double update!!
As the night continued on, Ron and Hermione spoke about wanting to find all the Horcruxes before Voldemort could find the Elder Wand.
"Three Horcruxes left," Ron kept saying. "We need a plan of action, come on! Where haven't we looked? Let's go through it again. The orphanage..."
Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, the Riddle House, Borgin and Burkes, Albania, every place that we knew Tom Riddle had ever lived or worked, visited or murdered, Ron and Hermione raked over them again, Harry joining in only to stop Hermione's constant pestering. I sat back and listened, thinking about everything that is to come.
In the last two months, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I have gone over every curse, jinx, and charm we've taught the D.A. two years ago as a refresher. Every day, we practiced; Harry's wand would spark or sputter in times of frustration, but he managed to use it correctly. Hermione and I spent most of our time reading textbooks to learn more about symbols, charms, and special artifacts. Ron, on the other hand, continuously messed with a small little radio trying to find the channel for Potterwatch.
"I've got it, I've got it! Password was 'Albus'! Get in here, Harry!"
Ron called Harry inside, who had been on guard duty, so we could all listen in on the radio show. Hermione and I sat cross-legged on the ground while Ron and Harry knelt down.
"... apologize for our temporary absence from the airwaves, which was due to a number of house calls in our area by those charming Death Eaters."
"But that's Lee Jordan!" said Hermione.
"I know!" beamed Ron. "Cool, eh?"
"... now found ourselves another secure location," Lee was saying, "and I'm pleased to tell you that two of our regular contributors have joined me here this evening. Evening, boys!"
"Hi."
"Evening, River."
" 'River,' that's Lee," Ron explained. "They've all got code names, but you can usually tell —"
"Shh!" I said.
"But before we hear from Royal and Romulus," Lee went on, "let's take a moment to report those deaths that the Wizarding Wireless Network News and Daily Prophet don't think important enough to mention. It is with great regret that we inform our listeners of the murders of Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell."
Nausea flipped in my stomach as the four of us looked at each other in horror.
"A goblin by the name of Gornuk was also killed. It is believed that Muggleborn Dean Thomas and a second goblin, both believed to have been traveling with Tonks, Cresswell, and Gornuk, may have escaped. If Dean is listening, or if anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts, his parents and sisters are desperate for news.
"We regret to inform our listeners that the remains of Bathilda Bagshot have been discovered in Godric's Hollow. The evidence is that she died several months ago. The Order of the Phoenix informs us that her body showed unmistakable signs of injuries inflicted by Dark Magic.
"And now we turn to regular contributor Royal, for an update on how the new Wizarding order is affecting the Muggle world."
"Thanks, River," said an unmistakable voice, deep, measured, reassuring.
"Kingsley!" burst out Ron.
"We know!" said Hermione, hushing him.
"And what would you say, Royal, to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times, it should be 'Wizards first'?" asked Lee.
"I'd say that it's one short step from 'Wizards first' to 'Purebloods first,' and then to 'Death Eaters'," replied Kingsley. "We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."
"Excellently put, Royal, and you've got my vote for Minister of Magic if ever we get out of this mess," said Lee. "And now, over to Romulus for our popular feature 'Pals of the Potters'."
"Thanks, River," said another very familiar voice; Ron started to speak, but I thwarted him in a whisper.
"We know it's Lupin!"
"Romulus, do you maintain, as you have every time you've appeared on our program, that Harry and Maisey Potter are still alive?"
"I do," said Lupin firmly. "There is no doubt at all in my mind that their death would be proclaimed as widely as possible by the Death Eaters if it had happened, because it would strike a deadly blow at the morale of those resisting the new regime. 'The Twins Who Lived' remains a symbol of everything for which we are fighting: The triumph of good, the power of innocence, the need to keep resisting."
"And what would you say to them if you knew they were listening, Romulus?"
"I'd tell them we're all with them in spirit," said Lupin, then hesitated slightly. "And I'd tell their to follow their instincts, which are good and nearly always right."
"And our usual update on those friends of the Potter Twins' who are suffering for their allegiance?" Lee was saying.
"Well, as regular listeners will know, several of the more outspoken supporters of Harry and Maisey Potter have now been imprisoned, including Xenophilius Lovegood, erstwhile editor of The Quibbler," said Lupin.
"At least he's still alive!" muttered Ron.
"We have also heard within the last few hours that Rubeus Hagrid" — all four of us gasped, and so nearly missed the rest of the sentence— "well-known gamekeeper at Hogwarts School, has narrowly escaped arrest within the grounds of Hogwarts, where he is rumored to have hosted a 'Support the Potter Twins' party in his house. However, Hagrid was not taken into custody, and is, we believe, on the run. We would urge even the most devoted of Harry's supporters against following Hagrid's lead. 'Support the Potter Twins' parties are unwise in the present climate."
"Indeed they are, Romulus," said Lee, "so we suggest that you continue to show your devotion to the woosome twosome by listening to Potterwatch! And now let's move to news concerning the wizard who is proving just as elusive as Harry and Maisey Potter. We like to refer to him as the Chief Death Eater, and here to give his views on some of the more insane rumors circulating about him, I'd like to introduce a new correspondent: Rodent."
"Oh my god, is that —?"
" 'Rodent'?" said yet another familiar voice, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I cried out together:
"Fred!"
"You're only calling me 'Rodent' 'cause of Mousey! I told you I wanted to be 'Rapier'!"
"And if Mousey was listening?"
"Fine," Fred said begrudgingly. My eyes welled with tears.
"Oh, all right then. Rodent, could you please give us your take on the various stories we've been hearing about the Chief Death Eater?"
"So, people, let's try and calm down a bit. Things are bad enough without inventing stuff as well. For instance, this new idea that You-Know-Who can kill with a single glance from his eyes. That's a basilisk, listeners. One simple test: Check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs. If it has, it's safe to look into its eyes, although if it really is You-Know-Who, that's still likely to be the last thing you ever do."
For the first time in weeks and weeks, Harry and I were laughing: Hermione grinned over at us, happy that we weren't stressed for once.
"And the rumors that he keeps being sighted abroad?" asked Lee.
"Well, who wouldn't want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he's been putting in?" asked Fred. "Point is, people, don't get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking he's out of the country. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but the fact remains he can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo when he wants to, so don't count on him being a long way away if you're planning on taking any risks. I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but safety first!"
"Thank you very much for those wise words, Rodent," said Lee. "Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We don't know when it will be possible to broadcast again, but you can be sure we shall be back. Keep twiddling those dials: The next password will be 'Mad-Eye.' Keep each other safe: Keep faith. Good night."
The radio dial twirled and the lights beneath the tuning panel went out. The four of us were still beaming. Hearing familiar, friendly voices was an extraordinary tonic. It was like waking up from a long sleep.
"Good, eh?" said Ron happily.
"Brilliant," said Harry.
"I love it," I said.
"It's so brave of them," sighed Hermione admiringly. "If they were found..."
"Well, they keep on the move, don't they?" said Ron. "Like us."
"But did you hear what Fred said?" I asked excitedly; now the broadcast was over, my thoughts turned again toward my all consuming obsession. "He's abroad! He's still looking for the Wand, I knew it!"
"Maisey —"
"Come on, Hermione, why are you so determined not to admit it? Vol —"
"MAISEY, NO!"
"— demort's after the Elder Wand!" I said excitedly before realizing what I'd done. I had been so happy and loose that I forgot about the jinx that's attached to his name.
"The name's Taboo!" Ron bellowed, leaping to his feet as a loud crack sounded outside the tent. "I told you, Maisey, I told you, we can't say it anymore— we've got to put the protection back around us— quickly— it's how they find —"
But Ron stopped talking, and I knew why. The Sneakoscope on the table had lit up and begun to spin; we could hear voices coming nearer and nearer: Rough, excited voices. Ron pulled the Deluminator out of his pocket and clicked it: Our lamps went out.
"Come out of there with your hands up!" came a rasping voice through the darkness. "We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointing at you and we don't care who we curse!"
Looking around in the darkness, I saw the outlines of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I saw Hermione point her wand, not toward the outside, but into Harry's face; there was a bang, a burst of white light, and he buckled in agony, unable to see. I could see his face swelling rapidly under his hands.
"Get up, vermin," I heard someone say.
I clamped my hand over my arm, my wand was still hidden.
In an instant, someone grabbed my upper arms, dragging me out of the tent to where Ron and Hermione already stood.
"Please, please, don't hurt us," I plead. No good it did, the grip tightened on my arm.
"Get— off— her!" Ron shouted. The Death Eater who held Ron punched him in the stomach. Ron grunted in pain and Hermione screamed, "No! Leave him alone, leave him alone!"
"Your boyfriend's going to have worse than that done to him if he's on my list," said the horribly familiar, rasping voice. "Delicious girl... What a treat... I do enjoy the softness of the skin..."
Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf who was permitted to wear Death Eater robes in return for his hired savagery.
"Please don't hurt my friends," I whispered.
They paid no mind to me, even if as I struggled in their arms.
"Search the tent!" said another voice. Harry and Ron were quickly thrown down on the ground while Hermione and I stood next to each other.
"Now, let's see who we've got," Greyback gloated. He flipped Harry over and put a lit wand to his face.
"I'll be needing butterbeer to wash this one down. What happened to you, ugly?"
Harry did not answer immediately.
"I said," repeated Greyback, and I saw Harry received a blow to the stomach, "what happened to you?"
"Stung," Harry muttered. "Been stung."
"Yeah, looks like it," said a second voice.
"What's your name?" snarled Greyback.
"Dudley," said Harry.
"And your first name?"
"I— Vernon. Vernon Dudley."
"Check the list, Scabior," said Greyback, and he move sideways to look down at Ron. "And what about you, ginger?"
"Stan Shunpike," said Ron.
"Like 'ell you are," said the man called Scabior. "We know Stan Shunpike, 'e's put a bit of work our way."
Hermione and I gave a little gasp as Greyback punched Ron.
"I'b Bardy," said Ron, and Harry could tell that his mouth was full of blood. "Bardy Weadley."
"A Weasley?" rasped Greyback. "So you're related to blood traitors even if you're not a Mudblood. And now your two pretty little friends..."
"Easy, Greyback," said Scabior over the jeering of the others.
"Oh, I'm not going to bite just yet. We'll see if she's a bit quicker at remembering her name than Barny. Who are you, girly?"
"Penelope Clearwater," said Hermione. She sounded terrified, but convincing.
"What's your blood status?"
"Half-blood," said Hermione.
"Easy enough to check," said Scabior.
"And you, little lady?" Greyback looked over at me.
"Violet Howell," I answered.
"Blood status?"
"Half-blood, as well."
Scabior looked over at me and narrowed his eyes, "The 'ole lot of 'em look like they could still be 'ogwarts age —"
"We'b lebt," said Ron.
"Left, 'ave you, ginger?" said Scabior. "And you decided to go camping? And you thought, just for a laugh, you'd use the Dark Lord's name?"
"Nod a laugh," said Ron. "Aggiden."
"Accident?" There was more jeering laughter.
"You know who used to like using the Dark Lord's name, Weasley?" growled Greyback. "The Order of the Phoenix. Mean anything to you?"
"I'm sorry, sir," I panicked, "it was my fault. I had said his name accidentally. I didn't mean to."
Greyback slowly stepped over to me and looked me up and down.
"You look awfully familiar," he sniffed. "How do I know you?"
"Y-you don't, sir," I stated.
"Order of the Phoenix mean anything to you, lil' lady?"
"No."
"Well, they don't show the Dark Lord proper respect, so the name's been Tabooed. A few Order members have been tracked that way. We'll see. Bind them up with the other two prisoners!"
The man holding me pushed me down so that my back was up against Hermione's and Harry's. When the man tying us had walked away, Harry whispered to us.
"Anyone still got a wand?"
"No," said Ron and Hermione as I answered, "I do."
"Harry? Maisey?"
It was a new, but familiar, voice, and it came from directly behind Harry, from the person tied to Hermione's left.
"Dean?" I asked.
"It is you guys! If they find out who they've got —! They're Snatchers, they're only looking for truants to sell for gold —"
"Not a bad little haul for one night," Greyback was saying, as a pair of hobnailed boots marched close by me and we heard more crashes from inside the tent. "A Mudblood, a runaway goblin, and four truants. You checked their names on the list yet, Scabior?"
"Yeah. There's no Vernon Dudley on 'ere, Greyback."
"Interesting," said Greyback. "That's interesting."
He crouched down beside Harry, who was tied next to me. Greyback smelled as he had done at the top of the tower where Dumbledore had died: Of dirt, sweat, and blood.
"So you aren't wanted, then, Vernon? Or are you on that list under a different name? What House were you in at Hogwarts?"
"Slytherin," said Harry.
"Funny 'ow they all thinks we wants to 'ear that," jeered Scabior out of the shadows. "But none of 'em can tell us where the common room is."
"It's in the dungeons," said Harry clearly. "You enter through the wall. It's full of skulls and stuff and it's under the lake, so the light's all green."
There was a short pause.
"Well, well, looks like we really 'ave caught a little Slytherin," said Scabior. "Good for you, Vernon, 'cause there ain't a lot of Mudblood Slytherins. Who's your father?"
"He works at the Ministry," Harry lied. "Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes."
"You know what, Greyback," said Scabior. "I think there is a Dudley in there."
"Well, well," said Greyback, "if you're telling the truth, ugly, you've got nothing to fear from a trip to the Ministry. I expect your father'll reward us just for picking you up."
"But," said Harry, his mouth bone dry, "if you just let us —"
"Hey!" came a shout from inside the tent. "Look at this, Greyback!"
A dark figure came bustling toward them, and Harry saw a glint of silver in the light of their wands. They had found Gryffindor's sword.
"Ve-e-ry nice," said Greyback appreciatively, taking it from his companion. "Oh, very nice indeed. Looks goblin-made, that. Where did you get something like this?"
"It's my father's," Harry lied. "We borrowed it to cut firewood —"
" 'ang on a minute, Greyback! Look at this, in the Prophet!"
"''ermione Granger,' " Scabior was saying, " 'the Mudblood who is known to be traveling with the Potter Twins.' "
I felt my scar burn and I tried my hardest to look at Harry, I knew his hurt worse. I heard the creak of Greyback's boots as he crouched down in front of Hermione.
"You know what, little girly? This picture looks a hell of a lot like you."
"It isn't! It isn't me!" Hermione's terrified squeak was as good as a confession. " '...known to be traveling with the Potter Twins,' " repeated Greyback quietly.
A stillness had settled over all of us. I couldn't dare to breathe as my hands shook like crazy against the bodies tied to mine.
"Well, this changes things, doesn't it?" whispered Greyback. Nobody spoke: The gang of Snatchers watching, frozen. Greyback got up and took a couple of steps to where Harry sat, crouching down again to stare closely at his misshapen features.
"What's that on your forehead, Vernon?" he asked softly.
"Don't touch it!" Harry yelled.
"I thought you wore glasses, Potter?" breathed Greyback.
"I found glasses!" yelped one of the Snatchers skulking in the background. "There was glasses in the tent, Greyback, wait —"
Greyback snatched the glasses from their hands and pushed it onto Harry's swollen face.
"It is!" rasped Greyback. "We've caught Potter! And you —" he came over to me and grabbed my face in his hands, examining my face. He then book is grumby finger and ran it down my face to the collar of my shirt.
"Don't touch me," I said, thrashing. "Get— off— No!" I spat in his face.
Good that did, with his free hand, he met my face, his long nail engraving itself on my cheek. I bit my lip, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry.
"Don't ever do that again," he growled. Greyback hooked his finger on my collar and pulled it to one side and then the only looking for my scar. He smiles, showing his yellowed teeth, "it's them! That's Harry Potter and this is Maisey Potter— she's got the scar!"
They all took several steps backward, stunned by what they had done.
"To hell with the Ministry," growled Greyback. "They'll take the credit, and we won't get a look in. I say we take him straight to You-Know-Who."
"Will you summon 'im? 'ere?" said Scabior, sounding awed, terrified.
"No," snarled Greyback, "I haven't got— they say he's using the Malfoys' place as a base. We'll take the twins there."
I thought I knew why Greyback was not calling Voldemort. The werewolf might be allowed to wear Death Eater robes when they wanted to use him, but only Voldemort's inner circle were branded with the Dark Mark: Greyback had not been granted this highest honor.
My chest seared with pain and I knew Harry had succumbed to the vision. Anger stored through me as it escaped my scar. I groaned and tried to look at Harry, but his head was down.
"Who's in charge here?" roared Greyback, covering his moment of inadequacy. "I say it's the Potters, and them plus his wand, that's two hundred thousand Galleons right there! But if you're too gutless to come along, any of you, it's all for me, and with any luck, I'll get the girl thrown in!"
"All right!" said Scabior. "All right, we're in! And what about the rest of 'em, Greyback, what'll we do with 'em?"
"Might as well take the lot. We've got two Mudbloods, that's another fifteen Galleons. Give me the sword as well. If they're rubies, that's another small fortune right there."
We were dragged to our feet. I started to panic, my breathing grew fast and terrified, I felt like I was going to pass out along with the fear of our situation and pain of my scar.
"Grab hold and make it tight. I'll do the Potters!" said Greyback, seizing a fistful of Harry's hair and my upperarm. "On three! One— two— three —"
They Disapparated, pulling us with them. I felt Harry struggle to try to get Greyhand's hand off his head, but it was no use: Ron, Hermione, and I were squeezed tightly together, there'd be no way to separate from the ground.
We learned into one another as we landed in a country lane. My tear blurred eyes took a moment to acclimatize, then I saw a pair of wrought-iron gates at the foot of what looked like a long drive.
One of the Snatchers strode to the gates and shook us.
"How do we get in? They're locked, Greyback, I can't— blimey!"
The man whipped his hands away in fright. The iron was contorting, twisting itself out of the abstract furls and coils into a frightening face, which spoke in a clanging, echoing voice: "State your purpose!"
"We've got the Potters!" Greyback roared triumphantly. "We've captured Harry and Maisey Potter!"
The gates swung open.