Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. JK Rowling does (and god how I wish I was her!). I only own the plotline, which isn't worth a cent :-P
This is the edited chapter 5.
It Ends Now
Part 5: "Interrogation"
Remus Lupin dropped into the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place, wind knocked out of him and gasping for breath. He managed to keep a strong hold on Harry, despite the centrifugal force. The portkey fell with a clank onto the dusty floor of Sirius' former home, rolling away into the shadows. The noise sent very worried and flustered McGonagall and Pomfrey running.
"Dear God!" McGonagall exclaimed at the sight of the two, but mostly it was directed toward Harry. Madam Pomfrey hastened over to the boy, immediately conjuring a stretcher and magicking the limp heart-throb onto it. Then she led it floating up the stairs, moving quickly. It was burned into her nature to not linger or prattle; she'd seen far too many pass on when time was wasted. Professor McGonagall helped Lupin up. He dusted off his robes with shaking hands, watching the matron disappear with his best friend's son. A terrible fear was still clawing at his insides over Harry's health, but he managed to push it away with difficulty.
"Where are the others?" he asked in a would-be calm sort of way.
"Downstairs, in the kitchen. They'll be wanting to know how Pott... Harry is. What in Merlin's name happened, Remus?" the Transfiguration professor asked anxiously, desperate for knowledge. Her eyes flickered over to the stairwell and back, as if looking for the answer in the last place she'd seen Harry. The two began making their way slowly down into the basement kitchen.
"Voldemort (McGonagall flinched involuntarily) had Harry under the Cruciatus Curse when we got there, and thank God we arrived when we did. I don't think Harry could've held out much longer," Lupin said, giving his head a light shake and grimacing. "We went into battle and I got Lucius Malfoy away from Harry, who fell unconscious at that point. Voldemort retreated, as did the Death Eaters- dirty cowards. Dumbledore portkeyed us back after."
"How horrible," McGonagall muttered, white as cream and instinctively bringing a hand to her mouth as they reached the kitchen door. They pushed it open and it was as if a bomb went off. Flurries of questions flew at them, all about Harry and his current well-being.
"I- well he-" Remus tried to explain, but everyone's blathering overwhelmed his own.
"SILENCE! Let the man speak!" McGonagall yelled, stern professor voice in place. Everyone hushed up without delay.
"Thank you," Remus gratefully said, and as he turned to face the Order his countenance grew haggard and stressed. "I'm not sure how Harry is, but I won't lie to you- the boy didn't look too good. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait for Madam Pomfrey. I know no more than this."
"Where's Albus?" Molly Weasley inquired, coming out with drinks for everyone. She looked unusually strained and exhausted.
"He's gone to the Dursleys to ask some questions; said he'd be back shortly," Lupin answered, taking a seat at the table. "Don't know what good that'll do. As if that snobby lot will want to talk, especially about Harry."
Mrs. Weasley sniffed angrily in accord, passing him a cup of Butterbeer. McGonagall followed suit, then politely declined the offered beverage. Molly sighed when she was done passing around the drinks.
"I have to go upstairs and inform the children of what's happened. They've all been extremely worried since word got up to them about Harry. I'd hate to make it worse, but they deserve the right to know…" she sighed once again, shaking her head and not really wanting to divulge the news. Without any more chatter, the motherly woman turned quickly and proceeded upstairs, leaving a woeful quiescence in her wake.
The clutches of shock still had all in its possession.
oOo
Professor Dumbledore made his way swiftly up Number Four, Privet Drive, bypassing the well-kept hedge and not even sparing a glance into the perfectly trimmed green lawn. Everything was in order, not a thing was out-of-place... just like the Dursleys, who thought their nephew was about as strange and abnormal as a hedgehog popping out of their flawless lawn. One little unwelcome creature could ruin the whole place, and in their opinion, Harry was just that- a stain on their normalcy.
So, it was only fitting that when the Headmaster and symbol of the Wizarding World reached the door and politely knocked, he was greeted less than cordially.
The first raps brought no Muggle to the threshold, and Dumbledore took this as no surprise given the late hour. He knew though, that if no one answered he would be forced to enter, regardless of all formalities. This was urgent.
The white bearded mage knocked pronouncedly once more. This time the door creaked open, and Petunia Dursley's pinched face popped into view, eyes narrowed.
"Hello, Petunia. I expect you're well?"
Eyes popping with recognition, Petunia made to close the door. Dumbledore stuck his foot in, halting it from snapping in his face.
"I deeply apologize, but I have a very pressing matter to discuss with you and your husband, assuming you'll be ready to answer some questions," he said, most apologetically. "If you would kindly let me in...? It is unwise to linger in doorways during these troubled times." Petunia's eyes darted to the wand sticking out of Dumbledore's pocket, then stuttered:
"C-come in."
The tall Headmaster smartly stepped over the threshold and with a click, shut the door behind him. Petunia scurried over to the living room entrance just as large, beefy Vernon Dursley trudged out.
"What the ruddy hell is this? Petunia, what is this crackpot doing in our house? How dare you enter here, man!" Vernon exclaimed angrily, mustache aquiver and eyes popping madly. Dumbledore merely gave a polite and benign smile, placid as a calm, summer's night.
"Ah, Vernon Dursley," he said, choosing to ignore the outburst. He nodded his head in greeting. If possible, Vernon's face purpled more, and the vein in his temple twitched as it teetered near danger point.
"What the devil are you doing in my house?" he asked in a deathly whisper full of unseen malice. Dumbledore took a step foward. "You... you... abnormality!" He spat out the word like a swear.
"I have a few questions concerning Harry that I wish to address with you. Firstly, I should like to bring to your attention a question: do you, or do you not, know where Harry is at the present moment?"
"Sleeping, like Dudders," Petunia answered automatically.
"Ah. I see we have reached the point of misconception," Dumbledore fingered delicately.
"Misconception?" Petunia stumbled.
"What a fool!" Vernon suddenly burst out. He began marching up the stairs. "POTTER! POTTER! GET DOWN HERE, BOY!" Dumbledore's gaze chilled slightly, eyes becoming a quiet winter fire in anger. His demeanor and posture, however, retained the same composure.
The unmistakable sound of Vernon flinging open a door and his unfinished "Pot-" proved Dumbledore's point. The large man came thundering down the stairs.
"Where the bloody hell has he gone?" he asked. "Have you freaks taken him?"
"Harry has been transferred to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters with a few sustained injuries. What I would like to know is, where is your son?"
Petunia's "Why?" was cut off by her husband's rambling.
"The Order of the what's-its-name?"
Dumbledore didn't answer as Dudley Dursley came sleepily staggering down the stairs. His eyes were bloodshot; an occurence that could have been passed off as insomnia. The elder and wiser of the quartet, however, knew better.
"Mum? Dad? What's going on?"
Then, the boy noticed in fear the wizard Headmaster. His hands twitched slightly, probably dying to clamp themselves over his buttocks, but he managed to keep them front and center. A sheen of sweat began sparkling off his pink face and the boy had an air of grogginess and disorientation about him. Dumbledore immediately noticed all these things, and he could Sense the fear radiating off Harry's cousin's body like heat.
"Hello, Dudley. I am Professor Dumbledore. I was wondering if, perhaps, you knew how Harry became injured?"
A scared expression flickered over Dudley's face, and for a moment it looked as if his brain was on haywire. His mouth moved silently, trying to form words. Finally, he managed to choke a few out.
"N-no c-c-clue, sir," Dudley squeaked, gulping. The whole time he stuttered, Dumbledore wasn't paying any attention whatsoever. Instead, he was focusing on gazing intently into Dudley's porkish blue eyes, penetrating through the layers of his mind in search of veracity with skillful Legilimency. Where was it?
At last, Dumbledore found the truth, locked away in the recesses of Dudley's mind as if the teen was trying to forget it. He saw the whole scene played out, and upon seeing such gore and evil done unto his young charge, felt his heart being squeezed by an invisible hand. Dumbledore broke eye contact, face never changing or showing emotion. He inclined his head politely.
"That's fine. I must go. Harry will not be returning, I'm afraid," Dumbledore intoned briskily. A twinge of sadness filled him as he saw the looks of glee, happiness, and relief upon the Dursleys' faces. Didn't they even care at least a little for Harry? Had he been completely wrong in his assumptions that they fostered perchance a little love for his student deep inside... didn't Petunia...?
"What about the boy's things; what's to be done with them?" Vernon inquired, with a tone similar to one asking where the rat's eviscerates were to be dumped. Dumbledore flicked his wand casually, transporting the luggage ahead to Grimmauld Place.
"Taken care of," he answered. He sighed; at least Harry would be loved now, in a nurturing environment.
Oh, Harry, I never knew...
"Farewell," the old wizard said in a somber tone. He turned on his heel, intricate robes swishing out behind him as he apparated away.
A/N: I hope you liked this section, and hopefully it suited people's wishes for longer chapters! Please review!
For all who clamor to know more, the next chapter is called "Nightmare", but that's all I'll say for now!
AngelMoon Girl