Chapter 5
The New Regime
With Drakan in control of the ministry everything changed. Muggle born wizards were being rounded up left and right. Suspected members of the rise were being followed; most of the members of the rise were unable to be at the headquarters in the weeks to come. Only four wizards were usually at headquarters. Jude had not done much of anything sense his mothers death. He mostly lay in bed quietly and stared at the ceiling. Justarius did not have much to do either; Drakan had the paper make it out that Justarius had fled in fear without a fight surrendering the ministry. Horbey was constantly in and out not saying much. He was extremely busy as of late. Whenever he went somewhere he was rushing and never had time to talk.
Jon had spent the last week in boredom not having anything to do nor being given anything to do, though he did wear the fact that he was one of the highest on the wanted by the ministry list. Number 4 right behind Waros, Jon was quite pleased to be so recognized as a major enemy. Horbey was listed as THE most wanted. Justarius right behind, and Waros after Justarius.
Though Jon was in the rise's "inner circle" he did not feel any different. No one else from the circle seemed to show up and even Horbey said very little to anybody. When he was at headquarters he was shut up in his room pouring over ancient books, it seemed that he was searching for something, and his search was not going well, for his attitude was less and less cheerful as the days dragged on.
Boredom was it seemed getting the best of Jon, he was on the verge of telling Horbey and the rise to stick a wand up there ass and leave so that he could find someplace to go. The biggest question was where? He had no family anymore, his father a murderer his uncle the same though now dead. He was forced to stay in this house. He felt blackmailed into staying, and he hated that Horbey had done that.
The old wizard that Jon had scarcely heard of. He had been known to be in contact with Dumbledore, they were apparently friends. Jon wondered but did not know if they had even attended Hogwarts together. But that couldn't be true, Horbey had no British accent. He could not have lived there as a youth. Horbey was mostly known as a candidate for minister of magic at the same time Justarius was running. It had not been close. Justarius was known as a hero who had captured many dark wizards, and Horbey was virtually unknown.
Justarius and Horbey were it seemed friends. They acted to be close friends when Horbey actually came out, mostly it was for something to eat, and Justarius always joined Horbey for some conversation. Jon on occasion joined them in the hope of scoring information on something interesting, but rarely that was so. They discussed things that Jon cared little for. Nothing concerning the war.
It turned out that the house used for headquarters had been Liza's and she had left it to Jude. Jude had agreed to let the rise continue using it for headquarters, he seemed very depressed, rarely even coming out of his room to eat. Jon on occasion ventured into his room in an effort to cheer him up.
"She was very brave, she saved Waros' life." Jon had told Jude many times. Jude never cried, he seemed at a stage past tears. And when he spoke it was mostly of how he was proud to be her son, and that he loved her very much. Jon couldn't stand to much time with Jude. It was all too depressing, and after 2 weeks Jude was still lying in bed staring at the ceiling.
"Its starting to get a little pathetic don't ya think Jon?" Justarius asked. It was a rare occasion when Justarius spoke to Jon as an equal. All in all Jon thought the ex-minister seemed a little stuck up.
"Ya I mean it is really sad and all but after two weeks he she start to get over it." Jon answered trying his best not to sound as if he was judging Jude. Justarius grunted in agreement and raised the paper. Jon sighed and closed his eyes imagining that he was in a place more exciting. Here there was a war going on and he was under orders to stay cramped up in a house. It was all together unfair. Two weeks and Horbey seemed to be no closer at overthrowing Drakan. Was he even doing anything at all? Perhaps he had given up. That couldn't be true, though he had only known Horbey for a few weeks, he seemed like the man to rally around, like the man who could lead everyone to victory, and from what Justarius had said about Horbey seemed to strengthen this thought.
"He is a much better wizard then me. I realized that now, he should have become Minister not me. He wouldn't have let every the ministry fall to Drakan." Justarius had said days after he had been shut up in the house. Jon had believed that Horbey was a great wizard then. Now he wasn't so sure. A great wizard would have made some type of progress by now.
Horbey entered the house on the afternoon of the third Monday. He sat down in the living room and breathed a sigh. Jon noticed instantly that Horbey looked rather happier than usual.
"You look happier than usual." Jon said sitting up more excited than he had in days. Horbey took a deep breath and looked at Jon.
"Well nothing too big has happened my friend, I am only slightly closer to my goal, but closer is still closer." Horbey said. Jon was happy; he was closer to overthrowing Drakan.
"So you're closer to taking out Drakan?" Jon asked happily as Justarius entered the room. Horbey looked at Justarius and Justarius looked back at Horbey.
"You found it didn't you!" Justarius said excited. Horbey smiled back and stood up. They both together entered the study. Before Horbey had closed the door Jon yelled out.
"Found what?" Horbey turned around smiling.
"You will find out in due time Jon, Trust me you will find out in due time." Horbey said as he closed and locked the doors.
"They look rather happy, considering we're losing a war." Someone spoke at the entrance to the living room. Jon looked up and saw that Jude was out of bed and speaking.
"You're up! Very good. Want something to eat? I can fix you something." Jon said. Jude nodded quickly and walked to the kitchen quickly followed by Jon. Jon quickly got Jude something soup and a glass of water that Jude downed quickly.
"Any progress at all on Drakan?" Jude asked after wiping soup off his face. Jon sat down and began to talk.
"Well none that has been told to me, but Horbey seems to have found something. Not a clue what it is." Jon said. Jude tapped his fingers playfully and Portnoy walked in tapping his hands on his legs happily.
"Well that's Horbey, he always keeps things to himself till he needs help or feels it will benefit everything for everyone to know. He's always been like that." Jude said. Portnoy jumped up on a chair and grabbed the bowl from the table. Jon watched as the silly elf practically danced to the sink and deposited the bowl.
"So what made you decide to come out of your room?" Jon asked growing bored and wanting something interesting to talk about.
"Well I was thinking of my mother, how she was always strong even when faced with grief. She wouldn't have wanted me neglecting to help the rise finish off the death eaters. She would have wanted me to stay involved and help as much as possible." Jude spoke. Jon nodded.
"Good choice, perhaps you will be able to leave this damn house and do something helpful because it's obvious that I can't" Jon said upset. Jude seemed to understand and feel the same way.
"Horbey isn't gonna let me leave, he will try his best to keep me safe, he doesn't want to lose me like he lost my mother. I have known Horbey most of my life, I know him pretty well, him and my mother go way back, they went to school together and all. He won't risk putting me in any danger if he can help it." Jude said. Jon got up and began to walk out of the kitchen.
"Well you seem much better, and that's a good thing. But if you don't mind I am off to some more severe boredom." Jon spoke as he left the kitchen to go take a boring nap on the couch.
Jon was quick to doze off into sleep, but was a light sleeper and woke when Horbey's door opened, pretending to still be asleep he managed to catch some conversation between Justarius and Horbey.
"When you find the actual holding chamber you will have to tell the boy." Justarius spoke.
"Yes I know, he will be the one to brave the chambers dangers." Horbey returned.
"I still don't see why one of us can't do it; we are better wizards and would have a much better chance of getting the item." Justarius said.
"Justarius I have told you before, it must be the boy, if what the scripts I have read are correct then the boy is the better candidate for the stone's power, a young wizard full of love and immense bravery shall wield the stone better than either of us, we are tainted with hatred and worn of bravery. He will be able to recover the stone and defeat Drakan with it, of that I am absolutely sure. I would not chance either of us tainting the purity of the stone. We have sought revenge; we have killed when not necessary. The boy is still innocent." Horbey argued.
"You are a better man than I Horbey; you would make a great wielder of the stone my friend. Though I see your reasons for wanting the boy, I fear that he isn't powerful enough to get to the stone, nor wield it." Justarius spoke.
"You have not seen the boy in action Justarius. He has potential to become greater than either of us, even without the stone's help, but with the stone, he could be nearly invincible. Though you must be sure to make him stay here till I discover the chamber. He is quick to turn to unforgivable curses in the face of danger. If he gets out and finds his father, he will take his revenge without hesitation. If this happens our last known hope is gone." Horbey said.
"I understand Horbey; the kid will not be able to leave. I will keep a close eye on him." Justarius said.
"Thank you, now I must go, Drakan is turning the world upside down in search of you, and has already tortured, and killed many people in the search, and also he has killed many muggle borns, more ruthless than his master I fear he might be." Horbey said as he walked to the door.
After Horbey walked out Justarius left the living room. Leaving Jon alone to his thoughts. Who was the boy they spoke of? He was the youngest member of the rise, it could be him, he was in the house, and it was either Jude of Himself. But revenge on his father, it had to be him. Jon was quite sure. He was gonna be sent on a mission! Finally, but what was the stone? Jon had no clue. It was definitely something that would help take down Drakan. And Jon was gonna be the one to wield this powerful object and take him down! Jon was absolutely filled with excitement and any doubts of Horbey he had were now gone. He was gonna be sent on a mission that seemed extremely important.
Jon lied on the couch for nearly 2 hours thinking over what the stone could be but came up with nothing. Jon would have lied there all night drifting in and out of sleep dreaming of rocks of all different sizes and shapes when the door burst open and Waros stormed in. Jon sat up quickly shocked awake by the noise. Waros' red eyes looked worried and he seemed to be in a rush.
"Where is Justarius?" Waros demanded quickly. Jon shrugged and relaxed for a moment. Waros stormed out of the room and into the hallway leading upstairs. Jon could hear his rushed footsteps on the second floor. A minute later, there was arguing coming from upstairs later. Jon could hear the Waros' and Justarius' voices raised. Jon ran up the stairs and Jude was standing outside his room.
"What's going on?" Jon asked quickly. Jude shrugged and followed Jon three doors down to the source of the noise.
"He's still alive right?" Justarius yelled.
"Ya barely Drakan nearly killed him, if I hadn't shown up when I did he would be dead. I never would have suspected Horbey to be that vulnerable." Waros yelled back. Jon could tell that the anger in their voices was not directed at each other.
"Damn you Drakan!" Justarius screamed. There was a loud thud. Justarius had kicked something.
"So where's Horbey?" Justarius asked an obvious tone of worry in his voice.
"He is hurt to badly at the moment I left Teges with him to watch him, but Drakan will return soon with more Death eaters I am sure of it. I need you to come with me. You have better knowledge of Healing spells than either of us. Perhaps you could heal him enough to move him here." Waros said quickly.
"Right! Let's go!" Justarius yelled and the door burst open. Jon and Jude instantly stepped back.
"Waros what's happened?" Jon asked quickly. Waros stopped walking for a moment not sure what to say.
"Drakan attacked Horbey, nearly killed him. But I need to go now if there is any chance of saving him." Waros said as he stormed off.
"I'm coming! I need to help!" Jon said as he followed behind Justarius down the stairs. Justarius stopped and turned around.
"No! You stay, we can handle this. You have to stay in this house." Justarius said. Jon wasted no time replying.
"I know why you want me to stay! I heard you and Horbey talking earlier. But please trust me, Horbey needs all the help he can get, and like it or not I could be a big help." Jon said quickly. Justarius looked taken aback for a moment.
"How much did you hear?" He asked quickly. Waros looked impatient.
"Justarius we don't have time for this?" Jinx the kid if you have to!" Waros yelled. Justarius seemed to snap out of it.
"Waros is right, we don't have time. You stay hear kid. All will be explained when Horbey comes back." Justarius yelled he turned and ran down the stairs with Waros. Jon did not wait he ran after.
"You can't do this! I need to come!" Jon yelled. Justarius didn't even turn around, not even a second after Jon finished the sentence Justarius had his wand pointed behind him and a shot of red light was catapulted at him. Jon had no time to react he had not expected to actually be jinxed. He was on the ground now forced to stare at the ceiling, unable to help anybody.