Chapter Five

Harry and Ron lay on their beds and talked quietly. They were waiting until it got late so they could sneak into Harry's aunt's room.

"I can't tell you Ron how awful it will be to go inside her head," Harry moaned. "She set me up to get me killed. If she did anything to hurt Nadya I think I'll go crazy."

"Yeah Harry, that's pretty awful, but we gotta know what she knows." Ron had his hands behind his head staring at the ceiling. "Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry answered, talking with his eyes shut.

"I really love Hermione," Ron said. "Do you think she knows?"

"Yeah, Ron she knows," Harry answered.

"Good," Ron mumbled. "When I see her again I'm going to tell her."

"Let's go find her then," Harry said suddenly, rolled off the bed and opened the door a crack.

Ron swept down the hall in stocking feet and positioned himself at Lupin's bedroom door. Harry went the opposite direction and crept into his Aunt's room. A lamp was lit and turned down low. He stepped near her bed and shook her arm. The only way to perform the Legilimency charm was to have her look him in the eye. She woke and stared at her surroundings and jumped when she saw him.

LEGILIMENS, Harry breathed. The feeling was familiar, it was very close to using floo powder. Harry's greatest concern about doing the charm was that he might get confused and lost by the myriad memories and thoughts in her mind. Snape had been right when he told him it wasn't mind-reading, seeing words or thoughts written on the back of the skull. This was altogether different. He had only done this with Snape as a guide, and they had entered Dumbledore's mind, which was a nightmarish labyrinth. He remembered they both had been brought back by Jolie, his Romany friend and very close to the point of death or insanity.

As Harry entered her mind, he found it wasn't as hard as he feared. His aunt's mind was much simpler. Her thoughts centered on her clean house, indulging her son and compulsively spying on her neighbors. Harry sorted her thoughts like a deck of cards. The most recent memories surfaced.

It seemed his aunt had not been in touch with the wizarding world very much over the years until the trouble started with the Dementors attacking him and Dudley in the alley. The shock of her sister's death had made her flee into the safety of the muggle world. She kept the wizarding world at arms length, not returning to it at all for years. Over time, information drifted in from witches and wizards she had once known but those contacts had grown stale.

Then, he saw the memory he was looking for, very much like he had when he entered the Pensieve and reviewed Dumbledore's and Snape's memories. These were fresh and current events. Petunia answered the door of her home at Number Four Privet Drive. Harry floated just over her shoulder watching as if he were actually there, just like the Poltergeist, Peeves.

"I've come with information," Percy Weasley said.

Harry was snapped out of her mind by the shear force of his own surprise. When he opened his eyes his aunt was looking at him, her mouth wide open.

"I'm sorry, " she mouthed the words soundlessly.

Harry stepped back in alarm. He thought he could hear anything she had to say except that. He backed out of the room shaking his head. He didn't want her apology or even sympathy; both were repulsive to him. He wanted to scream at her, shake her, stop her from saying any more and instead, he fled.

Ron slipped into the dark room after Harry and lit a lamp. "Did you do it?" he asked.

"Yes," Harry answered quietly, his back to him. He was feeling sick to his stomach and shaking. He waited until Ron had dropped on the bed. "I can really only tell you what I saw. But you know Ron, I could have misinterpreted…or," he stopped.

Ron was staring at him with a frown on his face. "Harry. What is it?" he asked.

"It was Percy, Ron," Harry said, sitting at the edge of the bed. "He was her informant."

Ron's paled. "Of course," was all he said.

The next morning Harry's aunt came down to the kitchen fully dressed in witches robes and appeared completely composed. She ate breakfast in silence and waited quietly until Lupin and Harry joined her in the sitting room. To Harry, this woman sitting very quietly in the room drinking coffee was a changed woman. The clothes she wore seemed very natural on her. She looked relaxed, even at-ease.

Lupin spoke to her, "We're going to apparate to Diagon Alley were the wizarding bank is. We did the same thing when we left the train station." He was being gentle.

"I know what it means," she said, quietly. "Let's get this done." She had stopped acting frightened and bewildered.

Harry was not surprised when she walked into Gringott's and didn't take a second glance at the goblins. The paperwork was signed and then they rode the cart to the three vault's to view the contents as they were required to do. Harry was mildly surprised when he noticed the paperwork did not include his own private vault with the money his parent's had set aside for him. Somehow Dumbledore had managed or had forgotten to include it along with the other assets he owned.

The goblin opened the three vaults in succession. Harry was reminded of his first view of his own money when Hagrid had escorted him to Gringott's. He was eleven at the time. The amount looked very impressive to him then since he never had very much money in his entire life. Now, he stood staring in the open vaults, all three the size of the ballroom in the Black mansion. They were stacked ceiling to floor with gold galleons.

Harry grabbed his aunt just before she passed out and then, realizing what he had done, dropped her to the floor. The goblin frowned at him and together they rolled her unconscious body into the cart.

When they returned to the main bank floor, she was still unconscious. Lupin waved his wand and moved her out of the bank to a quiet corner on the street.

"Remus," Harry began, handing him the glass of water he conjured, "there was so much money."

Lupin nodded and said softly, "I know. I have the same amount." He held Petunia's head and dripped the water between her lips. "I told you once some time ago, Harry, we are very wealthy men. Money and power run in the pureblood line like blood. They don't like losing their money anymore than they like having their pure blood dirtied."He glanced up and said, "You may want to think about hanging onto it. Sometimes you can change the balance of things with the kind of money stored in those vaults. I never could get that across to Sirius."

Harry didn't comment.

They apparated back to No. 12 Grimmauld Place and met Ron and Snape. Lupin had just helped Petunia into a taxi. She didn't even look at him when it had pulled away. Harry gazed after it for a moment and then turned with Lupin, thought about the address to No. 12 Grimmauld Place and the house appeared behind him. They hurried up the steps and into the mansion.

Jolie was also waiting along with someone Harry thought was just another Roma. The man was dressed in the typical gypsy clothing. He wore a hat pulled down on his head, the same heavy mustache that most Rom men grew. His clothes were faded and simple; a shirt, pants and boots.

Jolie greeted Harry like a long, lost brother. For the first time, Harry noted Jolie didn't say hello with a big smile on his face. "Harry, Harry, as always I have missed you," he said in Romani. "I feel like ripping out my heart for you because I am so sad." He hugged Harry harder. "We will find your dehiba (love) or I will put my life in your hands to do as you please."

"Jolie, I'm just glad you're here," Harry replied gently and hugged the shorter man back.

They gathered in the sitting room. Harry and Ron both watched the other Roma who had not been introduced. It was a curious formality to the Roma, but an important one, and it was overlooked. Harry was sure Jolie had intended to not introduce him. Jolie would never commit this kind of social mistake otherwise.

Harry noticed even Snape showed deference to the man. Lupin stood quietly in the corner with Ron.

They all sat in silence until the man spoke. "Harry Potter, I am Jonas." The man's hands grasped a long stem pipe and it suddenly curled with smoke as he drew on it. The dark eyes peered from beneath the broad brimmed hat.

Harry sat in front of him and returned his stare. If you are sizing me up, he thought, Then, I'm going to show you I'm not afraid. "Hello, friend," Harry said in Romani. "I have been told Jolie would bring a Senseve to help us find a friend and my wife."

Jonas studied Harry and puffed on his pipe. He then looked at Ron who was staring into the fire and shooting glances at him periodically. He addressed Harry. "You have some knowledge everyone in the room is not aware of?" he asked, finally. Ron's head went up and his mouth fell open. Harry kept silent.

"Ah well, sometimes we must keep secrets from others," Jonas said and pocketed the pipe that had suddenly stopped smoking. "If you wish to find your wife and your girlfriend," he said and looked at Ron, "we must be honest with each other."

Harry could feel Snape's eyes boring into him.

"I don't know you," Harry said. "I trust you are an honest man because you come with Jolie." He kept his eyes on Jonas and said, "For him I would put my heart in your hands." He spoke in Romani making sure the man understood why he was reticent to speak and then he continued. "There was a young man who was captured and tortured by the person called the Kalo Beng, the one the Roma call the Black Devil. I helped to bring him home. He was the brother of the red-haired man over there." Harry nodded in Ron's direction.

"This young man has been giving my aunt information about me and Nadya. I went into the mind of my aunt, and read it there. It is a magic called Legilimens. We can't be sure Percy Weasley, isn't possessed and is doing this for this black devil."

Jonas listened and watched his face and murmured, "You are an honest man, Harry Potter. We will search for your Nadya," he turned to Ron and said, "and your sweetheart."

Jolie relaxed and smiled reassuringly. Snape understood part of the conversation and had his hands folded over his chest, leaning against the wall. Harry knew he was angry. Harry translated part of the conversation to Ron and Lupin. "He's agreed to help," he said, finishing.

"It's time you return to Hogwarts," Lupin said.

Ron and Harry both turned to stare at Lupin in surprise.

"You can't do anything here," Remus explained. "Jonas will be busy and you'll be in the way. And anyway, you have your studies there. Don't you agree Severus?"

"Yes," Snape agreed. He nodded to Jolie and bowed respectfully to Jonas, saying, "We will be on our way."

Harry was on his feet, almost shouting, "That's it? We leave this up to him?" Ron was also standing. He forgot all about his Roma manners and was almost howling in fury.

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Snape answered and headed to the door. "I expect you and Mr. Weasley to join me in the hallway in five minutes. Say your goodbyes."

"Remus," Harry turned to him, his voice pleading, "I can't just wait for something to happen. I need to know if Nadya is okay, if Hermione is okay. I want to help."

"Harry," Remus said gently, wrapping an arm around each boy, "Ron. I guarantee you won't be left out of this. Right now I want you both to go back to school. I will hang around here and wait for word from Albus to see what he wants." He squeezed each boy with one arm. "Trust Snape, for once. He does know what he's doing most of the time."

Harry said goodbye to Jolie and nodded a polite farewell to Jonas with a small apology for his outburst, although his anger was not yet gone.

They apparated to the edge of the grounds of Hogwarts, arriving at the same time. Snape walked ahead of them across the snowy landscape, up the drive.

"So?" Harry asked as they made their way up the drive close on the man's heels.

Snape glanced at him, and said, "I have lessons to prepare and you have classes to attend. I suggest you get to it."

Harry could tell Snape was not in a good mood after what he had revealed about doing Legilimency on his aunt, but he proceeded anyway. "Remus said you knew there was a plot to draw me out and kidnap me or kill me. But there's more isn't there?"

Snape walked on in silence. Ron was hurrying to keep up.

"Well?" Harry shouted. He was behind him and had plowed to a sudden stop.

Snape drew up short and Ron almost plunged into his back. He turned, sidestepped Ron and strolled back to Harry. "Let's get this over with shall we?" he said, glaring. "It was obvious your Aunt was the instrument of some plot. Someone helped her. She's rather a boring person but crafty enough to get involved in something over her head, which she has done before and was destined to do again. After all, she has been snooping in our world since before you were born. I hope you realize it was the very thing that got your mother and father killed," Snape's voice was pounding. "She's only just realized how stupid she's been and how close it has drawn Him to her. I don't doubt the money was the lure, at least for her, but she now knows just how close to the flames she has gotten and is nearly burned."

"So you followed me to catch that person," Harry said, calmly.

"I've said it before and I will say it again. You're are arrogant and stubborn and a rule breaker. If you had followed Dumbledore's orders and gotten on the train with your aunt, then I would have been able to catch the person. Potter, you're always letting your emotions guide you. You were so wrapped up in your feelings about your aunt you failed to recognize there was a purpose behind her little visit and it had nothing to do with money."

"You were using me as bait," Harry said, ignoring Snape's inflammatory remarks. "You and Dumbledore."

"Yes," Snape snapped, turned on his heel and headed towards the school. Harry followed and Ron behind him. Snape continued to talk as they walked, "Of course, I just said that. There was no danger to you. You were being followed by me and others. But the famous Mr. Potter breaks the rules, or should I say Miss Granger breaks the rules. One of the famous threesome." He twirled his hand in the air and shook his head theatrically, glaring at Ron who had caught up and walked at his side.

"She figured it out didn't she?" Harry said running alongside. "Hermione understood just like you did. She tried to protect me by having me apparate ahead. Then, she was going to find Nadya and protect her?"

"The message was very clear, Potter," Snape said, stopping suddenly. "Only a dunderhead would have missed it!"

Harry ignored the insult and remained standing in front of him.

"Nadya must have learned about the plot to draw you away from Hogwarts. For some reason we have yet to understand she could not communicate directly to you, which means she is in trouble. In an attempt to warn you, she found a means to send a message with the informant. A message which would draw the attention of the only two people who would recognize it and know what it meant."

"You and Hermione," Harry said.

"Of course," Snape hissed. "We were the only one's who knew she was pregnant. Your aunt had no idea you were married or that Nadya was pregnant. It had to come from another source and it was a cry from Nadya for help. Petunia Dursley was just using the information for her own gain."

"It was Percy who was the informant," Harry said. Ron's head was bouncing from one to another as they continued their verbal duel. "I used Legilimency on my aunt," Harry said.

Snape sneered, leaned in and hissed, "I knew as much, Potter. I am not a fool! I understand Romani better then I let on." He turned to leave them and said coldly, "We will discuss your actions later."

"Wait, Professor... Professor Snape. Please." Harry's voice was soft and pleading. Snape whirled on him, waiting. "Was it Percy on the train?" Harry asked not waiting for an answer. "It had to be. Hermione would have trusted him, would have gone with him, especially if she thought Ron was in trouble. Or did she go alone, by herself...to Nadya. Do you know?" Harry looked at Ron. "Can Jonas find out?"

Harry moved closer to Snape and the two were now eye-to-eye. "If Percy kidnapped Hermione he can't know that she is Nadya's secret-keeper. Will he hold her as a hostage to get to me?"

Snape glared at him and said, "Would it do me any good to say you need to be here at Hogwarts? That you need to attend your classes and leave this up to more experienced wizards?" He turned once again and sidestepped Harry to keep moving, growling all the time, "No, probably not!"

"She's my wife!" Harry roared.

"And Hermione's my friend," Ron said, immediately.

Snape once again stopped just short of the front entrance. This time he looked like he could melt them with his stare alone. "Did it ever occur to either of you to ask for help? That we are interested in keeping you all safe, especially you, Mr. Potter- and your wife- and Miss Granger? Now what do we have?" he asked in his deep baritone voice which always seemed to penetrate so deeply.

"I will make sure you remain in the dungeons under Filch's gentle care and ministrations if either of you step out of line in the slightest. Do I have to tell either of you that I am angry?" Snape's lips were pressed together in such a thin line they were barely visible. His eyebrows went up and both stepped back acknowledging his question without speaking.

He continued, "We can only hope Miss Granger can find a way to help Nadya or keep her safe. There is one thing for certain; if she can, she will return to Hogwarts. She is at least bright enough to know it is the safest place to be! If she has been taken by Percy Weasley then we shall know, soon enough. Until then we must rely on the Senseve to provide us with clues since I am fresh out of ideas as to how to proceed."

"Professor?" Harry started.

Snape looked like he was about to pull out his wand and curse him. He spoke through gritted teeth, "What?"

"I'm sorry," Harry said. "We didn't know what you were doing. I promise I won't do anything until you tell me. But…will you tell me?"

Snape kicked open the front entrance hall door and waited until they had passed before him. "Yes! Now go to your classes!"

9