Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, therefore: I don't own Harry Potter. I write for fun, and I am not making any profit out of it.
Chapter Four
Plans in motion
(3rd of August, 11:30 p.m.)
Lucius Malfoy lowered his glass of brandy to the armrest of his chair as he observed the man setting in front of him. He knew all about Yaxley's efforts for power climb. The man was a notorious boot licker; he would do anything to please if he knew that it would move him along the chain of command.
But Lucius also knows that the man won't do anything that would threaten his current position in the Dark Lord's ranks. This means that the news that he came bearing is most probably true.
Lucius have to admit that he was annoyed when the man pulled him aside for a private word after the Death Eater's meeting ended half an hour ago. But right now, he was thrilled! –Internally of course, wouldn't do to let the man know how valuable his information is.
"So, someone in the ministry is keeping an eye on the boy?" Lucius drawled as he observed the man setting on the other side of his desk.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy." Yaxley answered in the most imperious voice that he could master, but the man couldn't hide how nervous he was "As you know, the Potter boy is not on the ministry's good side at the moment, and someone in a high position is keeping an eye on him."
Lucius was aware of the emphasis on the 'someone', and he noticed with annoyance that Yaxley actually knew who that person was. Wanting to keep the man in line and maybe even rattle him a bit for thinking that he can make Lucius drag the information out of him bit by bit, he merely looked at the man in disinterest as he spoke the next words.
"As valuable" he spat the word with obvious distaste "as you might think this information is, I can assure you that it isn't actually of any use to us."
"B-but…" Yaxley looked rattled alright, but Lucius merely looked at him in disgust.
"Stutter at your own time, this meeting is over" Lucius said as he drowned the last of his brandy and slammed it on his desk, and then he made to stand up before Yaxley finally spoke again.
"But, Mr. Malfoy, we can use this person, you know, gain their alliance. The more people working against the boy, the better it is for us, right?" Yaxley said is a rush, trying to gain Lucius' interest once more.
"And how, pray tell, do you suppose we do that?" Lucius asked as he looked down his nose at the cowering man.
"I know who ordered the surveillance" Yaxley admitted with a hint of bitterness as he said the next words "My position in the ministry is not high enough for anymore snooping around. If she caught me, it might cost me my job"
Yaxley didn't come out and say it, but Lucius understood what he was implying none the less. Yaxley's position as a mere ministry worker was not high enough, but Lucius' high position in the wizarding world was. Lucius didn't voice his thoughts; he merely kept his gaze on the other man until he spoke again.
"Her name is Dolores Umbridge" Yaxley continued "she is the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic."
"Yes," Lucius said as he remembered the fake-sweet smile on the face of the short and plumped power hungry witch. "I know who she is."
Lucius walked around his desk and headed to the door of his study, signaling the end of the meeting. He could see the irritation on Yaxley's face at the obvious dismissal.
"Mr. Malfoy…" he started but Lucius cut him off.
"As you said, Yaxley, your position is not high enough." Lucius said with the most imposing voice he could muster for the fool "So, why don't you leave this matter for those who can handle it."
Yaxley scowled at the obvious jab but headed to the door anyway.
"The Dark Lord will be made aware of your efforts, of course." Lucius said as an after thought as he watched the man leave his office "I am sure that you will be rewarded adequately depending on the out come of this information"
This was both a promise and a warning. A promise, if he continued to bring useful information. But also, a warning, if that information turned out to be useless.
XOXOXOXOX
(4th of August, 8:00 a.m.)
Dolores Jane Umbridge sat in her office, drinking her cup of tea with a smile. She was, after all, a very happy witch. Granted, her original plan to set the dementors on the boy and get it over with was not a great success. But there was also the fact that the boy used under aged magic to fend them off and in front of a muggle no less, that was something that landed him in a great deal of troubles. After all, in the hearing, who would believe him when he says that he was fighting dementore, dementors!
But she was a resourceful witch, and after that little set back in Surrey, she won't lay all her ingredients in one cauldron, no, that won't be wise. Sure, she hopes that the boy would be found guilty after the hearing, but she still had to set a backup plan, just in case.
Her plan consisted of keeping an eye on the boy from now till the hearing, of course it took her sometime to make sure that all 'watchers' were trusted. But never mind that, they don't have to keep watch anymore now that the boy was moved. At least, they got to find a valuable piece of information before he was taking from under her eyes.
The boy was moved, taken actually. He didn't leave. He wasn't escorted out of the house. No, he was taken, as in carried out of the house. She wasn't sure if he was hurt, sedated or merely asleep at the time, but she knew that if all else failed; she still has a card to play.
She hummed softly to herself as she went back to her cup of tea with a satisfied smile.
XOXOXOXOX
(4th of August, 8:30 a.m.)
Harry was having the strangest feeling that he had ever encountered. He wasn't sure if he was standing, sitting or laying. It sure as hell felt like floating. The fact that his eyes won't cooperate and kept firmly shut was not helping one bit. This feeling of disorientation was really frustrating.
Was he dead? Well, he wasn't in the blinding pain that he was in before, but he wasn't pain-free either. Was he in the in-between world? Does that mean that he was closer to death now than he was when his aunt's movements in his room woke him? But no, it didn't feel like it! He remembers something else, he was talking to someone, and he was told that they would get him out of Private Drive. And then there was shouting, yes, people were arguing, saying stuff about potions and healing spells.
Damn it! Why can't he open his eyes and see for himself where he was? After a couple of minutes of trying he gave up. Maybe he could use his other senses and try to figure out what the hell happened.
The first thing that he tried was his sense of surroundings, and boy was it good to finally figure out that he was in fact laying down. Yes, he was on a bed, and it felt so good! It wasn't a Gryffindor four poster bed by any means but it was a whole lot better than laying on the floor of Private Drive, hell it was much better than his actual bed there.
Then he was aware of a very soothing touch on his head. Humm, this feel so good. The hand kept a continual movement in his hair and he never wanted it to stop, but he really needed to open his eyes and see who his caretaker was.
After some more struggling, he was finally able to open his eyes, just a fraction. Oh great, how did he forget that he was practically blind without his glasses. All he could see was a dark, blurry figure at the edge of his vision. Then the patting stopped and he wanted to protest but couldn't find the energy to do so. He could see the figure moving until it was in full view. But still, it was blurry and unrecogniesable.
"Oh my dear boy!" a very familiar voice said with so much relief that Harry was concerned for the voice owner "It is so good to see you awake." The voice said with a sob.
"How do you feel?" the voice owner asked but all he could mange in respond was a pitiful moan.
"It is alright, dear, you don't need to answer now" the darkness was starting to pull at him again and his eyes were dropping "Don't worry, honey, you are safe now. That's okay you need your rest, just close your eyes and sleep"
No, it was not alright! He didn't want to sleep, he wanted to stay awake and ask what was going on! He wanted to know how he ended up here with Mrs. Weasley. That right! That was Mrs. Weasley, and he wanted to stay with her. The woman represented everything that was motherly and Harry desperately needed a mother right now.
"That is okay, dear" she said as she resumed stroking his hair.
He wanted to ask her to stay but all that came out of his mouth was a whimper and he was so ashamed of how weak and needy he was but it didn't seem to bother the kind witch.
"You can rest now, Harry. Everything is alright, you are not alone." She answered his silent plea as if she could read his mind and he couldn't fight the pull of darkness anymore.
The last thing that he was aware of was a pair of lips on the crown of his head and moisture on his forehead right above his brows.
XOXOXOXOX
Molly Weasley could not help herself, the moment the boy's eyes closed again she just let go of her tears, dumping the boy's hair, forehead and brows.
It wasn't more than a couple of minutes after the boy's breathing evened out that the door opened and Sirius Black joined her once more. The man smiled sadly at her before he moved to reclaim his seat on the other side of Harry's bed. After sitting down, he took a side glance at his friend's slumbered form in the seat beside him and sighed.
She watched as Sirius leaned forward and took his godson's hand in his. For all of her fights with the man and all her negative thoughts about his usual child-like behaviors, she couldn't not admire him for what she saw in him since Remus brought Harry here last night. Yes he was mad with revenge but he was also frantic with worry. Both he and Remus spent the whole night beside Harry's bed.
She spent the night with them as well, but she had to leave every now and then to make sure that none of the kids were wondering around the house. She wanted to make sure that she will have an opportunity to talk with the kids before they saw Harry like this. She wasn't sure how they could handle their friend's appearance now but she knew that they won't rest till they could see him.
She looked back at the two old friends and smiled sadly. Remus was exhausted, the last full moon was a couple of days ago after all, but he refused to leave. He only fell asleep an hour ago. It was around that time that she told Sirius to have some rest as well, after much argument; he finally left the room but not to sleep, no, because he just walked in right now, no more than half an hour after he left. Judging from his change of close and his dump hair, he merely took a shower to wake himself up before he re-joined her.
She had half a mind to scold him and send him up to bed like one of her kids. Speaking of the kids!
She hurriedly stood up and told Sirius that she will go downstairs to start breakfast before she bolted out of the room. She remembered to lock and ward Harry's room before she descended the stairs. This was something that she talked about with the two friends during the night. They would keep the room warded so that no-one can enter it without one of them as an escort. They wanted to make sure that the poor dear was not overwhelmed before he was ready.
Just as she finished making breakfast, she started to hear the movements that announced the preparation for a new day drifting from the kids' rooms. She sat down on the table with a cup of tea as she waited for them to join her, but the first one to enter the kitchen was not one of the kids, but rather Sirius Black.
The man looked dead on his feet and he was almost shuffling –not walking- around the kitchen.
"Sirius…" she started but he cut her off with a raised hand, simply telling her that there was no use in anything that she might say.
She watched him silently as he tapped the pot of coffee with his wand and moved around the kitchen sitting his mug and spoon ready. As they waited for the pot to boil, he looked up at her and smiled tiredly.
"I was finally able to force Remus out of the room," he said lightly "He is currently resting in his bed."
He was silent for a moment as he reached for the pot and started pouring his coffee but then he carried on.
"The last full moon was not kind to him, he needed his rest" he said as he stirred his coffee, then he looked up and barked a laugh as he saw the look that she was giving him. "I know, I know and I'll sleep as well. I just wanted to make sure that Harry is okay." He finished softly.
"I'll go up now, don't want him to wake up alone and panic." He said and started to head toward the stairs after her nod.
"Oh dear lord!" she said hurriedly, catching the ex-convict's attention. "I am so sorry Sirius! I forgot to tell you. But he wake up while you were showering."
"He did!" the man was standing beside her in a flash.
"Yeah, he didn't seem really awake, he was rather sleepy" she said, then harried to assure the man as she saw his panic rising "Which is perfectly normal, given all the pain potions and sleep draught that he was giving yesterday."
"Oh thank Merlin!" Sirius seemed to deflate with relief right in front of her, and then his head snapped up to her "That is good, right?"
"Yes it is" she hurriedly assured the distraught man "He seemed quite tense at the beginning, I think because he didn't know what was going on, but then he relaxed after I assured him that he was safe"
"That is good, that's good." He said then he turned and headed toward the stairs "I'll go to him now; I want to be there when he wakes up next time."
XOXOXOXOX
(4th of August, 9:00 a.m.)
The house was eerily quiet when Ronald Weasley first left his room, and he was determined to keep it that way. If his mum found out that he was awake already, she would drag him all the way downstairs to the kitchen and he was not ready for all of her fussing that would only mean that something was being kept from them.
He was really tired, seeing that he didn't sleep a wink all night, but he was firm on his mission, he will find out what was going on yesterday. The chaos of yesterday didn't end with them being ungracefully kicked out of the kitchen when they were supposed to eat dinner, it didn't also end when his mother insisted that they all eat in their rooms and then sent them to bed right after dinner like some 10 years old.
No, the real chaos started after that. There was a constant movement downstairs all night long. Every time Ron gathered up his courage and was about to sneak downstairs to see what the hell was going on, he found his mother 'checking' on him. That was rather frustrated. But the voices were gone for a couple of hours now and the house was silent. Plus, if his mother caught him now she can't send him up to bed, it was almost time for breakfast after all.
A movement behind him froze him to the spot, but then he recognized the bushy haired witch that was sneaking behind him, creeping actually, just like he was.
"Blimey, Hermione, you scared the crap outta me!" he hissed as she approached him.
"Shush Ronald!" she hissed back "if you mother caught us we won't be able to see Harry"
"So you really think he is here?" he asked
"Well, yes. Your mother actually said that he will be here by the time we wake up" she answered back "I didn't actually sleep. I think he was here a little bit after we went to bed." She said this as she moved in front of him and started leading the way downstairs.
After descending the stairs she looked around for a minute before heading to the door furthest down the hall. "The voices sounded from this direction all night long. And it is actually one of the only rooms that we had finished cleaning in this floor." And with that she opened the door and disappeared into the room.
"Damn it! 'mione!" he hissed but followed her none the less.
XOXOXOXOX
When Sirius entered the room a couple of minutes later, he found two frozen teens standing at the foot of his godson's bed.
"Shoot!" he hissed "I forgot to ward and lock the door, Molly is going to kill me."
The teens didn't seem to notice him yet so he decided to go and have a seat so that he can wait for them to come out of their shock. After a quick glance toward his and Remus' empty seats, he headed to the opposite side of Harry's bed and claimed Molly's seat instead. After cradling his cup, he re-claimed one of Harry's hands in his own and sat to drink his coffee.
Hermione was the first to move; she walked the short distance around Harry's bed and claimed his other hand.
"What happened to him?" Ron was the one to ask.
"We don't know yet, we are waiting for him to wake up and tell us" he deliberately omitted their guess. Not just because it might not be true, but also because it might be.
If it were true, then he was sure that Harry won't like waking up to find that everyone is aware of it. Abuse victims always protect the fact that they were abused like their lives depended on it, he knew he did. But he also knew that his life became so much easier after James and the others discovered his secret. It was great to have someone to talk to, if not for anything else.
"Is he going to be okay?" Hermione asked.
"We think so, yes." He answered.
"But you are not sure?" she asked
Damn it, smartest witch of her age alright! He winced. She was actually analyzing every word I say. Just like Remus used to do when we were in school. But Remus was the one who discovered my secret, does that mean that she is aware of what might have happened to Harry?
He looked up to see both teens were now seated and looking expectantly at him. "No, we aren't." he said, but then hurried to add when he saw their panicked looks. "But we are hopeful; he actually woke up for a couple of seconds some time ago."
"He did?" Ron's voice was one of relief.
"I wasn't here when he did" he explained "But Molly said that he relaxed when she talked to him."
"That is good" Hermione said as both teens nodded and then turned their attention to their friend's prone figure.
None of them noticed Molly as she stood in the doorway; she simply sighed and left them, but came back ten minutes later with a tray of food.
XOXOXOXOX
(4th of August, 10:00 a.m.)
To say that Dolores was surprised when her secretary told he that, Lucius Malfoy, one of the most prominent and influential figures in their society, was requesting a meeting with her, would be an understatement.
She hurriedly told the incompetent fool to let him in as she fixed her hair and smoothed her robes.
The elegant man stepped inside her office and greeted her politely before he took her hand and kissed it.
"Madam Undersecretary." He said with a nod "I hope you are well."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." She answered him back as she indicated the chair in front of her desk "Please, have a seat. It is such an honor to have you here in my office."
"The honor is all mine, Madam." Lucius said as he gracefully sat on the offered chair.
Fifteen minutes later, all the pleasantries were exchanged and Lucius sat with a cup of too sweet tea looking at the witch with interest as he approached the reason of his visit.
As the discussion carried on, Lucius was surprised to find just how much the plump witch hated the boy. It wasn't anything personal, after all, the witch never actually laid eye on him.
It was apparent that the witch took any threats toward her beloved Cornelius as a personal threat. This was something that he could use, after all, every ministry worker knew that Cornelius and Lucius shared the same interests throughout the years- AKA: Lucius was Cornelius' puppeteer.
A whole hour later, Lucius left Umbridge's office with a satisfied smile. His plan was sit into motion. Granted, this was but the first step but that didn't change the face that the boy will be in his clutches in less than a week. That is, if everything went as it was supposed to. Either way, he was sure that the Dark Lord will be glade when Lucius inform him of the plan this evening.
XOXOXOXOX
(4th of August, 11:00 p.m.)
Lord Voldemort sat on his throne in the Malfoys' drawing room with his fingers linked in front of him as he watch said man's bowed head. He could see the man cowering in fear as he waited for his verdict and decided to have mercy on him. He chuckled lightly at his thought, for mercy was not one of his traits. However, it wasn't unknown for him to show it sometimes toward one of his most faithful servants, and Malfoy, for the moment, had earned as much.
"Stand up, Lucius" he finally told the kneeling man. "The plan seems… humm… sensible enough, you may continue it, for the time been."
"Thank you, my lord." Lucius said gratefully, albeit with pride for gaining the Dark Lord's approval.
"Of course, you know the price for failing to achieve what you promised" Voldemort purred to his servant and smiled as he saw the man shuddering in front of him.
"Yes," Lucius said then he cleared his throat "Yes, of course, my lord."
"Good, good." Voldemort said as he waved his dismissal "Keep me updated."
"Yes, my lord." Were Lucius' final words as he backed away out of the room.
XOXOXOXOX
(5th of August, 8:30 a.m.)
Lucius Malfoy looked up onto the slim but tall building that was standing in the middle of the muggle street is Surrey with distaste.
It took him a while to finally find the damn thing but he wasn't about to complain, seeing that this was the only way that he could reach the man. He entered the spacious reception area and headed toward the receptionist. She was setting behind a large desk and had the word Grunnings in big letters on the wall behind her.
"Good morning, sir." She said with a fake smile as she eyed his clothe warily "How may I help you."
"I wish to see Mr. Vernon Dursley" he answered her with a sneer.
XOXOXOXOX
(5th of August, 10:00 a.m.)
Vernon Dursley hurried, almost skipped, out of Grunnings' building. He was on cloud nine. He could not believe that he was about to gain revenge on his freak of a nephew, and not just that! He will be making profit out of it.
The first feeling that flew through him as he saw one of his nephew's kind walking through his door was anger, but that was quickly replaced by fear as he remembered what he had done to the boy a couple of days ago. Thinking that he was about to be punished, he started babbling things about it being the boy's fault and throwing the blame on a fictional gang that the boy had joined.
He was startled when the man said with what looked like disappointment, "Pity and I thought that I could interest you with a mutual agreement."
He listened with a rapidly increasing interest as the man described how the brat was causing troubles in their world just like he was doing in Vernon's own house.
Apparently, the boy had joined a rebel group and was opposing the authorities and wreaking havoc. The man explained that the only way to silence the boy –the man's own words- once and for all, is by taking him from those rebels who are protecting him. However, this can't be done unless Vernon himself or Petunia, as the boy's legal guardians, were to disapprove of the boy's association with those rebels.
Vernon's smile widened as he entered the police station and headed to the nearest officer. He tried to force the most parental expression on his face before coughing to draw the man's attention.
"How can I help you, sir?" the officer asked as he looked at him.
"I would like to report a kidnap." Vernon answered with a concerned voice.
XOXOXOXOX
Two hours later, found Dolores Umbridge filing an appeal to the Wizengamot. In the papers, she pointed out that the ministry was recently informed of Harry Potter's relatives reporting him missing and possibly kidnapped.
The witch listed in details the conversation that went between one Vernon Dursley and herself, as she went to investigate the claims herself.
She described how the man appeared to be afraid for his nephew's safety and how he was concerned about a group of people who seemed to be in continued contact with the boy. Mr. Dursley said that the group appeared to be brainwashing his charge and how he might be held with them against his well.
Because of the concerns of Harry Potter's family, Dolores Umbridge pleaded with the Wizengamot to start taking the necessarily steps to place a locating spell on the young man, in hopes that they can reach him in time, before this group manage to brainwash him completely and start using him against the society.
Her appeal was filed as an urgent matter, with the hopes that they can return the boy to the safety of his family's house as soon as possible.
XOXOXOXOX
A/N: In the story, I am hoping to view this locator spell as a highly illegal spell that can only be used by the ministry officials and only after the Wizengamot approval. It is typically used only against wanted criminals and in some cases the family of a missing child can appeal for the Wizengamot if they want it used to find the child.