James Castle
Chapter 13: Chasing Ghosts
"Remus, please sit," Dumbledore requested after Lupin entered the Headmaster's office. Lupin frowned as he glanced around noting Snape, Moody, Tonks, and Shacklebolt were in the room, seated already, before taking his own seat. "Have you found anything out from the boy, regarding the location of Frank Castle?" Dumbledore cut to the chase quickly.
"Nothing I couldn't have figured out by myself," Lupin glared at Snape. "Why are they all here Albus?" he gestured at the others gathered in the room. "You asked me to help, and this smells like a bloody ambush," he and Snape glared into each other's eyes. "Don't bother trying to read my mind Snape, it won't work on a werewolf," he broke the eye contact, frowning at Dumbledore.
"Speaking of reading minds, how did the boy learn to protect his?" Snape sneered at Lupin.
"He had some natural skill, I started teaching him when he was nine," Lupin smirked as Snape's face grew red.
"You, you're nothing but a pathetic werewolf, a creature that no one will ever let near children," Snape said loudly.
"And apparently, a very good teacher, he sent me a copy of his proficiency tests, the only one who can stack up to him in knowledge here is your Head Girl," Lupin taunted. "I hear you get worked up when he knows every answer in class Snivelus," Lupin growled.
"Pathetic werewolf!" Snape jumped to his feet pulling his wand, finding himself on the business end of Lupin's and the three Aurors' own wands. "The boy is cheating!" Snape pouted, sinking back into his seat. "His preposterous story is that he has a photographic memory, obviously a lie to cover however he is doing it," Snape ranted.
"I assure you Snape, it's not a trick, he remembers everything he sees, reads, and hears, and can put together puzzles very quickly," Lupin smiled. "He figured out I was a werewolf within three months of the start of his tutoring, the boy is brilliant," Lupin beamed. "Now again, I ask, why have you decided to ambush me here Dumbledore," he asked angrily. "I agreed to talk with him, not to share any of his secrets with Death Eaters or Aurors," he frowned at both groups.
"Remus, it is very imperative we find Frank Castle and stop him, before he kills again," Dumbledore sighed wearily.
"Why?" Lupin asked, causing Dumbledore to groan and Tonks to raise her hands to the air.
"My point exactly," she sighed. "They're just a bunch of lousy Death Eaters," she frowned as she tried to speak more and her voice would not work, before giving Moody the finger noticing he was putting his wand away after silencing her.
"He is murdering them, they deserve to be tried in the court according to the law," Dumbledore frowned at the Auror. "They deserve justice," he said smugly.
"What about justice for their victims, what about justice for everyone they kill," Lupin frowned at Dumbledore. "Moody, you so much as think of silencing me, I swear I'll rip your good eye out," he growled as the old Auror reached for his wand. "I know why you called me here Dumbledore, you wanted me to use my knowledge of Frank to help these two know what he's planning," he jerked his thumb at Tonks and Kingsley. "That about cover it?" he cocked his head at the Headmaster.
"What is he planning?" Dumbledore questioned roughly.
"He's going to kill them all," Lupin shrugged. "Every last Death Eater and Voldemort supporter he can track down, he will destroy them. He'll keep going until Voldemort is all that is left," Lupin said calmly.
"And then?" Dumbledore asked.
"Then he'll kill him too, send him to hell where he belongs," Lupin finished.
"There is nothing the boy can tell us?" Dumbledore begged Lupin and the others.
"I've questioned him under Veritaserum myself Albus, he doesn't know where Castle is and is not hiding anything," Moody said roughly. "We can't question him again under Veritaserum for another week regardless, or risk overdosing his system, the kind I gave him was quite concentrated," he explained as Lupin glared at him.
"If you try that again with him Moody," he was cut off by the old Auror.
"He took it voluntarily Lupin," the man glared back.
"Attempts to get into his mind via Legilmancy are likely to be fruitless as well, thanks to the teachings of the wolf," Snape glared at Lupin.
"Go ahead and try to get into his head again Snivelus, I don't imagine he will be as gentle expelling you as he was last time," Lupin glared at his old enemy. "And you two, they just admitted to several offenses, you are Aurors, why aren't you arresting them?" he waved his hand at Tonks and Shacklebolt.
"We've given them oaths that they cannot be charged with whatever they did to get any information on the Punisher, as ordered by Minister Fudge," Kingsley said dryly. "The Minister is under enormous pressure to bring him in, and since we were the only Aurors that have got a close up look at him, we got the job," he shrugged.
"Never mind the bastard of a Minister almost got us killed with those damn Dementors and the only people getting killed have the bloody Dark Mark!" Tonks glared angrily at Kingsley. "I say we go take a vacation, let him kill all the bloody wankers, maybe he'll pop Fudge while he's at it," Tonks slumped down in her seat as all but Lupin shook their heads at her.
"Our job is to enforce the law Tonks, no matter what our personal beliefs are," Shacklebolt recited, having had this conversation with her before.
"No one has the right to take another's life Nymphadora, it is what makes us better than the Death Eaters," Dumbledore sighed.
Lupin walked with Tonks and Shacklebolt through the halls of Hogwarts towards the entrance. He had a good idea what they were feeling after the meeting with Dumbledore had drug on for another 45 minutes, rehashing the same arguments over and over again. They were bound by their job to bring in the Punisher, but he could tell they were not happy about it. Moody was hiding something, Remus figured, after he and Moody had made eye contact a few times, he just had a feeling about it. Dumbledore was set in his mind though, seeing any loss of life as an abomination, nothing could convince him that the Punisher was going to be as big of a threat as Voldemort.
He breathed in a lungful of the cold November air, glad to be out of the castle. No one had spoken since they got out of the meeting, each of them immersed in their own thoughts, and eventually they reached the end of the wards. "So, where are we going?" he asked the Aurors, confusing them.
"We?" Tonks asked, her hair changing to pink.
"Yes, I figured I might as well come with you, lend a hand," Lupin shrugged.
"You're a werewolf and a civilian, we can't be bringing you along," Shacklebolt frowned. "The Minister has given us some leeway, if you can think a reason to bring you though," he ventured, wondering what the werewolf was playing at.
"Well, enhanced senses and all are good for tracking someone," Lupin shrugged. "Besides, anywhere the Punisher goes, there is likely to be danger, and you could use another wand," he added.
"And the real reason?" Kingsley asked, not believing the werewolf.
"You're good people, I figure I can keep him from killing you if you get in his way," Lupin smirked.
Remus Lupin relaxed as he watched the house with the Auror Tonks. He had followed them as they brainstormed and planned on how to find the Punisher, laughing to himself when he realized they figured they had the skills to bring him in if they found him. After some time the Aurors had settled on a few different targets of acquitted Death Eaters that they figured would be likely targets. Two weeks later, he was with Tonks outside the estate of the Nott family.
"So, Miss Tonks," Remus began, engaging the younger Auror in conversation, seeing how long it would take to make her storm off, slap him, or blush, as was his newest favorite pastime. 'Too many owls with Sirius,' he laughed to himself, biting into an apple.
"Auror Tonks," she glared at him, her hair turning a shade past Weasley red. "What do you want now Remus?" she sighed, trying to rub away the headache that was forming already.
"Oh, just to make conversation with one as lovely as yourself," Remus laughed as he realized how much being in contact with Sirius again was effecting him. "I mean, what else are we to do with our time here," he shrugged. "It's not like Frank is going to come out and be caught by you."
"You are a civilian, the only reason you are here is because Dumbledore suggested it, since you are the only one besides Shack and I that ever got a good look at him," she fumed, watching the house. "You are an observer, nothing more," she looked at a window, thinking she saw movement.
"And you, young Nymphadora Tonks, heir to what remains of the Black family fortune, youngest Auror in ten years," he smirked as she rested her hand on her wand. "What have you been doing the last week, if not observing as well?" he asked, making her look away from him, concentrating on the house.
"You've been in touch with Sirius," she frowned, relaxing into a tree trunk, keeping one eye on the house. "What else did my cousin, the goblin, tell you?" she pried, angry that her own owls to Sirius had gone unanswered.
"Oh, Padfoot tells me lots of things, he says hi by the way," Remus chuckled. "Told me all about how much you love your first name, told me how Fudge nearly got you, Shack, and him killed when he was leaving Gringott's," Remus paused as her eyes narrowed in anger. "So, why are you and Kingsley still with the Ministry, if Fudge nearly had you killed?" he asked the question he had waited until the two of them were alone all week to ask.
Tonks ignored him, wishing Kingsley was here and she did not have to babysit and watch the house at the same time. The three of them had been at the small grove of trees under a localized Fidelus so no one could see them on and off for the better part of two weeks now, hoping to catch the Punisher. "Quiet, I'm trying to watch the bloody house," she frowned, her hair flashing between several colors.
"The house is not going anywhere, and if Frank comes, you won't be the one to spot him," Remus laughed.
He stopped laughing when the young witch, pulled her wand, knocked him down, and pinned him to the ground. "You saying I'm not good enough. I just took you down you bloody werewolf!" she shouted, pressing her wand between his eyes. "Go on, I'm not good enough," she tore into him. "Because I'm a halfblood, because I'm a woman, because I'm part of a disgraced family, which one is your problem with me Lupin," she stared back into his eyes, the end of her wand glowing.
"Because the Punisher is too good," Remus smirked back, before pushing her wand away and flipping so that she was the one pinned. "And when I choose to use my curse, Nymphadora," he emphasized her name. "I am more than able to take you down," he growled before letting her up.
She scrambled, recovering her wand and pointed it at Lupin. "We're on the same side here Tonks," Remus shrugged, ignoring the Auror.
"What side would that be?" she shuddered as he closed the distance between them and pinned her eyes to her sides.
"The side that is against Voldemort and the Death Eaters," he sniffed her hair as he held her still. "The Punisher is a means to an end, he's out there killing the killers," he relaxed his grip a bit. "And your own Minister is trying to kill the only person who is stopping the killers, not to mention almost killing you and your partner," he released her. "The better question is, what side are you on?" he walked away and say on the grass, examining the house.
She stood there, not able to move from what he said. "I'm an Auror, I am on the side of the Ministry of Magic," she said quietly to herself.
"The Ministry that let's Death Eaters go free without a trial? The Ministry that sent Sirius away without a trial? The Ministry that has not been able to capture a single Death Eater in the time that the Punisher has killed a couple dozen of them?" Lupin said loudly, tapping his ear when she looked his way. "Werewolf," he shrugged, ignoring her mood.
She frowned, ignoring the werewolf as they sat next to each other, watching the house together for a while. "Cozy," Shacklebolt grumbled as he relaxed, taking a seat on the other side of Lupin. "Report Tonks?" he asked, examining the house.
"Haven't seen or heard anything," she admitted to her superior.
"And you Lupin?"
"Have not seen a thing Shack," Remus grinned at the Auror. "I was wondering what you and Tonks here plan on doing if you actually find the Punisher," Remus questioned, noting the discomfort from both Aurors.
"We have to bring him in Remus, it's our job, no matter how much we might agree with what he might be doing," Kingsley sighed, having just returned from another meeting with the Minister, ending with Fudge demanding the Punisher's capture or he would be out of a job.
"Be that as it may, the Punisher is very good at what he does, you aren't likely to see him until its too late," Lupin reminded them.
"Like now?" a voice came from behind the three of them and they heard a pair of clicks. "Don't move," the voice ordered as Tonks and Shacklebolt started to move for their wands.
"Do exactly what he says, please," Lupin slowly moved away from the two Aurors. "Long time no see Frank," he smiled, knowing the polyjuice secret.
"Shut it wolf," James glared at him. "Take their wands and hand them to me," he ordered, keeping his guns trained on the Aurors.
"Are you out of your bloody mind Lupin?" Kingsley swore as he and Tonks surrendered their wands. "When Fudge finds out you double crossed us, he's going to have you executed," he threatened as the two of them turned to face Lupin and the Punisher.
"Lupin didn't give me any information on you, besides that he was assisting you," James replied, relaxing his guns a bit, but keeping them trained on the Aurors. "I've been scouting this place for the last three days, making sure I knew how to get into the house and what my opposition would be inside," he explained.
"How did you find us, this area is charmed, and I'm the bloody secret keeper," Tonks glared at Lupin and the Punisher.
"Muggle technology has come a long way in the last fifty years," James shrugged, casually tossing Tonks a pair of goggles. "Put them on, then press the button on the side," he instructed Tonks, who reluctantly followed his instructions.
"What am I seeing?" she asked, confused by the red human shapes on a green background.
"Heat sensing goggles, your Fidelus doesn't stop your heat signatures, and a strong enough mind can break through the charm if they can see it," he motioned for the goggles back and tucked them away. "At least that's my theory, James or Lupin would have a better idea than me about all this wizard stuff," he glanced at Lupin.
"What are you going to do, kill us?" Tonks asked angrily, making motions for Lupin to stun the Muggle.
"Why would I do that? Everyone I've killed so far has had the Mark, I make sure of my targets before I punish them, unlike some people in power," he tucked his guns away and walked to the edge of the Fidelus.
"You are referring to Sirius Black, I assume," Shacklebolt responded, walking beside him nervously. "How do you even know about him?" he questioned.
"Maxwell Smart," James replied, making sure he kept up the charade that he had planned in his mind. "Lupin, explain," he ordered, pulling a pair of binoculars and examining the house.
"Max is a Squib living in the States, works for one of the secret Muggle agencies," Lupin explained. "Don't even try it Nymphadora," he drew out her name as she moved to take her wand back. "If you make a move for the wands, I can't guarantee your safety," he pointed his own wand at the Auror as James held his hand on the handle of a gun.
"Tonks, stand down, that's an order," Shacklebolt frowned, grinding his teeth.
"But!" she exclaimed, turning on her partner.
"I said stand down," he took a step toward her, intimidating her with his larger size.
"Damnit Shack, what the hell are…" she stopped as she lost her voice and found herself unable to move.
"Thank you Remus," he nodded at the werewolf who smirked, pointing his wand back at the ground. "You were saying, about this Maxwell Smart?" he questioned.
"Well, he's about as close to an unspeakable as they have in the Muggle government there," Lupin continued. "He owes Frank some favors from way back," he shrugged. "Sirius made contact with him once he got to the States on his mission from the Goblins and well…. Max likes to share his information once you are on his good side," Lupin laughed.
Shacklebolt looked away from Tonks, not wanting to be there when she was released, judging by the look on her face and in her eyes. He watched Castle put away his binoculars before something clicked in his head. "Black didn't catch Pettigrew, did he? It was the boy," he watched the Punisher's face, searching for a reaction.
"Correct, but James is not giving me any other information, besides that you people keep harassing him," he frowned, pulling out a pistol. "I have my own sources you know, I'd prefer that the boy is kept out of this," he laughed, taking a look at the younger Auror. "Let her go Lupin, I'm sure her partner can keep her under control," he nodded at Lupin.
"If you say so," Lupin shook his head and released the spell.
"Bloody werewolf!" Tonks screamed immediately, whirling to hit Lupin before she was grabbed in a bear hug by Shacklebolt. "Let me go Shack, I'm gonna kill him!" she continued to struggle and swear against the larger man's hold.
"I can stun you this time, if you like," Lupin offered as she stopped struggling, but glared at Lupin, her hair and eyes turning black. "Not a very becoming look," he smiled at her.
"Don't…" she growled at him, balling her fists.
"Don't what? Nymphadora," he over pronounced her name very carefully.
"Don't!" she yelled, slamming her head back into Shacklebolt's face. "Call!" she continued, break the grip his arms had as he clutched his bloodied nose. "Me," she grunted as she lunged at Lupin. "Nymphadora!" she yelled as she kicked his legs out from under him and moved to grab the wands.
"Please don't," she heard the voice behind her as she felt the cold metal on the back of her head. "Stand up Tonks," James ordered as she raised her hands and slowly got up and turned.
"What are you going to do, kill me?" she glared into the Punisher's eyes.
"I'd prefer not to, I only kill those who deserve it," he shrugged.
"How can you be so sure they're Death Eaters, what gives you the right to judge them?" she glared at the man.
"The Dark Mark is a pretty good sign," he slowly lowered his gun. "I questioned LeStrange after I took her from the alley," he admitted, turning on Tonks, motioning her to walk with him as Lupin and Shacklebolt recovered. "One of the more interesting things I got from her, concerns the Mark," he glanced over, making sure she wasn't going to try anything. "Lucius Malfoy and many others, they claimed they were under the Imperious when they took the Mark and served Voldemort in the past, correct?" he asked as he fished around in his pockets for something.
"Yes, they were acquitted of being Death Eaters," she frowned.
"Curious that your pure-blood Minister did not question his fellow pure-bloods with Veritaserum, isn't it?" he smirked, pulling a small tape recorder from his pocket. "It's amazing what you can find when you question a pure-blood under Veritaserum," he commented as he pressed down a button.
"Well now LeStrange, what about that lovely Mark of yours?" the Punisher's voice played from the device.
"They are a mark of honor to the Dark Lord," she said gleefully.
"What about those who were under the Imperius when they took the Mark?" he asked.
"One cannot take the Mark while under the Imperius," she laughed. "You have to take it of your own free will, you have to take a life to bond your own to the Dark Lord, no one can take the Mark under the Imperius," she cackled as the tape was shut off.
"Here, see what good it does you," he handed her the device. "Got my whole interrogation of her on there. Good luck on making your bosses believe it," he shrugged and got to his feet. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get this show on the road," he smiled, pulling a small box with a switch on it from an inside pocket.
"We can't let you kill them," Tonks glared at the recorder, not even looking up.
"Tonks, think about the situation for a moment," Shacklebolt pinched at his nose, slowing the blood flow. "If you were him, what would you be doing right now?" he grimaced as he removed his hand, glad the flow had stopped.
"I'd be down there killing the Death Eaters," she cringed when she saw the blood all over her partner. "Sorry about that Shack," she murmured.
"What about me?" Lupin asked as he rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the ground.
"Go bugger yourself," she glared at the werewolf.
"Tonks, focus," Shacklebolt ordered her. "Why is he up here talking to us, and not down there?" he shook his head at the younger Auror, trying to get her to learn.
She frowned, looking between Shacklebolt and Castle. "To give us the tape?" she gave up, holding the recorder in her hand.
"That's inadmissible in a wizarding trial, and will be confiscated if the Minister learns of it," Lupin pointed out.
"Was not talking to you werewolf," she glared at him. "To scare us off?" she guessed after a moment.
"He has not injured us, I believe you are the only one that has done that," Shacklebolt replied. "He's here to warn us, tell us to stay out of his way," Shacklebolt explained. "In his head he's a soldier, he only wants to kill the Death Eaters, not us," he glanced at Castle who chuckled.
"Little from column A, little from column B," he shrugged. "There's some good information on that tape, regarding how the Death Eaters work, and I don't like killing police," he smiled down at the box with a switch in his hand. "They're already dead by the way," he admitted. "I entered the building a few hours ago and took care of it," he smiled as he flipped the switch and the building shuddered. "That's some Fiendfyre again, you'd best call a containment team to take care of it," he bowed, backing away from the observation area. "Until next time," he saluted before disappearing into the woods.
Shacklebolt was indifferent as he left another meeting where the Minister had nothing better to do but scream at him for the lack of progress in the Nott and Malfoy cases. He left the Ministry lobby and apparated directly to Hogsmeade, slipping into the bar owned by Dumbledore's brother Aberforth. He walked to his usual seat at the bar and took a long drink from the beer Aberforth brought him.
"A bit sad to drink alone," someone commented, sitting next to him, with a similar drink.
"Dangerous for you to be in public, isn't it?" he responded, glancing at the figure with a hooded cloak over his face. "Lupin charm that for you?" he inquired.
"Nah, I have other connections, don't want the wolf to get in trouble if they catch me and track him," the man shrugged.
"How many tonight?" he asked, thinking back to Fudge complaining about another house of alleged Death Eaters being hit earlier, the third one since the Nott household.
"No one important, been having a tough time getting good information from them," James shrugged under his cloak. "I'm going to have to move up my timetable, I think You-know-who has figured out how I found them and is scrambling their minds," he admitted, taking a drink.
"How many?" Shacklebolt asked again.
"Just four," James relaxed his head in his hands. "It's not easy you know, I know they deserve it, but it's just not easy," he admitted, looking into his drink.
"It never should be," Shacklebolt agreed. "Tonks been bothering you much?" he asked, taking a sip himself.
"Nah, she's easy enough to lose, its fun to tease her," James laughed.
"She doesn't think you're human, she thinks you're a vampire, or a ghost, the way you keep disappearing," Shacklebolt replied.
"She's come close a couple times, how long until you think she gives up?" James asked.
"How long until you stop revealing yourself to her?" Shacklebolt replied.
"Point taken," he gripped his mug, banging it against Shacklebolt's. "I know it's not easy on you two, but I appreciate it," he finished his drink before motioning for another.
"Don't worry about it, we couldn't stop you unless the Minister had every Auror guarding every alleged Death Eater, and even then, I wouldn't bet on us," he admitted. "How long are you going to keep this up?"
"The big fishies aren't coming out in the open unless it is completely necessary anymore," James frowned under his robes. "Taking out what is left of his financial base is next, then they should start turning on him," he swirled his drink. "Then I finish this," he took a long drink.
"Need anything?" Shacklebolt asked, glancing at the other man.
"Don't worry about it, I'll get you if I need you," James replied.
"God damn it!" Tonks screamed as she turned into an empty alley. "He was right bloody here!" she frowned, kicking at a trashcan.
"Temper there Tonks," a familiar voice greeted her at the end of the alley.
"Lupin, what do you want?" she frowned, glaring at him.
"Oh, just watching the cat and mouse game," he shrugged, leaning against the wall. "You can call me Remus you know, we've been working together long enough," he smirked.
"Working together?! You've been getting in my bloody way, pissing me off, and for all I know, feeding him information!" she advanced on him, pointing her wand under his chin.
"He's been feeding me information on where he was going to play with you, if anything," he relaxed, pushing her wand away. "What would you do if you caught him anyway, arrest him?" he stepped forward, pushing her back a step. She froze, gripping her wand in her right hand. "You won't turn him in and you know, you wish you were out there helping him," he walked forward, pinning her against the other wall.
"Go to hell," she swore, reaching back and slapping him across the face.
"That the best you got?" he taunted, turning the red cheek back to her.
"You're so dead," she threatened before knocking his legs out from under him and diving on top of him.
A/N: Sorry took a while, was out of town and forgot backup battery for the laptop. Anyway, going by what I hope people who aren't the high and mighty Dumbledore would react to the situation as for how I have people acting. Going a bit different with the NT/RL on this one if you couldn't tell, making him a bit of a pain in the ass due to his time in America so he drives her crazy.
Yes, I meant to use Agent 86, thought it would be funny. Don't worry, it's just a passing mention, he's not a recurring character. Anyway, next chapter preview: two wizards will return to England, title is Back in Black.
Also, in regarding my next story after this, I plan on writing a lot of crossovers, because I personally think if they are done well, are very entertaining. So until this story is complete, when you review, attach a little ( -xxxxxxxx ) at the end of a review for a vote as to what X-over you want next. I won't say how I will do the X-over, but they are all different than the premise in this one.
Options I have plots…more or less…for already are:
(Serious)
Captain America
Iron Man
The Flash
Green Lantern
Batman
(Comedy)
Scooby-Doo
A-Team
Write ins are welcome too, I can always torrent and wiki some comics if it is one I am not familiar with.