Chapter Nine Lupin's Narrow Escape
Remus Lupin stepped out of Gringott's Wizarding Bank and watched Voldemort Apparate. One of the hooded Death Eaters followed suit, the other turned and walked towards Knockturn Alley. Lupin was pleased with this turn of events and followed him, keeping to the shadows and stalking, as only a part-human, part-animal can do.
He knew the disturbance at the bank would immediately be reported to the Ministry and to the Daily Prophet and he was astounded that Voldemort would even consider coming out in public. But of course he fears no one now, Remus thought. He knew that few of the Ministry's Aurors would face the Dark Lord except the likes of someone like Mad Eye Moody. He also knew that if they knew about the Horcruxes no one would even think of challenging him. Even Remus felt awed by that particular problem himself.
He saw that the Dark Lord carried a wrapped parcel with him and Remus once again assumed that it was a Horcrux that he had retrieved from his vault. For some reason Remus watched him handed this parcel off to one of his Death Eaters rather then Apparate with it. That was also curious. Why not keep in your own possession once you've got it? he wondered. It's a bit odd to let it out of your sight. He contemplated that as he stepped carefully under an awning and into a shop doorway watching the Death Eater making his way through the crowds of witches and wizards.
The furtive figure moved quickly and people shied away as if suddenly faced with a demon. He was not hindered in his speedy journey. Remus followed with less caution. The Death Eater didn't look back or even seem to care that someone might possibly be following him.
Remus was familiar with Knockturn Alley and its' inhabitants. A person like himself- a werewolf- found these types of places more charitable in their dealings with creatures, all kinds of creatures, then other places like Diagon Alley. Here, in this dark, fetid place there were all sorts. They were cruel, deceptive and the worst of humanity in terms of witches and wizards. Remus waved his wand and provided himself with a cloak that he could use to disguise himself, although there were few that were curious enough to look twice at him. He continued tracking.
Outdoor vendors were crowding the street and selling everything from basilisk eggs to vials of black mamba venom. He skirted these and glanced into one of the dusty windows of a shop trying to watch the Death Eater without turning to look directly. The man stopped in front of a pub, hesitated and then stepped in. Remus was about to cross over the cobbled street and go into the dark cave-like doorway when he actually looked through the shop window that he was standing in front of and saw two people talking to the shopkeeper. Two people he expected not to see and certainly did not want to see in these environs; Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!
What the devil! he cursed under his breath. There was no question about what he needed to do. He could follow the Death Eater or get the two out of Knockturn Alley. He sighed, shook his head and stepped into the cool dim interior of the antique bookstore. They both turned and flushed crimson when he lowered his hood and they recognized him.
The shopkeeper was an old grizzled man who was so thin that he could slip between the narrow aisles of his shelves of books. He was standing behind a selection of books on the counter that Hermione was studying when Remus entered the shop. Without saying anything Lupin acted as if he was expected and stepped up beside Hermione, taking her arm.
She immediately took his cue. "Hello father," she said, still blushing. "I know you said not to come here but we've found the books you've been looking for." She handed him two books that she had purchased. The shopkeeper stepped around the stack on the counter where he could be seen. He still held the money in his hand and with a glance at Lupin disappeared with it into a back room at the end of one of his aisles.
"What are you two doing here?" Lupin hissed, looking first at Hermione and then at Ron.
As always Hermione spoke for the both of them. "Mr. Lupin. We are of age and we can come here if we choose." She spoke firmly but also looked slightly ill-at-ease. There were no other customers in the shop, still it exuded an eerie atmosphere that wasn't conducive to conversation. He glanced around to make sure they weren't being overheard.
"Oh yes?" he grunted and took her arm. He wasn't in the mood for flippancy and was surprised at her attitude. "Let's talk about this as we walk." Ron followed the two of them without saying anything and they left the shop together. Remus glanced over at the pub and sighed. Such an opportunity, he thought.
He hurried them through the street and out into the sunshine of Diagon Alley. There he stood facing Hermione who looked every bit as emphatic and resolute as she had in the shop.
Remus knew that Hermione was right, he had no right to chastise either of them. They were both of age and could do anything they chose to do. Yet, he felt responsible, liked them and worried about them. He finally spoke, "I just left Gringott's where the Dark Lord was making a pleasant little visit to his vault." He shifted his weight and once again studied the area around them. The street was almost empty. He continued to speak and moved them into the shadows under the awnings of the shop. It wouldn't do to be recognized so soon after Voldemort's visit, he thought.
"He had two Death Eaters with him and I was following one into Knockturn Alley when I happened to see you. I would have thought that you understood how dangerous it is to be out and about these days; especially there!" He nodded towards the intersecting street.
Both of them stared at him wide-eyed and then looked at each other. Hermione spoke again, "Mr. Lupin....I..."
He cut across her before she could continue, "I am currently staying at Number twelve Grimmauld Place until term begins..."
"Are you teaching again," Ron asked excitedly, interrupting him. "Will you be at Hogwarts this year?"
Remus nodded quickly and returned to the point, "Let's Apparate to Grimmauld Place so our conversation can't be overheard."
They agreed and followed him when he disappeared off the street. What he could not have known was the look of anger on the Death Eater's face who remained behind. H e watched Lupin disappear. The Dark Lord had hoped that someone would be aware of his trip to Gringott's. He hoped to capture one and 'consult' with them about the whereabouts of the Potter boy. The trap that was hastily improvised to capture that person was now useless. Oh, what a treat it would have been to acquire Lupin, the wizard thought. Then feeling slightly frightened at the prospect, the Death Eater Apparated to give to his master the news.
The three of them settled into the gloomy sitting room at the house having tiptoed past the portrait of Mrs. Black that was shrouded in the hallway. Lupin stood in front of the cold hearth, arms crossed and said, " I don't have the right to tell either of you what to do, although I think your father would be very upset to know that you are out and about without protection." He looked directly at Ron. " I don't know your parents Hermione but I think they would be worried that you put yourself at risk even if they don't know the details."
"We had important business and weighed the risks, Mr. Lupin," Hermione responded.
"Please call me, Remus," he said softly. "I think we know each other well enough to be on a first name basis." He frowned and relaxed his posture. "Pray continue.....tell me what important business would take you to Knockturn Alley especially in times like these."
She shrugged and held the two books to her chest and answered, "Yes, well, Harry trusts Ron and me with information and I wouldn't feel right about sharing it with you without asking his permission first. I know that he trusts you but I just can't.... I can't ask his permission because he's not to be found."
"I think it might be a good idea if we treat each other like allies," Remus said unexpectedly and with some irritability. "I am willing to share information if you are." He stopped and studied their faces and then went on, " For instance; I am aware of what Harry and Dumbledore were doing the night that Dumbledore died. They were on a quest to retrieve an object." He waited and watched her face and then glanced at Ron. He wasn't sure they knew about the Horcruxes. But if Harry knew, there was a good chance he had confided in his friends.
Lupin waited and neither Hermione or Ron spoke. He finally strolled over and gently lifted the two books out of her hands and read the titles. He opened one and glanced at the table of contents and then did the same to the other. So you do know about the Horcruxes, he thought.
With another heavy sigh he handed them back to her. "I confess I am sorry that you are aware of what Harry and Dumbledore were doing or that Harry was even involved," he murmured. "Unfortunately, they were searching for a Horcrux weren't they Hermione?"
They both stared at him and then turned to one another and agreed on something without speaking. Hermione spoke for both of them, "Mr. Lup....Remus, we have one," she said, leaning in.
"One...one what....?" Remus was confused for a moment and then it dawned on him "You have a Horcrux?!"
They both nodded and Hermione continued, "I found the shop that sold these books and I won't tell you how," she said glancing at the two she held. "But I thought we could read up on Horcruxes and see if we could find a way to destroy them or at least know more about them; how they are made and so on." She dropped the books on the table before her looking almost relieved at being able to let them go. "It seemed a place to start."
Lupin frowned again and said, "I understand what you're saying Hermione, but that store sells only books on the dark arts and I'm sure the proprietor will be most happy to pass on information that he saw the two of you there- and- what sort of merchandise you purchased." He dropped into a chair and covered his eyes with one hand as if a headache was pounding in his brain. "How do you know you have one?" he asked, finally. "A Horcrux, that is? How do you know?"
Ron told him how he had discovered it in Kreacher's nest.
"Kreacher?!" Lupin gasped, glancing up to stare at him and then nodded. Oh yes, he thought, that's quite possible! Kreacher is always hoarding things in this house. Sirius always hated that house elf and his undying loyalty to the Black family. I am so glad they are dead! Remus rubbed at his face and stared at the room, not really seeing it, but seeing the past, all of the painful past.
"Still if it's true that you have one of His Horcruxes; a real one. What you have is very dangerous, if not deadly," he said, thoughtfully.
Hermione nodded and said, "We know, but Harry can't fight Voldemort if these Horcruxes still exist. They all must be found and destroyed!"
"We know what they do," Ron added. "The diary possessed my little sister Ginny, didn't it? I don't know why it didn't do the same thing to Harry but You-Know-Who..." he stopped and grimaced as Hermione huffed at him, "came out of the diary and sent the basilisk out into the school to kill people. Harry said that the Tom Riddle that came out of the diary was very real, drawing his energy off my sis. He said that Tom Riddle gloated about regaining his body even when it meant my sister would die so he could do it."
Hermione listened and nodded in agreement, adding, "Harry seemed to think that Dumbledore destroyed a ring which was the reason his hand was so badly injured this last year. And then there is the locket that they retrieved from the cave....you know about that one?"
Remus nodded and confessed, "Dumbledore's stored memories in the Pensieve which I watched." He blushed and it gave a slightly pink tone to his pale face. "It's not something I would ordinarily do, mind you. Anyway, the memories were not clear but suggested that there was a locket that belonged to Vol...." he glanced at Ron and continued, "....to Tom Riddle's mother. I assume that he and Harry went after that locket."
"But it was a fake." Hermione said quickly. "Harry told us that the real locket was replaced and a note was left inside signed with the initials RAB."
Remus studied her his eyes glittered as she spoke.
"So I figured it was Regulus Black who wrote it and came here to search the house," Ron continued. "We think that this locket is the real thing. We just don't know if it still has a Horcrux in it or not. The note that was left behind said that R.A.B. was going to destroy it even if he died doing it."
"So we need to find out how to tell if there is a Horcrux in it or not," Hermione concluded.
Lupin rubbed his cheek and rested his head on his hand, feeling weary. He was impressed and surprised by their ingenuity. " I wouldn't have you reading anything like that, " he said glancing at the books on the table, '"under normal circumstances..... but given the situation..." He sighed again and added, "Well, I trust in your skills Hermione..... and Ron. I can't very well forbid you from doing it."
"No, you can't," Hermione replied firmly. She stopped and the relaxed a little. "Although, I would like your supervision."
They sat staring at one another for a full minute.
"I might as well tell you," she began and glanced at Ron for a second, " I sent for Viktor Krum. He arrived a week ago. I set him the task of finding Igor Karkaroff."
"Krum?!" Ron gasped. She ignored his outburst and focused on Lupin.
"I thought he might be able to find Karkaroff. He was, after all, a Death Eater. I thought he might tell us where Snape was, or be willing to help. He didn't want anything to do with his old master and we might be able to persuade him to help our side."
Remus stared at her in fascination . The thought of pursuing a Death Eater like Karkaroff had not occurred to him. "And were you successful?" he asked.
"I haven't heard from Viktor yet," she answered. "He's gone off and he's not sent an owl. I'm sure he will soon."
"Viktor? Krum?" Ron repeated, looking very upset.
Remus jumped in. "You were going to go after Snape, too?" he asked with amazement.
She looked a little sheepish and upset by Ron's obvious distress. "Look, you know about the Prophecy from looking into Dumbledore's Pensieve, don't you?"
Lupin nodded.
"So you know what Harry faces, " she went on. "Harry sent us each a letter saying that he had to go it alone because he didn't want us to get hurt. But that just isn't fair. He can't go it alone!" She was now on her feet and speaking down to him. "He needs our help! So I have...we have been trying to do that."
Lupin stood slowly, reaching over and grasping her arms and looking down into her face, speaking softly, "We are all working on the same goals, Hermione. Let's try doing some things together; join forces. We...I... won't stand in your way,. But I hope you'll listen to some sage advice from wizards that have some experience. The Order of the Phoenix hasn't dissolved. We have lost our leader but we still have a fight ahead of us and I think that Snape should probably be left to me. I believe that I want him as badly as Harry does if not more. Do you understand?" He waited until they both nodded in agreement. "Harry would not want to have you put yourselves in so much danger. The Dark Lord is well aware of your friendship to him."
Ron paled and stared at the floor. Hermione was looking up at him with her deep warm brown eyes and said softly, "We know the danger. We were at the Ministry right along side Harry. Don't you understand that he is always stronger if he has us at his side. Alone.....well," she dropped her head and Lupin could see the tears developing. She continued, "He's in terrible danger, why should we be so concerned about ourselves? Voldemort doesn't care about us, he just wants Harry. I, for one, will not let him stand alone until Voldemort is dead or I am!"
Lupin still held her arms and gave her a little shake, enough to have her raise her head. "If you were to be taken it would be an added burden to Harry. So I want you to take care, be cautious, and don't take unwarranted risks. If you need me then call for me. That's all I will say about that." He turned away as he spoke, " I'll send Tonks into Knockturn Alley to find out what she can about the Death Eater I followed. We can't seem to find Harry which might be a good thing or might not. At least Voldemort is not gloating in public that he's killed him."
Lupin walked to the window and pulled aside the curtain to stare out into the street. He felt a sharp pang of worry. He wasn't willing to admit the depth of his feelings about Harry. There were too many other worries to consider without assuming that something was wrong with the boy. He circled the room and then rounded on them. "Can I have a look at that locket?"
Ron left the room and returned with the jewelry box in his hand.
Remus didn't touch it when he opened the box and sat it on a table. He held a hand over it as if testing the air and then sat back and studied it.
Hermione joined him on the couch and commented, "Ron was right. Ginny was possessed by the diary. I think that he uses these- the Horcruxes- as windows. Whoever touches one becomes a conduit for him. He uses the person and we would never know that they were being used. At least, we never knew that he was possessing Ginny."
Lupin nodded, staring at it. "You very well may be right about that."
"Harry didn't get possessed." Ron reminded them. "He destroyed the diary and the basilisk. Maybe he's the only one that can touch them without getting possessed....because.... he has that connection with You-Know-Who."
Lupin and Hermione stared at him and Lupin glanced at the box again. "There's always been speculation about Harry's scar and about why he didn't die the night his parents were murdered. Dumbledore seemed to think that Harry had some unusual talents that were transmitted to him that night." Lupin was thinking about how quickly Harry had learned the Patronus Charm from him. "It would be nice to know where he is. That would be one less worry."
"You know I've given that some thought, too," Hermione mumbled. Lupin looked over at her and she once again spoke up. "I think he went to Godric's Hollow."
"Godric's Hollow?!" Remus repeated in surprise. Ron stared at her and then nodded in agreement.
"He doesn't have a home," Hermione went on. "He's never seen his real home and I think that if he needed a place to hide that might be it. He never knew his parents and he might want to visit.... well.... ." She paused for a minute and then finished, " He never said but I think that when he lost Dumbledore he felt like he lost the only person that could help him fight Voldemort. It was a savage blow and...and... I think he lost hope."
There were the tears again. Lupin nodded in sympathy while she continued, " I just think that's what I would do if I were him."
Lupin saw the worry and sadness in their faces and knew in his heart what it felt like. After all he'd experienced the same thing with his own friends; with Lily and James and Sirius, and even Peter. He knew that he could trust her intuitiveness. It seemed that the act of loving someone always formed a magical bond. He had known that bond himself. However, it distressed him to think that she might be right. "He knows nothing of the wizarding world, Hermione," he groaned in response. "How would he even know how to find it?"
She shrugged and glanced down at the Horcrux again.
Remus let his gaze rise to the ceiling in frustration. What can he find there? he wondered. Ghosts?
His mind wandered as if in a dream. He could see her-Lily- sitting on the grassy banks of the lake on the boat dock. Her feet were in the water and her head was tilted back like a flower seeking the sun. Remus smiled inwardly as he saw James doing back flips off the end and acting like a clown to amuse his new wife. The day was a sunny day and warm and none of them could have foreseen, at least did not have the ability to see, into the future.
"Remus! Remus," James called as his head broke the surface of the still lake.
Remus had stopped at the cottage and then gone around to the back garden and took a stroll to the lake to find them. He was surprised that Sirius was not around. It seemed like one of them always was there.
"I'm here," he replied, laughing and walking slowly down the long narrow dock.
Remus could see in his mind each detail, as Lily opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled and jumped to her feet and walked to him and kissed him, clinging to his neck. "Let's make James jealous, shall we?"
"Love to deary," he replied and tucked his head into her neck as if in an intimate embrace.
"Ho there you two," James called out and launched himself out of the water to the walkway. "Hands off my woman!"
Lily giggled and finally turned Lupin lose. He could still smell the freshness of her hair and the scent of a perfume.
James joined them and the three wrapped arms around one another and strolled to the end of the dock to look out over the lake and watch the fish jump for flies.
"Shall we tell him," Lily asked her husband.
James grinned and nodded.
Lily grasped Remus' hand and put it on her belly. "We are going to have a surprise."
Remus stared into the deep green pools of her eyes and saw the light in her face. "A baby?" he asked with hesitation. "Are you pregnant Lily?"
She grinned and James grinned and the whole thing was catching. Remus began to smile and the hugged each of them in turn. "Wonderful news, wonderful!"
And yet , he did not feel happy. The man who had taken to calling himself Lord Voldemort was too interested in his friends. There were rumors that he was killing people or having them killed by his Death Eaters. This was a dangerous time.
Remus finally opened his eyes to the sitting room at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place and saw Ron and Hermione staring at him. "Well there's only one way to find out if he's at Godric's Hollow," he said finally. "I'll go and see if he's there." He wondered if he would have the courage to return to a place that had caused him so much pain.
"If we go with you he might be willing to come back here with us," Ron suggested. "You can protect him better. He might even go back to Hogwarts with us. We weren't going to go back, but if you're there and we all return we can work on this thing there." He pointed at the box with the locket
Remus thought it over. It really would be easier to protect him at Hogwarts. Now that we know the weakness in the school, we can almost make it impenetrable. "Let me take care of some business first and we'll go this afternoon. Does your mother know where you are Ron?"
The boy shook his head and cringed. Remus almost laughed out loud, Molly Weasley was a formidable woman and he thought it might be rather difficult to be one of her children. She was ferociously protective. "Right then. I'll send an owl to her this afternoon. In the meantime....." he picked up a book and opened it to make sure there was no dark charm on it that might poison them or hex them just for reading it. "You can start on these."