The Traitor

Chapter 67

"What the bloody hell was that?" asked Ron loudly as soon as they had arrived in the cave outside Hogsmeade.

"You tell me," said Sirius, letting go of both of them. "How did you know where to find Harry's home?"

"I don't know!" exclaimed Ron, as he rubbed his neck which was redder than his face. "When Travers caught hold of me and Disapparated, I thought I'd be a goner! I managed to get him off of me, when I heard Hermione's voice calling my name out of my pocket."

"Out of your what?" Hermione asked shrilly.

"Here, look," said Ron, putting up his hand and showing something small and silver – it was Dumbledore's Deluminator.

"You heard my voice coming from that?" Hermione's eyes widened, speechless.

Ron nodded. "I didn't know what to do, so I clicked it. It sort of produced a ball of light and then it went straight inside me."

Sirius saw his own expression of disbelief mirrored across Hermione's face as they shared an incredulous glance.

"I just knew then where I had to go," continued Ron. "That was when that idiot Travers lunged at me while I was Disapparating which is why he came along for the ride."

Hermione's eyes were narrowed in fascination as she took the Deluminator from Ron's hand and inspected it with something akin to awe.

"But why did we Disapparate here?" asked Ron, looking around at the cave while directing the question to Sirius.

"And what about Tonks?" asked Hermione, looking up from the object in her hands. "She was right ahead of us and then she simply vanished. Was it because she got into the boundaries of the Fidelius?"

Sirius didn't immediately answer them, turning around to murmur the incantations for the protective enchantments around the cave.

"Fidelius?" repeated Ron, before understanding dawned on him and his eyes widened in alarm. "But if Sirius is the Secret Keeper to Harry's home, and I brought along a Death Eater, does that mean…?"

"The Secret is safe," said Sirius at once. "That's why I Disapparated here with the both of you. If I'd taken you in and Travers witnessed it, it would have been enough of a giveaway. However, they will know the general location of our home, by now. I saw him touching his Dark Mark."

Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with a shaking hand. "Tonks is in there! Can't we do something?"

As if on cue, a large werewolf Patronus illuminated inside the cave, speaking in Tonks' worried voice. "Stay wherever you are. Don't come back. Being watched."

The Patronus dissolved and both Ron and Hermione stared back at him wide-eyed.

"She will be fine," said Sirius firmly. "Meanwhile, we've got something important to do. Hermione, will you stay here while Ron and I make a trip to the Burrow?"

Hermione glanced back at him, puzzled.

"If the Secret of the Order's Headquarters has been divulged, we have to check on the Secret Keeper."

Ron's face drained of all colour at the implication. "What?"

Wasting no time, Sirius explained to Hermione, "Send out Patronuses to all the Order members. Notify them of the breach. You'll be alright here until we get back."

Hermione nodded vigorously, glancing at a worried Ron. "I'll be okay. Go! Go and check on your dad."

Sirius and Ron Disapparated together and arrived on a spot farther away from the Burrow's usual Apparition spot. Sirius Disillusioned both of them and they hurried down the road before finally hiding behind the large beech trees outside the Burrow, which was seemingly quiet.

Ron and Sirius exchanged bemused glances, even though the former had let out an audible sigh of relief upon seeing the Burrow, silent and unharmed.

"Can't we just go in and make sure everyone's alright?" asked Ron uneasily.

"No, we can't," whispered Sirius immediately. "We don't know who is keeping watch over them and the last thing we need is to associate with your family."

They spent the next half hour hidden from view yet waiting for any sign of movement inside the house. After a long time, Ron hissed, "Look!"

Arthur Weasley was wearing a pair of mud-splattered rubber boots and holding a shovel and a bucket. He was languidly heading his way back from the barn to the house. Just then, Charlie came traipsing out and stopped to converse with Arthur under the moonlight.

"It seems like everything's fine here," said Ron, snorting quietly, unmistakeably relieved.

Then how had the Fidelius been broken? wondered Sirius. Surely, this didn't mean what he thought it meant?

Sirius knew it was redundant to stay there any longer. And even though Ron hesitated to leave his home behind, he nevertheless complied and the two of them Apparated back to the cave.

Hermione was sitting cross-legged by a small fire that she had started.

She stood up as soon as she saw them. "Ron, what about your—?"

"They're fine!" exclaimed Ron, hugging her in evident happiness. "Dad is alright."

"Hermione, did you send the Patronus?" asked Sirius.

"I did, Sirius," said Hermione at once, disentangling herself from Ron. "Only Fred has responded so far. He says he's with George, Angelina and Lee somewhere secure."

"We don't know what happened to the others, yet?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Then we'll have to assume they're alright for now," said Sirius sighing and he too sat down beside the fire along with them.

After a moment, Ron turned to Sirius with a shrewd expression on his freckled face. "If it wasn't Dad, you don't think it's the traitor who gave us out, do you?"

Sirius looked at the red-haired boy, hating to give him the answer. "I'm afraid there's no other explanation that I can think of."

Ron paled while Hermione stuttered. "But-But, that would mean…"

She could not finish her sentence at the horror of what could have transpired owing to the Unbreakable Vow that they had all signed.

Ron's face regained its lost colour. "The deceiving fool deserved what he got then! But, Sirius," he said suddenly, "you never told us who it is?"

Your brother, thought Sirius.

If it was Percy who had sold out the Order to the Death Eaters, then he was as good as dead. Sirius did not know what would be worse for Ron to hear – the fact that his brother was no more or the fact that he had betrayed them.

Sirius swallowed the truth, not wanting to be the bearer of the grave news.

"I don't know for certain," he said, purposely avoiding the question.

"Come on! You did say you have a good idea of who it—" Ron was cut-off as Sirius transformed into his Animagus form and traipsed out. He settled near the mouth of the cave, not wishing to take part in their conversation any longer.

oOo

"What's up with him?" asked Ron, glancing at the dog Animagus' retreating form.

Hermione thought Sirius seemed rather forlorn. Of course, it was not a happy thought to know that one of their own could betray them.

Hermione still had trouble believing it to be true, but Sirius had been so sure of the traitor that he had made them sign the Unbreakable Vow. And after the Death Eaters had broken through the Fidelius, Hermione had no trouble believing Sirius.

Still, she would have pegged him to be angry at the situation, not sad.

"I think," Hermione whispered, "I think the traitor is Gwenog Jones."

"Not this again," Ron groaned, like the many times he had when Hermione had suggested it. "Gwenog Jones? Are you out of your mind, Hermione? You can't say her name just because you hate her."

"I don't hate her," Hermione said immediately. She didn't like her either.

"Still," said Ron, shrugging, "it seems very far-fetched to me. Isn't she supposed to be Sirius' girlfriend?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him reiterating her point. "Exactly! Don't you get it yet? She must have been trying to get close to Sirius to try and finish him."

"Come off it!" scoffed Ron. "She went to Hogwarts with him. They seemed to have been great friends along with Remus. What are the chances—"

"Isn't that what they said about Pettigrew?" intervened Hermione. "And besides, didn't you see how down Sirius looked? I can't imagine he would be sad to know that the spy, whoever it is, is already dead if it were someone else other than Gwen."

Ron frowned. "I see what you mean."

oOo

In his Animagus form, Padfoot's hearing was much sharper. It was no problem at all overhearing the conversation between Ron and Hermione, even though they were speaking in low whispers.

Sirius, who had been trying to wipe away the scene of Peter's last moments from his memory, found it a welcome distraction.

The idea that Gwen was his girlfriend was amusing at best and it intrigued him that Ron and Hermione had thought him to suspect Gwen to be the traitor.

Sirius had considered the possibility at first. She was the newest Order member and her intentions weren't exactly selfless as far as Sirius could make out. But then, he had instinctively set his doubts on Percy Weasley from the moment he denied the news that there was an attempt by the ICW to reach out to the Minister – something that would have fallen under Percy's line of work. He had given him the benefit of the doubt but Sirius suspected there was something going on with him for a while now.

It explained why Percy had skipped a few of the most recent Order meetings, which Sirius had not failed to notice. And with the knowledge that only Percy and Proudfoot had visited Hestia's home to work on the safety enchantments while he was injured, meant that only they knew the exact location of where he was at the time, besides Remus and Gwen.

Either of the two men or Gwen could have sabotaged it, leaving him without protection. But the deciding factor of who it could be came down to his latest run-in with him. When he bumped into Percy outside headquarters and the latter offered a hasty alibi before rushing off, Sirius could practically smell the fear radiating from his body, even though he played it off nicely.

Sirius had alleged that an attack was possible, what with the surprise Percy had shown to see him walking about so soon.

If Percy had already tipped off the Death Eaters about his location then he would likely try to call it off. He could be mistaken, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

It was prudent to get Hestia out of there, at least for the time being, before he could decide what he ought to do next. Sirius had stalled for time, wondering if he was making a mistake in assuming it to be Percy.

He knew that if he were to look for a spy in the Order with an unbiased eye, he could make out anyone as a traitor and give them enough motives.

Something he was rather good at, he thought distastefully. God, he was as paranoid as Moody once was.

Sirius had left for Hestia's home alone first to make sure her house was not being watched by any Death Eaters, just in case. But instead, he had got all the proof he needed.

Outside Hestia's front door were four Death Eaters, masked and with their wands drawn. The Order's protective enchantments should have kept them out, but it clearly hadn't. Sirius hid behind the bushes on the opposite side of the road and watched as the men raided the house, seemingly coming to the conclusion that it was empty.

They were talking to each other and Sirius could hardly hear them. He transformed to his Animagus and slinked in the shadows, edging closer to hear what they were saying.

"That lying weasel! There's no one here," said one of them gruffly.

"You don't suppose he alerted Black, do you?" asked another.

Mulciber growled, "If he did, he's dead by midnight."

"I don't reckon he could have lied," grunted Travers. "He has nothing to gain and everything to lose."

At that moment however, there was a silent pop and someone Apparated a few feet away from Hestia's house. The dark, cloaked figure took one look at the Death Eaters huddled outside Hestia's porch and hurried towards them.

He whispered, "I just got a Patronus that Black has already escaped. We're to call it off."

Mulciber was not pleased. "I'm having a few words with him! Does he think we're his pawns to use to his whims and fancies?"

The Death Eaters Disapparated shortly after, grumbling under their breaths, but Sirius was livid.

Though they had not mentioned names, there was no mistaking their offhand insult.

Why Percy Weasley had any cause to betray them was beyond Sirius, not when his entire family was in the Order. But Sirius only knew how close he had come to near death that night. He would not allow another Peter Pettigrew to destroy the Order one by one again.

Binding him to the Vow was mere pity on him only for the sake of being a Weasley. Sirius had half-expected Percy to corner him by the next day and come clean with him, perhaps apologize for his foolhardiness, but no such thing had happened.

He had instead gone and blown it, exposing the Order's location tonight, his brothers' current refuge notwithstanding.

He must have somehow got the Order's location written down from his father, for there was no other way how he could have succeeded in breaking the Fidelius.

Sirius couldn't find it in himself to have much sympathy for the boy – if he was so intent on finishing the Order, then he did deserve what he got as Ron had remarked. But the image of Peter's final moments floated into his mind again.

Peter had told him Voldemort had got Harry. Even if it was merely for the sake of his own life, he had mentioned it to gain Sirius' benevolence. He had no doubt that it had been what had caused the magical hand to act up against him – Voldemort's own version of an Unbreakable Vow.

The thought did not settle well with him. That Percy had likely experienced something similar because of him, even if it was warranted?

A stubborn part of him wanted to argue that Sirius had made everyone aware of what they were getting into before they signed the Vow. Percy had exposed them, knowing that death was inevitable.

At that moment, a Patronus cantered into the cave and he stood up, staring at the cat Patronus which spoke in Hestia's voice. "Gwen and I have made it out safely."

Sirius closed his eyes for a moment in relief on hearing her voice.

"There goes our theory," muttered Hermione.

As predicted, Percy never checked in with them, nor did the rest of the Order. Sirius made no comment when Hermione made mention of it. Ron and Hermione were already convinced that the traitor then could be none other than Proudfoot if Gwen was alive and well.

Sirius did not know what happened to Proudfoot or the others, but he trusted they were capable of taking care of themselves. He then sent his own Patronus to the members of the Order alerting them of the breach in their Headquarters and it was decided that they would not try to meet with each other at least temporarily. They had no safe-house to congregate and it was best they lay low for a while.

"What do we do now?" asked Hermione, the light from the fire reflecting off her eyes.

There was a loud grumbling sound and both Sirius and Hermione turned towards Ron, who flushed. "I'm starving. What are we going to do for food?"

"Well, I have about enough for a day or two's worth of food," Hermione piped up, tugging on the beaded bag that was ever-present across her shoulder.

"Inside that?" asked Ron, pointing at it skeptically.

"Undetectable Extension Charm," said Hermione matter-of-factly, thrusting her hand into the bag which went all the way up to her armpits. "I packed a few things, just in case we had to leave in a snap. I haven't got all of your clothes in though," she said mournfully. "I never thought we would have any reason to not go back to Headquarters, you know?"

"You're still brilliant, you are," said Ron, grinning when she pulled out what seemed to be canned beans.

Ron eagerly tried to take it from her, when Hermione swatted his hand, frowning. "We've got to share if we're to have food for at least a week."

"That one little can for three of us?" he asked as if the idea was too ridiculous to even entertain.

"Well, yes," said Hermione and Ron's face fell in an instant.

Sirius decided to intervene. "Relax, Ron. We have enough food for however long we need it, alright?"

Ron's face lit up brilliantly at his words.

"Where?" asked Hermione, eyeing him suspiciously as if she expected him to also pull out a bottomless bag.

"Anything particular you want, Ron?" asked Sirius, nonchalantly.

Ron grinned, "I could really use a steak right now."

Hermione squawked at the idea. "Ronald! This isn't your personal catering service! Sirius couldn't possibly have brought with him steak of all things."

"Hermione?" asked Sirius mildly, raising an eyebrow, ignoring her protest.

Hermione glanced at him warily and then towards Ron, who was simply beaming in amusement. "Well, if you can, a steak does sound good."

Ron's grin widened and he snorted.

"Kreacher," said Sirius simply and in an instant, the Blacks' old house-elf appeared with a deafening crack that echoed in the cave, making Hermione let out a small shriek.

"Kreacher, could you get a steak and a bottle of butterbeer each for Ron and Hermione?" asked Sirius, to which the house-elf bowed low, croaking, "As you wish, Master Sirius."

The elf disappeared just as Ron cheered jubilantly. "Now, that's why you need a house-elf!"

Hermione's cheeks had gone pink. "Yes, well…" she said before clearing her throat and looking up at Sirius interestedly. "I noticed Kreacher was… different… to you."

Sirius simply shrugged when Ron rounded on him.

"Say Sirius," said Ron with a curious gleam in his eye. "If you had Kreacher, why didn't you ever use him for food when you were on the run from Azkaban? I mean, you didn't have to live off of rats, at least."

Sirius pressed his lips together in a listless smile. "I was disowned by my family, Ron, which meant there was no reason to believe he would respond if I ever called for him. And besides, I had no idea both my mother and grandfather had died while I was still in Azkaban."

Hermione gaped at him while Ron looked like he had swallowed a lemon, "Talk about tough luck."

Sirius smiled properly now at their uncomfortable expressions. Kreacher popped back in at that moment, the delicious smell of steak and roast vegetables wafting tantalizingly inside the cave.

Ron audibly sighed and Hermione elbowed him in annoyance and the two proceeded to eat when Sirius stood.

Hermione glanced up at him. "Aren't you eating anything, Sirius?"

"I'm not hungry, thank you Hermione," he said before adding. "I'll be back in a while. You two stay put, alright?"

And with that, Sirius left the two of them in the cave and went outside to get some fresh air and a clearer perspective of what he was going to do next.

oOo

Saturday, November 8

Harry had been flying and flying for how long he knew not. He went soaring past dark forests and empty pastures before the skyline began to change and buildings came into view. The cold air stung his face and froze his arse to the broom, but he couldn't quite care.

It was like a weight had been lifted off of his chest – the simple act of flying, freeing him in a way nothing else had. After having felt nothing but fear and confusion and complete apathy inside him for the longest time, he relished the adrenaline pounding in his ears, making him feel so alive again. He did not want to get off the broom anytime soon, not until he could quench his thirst of being able to feel something good for a change.

The pitch black of the night was beginning to dissolve, although the grey clouds never left, clogging the air with its humidity. The birds were beginning to chirp and twitter as dawn approached and Harry knew he would be at risk of being spotted by the Muggles. He glided closer to the ground reluctantly, trying to find somewhere to rest for a while before the day began.

He touched down beside a running brook on the edge of a sleepy village. He could hardly see people out and about and hopped off his broom, tossing his rucksack to the ground. The grass beneath his feet crunched as he kneeled beside the stream and cupped his hands into the icy cold water, drinking from it to his heart's content.

While doing so, he spotted a few fish swimming through the clear water. Famished, Harry put his hand into his pocket for his wand and was taken aback to find it missing.

A surge of panic gripped him and he feared that Voldemort had taken his wand, leaving him defenceless. If that was so, Harry would not even be able to Apparate from one place to another.

Still, he hurried over to his rucksack which was lying haphazardly on the ground to see if Snape had managed to retrieve it.

He pulled the open rucksack closer to him and murmured. "Accio wand!"

Harry let out a sigh of relief when his wand jumped out of the depths of his rucksack straight into his hand. Just for this one act of help, Harry decided he could be able to forgive Snape his past transgressions.

As if struck by a gavel, he recalled Snape's parting words.

"His soul! His soul inside your body. He knows it now, which is why he spared you. He no longer plans to kill you, but I can only assume what he has planned for you is much more sinister than you can even imagine. Which is why, you must leave. Save yourself, for there's no hope of defeating the Dark Lord now."

The fact that he had helped Harry was still unbelievable but how Snape knew anything at all about the locket was beyond him. Had Dumbledore told him about it?

If so, then why did he kill Dumbledore?

At that moment however, Harry's scar burned like it had been branded with a red-hot rod. Harry screwed his eyes shut and despite himself, he saw an image of an old, frail wizard sitting inside what appeared to be a cell, laughing at him.

"Kill me, then. Voldemort, I welcome death! But my death will not bring you what you seek… There is so much you do not understand…"

"That's where you're mistaken, Grindelwald," said Harry softly, towering over the man. "I know everything. Everything about you and Dumbledore."

For the first time, the lunatic grin faltered from Grindelwald's face.

"Why do you endeavour to protect him even after he's dead?" asked Harry, smirking. "A pitiful attempt at remorse during the last legs of your life? Tut, tut. So weak! And to think there was a time when I almost looked up to you?"

Grindelwald's lined face was marred with a resigned coldness that hinted at the wizard he once was. "Why come here then? That wand will never be yours."

Harry felt an intoxicating surge of pleasure at seeing the prideful, taunting man from moments earlier reduced to this. "I had my suspicions, but you have only confirmed them for me."

Suddenly however, he felt the summons and his fury took the better of him.

The old man meanwhile demanded, "Kill me, then. That wand will never, ever be yours –"

Harry screamed: the burst of green light filling the small room and the wizard fell back lifeless.

He moved towards the window, rage filling him from within. If they had let Potter escape… He would not let mercy dictate his next course of action, even if they were his loyal followers….

Harry was beyond grateful when he was abruptly pulled out from his exhilarating vision as something sharp pierced his forearm and he yelped, "Ouch!"

A snake, looking remarkably familiar, had bitten him – the snake that he had conjured days ago.

"How did you—Where have you been all this time?" asked Harry, not realising that he had unconsciously switched to Parseltongue.

"I took refuge inside that, master," hissed the snake, annoyance clear in her tone, as she looked back at his rucksack.

Harry marvelled at the fact that she was still around after days of his spell-work. He was certain conjured animals usually vanished within a few of hours if left unattended. Hadn't Professor McGonagall told them that it was extremely unlikely to hold a conjuration as it needed a level of expertise that students seldom possessed?

Harry's hand was smarting from the bite, sufficiently distracting him. Two sharp puncture wounds broke the surface of his skin.

This had been his idea.

When Harry had summoned the snake, he had ordered her to alert him if he slept for more than six hours or if he was taken over by his nightmares or visions for longer than a few minutes. Of course, 'alerting him' meant that she would bite him, sharp enough to feel pain, but not quite deep to cause torn tissues or long-lasting injury.

Harry looked up at the snake which was watching him quietly and smiled. "Thanks for remembering."

She merely hissed, a joyous sound, and proceeded to slither up his arm, wounding herself over his injured forearm, stemming the light trickle of blood. Harry chuckled at that, warmed by her affection.

He sat down wondering what he was going to do next as he absently stroked her scaly length. Harry knew he had to act fast – Voldemort might have believed his Horcruxes were well-protected and out of Harry's reach, but there was still the possibility that he would check on them once he had learnt of Harry's escape.

Voldemort had as good as shown him the locations of two of his Horcruxes to him unknowingly when he had been held captive.

Harry had seen what Voldemort had seen in his mind's eye: the Hufflepuff cup surrounded by piles of gold and jewels which he knew was in Gringotts, judging by the way Voldemort had thought of the Lestrange's wealth. And the other one, the Diadem of Ravenclaw was in none other than the Room of Requirement itself.

Harry had thought he had seen it before when he came across the pictures of the diadem in the books he had read in the Archive. But now, he knew exactly where Voldemort had kept it as he had seen it himself with his own two eyes when he had gone to the Room of Requirement to hide his Potions book. He had not known then that it was the Diadem of Ravenclaw.

And the third Horcrux was with him.

Harry took off the locket from his neck and stared at the thing.

Voldemort knew he was being possessed, which explained why he spared Harry and why he left the locket with him. He wondered how ignorant Voldemort had to be if he thought Harry would not try and destroy the locket regardless.

While he couldn't exactly tell when he was being possessed, he could comfort in the fact that he still held a desire to find and destroy all the Horcruxes. As long as he held on to that one task, he knew he need not fear the locket.

In the blink of an eye, the locket vanished from his hands and Harry felt the weight of it around his neck simultaneously.

Yeah, that was getting onto his nerves however.

Harry debated on which Horcrux to get to first.

He settled on Gringotts for two reasons – not only was Harry slightly uneasy about stepping foot in Hogwarts, but Gringotts would be much harder to break into and so it had to be done away with immediately.

Still, getting into either of the two most protected buildings in Magical Britain was not an easy feat. If he were to break into the Lestrange's vault, he needed to be disguised.

But he could not possibly go into the Lestrange's vault looking like Bellatrix or her husband, what with his limited knowledge of human transfiguration.

He could really use someone else's help right now.

oOo

A/N: So happy to see a lot of new faces on this story. Every favorite, follow and review was seen and also, what pushed me to publish this chapter. I had it already done, but I haven't been in here for a while since the arrival of my baby boy, who is not quite a baby anymore lol (he's 1.5 years already!). Time flies.

Read and review to let me know what you think.