Moody knew that they needed to find more. They needed some idea of what Dumbledore was up to. And they knew one person who might know. Fletcher. Since this happened they had their doubts. They had wondered if it had been Fletcher all those years ago. Maybe it had been the headmaster. Albus could have easily set it up. And Dung was a common thief. He was not a rapist or child molester. Things seemed odd. But they had no reason to doubt it back then. And Dung never denied it. But they knew that they needed to find out. There may be reason for that. Dung usually would have done anything to save his own skin.
Fletcher of course had been in prison much of the past ten years. He had been arrested for hurting Harry. And then over the philosopher stone. He had another year left. They had a feeling they could get information out of him. He had really little options for work when he got out. And he was too well known a criminal. A source of income he would need. Some actual work. And they hoped they could convince him. And Albus could not hold anything over him any more.
To say Dung was surprised when he was brought in was an under statement. Especially since it was Moody and Sirius. He was usually left to low levels. Sirius was still officially on paternity leave until after Christmas with Max but for his beloved godson he had a good excuse to come back early.
Dung looked at them. "Sirius and Alastor old friends, decided it had been too long since you saw me? I get out in another year."
Sirius snarled. "We want you to tell us the truth about the night you purposively attacked my godson when he was five."
Dung was watching them. He laughed that they were coming to him now. They had been so sure he was guilty back then. He had lost six years of his life. He would have lost more if not for Albus. He would have faced another ten years for the crime he was serving now. Albus had kept them down. Albus had got him here though. But he was not stupid. The man had more then enough power. He knew what would have happened. He would have faced more charges if he had not gone to work for him.
Moody sat down. "Albus has been arrested for raping and assaulting Harry. Now again we ask you what happened back then?"
Dung raised an eyebrow. "He has escaped has he and you are looking for him? What is it that you offer to get m to risk talking?"
Sirius handed him forms. "A pardon, freedom right away and help finding an actual job so you will not end up in this hell hole once again."
Dung knew Albus had no power. He demanded protection until Albus was caught. Once promised he spoke. Albus had paid him to steal from the school. He could keep what he found. He had been told to distract Sirius and keep him from getting home that night. He had failed but Harry had gotten away. Albus he warned him no one would believe him and that if he kept his mouth shut he would help Dung got out quicker. He had paid for Dung to come in during Harry's first year though the stone incident was a different customer of his. He had not wanted to come back to the school. He knew the risk. And he would have turned Albus down. But he had not been able to turn his back on not one but two major pay checks.
Sirius looked at him. "We have a missing student and we have no idea how he got out of the school. We need to know if there are passages or anything else."
Dung nodded. "I was surprised to learn the great marauders did not know all of the secrets of the school. But there are some."
They convinced him to draw a map of what he knew. It turned out that Salazar was not the only founder with his own chamber. They all had. Most of them were lost. Only the descendents knew where they were. That is how Voldemort had known where the chamber had been. Dumbledore had found the chamber of Ravenclaw. From what Dung learned Dumbledore's mother was the last of the line before her sons. The room was near the room of requirements and it had a passageway of its own which led to a wooded glen near the Black Lake, outside of the school walls. The chambers of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had never been located. The headmaster had tried since he was the head of the school but the castle would not reveal such secrets even to him.
Moody had Dung taken away with the promise that he would have him freed. They would have him in a safe house till Albus was in prison. He would com after Dung. They needed him to testify officially. Moody had sent word to Amelia and she would have someone go down and deal with him. But that would wait. They knew right now they needed to locate Ron and perhaps through him find out where the headmaster may have gone.
Sirius was anxious. "We need to find it and find a way to close it off. If you can get out of the school using it, there is a chance you can get in using it as well."
Moody knew his mind. "Your godson is safe in his father's rooms but if he leaves them and with Albus being an animagus, there is a chance he could attack."
The fact that Albus was a small lizard was a problem. Like Skeeter even if they knew what he was he was small enough to move around. They might never see him. He could easily come into the school. He was a patient man. He had waited for ten years. But he would be able to attack Harry. They needed to make sure that Harry was safe. The fact that they had not even known Dumbledore was a founder's heir worried them. They had believed Voldemort was the only one left and he was dead.
Sirius headed for the doors. "We need to get to the school. We need to get there and block it off. He might already be in but we have to cut off escape at least."
Moody followed him. "I will call for some more men. I promise Sirius we will do everything we can to keep your cub safe as possible."
They both cared about Harry. Sirius loved him dearly even if he was not James' son. But more then that he knew Harry was Remus' son. He had once been jealous. A matter of months had made Harry bond with Remus in a way he never would with Sirius. Dung and Albus had ensured that. Remus would always have a bond with Harry unmatched by anyone other then Severus. But he no longer felt jealous. He was grateful his cub had someone that he loved trusted as much as his own husband.
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Severus had been shocked. He had been hoping Dung would have some information for them. But this was beyond that. They had never even considered it. They thought Salazar had his chamber because he was having problems with the others. But he realized it likely made sense. He was surprised the marauders had not known. But he was grateful. The chamber of secrets had been found thanks to Lucius getting his hands on the journal. They had been able to use old magic to open and kill the basilisk within. They had realized it had killed Moaning Myrtle and Hagrid had received his pardon. Harry had been about eight when they had found it.
Not wanting to leave his son with worry that Albus might be in the school. Severus was convinced to leave. Dora promised to stay with him. And the wards on their rooms were strong. She had sworn she would stay out of it. He did not want to risk the baby. And Harry would never want his little brother at risk. Dora though felt some guilt over the fact that she was not able to do more for her stepson.
Severus met Sirius and Moody. "So we really believe what Dung has sad about this? I mean you promised him a pardon before you said it."
Moody nodded and showed him the map. "The pardon yes but not the work or the safe house. He will be out on the street alone. And Albus will know."
They would leak it if he lied. They hoped it might bring Albus out. Or convince the man to talk more. They needed to try anything to catch Albus. There was not one person involved who did not want to nail the headmaster. They all knew that Harry was part of that. Harry was the hero of the world. But he was also a child. He was a child who had been hurt by a man who was trusted to teach and guide him. Many people wondered what would have happened if he had been stopped back when Riddle was still a child. But they had their doubts that Voldemort was dark just because of what was done to him.
They found the entrance right where they were told it was. It took a password through the room of requirements to find the door. But the handle had the Ravenclaw crest. And it took another to com in. They were in a dark corridor but thy followed their wands though and found themselves down below in a great chamber. The chamber was not dreary dungeon like as they saw Salazar's. The main room looked like a massive library which did not surprise them for Rowena and there were further rooms they noticed. They heard something and they realized that someone was there.
Sirius transformed into Padfoot and he started sniffing and sure enough he found hidden in an inner room, Ron. He had been they realized eating in a small kitchen area when they had found him.
Ron glared at them. "You are not taking me to prison. The headmaster will see me free. He brought me down here. There is no way."
Moody snarled at him. "Your benefactor is under arrest and when we catch him he will be going to prison for a long time. And you will be joining him."
He sent the minor aurors to see if they could find any evidence. They were sure that Albus would not be foolish enough to leave proof of where he was. And when they were done they were to seal off the chambers and make sure that Albus could not use them to get back into the school. And if he was already there, then he could not get back out using it. They needed to make sure that he had few choices. The man knew the school well enough and he would have enough power as it was.
They took Ron with them to Albus' old office. They had vertiserum and a warrant from Amelia. They needed to make sure they got any information they could. The boy was seriously facing prison time. The plea bargain he had arranged last time had gone out the window.
Moody looked at him. "If you do not want to add more crimes to your list of charges, you will tell us what you told Albus and how he escaped."
Ron sneered at them. "He never escaped. He is here in the school. He came back. He is just waiting for your little brat to be alone, to go get him."
They forced him to tell them. Ron had been cornered by the headmaster. The man had told him about Dung. He promised Ron would not face even parole. He could get him off. He just needed to know how much Ron had told them. And what he knew. Ron had told him everything. The man had known that Ron would be come after. He knew that if Ron was not there for testimony that there would be those on the jury who would be convinced that Ron had been tricked into lying. Moody thought Albus likely was holding him hostage and the fool did not even know. Even if h was a criminal Albus would have known they would have wanted to get Ron free and he would have likely used him as some kind of bargaining chip.
Moody motioned for him to be taken. "Your plea bargain is gone. You face eight years in prison for this. You should have learned to keep your tongue."
Ron stopped. "I have some information you might want. I know why he is after your son, why he went after Riddle as well. I know."
They swore if the information was decent they would have his sentence reduced. Ron showed them a hidden book he had found. They realized that it showed the family lines of the four founders and it was traced. The line of Salazar was ended. The line of Hufflepuff had been gone for some years. Albus and his brother were on the one for Ravenclaw. Severus looked in shock at the bottom of Gryffindor. His son. And even more at surprise at whom. Lily's mother by the looks of it had been a squib and since Lily was the only one with magic she was heir over her sister and her son was the last of the line.
Ron sneered. "The headmaster thought a child born of two of the heirs would be powerful. He tried with Tom and failed. So he wanted to try with Harry instead."
Moody motioned for him to be taken. "We will speak to Amelia and you should only face five years for your crimes."
They realized that Harry had been a target for more then his youth. And perhaps his powers were explained. The founders were four of the most powerful wizards in history. Godric and Salazar were the stronger of the four and Salazar was no match for Godric. It was possible that Harry had some how inherited some of the amazing power of the founder he was descended from. And it had made him a target. He was amazed to realize his first love had been called a mudblood but she was a half blood, her mother having been a squib. It looked as if her mother had been adopted and she would never have known.
Sirius looked at his boss. "If Ron is right the headmaster is here some where. We need to pick up security. We can not allow anything to happen to Harry."
Moody agreed. "It might be safer for Harry if he remained in the dungeons for now though. But maybe we can draw him out using Harry."
That brought angry snarls from both men. They were not going to use Harry as bait. Harry had been through more then enough. They would not risk him being hurt. The new information made it even more evident. Harry being the heir of Godric made it more obvious. Severus had to ensure that
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Dora was sitting with Harry. She was wondering what was going on. Her son was asleep. Harry was not her stepson in her mind. He was her son. Hers and Lily's. She did not care tat he would never call her mom. That never mattered to her. He was hers. And she felt his dad's helplessness. She wanted to be able to protect her son. She wanted him safe and focussing on school. And on his brother. On George who he was slowly allowing to get close to him again. George knew that Harry had every reason to be hurt and keeping him at a distance. But he was patient. He had faced the fire of Harry's family. And he had proven he was sorry for all of it. Even his dad knew Georg meant it. And Harry needed to have his family with him but also his friends. And those h loved. And that included George.
Harry had begun to stir and looked at her. "Dora, where is my dad? Is there any news from the ministry?"
Before she could answer Severus did from the door. "There is Harry. How are you feeling prince?"
Severus was convinced into telling them. They were relieved Ron had been found. But the rest left Harry shaken. He was pale when he heard about Dung. And sick when he found out from Ron. He should have found pride he was a Gryffindor. And in a way he was. He loved to hear about his family. But to learn that Albus had been trying to get him pregnant panicked him. He was just so grateful the man had failed.
Harry held to his dad. "Is Ron right? Is the headmaster in the school already?"
Severus sighed. "I don't know Harry. I hope not. But the wards in our rooms are strong. And the aurors have been doubled. We will do what we have to do."
Moody wanting to use Harry as bait ran through his mind. But he did not mention it. It would never happen. Harry was enough of a target. His son would not be used to fish him out. He had failed to protect his little boy before. He would not fail again this time. He swore he would not.