Part VII
Arthur had no sooner eaten the meagre meal that Ollivander had saved for him when Nataliya entered the dungeons again with a loaf of bread and a little pitcher of milk.
"I have more food," she said, handing it to Arthur, who split the bread in half, giving some to the wandmaker.
"Cheers, Nat," he said gratefully as he bit into his bread and tore chunks of it away as if it was a particularly juicy hunk of meat. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"
"Don't think I'm doing this for you," Nataliya replied, but she was smiling. "Al would kill me if he saw you like this."
There was a long silence punctuated by Arthur loudly scarfing down the loaf and drinking the entire pitcher of milk. Nataliya sighed after he was done. "I've got news," she said quietly. "Mad-Eye Moody died in the battle over Little Whinging."
"The one in which I flew under the Imperious Curse and died as well?" Arthur asked. She nodded.
"Yes. Also, Death Eaters have taken over the Ministry and are already working to pass the Muggle-born Register, which would require everyone of Muggle parentage to present themselves for interrogation."
"That includes Alfred!" Arthur hissed.
"Yes, and several other people we know." She paused before continuing. "The Death Eaters have also penetrated the defences surrounding the Burrow and gate-crashed Bill and Fleur's wedding – is something wrong, Artie?"
"What's the date?" Arthur demanded.
"August third." Nataliya sighed again. "They've Tabooed the Dark Lord's name, making it easier for the Death Eaters to track down Order members. Saying it undoes any magical protection – with the exception of the Fidelius Charm."
"Is my family okay?"
Nataliya bit her lip. "Erin's in St. Mungo's after Rowle and Macnair attacked her about a month ago. But of the rest of the family seems to be fine," she hurriedly added after seeing Arthur's worried look. "I mean, they're still alive..."
"Right... what about the trio?" he asked. "Harry, Ron, and Hermione?"
"Last I heard they escaped Rowle at Tottenham Court Road. The Dark Lord wasn't pleased with him – he made Draco torture him."
"He made Draco use the Cruciatus curse?" Arthur demanded, sickened at the idea. "That... that's..."
"You haven't been interrogated in a while, so I get why you're so surprised," Nataliya sighed. "He's used Toris, Feliks, and Eduard, too... he's basically put everyone in the Warsaw Pact to work torturing people. I mean, I had to use the curse on that one Auror's parents... the one with the pink hair...?"
"Tonks?" Arthur whispered. Nataliya nodded.
"Yeah, her parents." Nataliya looked away, and Arthur thought he saw a tear in the corner of one eye.
"What else happened?" Arthur demanded again. It had been so long since he last knew what was going on – his days were spent in a haze of pain from killing after killing after killing.
"Well, the Death Eaters broke into all the Order-connected homes in the country and questioned the inhabitants on Harry's whereabouts. They went to the flat that Francis is living in with Alfred and Madeline, but no one was home."
"What about Kiku? Is he all right? Have you heard from him?"
"The short Japanese boy who was in our Potions class, right?" Nataliya asked. Arthur nodded. "I think he's actually... living with Al and Francis. I mean, they're staking out the flat for when Al and Francis return and I think I saw a kimono laid out in one of the rooms..."
Arthur listened with bated breath. Was Kiku all right? Was he safe? Was he happy?
Kiku was not all right, safe, or happy as he screamed in agony. The Death Eater casting the Cruciatus Curse on him cackled before asking him a question – the same question that he had asked all of them numerous times.
"Where is Harry Potter?"
"I don't know!" Kiku gasped, tears in his eyes.
"Liar! You are hiding him somewhere!"
"Sir, I-I don't...know!" Kiku repeated, desperately clinging to his sanity and trying not to show weakness.
Luckily, his interrogator tired of him and moved back to Alfred. "We are moving to implement a Muggle-born Register. In our records, you are Muggle-born and therefore you must present yourself to the Ministry at a future appointed date. If not, you will face tenure in Azkaban," he snapped, subjecting Alfred to the Cruciatus Curse again for no apparent reason.
Alfred bit his lip, trying to hold in his screams. Kiku looked on, sickened. But what could he do? He was bound by magic to his chair.
The Death Eaters left the flat an hour later. As soon as they were gone, Francis attempted to grab his wand that was lying just out of reach on the coffee table. Slowly, desperately...
Alfred sighed and looked at each of them. There was steely determination in the American's eyes as Francis finally grabbed his wand from the table and released the four of them.
Alfred was first to shakily get to his feet. "Did you hear that? That bullshit about the Muggle-born Register?" he snapped. "This is unjust! They're trying to round us up like cattle!"
"So now you're plotting to overthrow the Ministry in the name of goodness and justice? How very heroic of you," Francis replied sarcastically. "Pour moi, I prefer to stay on the sidelines."
"And that's why you're in stinking Slytherin!" Alfred snapped.
"Well, so was Arthur-san!" Kiku pitched in, rounding on Alfred. "You're using that age-old prejudice, Alfred-san! Didn't you learn anything from being friends with Arthur?"
Alfred shook his head. "Kiku, there's a difference between Arthur and Francis! Arthur wasn't scared to pursue his ambitions! He fought for what he believed in and when he was outnumbered, gave up his life – don't look at me like that, Kiku, we all know he's dead – so his friends could be spared! On the other hand, Francis, you're scared to stand up for what you believe in, Francis! You'd let this continue? This torture of Muggle-borns and house-elves... Francis, you are such a coward!"
"Don't call him coward!" Madeline hissed.
"Please, Alfred-san, as much as I detest Francis-san here, I don't think this is the time to fight," Kiku said quietly in the most reasonable voice he could summon up. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named outnumbers us greatly especially now since the Ministry's behind him. He didn't take power immediately – Pius Thickenesse is but a puppet Minister for him – because he wanted to create this atmosphere of fear. He wants us to turn against each other."
Alfred bit his lip. "But I'm a hero," he said quietly.
"Sometimes heroes has to flee. They have to go into hiding and work out a plan to get rid of the villain there." Kiku thought vaguely of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Where were they? Were they all right?
"Well then, now it looks like we're getting the heck out of here," Alfred said.
"And why would our petit héros say that?" Francis asked, tilting his head to the side as if Alfred had just revealed the meaning of life to him and it contradicted his own theory.
"Don't you know? It's obvious," Kiku snapped. "We're not safe here." He stood up. "We're... we're all connected to Harry."
"And to Arthur," Madeline added.
"They've g-got Arthur..." Kiku looked away as he said that, unable to meet Francis's eyes. "But they want Harry. They think we know where he is. They'll be tailing us as long as we're here."
"The Muggle-born Register has been passed," Nataliya reported, and Arthur showed nothing but a resigned look in his green eyes.
"I'd have been surprised if it didn't," he replied, slumping against the wall. "What's their excuse for killing Muggle-borns now?"
"That Muggle-borns are thieves of magical knowledge," the Belarusian replied simply, sitting down in the dungeon facing him. "They want to root out these 'usurpers of magical power' and every single Muggle-born must turn themselves in. They'll be sending out letters rounding up the Muggle-borns – that includes Al, Arthur! What are we going to do?"
"There's nothing we can do, Nataliya. Not unless you help me escape..."
She broke down crying. "He's a Nation... but what happens if you subject a Nation to the Dementor's Kiss? I don't want to think... think about a soulless Alfred... doomed to exist for eternity and never feel..."
Arthur felt a few tears escape as well as he awkwardly patted her shoulder, feeling his face heat up slightly for the first time in months. "There, there... Alfred's with Francis and Kiku; they'll protect him."
"It doesn't make sense, though. All the accused have to do is present one close Wizarding relative... Alfred could present Tiffany and any other cousins that go to Salem..."
"Technically they are very distant cousins," Arthur said quietly, leaning against the wall. "Alfred told me about his family once... how he and Matthew are the only ones with ties to Europe. The rest are related more to the Native Americans than to Alfred and Matthew and the Nations of Europe."
Nataliya furrowed her brows. "But if Alfred and Matthew have ties to Europe than how are they Muggle-born? The Nations of Europe all have magic, don't they?"
Arthur shrugged. "How do I know? The Scandinavians discovered America first. Alfred most likely gets his ties to Europe from them. But... his biological parents are Muggles... this doesn't explain a thing..."
They descended into thought.
"Maybe he's like a cuckoo amongst the robins," Nataliya said suddenly. "Somehow... through forces unknown... he and Matthew just happened to be born in a Muggle family. Sometimes... the best wizards come from humble beginnings..."
"Like Merlin," Arthur agreed. "Well... what other news? What about Hogwarts?"
"Attendance is now mandatory," Nataliya replied. "And students have to get Blood Status before attending, which means that no Muggle-borns will be allowed to go to Hogwarts."
Arthur knew that previously families could homeschool their children or send them abroad, but just about every wizard and witch in Britain went to Hogwarts anyways. But how would the new rules apply to Lilli Zwingli and Raivis Galante, the other foreign Nations still at school?
"I think the new rule says that if your name is down for Hogwarts you have to attend. But still, that doesn't explain why all the Nations are at Hogwarts in the first place. I mean, Raivis probably would have gone to Durmstrang..." Arthur then realised that he had voiced his thoughts aloud as Nataliya trailed off, sighed, and then stood up.
"Any news on Harry's whereabouts?" Arthur asked her. She shook her head.
"No, but the Ministry's calling him Undesirable Number One and they've got a ten-thousand Galleon reward for the person that catches him. They want him under the pretence of questioning him about Dumbledore's death."
"What, they're accusing Harry?" Arthur gasped, jumping to his feet in shock. "I was there on the tower! I saw it! Snape killed Dumbledore, not Harry!"
"You're not really in any position to tell the truth," Nataliya pointed out.
"But Kiku was there, too!"
"Kiku's only one person," Nataliya reminded him. "He's just... like a candle in a snowstorm, you know?"
"I know," Arthur muttered, slumping back down with a little sigh.
"Dear Mr. Jones," Alfred read from the letter clutched so tight in his hand that even the slightest nudging could rip it. "We are under the impression that you claim Muggle ancestry. Therefore, as a Muggle-born, your presence is required at an interview with the Muggle-born Registration Commission. Signed, Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and Head of the Muggle-born Registration Commission."
The other occupants of the room were silent. Alfred finally looked up from the parchment, his face stricken.
"That old toad's still at the Ministry?" Francis demanded after a moment. "And she's persecuting Muggle-borns now?"
"Well, it was only a matter of time," Alfred replied, trying to instil some sarcasm into his voice and ending up sounding dejected.
Francis sighed. "You know they're not going to give you a fair trial, right?"
"Hai, Francis-san, because we really needed your cheerful input," Kiku growled. "Alfred-san's life is in danger here!"
"I know, which is why you should come with me, Alfred, to learn my family tree so you can answer questions on that. I'll pass you off as mon cousin."
Alfred shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks, Francis. Didn't you hear about what they did to Dirk Cresswell?" At Francis's silence he continued. "They examined his family tree. If I lied about my parentage and they ended up checking your family tree, they'll find us out and then you'll be in danger, too."
Francis raised an eyebrow. "I'm trying to not be the big coward you think I am, Alfred," he said seriously, but there was the faintest hint of lightness in his voice.
"Yeah, but when it comes down to it, I don't want you going to Azkaban on my behalf," Alfred said with a sigh as he looked around at them. "I think we really ought to flee the country."
There was that little girl again. Arthur smiled at her; she ran towards him and squeezed him around the middle. Looking down at her, he fondly ruffled her already unruly dark hair.
"Papa, papa, I missed you," she said cutely, looking up at him with green eyes alight and a grin on her face. Arthur bent down and picked her up, spinning her around. Her delighted laughter rang in his ear like bells.
"I missed you, too," he whispered in her ear when he stopped spinning to catch his breath.
A pair of arms wrapped around him; someone's head rested on his shoulder. "She's a darling, isn't she?" Kiku's voice asked, his breath tickling Arthur's ear.
"Beautiful," Arthur agreed, as the little girl sucked her thumb and grinned at him. "I missed you, too," he added as he turned around, wanting to see Kiku.
For a moment, he saw Kiku's face but suddenly the Japanese's features seemed to be bubbling like wax – the little girl disappeared – and Arthur could only gasp in horror as Lord Voldemort stood in front of him.
With a mad cackle, Voldemort raised his wand. The dream shattered as pain hit Arthur like a thousand white-hot knives.
"Godric's Hollow?" Kiku asked.
"I don't think this is a good place to hide," Madeline remarked.
"Ouais, Alfred, it's got connections to Harry," Francis added as he pointed to the war memorial they had walked past – only it wasn't a memorial to war veterans now but a memorial to the Potters.
"Let's go look for Harry's house!" Alfred squealed, taking off in a random direction. Francis and Madeline raced after him, yelling something about taking care and not being an idiot. Once again, Alfred had forgotten about danger in the face of fun.
Kiku scoffed, knowing that their actions would be in vain. A nearby graveyard caught his attention. Maybe Harry's parents were there, somewhere. He pushed open the kissing gate that led into the graveyard and started searching.
"Abbot, Peverell, Bones, Marchbanks..." He dimly recognised some of the last names from his days at Hogwarts.
After a moment, he found a gravestone with Dumbledore marked on it. But it wasn't Albus Dumbledore – it was his mother's.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," he read quietly, looking at the gravestone contemplatively. After a moment, he moved on.
He discovered the Potters after a few minutes. Part of him wondered if Harry had visited this place as he looked down at the white marble headstone. After a moment, he quickly conjured some chrysanthemums to place on the grave.
A row away from the Potters was another tombstone that caught Kiku's eye. It was a statue of a lion. He walked towards it, looking down at the final resting place of Godric Gryffindor.
After a moment, he noticed another familiar name on the gravestone right next to Gryffindor's. It was simple and very, very old. And yet he could make out the names carved on the stone, as if someone had engraved them again.
"Tristan Kirkland and his wife Islode," Kiku read. "Birth and death dates unknown." Below that was another message:
Look to the land of dawn, for hope oft chases away darkness with the rising of the sun.
That sounded a bit too cheerful coming from a Kirkland, Kiku thought with a little smile as he waved his wand and conjured some more chrysanthemums for Tristan and Islode's grave.
"Still you do not respond?" Voldemort hissed at Arthur as the Nation twitched at his feet.
Arthur shook his head. Voldemort's upper lip curled in a sneer.
"Alright, then. Feliks, give our little friend here another taste of my displeasure."
Arthur looked at the Polish boy. "I am, like, totally sorry for this," Feliks whispered. "Crucio!"
To the Dark Lord, Arthur's screams were like music.
Gilbert Beilschmidt was in his room. After quickly making sure he wasn't being watched, he took out a mirror from the folds of his robes. "Luddy!" he hissed to the glass. "Oi, Luddy!"
After a moment, his reflection vanished and Ludwig's face was there, looking worried and slightly irritated as usual. "What is it, Gil?" he asked.
"I have unawesome news," Gilbert hissed. "They're checking all the owls we send – the Dark Lord doesn't trust us any more than he trusts that unawesome Thornfinn Rowle bloke. Since I can't talk to you with Gilbird, I'mma have to rely on this mirror."
"Ja, ja," Ludwig muttered. "Is that all you have to say, Gil? I'm a bit busy right now."
"The Dark Lord is going to Germany," Gilbert continued. "He asked me if I knew where Gregorovitch lived."
"Isn't Gregorovitch a wandmaker who lives in Siebenbürgen?" Ludwig asked.
"Transylvania? Ja, but the Dark Lord doesn't know that. He thinks that Gregorovitch is living in Germany."
"Well, he did once," Ludwig said quietly. "He lived in the house I'm living in right now."
"What?" Gilbert nearly dropped the mirror. "West, you're in trouble!"
"I can't leave," Ludwig replied, and for a moment, Gilbert wanted to reach out and hug his brother as he used to do long ago. But he couldn't. That would be unawesome and they were talking through a mirror anyways.
"Why not, Luddy?" Gilbert asked.
"I'm boarding with a Muggle woman and her children. If You-Know-Who visits her, I need to be there to protect them."
"Where were you?" Alfred demanded as they met up at the war memorial again in the late afternoon. "We found Harry's house! No one's bothered to rebuild it – come and look!"
Kiku followed the American down a path lined by houses. They walked down to the very end, where a dark mass stood there. Kiku soon realised that it was a rundown and partially destroyed cottage. Ivy was climbing over the walls; grass grew through cracks in the floor. The gate was rusty, yet Kiku reached out and touched it. At his touch, a sign rose out of the ground in front of him.
"Isn't it amazing?" Alfred asked as Kiku read the sign silently. "Madeline, Francis, and I wrote messages on the sign! See?"
He pointed to three messages that glowed slightly in the corner of the sign. Kiku nodded. "I see," he murmured.
"Do you want to write something?" Alfred held out a quill. Kiku frowned slightly, but he took the quill and quickly scrawled 'Long live Harry Potter' on the side of the sign.
"How touching," a third voice said from next to them. Kiku gasped, dropping the quill as Fenrir Greyback rose out of the bushes.
Arthur was crying again, slumped against the wall and still twitching involuntarily from the pain of the Cruciatus curse.
The dungeon doors opened again and Nataliya and Feliks entered the room with a first-aid kit. "I'm, like, so sorry," Feliks gushed, rushing over to Arthur as Nataliya unrolled some bandages. "We're like, totally gonna bandage you up, okay?"
Arthur looked at Nataliya. She smiled. "Can you... take off your shirt so I can take a look at your back?" she asked. Arthur hesitantly obliged and turned his back on her. She began applying ointment to the scratches and wounds on his back – all of them having reopened with the new torture. Feliks was gushing out a string of apologies.
"Like, I don't even know how I can, like, make it up to you," the Pole babbled. "Oh, and like, wasn't there, like, another guy who lives here?"
"Ollivander's sleeping," Arthur said, vaguely gesturing to the corner. He suddenly hissed in pain. "Ouch, Nat, that hurt!"
"Yes, that's the point," Nataliya replied, as she dabbed some more antiseptic ointment on the wounds. "You don't want infections in your back, you know."
"I thought there were healing spells for these cuts," Arthur muttered, examining his cut-up palm.
"I don't know them," Nataliya replied tersely.
After ten minutes or so, she was done with the bandages. "I'll, like, totally get you two some food," Feliks said as he and Nataliya turned to leave. "You guys look so gross and underfed."
"That'd be appreciated," Arthur said, slouching against the wall once more. As they left, he couldn't help but let tears trickle out of his eyes once more. He missed his friends, he missed the sunlight, he missed the feeling of fresh air against his face...
"I miss you," he murmured to the dark dungeon, thinking of a dark-haired Japanese boy.