Spy in the Ointment Keeperoliver Chapter 5
She was running across the beach towards him. Her hair was done in small braids, covered with beads. She was wearing a one piece bathing suit, with the sides bare up to above her hips. She was blond and beautiful, and all his. she was just about to reach him, when he was doused with cold water, waking him up. "Ahhhhh! Prongsie, was that really necessary. Bo was just ready to jump into my arms when you drowned me. Now I will never know what she meant to do to me."
"Dreaming about that woman in that movie again, what was it called, Oh yeah, 10, wasn't it? Don't worry, it will all come back to you tonight. Same as last night, and the night before that. Some dreams remain the same. Come on, get up, Pads, it's time to get dressed and go eat breakfast."
"Hey, Bo Derek is not just any woman. She is the perfect woman, thus the title, 10, which is a rating system muggles use to identify the level of beauty for woman, with 10 being perfect, and 1 being Mildred Myers. I'll be with you in a few."
Sirius open his trunk and spotted the necklace and letter sitting on top. He pulled them out and looked at the pendant attached to the chain, and gave it a disgusting pitch to throw it on his bed. He then took the letter and opened it and started reading it. Instantly his eyes grew foggy as he read about his brother's findings, and about his apparent death. He sat down hard on his and started to weep. His brother and he were very close while growing up, but when he was sorted to Gryffindor, and Reg was put in Slytherin, they grew apart. Reg started to believe the things their Mother and Father always preached about, with the pure blood crap. Sirius was sure that Reg had joined the Death Eaters, and this letter confirmed it. But he also found himself with second thoughts, because of the way Lord Voldemort treated everyone, including his followers, like filth. He had learned that even though Voldemort believed in pure blood supremacy, he himself was a half blood.
James saw Sirius sitting there with tears flowing down his cheeks, and came over to him. "Hey Sirius, what the problem? You were so happy just a minute ago?"
Sirius shoved the letter at James, and he read it.
My Dear Brother
It is important that I pass this information on to you, as you are the only one I can trust with it. I have been having doubts about my commitment to the Death Eaters. This is not how I envisioned the way things should be. We are following a terrorist, who is claiming pure blood supremacy, while in fact is a half blood. I know this because I found out his real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle. His mother was a witch, and his father was a muggle.
In order to keep his Death Eaters close, he has given them the Death Mark, which gives him a strong control over them to ensure they do not rise up against him. He can use it to inflict pain, and call them when he requires their presence. Quite a control freak. Why I listened to him, I wish I knew. Probably to please mom and dad. Pathetic aren't I?
The reason he is so strong, is that he is using the darkest of magic to protect him. He has created 5 devices of such an evil nature, it practically guarantees immortality. These are called Horcruxes, and are hidden throughout the country. This locket is one of them. There are three ways to destroy them. Fiendfire, Basilisk venom, and a goblin made weapon, imbibed with either Basilisk venom, or phoenix tears. The five items are, this Pendant, Marvolo Gaunt's family ring, which can be found in the floorboards of the Gaunt house, Helga Hufflepuff's tea cup, which is in Bella's vault in Gringotts. Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, which can be found in the Room of Requirement, seventh floor, in Hogwarts. The last, is his personal diary, which can be found in Malfoy Manor.
Sirius, these must be destroyed, in order to be able to defeat Voldemort.
Since you are reading this letter, I can probably say that I am dead. I am sorry that we grew apart because of our beliefs. You were right, wizards are not all alike, but it is not because of blood status, but because their knowledge, and how they use. Their treatment of their fellow human beings. Their love for friends and family. I seem to have lost that in the end, and can only hope to redeem myself with this letter. Please do not think of me as a Death Eater, but as a Brother who has gone astray in his belief in family matters.
Yours in life, and death:
Regulas
James was beyond himself with grief, for his brother-in-arms, He knew that Sirius and Regulas were once close, but his Mother had driven them apart because of her holier than thou attitude.
"Sirius, I am sorry about Reg, I know you were close. One thing you can say about him is though, he died a hero. With this information, we have a chance to defeat this bastard, once and for all. Don't let Reg's death go in vain. Take this information and plan how to gather these Horcruxes, and find a way to destroy them. What do you say Padfoot?"
"You're right Prongsie, Reg went through hell to make sure I got this information, and I am going to take it to the one person who can do the most with it. Well, actually three People but you know what I mean, now let's go to breakfast, and set up a meeting. I am going to keep these with me, to make sure no one else finds them." and he stuffed the letter and the necklace in his robes and placed a sticking charm on them, to ensure he didn't lose them, and a notice-me-not charm, so that they would not show they were in his robes.
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Remus and Peter were sitting with Lily awaiting the last two members of their group, talking about what was going on outside of Hogwarts and the latest deaths. It seems the Death Eaters were becoming more bold in their attacks, and stayed longer to inflict more damage then they used to. This was because of Albus' attitude towards fighting the D.E.
When the two made it down stairs, they all could see where Sirius had been crying. When asked, Sirius just said later, at the meeting, which told Lily that she needed to set up a meeting with Minerva. Minnie would then get the information out to all the other members.
Peter had been giving them information that had saved a few lives while still able to protect his cover. He has always made it a point to ask to be excused from any plans that they might be making, so as not to have knowledge of them, if he happened to be caught at school. This had made a good impression on Voldemort, although he would never admit it to anyone. Peter would then return in his rat form, hidden, and report the information to Minerva, so that she could make the proper choice on whether to ignore it or do something about it. Unless it had to do with a known death, or an assassination, she generally chose to ignore it. No sense taking away all the fun from the Order, which she was also a member of. The Order was a fine organization, but was lacking in knowledge of the enemy. They did not have the information network that HELP does.
HELP was the name of their group which stood for Hogwarts Eliminates Lords Plans. Hoping it will soon change to HELL which means Hogwarts Eliminates Lords Life. They used Hogwarts name as a symbol of freedom and the willingness to fight back. Minerva was proud of her group of students, professors, aurors and Ministry workers who formed the little group. The only thing she was sorry about, was that the term was coming to an end very soon. They had to figure out how to continue. While thinking about all this, Lily knocked om her door, and was told to come in. Minerva saw Lily and smiled. Lily was more like a daughter to her than a student.
Lily explained what was needed for the evening, and would find a way to get detention. This time it was Remus who was on the receiving end of Peter's prank. As he walked in, Remus tripped on something, and fell against Alice's desk, and sent her ink bottle flying, to hit Frank on the chest, spraying the ink all over him. Frank looked at Remus with steely eyes, wanting an explanation. Peter, James, Sirius and Lily were laughing, thus getting them all in detention, and having to figure out away to apologize to Frank and Alice.
Later, Frank was laughing at their attempt to apologize, which set them all red faced. Frank had always been a good sport of the Marauders pranks, and laughed at the majority of them. There a few that he thought they might have gone too far, and he told them of it. They usually agreed that it may have been a bit over board. But in any case, they had been forgiven, and were off to their meeting.
When they all sat down, Sirius pulled the necklace and the letter from Regulas, and handed them to the Porfessor. Minerva read the letter, and looked up at Sirius, "I was wndering where your brother was, as he has not been seen for about a week now. I am sorry, Sirius. His loss will be felt, but what he has passed on, will benefit all who fight against He Who Must Not Be Named, and his Death Eaters. We must use this information to it's full potential. We have one of the Horcruxes in our possession, and know the location of the others. Now we must figure out the exact knowledge of these locations. Has anone heard of the Room of Requirement in the school?"
There was no comment, so Minerva called, "Daisy, could you come here please?"
With a pop, the house-elf named Daisy appeared, "Yous called Daisy Madam Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes Daisy, I was wondering if you could help? We are trying to figure out where the Room of Requirement was? Do you happen to know of it?"
"Oh yes Madam Professor McGonagall, it is called the come and go room. on the seventh floor, across from the naughty knight. yous just have to walk in front of it three times thinking about whats you need the room for. It has been used for hiding stuff for hundreds of years by us elves.
I could take you there if you wish?"
"Thank you Daisy, we would, maybe later this evening."
"As you wish Madam Professor McGonagall." and Daisy went back to work.
"Well, hopefully this will give us our second Horcrux."
Peter spoke up next, "I might be able to help with a couple of them. I believe I can get into Malfoy Manor and look for this diary. I know where Lucius keeps most of his Dark Items. And I may be able to get into Gringotts for the cup. It may not be any time soon, but I should be able to accomplish these."
"Peter, what you propose is very dangerous. If you should get caught, your life will be in jeopardy. I don't know if I can allow that?"
"Do you know of another way Professor? I could the one in Malfoy Manor right now, and be back within the hour. Like I said, the Bank is another issue. I have to wait for either Bellatrix or Rudolphus to make a visit."
"If you think you can get the diary from Lucius, perhaps you should go ahead, and while you are gone, we will try to find the one here. But please be careful, Peter. It is because of your bravery that we are able to accomplish so much more than any other organization."
"Thank you Madam Professor McGonagall Ma'am. You cause me to blush." And Peter smiled at her. He then left, in search of the diary, and the rest called for Daisy and left for the Room of Requirement.
Peter arrived outside of Malfoy Manor, and circled the perimeter looking for a way in that would not set off the alarms. He found a hole that was made by a gopher or another burrowing animal, and used it to gain entrance in his animagus form. He continued to enter the house in the same manner, until he made ti to the hidden room in Lucius' private study. Rather than try enter the hidden room, Peter looked for a way in in his form. He soon found a small gap in the bookcase and wall, and entered that way. Using the materials in the wall, he made hi way down, and into the room. He Changed back into himself, and started looking for the diary. Looking in the shelves, in the desk, in old trunks and boxes, but found nothing. He looked around the room, taking in everything, and then he it. A small gap behind a picture that hung above Lucius' desk. Peter pulled the picture out to find a safe. To anyone else, this might have posed a problem, but Peter was a Marauder, and if a Marauder wanted to get into something, they got into it. Peter pressed his ear to the tumbler and listened for the mechanism of the lock, to click. when it did, he turned the tumbler the other way, listening once again for the click which soon did, and then back the other way with the tumbler to hear the last click, and he pulled the safe door open. Sure enough, there was the diary. Peter transfigured an old book that was covered with dust from the bottom of one of the Chests, to look like the diary, and replaced it. Closed the door, and reset the tumbler. replaced the picture so that it stuck out just a bit. He stuck the diary in his robes, morphed back to his form, and left the building, and the grounds. He then made his way back to Hogwarts, to find his friends and all the other members of their group, sitting around what looked like a crown. Peter placed the diary down with the other two objects, looking proud of his accomplishment. which he should.
Lily pulled him into a hug, telling him how proud she was of him. The rest of the Marauders also hugged him, for which he said, "Listen guys, I appreciate what you think of me, but if I have just gotten a hug from Lily, don't even think of hugging me after it. Hell, I didn't even get a chance to enjoy it."
Peter received three smacks in the head, and then another Hug, and a kiss on the cheek from Lily. When she backed away, the three started for Peter, but was stopped by a threat from Lily with her wand. "Don't even think about it you three. Peter deserves his moment of glory, and the rewards he receives from it. Now back off." The look on the three faces was like a little kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Peter beamed at Lily for her kind treatment. She just smiled back at him.
MInerva broke there little game up, and asked about the last item unaccounted for. Gaunt's ring.
They knew it was in the Gaunt family home, but where was that exactly. It must be near Riddle Manor, but there again, where was that exactly?
Lily had an idea. "Professor, do you think Professor Dumbledore would know the location of either of these Homes? Just knowing the location of one, might find us the other."
"Even if he knew, how could we ask, without raising suspicion?"
"Leave that to me, hopefully tomorrow evening, we will know the exact locations of the last two horcruxes. Then all we have to do, is find a way to destroy them."
Remus thought for a minute, and said, "If a horcrux can be destroyed by a goblin made weapon laced with Phoenix tears, why not go to the source and ask them?"
Both Lily and Minerva slapped themselves in the forehead. "Bloody fur ball." said Lily with embarrassment. It was such an obvious answer, yet only a werewolf could think of it.
Sirius chimed in, "Why do you think we keep him around, someone has to do the thinking for us?"
Every one laughed, and and made final arrangements for meeting the next meeting, using a second detention for their reasoning, which came about due to an argument between Remus and Peter for getting them into trouble in the first place.
With ten days left to their school days, James had Lily alone when they got back to the dorm, and asked if he could speak to her in private. They went to the heads dorm where James sat Lily down, and then got down on one knee. "Lily for seven years I have tried to win your heart. For six years, you have rejected my pleas. This year for some unknown reason, you have accepted them. For that I am eternally grateful. Now I wish to make it everlasting by asking you to be my wife. Lily Marie Evans, will you Marry me?"