Chapter 4 The Order and Death Eaters.

August 20

Albus was not a happy man. He had been warned by Severus that Voldemort thought he had found a way around the wards. Even Harry had warned him that the wards were compromised but he in his arrogance had not listened. He was after all the greatest wizard of this age and it was unthinkable that a child would understand the ins and outs of blood wards better than he did and so now Harry was gone. Taken from the one place Albus was sure would be safe and by the very man who had wanted to kill him for the last fifteen years.

No hope for that, now the task was to find and rescue the boy before it was too late. The fact that it wasn't to late yet was both gratifying and worrying. Surely Tom would have killed the boy the moment he had him in hand. That he hadn't pointed to something nefarious. Was Tom thinking to use the boy or perhaps even try to turn him? Albus hoped it was the last because he knew Tom would fail if that was his goal but if he was keeping the boy alive for a ritual or even something to play with…The thought sent shivers down his back. He turned to address the order.

"As most of you know, Harry was taken from his family's home two days ago. The tracking charms I had on him were both canceled yesterday morning by an outside source. The tracking charm on his wand is still in effect. We are currently trying to establish the location of the wand on the premise that where it is so shall Harry be. If not in the exact location then at least close by."

Kingsley pursed his lips in thought before he asked, "Why are you so sure he was taken Albus? Couldn't he have just left?"

Albus shook his head no. "The improper use of underage magic picked up on two silencing charms cast by his wand on the night he vanished. On investigation they found his family hiding in the attic on Harry's instructions. The charms were cast on the second floor and on the attic. His aunt told the aurors he had felt a shift of some sort in the wards and sent them up there for their own safety. Harry sent his owl with a message asking us for help. Unfortunately no one was here untilthe following afternoon and by then it was too late. He was gone."

Molly moaned as if in pain. Her husband wrapped his arms around her trying to comfort her. She had been the one to find the note the next day and had not stopped mentally beating herself up for what she perceived as a major failing on her part since she wasn't there when Harry needed her. Arthur also saw it as a major failing but he blamed the whole order and especially Albus for not having foreseen the need for a speedy contact method with the boy.

Alastor glared at those assembled around the table with his good eye before he voiced Arthur's thoughts. "We failed that boy badly in more ways than one. Do we have any information on who took him? I want to know how someone brought down those wards that you put so much trust in Albus."

Albus seemed to age before the eyes of those assembled. "The wards are still intact." He licked his lips nervously before he continued. "Harry told me before he left school for the holidays that he thought the wards were compromised because Voldemort used his blood to create a new body for himself." Shame stained his cheeks. "I dismissed his concerns as a ploy to get out of him going home over the summer."

Molly stared at the old man across from her in horror before she slammed her hands down on the table and pushed herself to the feet. Almost too softly to hear she asked "You knew and you did nothing?"

"Molly, no. How could I have known? I had only the logic of a discontented boy and the vague warnings of Severus. Nothing concrete."

Molly's face paled. "Severus? Severus warned you too?" She had started out pale and soft spoken but red started to stain her face and her voice got louder till she was screaming. "You knew he hated it there and you sent him back anyhow and now you tell us that he told you," spittle flew from her mouth, "Thedamned wards were compromised and you still sent him back? What did Severus tell you?"

Molly in a rage was almost a force of nature. Albus had the quick thought that if they could find a way to bottle that rage and use it against death eaters Tom would be alone. Unfortunately this time her rage was directed at him and she didn't even know the whole story yet. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and told them "Severus told me in mid July that Voldemort thought he had found a way around the wards."

He didn't even have time to open his eyes before he heard dishes knocked to the floor and china shattering. His eyes snapped open only to see an enraged woman with red hair perched on the table, fist drawn back. Before he could do mort than raise a hand that fist connected with his nose. The loud crunch indicated that the aforementioned nose was once again broken. Blood flew and thankfully Author grabbed his wife and pulled her back into his arms. If he hadn't Albus was sure he would have been suffering from more than a broken nose by now.

It was the soft clapping that distracted everyone from the sight of blood dripping from the gloriously swollen nose on Dumbledore's face. Heads swiveled toward the clapping and everyone was treated to the extremely rare site of the dour potions master clapping his hands, a small grin on his face. "Bravo Molly although you should have saved it untilafter I made my report. I'm thinking you may want another go at him then but you have lost the element of surprise now."

Albus grabbed a handkerchief from a pocket and applied pressure to the nose trying to sop up the blood. A quick spell from Remus and the blood stopped flowing enough for him to try and talk. "You have news of Harry's location Severus?"

"Indeed I do although the news I have is not what anyone would welcome or expect. It seems that Potter was kidnapped just before midnight on August nineteenth. He was taken by The Dark Lord himself and sold later the next morning to a Drow. The inner circle is convinced that he is to be used as a sex slave for their perversions. In order to acquire the boy the Drow have aligned themselves with The Dark Lord."

Remus' face took on a blank look and his eyes a tinge of golden. The wolf close to the surface at the threat to his cub he snarled. He wasn't the only one either. The others in the room were voicing outrage and fear for the child too.

Severus savored the chaos he had created knowing that he wasn't even finished with the story yet. He hoped that by the time the whole story was told Albus would never fail to heed his warnings again. Severus had the feeling that it just might save his life at some future point in time. You see, Severus was one of the few people who knew the importance of Harry Potter in the war effort and his loss was causing Severus to rethink his loyalties. He had betrayed his master after hearing a part of the prophesy because he thought that with a new powerful wizard teamed up with Albus the light side was a sure shoe in for victory but now? Now one half of the equation was gone and from the reports he had heard would never be seen again and even if the order managed to retrieve him his magic was by now burned out so he would be useless in a fight except as some sort of poster boy and in reality how would that help?

Albus played directly into his hands as he said. "Severus, please explain what you said."

Severus sighed in a mocking way before he asked the room at large. "Do you want all of the gory details then?"

"We need to know if we are to counter this tragedy my boy."

Severus nodded once before he continued to speak. "The night of August eighteenth Potter was kidnapped and taken to a secured location. There a select few of the inner circle and The Dark Lord met with a Drow early the next morning that purchased the boy for the sum of four thousand galleons as well as a promise of an alliance. Part of the bargain was that Potter would have his magic stripped from him and he would never be seen in the human world again. From what I was told the boy was stripped of his clothes before those assembled and examined by the Drow before the agreement was reached. He was taken shortly after that. Even The Dark Lord does not know where he is."

Albus shuddered before he asked, "What of his wand Severus? Does he have that with him?"

Severus shook his head no. "The Dark Lord kept it as a trophy of his defeat of Potter."

Tonks had tears streaming from her eyes. She turned from the assembled and buried herself in Emmeline's arms. The older woman patted her on the back and just let her cry.

Dedaluscleared his throat and asked in a shaky voice, "Do you have a plan Albus? If his magic was indeed burned out will there be anything even worth rescuing?"

Both Molly and Arthur glared at him before Arthur said, "I don't care if he's a squib or muggle now. He's still a boy and a part of my family. We need to find him now!" Molly contented herself with glaring at the assembled with her tear-filled red eyes and nodding in agreement at her husband's words.

"We will not abandon the child. Severus can you find out if any of your contacts know where he was taken? I might be able to get in touch with a gray elf I knew several years ago. Although they are not always light creatures, I think she will be able to put me in touch with some high elves. I understand that there was some sort of issue brought up before the Wizengamot about some property a few years ago. Perhaps we can strike some sort of deal with them in return for their help in locating and rescuing Harry."

Hestia turned in time to see the curt nod from the potions master at Dumbledore's request and missed a part of what was said as she tried to analyze the expression on his face. A sort of hope mixed with hopelessness she would say. Well though, if they were going to ask for help from elves she could offer something. "My family has contact with an elven family. They are a mixed couple. He's a common elf and she's a wood elf. Their family lives near my ancestral home. I use to play with their children before I got too old for them. I think they'll remember me with fondness. Do you want me to try and contact them, Headmaster?"

He gave her a smile of encouragement. "Yes, please do. If they are willing to help us have them try to find out where Harry was taken and what was done to him. The rest of you please just keep your ears and eyes open. I'll contact you as soon as I have any more news." With that the meeting broke up. Some to floo home, some to stay and comfort each other, so to go and plot and a very small group to try to find out anything they could about the location of one young man.

August 28

Severus had been called to a death eater meeting only this one was different. This one was not called by the Dark Lord. This one was called by Lucius and only involved the inner circle. He listened closely trying to figure out what the hell was going on now.

Lucius paced in front of those assembled rolling his glass of cognac between his two hands. "I noticed the problem about two days ago. Our Lord is in pain but he doesn't know why. He's also having trouble eating and sleeping. He can't locate the source of this pain. I had a healer from St. Mungo's look him over yesterday but he didn't find anything wrong either. I suspect its spell damage but I can't find any trace of the spell used."

Avery started to nibble on his bottom lip it was a habit he had when thinking that absolutely drove Severus wild."Did he ask you to contact us for help with this problem Lucius?"

Lucius turned his grey eyes to Avery and studied him for a moment before he answered the man. "No he did not. He doesn't even know I called you all here to discuss the problem. That's why I did not ask Bella to come. She would have informed him of what goes on here and that would have crippled any help we might be able to give him."

Nott narrowed his eyes at his host. "You play a dangerous game Lucius. If he finds out that you've gone behind his back like this he won't be very happy with you and if he finds out that we are helping you it might mean our very lives."

"What I don't understand is what you expect us to do to help him Lucius. If he can't find the source of this pain then how do you expect us to? His powers make ours look childlike and weak." Avery said.

Lucius rubbed his eyes with one of his hands. "I don't know what I expect. I just don't like seeing any form of weakness in our master. It makes me feel uncomfortable to know that something could get to him. It that can happen to the most powerful wizard that I have ever heard of then just think of what can happen to us." Lucius sighed in exasperation before he continued. "Look, just keep an eye out for anything strange going on. If you notice anything let me know. Alright?"

September 3

Voldemort had been quiet for the past several days. The order had not expected 'calm before the storm' as it were, especially when the mad man had been able to dispose of his hated enemy and unfortunately dispose of him he did. Albus looked once more over at the device that had been tuned to Harry's life-force and winced as he once again watched it falter. Harry wasn't dead. Oh no, he wasn't dead at least not yet but from the way the device was working Albus was sure it was only a matter of time, a very short amount of time before it stilled completely and the boy's life force left him. A tear trickled down his weathered cheek. So far the order had come up empty. No one had been able to find anything helpful. No one had even been able to contact any elves for help or at least information. If something didn't break soon it would be too late.

September 16

Albus was an old man and today more than any other he showed it. Today Harry Potter had died. Albus had been in a meeting with some of his teachers about a problem they were having with several of the Slytherines who had been getting more out of control as the first month of school progressed. That these students were the children of known or suspected death eaters made dealing with the problem even more difficult. They were always taunting Minerva's students over the fact that Voldemort had taken out Harry over the summer and Albus was quite frankly afraid that soon all hell would break loose. He thus had his heads of house in his office discussing means and methods that could be used to control the situation before it came to the point that blood was shed when it happened. The device used to monitor Harry's life force had sputtered and died. Albus waited for it to start to whirl once again, his eyes never leaving the little silver instrument but it never did. He closed his eyes in defeat as the tears started to fall.

Pomona watched him in alarm. "Albus?" She reached out her hand and gently touched him on his arm. "What's wrong?"

Opening his eyes he glanced around the room till his eyes fell on Minerva. With his left hand he indicated the now silent silver instrument. The twinkle that usually shown in his eyes was gone leaving them looking dead. "Minerva, he's dead."

Her eyes darted to the instrument and she licked her lips nervously before she asked softly, "Harry?"

He only nodded in agreement.

Severus didn't know quite what to think. Ever since Lucius had called most of the inner circle to a meeting about the Dark Lord no one had heard from him. Both Voldemort and Lucius seemed to be missing and Severus didn't know what to do but he did know this much. Harry was dead, the Dark Lord was missing and the two were most likely interconnected…