see his forehead and any trace of a scar. He frowned in frustration at trying to see through the lumpy and swollen skin and snapped, "What did you do to him? How did he get into this state?"
"That wasn't us," Greyback retorted coldly.
"Looks more like a Stinging Jinx to me," said Lucius as he looked stubbornly at Harry's forehead.
"There's something there," he whispered, but unable to make it out, "it could be the scar, stretched tight… Draco, come here, look properly! What do you think?"
Draco stepped up, resembling Lucius as much as Harry resembled James. But while Lucius's face was alight with excitement, Draco looked like he was wishing he was anywhere but here. And Albus knew. Draco had lost all respect for his father and Lucius was even willing to sell out his son's soul for a chance of power. How low are you willing to sink, Lucius?
"I don't know," Draco said, walking away, towards his mother, not wanting to be there any longer.
Narcissa was sharing her son's worry before she said, "We had better be certain, Lucius. Completely sure that it is Potter, before we summon the Dark Lord… They say this is his" – she was looking closely at the stolen wand that Harry had been using – "but it does not resemble Ollivander's description… If we are mistaken, if we call the Dark Lord here for nothing… Remember what he did to Rowle and Dolohov?"
Yes, and Albus glanced sadly at Draco, hoping that the poor boy wouldn't be forced to torture like that again, even if it were with other Death Eaters—torture wasn't something that was something that a descent soul could do. But still, Narcissa was being cautious, not wanting to risk anything happening to them in case they were wrong and he had to admit that she was doing the right thing here… not that Albus was happy about it.
Greyback was looking angrier by the second and then shoved Harry out of the way so hard that he almost fell as he dragged Hermione up front. "What about the Mudblood, then?" he demanded as Narcissa looked at her and her eyes widen in recognition.
"Wait," she gasped out. "Yes – yes, she was in Madam Malkin's with Potter! I saw her picture in the Prophet! Look, Draco, isn't it the Granger girl?"
"I… maybe… yeah…" he said half-heartedly as Lucius looked to Ron and found his red hair.
"But then, that's the Weasley boy!" he shouted out, "It's them, Potter's friends – Draco, look at him, isn't it Arthur Weasley's son, what's his name – ?"
"Yeah," said Draco again, his back to the prisoners. "It could be."
But at that moment another door opened and this time it was Bellatrix who came in and it couldn't have been a worse person. "What is this? What's happened, Cissy?" she asked as she looked over their 'guests' but then she stared when she saw Hermione and Albus knew that she had to recognize her when they fought with them at the Ministry two years ago.
"But surely," she said quietly, "this is the Mudblood girl? This is Grander?"
Albus's eyes narrowed at the word as Lucius cried out, "Yes, yes, it's Granger! And beside her, we think, Potter! Potter and his friends, caught at last!"
"Potter?" she shrieked out as if she couldn't have asked for a better present and backed off so that she could try and get a better look at him. "Are you sure? Well then, the Dark Lord must be informed at once!"
Albus felt his heart freeze when he saw her pull her sleeve back to see where the mark had been burned into her arm.
No… no… no… please let there be something that they could do.
But to his amazement, it was Lucius who stopped her. He grabbed hold of her wrist and yelled, "I was about to call him! I shall summon him, Bella. Potter has been brought to my house, and it is therefore upon my authority –"
"Your authority!" she sneered, trying to pull her arm free from him. "You lost your authority when you lost your wand, Lucius! How dare you! Take your hands off me!"
Yes, this was good. Let them fight with each other.
"This is nothing to do with you, you did not capture the boy –" he demanded just as Greyback stepped in.
"Begging your pardon, Mr. Malfoy," he said, "but it's us that caught Potter, and it's us that'll be claiming the gold –"
Yes, fight over this, hoping it would give them an opportunity to escape. It's a good thing that everyone is concerned about their own positions in Voldemort's eyes. Fighting such as this can be used as an advantage because it can often times cause confusion amongst the ranks.
"Gold!" laughed Bellatrix, actually looking for her wand so that she could throw Lucius off. "Take your gold, filthy scavenger, what do I want with gold? I seek only the honor of his – of –" But then she stopped dead as she was staring over their heads at one of the Snatchers. Thinking that he won, Lucius let her go and pulled up his own sleeve. Albus froze again, knowing that it would only take minutes for Tom to arrive if they knew that they captured Harry…?
"STOP!"
He jumped at Bellatrix's sudden shriek and looked back at her as she yelled, "Do not touch it, we shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!"
Dumbledore suspected that only that would've stopped Lucius, for he had frozen at those words, staring at her in confusion as she strode behind them to the Snatcher who was still holding the sword and demanded where he got it. The sword? What would she want with the sword?
He watched as she demanded that he give it to her, but when he refused, she snapped. She pulled her wand out and quicker than blinking, she stunned him. Scabior yelled out in anger, drawing his own wand, but they were no match for her. As cruel and unrelenting as she was, she was also an incredibly powerful witch and that made a deadly combination. Though they should count themselves lucky that she was only stunning them instead of killing them.
Holding onto the sword, she marched over to Greyback, who had been forced to his knees, and she whispered menacingly as she pulled his wand out of his hands, "Where did you get this sword?"
He was frozen where he knelt, but his teeth were bared as he snarled, "How dare you? Release me, woman!"
"Where did you find this sword?" she repeated, brandishing it in his face, "Snape sent it to my vault in Gringotts!"
Albus stared, having a feeling that it was something like this. The only reason for her reacting this dangerously, for her to be afraid if Voldemort was summoned, would be that there was something else in her vault that he asked to be there. It would've been exciting to realize this knowledge, if only the situation wasn't so grave.
"It was in their tent," rasped Greyback angrily. "Release me, I say!"
At last she waved her wand and released Greyback, who got to his feet. But this time he seemed more cautious and didn't even go near her as he went behind a nearby armchair, his filthy nails tearing up the back of it.
"Draco, move this scum outside," Bellatrix snapped at her nephew, and pointing to the Snatchers that she took out. "If you haven't got the guts to finish them, then leave them in the courtyard for me."
Draco was looking terrified at the thought, but Narcissa stepped in, yelling furiously, "Don't you dare speak to Draco like –"
"Be quiet! The situation is graver than you can possibly imagine, Cissy! We have a very serious problem!" Bellatrix screamed at her, making her sister flinch at her sharp tone. Still breathing hard, Bellatrix looked at the sword and then at the prisoners, who were watching with wide eyes.
She seemed to be trying to think of the best course of action. "If it is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed," she muttered to herself, still looking at them to the sword and back again. "The Dark Lord wishes to dispose of Potter himself… But if he finds out… I must… I must know…"
She then looked to her sister and told her firmly, "The prisoners must be placed in the cellar, while I think what to do!"
Yes… give them time to think of a way out of here. This could be the lucky break that they needed. Narcissa looked outrage and snarled that this was her house and that she wasn't to give orders to her here. But Bellatrix wasn't listening. Albus always knew that she was mad… if not before she was sent to prison, than she was now. And here she looked it. Her eyes were rolling and her mouth was wide like a toad's as she yelled, but then fire shot out at the end of her wand and burned a hole in the carpet.
Narcissa looked to the hole and seemed to think better of arguing, and instead looked to Greyback and told him, "Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback."
"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply as they all began to move. "All except…" and her eyes fell onto Hermione and Albus felt the bottom of his stomach fall as she added, "except for the Mudblood."
No… his hands were clenched tightly. Bellatrix is completely twisted; they can't leave Hermione alone with that woman! But there was no choice… there was nothing that they could do to stop it from happening.
Greyback only grinned hungrily as he looked at Hermione, whose eyes were wide with terror.
"No!" shouted Ron, struggling to get loose. "You can have me, keep me!" but Bellatrix hit him across the face: the blow echoed around the room.
That didn't surprise him. She had no mercy in her and she wouldn't want to torture a 'blood traitor' when she had a Muggle-born right in front of her. Ron is a pureblood and Tom may want to try and work him to their way of thinking… not that it would matter since he knew Ron would rather die than ever join him.
"If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," she hissed at him. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book. Take them downstairs, Greyback, and make sure they are secure, but do nothing more to them – yet."
There was nothing that they could do. They were tied up and had nothing to defend themselves as Greyback threw his wand to him before she pulled out a small silver knife from her robes and cut Hermione free so that she could drag her by her hair to the middle of the room. Terror gripped his heart, knowing what Bellatrix was capable of and longed to do something to help Hermione.
Greyback moved the rest of them from the room and down a dark hallway, continuing to taunt them all as he dragged them to the corridor. "Reckon she'll let me have a bit of the girl when she's finished with her? I'd say I'll get a bite or two, wouldn't you, ginger?"
Albus's eyes narrowed in hatred. Don't you dare… he was a monster in more ways than one.
Ron was also shaking in anger, fighting the urge to go nuts and start going on a rampage as Greyback forced them down a steep flight of stairs to a heavy door that led to the cellar. Greyback unlocked it with a tap of his wand before he shoved them inside and shut the door. There was total darkness around them but no sooner had the door shut than the screaming started from above.
"HERMIONE!" Ron bellowed, and he started to writhe and struggle against the ropes tying them together, fighting to get free as he continued to shout. "HERMIONE!"
'Ron, I know this is tough, but you need to pull yourself together,' Albus thought, his heart truly going out to the poor young man. 'You won't be of any help if you panic like this… to Hermione or your friends.'
"Be quiet!" Harry said, though Albus could hear the fear in his own voice. "Shut up. Ron, we need to work out a way –"
But it was no use. Ron wasn't thinking of anything but the girl that he loved being left alone upstairs with Bellatrix. "HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" he screamed and he looked away. This had to be so painful for them to listen… to be here and not able to help their friend? It would be almost as painful as Hermione being tortured.
"We need a plan, stop yelling – we need to get these ropes off –" Harry yelled out before a soft whisper came through the darkness.
"Harry? Ron? Is that you?"
Ron stopped shouting and they all looked to one of the corners of the room and a shadowy figure moved towards them. "Harry? Ron?" that familiar voice repeated.
"Luna?" Harry asked in astonishment.
Albus had almost forgot about this. But yes, Luna Lovegood was also here along with Ollivander. Now that they knew, they could end up saving them as well. But the question was how? He knew that the Death Eaters had been planning on using Luna somehow to try and get to Harry as well since they knew that they were good friends.
"Yes, it's me! Oh no, I didn't want you to be caught!" she whispered to them, and he could hear the fear and remorse in her voice.
Amazing, she was imprisoned here and all she cared about was her friends.
"Luna, can you help us get these ropes off?" Harry asked her desperately.
"Oh yes, I expect so…" she told him, still calm. "There's an old nail we use if we need to break anything… Just a moment…"
Albus almost laughed. He always like this unique young lady and knew from the start that she was someone special. Nothing seemed to faze her and that was a remarkable trait to have, especially in a situation like this.
But at that second, Hermione was screaming from overhead, causing them all to look on in horror. Bellatrix was screaming out questions for her, but Hermione's cries drowned them out along with Ron's screams of, "HERMIONE! HERMIONE!"
"Mr. Ollivander?" Luna said gently to the weakened man, "Mr. Ollivander, have you got the nail? If you just move over a little bit… I think it was beside the water jug."
After feeling around in the dark for a few seconds, her eyes long since used to it, she soon found it and went back to her friends so that she could try and use it to cut through the rope.
"You'll need to stay still," she said as Ron was still struggling to get free so that he could get to Hermione. Albus kept shifting his attention back and forth between the cellar and the drawing room, hoping that they could figure out a way out of this mess.
Bellatrix towered over Hermione's trembling form as she snarled, "I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?"
"We found it – we found it – PLEASE!" she screamed pleadingly at her, Bellatrix's face growing more and more impatient and angrier by the second.
"Ron, please stay still!" Luna whispered imploringly to him, "I can't see what I'm doing –"
"My pocket!" he said quickly, "In my pocket, there's a Deluminator, and it's full of light!"
Good… that should help. And Luna slipped her hand into his pockets and felt around until she found it and clicked it open. The lights that had been stored in there from the tent opened up and several balls of light hovered in the air so that they could see. Luna was very pale and looked exhausted as she worked on their bindings; while Ollivander was curled up on the floor, having been beaten to within an inch of his life and Albus couldn't ever remember seeing him looking as broken as he did there.
Albus hated to see his old friend like this, but looked to the others, trying to think of something that could help them.
"Oh, that's much easier, thanks, Ron," said Luna as she raised up the nail and began to hurry and try to hack the ropes binding them, but still managing to say, "Hello, Dean!"
Albus shook his head, amazed by this young woman as he listened to her words. He knew that she had been terrified being stuck down here, but she was trying so hard to keep everyone's spirits up. She really is an amazing person… not many others would be acting so at ease when they were imprisoned in a place like this with dangerous people lurking just above them.
But then came Bellatrix's voice from above them, and she was angrier than ever before as she shrieked, "You're lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!"
And she continued torturing Hermione, Ron continued to scream out her name, fighting to get out of the ropes and get to her.
"What else did you take?" she demanded, almost spitting with fury. "What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife!"
'You'll have to get through me first,' he thought. But the threat was useless here since he was no longer able to help.
"There!" Luna said happily, having finally gotten the ropes off them and Harry and Ron jumped up at once. Ron ran around the cellar, looking for a way out as Harry rubbed his wrists and Dean was rubbing his bruised and bloody face as he muttered a quick 'Thanks' to Luna.
Ron was trying to Disapperate without his wand, desperate for anything that could get him out and help Hermione. Albus doubted that would work since they put up an anti-apparation charm around this house so even if they did have a wand it wouldn't have worked.
"There's no way out, Ron," said Luna, watching his fruitless efforts. "The cellar is completely escape-proof. I tried, at first. Mr. Ollivander has been here for a long time, he's tried everything."
But that was before these three showed up… they have a gift for escaping and he was banking on that right now and praying that their luck didn't end here. Harry's escaped from all sorts of impossible situations... this isn't any different.
Though it was hard for his mind to think like that as Hermione was continuing to scream in agony. Harry also began tearing around the cellar, feeling the walls for something, anything that could help them.
"What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!" Bellatrix roared out, sounding madder than ever before. Albus was horrified and he cringed at her terrible screams of pain and Ron was almost sobbing as he fought to get out.
He wanted to just run in there and help, his hands were shaking so badly that he was trembling. They were so young… too young… only now was he truly seeing it. God, he had been too blind to see it.
Harry had reached for the small pouch he always wore around his neck and was looking around in it for something that could help. He had grabbed hold of the Snitch that he had left him, not even noticing how the mirror fell to the floor as he shook it as if he thought that it would do something. When nothing happened he reached for his broken wand, but he could sense that they were almost lifeless. That was when he looked down at the floor and spotted the mirror.
And Albus spotted a familiar eye looking up at him.
'Aberforth…' he thought, hope rising in his heart as Harry yelled out in mad desperation, "Help us! We're in the cellar of Malfoy Manor, help us!"
Aberforth's eye blinked once and it was gone. Albus felt that faint spark of hope rise and he quickly checked in on his little brother, who was still in the Hog's Head as he quickly summoned Dobby to him. Albus brought himself back to the cellar with his heart hammering hard. They could pull this off, but with the Death Eaters holding onto Hermione…?
But her screams of pain were coming worse than ever as Ron was now bellowing out her name so loudly that he might burst his voice box any moment.
"How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix screamed. "Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?"
That goblin and those children have done nothing to you. Stop this madness.
"We only met him tonight!" Hermione sobbed, bravely sticking to that story. "We've never been inside your vault… It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!"
Why were these young people the ones who continue to astonish him? How was she able to think of a cover story while being tortured? Most would've given in a long time ago.
"A copy?" screeched Bellatrix, sounding highly skeptical. "Oh, a likely story!"
But it was Lucius who came up with a simple way to find out. "But we can find out easily!" he said before he turned to his son and barked at him, "Draco, fetch the goblin, he can tell us whether the sword is real or not!"
Albus went back to Harry and the others just in time to see Harry dashing to where Griphook was huddled on the floor, still dazed and badly injured. But was able to at least understand as Harry bent down and whispered to him quickly, "Griphook… you must tell them that sword's a fake, they mustn't know it's the real one, Griphook, please –"
The goblin's pointed ears twitched a little when he heard his name and Albus knew why. It was very rare that wizards would bother themselves to remember the names of those that are considered to be… 'lesser' beings.
Draco was trembling as he came down the stairs, and spoke in a slightly higher, shaking voice, "Stand back. Line up against the back wall. Don't try anything, or I'll kill you!"
But Albus knew better. Draco wasn't a killer… unlike his aunt… he was still 'clean' in the fact that he hadn't taken a life. And Albus lamented the fact that this might not remain this way for long if Draco continued to stay on the wrong side.
But as long as they had Hermione, there wasn't anything else they could do to risk her being killed by them and so they had to move back, with Ron turning the lights off just as the lock turned. Draco opened the door and searched around, his wand held at the ready as if he expected an attack. Ron's face was contorted with fury and seemed to be fighting every ounce of his being not to jump out and throttle him.
Draco quickly found Griphook and dragged him along with him roughly to the door and slammed it shut before he locked it. He locked it just around the same time that there was a loud cracking sound and Ron lit the Deluminator up in time to see that Dobby had appeared to rescue them, having just left Aberforth and understood what needed to be done.
Albus let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't realized that he had been holding.
"DOB – !" Ron came very close to bellowing out, but Harry had the sense to hit him hard to keep him from yelling, which shut Ron up at once. Thankfully, the ones outside were too busy with Griphook to pay attention to what was happening in the cellar at the moment.
Dobby just looked up at them all, fear in his eyes at the thought of being back in the home that he had been forced to work in and had been so badly mistreated and tortured himself. But he put on a brave face as he looked up at them all, even if he was shaking in fright.
Albus could imagine just how scared Dobby was to be back in this house, but he had to admire the little elf's bravery.
"Harry Potter," he squeaked up and Albus could hear the quiver of fear there, "Dobby has come to rescue you."
"Thank you, Dobby…" Albus sighed out. "And you too, Aberforth."
"But how did you – ?" Harry began, but he stopped at once when he heard Hermione's screams and went on to ask quickly, "You can Disapparate out of this cellar?"
And when Dobby nodded firmly, Harry asked, "And you can take humans with you?"
But what about Hermione? How are they going to get to her? Right now, the only way would be to go up and get her… but that was the most dangerous thing that they could do. But still, there didn't seem to be any other way out.
Dobby nodded again and Harry gave him his orders.
"Right. Dobby," he said hurriedly, "I want you to grab Luna, Dean, and Mr. Ollivander, and take them – take them to –"
He searched around for a place, but nowhere seemed to be safe enough anymore.
"Bill and Fleur's," Ron spoke up. "Shell Cottage on the outskirts of Tinworth!"
Dobby nodded to him in understanding, looking ready to leave.
"And then come back," Harry added. "Can you do that, Dobby?"
Though a foolish question. Dobby was loyal to Harry one hundred percent. He would've followed Harry to the ends of the earth if he thought that he could help him.
"Of course, Harry Potter," he squeaked out, still petrified, but he went over to Ollivander, who was clinging onto life and took one of his withered and thin hands in his own before he looked to Luna and Dean, who were looking ready to start arguing.
"Harry, we want to help you!" Luna whispered.
"We can't leave you here," Dean added just as firmly.
As noble as that was, that was not a wise idea. They didn't have wands either, and he wasn't sure how well that either of them could fight, especially when up against a room of Death Eaters, some who didn't care if they killed anyone or not. Not only that, but with Hermione up there, they were going to be at their mercy until they were able to get her out of their hands. As much as he hated to admit it, Harry and Ron were the only ones who even had a remote chance at saving her. They had to get to safety for their sakes, this was not the time to be arguing. But Albus had to say… even though they were friends, it never fails to amaze him how Harry was able to have people gather around him even when he wasn't trying.
They trusted him and act from his example… that showed just what kind of person he was.
"Go!" Harry hissed to them both. "Both of you! We'll see you at Bill and Fleur's!"
Harry suddenly winced and Albus guessed that it was his scar once again. But Albus already had a good idea as to where Tom was at that moment…
He shook his head hard, trying not to look for himself.
Yet he was unable to stop himself as he looked and saw… the weak old man that had once been his best friend when he had been young and foolish.
"Kill me, then. Voldemort, I welcome death! But my death will not bring you what you seek… There is so much you do not understand…"
Albus blinked at those words as Tom's fury rose up in his face, yet it was the sound of Hermione's screams that brought him back to the cellar and Harry was now almost shoving Luna and Dean towards Dobby.
"Go!" he said, not bothering to keep his voice as low as he should've been. "Go! We'll follow, just go!"
For a moment, Albus thought that they were just going to keep arguing, but seemed to guess that wasn't going to help them at the moment and did what they were told. They took hold of Dobby's fingers and he left, taking all three of them with him as he did so and towards Shell Cottage.
Knowing that they were safe was a load of his mind, but now came the more difficult part of getting to Hermione and all three of them escaping when Dobby returned. It would take a few minutes at most since they had to explain to Bill and Fleur what was going on, but there was no doubt in his mind that Dobby would be back quickly enough.
Yet Lucius had finally heard Dobby Disapparating in the cellar and he snapped out, "What was that? Did you hear that? What was that noise in the cellar?"
Oh no, he had been hoping that they wouldn't notice. Harry and Ron stared at each other as Lucius barked at Draco to go and make Wormtail go look this time. He must've been worried that they were planning something and didn't want to risk Draco and so would send someone whom he couldn't care less about.
But at the mention of Wormtail, Albus couldn't help but wonder what would happen now. Would there be a chance that the man who had once been a dear friend to James Potter do something other than think about himself? He always thought that there would be a hint of regret, but if that was strong enough to overcome his fear of Voldemort…? They should find out.
Wormtail came as he was told and Lucius told him to go and check the cellar as Harry and Ron both came up with the plan.
With everyone now listening hard for any sounds of noise, Harry had to whisper, "We're going to have to try and tackle him. Leave the lights on."
There was no other choice at the moment. It wasn't going to do them any good to just sit in the dark and pretend that they were still captive when three of their prisoners were gone. This could be their only chance to escape and if they timed it just right, then they could get out. Thankfully, leaving the lights on should be enough to surprise Wormtail for long enough for them to subdue him.
Speaking of which, Wormtail had reached the door and was now leaning against it as he said, "Stand back. Stand away from the door. I'm coming in."
Albus held his breath as he opened the door. For a brief moment, he couldn't have looked more shocked by all the light hanging in the air, but that was when the boys tackled him, wrestling him to the ground. Ron had succeeded in grabbing his wand and forcing it upwards where it wouldn't be able to hit either of them with a spell. Harry had slapped his hand over Wormtail's mouth and kept him from saying anything as they struggled silently even as sparks were flying from his wand. But that was when Wormtail's silver hand grabbed hold of Harry's throat.
Albus's fists clenched tightly at that, the impulse to reach in and grab Wormtail's wrist to stop him nearly overwhelmed him.
"What is it, Wormtail?" called Lucius from above.
It was Ron who answered, doing a pretty good job of being able to sound like Wormtail's hoarse, wheezy voice, "Nothing! All fine!"
Harry was struggling to breathe as Ron still fought to get the wand. Harry was trying to get the silver fingers off his throat as he choked out, "You're going to kill me? After I saved your life? You owe me, Wormtail!"
This was it. If there was any humanity in him left… any trace of the little boy who had once admired and looked up to James and his friends… then it would show itself now. If not, then there truly was nothing left of him.
There was confliction in his face as he looked at Harry and Albus knew that he was thinking about James. And then… his fingers let go. Harry clearly didn't expect that and pulled himself free as he kept his mouth over Wormtail's mouth.
Wormtail's rat-like eyes were wide with fear and surprise as well… as if he couldn't believe that he did it. It seems that part of him reacted on impulse. Maybe in some tiny part of his heart there was that shame and guilt as well as the fact that he did owe Harry his life that caused that same heart to ignore what was going on in his mind. But now he was fighting harder than ever to try and get out of this mess as Albus shook his head.
He only wished that that would be enough. But after what he had done there was no going back for him. He made his choice years ago and he showed them all that he cared most about his life than the lives of others. But it was good to know that there was still a spark of humanity in him.
At last, Ron managed to pull his wand from his other hand, hissing to him, "And we'll have that."
There was nothing else that he could do… he was at their mercy now and his eyes were full of fear… but it wasn't at them that he was fearful of. He was looking down at the silver hand that his master had given him… the fingers had gone to his throat and Albus knew.
Tom had given him an amazingly powerful hand, able to break or crush anything, almost a weapon in its own right… and yet… Tom had made sure that Wormtail would never betray him again…
"No –" Harry said and at once he grabbed hold of Wormtail's hand and tried to stop it but it had a mind of its own and there wasn't anything he could do. Even as Ron tried to help, the hand was too strong and Pettigrew couldn't breathe anymore.
"Relashio!" Ron tried, but it was no use. As Wormtail fell to his knees, the worst scream from Hermione came above them. Ron turned towards her voice, not looking as Wormtail turned purple and his eyes rolled back as he gave his last gasping breath.
Albus closed his eyes and shook his head in pity. When he looked back, Harry was staring down at his body, unsure of what to say or do any longer. Yet… Albus knew that he really was a better man than he ever could be. After everything that happened… all that Pettigrew put him through, all the things that his selfish actions had cost this young man—his parents, his childhood…
And yet, he still tried to help him in the end. While he did agree with Harry stopping Sirius and Remus from killing him, but after seeing that he escaped and helped to bring Voldemort back as well as killing a fellow classmate in front of him… everything…
He still found it in him to have sympathy for him.
Albus looked to the boys, who just looked down at him and then up at each other. There wasn't anything that could be done for him and just left him there as they ran up the stairs and up into the hallway that would take them to the drawing room where their friend still was. They crept along until they found the right door, which was just barely open.
They peeked in to see that Bellatrix, who was looking at Griphook, who was looking over every inch of the sword. Hermione was barely conscious at Bellatrix's feet, and the torture had clearly taken its toll. Albus had wanted to step in, rush to her side and get her help, and he almost opened his eyes and turned his thoughts away so that he wouldn't have to see this any longer.
"Well?" Bellatrix demanded to Griphook. "Is it the true sword?"
This was it…
"No," said Griphook. "It is a fake."
Again he sighed in relief. He knew how difficult it could be to deal with goblins, how temperamental they could be and how some would die just to make a point and prove that wizards didn't know all that they thought they knew. A lot was resting on Griphook's answer but he had a feeling that Griphook must've realized that Harry was asking him in an effort to protect them all. In fact, it was safer for him to lie.
"Are you sure?" panted Bellatrix, her eyes wide as she just wanted to make sure. "Quite sure?"
"Yes," he answered and all the fear and hesitation that was there had faded from her face before she repaid him by giving him a deep cut to his face. As he yelled in pain and fell to her feet, she kicked him aside before she stepped forward with that mad look still there.
"And now," she said in a voice that burst with triumph, "we call the Dark Lord!"
And she pushed back her sleeve and touched her forefinger to the Dark Mark.
They had to do now. They had to leave before it was too late.
As Albus looked, he could see that Tom had been torturing that man in his lonely prison cell, but maybe the years had driven him to madness as he continued to laugh up at him.
"Kill me, then!" demanded the old man. "You will not win, you cannot win! That wand will never, ever be yours –"
"How right you are Gellert," Albus sighed as Tom finally had enough and decided to put an end to this. At least the attack was quick… and painless. Gellert Grindelwald fell from the bed and to the ground like a broken puppet before Voldemort turned to the window, his anger continuing to mount.
Albus knew that he gave his Death Eaters orders that they weren't to call him for anything less than for finding Harry. If they didn't have him when he got there then they will suffer more when he finds out that they've escaped.
But it was what Bellatrix said next that got his blood boiling.
"And I think, we can dispose of the Mudblood," she cackled. "Greyback, take her if you want her."
"NO!" he yelled, his hand already reaching for his pocket instinctively for a wand that was no longer there.
But someone beat him to it.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Ron couldn't stand by another second and came bursting into the room with the stolen wand raised high. Bellatrix shrieked in shock as she tried to face him, but Ron had pointed Wormtail's wand at her, disarming her, and Harry managed to catch it as he went running after his friend.
They had taken them all completely by surprise, already charging in before Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, and Greyback even realized what was going on. Harry managed to stun Lucius, sending him crashing to the floor as the others tried to fight. Harry threw himself down to avoid the spells and rolled behind a sofa.
But Bellatrix had suddenly grabbed Hermione, pulling out a knife and held it to her throat as she threatened, "STOP OR SHE DIES!"
Low and cowardly…
But the boys saw that she still had their friend and they knew that she wasn't joking, she would do it without a second thought.
"Drop your wands," she whispered in warning, pressing the sharp blade against the girl's throat. "Drop them, or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"
Ron was rigid as he glared at her, looking like he wanted nothing more than to curse her into oblivion. Harry slowly stood up, still holding onto the wand as he was thinking fast.
"I said, drop them!" she screeched, pressing the blade even deeper into her skin and the point just barely pierced through so that they could see tiny droplets of blood appear.
There was no other choice.
"All right!" Harry shouted and he and Ron dropped the wands before they raised their hands up to show that they weren't going to do anything.
"Good!" she leered at them all before she snapped at her nephew, "Draco, pick them up! The Dark Lord is coming, Harry Potter! Your death approaches!"
Albus knew that she spoke the truth. Voldemort was flying over a dark and stormy sea at that moment where he would be close enough to Apparate directly to them. They had five minutes at most to get out of this mess alive before he would appear.
Harry was looking like he had no idea what else he could possibly do.
'Don't give up now, Harry. You can get out of this I know you can,' Albus whispered softly to him. 'You never gave up with anything in life so don't start now when your friends need you.'
"Now," said Bellatrix softly, as Draco hurriedly went to her side and still held all the wands he managed to pick up before Bellatrix said, "Cissy, I think we ought to tie these little heroes up again, while Greyback takes care of Miss Mudblood. I am sure the Dark Lord will not begrudge you the girl, Greyback, after what you have done tonight."
But then, at that moment, the crystal chandelier above their heads creaked and fell. Though Bellatrix—who was right underneath it—had let go of Hermione before she jumped out of the way with a scream; it crashed right on top of Hermione instead, the crystal and chains flying all over her and Griphook who still had the sword in his hands.
Several large pieces hit Draco in the face and he let out a cry of pain as he collapsed and covered his bloody face. Everyone was so startled by what happened, that they didn't move for a moment, but the boys jumped in at once. Ron had run straight to Hermione and pulled her from the wreckage as Harry went jumping over a chair and tackled Draco for the wands. As soon as he saw that, Albus's eyes widen in shock.
It was as if all the pieces were falling neatly together. Though this wasn't what he had planned, this was the chance that he had been hoping for. For the boy—barely a man—who had disarmed him at the end of last year had lost his wand to another.
Narcissa cried out in fear as she rushed to her son's side instantly, dragging him out of the way so that he would be safe from getting hit again. Without her wand, Bellatrix was swinging her knife around to try and figure out who had done this, but it was Narcissa who saw him.
"Dobby!" she screamed and even Bellatrix froze at that as they all turned to see what she was talking about. "You! You dropped the chandelier – ?"
Bless that elf… he had the best timing. And though still fearful, Dobby came into the room, pointing a shaking finger up at one of the people who had made his life hell.
"You must not hurt Harry Potter," squeaked the small elf with a large heart.
"Kill him, Cissy!" shrieked Bellatrix, since she was the only one who had a wand left, but that didn't last long for it was Dobby who had caused her wand to fly out of her hand and across the room, causing Bellatrix to look more enraged than ever.
"You dirty little monkey!" she shrieked at him in outrage. "How dare you take a witch's wand, how dare you defy your masters?"
"Dobby has no master!" Dobby said firmly, his voice sounding braver by the moment and Albus had to wonder if this was something that Dobby had wanted to do to his old mistress for a long time. "Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"
Albus couldn't have said it better himself.
Harry as staggering slightly, his swollen face nearly back to normal now, and was gripping his forehead as he tried to stop the pain that must've been building. Tom was finally close enough to Apparate to them and they had only seconds left.
Harry took one of the wands and threw it to Ron.
"Ron, catch – and GO!" he yelled, stopping only to grab Griphook and the sword from under the chandelier and threw him over his shoulder before he grabbed Dobby's hand and they had disappeared from the room. But in that last second, Albus saw what happened. Narcissa had ducked down with Draco as Ron ran forward with a death grip on Hermione… just as Bellatrix's shriek was louder than ever and she threw her knife.
Albus felt his heart sink when he saw where it flew.
Bellatrix got her revenge on the little elf and he felt tears burning his eyes as he left the room as well and arrived with them, his heart full of grief. Less than a second later, they had appeared near the coast, just outside Shell Cottage, and they all fell into a heap on the ground, gasping for air. Ron was gently lowering Hermione to the ground, who was whimpering softly as she clung tightly to his shirt and Harry had just set Griphook gently to the ground, asking if he was alright—though he just moaned in pain for his reply.
Dobby had staggered on his feet as Harry asked him, "Dobby, is this Shell Cottage? Have we come to the right place? Dobby?"
But he finally looked up at him and his eyes were wide when he saw the hilt of the knife that Bellatrix had thrown, sticking from his chest.
It was as if someone had squeezed Albus's heart as he watched.
"DOBBY! Dobby – no – HELP!" Harry bellowed toward the cottage, toward the people moving there. "HELP!"
Bill and Fleur both heard him and they came running out with Luna and Dean, but Harry didn't pay any attention as Dobby staggered towards him, stretching out his tiny arms to Harry with a pleading look. Harry reached up and caught him as he fell, gently moving him sideways onto the grass, and pleading with him.
"Dobby, no, don't die, don't die –" he begged, but when Dobby found Harry's face with his own eyes, a look of peace suddenly came over him.
"Harry… Potter…" he croaked out and there was a hint of a smile on his face as he gave a small shudder and his eyes glassed over. Harry just stared down at him as everyone ran towards them, no one sure of what to do any longer as they just stared at the empty eyes.
Albus opened his own, feeling tears fall.
A brave elf… a dear friend who was finally free… forever.
*A Little Later*
Though it was a pleasure to greet old friends, it saddened him greatly, especially when it was such a brave soul. Yet he rose from his seat to greet the tiny figure moving towards him through the mist.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir!" Dobby squeaked up at him and gave him a low bow when he spotted him. "Dobby has missed his old master!"
Albus chuckled as he looked down at him. The little elf had woken up not long ago and he had immediately had a ball when he spotted all the clothes around him. As of right now, he was wearing a miss-match array of different clothes and colors so that they all clashed with each other, including his favorite tea-cozy for a hat.
"Dobby," he said fondly, "We have been over this many times. I have never been your master. You are a free elf, and free to do and go wherever you see fit. Though I am sorry to see that you had been forced to come here so suddenly."
"Yes, sir," Dobby said, a little sadly as he played with his new striped scarf around his neck. "But… but Dobby had to sir! Dobby had to help Harry Potter and his friends. Dobby was the only one who could do it, wasn't he, sir? And so Dobby did."
"I know," Albus answered kindly, bending down so that he was closer to his eye level. He saw it… and he remembered a time when Harry had called out for someone else who had died as well… right before his eyes. Calling for someone he cared for to come back even though they were no longer able to. "And what you did… your bravery could have ended up changing everything for the better. Because of what you did… you ended up saving seven lives from a certain death… or worse. And I know that your sacrifice won't be forgotten by them anytime soon."
Dobby blushed as he looked down.
"I'm only sorry that Bellatrix made you pay for that in the end," Albus sighed, looking to the maroon colored sweater he was wearing, at the spot where he knew the knife had been before.
"Dobby… Dobby was happy to have died with Harry Potter there," Dobby admitted softly. "It is so good to know that Dobby had friends rather than masters."
"Has friends," Albus corrected him with a sad smile. "Though you may not be with them anymore, you are no less Harry's friend any more than you were when you were alive."
Dobby thought that over, as if he was trying to wonder how that worked as Albus chuckled.
"I think you deserve to go on, Dobby," he smiled kindly at him. "I am sure that you will have many more friends who will be ready to greet you where you are going."
"Oh, yes, sir…" Dobby said, wondering what that would be like. "Do you think… is it a terrible mess where Dobby will be going, sir? Dobby wonders how hard he will have to work."
Again, Albus laughed. "Dobby…" he informed him, "You will be able to do whatever you wish, I am sure. Whatever awaits you, will only be happiness. That is what I believe anyway."
"Sir…?" Dobby asked in surprise. "Is Professor Dumbledore not coming?"
"I will be along eventually, my friend," Albus informed him. "But I cannot leave just yet. It is my… my duty, I guess, to stay around for a while yet. There is one thing that I must do before I can even think of moving on. I don't care how long I will have to wait, but I am a patient man. No matter how many years will move on, I will wait here."
"For who, sir?" Dobby asked questionably. "If Professor Dumbledore wants Dobby to, Dobby will wait here with him. Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir. And he wishes to keep him company."
Albus smiled even wider as he patted him fondly on the head.
"Thank you for your kindness, Dobby," he told him sincerely. "But this is something that I fell that I must do. I am waiting for…?" He froze as he thought about what he should say. What could he say? A former student? That didn't seem to cut it…
A friend? After all he had done, did he even have the right to call Harry a friend anymore?
He wasn't sure anymore as he looked at the little elf.
"I am waiting for someone who is very dear to me," he said at last. "There are some things that I must say before I leave. It is my duty to see this through to the end. Please don't delay your own next adventure on my account, Dobby." He forced another kind look as he added, "It would make me happiest if you were to move on to a better place."
"Then… that is what Dobby will do, sir!" Dobby squeaked happily. "Dobby is a free elf, sir! And so Dobby will obey whoever he wishes!"
"Dobby, you don't need anyone's permission," Albus tried to say but Dobby interrupted him.
"But, sir…" he said happily. "Professor Dumbledore says that Dobby should do what Dobby makes Dobby happiest, sir. And this is what Dobby likes doing! He likes following the orders of those he likes. Though Dobby does like doing things his own way to."
"And I hope you find nothing but happiness where you're going," Albus nodded to him as Dobby bowed low.
And Albus shocked the elf when he bowed back, only laughing as Dobby tried to tell him that it was not right for him to bow like that. But Albus only continued to laugh, letting him know that he did it only because he wanted to.
Dobby looked up at him as if he thought that maybe he was a little crazy after all, but he gave him a big, toothy grin, before he went skipping off into the mist happily.
"Oh, and Dobby?" Albus called and Dobby stopped to look back at him. "Thank you… for going to Harry's aid when you did."
Dobby only smiled back brightly when he mentioned Harry's name again.
"Harry Potter is a great wizard, sir!" he squeaked loudly. "He is a kind and noble spirit. He gave Dobby his freedom and Dobby had never been happier! Dobby wished to help Harry Potter and his friends and he was glad that he did, sir!"
And he went running off before he could say another word as Albus looked after him for a long time.
"That he is, Dobby," he whispered to himself with another kind look in his eyes before it faded and he looked to the mist behind him, knowing who he would soon be meeting with. He walked forward through this glittering mist, wondering when he would find them and he spotted one of them only after a little bit of searching.
Peter Pettigrew was staring around in fear at the mist, as if afraid that it would bite at him if he went to near it.
"Peter… it's been too long," Albus said as the timid man saw him and flinched in terror. "I see that you have finally joined us here. Tell me, is it as bad as you thought it would be."
"P-P-Professor Dumbledore!" he stammered in fear. "W-What are you d-doing here?! I thought… I thought you w-w-were dead!"
"You are quite right," Albus told him calmly, his face showing no emotion as he looked at him. "As are you."
"N-No! T-That can't be!" Peter squealed out in panic, backing away and stared around the mist like he thought that he was seeing ghosts. "I was… I was at Malfoy Manor just a moment ago…"
"You were," Albus nodded sadly. "And you were killed by the very hand that Voldemort had given you for your loyalty."
Peter flinched at his master's name, but Albus could see that he did not want to believe that he was dead. He spent two decades running, living in fear, and now he had finally died.
"Peter…" Albus sighed sadly. "I think it goes without saying, but you had chosen the wrong side. Voldemort never cared about you, nor did he ever plan to give you any of the protection that he promised you. You betrayed all the friends that you had ever known. Friends who would've given their lives to protect you. Tell me, Peter… was it truly worth it?"
"I swear," he tried to pled, his squinty eyes still staring around him in fear. "I never meant it to happen! You have no idea, Dumbledore what he's like! He would've killed me, Dumbledore!"
"And here you are anyway," Albus sighed. "Your selfish and cowardly actions had ruined more lives than you can possibly imagine. Your entire life was just hiding and running. Tell me, Peter. Was it truly worth dooming the lives of innocent souls?"
"I told you!" Peter screamed at him, "The Dark Lord would've killed me! He has powers that the rest of us could only imagine! He forced me to!"
"He did not force you to betray Lily and James, Peter," Albus said darkly. "Nor did he force you to kill those Muggles and have Sirius take your place in prison. You made your choices, Peter and now you must face the outcome of them. Surely you did not think that you would have to answer to them sooner or later did you?"
"N…no," Peter cried out, flinching violently as he stared around him in a panic as if he could suddenly hear things that no one else could. "They… they can't be… unless they are…?"
"If you truly wish to make up for your actions, Peter…?" Albus offered, but Peter only backed away from him in terror.
"N-NO!" he shouted out. "They set you up to this didn't they? They're here?! They're going to come here for me! James and Sirius and Lily… they'll be here to kill me…" He staggered back, his eyes full of terror like he expected his old friends to come out of the mist at any moment and finish them off. "And if they don't… the Dark Lord will! He will kill me! I let them escape!"
"Peter… you are already…" Albus said more loudly but Peter only fell backwards, kicking his feet out wildly before he screamed out, sounding more scared than ever, "STAY AWAY FROM ME! THEY'RE HERE AREN'T THEY? THEY'RE COMING FOR ME!"
And without another word, he rolled over, crawling away before he found his footing and went screaming off into the distance, his mind breaking apart before Albus's eyes.
Redemption…
Such a simple word, but one whose meaning means everything.
Albus had spent his whole life trying to redeem himself for the mistakes of his own past, and he hoped to think that maybe, in some small way, that he did end up redeeming at least a part of himself. He had always wanted to give those around him a second chance for he had been given one by Hogwarts and he wanted to give all he had to make this second chance count for something. He believed that if you gave someone that chance to change, if they truly wanted it, then they take it.
He thought back to the young Draco Malfoy and had always known that he had been snob and had a large ego even before he arrived at school. He didn't blame him completely for that however since this was just the way that he was raised. He had been brought up to believe that because he was a Pureblood then that made him better than everyone else around him.
Draco… had never been a nice person. He didn't join the Death Eaters and suddenly became terrible, for that had always been there. and yet… even though he had become a Death Eater… even though he had been tasked with killing him as well as Imperiused poor Rosmerta and almost killed two of his fell schoolmates… even though he had gone so far with his plan and could've killed him… he didn't.
He believed that Draco could be given a second chance if that was what he desired. Draco had all but completed the task that Voldemort had given him… he had gotten the Death Eaters into the castle and he had him alone and without his wand. All Draco had to do was finish the job by say just two words to finish him off. But he didn't do it.
He truly believed that Draco was just an arrogant, young boy who got too deep into something he didn't fully comprehend and ended up scared. He was afraid for himself and his family if he didn't do it in the end and he believed that Draco did realize what he was doing was wrong in the end. Draco loved his family and he believed that love was what kept him from destroying his own soul and taking the life of another.
But Peter…? He was a different matter.
He was the spy… he had been passing information onto Voldemort for a year before he sold Lily and James to him in the end. And he ended up orphaning an innocent infant who would know nothing but pain and hardship his whole life. But he wasn't even finished with ruining the lives of others, for he set Sirius up. He ended up killing twelve other innocent lives before he escaped and Sirius had been forced to pay the price for his actions.
Pettigrew then finally found Tom and even brought him a woman, whose mind had been destroyed after Voldemort had questioned her and then killed her. He served and took care of him for almost a year as they plotted to get Harry. In the end, Pettigrew took the life of Cedric Diggory… a kind and brave boy who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He took his life without even questioning Voldemort's orders. There was no hesitation from what he understood… just cold-blooded murder.
Peter had spent his whole life doing nothing but saving his own life and doing what it took to stay alive. He forsook any courage or love and he continued to do so until his death.
Though it is true that he did end up sparing Harry's life here…
That would not make up for what his actions had done. He did not seek redemption. Only continuing to join the 'winning' side so to speak.
Albus knew that Peter would be forced to wander this mist for some time. Too scared to face all those whose lives he ruined and the retribution for what he had done. He had done this, was doing this, to himself. His fear would keep him from finding peace and most likely keep running for all of time, hoping to never see another face ever again.
And after all that he had done, Albus didn't believe that redemption was something that he truly wanted. And that was the saddest thing he could imagine. But then again… Peter had gone too far to ever be able to redeem himself.
He sighed as he turned and headed off in another direction, trying to push Peter's fate out of his mind as he waited for the third person who died that night to join him. Out of everyone, facing him again was the most difficult most of all this evening.
He stood there and waited for what felt like an eternity or maybe it was just a few minutes, he wasn't sure. People came and went in this place so strangely, and time almost made no difference. Maybe… it didn't matter at all. But soon, that familiar voice… one that he had missed and feared at the same time.
"You know," called that voice, "You were the only person who ever visited me while I was still in prison."
"I guess for old time's sake?" Albus offered calmly as he watched the aged figure made his way towards him. And soon he was standing face-to-face with a man whom he had once called his best friend. "Gellert…" he said and Gellert smiled at him, all of his teeth back in his face.
"You look great old friend," he said calmly, though there was a slight tenseness in his voice, "But you look so much older than I last saw you."
"I had a lot on my mind," Albus informed him, just as calmly. "And with a war going on, as well as my own death, I am afraid that I hadn't had time to visit."
"Excuses," Gellert told him causally, his grin back. "Shame though… you were the only one who ever visited me in Nurmengard. Funny that you died before me… and you weren't stuck eating that prison food. Terrible stuff."
"It was my time," Albus answered softly. For a moment Albus was seventeen again, and that mischievous grin meant everything to him, but in an instant it was gone and they were old men again.
Gellert suddenly laughed. "Lost in memories are we?" he asked softly and Albus grimaced when he realized some of the emotions must've been showing on his face. "We did have some good time didn't we?"
"Don't try that with me, Gellert," Albus told him sternly.
"Then I won't," he answered back, looking around at the mist in interest. "Not that I was trying to. Nor does it matter anymore, does it?"
Albus sighed. "You are hopeless, you do know that don't you?" he asked. Gellert didn't say anything to him for a long moment before he sighed and walked passed him as he headed off into deeper into the mist.
"Going off?" Albus asked causally.
"No," Gellert answered back with a hint of coolness. "Not yet, anyway. I rather not head there until I'm ready. Besides… even if I wanted to, I cannot go."
Albus looked back at him in surprise.
"I still need to atone for many things that I had done," he said.
"Then… do you regret what you had done?" Albus asked him, wanting to know an answer that had plagued him for a long time. "All the people who died and suffered by your hands? Is that why you lied to Voldemort when you said that you never had the wand?"
Gellert shrugged. "Don't stay here trying to figure me out, though I know that you must have your own reasons for sticking around, as well. Though it's funny…" he glanced back at him, "You regret everything, though I have a feeling that if people knew the full truth of your past, they would say that you paid your dues and made up for it."
"And what do you think?" Albus asked him softly.
He shrugged once more. "I'll let you know…" he said as he walked off into the mist, holding up his hand in farewell without even glancing back at him, "When I figure it out myself."
"Gellert," Albus whispered softly as he watched his former friend's retreating back, wondering just what it was that he should be feeling at that moment.
(Hey… I know I haven't updated for a long time, but my grandma just died a few weeks ago and so maybe you can understand that I just haven't been in the mood to write lately. Anyway, I do hope that you all enjoyed this chapter at least and look forward to the next one… and yes, it will be when they break into Gringotts. I can only imagine what Dumbledore would be thinking through all that chaos, right?)
