Chapter 19: Geminio

"There are some people who will be very excited to meet you…Harry."

These words sent a shiver of fear snaking down the teen's spine. How the hell did they know his name? He couldn't remember ever telling anyone, let alone a ministry auror that private information.

Harry did his best to swallow his rising alarm, but the man must have seen the way he had tensed up. Either that or Kingsley had expected him to be surprised that he knew this information.

"Yes, we know that is your name. In fact, we know a lot about you already."

Harry couldn't tell if the auror was bluffing or not and honestly he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out. Even the fact they would use this as a way to start to pry information from him. They knew as well as he did that the things he knew could be enough to bring an end to the dark lord and his followers.

This thought sent a shiver of fear down Harry's spine. He knew he was strong, but sooner or later even the strongest wizard could crumble. Besides, he had no doubt that the aurors would find a way to remove his mask and reveal his full identity to the world. They would slowly and painfully strip away everything that his father had tried to keep hidden for so long. Including Harry himself…and there was nothing he could do about it.

This hopeless realisation burned like fire through Harry's very bones.

Why did he have to be so goddamn stupid all the time and mess everything up? If only his father could see him now in all of his failures…

Stop it, Harry. You need to focus. His scar gave another twinge of pain as if in agreement. If you're going to go down, then go down fighting.

Harry narrowed his eyes as he focused his attention back on the two aurors who were standing over him. Kingsley's wand was still pointed threateningly at his chest and Black had a wild and angry look smeared across his features. Even with his newfound drive to fight, Harry knew that he was at a severe disadvantage.

The teen tried to push down the feeling of panic that had begun to creep back into his bones. He felt like one of the many magical animals his father kept locked away in the attics of the manor. If he had had access to his magic at that point, Harry knew that he would feel it building up, preparing to strike, to hurt, to kill.

Harry's mind was so caught up in its horrible spiral of worry that it took him a second to realise that Kingsley was speaking to him again.

"This is what's going to happen now," the auror said, portraying a false sense of calm, "You are going to stay exactly where you are until Dumbledore comes. Then we are all going to sit down and figure out what we're going to do with you."

Harry couldn't help but scoff at the man. Did Kingsley truly think that he was just going to sit and wait for some old man to decide his fate for him? Even if he didn't have his magic, he was still dangerous and he would show them that.

"And you're going tell us where your miserable father lives so we can go and get James back," Black added, the man's hands were curled up into fists at this side, his eyes flashing with anger, "I will pry that information from your fucking head if I have to."

"For Merlin's sake, Black," Kingsley seemed more alarmed than Harry at the comment, "Calm down! We'll get James back, I promise. But you can't just threaten a child like that."

"I'm not a child," Harry couldn't stop himself from adding, "And no one will be getting anything from me. Least of all some half-breed," Harry watched, pleased, as Black's lips pulled back into a snarl, "And just like that, the mutt reveals itself."

Kingsley seemed to understand that the situation was quickly spiraling out of his control. The auror kept his wand trained on Harry, as he spoke in a firm voice,

"Sirius! I need you to focus right now. James needs you to focus. He's just trying to get under your skin. Now control yourself before you do something else you'll regret later."

Black seemed to struggle with his emotions for a second before the crazed look in his eyes faded away. Honestly, Harry was almost impressed that the auror had been able to control his temper. He hadn't thought the man'd had it in him.

"Don't worry, Sirius," Kingsley continued, his gaze never leaving Harry, "They won't kill him. Not while we've got the boy, at least."

At his sides, Harry's fingers twitched in response. He was aching to curse the man, maybe even kill him. He missed the rush of dark magic that would curl up through his body as he prepared the spell. But he also knew that Kingsley was right. His father was smart. He couldn't kill Potter…not if he could use the auror as a bargaining chip.

Fuck. How had he managed to mess things up this badly? The Dark Lord was truly going to kill him when he finally got back to the manor. Harry's scar flared in pain. He could almost feel the white-hot pain from the Cruciatus Curse cutting through his body…

The young wizard was startled out of his dark thoughts when he heard footsteps approaching and the loud creak of a door opening. Harry turned his head to look toward the far end of the room where the door to the room stood. Harry could just make out a head of wiry grey hair and piercing blue eyes from his position behind the desk.

"Hello, Sirius. I'd thought I sensed someone coming in through the floo."

In front of him, Kingsley seemed to relax significantly at the new presence and Harry didn't need to be told to know who had just entered the room. The teen turned to look back at the fireplace that stood off to his left. He closed his eyes and forced himself to take a deep breath. His father had trained him on what to do in a situation like this and he wasn't going to mess it up now.

"It took you long enough to get here, Dumbledore," Black growled, "They've got James. I need you to open the floo network so I can get back to the ministry and al-"

"Albus," Kingsley's voice cut off Black's frantic ramblings, "We've got him."

Harry fidgeted slightly, suddenly uncomfortably aware of the someone looking at him. The teen felt sick as he felt the all too familiar feeling of someone prodding at his Occlumency shields. At once, Harry felt anger rise up in his chest.

"Get out of my fucking head," he growled turning to face his father's greatest enemy, fury burning in his blood.

To Harry's surprise, the presence instantly withdrew from his mind as the old man in front of him held up his hands as if in surrender.

"My sincerest apologies, my dear Harry. One cannot be too sure of things these days is all," the wizard gave him an almost sad smile before turning to take a seat in one of the armchairs that were dotted around the room, "You can both put your wands away. We've got the situation handled, don't you think?"

Harry watched dumbfounded as both aurors gave either other a look before pocketing their wands. Dumbledore seemed to sense the teen's confusion. The old man sat himself down in a chair before saying,

"There is no reason to be worried, Harry. We all know that you can't use your magic at the moment. I don't see the need to keep you at wand point when you clearly aren't in any state to fight back."

Under his mask, Harry started to seethe at this remark. Who was Dumbledore to tell him what he was and wasn't capable of doing?

"Just because I can't use my magic doesn't mean that I'm not a threat," the teen spat as he struggled to his feet, "You have no idea what I am capable of."

Both aurors tensed at his sudden movement, but neither reached for their wands…much to Harry's disappointment. He wanted them to think of him as a threat.

"I have no doubt in your ability to do harm. You seem to forget that Kingsley here witnessed your particular talent in dark magic just a few days ago. No, I just know that even if you were to somehow overpower us, you have no idea where you are and you have nowhere to go. I believe that gives me a distinct advantage, don't you?"

Harry narrowed his eyes.

"I know exactly where I am," he growled, taking a daring step toward the old wizard, "And my father has followers everywhere inside the ministry and Azkaban. I think that you underestimate how easy it will be for me to escape, even without my magic."

Harry watched closely as Dumbledore just raised a bushy eyebrow before he smiled softly,

"My dear boy, you aren't in the ministry right now."

The young teen felt a spike of dread shoot through his chest. In a panic, he looked around, again, at the portrait-filled walls and lavish decorations. At last, his gaze came to land on Black's smirking face.

"Where the hell am I then? Where the fuck did you bring me?"

Before the auror could answer Dumbledore's soft voice said,

"Hogwarts, Harry. James sent you to my office at Hogwarts, just as I told him to."

"And why the fuck did you want him to do that?"

"As you said yourself," Dumbledore replied, "Your father has followers all throughout the ministry, but this isn't the ministry. Therefore, I assume it is a much safer place for you at the moment. Don't you think?"

If Harry had not been outnumbered, he would have lunged forward and strangled the man.

"But I supposed I should introduce myself, seeing as we haven't met either yet. I am Albus Dumbledore."

"I know who the hell you are," Harry was feeling more and more uncomfortable as the conversation went on. He didn't know what Dumbledore was trying to do, but he didn't like it.

"Well, I suppose that I should be flattered to know that Tom did, at least, mention me. But that is not entirely unexpected."

Harry's eyes narrowed even further. He didn't believe a word that the man said.

Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled slightly in the dim lighting of the room as he continued,

"Well, now I think it's your turn to introduce yourself."

Harry was silent.

"Not to worry," the older wizard said lightly after a moment, "I believe that you are Tom's son, Harry. Is that correct?"

The young teen didn't say a word. He didn't know what Dumbledore expected him to say and frankly, he didn't care.

"I don't care who you are or who you think I am," Harry said, at long last, the deafening silence finally getting the better of him, "The only thing I care about is-"

His next words were cut off.

"All you care about is what? Killing another helpless auror? Murdering another defenseless muggle? Returning to your pathetic excuse for a daddy?"

Black.

"What did you say?" Harry said spinning to face the man, his temper rising at the man's mocking tone.

The auror sneered at him, crossing his arms over his chest,

"You heard me, Death Eater. We know about all of the innocent people you have killed. And I won't rest until I can watch a dementor suck out both you and your father's souls, that is, if you even have one to begin with."

At the mention of a dementor, Harry felt something flair to life somewhere deep inside of him. It was as if a small flame had been lit by Black's taunting, threatening words…something that he had dearly missed…his magic.

The auror continued his rant about what he would do to their lifeless bodies, but Harry was no longer paying any attention. He was too busy focused on that one spark of magic that had suddenly lit up his body. It wasn't anywhere near what he would need but it was a start...it was hope. And if he played his cards just right, it might just be enough to get him free.

The teen's eyes suddenly snapped as he heard his name,

"Harry, I understand that you are still recovering from your magical exhaustion and are, no doubt, scared and confused. However, there are several things that I will need you to do for me before I can find a place for you to rest."

Harry forced himself to meet Dumbledore's gaze. Even with just a sliver of his magical core restored, he could already feel the power practically pulsing off of the old man.

Seeming to understand that the teen was not going to respond, Dumbledore continued,

"First, I will need you to come and sit," Kingsley and Black exchanged a confused look, "I can assure you that I personally secured the castle and there is no way for you to leave."

Dumbledore paused for a moment,

"After we are all comfortable, I will have Sirius contact the Auror Department. You see, we are all very worried about our friend, James, and I think you could provide us with some invaluable information about how we can get to him before any permanent damage is done. I assume you understand."

Now it was Harry's turn to raise an eyebrow. Did Dumbledore honestly think that he was just going to sit and willingly answer questions about his father? Was he truly that stupid? Harry felt a familiar prickling along his forearm as Dumbledore continued calmly,

"It really is as simple as that, Harry. If you don't give me a reason to, I see no need to use magic. Oh," the man said, almost in afterthought, "You will also have to remove that mask. It just makes everyone more comfortable when we can look at each other, face-to-face."

At the mention of his mask, Harry looked away, feeling all of the hair along the back of his neck standing up. He could almost feel Dumbledore's intense gaze boring into him, watching, waiting to see what he would do next, how he would react, if he would give in…if he would fail.

Off to his right, there was a sudden movement as Black reached into his robes and drew his wand, pointing it at Harry's chest.

"That's it. I've had enough. None of this is helping James in any way, so why don't I just speed up the process for you, Dumbledore."

Before Harry could even begin to guess what the auror was going to do, a flash of red thundered out of Black's wand. Harry had no time to react before the spell slammed into his right shoulder, causing him to stumble back at the sheer force behind it. But before Harry could register what had just happened, the young wizard found himself falling to the floor as thick white ropes wrapped themselves around his body. The young wizard's arms were pinned tightly to his sides at the same time he felt his ankle bones knock together painfully.

It took Harry's brain a second to fully realise the situation he had just been put in. Black had hit him with a fucking blinding spell. He had been taken down by a child's spell. Under his mask, Harry felt his cheeks redden at this humiliating thought. His only saving grace was that his father was not there to see his son's downfall.

Harry ground his teeth together trying to control the mixture of anger and shame that pounded through his body. Here he was lying helpless on the floor at the feet of his enemies. He wasn't sure if he had ever been more humiliated in his whole life.

"Get this off of me," Harry spat, struggling uselessly as he felt a length of cord wrap itself threateningly around his neck, "Let me go, you son-of-a-bitch."

His angry cries were only met with a low chuckle from Black as the auror came to stand over his prey. Harry found that he couldn't turn his head to see Dumbledore or Kingsley so he was left to imagine the looks of glee that must be on their faces.

"No. I'm not going to release you until you give me the answers that I need. We don't have time for you to pout while James dies at the hands of your fucking father."

Harry's eyes darkened noticeably, his anger rising with every beat of his heart, but he stopped his struggling nevertheless.

"And what makes you think that I will so easily bow to your will, Black? I was taught better than to give in to the will of such weak dogs like you."

At this remark, the cords across Harry's chest and neck tightened, leaving the teen gasping as his air supply was cut off.

"Sirius…" came Dumbledore's quiet voice from somewhere nearby, "It isn't your place…He'll be held responsible for his crimes soon enough."

Harry couldn't help but gasp in relief as the pressure across his neck and chest lifted. He greedily gulped in air as he blinked away his blurry vision.

Fuck you, Black, he thought angrily.

"So, Harry," this time Black's voice came from right next to his ear, causing him to flinch in surprise, "Since this isn't getting us anywhere, how about we move onto something more productive…"

Harry's anger was instantly replaced by cold panic as he felt Black's grimy fingers peel back the hood of his cloak. He felt warm air brush through his hair as the fabric fell away from his face.

"I think it's time that we see what kind of freakish face you are trying to hide behind that mask."

Harry tried in vain to turn his head away from Black, but the cords held him firmly.

"No," the teen breathed as he felt sharp fingernails curling around the sides of the white silver that obscured his features, "You can't do this. It won't-"

His pitiful pleas were cut off.

"You lost any right to mercy as soon as you killed Frank Longbottom," the man hissed, trying to pry the mask off of Harry's prone body, "The only thing that you deserve is death."

"Sirius!" Dumbledore's voice had lost its calm and even nature.

"I am going to make you feel pain," Black continued, ignoring the call, "The same pain that your precious father put my Harry through before he murdered him."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Harry spluttered, as the mask stayed stuck to his face. For once he was grateful for the sticking charm he had placed on it.

"You stole the name of a dead child, you little shit. You stole my godson's name and now you've tainted it with blood."

The auror clearly seemed to think that this would make sense to the young teen, but Harry was as lost as ever. All he knew was that the man kneeling over him was clearly insane.

"Sirius!" Dumbledore's voice was even louder this time, "Step away. Now."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief as the pressure from the sharp nails disappeared from the skin that surrounded the mask. He felt sure that he would have marks for the next several days.

"He isn't going to tell us anything, Dumbledore! And every minute is time that James doesn't have. You can't just expect to talk reason into people like him."

"And you think torturing him going to bring about any different of an outcome?" It was Kingsley who was speaking now.

Harry had to resist the urge to groan as he tested out the strength of the cords wrapped around his arms. He didn't care to listen to any more of this conversation. All they were doing was arguing about how they would get him to talk. Couldn't they see that it was useless?

Harry could feel his magical core flair as he thought about the spell they could use on him…the pain they could make him suffer. It was as if the small spark of magic was fighting to be free…fighting to protect him.

It was at that moment that Harry realised that this was his protective magic flaring up, the best it could, in response to his current predicament. Normally, he wouldn't have cared, but Harry was now faced with the fact that what little magic he now possessed would be extremely powerful, but nearly uncontrollable.

Great, the young teen thought darkly, just my luck.

"He's got a fucking spell on his mask, Dumbledore. You-know-who probably permanently attached that ugly thing to his face to try and cover up whatever hideous features the kid inherited. We know that he's the dark servant and that's all that we need to get him approved for use of Vertitaserum."

Harry was silently seething at the way Black was talking about him and his father. He swore to make the auror pay for every word he said against the dark lord.

There was a deep sigh before Dumbledore's said,

"You seem to forget that this is a boy that you are talking about, Sirius, not a full-grown death eater. I know that you cannot see that at the moment, but Harry deserves to be treated with mercy and compassion just as much as any other child. Besides, if we allow him to be shipped off to Azkaban then we will lose our only bargaining chip for getting James back."

"Right, right," Black muttered, almost to himself.

A split second later there was a loud crash as the door to the office was thrown open. From his position on the floor, Harry couldn't see who had just entered, but he could instantly feel the tension in the room rise.

"Dawlish, Moody," it was Kingsley who spoke, sounding rather surprised, "What are you two doing here?"

"Got a message from Black. Said to come here immediately. Said it was an emergency. Moody was the only other auror I could spare," a gruff voice answered, "Had to apparate in outside of the wards which, I must say, is a pain in the arse."

There was a low chuckle from someone before another voice asked,

"So what's the trouble? And where the fuck did you and James get off to, Black?"

There was a moment of silence before Dumbledore spoke,

"Gentlemen, I am pleased that you both have come to help, but I do believe that we-"

"They've got James" Black cut in, "They got him and I can't get a word out of the little shit about where he's at."

"What?"

"They took James," the auror repeated again, "But I've got the bastard's son so all we have to do-"

"Where is he?!" one of the new voices almost shouted, "Where's that murderer?"

Harry didn't need to be a genius to know that his current situation had just gotten significantly worse. He didn't know who these new aurors were, but he could already tell that they were not on his side.

"Relax, Moody. He'd right over there," it was Kingsley who spoke this time, "Let Dawlish have a look at him first, though. You're reactions tend to be more… violent. And that isn't what we need right now."

There was the sound of heavy footsteps that made Harry's heart freeze in his chest. A second later the dirty and bloodied face of an auror he had never seen before appeared in his field of vision. This man looked haggard and tired, but his sharp gaze was looking closely at Harry's face as if searching for something. The cold look in the man's eyes made the teen uncomfortable. It felt as if the auror knew something that he didn't and Harry didn't like that.

And the wizard had his wand out.

"What do you want?" Harry spat at the auror, feeling his spark of magic flare in response to this new threat.

A wide grin spread across the man's face,

"Oh, how I've waited for this day. You are going to make me a very wealthy man."

There was something about the auror's tone that made Harry's blood run cold. In an instant, the young teen's accidental magic involuntarily burst to life.

And just as Harry had feared, he instantly lost complete control of it.