Chapter 14

A letter and Kidnapping

September 3rd, 1988

Longbottom Keep, England

Alice sank onto the plush couch beside Frank, exhaling as she took in the familiar surroundings. "It feels strange to be back after seven years," she admitted, running her fingers along the embroidered fabric of the cushions. The keep smelled of old parchment, fresh tea, and a faint trace of garden herbs—just as she remembered.

"And to not be surrounded by French every second of the day," Remus added with a smirk, settling into a nearby chair.

Frank chuckled, shaking his head. "I suppose we'll have to get used to hearing proper English again." He glanced around the room, his brow furrowing slightly. "Where's Sirius?"

Remus's expression soured slightly. "At the Ministry."

Alice sighed, exchanging a knowing look with Frank. "Of course he is."

Frank leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Well, at least my mother agreed to stand in as Regent for me. That spares me the worst of it."

"For now," Alice teased, nudging him playfully.

Frank groaned. "Only when she dies will I have to take up the role—and Merlin help us all, that woman loves politics too much to ever let that happen." He shook his head, though a grin tugged at his lips.

Remus chuckled. "You say that as if you don't have the same stubborn streak."

Frank simply rolled his eyes, but the warmth in the room remained, settling comfortably around them like an old, well-worn cloak.

September 3rd, 1988

Ministry of Magic, London, England

"Sirius!" Cornelius called out, his face lighting up with a broad smile as he stepped forward to greet his old friend.

Sirius grinned, clasping Cornelius's hand firmly. "'Lius! It's been too long. How've you been?"

"Good, good—actually, great! Martha's pregnant." Cornelius beamed, then paused, his brow furrowing. "Or did I already tell you that?"

Sirius's grin widened. "Pregnant? No, you most certainly did not tell me that! When's she due?"

"Two weeks along, so the baby's expected in April next year," Cornelius said, practically glowing with excitement as they walked toward his office.

"That's brilliant! The kids will be thrilled when they hear," Sirius said, clapping him on the back.

Cornelius chuckled but let out a heavy sigh as they reached his office. "As much as I'd rather spend all day talking about my wife and our unborn child, we have some rather unpleasant business to discuss."

Sirius arched a brow, his expression darkening slightly. "And that is?"

Cornelius hesitated for a fraction of a second before saying, "Severus Snape."

The air in the office shifted as Sirius's magic flared instinctively. His normally bright gray eyes turned stormy, and his jaw clenched tightly. "What the hell do we need to discuss that foul, conniving bastard for?" he snarled.

Cornelius braced himself before continuing. "He's appealing his trial, hoping for a lighter sentence."

Sirius let out a sharp bark of laughter, void of any humor. "A lighter sentence? He should consider himself lucky we didn't shove him straight through the Veil or have him Kissed."

Cornelius grimaced but pressed on. "That's not all. He's also requesting contact with his children."

Sirius's expression twisted in pure disgust. "Absolutely not. Never. He forfeited that right the moment he aligned himself with those monsters. The boys will have no contact with him until they're eighteen, and even then, only if they choose to. He doesn't get a say."

Cornelius nodded in understanding. "He hasn't asked to contact Alyssa."

Sirius scoffed. "Of course not. He probably still thinks she's the traitor."

Cornelius sighed. "You know how he is. But there's more. He's asking to be removed from Azkaban and placed in a secure house—somewhere no Death Eaters or Albus Dumbledore can reach him." He raised a hand to stop Sirius's inevitable outburst before continuing. "In exchange, he's offering to brew potions. He's demanding a small fee for most, but the Wolfsbane Potion… he's willing to brew that for free."

Sirius let out a long breath, pacing for a moment before turning back to Cornelius. His expression was unreadable. "I need time to think about it."

Cornelius gave a small nod. "Fair enough. But don't make the decision alone, Sirius. Talk it over with the others."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair before exhaling sharply. "Yeah… yeah, I will." Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the office, the tension still crackling in the air behind him.

September 3rd, 1988

Longbottom Keep – 1 PM

"Are you alright, Harry?" Remus asked, settling onto the couch beside him.

Harry let out a small sigh, twirling his quill between his fingers. "I miss Fleur. She started classes on Thursday."

Remus ruffled Harry's already messy hair. "You could always write her a letter. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you."

Harry gave a small smile and pulled out his notebook. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"Going to draft it first?" Remus asked with a knowing grin.

"Of course," Harry replied, smirking.

Before he could put quill to parchment, a voice called out across the room. "Harry!"

Looking up, Harry spotted Octavius sprinting toward him, an excited grin plastered across his face.

"What's up, 'Vius?" Harry asked, stretching as he closed his notebook.

"You got a letter from Fleur!" Octavius announced, practically bouncing on his feet.

Harry's eyes lit up as he took the envelope, fingers tracing over his name in Fleur's elegant handwriting. "Thanks, 'Vius."

Octavius just grinned before jogging back toward the house, leaving Harry alone with his letter.

Dear Harry,

It's only been three days, and I miss you already. I miss Sirius and Remus, Amelia, Frank and Alice, Augusta and Minerva. I miss Octavius, Julius, Charles, Neville, and Susan. I even miss Aunt Alyssa. Be sure to say hello to everyone for me!

Now, because I know you're dying to hear about Beauxbatons...

Thought to be situated somewhere in the Pyrenees, visitors speak of the breathtaking beauty of a château surrounded by formal gardens and lawns, sculpted from the mountainous landscape by magic. Beauxbatons Academy has a preponderance of French students, though many Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Luxembourgians, and Belgians attend as well. (Both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have a larger student body than Hogwarts.) It is said that the stunning castle and grounds were part-funded by alchemist gold—Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel met at Beauxbatons in their youth, and a magnificent fountain in the middle of the school's park, believed to have healing and beautifying properties, is named in their honor.*

I took that from one of the visitor pamphlets, but it really is stunning here. The classes are fascinating, and the Great Hall is massive. The stained-glass windows depict different moments from the school's history. Our robes are pale blue and made of silk—very elegant. We also have to wear these ridiculous hats during the Start-of-Term and End-of-Term feasts, as well as for special occasions. I hate them.

Our headmistress is incredibly tall and beautiful. She's strict, but she truly cares for her students. You and the boys would love the Quidditch pitch—it's enormous. And you'll be interested to know there's also a football pitch! Unfortunately, most of the girls here don't play sports, but I met someone who does—her name is Cassandra, though she prefers Cas. She's brilliant. I think Susan and the others will like her a lot. She loves sports and is very curious about football. Hopefully, she'll be able to come home with me for Christmas so everyone can meet her. I got sorted into Bellefeuille!

I have to go—classes are starting soon!

Much love,
Fleur Delacour

Harry grinned as he carefully folded the letter, tucking it into his pocket before heading inside.

"Good letter?" Susan asked as he sat beside her on the couch.

"Yeah, she's happy. She met a girl named Cassandra—though she prefers Cas—and she's a sports lover," Harry said with a smile.

Susan's eyes lit up with interest. "Think we'll end up going to Beauxbatons?"

Harry hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't know. I kind of want to see what Hogwarts is like first. If we don't like it, we could always transfer."

"I want to see Hogwarts," Susan admitted, glancing at him.

Harry nodded. "I think Neville and the others do too."

Susan studied his expression. "But you want to go to Beauxbatons, don't you?"

"A little," Harry admitted. "Mostly because of Fleur. But I wouldn't want to go without you guys."

Susan nudged him playfully. "Well, our group wouldn't be complete without its fearless leader."

Harry chuckled. "Thanks. At least we've got a few more years to decide."

"Very true," Susan agreed, grinning as they stood up and walked toward the house together.

September 4th, 1988

Susan's laughter rang out as she walked through town alongside Harry and Neville.

"I really wish Octavius and the others could have come with us," Neville said, glancing around at the bustling street.

"Me too," Harry agreed, hands in his pockets. "But they've been waiting to see their mom for so long. They needed this visit."

"How's Aunt Alyssa doing, anyway?" Susan asked as they followed Jasmine toward the bookstore.

Harry smiled. "Much better. She still asks for Snape sometimes, but Sirius says she might be able to come live with us soon."

They were halfway to the bookstore when Susan suddenly tensed. A prickle of unease crept up her spine. She glanced over her shoulder.

"Guys," she whispered. "I don't want to sound paranoid, but we're being followed."

Harry and Neville immediately stiffened.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked, voice low.

"There are two of them," Susan murmured. "Both with brown hair, walking just a little too in sync. They've been behind us since we left the bakery."

"Do you have any coins?" Harry asked softly.

Susan nodded. "A few. Do you see Jasmine anywhere?"

Neville's eyes scanned the crowd. "No. She was just ahead of us—where did she go?"

"Let's get to the phone booth," Harry said. "Susan, call Sirius. Neville and I will keep watch."

Susan swallowed hard and dialed the number with shaking fingers. The moment Sirius picked up, his voice was a little too loud, probably for their benefit.

"Hey, Susan! What's up?"

Susan took a steadying breath. "Where's Uncle Remus? We were supposed to meet him at the bookstore, but I think we're being followed."

Silence. Then Sirius' voice turned sharp. "Describe them. How many?"

"Two men. Brown hair. We lost sight of Jasmine."

"Damn it. How close are you to the bookstore?"

"Three or four feet," Susan said, gripping the phone tighter.

"Stay put. I'm sending a Patronus to Remus. I'll get Amelia and contact Jean—"

Neville suddenly let out a yell.

"SUSAN, RUN!" he shouted.

She turned just in time to see a wand raised—red light flashed—Harry crumpled like a ragdoll.

"No—HARRY!"

Neville lunged at the attackers, fists flying, but he was no match for their wands. Another blast of light struck him square in the chest. He let out a choked cry as he collapsed, limbs twitching.

Susan's blood turned to ice.

"SIRIUS, THEY TOOK HARRY AND NEVILLE!" she screamed into the phone.

"Stay there—Remus is coming!" Sirius barked, his panic barely concealed.

The men grabbed Harry and Neville's limp forms and, with a crack, disappeared.

Susan gasped, terror surging through her. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She whirled around, scanning the street, hoping—praying—for someone, anyone to stop them.

"SUSAN!"

She spun to see Remus sprinting toward her, face pale, wand already drawn. The moment he reached her, she collapsed against him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"They—they took them," she choked out. "I—"

"I know," Remus murmured, his grip tightening around her. "I've got you."

Then, with another sharp crack, they vanished into thin air.

British Ministry of Magic
French Diplomat Jean Delecour's Office
September 4th, 1988

Frank ran his hand soothingly through Alice's hair, his voice firm but gentle. "Everything will be fine. They're going to be okay."

Alice's face crumpled with worry. "But what if—"

Frank interrupted, his tone unwavering. "Alice, everything will be fine. They're going to be okay."

Taking a shaky breath, Alice nodded, trying to calm herself. "Everything will be fine. They're going to be okay." Her words were muffled as she pressed her face against his chest.

But before any more comfort could be offered, the door to Jean Delecour's office burst open, and Remus stepped through, his face pale and drawn. Susan followed, her eyes wide with panic, her face streaked with tears. Without a word, she threw herself into Amelia's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I was right there!" Susan gasped between breaths, clutching at Amelia like a lifeline.

Amelia held her tightly, soothing her with gentle murmurs. "It's okay, Susan. It's okay."

"I didn't do anything! I couldn't help them!" Susan's voice cracked with guilt, her sobs shaking her body.

Amelia pressed a hand to the back of Susan's head, whispering reassuring words. "You couldn't have done much, sweetheart. You're safe now. The boys will be alright."

Sirius, standing nearby, brushed Susan's hair from her face, his tone as gentle as he could manage. "You're only eight, Susan."

"I could've done something!" Susan screamed, her tears flowing faster, her small body trembling with frustration.

"Susan. Susan!" Amelia's voice sharpened, her gaze locking with the distraught girl. "Listen to me. The boys are going to be alright. They know what to do in this situation. We've got every Auror out there looking for them. They're trained to handle this. Now, I need you to breathe, and think. Tell us about the men who took them."

Susan wiped her eyes and nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "They had brown hair… and one of them had green eyes. The other had silver eyes, like Uncle Sirius."

Amelia nodded. "Good. Anything else?"

There was a pause before a sneer came from a man standing off to the side. "That's all?"

Amelia shot him a glare that could've burned through stone. "Shut your mouth, Anderson."

The man scowled but didn't respond.

Susan's lip quivered. "The one with the green eyes… he was as tall as Uncle Sirius."

"That's good, Susan," Amelia said, offering a small smile of encouragement. She glanced over at Anderson, ignoring his glare. "Can you remember anything else?"

"The silver-eyed man…" Susan trailed off, dragging her finger across her cheek as if tracing a scar. "He had a scar. It went from his right temple to the corner of his mouth."

A wave of recognition hit Sirius like a blast of cold air. "McFry." The name was spat with venom.

"McFry?" Amelia's brows knitted in confusion. "Do you know him?"

Sirius nodded grimly, his eyes hardening with memories. "McFry was an Auror trainee. He was one of the good ones. He would've made a brilliant Auror. But after the Death Eaters attacked his family… After he lost his wife and son, everything changed." He clenched his jaw. "He found out the curse that killed his son was a stray spell from Mad-Eye Moody, and the one that killed his wife came from his own training partner—Baker. McFry went after Baker in his sleep, killed him. He tried to do the same to Moody, but he didn't get the chance. That's how he got that scar."

Alice's face twisted in sorrow. "But why would he take the boys?"

"The silver-eyed man—he took Harry." Remus said grimly, looking at Sirius.

"Why did he take Harry?" Susan asked wiping her eyes.

"Because…" Sirius hesitated, his voice tight. "Because James killed his brother, Lucas, in a fight. After he lost everything, he joined the Death Eaters."

The revelation hit the group like a punch to the gut. Sirius closed his eyes, taking a moment to collect himself. His expression darkened, and he stood up with a grim resolve.

Alice looked up at him, panic seeping into her voice. "Where are you going?"

Sirius turned to face her, his jaw set. "I'm going to get our boys back." He met Remus' eyes, and his friend gave him a silent nod of agreement.

Remus raised his wand, and with a flick, their robes shifted to the dark, understated attire of those who meant business. Without another word, the two men turned and exited the office, heading for the Ministry's auditorium.

As they walked, Sirius muttered to himself, his determination thickening with each step. "We're not letting this go. Not this time."

Unknown Location

Harry stirred, his head pounding as his consciousness slowly returned. The room around him was a cramped, oppressive space—cold, damp, and suffused with the acrid smell of dragon dung and potion fumes. His eyes adjusted to the dimness, and his gaze fell upon a figure huddled against the far wall.

"Neville?" Harry croaked, pushing himself into a sitting position, but the figure gave no response but a weak whimper.

"Neville?" Harry called again, his voice hoarse, anxiety rising.

The figure stirred and a soft voice answered, "My name is Ginny."

Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly inched toward the figure. "Ginny? Where are we? What happened?"

Ginny slowly sat up, eyes wide and filled with fear. "I—I don't know. I was taken, too."

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion, but he forced a grin. "Well, it's good to meet you, Ginny. I'm Harry Potter."

Ginny looked up at him with a flicker of hope. "Then you're here to save me, right?"

Harry's expression faltered for a moment. "I'm not a hero, Ginny. My parents, my aunt and uncles—they're the heroes."

Ginny blinked, confused. "But Mum always said you were a hero."

"My mum's the real hero," Harry replied softly, helping her sit up properly. He looked at her with a grin. "Besides, how could a baby like me be a hero?"

Ginny's lips twitched in a small smile. "That's true... I'm Ginny Weasley, by the way."

"The youngest and first girl in seven generations, right?" Harry asked with a teasing grin.

Ginny sighed heavily. "Yeah, it sucks."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because all my brothers treat me like a baby. They won't let me play Quidditch and make me the butt of their jokes all the time. Mum doesn't like me getting dirty—says, 'That's not ladylike, Ginerva.' I hate it." She crossed her arms and huffed in frustration.

Harry's face softened with sympathy. "Then you can say 'I told you so' when you become the most amazing Quidditch player ever."

Ginny's eyes flickered with hope. "You think so?"

"Definitely." Harry grinned. "Trust me. You'll show them all."

Suddenly, a cold, sinister voice cut through the air, making both of them freeze.

"Well, isn't this sweet?"

Ginny's breath hitched, and Harry's heart began to race as a figure stepped forward from the shadows. The man's face was a twisted mask of cruelty, his scarred skin gleaming in the low light.

"Who are you?" Harry demanded, his voice shaking only slightly despite the fear in his chest.

The man's lips curled into a sinister sneer. "Your worst nightmare, little boy."

Harry cocked his head, confused. "Well, that's not true."

"What?" The man seemed taken aback.

"You said you're my worst nightmare," Harry said with a grin, "but you're not Dumbledore in a miniskirt."

Ginny's confused giggle broke the tension. "What's a miniskirt? And why Dumbledore?"

"A miniskirt's a really short skirt," Harry explained, "and Dumbledore upset Aunt Amy once. She... well, she hexed him. Trust me, it's not a pretty sight."

The man's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Enough!"

"I was just correcting you. No need to get snippy." Harry smirked.

The man's patience snapped. "Crucio!" he hissed, his wand thrusting forward.

Harry screamed as the curse hit him with the full force of agony. His body spasmed and writhed on the ground, his mind consumed by fire.

"STOP IT!" Ginny screamed, her voice high and panicked as she rushed forward. "STOP IT! PLEASE!" Tears streamed down her face as she shook Harry's form.

"Poor little Weasley," the man sneered. "Can't stand to see someone tortured."

"That's a good thing, you bastard," Harry gritted out between screams, the pain searing through his body.

The man's face twisted in contempt. "Maybe you need another dose to learn some respect for your elders, brat."

"I respect my elders," Harry spat, struggling to hold onto his senses, "but you're not one of them, you Wazzcock."

The man's eyes flashed with rage. "What did you just call me, brat?"

"I called you a Wazzcock. It's slang for idiot," Harry replied, his tone still defiant despite the agony.

"You little bastard," the man growled, clearly losing his temper. "You think I'm an idiot? I know more than you could ever hope to learn."

"That doesn't mean you aren't still an idiot." Harry's voice trembled with the pain, but his grin fought through.

The man's face contorted into pure hatred. "Crucio!" He snarled, casting the curse again with no hesitation.

Ginny screamed again, her hands pressed against her ears as Harry's body twisted in agony on the floor. His cries echoed off the stone walls.

"Maybe I should put it on you, little girl." The man sneered pointing his wand at Ginny.

"Do it and will personally throw you through the veil myself, McFry." A hard voice came from the doorway. Slowly the man turned around and began to laugh when he saw Arthur Weasley standing in the door.

"Dad!" Ginny gasped, relief flooding her body.

"Harry, Ginny, stay where you are," Arthur instructed, his voice calm but authoritative. His eyes never left McFry.

"Yes, sir," Harry and Ginny said in unison, their voices shaky but obedient.

"Marcus McFry, you are under arrest," Arthur declared, his voice firm, every word dripping with authority.

McFry chuckled darkly. "Oh really? And what could a Muggle-loving fool like you do to me? I'm one of the Dark Lord's best."

Arthur's gaze hardened. "Cover your faces, both of you." He spoke to Ginny and Harry, not wanting them to be exposed to the curse.

Without warning, Arthur fired a Diffindo, but McFry deftly dodged, and a Reducto flew in response. Arthur blocked it with a shield charm, his movements quick and practiced.

"Schoolyard spells, Weasley? Pathetic," McFry sneered, summoning a Confrigo that sent a shockwave through the room.

Arthur barely dodged it, returning fire with a Confundus spell. "Not everyone relies on Dark Arts, McFry. Not that you're using any of them," Arthur shot back before hitting McFry with a well-timed Expelliarmus, sending the man's wand flying.

"Dad?" Ginny asked, peeking through her fingers, her voice trembling with concern.

"It's all right, Ginny," Arthur said, kneeling in front of them. He turned to Harry. "Did he do anything to you besides torture you?"

"No, sir." Harry shook his head, wincing in pain as he tried to sit up. "Did you find Neville?"

"I didn't," Arthur said with a small smile. "But Sirius and Remus did. They took him to Saint Mungo's."

Harry exhaled in relief. "Is that where we're going?"

Arthur nodded. "As soon as Mad-Eye gets here."

Just then, a gruff voice echoed from the doorway. "Aye, I'm here. Get those two to Saint Mungo's, Arthur."

Arthur nodded at Mad-Eye's arrival, then moved to carefully lift Harry into his arms. "Hold tight, Ginny," he said as Mad-Eye gave a quick, approving nod.

With a flick of Arthur's wand, the portkey activated, and in a flash, they were gone, leaving McFry bound and defeated in the cold, dark room.

AN: That's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it! Review please.