Chapter 7: Poking Holes
Grimmauld Place, October 8th 1995
I'm in the kitchen, listening to my brother and Severus bickering. The Order meeting is about to begin, and the two of them are already trading insults, far from behaving like the adults they are. The room is full of people, as most of the Order have joined in today's meeting. I sit between my brother and Nymphadora, across from Dedalus Diggle, Emmie Vance and Severus.
After a while, Alastor Moody clears his throat from the other end of the table. "All right, everyone!" He says loudly and the chatter fades. My brother and Severus settle into staring at each other with utter contempt.
"So, as it has been confirmed that Podmore is going to do time until the end of March, Bill Weasley will take care of his…assignment," Moody says, his eyes flickering to me before he gestures to the ginger haired wizard next to my cousin. "And as we now know he was subjected to an Imperius Curse, we have to be more careful in the future," he continues.
Even though I haven't been trusted with the information, I know there is something – a mission – that most of the Order members are assigned to. I already know about the guard post in Hogsmeade, which is mainly to keeping an eye on Potter and possible Death Eater movement in the village, but in addition to that, the Order is guarding something else. Something in the Ministry. Something that was Podmore's assignment.
Regardless of the Wizengamot charging Podmore with trespass and attempted robbery at the Ministry, it is clear that Podmore wasn't there to steal anything on his own accord. Which means that the Order is guarding something that the Dark Lord wants. I reckon it could be anything. Supposedly something to do with the Department of Mysteries. It is rather entertaining to keep assuming, since the Order's secrets are so poorly protected that they could simply let me in on them. While I stare blankly ahead, I hear many protests about Podmore's sentence around the table.
"Is it possible to appeal? Can't the Auror office provide any evidence that he was acting under the curse?" Emmie – well, Emmeline asks. I give her a long stare, and she turns to look at me with narrowed eyes. I lift my brows slightly, trying to provoke her. The witch quickly moves her attention back to Moody who is speaking again, her posture now stiffer than it was.
It has been going on like this since my arrival. Whenever she's participating in an Order meeting, it is obvious that she's somehow bothered by my presence. I suppose going down memory lane can be…troublesome.
"…unfortunately, since Fudge and his henchmen will not see reason, as usual," Moody says with irritation.
We talk more about Fudge and his politics; how he is doing everything in his power to assure the wizarding world that nothing has changed, even though there have been signs, occurrences that he must have had noticed as well. The conversation shifts to the situation in Hogwarts, and Severus explains the latest irrationalities the new High Inquisitor has put in motion.
"Speakin' of somethin' put in motion," Mundungus Fletcher quips from further along the table. "Stopped at Hog's Head yes'erday durin' my watch shift an' saw somethin' ya'll wanna hear," He grunts and everyone turns their focus on him.
Apparently, yesterday was Fletcher's shift to guard Hogsmeade, and it seems that the twat decided to neglect his duties…again.
I truly do not understand why the Order is still trusting Fletcher with these challenging tasks. I know that they need a knave like him, someone who hears things the others don't, but that doesn't mean he needs to be involved in the missions. Everyone should realise that the man is a vulnerability to the Order. I am also certain he's stolen from my family's priceless possessions. I make a mental note to ask Kreacher to investigate it.
"The kids were meetin' up 'n the pub, an' they were speakin' abou' formin' a secret defence grou' where they're gonna practice spells they aren' allowed or taugh' in school," Fletcher explains. There's a loud chattering and a mix of gasps and amused sounds in the room.
"What?!" Molly Weasley's voice booms above everyone else's. "Who exactly was there?" She demands, narrowing her eyes at Fletcher.
The man in question shrinks back a bit from the fierce look in Molly's eyes, while my brother sniggers quietly next to me.
"I would like to know more as well. Whose idea was this? Who is leading them?" Moody asks grimly, glancing at Severus. I look at my old friend as well, and Severus merely rolls his eyes, seemingly bored.
"Potter, I assume. The arrogance certainly runs in the family," He says derisively, and my brother clenches his jaw next to me.
"Don't tempt me, Snivellus," Sirius growls warningly.
Severus sneers at him and opens his mouth, evidently to make some retort but I manage to interrupt him. "Sev." I say tightly and give him a meaningful look.
We've gone this over many times in our past. My brother, Potter and Severus had a habit of allowing themselves to be provoked into a duel. Even though I didn't get along with my brother back then, or we somewhat ignored each other in Hogwarts, I still occasionally restrained Severus from lashing out at my brother, preventing him from doing something he might have regretted later. The difference between them was that while the impulsive Gryffindors were eager to challenge Slytherins, they weren't responsible for creating some of the most vicious curses.
Severus looks disappointed but stays quiet.
Moody clears his throat. "Gentlemen," He grunts and arches a disapproving brow at Severus and my brother before he continues. "Dung, what else did you hear?" He asks gruffly and looks at the man, while his glass eye is fixated at our end of the table.
As the conversation goes on, it becomes clear that it is indeed Potter who has been forming a defence group during the Hogsmeade weekend, and they intend to meet weekly to practice defensive and offensive spells. The others about it for a while, and Molly especially seems quite bothered by the thought of her four children joining such activities while the school is under the Ministry's watchful eye.
My brother obviously thinks it's hilarious, while I'm siding with the majority opinion – that forming such group is careless and dangerous, not to mention foolish. But then again, they are young, and there is a war approaching, so a part of me understands their motives to learn to defend themselves.
Sirius announces that he'll try to contact his godson through the floo again to ask him details about this group and their meeting in Hogsmeade, and even though Moody warns him about the risk of his exposure, my brother reassures him that he will not get caught. Molly sourly commands Sirius to pass on a message for Ron, forbidding him to join in said group, as his future will surely be ruined.
Grimmauld Place, October 9th 1995
"FUCK!" My brother yells from somewhere downstairs, while the portrait of my mother starts to scream uncontrollably. "REGGIE!" He calls, and I can hear him running up the stairs towards my room.
I let out a weary sigh and put a marker on the book I'm reading in my comfortable armchair before my brother barges in, looking slightly alarmed.
"Reggie!" He says, panting slightly as he walks towards me.
I lift my brows at him. "Well, how nice of you to knock, brother," I say blankly and give a pointed glance to the door. I can still hear mother moaning her usual slurs downstairs.
Sirius waves his hand in dismissal, looking grim. "That hag – Umbridge – almost caught me," He says harshly.
"What? How?" I ask with alert, my annoyance quickly dissipating. I stand up hurriedly and stare between the door and my brother anxiously. He was almost caught? Does she know our whereabouts? My mind is whirling with questions while Sirius paces in front of me, tugging his hair in frustration.
"That fucking bitch almost snatched me during the floocall!" He says, seething. I relax a bit. So, we're probably not in an imminent danger. I doubt that she can she track the floocall since my father has set up strong wards in this house. Still, it is something we should investigate.
"I'm sure I got away in time, otherwise we'd have company already…" He continues, although he looks uncertain.
I clear my throat. "You need to inform someone." I say seriously, and he nods. "Close the floo after that, ward it and…and stop contacting Potter," I order with annoyance in my voice, and he nods again, leaving my room while clenching his jaw and muttering under his breath.
Grimmauld Place, November 5th 1995
It is the end of yet another Order meeting. There hasn't been any significant news, besides Hagrid finally arriving to Hogwarts after his mission. McGonagall, who has joined the meeting this time, tells the others that she hasn't yet had the chance to speak with the half-giant privately, but she will do so as soon as possible. She also sourly informs my brother and Molly that Potter and Molly's twin sons have been banned for life from Quidditch before she takes off. Severus's lips twitch with glee while my brother scowls and sends him a nasty look. I suppress the urge to roll my eyes.
Sirius has kept his word and hasn't contacted Potter since the incident last month. The past month has been largely the same as the month before. With few unpleasantries. Like the unfortunate occurrence on Halloween, when my brother got himself half out of his mind with alcohol and ended up unconscious for three days – a stunt that would have been fatal to a mere muggle. And that one time, when my brother lit the ground floor on fire after having a little spat with our mother's portrait. After we managed to stop the flames, it turned out that while everything else in the hallway had burned, her portrait had still survived without suffering any injuries at all. My brother hadn't really appreciated the irony of it.
As the room clears, I notice that Severus is still there, eyeing me impassively.
"May we speak?" He asks, and I nod and gesture for him to follow me. My brother stays in the kitchen with Lupin, both watching us carefully as we leave.
Even though Severus and I were friends at Hogwarts, there is a certain coolness between us now. Naturally, he interrogated me after our first meeting, undoubtedly due to others' request. What he learned during the Veritaserum laced conversation was much the same Dumbledore had learned after my arrival. To my relief, my old friend was merely focused on making sure I wasn't working as a spy for the Dark Lord, and thus the information regarding the locket remained hidden.
"What is it?" I ask politely as we enter the library and place a couple of silencing charms to the door. I sit down in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace, and Severus follows my lead after a moment of hesitation.
He clears his throat. "The Dark Lord is planning something ambitious," Severus says slowly.
I nod. We already established that in the meeting. "Is he not always planning something ambitious?" I ask wryly.
Severus arches a brow. "You have spent too much time with your imbecilic brother," he says with a hint of sneer in his expression.
We haven't discussed privately in weeks, even with Severus occasionally joining the meetings.
I shake my head in amusement. "Still?" I ask, and even though he and my brother quarrel almost in every meeting, I am slightly stunned that they are holding their school grudges against each other after so many years.
He narrows his eyes at me.
"I take that as a yes." I say simply. "What is he planning then?" I ask, changing the subject back to the Dark Lord.
Severus frowns. "I have my suspicions."
"And you're not going to tell me what they are." I conclude for him, not really surprised if that is the case.
He gives me a long stare, a blank expression on his eyes, and I know he doesn't truly trust me. Well, I suppose he is entitled to that. As a double agent, there are only so many you can trust.
"Potter's connection with him…the Dark Lord will try to use it. He will try to lure the boy out of the castle," Severus says eventually.
I arch a brow at him. "And Potter will take the bait?" I ask. Even though I do not know Potter well, I still doubt that he would completely place his trust in his visions.
Severus scoffs. "There's no doubt in that. The boy is an arrogant little twit, just like his father was, with that insolent sense of entitlement and a spiteful sense of humour," He grits out with an angry sneer on his face.
I lift my brows in mild surprise. He is definitely bothered by the boy.
"Can't someone rein him in then?" I ask quizzically. Wouldn't it be beneficial for the Order if the connection between the boy and the Dark Lord was closed down?
Severus looks bitter. "I've discussed this with Dumbledore. I think the boy needs to start learning how to close the connection himself. Unfortunately, the Headmaster doesn't share my line of thought."
"Occlumency?" I ask. Severus gives me a curt nod. Learning the skill would make sense. Although, I understand Dumbledore's hesitation. Not everyone can learn the skill. Not everyone can learn to close their minds. In worst case, it could only enhance their connection, which the Dark Lord could ultimately use in his favour.
"So, there's nothing to do then?" I ask and rub my temple. My head is hurting.
"Evidently." He says grimly.
We trade a few thoughts regarding the recent Order meeting before Severus leaves back to Hogwarts.
Some time after our conversation, my brother enters the library.
"What did Snivellus want?" Sirius asks with a suspicious voice as he walks towards the seating area.
I roll my eyes and don't even bother to look up from my book as he drops down in an armchair opposite to me.
"Well?" He presses on, and I glance at him. He's staring at me with a narrow-eyed look. Like he's certain that I am plotting something with Severus.
I put my book away and give my brother a reproaching look. "Really? Snivellus? Still?" I merely ask.
Sirius arches a brow at me. "Really. Now, what did he want?" He asks sharply.
I know that my conversation with Severus did not contain anything the Order couldn't know. Or what they didn't suspect already. "Has Potter mentioned anything about his…connection to the Dark Lord?" I ask, and the look on my brother's face turns unreadable.
"What did Snape say?" He says coldly.
I lift my brows slightly.
"I don't trust that fucking slime ball, in case you were wondering," Sirius says harshly.
I let out a weary sigh. "I gathered." I say dully. "Severus suspects that the Dark Lord might use the connection."
"How?" Sirius asks quickly, a mix of alarm and suspicion in his eyes.
I shrug. "Invade his mind, possess him. Not sure." I say neutrally.
My brother only gives me a contemplative look but doesn't say anything.
After a moment I stand up, ready to retreat to my quarters when I remember something. I search my pockets and dig out a small parcel. "Happy birthday, brother." I say and toss him the gift.
Sirius catches the parcel with a baffled look. After recovering from the surprise, he arches a brow at me. "My birthday was two days ago," He says with a withering look.
I give him a thin smile. "Well, you weren't exactly up and running two days ago," I say pointedly, referring to his alcohol induced coma. After the incident, I learned that his friends – Potter and his wife – had died at Halloween. And that he was mourning them.
Sirius flinches, the events undoubtedly still raw in his mind. "I suppose you expect me to be grateful that you gave me something…" He grumbles, looking away.
I shrug. "Well, if it helps, I spent your money," I say with a small grin before I turn and leave the room.
Grimmauld Place, December 20th 1995
Time has passed again, and even though I have continued my research about the ways to destroy a Horcrux, I haven't really managed to find anything I could try on the damned locket. There is Fiendfyre, of course – magic so powerful I suspect could do the trick – but since it isn't actually written anywhere that it would destroy a Horcrux, and, well, it is quite impossible to learn to cast and maintain, I have continued to search for other means. Unfortunately, I have read through every book in the Black library that even hints towards Horcruxes, as well as the ones that cover the darkest, most vicious spells.
My brother is self-indulging in pity and Firewhiskey again. It is something that seems to be occurring nearly every time one of his friends or Order members – usually Lupin – leaves and we are left alone in Grimmauld Place. My brother and I rarely seek each other's company. But this close to Christmas and having witnessed his whims and mood swings long enough, I decide to go to him.
He is in father's study, leaning back in the armchair behind the desk, gazing out of the window to the snowy street behind the half-opened curtains. His customary Firewhiskey bottle is nestled between his hands, on top of his lap. I suppose he looks a bit…miserable. Wistful. Hopeless.
"What do you want, Reggie?" He grunts quietly. He doesn't turn to look at me, but instead takes another swig from the bottle.
I arch a brow at him, even though he doesn't see my expression. "What's with the pity party?" I ask blankly as I take a couple of steps forward and slump into a chair facing the desk, across from him.
He shrugs. "Decided to make today more entertaining."
I lift my brows at him and give him a dull look. "Yes, I can see how entertained you are," I drawl and hold out my hand for him, expecting him to give me the bottle. Truthfully, he looks rather dreadful.
Sirius chuckles dryly and hands me the liquor. I take a swig and cough a bit. I haven't drunk Firewhiskey, or anything with alcohol for that matter, in a long time, not after visiting my parents' graves. After the strong taste, it burns deliciously, and I take another gulp.
"Easy there, rookie…" Sirius says with laughter in his voice as he snags the bottle back.
"Sod off." I mutter and study him as he stares out from the window.
We stay silent for a while. "You have an addiction, you know?" I say to him. He drinks to take his mind off from the bad things, I reckon. He's always been like that, closing himself off even when the bad things weren't so…extensive. He's at his best when he has someone and at his worst when he's alone. And I know I'm partly to blame for his loneliness.
My brother gives me a scornful glance. "Yes, well, let's just say I'm full of childhood traumas," he says dryly.
I shake my head at him. "Don't we all know that," I mutter quietly.
Sirius scoffs. "And what is that supposed to mean?" He says with a sharp voice.
I give him a shrug and a blank look. "You. Blaming either yourself or your family about every bad thing that has happened to you," I say, accusation heavy in my voice.
Sirius looks like he's tasted something vile, but he doesn't say anything as he turns his gaze away from me. There's another silence.
"What about your godson?" I ask, wondering what Potter would think of his godfather.
Sirius scowls at me. "What about him?" He asks gruffly.
I shrug. "It is Christmas soon. You don't mind that he sees…this?" I say and gesture him.
Sirius fights to keep his expression blank. I know I've hit a sore spot. "Whatever. It's not like I'll be seeing him very soon. He can't be here with me. Dumbledore's made sure of that…" He says darkly.
I lift my brows in a mild surprise but just as I'm about to reply to him, loud shouting erupts from upstairs, stirring mother's portrait awake.
As mother starts to scream her usual obscenities, we both leap to our feet and dash away from father's study, wands at the ready.
"Filth! Scum! You're both a disgrace to my family! How dare you sully the house of my fathers-"
"Shut up, you lousy hag!" Sirius roars at her and throws a silencing charm to mother's portrait just as her eyes are bulging from their sockets with anger.
I give him a reprimanding look, and Sirius merely shrugs and jerks his head upstairs, where we can still hear someone yelling. "Care to investigate that, or are you worried about dear mother's feelings?" He asks with exasperation and makes his way quickly up the stairs.
I bite back a remark and follow him.
We stop in front of the room where the noise is coming from; the same one Potter and his friend-Weasley occupied during the summer.
"It's Phineas," Sirius says quickly, kicking the door open while pointing his wand inside the room.
There's no one there, and as we step into the room, Phineas Nigellus, the portrait of a previous Headmaster of Hogwarts – which, for reasons I do not know is moved from downstairs hallway into this room – gives us a bored look as he leans into his frame.
"Finally." Phineas scoffs. "I've been shouting here a great amount of time." He says with irritation. I share a look with my brother.
Sirius clears his throat. "What is it?"
"The current Headmaster wishes me to deliver you a message." He says grimly.
We both stare at him expectantly.
"Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured and his wife, children and Harry Potter will be arriving into your house shortly," He says with a bored voice.
"Fuck." Sirius mutters and we share another glance, this one more alerted. We both know that Arthur Weasley has been on a mission.
Phineas arches a thin brow at my brother, evidently annoyed by his language.
"Tell him we're delighted," I quickly say to the portrait, and immediately the previous Headmaster disappears.
We both stare at the empty portrait numbly, before Sirius clears his throat and looks at me, a hint of fear in his eyes. "Come on, they'll probably be downstairs in a bit."
We move quickly down the stairs and hear clattering from the basement. As we enter the kitchen, I hear Kreacher muttering profanities to our guests. Sirius growls with annoyance and aims a kick to the slightly deranged elf, but I manage to yank my brother backwards, so he misses it.
"Kreacher," I say warningly, and I give a sideways glare to my brother. "Prepare us some tea and then go clean up the quest rooms," I say to the elf and Sirius clenches his jaw but refrains from saying anything, and instead focuses on the five teenagers who have materialised in our kitchen, scrambling back to their feet.
As my brother goes to help the youngest Weasley up, I glance at the others. They're all looking scared and anxious.
"What is it? Why are you here?" Sirius asks from all of them.
I realise we both probably smell like we've been just drinking, which we have.
"Phineas Nigellus told us that Arthur's been injured – " My brother says, but one of the twins interrupt him, suggesting that he should ask Potter what had happened.
Everyone turns their eyes at Potter, including me. The boy in question stammers as he starts to explain himself. Apparently, he has seen a vision about a snake attacking Arthur Weasley in an empty corridor. I exchange a look with my brother. We are both aware that the Dark Lord has a snake, and apparently, he has used the snake to attack Arthur Weasley. Why Potter has seen everything, is rather obvious. He's seen the Dark Lords mind.
Everyone is quiet after Potter ends his story, and Potter's friends give him grim looks, supposedly expecting him to give them more information about the situation. Kreacher provides us a large tray in the middle of the dining table, filled with a teapot, several cups, a selection of sandwiches, scones and fruits. I give the elf a grateful nod before it slips away from the kitchen.
"Is our mum here?" The other twin asks from my brother, and Sirius shakes his head at him.
"I'm not sure if she even knows yet what is happening, or if she does, she's probably on her way to see your father," Sirius says carefully. "What's important is that you're safely out of Hogwarts before that Ministry hag could've interfered into this," He says, and the Weasley kids start to argue with my brother.
They of course want to go to see their father, who apparently has been taken into St Mungo's. My brother thinks that they can't go before their mother has arrived there, as it would look suspicious if they'd just show up in the hospital before Arthur's wife even has been informed. I have to say I agree with my brother.
While they have at it, I glance at Potter. He's looking guilty, remorseful even. I suspect he thinks he's had something to do with the attack.
Sirius's voice is slowly becoming more irritated, and just as I'm about to suggest that everyone should calm down, the other twin shouts at my brother about him not risking his neck and being content of hiding in his house. I can see my brother going very stiff, his fingers pressing tightly into fists.
"Enough." I say darkly. Both twins shut up and scowl at me, while Sirius grits his teeth together. "Let's just wait for your mother's arrival before anyone does anything stupid." I say grimly and gesture at the table. "Sit down." I say firmly.
The twins stare at me defiantly for a moment but eventually everyone sits around the table.
Sirius lets out a sigh. "I'm sure we'll hear from her soon enough. Come on, let's all have something to eat and drink while we wait, okay?" He says kindly, eyeing the teenagers and waving his wand at the tea tray. Cups levitate slowly in front of everyone, along with a small plate with a sandwich and a fruit in each.
We sip tea from our cups in silence, and all that can be heard is the soft clinking of cups touching the table, and the sound of the kitchen fire burning.
I sit next to Potter, and I can see him clenching his jaw every five minutes. He's trembling slightly, swallowing deeply, his gaze fixed on the table in front of him. I share a meaningful look with my brother, who then eyes his godson with worry.
Then a burst of fire appears in the air, and a phoenix tail feather and a scroll of parchment drop on the table. Everyone gasps in shock, and my brother snatches the parchment from the table. "This must be from your mother," he mutters and gives the letter to the twins, who start reading it aloud.
It seems that Arthur is alive, but in a critical condition still. Molly writes that she'll go the hospital, advising her children to stay where they are.
The mood is dark, and I can see fear in everyone's eyes. The news that Arthur is in a critical condition seems to shake everyone. We stay in silence, avoiding each other's eyes and the night goes on.
During the early hours of the next morning my brother suggests that we ought to get a couple of hours of sleep, but the kids merely scowl back at him. I'm tired as fuck, but I'm not going to leave my brother to handle a group of anxious teenagers alone. I also want to know what is going on.
We stay put, and the night goes on. At some point, both twins have fallen into a light slumber, and I can see Potter exchanging worried glances with my brother every now and then. After a long silence, a long night, and a long wait, it is finally morning. The door bursts open and Molly Weasley steps into the kitchen, looking white and apprehensive. She manages to give her children a small smile as she tells everyone the news. Arthur's going to be all right.
The kids hug their mother while she tells them more about his condition. Relieved, my brother jovially starts preparing breakfast with his godson. Molly eventually expresses her gratitude to Potter, and then to my brother and me for looking after her children throughout the night. My brother seems very pleased and even more so, when Molly asks if they can all spend the Christmas in Grimmauld Place. I feel a mix of annoyance and excitement as my brother agrees enthusiastically.
As my brother and Potter step into the pantry for a chat, I decide I need to sleep more than I need food, so I slip away from the kitchen and make my way into my room, where I fall into my bed, exhausted from the sleepless night.