A Snake in the Nest, Chapter Eighteen
"That's just great. We have a homicidal Death Eater running free with plans to resurrect the most dangerous Dark Wizard if the age. Added to that, if he succeeds, he will have every tool he needs to become undetected while he gathers his supporters." Husky groaned, laying back onto the bed. Nana sat on the chair, shaking slightly. She looked up at Husky.
"We can't just ignore this. I know we were told to stay out of it, but there is no way to just leave this alone. We can track them down a lot easier than they can. Even if Remus is a werewolf, he can't go to the Forbidden Forest for a very long time. It'll be suspicious if he does."
"And Sirius is still being hunted by most of the Ministry of Magic. He should lay low for a while longer." Cooro added from the windowsill, as he looked out at the snow. He turned back to them, eyes dark.
"So, what can we do?" Nana responded immediately.
"We'll go to the Forest. The centaurs will have noticed if there's a strange man in the Forest, and if they haven't, they can look." Husky grinned, but it was grim.
"I doubt they want this guy there. As long as we're not rude, they should at least keep an eye out." Nana nodded, then continued.
"Meanwhile, we can try and find out about this Veil. From the name, I'll guess that information won't be easy to come by, but looking can't hurt." Cooro looked thoughtful.
"Maybe we can get a look at those books Sirius mentioned. Hopefully, he'll bring them around." He paused, frowning a bit. "I think that we should try and get them to tell us." Husky opened his mouth, and Cooro held up his hands in protest.
"Hear me out. Maybe they'll say something; it is our business, after all. We can at least try." After a moment, the others nodded.
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
They sat around the table eating dinner, four days before Christmas, when Cooro finally asked the question.
"Did you find out anything new about the portal?" He didn't look up from his lasagna, and the other three pretended not to see the look shared by the two men. Finally, Remus sighed a bit, meeting their eyes.
"Not much. We have some theories, though. And as they're Dumbledore's, I believe they are fairly credible." He took a bite of food, then continued. Sirius stayed silent, wondering how much he'd reveal.
"We believe that he will try again, using a wizard or witch to reopen the portal. This time, it would be a trade of sorts, which raises the possibility of success, unfortunately.
"There is a Veil, in the Ministry, that links life and death. Only one way, but those who have seen death can hear their voices, whispering. There are a lot of theories of reversing death using it, but they never worked." He shook his head, scowling.
"Now, we'd like to dismiss it all, but as Voldemort isn't entirely dead, the chances of it working are far greater. Not only that, but he would basically become the person that was traded for him." Sirius jumped in here.
"We're looking for those spells, and considering who my family was, I'll bet there's something. At the very least, we'll have an idea of how long we have." Cooro leaned forward.
"Can I help look? For information, not the actual guy." Remus looked at Sirius, who hesitated.
"It's Sirius' decision. His house, you see." Husky eyed Cooro, wondering if he would push too far.
"Okay. Thanks for considering it." He continued to eat. Sirius was silent for the rest of the meal while the others spoke of school. Nana snapped her fingers abruptly as they finished.
"That reminds me; are you going to send that photo to Harry soon?" Sirius looked up, staring at Remus. Remus didn't notice, answering as he collected the dishes.
"For Christmas. We'll keep the other one, I suppose. For quick contact, should something occur with the portal or the Chamber of Secrets. Petrified, you said?" Nana launched into what they knew (not much) and skirted over what the other four were doing (quite a bit more).
I have until Christmas to talk to them. Four days. Sirius headed to the living room where the others were waiting, wishing he had more time.
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
"The Weasleys are coming over for Boxing Day, Sirius. I want you to tell them, preferably soon after they arrive so we can all have a nice day."
Sirius looked up from his coffee, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to kick me out of your lovely home? Get me killed so you can enjoy your nice little domestic life?" He leaned back dramatically, throwing his hands over his face.
"I bet you have a secret lover, waiting for my death to sweep you off your feet!" Remus rolled his eyes, setting down the plate of eggs in front of him and sitting on Sirius' lap, throwing his arms around his neck.
"Oh darling, you know you're the only one for me!" He kissed his cheek loudly. A giggle from the doorway alerted them to another's presence. They both looked to find Nana standing there, covering her mouth. Remus jumped up, going back to the stove and continuing to make omelets while Sirius leaned back and sipped his coffee.
"Am I… interrupting something?" Nana asked, staying in the doorway. Remus glanced over at Sirius, who looked back at him for a moment, before they both laughed.
"No, you're just fine Nana. Sit down. How do you like your eggs?" She sat down across from Sirius, a bit awkwardly, answering, "Over easy." Sirius looked over at her.
"You okay?" She jumped, looking over at him.
"Yeah. Surprised, but I'm fine." He laughed.
"We've heard worse answers. Remember that fourth year, back in Hogwarts?" Remus shook his head at the memory, setting the food in front of Nana and sitting down with his own.
"Yelled rather loudly, too. I think most of Scotland knew in the end." Remus laughed, continuing to eat his breakfast. Sirius finished, picked up his dishes, and walked over to the sink.
"I'll go and tell them now. If Molly doesn't kill me, I'll be back by lunch."
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
Molly Weasley liked to think herself an understanding person. She had seven children; it was practically a must.
So when the letter arrived on her doorstep, saying that a person she once knew had something to say, and to keep an open mind, she tried to do so.
When Sirius Black appeared on her doorstep, however, hands in the air and looking rather nervous, she wasted no time in Stunning him.
"Black. What made you think you could just show up here?" She glared at him. He stared back, his eyes shining bright.
"You murdered thirteen people! You betrayed James and Lily! You-" She stopped, staring at the prone man in front of her. He had closed his eyes, and a few tears leaked out. This wasn't the behavior she expected from him.
"You sent the letter, didn't you? You wanted to talk." He opened his eyes. They seemed to be trying to convey something. Sadness? Regret? Slowly, she raised her wand again.
"I'm going to free your mouth. You'll tell me the truth, and nothing else. If you lie, I'm sending you to Azkaban." She levitated him inside onto the couch, then waved her wand again. Ropes bound him hand and foot, but he could move. The moment he was free, he began to talk.
"It was Pettigrew. He was the Secret Keeper, not me. We traded at the last minute, didn't tell anyone. He killed those Muggles, not me." He stopped, letting her digest the information. She thought of what she knew of both Pettigrew and Black. How Peter was always looking out for himself, while Sirius risked his life to defend anyone, even strangers.
The ropes disappeared, and Sirius was engulfed in a tight hug.
"Sirius! Oh, I hoped it wasn't you! But the explosion, and Peter dead-"
"He's not dead. He's in hiding." She blinked, but nodded and stepped back, regarding him.
"You're not too thin, I suppose, but you still need food. Come on, we'll have brunch while I Owl Arthur."
Twenty minutes later, he was sitting at the kitchen table, a vast selection of food in front of him, with Molly sitting on the other side, urging him to eat and asking questions.
"Where've you been? I doubt you were really in Russia, though it was a good ploy. Political red tape and all." He grinned, remembering how Moody had laughed at that.
"I was in Hawaii for a while. Stayed away from Muggles, tried to get the pasty white out of my skin. I just moved to stay with Remus a few days ago." She blinked, not expecting this.
"Remus? We're going over to his home for Boxing Day." She suddenly shook her head. "Would that be why you're here?" He grinned sheepishly.
"Sort of. I was planning on visiting, Remus just set a deadline. I wanted to wait for the holidays to be over, to avoid the kids, but from what I can see, that isn't a problem."
"They decided to stay at school this year. A bit odd, with the attacks, but they're out of my hair." She leaned back in her chair.
"Eat!"
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
It was well after noon when Sirius returned, laden with leftovers and a few books he'd picked up on his way back. Senri relieved him of most of them, walking to the kitchen as Sirius followed, eying Senri oddly.
The others were sitting there, making dinner and working on homework.
"Thought you'd be back by lunchtime, Sirius." Remus commented from where he was reading over Husky's essay.
"Molly wanted to talk. And feed me. A lot. Those plates are what's left of what. I also dropped by Grimmauld Place; got some books." Cooro glanced up sharply.
"Isn't that dangerous? Being out in public in the middle of the day?" Sirius shrugged, setting down the books.
"I was fine-" Remus glared at him, finally speaking.
"You were fine? You're a fugitive, Sirius! Please tell me you at least used a disguise." Sirius returned the glare.
"That's what I was saying, if you hadn't interrupted me. I'm not that stupid, Remus." Remus deflated a bit, looking back down at the table. Sirius grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hall, where they talked for a while before reentering the room.
Cooro was charming the paper in front of him to flash random colors and messages. Sirius walked over.
"How'd you manage that?" Cooro looked up from it, grinning. He explained the complicated process of laying the different charms so that they didn't cancel each other out.
This led him to show him the goblin war paper. It had received another charm to be silenced so as not to annoy people when it fell out randomly. Cooro performed the counter-charm, and the sounds of the war filled the room. Sirius was impressed, and said so.
"I just wish I had the original one. It was better." Remus looked over.
"Where is this original?" Husky told them of the incident of Lockhart's test, and the various answers they'd given. By the end, Remus looked amused, Sirius was roaring, and Nana was serving out dinner.
After eating (most of the meal was telling stories from school, from all parties), Sirius laid out the books he'd gotten, showing Remus. Remus winced at some of the titles.
"Necromancy? I though that was just a myth." Sirius shook his head, grinning a bit.
"If it's a dark, depressing, altogether evil myth, the Ancient and Most Inbred House of Black has roots in it." Despite himself, Remus chuckled. He picked up the aforementioned book and sat back to read.
Cooro walked in, and cleared his throat. When neither men looked up, he shrugged, grabbed one of the books from the pile and sat down, beginning to read.
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
Jerard eyed the castle from his perch, debating. On the one hand, it would be far easier to kidnap a child than a fully-trained wizard. But on the other, if he did, he would have far less time to work. All the child would have to do was one bit of accidental magic, and the Ministry would get him.
He looked at the castle again. There were rumors of the Chamber being open again. Quiet ones that sounded incredible to anyone that heard them, but they were there. Perhaps, if he did this right, he could blame it on the creature?
He slipped back into the Forest. If he did do that, it would have to wait. Wait until the castle was packed, and one missing student wouldn't be nearly as noticeable.
X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_
"I found something!" Cooro yelled abruptly, holding out his book triumphantly. It was Christmas Eve, and they'd decided to finish the pile so as to get the books out of the house soon. Now, the others stared as Cooro read out loud the entry he'd found.
"The barrier between this world and the next is something that no wizard has ever been able to fully comprehend. The closest they have come is being able to create a portal of sorts, a veil in an archway, located in the department of Mysteries.
"Do not be deceived, it is a one-way barrier, and the one-way is to death. However, people who have seen death or lost someone special have been reported to have heard voices whispering behind the veil. They cannot understand what is being said.
"There are several theoretical ways of reversing this portal, to speak to or raise the dead, but none have been tested, as they require almost endless bounds of magic and the sacrifice of another wizard.
"The spells, once they were revealed to have this sacrifice as a crucial point, were supposedly destroyed, but one record remains. It is hidden in the department of Mysteries.
"So… the information we need is in the Ministry itself." Remus sighed, leaning back.
"Hey, there's only the entire Ministry; who's all looking for you, by the way, whatever defenses the records will have, Dumbledore's eventual protests on our strategy, and of course Jerard himself to get past. Nothing to it, really." Sirius pointed out, trying to be cheerful.
"Nothing at all." Cooro marked the page carefully, then looked at them sternly.
"Stop that!" They both looked up from wherever their thoughts had lead.
"Now, you're going to write and tell Dumbledore. After that, we're going to ignore this until after the Weasleys leave. No talking, discussing or ever thinking about it until then. Got it?" Remus and Sirius looked at each other, then back, nodding.
Then they all burst into laughter.