The Order of the Pheonix

Chapter Twelve

London, England

Black House

"So, you think my brother his something in here that will help with the war? You do know my brother was a death eater." Sirius said as they made their way down to the kitchen.

"A lot of people were, doesn't mean they all stayed that way. The evidence my Dad found indicated Regulus turned on the death eaters, and found a way to help the order, but I don't know much since my Dad likes to keep me out of stuff. I only know what I managed to overhear. If Dad can find it though, I'm sure I can too." Yuery said with a thoughtful shrug. "Kreacher may know where to look too, if we ask him. Don't order him about though, that's wrong and cruel."

"He's a house-elf. They expect to be ordered around." Sirius dismissed.

"That doesn't make it right. It's just another thing on the long list of reasons why I do not like this place." Yuery sniffed, as he looked around the kitchen in search of the mentioned Elf.

Kreacher was no where to be seen, though the fire was lit, and a platter of bread and cheese was waiting on the table. Sirius did not seem worried about the elf's disappearance, and waved away Yuery's concern as he explained that Kreacher was rarely seen unless called. "I officially named you my heir, so he will respond to you as well. Don't expect much though. The lazy hateful little monster prefers trouble to anything else… always did favor my brother."

"Perhaps if you were kinder to him." Yuery said before looking around again and not seeing the elf called out his name. Kreacher appeared instantly, muttering to himself about the tainting of the House before Yuery smiled kindly at the elf and asking if he knew where Regulas hid any treasures. Yuery was instantly alarmed when Kreacher immediately began hitting himself with a pan, before Yuery ordered him to stop and looked to Sirius horrified.

Weasley's House

England

"I need to know everything you have on this Voldemort. We need to find the Longbottom child immediately." Edward demanded as he paced the room. Everyone was gathered in the kitchen, George clinging to Fred since they had all arrived and refused to let go had been allowed into the meeting as well. Then the other Weasley children refused to leave after they realized that all of the kidnapped children were staying in the meeting. Their mother had protested briefly but no one cared to argue the subject further. Edward's men, Tringham and Fuery, had left to find a means to call Amestris for an update. Mr. Weasley had assured them there was a phone booth near the town.

"Albus Dumbledore is the only one who knows much of His history, I'm afraid." Minerva shook her head with a frown. "He was the one who collected all of the information on the man over the years."

"He was the one who was sent to bring him to school to begin with, I remember Dumbledore mentioned it to me once." Severus said, frowning. "Minerva, where did he keep his records, are they still at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, he didn't take anything with him when he left, insisting that he would be reinstated before next term. Only a few changes of clothing and some books in his charmed bag. All of his research remained in his office." Minerva said. Edward was about to ask her to retrieve it, when she added that the trip to Hogwarts would not take long.

Edward and Severus agreed to go with Minerva, Remus and Alphonse, along with the rest of the Amestrians would stay at the Weasleys to protect the children until they returned. It wouldn't take long to travel to Hogwarts, even with the walk since no one could apperate onto the grounds. Instead, Minerva offered to take the flue network, which Edward refused, before they agreed to apperating just outside the gate and walking up to the school from there. As they prepared to leave, Minerva asked about Edward's refusal and Severus shrugged. "I believe the issue is rooted in his father's specialty; it has caused arguments before. He will not travel by fire, neither will his brother."

"Alphonse, I need you to prepare a report for Dad, he needs to know what is happening here as soon as possible. If this goes badly, I may need him… if that happens, I am sending you home to act in our stead." Edward said, interrupting the conversation before it could continue.

"Brother, I am not a politician, I am a teacher." Alphonse protested.

"JiMu would be doing the work Al. We need you there so no one panics that we are gone…and so no one tries anything about the wizards in our custody." Ed explained.

"Sir, Sirius Black is gone." Fuery said as he reentered the room, "from what Winry said they believe Yuery took him willingly, possibly as a means to arrive in England quickly."

"…Take Alphonse back to the phone, he knows what I need. Someone, figure out where the hell my son is." Edward demanded, before turning back to the two teachers. "Let's get to Hogwarts, we need to find the other kid too."

Little Hangleton, England

Graveyard

Neville found himself tied to a gravestone when he awoke just as the sun was setting. He tried not to panic, even as he noticed a cauldron arranged nearby. None of the men he had seen earlier were around as far as he could see or hear, but he had to assume they were close. He considered yelling for help anyway, since he could see houses in the distance just outside of the graveyard.

He could feel magic in the air, likely spells had been cast to avoid anyone seeing or hearing them. He yelled anyway as soon as he found his voice. A moment later Lucius Malfoy appeared with a scowl "Stop the sniveling, no one can hear you and it is unbecoming of a true wizard."

"What are you going to do to me?" Neville demanded, even as he tried to wiggle his hands free. He was terrified of what they were planning, he knew Dean had died back at the house, having seen the body, but he had no idea if the others were still alive. He hoped they were, that somehow Fred and Cedric had found another way to get them out. He didn't know though if any of them knew where to look for him, even if they managed it. He was on his own, without a wand, and relying solely on the limited training he had received at Hogwarts and Xerxes.

"We are completing a spell. Don't worry child, the Dark Lord prefers to avoid unnecessary spilling of Pure blood. He does not wish to end your life. Not today." Lucius waved a hand dismissively. Neville frowned, biting back the comment about Dean. Dean was half magic, as he stated their first night at Hogwarts, a subject Neville considered again until now.

"My friends. They are as well." Neville said instead, trying to both distract the man and ensure the (hopeful) safety of the remaining children.

"Yes, of course." Lucius nodded, turning back to the other man. "Pettigrew are you ready yet? This shouldn't take so long."

"Ready now Malfoy. Let's not rush." Pettigrew responded as he lit the fire under the cauldron and dropped the bundle inside. The two men then had a quiet, but rapid argument before Malfoy stepped further away and glared pointedly at Pettigrew.

Neville wasn't certain who had won the argument, or what it was over, but his fear grew anyway especially as Pettigrew drew a wand and began the spell. The grave beneath his feet spilt as Neville watched wide eyed, and bone fragments trickled out and over to the cauldron as Pettigrew spoke.

Worse was to come as Pettigrew drew a silver knife and with a shaking voice recited the next line about the servant's flesh before cutting off his own hand into the cauldron. Neville tried not to make a sound as the whimpering man then approached him.

Neville tried to squirm away even as the man used the same knife to cut Neville's arm deeply from elbow to nearly his wrist before gathering the welling blood and adding it to the cauldron. Pettigrew then seemed to deflate slightly even as the fire changed color and held his bleeding stump tightly.

Within moments, a creature, for Neville was not entirely certain it was human, rose from the cauldron. Malfoy was quick to step forward, helping the creature step out and wrap him in robes. Pettigrew stood near by as if waiting for further instructions. "It worked." Pettigrew's voice was full of awe.

"Of course, it worked. The Dark Lord wrote it." Malfoy dismissed with a sneer. Earning a glare from the shorter man.

"Well, we didn't know for certain, after all you were the one who insisted on using a different child." Pettigrew said.

"This one will suffice." The creature, who Neville realized with a jolt must be Voldemort said quietly. His voice louder than at the house, but still as odd and raspy. "This child also is the offspring of an enemy."

"Sire, I still believe it would suffice." Malfoy agreed. "The boy of prophesy is gone, unlikely to ever return. He is as good as dead, his fate altered beyond measure."

"Yet, I have encountered him." Voldemort said sharply, as he looked at his newly recovered body. "We must ensure my return is kept silent until the time has come."

"Yes sir." Both men agreed. Before Voldemort grabbed Malfoy's arm without warning, suddenly touching the nearly invisible mark. It turned black, as Malfoy squirmed as if in pain. Pettigrew couldn't contain his own cry as the matching mark on his arm changed as well.

Soon enough, the graveyard began to fill with people in masks and Neville's terror grew. He was bound, helpless, surrounded by enemies and injured. He was likely going to die tonight, and only hoped that his grandmother was given his body in the end.

Voldemort watched impassively as the group gathered in a circle around him, watching as they all arrived alone or in pairs. Some would not arrive because they were dead, others because they were imprisoned. He would soon retrieve these men and women. Others among them ignored the call, having turned against him in the years he was gone.

It was no matter, he decided, he would rebuild his army easily enough, and when he did those who dared betray him would suffer the same fate as those who opposed him to begin with. Dumbledore was of no consequence, or so they had been told, held far away in a foreign prison. The Boy was also far from here, held safe by those who took him years ago and no longer an immediate threat to Voldemort's plans. He would have to track the boy down eventually and dispose of him of course to ensure the prophesy remained unfulfilled, for now though he needed to reestablish his reign and he needed to be rid of the single witness to his return.

As he moved to bring the boy closer a final servant moved to join them, he could feel through the bond. Severus Snape and Barty Crouch Jr would be joining them within moments. It eased his concern slightly, there were less loose threads to severe with their returns. "We wait for the final two, however, this boy needs to be addressed. Tell me boy, have they yet taught you any useful spells?"

"N-not really." Neville stuttered even as he tried to recall the spells he had learned, and more importantly at the moment the lessons in fortifying his mind.

"My Lord, I am afraid I must inform you that Severus Snape is no longer an ally we can trust." Malfoy said as Voldemort glared in the boy's direction. "He has been keeping the Order informed for any years now, even going so far as to testify against many members when the trials were underway."

"I agreed to Severus' plan to infiltrate the Order of the Pheonix many years ago Lucius. I am aware of who he has made allies, and I assure you he remains loyal to our cause." Voldemort waved off the man's concerns. He waved a wand a Neville who found himself floating toward the circle of wizards unable to speak. "What we do with this one is currently the question."

With a flash of light, a portkey suddenly delivered a group of men into the graveyard, lead by a blond man in a dark blue uniform. Neville recognized Lt. Fuhrer Elric with relief even as more people arrived, including Professors Snape and Lupin. Another man appeared, this one seemed dazed as if just shaking off a spell. As Elric glared at the crowd with his hands posed to strike together, "Release the child."