Book II: Age of the Phoenix
Chapter XXIX: Fun House
Music Theme: Band on The Run - Wings (ft. Paul McCartney)
Hogwarts - October 1972...
Four heads poked around the corner in height order as Remus, James, Sirius and Peter spied on the corridors. Classes were beginning and the boys had concocted their cleverest prank yet.
"I don't think it's going to work, mate. It's pretty advanced magic," Remus whispered to James.
"Have some faith, Loops." All four boys, including James, scowled at the nickname as if it was odorous. "No. That one won't do it either," James added.
"Thank Godric," Remus sighed.
"We just have to get better nicknames for one another," James insisted.
"What about Loopy?" Peter suggested.
"That makes him sound like a drunk," Sirius replied.
"Shhh," James nodded up the hall. "Someone's coming... And look who it is."
Severus Snape ran up the halls, late for History of Magic, his books in his arms and his breath panting while James did his best to hide his mischievous snicker at the sight of him. "So bloody out of shape," James scoffed.
"Snape," Remus whispered, "Don't you think we give him a hard enough time?"
"Oi, it's his own fault for running late to class," Sirius said.
"Exactly. You'd think he'd learn his lesson after last year to stay out of our way," James added.
"He's usually out of the way. You two just never want to leave him alone," Remus muttered.
"Well he makes himself too easy of a target," James defended. "Just watch."
Snape composed himself just outside the door of the classroom, straightened his books, and pressed through it. He was through the door only a milisecond when he reappeared up the hall, entering through a closet door. Snape blinked in confusion and examined his surroundings. He hastened back through the closet door then once more appeared through the classroom entrance closest to the boys. Snape went back and forth, faster each time, becoming more and more frantic as he made no progress in entering the room but being trapped in what felt like a fun-house game. He tried another classroom door, only to continuously reappear through the closet back into the hall. He dropped his books, running up and down the halls. Knocking on each door, but the knock only echoed off the surrounding doors. He anxiously squealed, grabbing onto his hair as if his brain was about to erupt.
The boys looked on, jaws dropped, impressed with how their combined magic had managed something so complex this early in their second year of school. Peter however focused on Snape, the whimpers of panic resonating with him as a sound he knew too well.
"Look at the little twerp run," James whispered as Snape gave up and ran back up the hall squealing, "Professor Slughorn! Help!"
"What a crybaby," Sirius added.
"He... looked scared," Peter said sadly.
"Good," James laughed, "Trauma's good for people. Build's character."
Peter couldn't help but wonder though, what traumatic experience James had endured or and if he even knew what he was talking about.
"I can't beleive we managed that," Remus said, still in awe.
"Mischeif Managed," James said proudly.
"And on Snivillus of all people," Sirius added.
"Now there's a nickname I can get on board with," James laughed.
"Think anyone else will try it?" Peter asked.
"Oh, I think your odds are good," A fifth voice came. "Most students run late to History of Magic and Binns never notices."
All four heads turned upward to see Proffessor Scammandar peeking around the corner along with them.
"S...sir..." Remus stammered.
Theseus Scammandar just held up his hand to silence them, then made his way to the classroom door. He opened it and peeked through, his rear still in the hallway near the boys but his head extending out of the closet up the way. "Amazing. You boys did this all on your own?"
"It was James' idea!" Peter shouted.
"Oi!" James snapped.
"You'll never take us alive!" Sirius jumped out from the corner and shouted. "Run!" to the rest of them. They all scurried up the hall alongside one another, except for Remus who just stayed still and watched as James, Sirius and Peter pushed through the door at the end of the hall only to emerge once more from the closet. All three toppled on another.
"A taste of your own medicine," Theseus winked. "Why didn't you run with them, Remus?"
"I saw your wand out and ready, sir." Remus said. "I knew we wouldn't get far."
"And Peter. Throwing your friend under the bus so quickly?" Theseus just shook his head. "You four have come far with your magic in just one year of school, but have a lot to learn about teamwork." He motioned his wand towards the doors and removed the hex from them.
"So... you're saying we should keep pranking, just be better at it?" Peter asked in confusion and Theseus leaned in to whisper to them.
"I'm saying if you're going to get caught... then stick together. It means nothing to only share in the spoils of a job well done but then act selfishly when you fail. In my house it's win together, lose together. Gryffindors would be wise to remember a lesson like that.
"Yes sir," James stood and helped Peter up, Remus rejoined the boys and picked up Snape's books to return them, and Sirius adjusted his robes and fixed his hair.
"Oh... detention together. That's also a little version of the saying that I like to use from time to time. Got a nice ring, don't you think?" the old professor grinned.
All four boys grumbled but still departed together, as a team, and Theseus watched proudly knowing that as long as those four were together, they'd be nothing they couldn't accomplish.
Lestrange Estate - Midnight, May 20, 1980...
The moon was casting its dim light across Lestrange Estate as Madeye sent his Aurors around the property. Nobody was foolish enough to think their attack would be a surprise. This had been a long time in the making. The spell was finally ready and all the Aurors had practiced it. The barrier would come down and each muggle prisoner kept in the Lestrange basement would be liberated.
As soon as night fell, the Aurors made their advance on the silent home and the Order hung back to be the second string. All watched as the barrier quietly was decimated by the Auror's new and powder charm concocted from the memories of Marvin's capture. Among them was Frank who James looked on with envy as he was forced to stand back and wait for the Aurors to signal everyone forward.
Fabian anxiously tapped the wand to his pant leg when he noticed James' glare at Frank. "You ok, Potter?" He whispered. "Longbottom spit in your pumpkin juice or something?"
"It's nothing."
"Right... Right..." Frabian grunted.
He waited patiently until James blurted out, "Did you know he wouldn't join the order unless I joined?"
"Oh?"
"Yea. Now look at me. Standing here as second string while he flies in there as the hero."
"Careful, Potter. Haven't seen 'jealous' on you for a long time. It's a bad look."
"It's not jealousy," he grunted.
"Well, it bares a remarkable resemblance."
James didn't answer, but he did contemplate it. He knew he wasn't jealous of Frank, but he envied his self-security. Here was a bloke diving head first into being an Auror and a father while James still worried if he'd peaked in school. He wondered if he'd ever be the man his father was. He thought he could at least be a good leader, and yet his faction was spread across the country. He had no idea where the lads were or why they were late. He didn't know what Remus was searching for in his work as a spy or if he'd ever be the same Remus he used to be. As James watched Frank, someone who seemed so sure of himself and secure, he wondered if he'd ever get over the hurdle he was facing and grow into the leader and father his friends and family deserved.
"Potter?" Fabian whispered.
"Hmm?" James blinked.
"You ok?" Fabian said. "Your face went a bit blank and you missed the signal. It's time to go inside."
"Right. Onward," James whispered and drew his wand. But as he advanced on the home, Fabian rest a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe you should hang back, actually, mate. You seem a bit... unhinged right now."
"I just wish the lads were here, that's all. I'm not myself when I face things on my own." He swallowed hard to hide the embarrassment in his voice and upon his face at the realization he'd just let his guard down the slightest bit. "Bad things tend to happen when we don't stick together."
"Well I know that feeling," Fabian sighed. "I don't know if I could live a single day of my life without Gideon. It's hard enough to function when we do missions on our own. Nobody should have to face anything on their own really..." Fabian's gave a somber frown which initiated James to be the stronger man for a moment.
"MacDonald's going to be just fine, Fabian. We will find a way to break that vow."
Fabian looked shocked, "Dumbledore... told you?"
"He had to ensure we'd never share our whereabouts with her, just to be safe." He said, "Emmeline's got her safely guarded, away from earshot of Mulciber. It's only a matter of time before she's really free."
"Thanks, Potter. I guess one mission at a time though?" He asked and nodded towards the house.
"Aye. Let's go."
Across the property, Marvin was gazing up at the towering manor, the memories twisted in his mind as he tried to recall the path to the basement where innocent people were still being held. He walked to a fallen tree where Gideon sat and looked up at the ancient home. "Ready for this?" Gideon asked Marvin.
"As I'll ever be..." the middle McKinnon replied. "Probably my last mission for a while. Once Potter and Longbottom have their kids, I'll be a liability to have around with this blood oath on me."
"Sorry about what Narcissa did to you, mate." Gideon said. "Love isn't about manipulation. You deserve better."
"So I keep telling myself," he signed. "You deserve some peace too, Gideon."
Gideon stared at his feet a moment and said, "Why does Angus care about what you all think so much?"
Marvin scrunched his face as if the question stung, for he'd been expecting it. "It's not about us, Prewett. It's about Dad. Sometimes... the dead speak louder than the living."
"Your Dad wasn't an easy man, I know, but he loved you guys. I remember his letters to Ang when he made captain and Head Boy. He was so bloody proud. Why would I change that?"
"You're a threat to the system," Marvin shrugged. "Dad didn't stray from the path set before him. Anything that he saw as abnormal, or a threat to society, he pushed away."
"He was that hell-bent on being a traditional family, that he would deprive his kid of love?"
"It wasn't about being a traditional family. It was about making sure we didn't tempt fate."
"What kind of fate?" He asked angrily and Marvin's face shifted. The silence grew thick and all Gideon could do was let out a disappointed chuckle. "I'll be damned," he whispered. "There's something else you're holding onto, isn't there?"
"Aye..."
"Something Angus knows?"
"No... I don't think he remembers. It doesn't matter. All I know is that it made Dad fearful of anything different."
"Just because something is different, that doesn't make it a threat to life as you know it," Gideon sighed.
This brought a soft smile to Marvin's face, "Try telling that to You-know-who." When Gideon looked at him again Marvin said, "It's why we're here, Gideon. We aren't just fighting for blood rights. We're here for everyone that doesn't fit the mold Voldemort insists upon. The werewolves, the squibs, the Muggle-Born the... different ones. We are here so you don't have to face anything alone again."
"Thanks mate..."
"And as for my brother... he loves you."
"You sure?" Gideon scoffed. "Sometimes I think he's gone off me. After all this time... all the quidditch games, all the secret dates, the meetings behind bookshelves and under the pitch stands... why is it after he tells his family, does he push me away?"
"I think I know, but I think he needs to tell you," Marvin said.
Gideon gave an uncomfortable smile, unsure if that answer satisfied him or not, then he spotted Angus approaching. "Well tonight isn't the best time for it."
"Is there ever really a good time for anything that's hard?" Marvin asked but received no response as Angus came upon them and said, "Hey..."
"Hey," Gideon muttered.
"Ready for this?" Marvin asked his younger brother.
"As I'll every be," Angus shrugged and Gideon couldn't help but smirk at the identical responses Marvin and his brother shared to the question.
"Any sign of the others?" Marvin asked.
"No," Angus shook his head with genuine worry. "Black and Pettigrew haven't shown yet and Lupin should have been here by now. Sirius was tardy all the time but not for something like this. And Lupin? If he's a no show... it usually means something's up."
"Don't worry, brother," Marvin said. "They'll be here."
Meanwhile at the Werewolf Sanctuary...
Remus' tent at the wolf sanctuary had been turned inside out as he searched for his wand. He'd awoken that morning with no sign of it or the core-less stemmed wand on the nightstand. He'd hoped one of the kids in the camp had taken it to play with, but after spending most of the day questioning and searching, he was unsuccessful and now ransacked his things looking for his wands in order to get to the mission at Lestrange Manor.
With a frustrated groan, Remus hurled the small wooden chair across the room which crashed against the nightstand and his items tumbled away, one of them being Tabitha's claddagh ring. "No," he gasped at the sight of it and rushed to collect it, giving it a meaningful look before tucking it in his shirt pocket. What if this was a trap, just as before? What if whoever had his wand was just waiting to trace him like they traced Tabitha? What if they were waiting until he was standing beside James or Lily?
A defeated Remus carefully picked the chair back up and sat himself in it with an exhausted sigh as he realized he couldn't go anywhere. He shut his eyes a moment and pictured how life had changed in a year. One year prior, on the same day, he was in this tent. He had left his parents and only maintained contact with the boys via letter, ignoring the ones where Lily begged him to come home. Nothing about the tent had changed and yet everything about Remus' life had done just that. The only difference is that now he felt more alone than ever.
Suddenly Remus felt a pulse run through him as if his muscles were being gripped across his entire body and his skin tingled. His arm hair stood on end as every breath felt burdensome. Only his eyes were able to glance around the room. Stiffled grunts escaped his throat as he attempted to move but sat frozen.
"Shhhhhh," He heard a whisper behind him and the heavy footsteps approaching. "Stay still, Remus. Stay still."
A cold, clammy hand rest on his shoulder and the foul stench of Fenrir Greyback overcame Remus who's inhales hastened. Greyback circled in front of him and stood there, arms folded behind him. Remus stared into his eyes.
"I've frozen your flesh in place but not your muscles or bones inside. Making yourself move too much will make your bones crush against the walls of your skin. It's my favorite hunting spell - keeps all the meat clean and inside while the little victims kill themselves with their own frail bodies."
Remus felt trapped in a nightmare, his mind racing.
"I bet you've pictured his moment a lot, Remus. I bet you're pretty cross with me and all my methods. But look around, Remus! It worked!" He waived his arms towards the ceiling of the tent. "Home in a colony where your wolf belongs. Finally accepting your fate."
Remus' face turned red with fury as Greyback rest his cold hand on his cheek.
"I'm so proud of you... son."
Remus stirred slightly then groaned in pain as he felt his ribs press against his chest. Greyback couldn't help but laugh before finally allowing Remus to speak, only releasing the muscles around his face from the charm.
"How'd you know I would be here?" Was all Remus could manage to say.
"I didn't. I came on... other business."
"Then it's true. Your the collector? You've been kidnapping those kids before each moon? The shady characters here... they work for you?"
"Well aren't you super bright," he quipped.
"What does Voldemort want with werewolves?" Remus asked.
"An army of course. He'll take as many kinds of fighters as he can get."
"He'll just kill you all when he's done."
"A good werewolf can smell the change in the wind, Remus. I'll know when it's time to defect and I'll take my new family with me." Greyback crossed his arms. "Any other questions?"
"Where's my wand? Why've you waited all day to get this over with?" Remus asked angrily.
"Your wand?" Greyback chuckled. "I don't know. I only just arrived." Greyback then let out a sinister grin as he looked around the trashed tent. "Why, Remus? Any particular reason you need your wand right now? Any missions going on? Perhaps at Lestrange Estate?"
Remus angrily groaned as he tried to break free of the spell but felt his bones crashing against his muscles and tendons as he made any attempt.
Greyback just burst out laughing. "Did you really think the Lestrange's aren't expecting you? Speaking of," he checked his watch, one of three he wore on his wrist, all plucked from his victims. "I should get going. What good is it in setting traps if you're not there to catch your prey?"
As he walked by he pinched Remus on the cheek and whispered, "I'll be back."
Remus panicked at the insinuation that his friends were in danger and knew he had to stall as much as he could. Without knowing what to do, he blurted out, "Why'd you pick me?"
Greyback stopped as the temptation to gloat grew as fast as the smirk across his face. "I didn't, until you survived. That changed things. All the grown men and women I'd turned during my days never amounted to much. You though... you were stronger. I was turned when I wasn't much older than you were, Remus. When I turned 20 though, it all changed. Suddenly I wasn't in charge, the wolf was. I let it be. That acceptance has been so liberating. It makes me the most powerful creature on the planet. Maybe your old man was right after all. I'm not human. I'm a god. Your wolf had a chance to go through a maturing process like mine. I realized you were special. But then those stupid friends of yours got into your head. We'll have to do something about them, Remus."
"If you lay a finger on my friends, I'll-"
"You'll what? Bend over like you always do?" He laughed and walked back to Remus. "You already let one of them fall through your fingers, or did you think Max doesn't keep tabs on your ex-girlfriend?" He emphasised the 'ex' and a pleased, toothy grin crossed his face at Remus' expression.
"Where is she?"
"Oh, don't look so guilty, Lupin. She's alive because of your noble sacrifice. Can't say the same of your mummy."
Remus let out an angry shout, "Let me go, you coward!"
"Oh, you want to fight me?" Greyback smiled. "Fine. I'll just pin you to the floor like I did your stupid, muggle mother. Try to get a few more blows in than she could manage though before I kill you, and for God's sake try to keep the shreiking to a minimum." He then let out a blustering laugh and lazily waived his wand towards Remus, lifting the charm.
Remus launched himself from the seat with a battlecry and, overcome by the visual, reeled back and started punching Greyback who laughed between each blow. The skin on his knuckles broke and blended with the blood coming from Greybacks nose who continued to laugh manically, barely reacting to the assault. Remus stopped as Greyback grew impatient and sat up, shoving Remus off of him and grabbing him by the neck. With one swift movement, he hurled the young man across the room and crashing to the floor, the bottle of wolfsbane potion slipped from his coat pocket and rolled away.
Greyback simply brushed himself off and took slow steps towards him. "Good boy, Remus. Let the beast out. He trapped the bottle under his foot and crushed it beneath his heel, the potion pouring out on the floor. "I tried to let you live your life, Remus. I tried to let you grow up into a fine werewolf all on your own. But you had to let others interfere with our plans.
He shot up only for Greyback to grab him by the wrist, twisting his arm back and pinning it behind him. Greyback shoved Remus forward against the tent's center beam and leaned his entire body weight against him, Remus' ribs aching under the pressure as the beam cracked slightly and Greyback's voice hissing in his ear. "When will you learn that you don't defy me. I'm your master, Remus - Your alpha. When you disobey me, I'll make you and everyone you care about pay. And I mean... everyone!"
Suddenly, a clang sounded and Remus felt the grip of Fenrir fade as the enormous man slunk to the floor.
Samari stood over him, a frying pan in her hands. She still cluched it tightly as if it was a sword. "Y-you ok?" She panted to Remus.
"I'm... yea... no!" Remus' emotions churned within him. "Did you know he was The Collector?"
"We didn't think-"
"We!?" Remus' eyes widen. "You and your husband you mean? The one I'm not allowed to meet? The one that didn't exist when I was here last year."
"He did exist-"
"But somehow over the last year things have changed and the sanctuary has become a breeding ground for Greyback's little army?"
Samari kept her head high in defiance of his accusations but kept the frying pan in front of her as she backed up with each step he took.
"He's been calling the shots hasn't he?" Remus barked as he pointed to the unconscious Greyback.
"No!"
"You work for him don't you?"
"No! Remus stop! It's hard to explain-"
Remus couldn't stop though. His encounter with Greyback had unlocked everything. He felt that his enemy was more predictable and truthful than his own friends at times. Finally, overcome by frustration, Remus grabbed the frying pan swiftly from her hands and shouted, "Give me a bloody straight answer!" He threw the pan to the side and stared at her but stopped when both of them realized they'd not heard the pan strike the ground.
"Get the hell away from my wife, Lupin," came a voice from the entrance of the tent.
Young Mr. Chawala was standing in the entrance where he'd caught the pan in his hand, his wand aiming at Remus in the other.
"Love, don't make a scene," Samari whispered.
"Come to meet with your boss?" Remus accused when he saw him. The man seemed to be in his late twenties, he was tall and built in stature with dark features but pale skin. Just as last time, Remus couldn't help but feel something familiar about him.
"Sam, you two get out of here? I'll handle this menace," he nodded to Greyback on the floor.
"So you're a werewolf wrangler?" Remus scoffed.
"No. Just a man protecting his family," he said as he tossed the pan back to the ground and reached into his pocket, pulling Remus' wand from it. "Sorry it took all day. But I had to inspect it for dark spells so we could be sure you weren't with Greyback."
"You're able to do that?" Remus said with some offense.
"He has Auror training," Samari said and took Remus by the hand. "Now come on."
"No," Remus pulled his hand away. "I want answers from Greyback. He knows something about them being in danger."
"Then I suggest you go find them," Chawala replied, "Because we aren't waking him up for information. We're getting him out of here."
"You need to take him to bloody Azkaban! You don't know the first thing about what he's capable of-"
"Do you think you're the only person on this planet that this man has affected, Lupin!?" Mr. Chawala snapped. "...Get out."
"Love, wait," Samari whispered as she stepped between them.
"Maybe you're not working for Greyback but you're some kind of spy. That much I can tell. So get out."
Remus pondered if he should say anything or take his leave, but there was something so familiar about the man in front of him. "Fine. I'll go. My real friends need me. Enjoy your new pet." He stepped over Greyback and quickly took his leave.
Meanwhile at Mulciber's Home...
Alice stirred where she lay on a cold wooden floor and heard the steps of someone circling her, or was it just her head pounding? She remembered arriving alongside Mary and seeing Mulciber waiting on the other side of the floo. The rest was a blur after seeing the flash of a hex.
"Oooof Merlin's balls," she said to herself as he awoke.
"Alice?" Mary called from somewhere in the room. "Alice don't speak. He gave you-"
"Quiet, MacDonald," came the harsh Scottish accent of Mulciber.
Alice's eyes opened quickly as she recognized it. She found herself in his dusty parlor. She sat up, rubbing her head, and the room stopped spinning so she could focus on Mary who sat across from her in one of the large armchairs. Alice licked her lips and tasted something fishy. "Veritasirm."
"Ten points to Hufflepuff," Mulciber teased. "You'd be wise to cooperate, Wee Crouch. Otherwise, this isn't going to end well for ya."
"What the hell am I doing here?" She asked.
"Don't look so nervous, Longbottom. It's just the three of us." Mulciber answered. "Everyone else had their own tasks to attend to. This night has been several weeks in the making for our organization as well."
"Alice," Mary said quickly. "They're going after Frank-"
"Be quiet and stay quiet this time, MacDonald," Mulciber commanded and she tightened her jaw at the request.
"You ass," Alice said. "Maybe it's a good thing you slipped me that potion so I can honestly say what I really think of you."
"Go ahead. Just know that time is precious here." He pressed the tip of his wand against Mary's neck. "See, our wee lass Mary let a few things slip at my command, like where you were hiding. But there was one bit of information that she didn't have."
"Which is what?" Alice sneered.
"Where... are the Potter's hiding?" He asked.
Alice gritted her teeth. "Not here."
"Cute." He pressed his wand harsher into Mary's neck. She shuttered, but kept her lips sealed to stay quiet, her eyes showing no fear as she stayed still. "Be. More. specific. Where are they?"
"In a house," she reluctantly replied.
Mulciber seemed almost pleased at that answer as he said, "Crucio."
"No!" Alice winced as Mary bit hard on her lips to not disobey the command to stay silent as she swallowed her screams but convulsed from the pain, sliding out of the chair and onto the floor. "Mary!"
"She can't stay silent forever, Hufflepuff. You know better than anyone, I've got my ways of making her scream."
"You monster!" Alice shouted.
"Answer me then! Where are they?"
"A... a safe house that Dumbledore setup. That's all I... That's all I..." she groaned in frustration, unable to lie.
"That's NOT all you know," Mulciber finished. He pulled up Mary by her curls, her heavy breathing making Alice's heart sink as she held her stomach tightly as if to shield her unborn child from the terror.
"Leave her alone!" Alice wracked her brain for a way out of this that wouldn't expose the Potters. Maybe she could warn them in time. Maybe she could find another way to bend the truth.
"Maybe I'm not the one who needs to convince you," he laughed and said. "You can talk now, Mary." Mary and Alice exhaled in relief but knew it wouldn't last long. If Mulciber wished it, they could be back in the same situation in a matter of seconds. Mary looked up at Alice with tear filled eyes as Mulciber said, "Go on, Mary. Beg Head Girl here to save you."
"Alice... please..." she reluctantly pleaded though her eyes told Alice to stay strong and Mulciber let out a wicked laugh.
"I usually have her begging better than that, most nights," he bellowed.
"You psychotic bastard," Alice hissed.
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Mulciber grunted.
"I'm not telling you anything so you've wasted your efforts."
"Nothing's waisted, Alice. Do you really think we haven't expected tonight? Do you think we've been sitting and twiddling our thumbs while Madeye Moody plotted his path into Rudolphus' home?" He let out a laugh. "We've been counting on it. We, like you lot, had to make tonight count. And we will, Longbottom. As Merlin is my witness... we will get what we want tonight from one of you."
Back at the Safehouse...
"Lily!" Peter shouted as he burst into the Safehouse, still mildly green from apparating. "Lily, where are you?"
"Peter?" She called as she ran down the steps with Kip close behind. "Where have you been? Where's Sirius?"
"Oh Lily, everything is going to be ok. This whole time we've been doing things all wrong. Now I understand," he spoke as if retelling a good dream.
"Where's Sirius? And Marlene?" She asked as she checked over his shoulder.
"I have to tell James too. Has he already left for the mission?" Peter eagerly looked around the sitting room and Lily followed him.
"Peter!" Lily grabbed his shoulders. "Stop rambling. Where is Sirius?"
"Sirius?" His face dropped. "Oh... Sirius... I don't know. We went into the Black estate floo and only I came out. When I got there they weren't there."
"Got where?"
"Malfoy Manor," he said casually.
"Malfoy?"
"It was a trap. Someone rigged the floo," he said unphased.
"How'd you get away?" Lily asked.
"I... um... I ran out the front... as the rat. He can get through anything," he said.
Without another word, Lily raced to the two way mirror which rested on the sitting room table and called, "Sirius? Sirius are you there?"
"James left you his mirror?" Peter asked as he came up beside her.
"Well he expected to reunite with Sirius by now at the mission and didn't want me without some way to reach him. Sirius?" She listened carefully but no sound came. "If they set a trap at the Black house it means they need him."
"Need Sirius? For what?"
Lily thought carefully as she recounted the trap that had been set months prior for Remus. "Leverage... because they don't know where I'm hiding and knew James wouldn't let me go anywhere unsafe. It was more likely they could lure Sirius," she groaned, "Ugh, Padfoot you stubborn, predictable little... They're going to use him to get to James."
"Masters Sirius and Masters James are in troubles?" Kip asked nervously.
"Kip. I need you to take Peter to Dumbledore right away."
"Dumbledore won't listen to me, Lily. He never does," Peter insisted.
"Then make him listen, Peter. We have to warn the others. For all we know they could be going after Remus too," Lily said. "If they set a trap for you and Sirius then it means they're trying to split you lot up. They know your magic is strong when you're together."
"Oh.. right," he said and shifted from each foot anxiously.
"What were you saying about everything being ok? When you came in?" Lily asked
"Hmmm?" He looked up and pondered if he should share, but hesitated given the circumstances. "Nothing. Nevermind."
Lily looked at him a long while and her concerned face grew almost sad. "Peter... don't retreat into yourself. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"
"I was going to tell you... no," he shook his head. "It can wait. James and Sirius come first."
"Ok, then let's find then."
Meanwhile at Borgin and Burkes...
Sirius heard his name called in the distance as he awoke from his deep sleep. He felt tension around his chest and wrists and the weight of someone slumped against his back. He realized as he woke that he and Marlene were imprisoned and now sat back to back on the floor of what looked like an old pawn shop. The curiosities on the walls included some illegal potion paraphernalia, so he narrowed their location down to a shop in Knockturn Alley, likely Borgin and Burkes. He looked to his shoulder and saw a blond head atop it. "Marlene?" He whispered. "Marlene, wake up." Sirius adjusted himself to slide his fingers through the ropes that held Marlene but hissed in pain as the binds cut deeper with every pull, "It's no use," he whispered. "They've enchanted them."
"Sirius?" she stirred and lifted her head, looking around the shop and fighting the ropes as she awoke.
"Don't move. They'll just cut your skin," he said and Marlene slumped back against him as she understood their situation.
"I shouldn't have gone to that damn house. I should have known it was a trap. I should have known... Regulus was dead. You don't go into Voldemort's ranks at his age and survive long."
"Sirius, I'm so sorry," she muttered. "I should have let you use Kreecher to get us out instead of scolding you. They knew we'd use the floo."
"They knew I would use it, not you. They want me for something, but they haven't planned for you. You have a chance."
"A chance how? I don't exactly see a knife to cut our way out laying around do you?"
"Can you just try it again, Mar? Your magic?"
"Sirius, I've tried. We managed to burn a few holes in the rug and boil a kettle."
"I know you can do it on your own." He slipped his hand into hers and rest his head back so it was touching the back of hers. "Come on, love, just try." No noise came and she didn't move. He waited a while before impatiently saying, "Are you trying?"
"I can't do anything on my own, Sirius. I thought I could, but I can't. It's done. They'll come and kill us. It's over..."
"Who the hell are you?" He whispered. "This isn't the Marlene I know. You didn't take shit from anyone. You were going to be an Auror-"
"And where did that get me? I quit that dream because I couldn't hack it."
"You quit because you had a grieving mother you cared about and you put family first. Being selfless isn't weakness, Mar. You used to tell me that, remember?"
"Yea, what did I know..." she mumbled.
"You knew everything. There is something special in you. The magic you have is stronger than these creeps can manage and they're doing whatever they can to stop it. You can't let them win, Marlene."
"Why should I beleive anything you say about me?"
"Because I'm not a liar!" He stopped himself, "Except the once..."
"Right. Let me guess. That once involved me? So how can I believe you now?"
"Becuse it matters now."
"And it didn't back then?" She shut her eyes tightly. "I loved you, Sirius. Good gods I can't believe I'm saying it out loud, but I did. I gave you everything. I trusted you with everything, because I loved you. If none of that mattered and you could still lie to me despite it, then why should I trust you now?"
"I did matter then!" He snapped. "It mattered more than anything."
"Then why let Angus get in the way of it?"
"Because he... he..." Sirius just huffed out a breath as he reflected on the night, the memory of it pulling him away for a moment.
"We are about to die, Sirius!" She snapped. "You're going to take a secret to your grave and we are going to die resenting each other just because I can't burn off some rope?"
Sirius refused to answer. He sat silently as Marlene let out a frustrated exhale. Finally he said, "You really loved me?"
"Yes," she said, "I did."
"Interesting," was his only response. There was a long moment of silence before he said, "I would have said yes, back then... when you asked to move in. If it weren't for Angus, I'd have cleared a drawer out for you, freshened the place up, maybe even added some Disco albums to my collection. We'd have gotten a cat just like the one you had at school and I would have fought it for the comfortable spot on the couch for whenever you kicked me out of bed for making a move." He waited but only silence came as he went on, "The thing is... Angus was right. I didn't want to admit it for a long while, but seeing this side of you... this anxious Marlene who is afraid to try anything alone... it's shown me that Angus' intentions were good even if his execution was shitty. Your dad died and all of a sudden you became dependent on me to get you through it the same way Moony and I and Peter and James all depend on each other. Thing is... James got married, Moony and I... are separated... and I feel like three quarters of myself is gone. I won't let you only be functioning at half strength because you depend on some screw up to make you feel confident. You're capable of doing anything yourself. So, I'm sorry, McKinnon. You picked the wrong person to love."
Marlene sat stunned. She'd only overheard him sometimes talking that way with James or Remus, always hiding his insecurities and never speaking poorly of himself to anyone. But in this moment, he'd let his pride down just for her. She considered his words and slipped her hand back into his as she said. "You're not a screw up, Sirius."
They heard shuffling in the back room of the shop and it was then Sirius noticed the glow of a light coming from the crack in the door. "Someone's in there. They're coming." Sirius' eyes darted through the room, looking for anything sharp to try to release them when he spotted a broken mirror on the wall. He suddenly remembered the two way mirror in his back pocked and strained to reach into his pocket to fish it out.
"Sirius, they're coming," Marlene said as Sirius managed to pull the mirror out of his pocket only for it to tumble form his fingertips onto the floor behind him.
"Marlene, Lay down. Act like you're still passed out," Sirius commanded.
Marlene quickly but carefully laid down atop the mirror and closed her eyes just as the door ripped open and Rabastian Lestrange emerged. He grunted toward Sirius but stormed towards Marlene.
"What, no 'hello' for your brother's extended family?" Sirius said coolly but internally panicked when he saw him move towards Marlene.
Rabastian ignored Sirius and bent over Marlene to grab her.
"I have to admit, I'd be embarrassed if I were you. It took a whole ruse and a trap to take us down. Pathetic."
Sirius' plan began to work as Rabastian stood and faced him.
"I remember when Andromeda said your brother wasn't an intellectual match to Bellatrix. We all wondered what she saw in him. Now I see that compared to you, your idiot brother must seem like Einstein."
Rabastian grunted angrily and ignored Marlene, storming over to Sirius. He hoisted him up by the neck and hissed into his face, "You like the sound of your own voice, Sirius. Let's put that to use, shall well?" He dragged the young man away as Marlene peeked her eyes open to watch them vanish into the back room.
Sirius stumbled forward, nearly crashing into the long table. Around it was Lucious, Narcissa and Bellatrix. He kept himself upright only for Bellatrix to move from her seat to stand behind him and shove his face to the table.
"I present for the committee's consideration, one Sirius Black, a blood traitor."
"Bellatrix," Narcissa said in a warning tone.
"What's wrong, Narcissa?" Sirius said as his face stayed pressed against the table. "Just a normal family gathering isn't it. You'll have to forgive me for not bring a casserole but I missed the save-the-date. I honestly expected the reunion to be somewhere a little more homey."
"Oh, we'd love to host a housewarming," Bellatrix said, "But our house was a bit crowded tonight with aurors and we didn't feel like being around for it. Does that make us bad hosts?"
Sirius grew frantic as Madeye's expressed fears were confirmed. They knew the Lestrange's may expect an ambush but didn't think the Order would be playing into their hands like this. "I don't think anyone considers you hospitable, cousin. But still, an old pawn shop for a hiding place? I expected you to have something a bit more lavish to cower in."
"Still so cocky," Rabastian laughed, "Let me handle him, Bellatrix. I'll clean the smirk from his face permanently."
"So what do you lot say? What punishment shall the boy endure for his crimes?" She leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "Death? Because it's going to happen, Sirius. I'm going to kill you. I want to watch that pathetic smirk leave your face as the light vanishes from your eyes. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But I promise to be the one who delivers you to your final moment."
"What are you waiting for then?" He groaned.
"Sorry, cuz. You know too much to die right away." She pulled him up, whirling him around to face her, and stared eye to eye with him, her wand pressed into his neck. She scanned his eyes and instantly recognized the defiant look in them. "No. He's going to do this the hard way. I can tell."
"Trust me. I've endured old daddy's temper. I'm sure your methods are no different."
"I'm sure you're right. Any pain we inflict won't do much... on you." Sirius became uneasy with the way she said that then a lump formed in his throat when she muttered, "Bring the girl."
"No!" He lunged for her only for Rabastian to hold him back. "Leave her alone!"
Lucious shot out of his chair and did as Bellatrix commanded, leaving the room to fetch Marlene.
"You don't want the girl, Bellatrix.," Sirius insisted. "It's me you're after, ever since I was sorted into Gryffindor you've been sore about me. Just do what you want to me but leave Marlene alone."
"That girl is as much a blood traitor as you are Sirius. You'll both get the punishment that traitors deserve."
Sirius frantically glanced about and saw Narcissa, looking a bit ill in her seat. Sirius stepped towards her and when Rabastian held him back he just head butted him, making the man stumble back clutching his jaw. Sirius shook the pain off his head away and leaned in towards Narcissa. "Narcissa, I know this isn't really you. You don't have bloodlust like, Bellatrix."
"You don't know me, Sirius," she said.
"I know what you did for me! Dromeda told me."
"What's he talking about?" Bellatrix snapped.
"Are you going to let them inflict pain on an innocent person as a mindless game?" Sirius asked.
"Be quiet!" Bellatrix snapped just as they heard a crash shuffle and a crash in the other room.
"What the hell," Bellatrix grunted "Lucious?!"
Lucious Malfoy stumbled back in, using both hands to grip the doorframe and keep balance. His eyes were dazed and his hair hung ragged over his face. "Bloody witch... learned new tricks." He panted and then added, "I went to grab her and realized her ropes had been burned off. Then the flames from the candles in the windows... they came at me."
"Then you should have blown them out!" Bellatrix snapped.
"She was controlling them. They were like flaming darts," He turned and everyone observed the burn holes up and down his back and in sections of his blonde hair. Lucious turned back around when he heard Rabastian snicker. "This wasn't normal wandless magic. It was like what Rudolphus saw at the ministry. She used the flames to shield her escape."
"Sorry she bailed early on the party," Sirius grinned with pride, "but then again it's been a pretty sorry excuse for company so far."
"Oh the party is just getting started, Sirius," Bellatrix said as she turned back to him. "Let your little friend go tell them you're in trouble. Your stupid Potter is in for a fun night, and you're going to ensure he stays for every minute of it."
Back at the Lestrange House...
As everyone entered the Lestrange home they aimed, ready to advance but found the house completely empty. Some embers were still dying in the fire and the scent of a cooked meal was fading from the air, yet not a sound emerged from the dim corridors.
Marvin stood beside Frank who led the way and whispered, "I remember getting dragged through here... basement's this way."
"This doesn't feel right," Angus whispered to Gideon as he looked around, keeping his wand up at portraits in order to cast a muffling charm on any of them that attempted to awaken and warn the Lestrange's of their arrival. "It's too quiet."
Madeye pressed on, unphased by the silence as he followed Marvin towards the basement. "Potter, McKinnon... you two watch the door. Both nodded and Madeye followed Marvin towards the steps but everyone stopped as a creak was heard from the floorboards above them. They all exchanged glances and Frank held a finger to his lips before waiving Gideon and Fabian to follow.
"We'll check upstairs," Frank whispered.
The home felt like a maze to everyone. It was unsettling how quickly someone could fall out of view within seconds and no-one knew where each hallway led or if there was a trap waiting around each corner.
James's curiosity pulled him away from Angus and he entered what appeared to be the study of Rabastian Lestrange. He carefully crept through it, noticing the dark arts books and crude weapons mounted to the walls. One only had to glance inside a moment to get a true snapshot of the Lestrange man. "Him and Bellatrix are perfect for each other," grunted James aloud.
"You think so?" Came a voice from the tall swivel chair that sat beside the ancient desk. "I don't really consider you a relationship expert, Potter."
James watched as the chair spun and revealed Snape seated inside, his leg crossed and hands folded around his wand. "Snape."
"Using my real name for a change?" Snape asked. "What's wrong? Did my threat at the Ministry carry some weight?"
"On the contrary. It was so dull, I don't remember half of it," James said and moved his body to block the door, just in case Snape thought he could spoil their mission.
"Perhaps it's better I show you then," he said as he stood, his wand at the ready. The room was long and narrow, somewhat resembling a dueling stage as the two stood on either side. James heard the footsteps of Angus McKinnon approaching and Snape casually flicked his wand to close the door and lock it.
"Potter?" Angus called and rapped on the door. "Potter let me in."
"You sure you want to do this, Snape?" James asked over Angus' calling. "The house is surrounded and you appear to be alone."
"Let's just say everyone had... errands to attend to. My task is here," he lifted his wand and added, "With you."
"Oh fun, a date," he teased.
"Oh don't worry Potter, I know you're taken."
"Finally letting the denial fade?"
"There's no denial," Snape's vicious smile made James uneasy as he added, "We all know you've had a boyfriend since first year. Sorry he couldn't join us. He's a bit... tied up right now."
James' didn't waist time on a whitty retort as he snapped, "What have you done with Sirius!"
Angus could hear the raised voice on the other side of the door and pounded now, "Potter? Potter! Who is in there?"
Snape just casually continued, "He's going to make sure you cooperate with us."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," James grumbled and aimed his wand. "Tell me where Sirius is!"
"Had a feeling you'd be stubborn about it," Snape hissed. "But don't worry. I'll find a way to break your mother's stupid pottery."
"You..." James' seemed genuinely surprised as he realized and reflected on the level of destruction in his home, the visual of the mutilated family portrait in his head.
Snape smiled, "Don't be too cross, Potter. I was just doing my job. The real crime was your mother's choice in decorator. I think my refurbishment was a bit of an improvement, don't you? Too bad she couldn't live to see the changes. But I guess that's my bad too..."
"W-what?" James choked.
"Dragon Pox vaccines are finicky. In the blood they heal you. When ingested to the gut though... they do quite the reverse. And your precious parents were so grateful for the care package of scones from their loving son."
"You... You...Stupify!" James shouted at him.
Snape ducked and sent a spell towards him, "Expelliarmus."
James ducked and rolled away then levitated the books and weapons from their black on the shelves, all forming around him like a chorus. "Oppungo," He shouted and Snape scrambled backwards, grabbing the floor powder from the mantle and stepping inside the fireplace. He dropped the powder and shouted, "Spinner's End," then vanished as the weapons crashed against the bricks.
Suddenly the door blasted open as Angus shouted, "Bombarda," and stepped in "Potter what the hell?"
James moved towards the floo quickly and said, "Snape. He's got Sirius. I'm going after him." James moved forward Angus followed and took his arm. "James, he's trying to lure you away, can't you see that?!"
"He killed my parents!" James shouted at Angus angrily, "Now he's got my friend!"
"Which tells me he's had this plan all along. He's been sitting here waiting for you, so if he knows you were coming then that could mean others are lying in wait too. We can't just-"
"Your sister was with Sirius!" James snapped and Angus released his grip. James continued as he backed towards the fireplace. "They're in trouble, McKinnon. If they are using Sirius to trap me... it's a risk I have to take. I won't abandon him like I abandoned my parents. Get the others out. Get home safe. I'll see you on the other side of this."
"Potter!" Angus cried once more but was too late as James dropped the powder and repeated, "Spinner's End," then vanished. Angus let out a frustrated groan before darting through the confusing hallways and locating the stairs. He raced up to the second level where he hoped to find the Prewett's and Frank but was confused when he spotted both boys running about the hallway, into one door and out another one as if all rooms were connected and unable to fully enter. "What the hell?" He watched as Gideon raced into the room at the end of the hall only to instantly emerge from the door beside him, nearly crashing against him. "Gid, what's going on?" He asked as he held him steady.
"Rudolphus Lestrange was up here," he said panting. "Frank charged after him and they vanished into one of these rooms. We tried following but can't make any progress." He pointed out Fabian who continued darting back and forth. "Looks like a damn Dooby Scoo special."
"It's Scooby Doo!" Fabian shouted between doorways.
"It's a trap," Angus said. "Snape was waiting for us downstairs too. He said they've got Sirius and my sister."
"Angus," Gideon took his hand, "I'm sorry. Are you sure?"
"No, I'm not bloody sure, but I'm sure this place is rigged for a reason. Frank and James gone and we can't go after them?"
"Potter went through a hexed door too?" Fabian asked as he caught his breath and stopped running.
"No, he went through the floo. All I can do is hope that wasn't hexed too," he said.
On the Other Side of the Floo Network...
In a puff of smoke James was thrown violently from the floo and onto what felt like a kitchen floor. He groaned and ran his hand down his face to wipe the dust off when he realized his glasses were missing. Carefully he rolled onto his hands and knees to feel around on the floor for his glasses when he realized through a blur that someone was standing in front of him. "Sirius?"
The man in front of him kneeled down, holding the glasses they'd claimed from the floor, and slid them on for James to look through the slightly cracked frames. Rudolphus Lestrange was giving him a crooked grin.
"Hello, Potter," he said. James nearly choked as Lestrange's rough hands yanked him from the floor via the collar of his shirt. "Enjoyed my house did ya?"
"This isn't Spinner's end," he said through gritted teeth.
"Oooo very perceptive," he said Sarcastically. "No. Snape had some tricks up his sleeve. Had his own blend of floo powder mixed and hexed the doors to ensure you lot wouldn't stray from our plans for you tonight. I think he called it... payback for your History of Magic class fun house? Don't suppose you'd know what he meant by that."
"Not the foggiest," he lied with an arrogant tone.
"Well don't worry. Big bad Snape won't bother you the rest of the night. We've got other company for you to greet."
"Where the hell are we?" James grumbled.
"We'll be asking the questions, Potter," He replied. "And for your friend's sake... I suggest you do the answering."
A/N: Since everyone had a cliffhanger moment the next part of this chapter will be posted this week. So stay tuned!