Sirius entered Grimmuald Place the same time Alastor came through the Floo. They both looked at each other across the kitchen and sighed.
"Fudge and Umbridge," Sirius said, sitting at the table and grabbing a teacup that just appeared. "Thanks, Dinky," he called out. There was a 'Welcome, Master,' then a snap and they were alone again.
"Albus and Snape," Moody grunted as he too sat, but he pulled his flask, and took a deep draw from it.
"Do you think yours went better than mine?" Black asked, pouring himself some tea.
"Nope, I'm sure it was about the same," the other man grumbled.
"Damn," the younger man cursed. "So, neither one of us got what we wanted," he guessed. He knew that the two he threatened today would ignore him until he did what he said he would. They were politicians after all, he was sure they got threatened on a daily basis. Still, he was a Black, so that might make a difference.
"You're probably right, I know at least Albus will ignore half of what I said. Not sure about Snape though," the older man said, rubbing his chin.
"Did you tell him we were hunting the horcruxes? Albus, I mean," Sirius asked, sipping his still hot tea.
"Aye, I did. Though I didn't say what or where," Alastor said, slumping down in his chair a bit. Arguing with Albus always took a lot out of him. That and he wasn't getting any younger.
"Just to recap," Sirius said, putting his empty cup on the table, and watching it refill while he talked, "we have a ring, a necklace, Harry, the diary is gone, and the goblins are taking care of whatever is in the bank. That's five, we know that there are three more, including Riddle, and one's at Hogwarts. Do you think we should inform Albus?"
"Nah, if I thought that, I'd have told him while I was there. I did some looking around, but without Bill's spell, I couldn't find anything. That and I didn't want to stay too long, the old man would have gotten suspicious," Alastor said, giving and irritated huff.
"Probably for the best. I didn't tell Umbridge to stay away from Hogwarts. Just to leave me and mine alone. I'm pretty sure that she's going to ignore that, like I said, just to try and push me. With Tonks taking Harry's place, I'm hoping she'll do something stupid and wind up in my old cell," Sirius confessed with a malicious grin.
"Like you said, probably for the best. I'll have to grill Tonks on a few things," Moody said, rubbing his stubbly chin. "We're going to have her watch Snape too, right? Are we looking for blackmail, or expulsion?"
"Me, I'd like to never see that bastard again, preferably laying in a ditch somewhere, but that's a pipe dream, so let's go with expulsion," Sirius said, thinking hard on what Tonks could use to get this done. She had the man for Potions years ago, so what could she use now, that she couldn't use then.
"Why are you so hung up on Snape. I thought it was you that did him wrong all those years agon," Moody said, his brow furrowed.
"Oh, I did, I'll never deny that I sent him to face a werewolf. But, let me ask you this; if I told you that if you wanted to see a werewolf, and where they were hidden, would you be stupid enough to go there? I surely thought old Snivellus was smarter than to try and face Moony on the night of the full moon. Yet, even though he was stupid enough to do that, I was accused of attempted murder. I'd bet it is one of the reasons everyone believed I betrayed James and Lily. So, no, I have no sympathy for that man," Sirius said, his voice filled with anger and hate.
"Aye, but you got a slap on the hand, if I heard correctly," was the rebuttal.
"It was still put on my school record as a prank gone bad. That and Albus doesn't let a moment go by that he doesn't remind me that I could have gone to Azkaban earlier, had he not intervened," the other man said, a snarl on his face.
"Yes, Albus is prone to do that," agreed Alastor.
"Anyway, I'll have Tonks ask Amelia what to look for with Snape. Do you think she can handle all of this?" Sirius asked, getting away from the sore subject.
"Yeah, I trained her myself. Besides, I'm going to rely on the twins to get the horcrux. According to them, and the other kids, they know the castle better than anyone," the old Auror stated, his eyes gleaming with… something. "I'll tell her to keep watch on the teachers. Snape especially."
"Did you let McGonagall know about Tonks?" he asked, he didn't want to talk about Snape anymore. He really did hate that guy, and not just because of childhood rivalries, but the man's treatment of his new baby brother, along with all the other people he knew that had that man as a professor. If you could even call him that.
"Yeah, she didn't like it at first, until I told her some things about what the Order is and is not doing. She got in a right strop, and decided to help us out," Alastor said, taking another swig of his hipflask. He'd let it go. There was no need for him to get involved with those two men.
"How much did you tell her?"
"Only that Tonks was going to be posing as Harry, and that she was going to keep an eye on the new DADA professor," was the casual answer.
"No, I mean about the Order," Sirius clarified.
"I know what you meant; I just chose not to answer you. There're some things that I know that would make you more mad at Albus than you are already. You would put the whole operation in danger if you go storming off to mete out punishment," the older man practically snarled.
"Fine, I get that, but when this is all over, I want to know," the dogman grumbled.
"We'll see," was the noncommittal answer.
Just then the kids and Tonks came home, making a lot of noise.
"How was the movie?" Sirius asked, letting them all sit down.
"That was the wickedest thing I've ever seen," George said, Fred nodding along as they dazedly came into the room and just sat down stunned.
"How did they do that?" Ron asked, his eyes still wide with awe at what he had seen. He had been asking since they left. Hermione had tried to explain it, but they were surrounded by people, so she told him that she'd tell him later.
"Please, don't answer that, Hermione," Harry begged, knowing it would be a long discussion.
"I won't, not yet anyway," she agreed. She would take the Weasleys aside later and tell them what she knew about movie making.
They all settled down and the kids told Sirius about their afternoon. The Weasleys waxed poetic on the movie they saw. Which was The Mask. They went on and on about how it must be magic and would not be told otherwise. To them there was no other explanation. Harry was kinda regretting that they didn't watch The Lion King. But then again, they might think that was made with magic too.
He was glad they had gone to eat first. The magical raised, especially Ron, loved the pizza and fizzy drinks. So, they at least got to enjoy that, before their minds melted. Still, it was kinda funny, their reactions. He couldn't wait for them to see Star Wars, or any of that story line. Right now, he just smiled and sat back and watch Hermione explain once more that the movie they saw was not made with magic.
Tonks and Sirius were getting kicks out of their reactions. Sirius wasn't helping any by constantly stating that it was 'movie magic'. Hermione did level him her best glare, not that it stopped the man, but it did make Harry and Tonks laugh.
It was a good day.
Hphphp
While Moody and Padfoot were having their tête-à-tête, Snape was harrowing Dumbledore. He had been dying to ask this question for a while but had had little chance to catch the old man alone. So, he was going to take advantage of the fact that they were here now.
"Why didn't you tell me about the horcruxes?" Severus asked, his voice smooth as silk, hiding his anger at being denied like everyone else. "I have been loyal to you and your cause for years. Did you think that I would jump and do the same? Do you really think so little of me? You know that I want the Dark Lord gone as much, even more so, than you do," the greasy-haired man ended up snarling at his mentor.
"Now, Severus, you know I hold you in the deep confidence. I merely was not putting temptation in your path," the Headmaster cajoled, moving his hands in a calming gesture.
"How could something I already know about be tempting? If you had merely asked me, I could have helped you hunt them down years ago. When did you find out?" Snape snarled, getting up and pacing in front of the old man's desk.
"I had my suspicions for years, but they were only confirmed during Harry's second year," Albus sighed, rubbing his fingers down his nose, hoping to prevent a headache from forming. He hated taking headache relievers.
"That long?" the other man almost bellowed at him. "Why? Why did you not inform those in your trust? Dammit, Albus, this must stop. No one is going to trust you if you keep vital information from them. We are putting our lives on the line for you, count!" he said, slamming his hands down on the desk, making parchment, ink wells, and quills fly everywhere.
"It was not my intention to cause discontent. I was merely trying to prevent this news from leaking to outside sources. If Tom knows that I know, he might take drastic measure to hide the ones that he has," the Headmaster stated, now rubbing his temples. Yes, that headache did appear.
"That is a load of hippogriff dung," the Potions Master snapped. "The Dark Lord was not capable of doing anything until last year. This could have been over before it started," he said, taking a deep breath and trying to get his emotions under control. "There are spells that tell where these vial things are hidden, and nothing the Dark Lord can do will stop that. It is soul magic," he snarled, the look of loathing on his face.
"Do you know this spell?" the Headmaster inquired, intrigued that there was such a thing. He had no knowledge on this. His eyes squinted a little from the pain in his head. He really wish people would stop yelling at him.
"I do not, however, I do know who does," Severus said, pinching his nose in frustration. "I would have asked them immediately had I known."
"Will you ask this person now?"
"Oh, I would, but you drove him away with your need to keep secrets," Snape said, sneering at the old man with a great deal of disgust.
"All I can do is apologize," Albus said, giving up and retrieving a headache potion from his desk.
"Fat lot of good that does. What else are you not telling me?" the younger man asked, straightening his non-creased, robes.
Albus sighed again. He took the potion, closed his eyes and waited for the pain to subside. He then glanced at the young man that he trusted, mostly. "Harry Potter is a horcrux," he stated heavily.
"Merlin damn it, Albus," Snape said, losing control over his emotions again. Occlumency be damned. "What have you done about it? Because as far as I can see, you have done nothing," he added, fixing the other man with an almost hateful glare.
"There is nothing for me to do. The prophecy says that only Tom can vanquish Harry, or visa versa. The two of them must battle in the end," the old man explained, meeting Severus' eyes and not flinching once.
"You are a fool," was all Snape said as he twirled around, robes flaring, and left, magically slamming the door behind him. He stormed through the castle, heading straight to McGonagall. If anyone could get ahold of the mutt, she could. He hoped.
The portraits gossiped as he passed, spreading the word that the Potions Master was in a snit. They ran from frame to frame, giving out warning to anyone in the halls. Soon enough, Severus was outside Minerva's door. He knocked briskly twice and entered.
"Severus, what can I do for you?" she asked, primly, not getting up from her desk where she was doing her never-ending paperwork.
"Can you get ahold of Black?" the dour man asked, settling in a chair, watching her scribble away.
"I can," was all she said, though she did look up.
"There's something he needs to know. It's about Potter," he stated, pinching his nose, for it was now he that was fighting off a headache. Unlike Albus though, he reached into his robes and took the potion for it right away.
"Let me see if I can call him," she offered, setting down her quill and moving to the Floo. She threw the powder in, but Snape couldn't hear the address. The only reason she knew it was because Sirius had given the address to Moody, who gave it to her. With permission, of course.
She talked to whoever answered for a few moments, removed her head from the fire and stepped back. Just a moment later, Moody stepped through. After the talk he just had with Sirius there was no way he was going to let these two men meet anytime soon.
"What do you need, Snape?" the grumpy man asked, sitting in a chair on wall. One set aside for those serving detention.
"Where is Black?" was the reply.
"You don't want to be in the same room with him right now," was all the old Auror said, stretching out his bad leg.
"Fine, Minerva, could we borrow your office for a few moments?" Snape asked, his eyes never leaving the other man.
"If I must," she sniffed, and left.
"Potter is a horcrux," Severus said bluntly, because even if he were a nice man, there is no good way to say that.
"We know, it's gone. Albus tell you?" Moody said, drinking from his hipflask.
"Yes, how did you remove it? For the sake of curiosity," the younger man asked, leaning forward as if to catch the words sooner.
"I don't know really. All I know is that it's gone," Moody said, shrugging his shoulder. "You can tell Albus if you want. We're down two, but don't tell him that," he said, giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. Not that there was much the spy could do with that. "Well, three if you count Riddle," he added with a shrug.
"You know where they are?" Snape had to confirm. He knew that this man, and William Weasley could do the spell he mentioned to Albus. Oh, he knew a few others, but they were the type that could tell the wrong person, the Dark Lord, and he would be dead.
"Yep, should have them all before long. We'll leave the one around Riddle till last," Moody said, giving him enough to hang himself if he turned spy. He didn't think the man would. He knew that Riddle had killed the love of his life, so… They might have use for him after all. He'd talk it over with the others. "Do us a favor, Snape, leave the boy and his alone. They are working on this for us."
"Do you require my help?" was the actually honest question.
"Best not, if you're to be around Riddle, then best keep you nose as clean as it can get," Moody replied. "Though, it would be best if you kept this entire conversation, bar that bit about Harry, to yourself."
"Fear not, I am not going to tell anyone, not even Albus, what you have just told me. I would caution that Potter keep up on his Occlumency. His defenses are solid, but if he relaxes them, he is an open book," the greasy-haired man said, standing up and leaving the room.
"Right," Moody grumbled to himself and Minerva came back in.
"Did you learn what he wanted?" she asked, settling down at her desk and picking up her quill.
"Yeah," he sighed, lumbering out of the chair. "I'd best get back. Black is going to want to hear this." With that he Flooed to Sirius' house.
"What did Snivellus want?" Sirius asked, not really caring but curious.
"Albus told him about Harry," was the vague answer.
"What about me?" the boy in question asked as he friends all turned to the ex-Auror.
"Never you mind that now. I'm sure if you think really hard you can answer that question yourself," Alastor said, giving him a pointed look.
Harry blushed and it did only take him a second to figure it out. Now, he had the gazes of everyone seventeen and under. He just smirked and shrugged. They all sighed in frustration and went back to talking about which movie they wanted to see next.
"Did you tell him?" Sirius asked, keeping is vague.
"Aye, I did. He deserved it, since he tried to warn us. We might want to put whatever nefarious things you've got percolating in your head on the backburner," Moody suggested, ending the topic.
"Right, fine, I'll leave the greasy git alone," the other man conceded.
Bill came in the house right then, nodded and winked to the older men and winked at Tonks. So enough, everyone else was piling in the kitchen and they all discussed their day. Most of the adults were smiling at the Weasleys, they did enjoy it the first time an all magical family got exposed to the cinema. It was always a treat how they reacted.
"There's a meeting after dessert," Sirius announced, watching Andi, Tonks and Harry argue with the house elves about cooking dinner.
"Okay," was the reply of many adults.
"Harry, you don't need to be there," the dogman said, getting the boy's attention. "You already know what it's about," he finished, nodding towards him to see if he understood.
He broke away from his argument and nodded back.
The rest of the night, before the meeting was just one joyous family get together.