Nathan jogged down the steps, ignoring the pleas from his body for sleep. He would deal with that later; whatever could be considered urgent from Dumbledore became an instant first priority. Making sure the kids were out of earshot, Nathan tore open the message, the voice of Albus Dumbledore speaking out to him from the blank page.
"Nathan…I'm afraid I must disturb your rest again. I would have postponed this message if at all possible, but I'm afraid it's too serious to delay. Marie Morhe has escaped from 's." While the rest of the Order members remained uncomprehending, Nathan growled venomously at the sound of her name.
"I don't have to explain to you how this could effect the safety of your location as well as the others. Something must be done about it, and I feel it should be up to you to decide what action is best." Ripping the paper in half several times, Nathan threw the tattered pieces in the air and began to pace, face dark and deep in thought.
"I hate to ask the obvious question…but who's Marie Morhe?" Arthur waited patiently for his reply, Nathan muttering several curse words that made glad her children were not present.
"She's someone…I was involved with….' Nathan paused, pacing several more times before continuing,' and, like some romantic idiots, we decided to place a charm on each other in the event we were separated; a sort of tracking spell. A few years after we broke up, she joined the Death Eaters." The severity of the situation sunk in quickly to the Order members, Lupin being the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a forced rationality.
"But this house is unplottable. She wouldn't be able to find you here, spell or not." A reserved sigh of relief came from Arthur Weasley, but it was quickly dispelled.
"You're right Remus…but the moment I step out the door she will. And even if she can't find me, they'll be able to find Franklin."
"But how would they know to look for Franklin?" Sirius questioned, the others nodding as Nathan seemed to be gaining annoyance as the conversation continued.
"One of the downsides to having a signature style is its ability to be recognized. The Death Eaters that were at Hermoine's house will know it was him. If they get to him, then he can lead them straight back here."
"Would he betray us?" Molly questioned, thinking more of their safety than Franklin's honor, which drew an outraged look from the former Auror. Taking several deep breaths, he attempted to answer in a normal tone that fooled no one.
"He wouldn't on purpose. But under the Imperious or Cruciatus Curse there'd be no choice in the matter." The minutes of silence dragged on for an eternity before Lupin spoke.
"What's your plan?"
Nathan laughed…his old friend knew him too well.
"I plan to find her and remove the charm." He answered simply, which instantly drew skepticism from those present.
"Remove? How do you plan to remove it? If I remember correctly, that charm lasts until death."
"Exactly." A humorless smile crossed Nathan's face, beginning to start up before Arthur put a hand on her shoulder.
"He has to settle this his own way." said soothingly, his wife whipping out her wand to begin cleaning; the only thing she could think to do besides yelling. Unfortunately, Nathan hadn't let the matter drop.
"She's a Death Eater! She deserves all the pity of a dementor." He spat at her retreating figure. When she turned around this time, Arthur simply stepped out of her way. They had been married long enough for him to see a losing battle.
"If we walk around killing anyone that gets in our way, then what makes us different than them?"
"We have no choice! If people like us ruled the world, than we could all just get along and there'd be no Order of the Phoenix. But the world doesn't work that way. If you'd rather Voldemort show up at your doorstep, then by all means…"
"You're nothing but a murderer and a coward! If you're the sort of folk Dumbledore is relying on, then his judgment needs serious work."
"And if soft-hearted peace lovers are going to be the ones standing beside me when I'm dueling Death Eaters, maybe Dumbledore wants us all to end up dead." Molly stormed from the kitchen, Arthur in tow as Nathan waved at her sarcastically. With the yelling over(aside from the portrait of Walburga Black howling from her portrait) Lupin began where they had left off.
"I can't say I support you killing someone…but something must be done." Lupin's views, while unspoken, were evidently clear as he leaned back in his chair, awaiting a response that surprisingly came from Sirius.
"She'll be taken to 's again or Azkaban. Neither of which will be good enough if the Death Eaters decide she's worth the risk. A memory alteration spell perhaps?" Sirius offered, Nathan shaking his head.
"It's a good idea Sirius…but unfortunately, the charm works no matter what the mental state of the person. While you can choose to block it out consciously; a person with no memory would seek the other out through sheer emotional inclination. And her mental instability would make a memory alteration pointless. She lives in a fantasy world; and even the finest of 's haven't been able to fix it. In a way though, it's a problem of my own making."
"Two years after our relationship ended, she sent Aurors to my home to have me arrested for harassing her. When they didn't, she convinced her new love interest to seek me out. Upon arrival, I was challenged to a duel. After he lost, she ungraciously attempted to murder me. This led to my future wife blasting her several lawns away. The concussion Marie suffered only worsened her mania. Soon after she sought out Voldemort." Sirius had laughed during the story, but Lupin's face remained covered in thought.
"Why was she sent to 's then? I can't recall any of Voldemort's followers who weren't released or sent to Azkaban."
"She convinced the judges that she had simply been coerced. With the money from her father in the right hands, she got off with a much lighter sentence. She didn't have the pull to get off completely or the names to get her free. Besides, no one wanted to see her rot in Azkaban; especially after she was found innocent of all but the simplest of charges. Found innocent of things I witnessed first hand, in some cases." Nathan explained, bitterness drowning out his usual sarcasm.
"Sounds like something the Malfoys would do." Sirius observed.
"Always something I despised about them…but the point comes back to: What are we going to do about her?" Nathan strode over to the kitchen sink, pouring some water in his hands and splashing his face as he fought off the ever-approaching shadow of sleep. Soon, he'd be forced to re-cast the Insominus spell. The water going over his ears almost drowned out Lupin.
"I assume negotiation is out of the question. Perhaps the best solution is just to return her to the ministry. Surely they can find another place for her."
"Where she can escape again? No…there has to be a permanent resolution to this." Nathan declared assertively, taking a towel and drying himself off.
"So, one way or the other, we have to deal with Marie and get to Franklin before the Death Eaters do." Sirius stated, both of his fellow order members nodding in agreement.
"I can get to Franklin before they do…no issue there. But perhaps…" And with a deep smirk, Nathan began to explain his plan.