Sirius kept his jaw clenched and his arms crossed while Kingsley Shacklebolt continued droning on and on and on.
They were sitting in his kitchen at Grimmauld Place, crowded around a large table that was somehow too small for those assembled. While Kingsley continued jabbering, Sirius flicked at a crumb, eyeing the pile of unwashed dishes laying all about the sink and the rubbish bin overflowing with takeaway containers. The whole house needed a good cleaning, too, but he couldn't be bothered to do it himself. Not while he had more important things to worry about. I shouldn't be here, he thought miserably. I should be at her side. A gentle touch on the arm from his neighbour brought him back to attention.
Molly and Arthur Weasley were sitting directly on his left, the husband's hand covering his wife's, squeezing it every once in a while for support. Ashley Smith, his girlfriend, was sitting at this right, keenly paying attention to every word the auror was saying, occasionally glancing at him and giving a small smile. The Weasley's eldest son, Bill Weasley, was sitting next to her. Charlie Weasley was supposed to be here, too, but he was currently being held up by Percy Weasley; he'd volunteered to recruit the middle son to the Order, but, by all accounts, it wasn't going very well.
Remus Lupin, looking tired, if well-fed and groomed, was sitting further down, along with the scarred Alastor Moody, the aforementioned auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, his subordinate Nymphadora Tonks, Hogwarts professors Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, and Severus Snape (plus former Healer and current school nurse Madam Pomfrey) packed close together, with Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones (sister of Gwenog Jones, Sirius remembered, wondering if he should say something on behalf of a certain someone), and, just a bit worrying, one Mundungus Fletcher, rounding out their numbers. The dirty scoundrel was currently leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, and occasionally letting loose a snore. There were more members not present at the table, but they were off at their own duties and missions.
And, of course, at the head of the table was Albus Dumbledore, founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, who was watching Kingsley carefully, leant forward with his hands perched in front of him.
"-far as we can tell," Kingsley said in his deep voice, gesturing briefly to Tonks at his side. "The little rat has been chewing his holes. Last night, several files went missing from my desk, as well as a collection of missing peoples reports. I was collecting them to present to Scrimgeour- the rates have been skyrocketing since Potter disappeared- and it seems we were right. Voldemort's got to be behind them."
Not disappeared, Sirius thought, scratching at the table's varnish with a fingernail. We know exactly where she is, and nobody will do a damn thing about it.
"And when we tried to report that," Tonks said, "we didn't get nowhere. Scrimgeour promised to look into it, went to a meeting, and came back singing a completely different tune."
"And what about the contents of the meeting?" Moody asked, his voice a harsh growl. "Know that, at least?"
"Planning her execution, probably," Sirius grumbled. Only Ashley and Molly Weasley heard him, the latter glaring at him.
"Haven't the slightest," Tonks answered. "Aurors aren't exactly allowed to listen in on private conversations they weren't invited to, you know."
"Not, at least," Kingsley hastily added, "when the Minister is visited by Lucius Malfoy. If we so much as tried, Fudge would have us sacked before the day was up, with how many galleons the man's been slinging about lately."
"Lucius Malfoy?" Moody said keenly. "Any chance he's got Scrimgeour under the Imperius?"
"None," Kingsley said. "He'd have to cast it in front of half the Ministry leaders- that, and Scrimgeour was not at all happy about his orders."
"I'll give you my cloak," Moody said. "You can slip in right after him, figure out what's going on."
"Won't work," Kingsley said, shaking his head. "We've upped our security since you retired. At your insistence, if you'll remember. You're the one who pushed for years to get the wards modernized. The slightest movement at the entrance, invisible or no, so long as it's unregistered and unwarranted, causes a total lockdown."
Sirius would have bet good money that James's old cloak would slip right past, but he said nothing. He never should have taken it from Lily, and he would be damned before he'd give it away without her permission.
Should use it to sneak in there and get her out, Sirius thought, the drumming of his fingers intensifying. Should go now. I've waited long enough. He almost started to rise out of his seat when he saw Dumbledore staring at him. He remained in his chair.
"Bah," Moody scoffed, leaning back in his seat. "Figures the Ministry would only listen to me after I'm gone. Do you have any idea how many breakouts could have been prevented in the first war if they'd just heeded good advice?"
"Now is not the time to dwell on what could have been, Alastor," Dumbledore said, all other voices quieting to listen to him. "Not when we still have the future to attend to."
"Has Hagrid found the giants, yet?" Elphias Doge asked. He stroked his white beard as if it was just as impressive a feature as Dumbledore's, despite being a quarter of the length.
"He has," Dumbledore confirmed with a nod. "Progress is slow, but he is confident that he and Maxime will win them to our side. The current chief seems very receptive to my offer, but giants move on their own time. It could be months before we hear an answer, refusal or no. In the meantime, I've arranged for Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank to fill his role as Care of Magical Creatures teacher, until he is able to return."
"And what about Lily?" Sirius snapped, unable to wait any longer.
"Fudge is building his case," Kingsley answered. "He's got a list of witnesses, but they're all character- we don't have anybody who has actually seen either of the crimes the girl has been accused of."
"And we've got a date," Tonks said. "31st July."
"Quite the birthday present," Flitwick squeaked. Not a single person laughed. Sirius ground his teeth, back and forth.
"Fudge thinks he's clever, does he?" he asked.
"It was his assistant's idea, actually," Kingsley said. "The Umbridge woman. She's the one that's arranged all their evidence, witnesses, and arguments, as a matter of fact."
"What is their plan?" McGonagall asked.
"To smear her name," Kingsley said with a shrug. "I'm not privy to the details. I don't even know who they're summoning."
"I know of one, at the moment," Dumbledore said. "They attempted to summon Clara Lavigne to testify to Lily's attack on her. Maxime was able to convince the French Minister to refuse, however; they will need to rely on other ways."
"And they have them," Kingsley said. "What the witnesses have to say doesn't really matter- what does is that the girl still insists that she's killed both Delacour and Bagman."
"She didn't kill anybody," Sirius snapped. Most of the table went silent. The Dunghead in the middle of the table let out a loud snore.
"I cannot speak to Bagman," Snape said, "but the French girl lives, at the least. She is being held at Malfoy Manor to ensure Potter's cooperation."
Why does he keep saying it like that? Sirius thought, watching the slimy git carefully. And what's he keep looking at me, for? What does he think he knows?
"Can we break her out?" Hestia Jones asked.
"Perhaps," Snape said with a shrug. "I am looking into it, but I cannot act alone. That would be suicide."
"Merlin forbid you try anything risky," Sirius said.
"Not alone?" Emmeline Vance said, leaning forward. "If you had help, you could get her out?"
"Perhaps," Snape said, shrugging again. "Perhaps not."
"What if someone went with you under Polyjuice?" Vance suggested. "We take out a Death Eater, sneak in, and smuggle the girl out, all without anyone being the wiser."
"It won't work," Snape said.
"How do you know?"
"Because of this," Snape said, pulling the sleeve of his robe away from his right forearm. On his pale skin was black skull with a sinister serpent writhing in and out of the eyes and mouth.
"The Dark Mark?" Podmore said. "What about it?"
"Polyjuice can not cover the mark," Snape said, covering his again. "And we are all required to show it when entering the manor. Whoever went with me wouldn't make it past the front door."
"Maybe not Polyjuice," Tonks said with a sly grin. "But I reckon I could fool them."
"Perhaps," Snape said. "I will consider this."
I could get her out, Sirius thought. Use the cloak to break her out, instead, so Lily doesn't have to pretend anymore. He locked eyes with Dumbledore again. A subtle shake of the head was enough to discourage him.
"And what about Voldemort?" Jones asked impatiently. "What are we doing about him?"
"Yes, I believe that is our most urgent matter," Dumbledore said.
Finally! Sirius thought. He sat up straighter, ready to finally get something done. If he couldn't do anything about Lily, he could at least bring the fight to the Dark Lord.
"Severus," Dumbledore said, causing Sirius's heart and posture to deflate. "Tell us: what are Voldemort's current movements?"
"Crabbe is still abroad," Snape said, his voice bored. Sirius clenched his fist, only loosening it at a touch from Ashley. "As far as I can tell, the Dark Lord is attempting to woo the American's Dark Lord."
"Lot of good that'll do him," Kingsley said, chuckling. "Far as the yanks have told us, they don't even see them as a threat- more of an annoyance, really."
"Still," Dumbledore said. "If Voldemort sees potential in joining with them, we should do everything we can to prevent it."
"I doubt he wants to join forces," Moody said. "Most like, he'll just kill them and be done with it."
"Unlikely," Kingsley said. "If Voldemort wants their forces, he'll have to make some sort of deal. The Americans won't follow him if he kills their leader. The yanks say they are very loyal."
"Know something I don't, then?"
"Loads, actually," Tonks said unhelpfully. "It pays to not be retired, you gaffer."
"Never learned any manners from me, eh?" Moody said.
"You were teaching some? And here I was, thinking all you showed off was the best ways to dismantle an attacking force of dark wizards."
"Well, go on, then," Moody said. "Why don't you fill the rest of us in?"
"The American Dark Lord has come to power for one reason and one reason only," Kingsley said, glaring at the younger auror. "A sort of 'reverse Grindelwald' situation, if you will. The yanks just legalized marriage between Muggles and wizards two decades ago, and a large part of their population detest that change. They want to go back further, cut off more contact with the Muggle world. Voldemort wants to conquer the Muggle world and rule over them as their proper masters, which would, by needs, require integrating our societies further. You see why negotiations have been hostile."
"Do you think they will come to an agreement?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's only a matter of time," Snape answered for him. "There is no doubt in my mind that the Dark Lord will find a way, even if it means killing and replacing the American without alerting their followers."
"We must not allow that to happen," Dedalus Diggle said.
"It will happen," Snape said casually. "We should prepare for the eventuality."
"I agree," Dumbledore said grimly. "If Voldemort seeks to woo the Americans, then we will do the same. Sirius, you will travel to New York and-"
"Not a bloody chance," Sirius growled, the rest of the table falling into an awkward silence.
"You will," Dumbledore said firmly. "We must move quickly, Sirius. Deals must needs be made, and you will need to act before the new term begins if you are to take your place at Hogwarts."
"I'm not going anywhere until Lily is home safe," Sirius said, tapping the table with a forefinger. "You want me to go? Give me her, and we'll both go."
"Hazel can go nowhere until her trial concludes, regardless of its outcome," Dumbledore said. "And we still have a month before then. You will head to the States two days from now, you will meet with their government, and you will return in time for her trial. Do I make myself understood?"
Sirius ground his teeth, only keeping his silence because of a gentle hand from Ashley.
"Under what pretense?" she asked. "The Ministry is keeping an eye on him, too. They'll want to know before they let him leave the country."
"That is where you come in, my dear," Dumbledore said happily. "Congratulations on your engagement."
"Come again?" Sirius said sharply.
"Tonight, you will acquire a ring," Dumbledore said. "Tomorrow, you will announce your engagement, and the next day, the two of you will leave on holiday for the states to celebrate your upcoming union."
"Hang on," Sirius said, leaning forward. "You can't just-"
"Break it off after, if you must," Dumbledore said, "but Ashley is right. You need some pretense, and this will help sell the matter."
"Bones won't let me go on such short notice," Ashley said, face still spread wide in shock.
"Oh, I'm sure Amelia will be quite happy to permit it," Dumbledore said with a knowing smile.
"I can't leave, Dumbledore," Sirius said futilely.
"You will," Dumbledore said.
"But-"
"Well, this isn't quite how I hoped to get engaged," Ashley said, seeming a bit pleased now that her brain was catching up. "But I don't think anybody would buy us leaving while Lily is still locked up."
"They will undoubtedly think it awful of you," Dumbledore agreed, "but it must be done. We do not have the time to delay. Every second we waste here is another second for Voldemort to-"
Dumbledore was interrupted by a loud slam of the front door. Sirius rose to his feet, intending to check on who decided they were too important to ring the doorbell, only for the kitchen door to crash open next. Henry Maraktis stepped through, his bald forehead ringed with an angry sweat, and his usual impeccable dress in quite the disgruntled state.
Lily's therapist, Sirius thought, squinting at the man. But what's got him all riled up?
"We have a problem," Maraktis said before anybody else could speak.
"We thought you had work," Moody said with a grimace.
"I did," Maraktis said, accepting the seat offered by Lupin. "I came here as soon as I could. Dumbledore- they've raided my office."
"The Death Eaters?" Moody asked, leaning forward.
"No," Maraktis said. "The bloody Ministry."
"Come again?" Kingsley asked. Everybody started to speak at once, only for all sound to be cut off by Dumbledore raising a single hand (except for Dunghead, who was snoring again).
"What did they take?" Dumbledore said calmly.
"All my notes on Hazel," Maraktis said uncomfortably. "I tried to stop them, but they threatened to throw me in the cell next to her. I might have done anyway, but I needed to tell you as soon as I could, and that would be harder if I was in irons."
"You should have," Sirius said harshly. "Blimey- if they've got your notes, they'll- you should have thrown the aurors out!"
"As you would have done?" Snape said. "I seem to recall you left Potter crying in a cell to go on holiday."
"That's not how it went!" Sirius shouted, standing up and slapping both palms on the table. "I'm not going to-"
"Quiet," Dumbledore said, raising another hand. "You did the right thing, Henry. What did these notes say?"
Maraktis shifted in his seat, glancing between the furious Sirius and the serene Headmaster. "Everything the girl told me, and what I thought about it. Advice I wanted to give her, topics I eventually wanted to address- everything, Dumbledore, and none of it looks good out of context."
"More evidence for their case," Hestia Jones said. "Not good."
"Very not good," Maraktis agreed. "That's not all, either- they've given me a summons. I'm to testify against Hazel, to explain her 'deteriorating mindset.'"
"Bloody hell," Jones said, leaning back in her seat.
"Don't go," Sirius said immediately.
"He must," Dumbledore said. "Sit, Sirius."
"That's not what worries me the most," Maraktis said as Sirius did what he was told.
"Then what is, good man?" Podmore said.
"How did they know I was even seeing her?" Maraktis said carefully. "I never once met her in my office, we were always here, and I never once mentioned our meetings to anyone outside of the Order. And, yet, they seized my notes. How did they know?"
Kingsley and Tonks exchanged a look, and it did not go unnoticed by Sirius. Nor, apparently, by Dumbledore.
"What is it?" he asked the two.
"We didn't know there would be a raid," Tonks said uncertainly.
"We came from the office almost an hour ago," Kingsley added, "and not a word was said to either of us. These things don't just spring out of the ground. They have to be planned and approved of. We would have heard something, even if they only began planning it right as we were leaving. By the time they got the strike force chosen, we would have been back from 'lunch.'"
"So," Snape said slowly, "it seems they planned it for when they knew you would be gone."
"Exactly," Kingsley said, his frown deepening. "Which tells me that somebody knows Tonks and I are in the Order- we could have warned Maraktis ahead of time, so he could get his notes squared away."
"Brilliant," Moody growled. "Another rat in our midst, it seems."
"Could it be the same rat?" Sturgis Podmore asked.
"Can't be," Sirius said, shaking his head. "Peter's been hiding in the Ministry, and Kingsley and Tonks weren't part of the old Order. He'd have no way of knowing."
"Did either of you talk about Order business in the offices?" Moody asked.
"No," Tonks said at once.
"The only time I can think of is when Tonks invited me to join," Kingsley said more carefully. "But she never told me what she was inviting me to, only that she had contacts that I may want to meet with. I suppose it's possible that the rat overheard and understood, only-"
"Only I timed it for when the Minister was meeting with some overseas types from Sweden," Tonks said. "I figured that if anyone wanted to drop some eaves, they'd be doing it there instead of trying to listen in on two lowly aurors."
"I can verify that the Dark Lord knows full well what the Minister's meeting consisted of," Snape said. "That means the rat was there."
"Which means we've got a new rat," Sirius said, glancing at the still slumped and snoring form of Mundungus Fletcher.
"He'd need to actually be awake during a meeting to report on anything," Ashley said.
"And Dunghead knows better than to go spreading secret business," Jones said. "Talk like that gets a man killed, in his line of work."
Sirius understood, and he was sure the others did, too. Mundungus didn't have the courage necessary to be a traitor- and Peter had been a Gryffindor.
"There is another possibility," Snape said very carefully.
"Go on, Severus," Dumbledore said.
"Potter herself is our informant," Snape said, saying the name with a loathsome glance in Sirius's direction.
"Watch what you say, Snivellus," Sirius said coldly. "I've about had enough of you."
"What other possibility is there?" Snape said. "She knew Tonks and Kingsley both were a member of the Order- and she is the only outsider who knew of her meetings with Maraktis. If she was willing to kill for Delacour's safety, I doubt she'd mind informing on-"
"Lily hasn't killed anyone," Sirius snapped. He didn't remember standing, but he was, and his hands were shaking from his sudden fury. It was only the shame settling in, and another glance from Dumbledore, that got him to sit back down, grinding his teeth all the while.
"Someone killed Bagman," Emmeline Vance said. "If not her, then who?"
"Voldemort," Sirius said as if it was obvious.
"If he ordered it to keep the Delacour girl alive, you believe she wouldn't do it?" Flitwick asked.
"Of course she wouldn't," Sirius said confidently. "She's not a murderer. She's-"
"She almost killed the Lavigne girl," Sprout said.
"She didn't know what the spell would do!" Sirius said, not quite believing it.
"Lily wouldn't hurt anybody without good reason," Mrs. Weasley said. "You all know what she was going through, and that other girl was behind a lot of it."
"And she was almost killed for it," Sprout said again. "Oh, Hazel is sweet enough in class, for sure, especially with her friends- but she can be vicious if you aren't one of them."
"Draco Malfoy can attest to that much," Snape added.
"If you're suggesting that the son of a Death Eater didn't have it coming, then-" Sirius started.
"I am suggesting nothing," Snape said. "But one's upbringing does not denote their future. You would do well to remember that, Black."
What is he getting at? Sirius ground his teeth again, trying to convince himself not to curse Snape where he sat, when Ashley spoke.
"I should get back to the office," she said. "Hermione's got to be driving Bones up the wall with questions, by now."
"And we should go, too," Kingsley said, Tonks rising up right after him. "We've got a lot of damage to mitigate, and very little time to do so."
"You may go," Dumbledore said, continuing to speak as they made their leave (Ashley giving Sirius a quick and fond kiss on the lips). "Remus, you will travel to the lycan colonies. We need to convince them to join with us, or else stay neutral. There is word that Greyback is trying to rile them up, and that can not be allowed to happen."
"I will try," Remus said with a tired smile. "I can perhaps hire a few more, if they're willing to work, but the one store can only support so many- especially now that Hazel's name isn't as well received as it once was."
"Then we shall open a second shop," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps in New York- another excellent opportunity to meet with the Americans. Sirius-"
"I'll look into it," Sirius growled, finally sitting back down, albeit with a glare at Snape. "But if you're sending me to the states and Moony to the colonies, we'll need someone else to watch after the one here."
"Molly," Dumbledore said at once, "that will be a task for you. Can you handle it?"
"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said at once. "Only- well- it seems to me that Lily gave the position to Remus. She won't take kindly to us doing these things without her permission."
"She will understand, given time," Dumbledore said.
Sirius wasn't so confident. In fact, he was pretty sure she'd hate it- maybe even hate him for what Dumbledore was forcing him to do, among other things.
But at least she'll be alive and free to do so, he thought.