Prompt: skeletons
Chapter 5: Landmark
Remus apparated to an unkempt field. It was becoming so familiar he had worn a path he could trace with his eyes leading up to a small hill. It appeared to be vacant. He knew better. Gripping the parchment tightly in his left hand, he kept his wand in his right. A small part of him hoped someone had already informed Harry the news he carried. The rest of him, the marauder who would have trade places with James and Lily in a blink, wanted to be the one.
Something was happening to Harry and it wasn't good. At first, Lupin thought it was just fear and guilt that was spurring him to action. Action that seemed irresponsible at times. It wasn't just the impulsivity that was a cause for concern. The magic the younger wizard was producing wasn't a simple extension of his emotional state. This might push him over the edge and put everyone in danger.
Stepping forward, he followed his path through the tall grass. He'd remove evidence of the path all when he got to the top of the hill to ensure someone wouldn't stumble upon the hideout. As he approached the enchantments, he looked for the skeletal remains of the jackalopes. The skeletons conveniently marked the edge of the protections. They'd been doubled and placed in strategic positions around the barriers. The antlers on such small creatures would be a confusing sight for any muggle who might find themselves so far into the middle of the countryside. It should give them pause long enough for their lookout to confund them, coupled with the muggle repelling charm, there was little concern about being found accidentally.
Death Eaters and snatchers were another matter altogether. At this point, it wouldn't surprise Lupin if Harry would be thrilled to be found by Voldemort's army. Through the invisibility shields, a small command center was buzzing. Several tents were erected. A mobile headquarters for the Order. It seemed no one in the encampment had gotten the news either. They wouldn't be so relaxed if they knew what he knew.
"Hey there Moony," Fred said from his lookout perch. "Undesirable Number 1 is in his tent," he continued, carrying on the not-so-secret code name the twins had taken to calling Harry.
Nodding at the redhead, Lupin continued on his way to the central tent. Through the flaps, he found the person he sought wasn't alone. Kingsley, Bill, and Tonks were standing in a half circle. Stepping up to his wife, Lupin kissed Tonks and smiled despite the news he carried. "Teddy is down for a nap with you mum. She said dinner will be at six," even as he whispered the instructions, he knew they wouldn't make it home in time for dinner.
"They stopped responding to the jinx," Bill said, continuing the conversation.
Harry ran his hand through his hair revealing his lightning-shaped scar. Lupin swore it was changing. Inflamed. "Have interrogations of the ones we caught turned up any locations we could target?"
Kingsley shook his head. "Aside from Malfoy Manor no one has been to a location You-Know-Who has visited. That's information gathered after a healthy dose of Veritaserum and legilimency. The highest level Death Eaters are at the manor. The rest are on their own to find their own safe place."
It wasn't what Harry wanted to hear. "We've only rounded up twenty-five. And mostly snatchers. It's not enough." He made eye contact with Remus and paused. Something in his eyes gave away the situation. "What did you find?"
Trying to warn the others in the tent that something explosive was brewing, he held out the Daily Prophet. It was folded to hide the front page. There was no way to soften the blow. "It's Hermione. They're trying to get you to turn yourself in."
At her name, Harry's hand snapped back before touching the paper. "What's Hermione? What do you mean?"
Unfolding the parchment, Remus showed the group. Hermione was laying on a stone floor. Blood soaked her shirt, her arm was at an odd angle, her face was bruised and swollen. It was clear she had been tortured. She was so still she it appeared at first that she was either dead or the picture was a static frame. Then she took a small breath, her face grimaced in pain at the movement. The headline sent chills up his spine again even after already reading it. Undesirable Number 2 Apprehended, Assassination Attempt Thwarted.The deck under the headline went on to clarify the situation. Leniency will be offered if Harry Potter turns himself in to ministry officials . The photo cutline offered context to the rest of the story filling the entire front page—Hermione Jean Granger was wounded after attacking the minister's security detail. She confessed to planning an assassination attempt under orders from Harry Potter.
Harry stood in his place staring at the image that had been limited to his nightmares until that precise moment. "That's the dungeons under Malfoy Manor. She's still there," he observed.
"Attacking them there is exactly what they want you to do," Remus warned.
"Did they give a deadline?" Harry asked, not able to read the article.
"Tomorrow at midnight. The paper says she'll be brought to Azkaban."
Bill took the Daily Prophet to read it himself. "Bullocks. They'll kill her."
No one could argue with the assessment. Remus wished it hadn't been voiced aloud.
"Maybe we can offer a prisoner exchange. Everyone we rounded up for Hermione," Tonks offered. "We can't keep them indefinitely anyway."
"We can off them all with the killing curse and You-Know-Who wouldn't care. There will be more to take their place," Harry countered, walked to the exit of the tent.
Remus followed, glanced back at Kingsley for backup. "We simply can't launch an offensive against Malfoy Manor. It will be over before it starts," he told Harry. "Especially if we launch it on their timeline. When they're expecting it."
The trio in the tent, lined up behind Harry, waiting for him to agree. Waiting for his path of self destruction to end.
"Maybe we move the fight," Harry finally offered. "Let's take Hogwarts back. You-Know-Who won't let that stand." It was a long shot. Everyone knew that. Controlling Hogwarts wouldn't just be a symbolic act, it would free the professors and older students to fight. Not to mention all the creatures of the forest and the castle. "Even if he doesn't come himself, his army will. We won't have to wait to pick them off five at a time. We do it today. If we're successful then we take the fight to their front door and get Hermione back."