Prison Break
I rode a broom, followed by two other Death Eaters, carefully navigating the airstreams around Azkaban, rain pelting my face as I soared above the rolling waves. On my signal, the other two pulled back, and I aimed my wand at the wall of the upper section, where the maximum security prisoners were, as one of others pressed his finger to the Mark, signaling that the escape attempt was under way. It burned my arm, and I cast a powerful Destruction spell, caving away most of the wall, and releasing the incarcerated Death Eaters. Each of the three of us was to take one of the weaker ones with us, and my designated passenger was the maniac Bellatrix Lestrange. I swooped down, she hopped onto the back, black and white striped prisoner uniform blending with the drab walls and her hair. She wrapped her arms around my chest, and I kicked off, zooming quickly through the dementors, who had agreed not to attack us after Lord Voldemort had offered them more joy and souls to eat than ever before. They were just making it look like they were defending the prison, while also covering our escape. The three of us zoomed off, heading for the mainland, all to different designated points to help the Death Eaters recoup before they met up with Voldemort. My location was the Shrieking Shack, so I could easily return to Hogwarts once she had recovered. I hung low, zooming over towns and fields, ducking between trees while Bellatrix cackled maniacally behind me. I wondered if the people below would see us, and spread rumours about a cackling woman on a flying broom, reinforcing the theory of cackling witches on broomsticks that flew through the night. I chuckled lowly, and slowed as we approached the Shack. I landed, and helped her in, ducking under her arm and supporting her until I gently set her in a chair. I pulled the mask off, and threw the hood back before pulling a loaf of bread from a bag I had carried with me. She took it eagerly, and I spoke.
"I'll be back. I'm going to get some warm food and drink for you. Any preferences?" She shrugged, and spoke, rasping and thoroughly terrifying me.
"Brandy, and raw meat." I nodded, and ducked through the tunnel, tapping the knot with my wand when I exited, freezing the tree until I tapped it once more. I hurried to the painting of fruit, tickled the pear, and entered the kitchens, house elves immediately retrieving a bottle of brandy and a steaming hot platter of raw beef, warming it but not cooking it. The best part about the house elves here is they didn't question what I asked them for, at all. Once I had asked for a bottle of Firewhiskey, and they had handed it to me happily. I thanked them, and dashed from the kitchens, moving quickly and silently through the halls. I reached the tree, ducked in, and hurriedly crawled through the tunnel, arriving before the beef stopped steaming. I handed her the food, as she had already eaten the bread, and she dug in.
"Thank you." I bowed slightly, and she drank half of the brandy in one drink before speaking.
"So, who are you? You seem new to our order." I sat down in a different chair, and nodded.
"Dugan Kehoe. I joined after the Triwizard Cup." She nodded, and resumed eating and drinking, shivering ever so slightly in the cold. When she finished, she asked for a place to sleep, which I obliged by summoning a large bed in an empty room. She crawled under the sheets, and dropped off instantly, leaving me to watch over her. I sat in a chair, put my wand in my lap, and waited.
-
Around a day or two later, she awoke, and yawned, showing black and rotting teeth. I kept down my bile, and stood.
"Are you ready to travel to the Dark Lord now?" She cackled, and nodded.
"At long last, I return to my master. Can you help me with the Apparation?" I nodded, and stood, put my mask back on before grasping her arm and Apparating to the desired location, the Malfoy Manor basement. He was there, as were almost all of the other Death Eaters, and I realised we were the last to arrive. I bowed, as did Bellatrix, before taking my place in the circle. She and Voldemort exchanged a few words too quiet for me to hear, and she stood at his right side. He began speaking, in his high, cold voice I had come to know and fear, detailing his plans for the immediate future. We listened along, me paying special attention, planning on repeating it word for word to Dumbledore. As he finished, the Death Eaters Disapparated one by one, leaving him, Bellatrix, and I alone.
"Kehoe, step forward." I gulped, and walked in front of him before bowing.
"I entrusted the task of breaking out our captured brothers and sisters to you, as well as taking care of my closest lieutenant. You performed amicably, and I am a man of my word; you shall be rewarded. But not yet, as I am finalising a few details on the reward itself. Know that you have achieved my favour, which few men have ever done. You may go." I bowed, and spoke.
"Thank you, my Lord." Before Apparating back to the Shack, and crawling through the tunnel, tapping the knot before dashing past the swinging limbs and straight to Dumbledore's office, forgetting I was still in my Death Eater attire. I spoke the password, and burst into the office, scaring the daylights out of the paintings.
"Dumbledore-" I spoke between gasps, and, when I looked up, I saw that his wand was pointed at me. I remembered what I was wearing, and dispersed the mask. He lowered his wand.
"Yes, Dugan?" I put a hand to my chest.
"The break was successful. Of the ones we rescued, one is the Lestrange woman, and the Dark Lord is crafting machinations for the future as we speak. He plans to use the Potter boy, through their connection. I'd watch out, as the connection might bleed through in subtle emotional changes." I dropped to the floor, chest heaving, and he dashed over.
"Harry has just been attacked by dementors in Little Winging. He is about to be moved to Grimmauld Place. Go there, and help retrieve him. I need to think." I nodded, and held my wand to my temple, drawing out the memory of the meeting to put in a small glass jar so Dumbledore could look at it. He nodded, and thanked me. I stood, before running to my dorm, changing into a short-sleeve shirt, not caring about the Dark Mark, and a pair of trousers before stuffing my wand into them and scribbling a short note to Luna saying that I'd have to stop talking for a little, seeing as Potter was in danger. I sent my love, and used my parent's owl before sprinting to the edge of the school's boundaries, Disapparating and arriving at Grimmauld Place. I stepped in quickly, shutting the door behind me, and was met by Ginny.
"Dugan! You're here, Harry's-" at this point, she saw the Mark, and let out a screech that echoed through the building before drawing her wand and backing up. I raised my hands, having forgot that only a few of the adults in the reinstated Order of the Phoenix knew of my new tattoo, and spoke calmly.
"Ginny, lower the wand. It's alright." She shook her head, and, with a thundering clatter, the entire Order was in the short hallway, wands drawn. Molly Weasley emulated her daughter, Hermione shrieked, and Sirius barely had time to control the painting of his mother. Moody clomped forward, wand aimed at my head, and I suddenly realised that none of the Order members who knew about this were present, the only two being Snape and Dumbledore. I cursed inwardly, as Mad-Eye spoke.
"What in the bloody hell is that?" From behind me, I heard the oily voice of my saviour, Snape.
"A part of Professor Dumbledore's plan." Moody froze, and growled.
"How can we be sure?" And then, to my relief, Dumbledore spoke from behind Snape.
"Because I say so." Moody relaxed, and turned,
"Alright, everyone. Order meeting in the kitchen. Teenagers upstairs." I headed to the kitchen, followed by the rest of the adults and stubborn teenagers. We entered the low-set kitchen, and took seats at the bench as Molly shooed the teenagers from the room, among a host of complaints. When they were gone, she shut the door, and turned. Dumbledore spoke.
"I was planning on breaking the news gently, but I see now that there is no alternative. Dugan was recruited by Lord Voldemort" at this, the room flinched save Snape and I. "at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and we used this as an opportunity to have another spy among the Death Eaters. Obviously, he was branded, and has been spending most of the summer working with the Death Eaters, learning all the information he could. It is incredibly dangerous, and he was brave enough to agree to this plan during his second year at Hogwarts." At this, Molly exploded.
"Second year? You had him worrying about You-Know-Who recruiting him when he was twelve years old?!" She was cut off by my quiet voice.
"Molly, I knew the risks. It was only after I defeated Dumbledore in the duel that he devised the plan. I wanted to help any way I could, even if it meant joining the Death Eaters and serving the Dark Lord. I protected Potter from the middle of my first year, even going as far as wrestling a werewolf so he could save the hippogriff and Sirius! No offence, Remus." He inclined his head, and I continued.
"In the second year, I destroyed the diary, and ultimately had a basilisk lay on me while he went for help. In the first year, I duelled a much older and more experienced wizard so he could stop the Dark Lord in the first place! In the fourth year, the only reason I entered the Tournament was to protect him! Have I not provided information enough already on the Dark Lord's movements and plans?" She huffed, and sat down as Dumbledore continued with a sharp look at me.
"Thank you, Dugan." I sat, and he spoke once more.
"All things considered, it may not appear to be the best plan by having two Death Eaters in the Order, but I trust both of them with my life." I excused myself at that point, heading up to the rooms, after sharing my part in the Azkaban break out.
"I was the one who broke the Death Eaters out from the prison, and I provided the information to Dumbledore as to who escaped." Out of nowhere, a low voice spoke. I looked at Kinsgley Shacklebolt, who said this:
"You did? Three Death Eaters were spotted carrying three escapees from the hole in the building on brooms. Were you one of them?" When I nodded, he continued.
"Whom did you carry?" I sighed.
"Bellatrix Lestrange." Instant uproar. Fed up, I drew my wand, and cast a powerful Silencing Charm over everyone before speaking.
"The only reason I did was to get into the Dark Lord's favour, and not be killed, ruining our plan and exposing my treachery! He trusts me almost as much as he does Lestrange anyway now, which means more information for us! Now, I haven't slept for four days, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go upstairs and sleep. Thank you." I left, dissipating the Silencing Charm as I did. I stomped up the stairs, noticing a set of Extendable Ears hanging in the landing. I passed the door to the empty room, instead choosing to enter the one filled with teenagers, who were all listening to the ears. When they saw me, they watched quietly, except for Hermione. She stood, walked over to me, and slapped me so hard I saw stars. I crashed into the wall, falling to the floor as I cradled my face.
"Ahh! What was that for?" She kicked my side a few times, before stepping back.
"You knew all along someone was going to attack Harry at the Tournament, and you didn't say a thing! And for becoming a Death Eater, and helping break out some of the worst wizards the world has ever seen! I wonder what Luna would think." I shrugged, pulling myself into a sitting position, holding my side.
"She already knows. I told her directly after the Tournament." Hermione loosed a cry of rage, and moved forward to hit me again, but was held back by Fred and George. I stood, swaying on the spot, and she huffed, hair messed up and her face red, while the others just watched fearfully.
"Let me go. I'm okay. I'm fine." They let her go, and I spoke.
"I deserved everything you did. I should have told you, but Dumbledore forbid me to." She sighed, exasperated and stood there for a moment, before speaking.
"Can I see it? The Mark, I mean." I approached warily, noting that the others viewed me like some dangerous animal they had happened upon while walking through the Forbidden Forest. I held out my forearm, and she gazed at it, watching the snake writhing around the skull.
"Does it hurt?" I nodded before talking quietly.
"All the time." She sat down, and the others cautiously looked at me. I raised my hands, a little aggravated at how they were treating me.
"Look, guys, I know how it seems, but you don't have to treat me like I'll explode or something. I'm still Dugan." Ron shook his head.
"It's not that, mate. We never knew what happened in the Chamber, or about you wrestling Lupin just to protect Harry." Out of nowhere, Ginny rose, and wrapped me in a hug. She whispered to me, quiet enough that no one else could hear.
"Thank you." Before releasing me. I smiled weakly. Fred spoke.
"Is it true you haven't slept for four days?" I nodded, and he chuckled.
"Go get some sleep. I'm sure they'll wake you when they go to get Harry." I shrugged, and walked from the full room to the empty one, sending a Patronus to the people downstairs to wake me when it was time to retrieve Harry. I found a bed, and collapsed into it, sleep hitting me instantly.
~
I was shaken awake by Tonks, who regarded me cagily.
"We're going." I nodded, and stood, still dressed in the same clothes as before. We exited Grimmauld Place, and Apparated to the edge of the Dursley house. The others had brooms, which, when I assured them I did not need one, they watched me even more suspiciously. We entered carefully, and quietly waited for a moment. The assembled people were as follows: Mad-Eye; Lupin; a woman named Nymphadora Tonks, a fellow Metamorphmagus (though only class three); Kinsgley Shacklebolt; a silver-haired wizard by the name of Elphias Doge; Dedalus Diggle, a very excitable wizard; Emmeline Vance, who wore a bright green shawl; a man with straw-coloured hair named Sturgis Podmore; and Hestia Jones, a black haired witch with pink cheeks. As we waited, I noticed they were all staring at me.
"Oh, for the love of..." I shouldered past them, but was stopped by Moody.
"Wait. How are you going to fly?" I sighed, and spoke.
"You learn a few things about Dark Magic in my line of work, Mad-Eye. I suspect Snape could do it too. You know how the Death Eaters can fly by turning into a trail of smoke? I do that after casting a Vanishing spell, not one of your Disillusionment Charms, either, and I'm so well hidden even I can't see myself. Are we good?" He growled, and got out of my way. I mounted the stairs, and knocked carefully on Harry's door.
"Harry?" When I heard the reply, I tried the door.
"It's locked." I sighed, and pulled out my wand.
"Alohomora." The door opened with a click, revealing Harry, his wand pointed at me.
"Is it you, Dugan?" I nodded, wand pointed at him, and spoke.
"How did I get the three scars on my face?" He answered immediately.
"In the first year, that man in the third floor corridor cut you." I lowered my wand, relieved, and called back to the others.
"It's him." Mad-Eye nodded, and I moved down the stairs, letting the others take care for him while I eagerly poked around the house, watched closely by Hestia. I peered at the sparkling clean kitchen, the living room, and pictures on the walls before sighing.
"Hestia, why are you following me?" She spoke quietly.
"To be sure that we don't have to restrain you. Just being safe, considering we just found out you're a Death Eater." I groaned, and shook my head.
"Look, I was there with Harry in the cemetery. If I wasn't on our side, I could have killed him easily. The fact that I didn't proves my innocence." She sighed, and spoke.
"So, you've seen You-Know-Who, right?" When I nodded, she continued.
"What's he like?" I sighed, and grabbed a lemon drop from a bowl of sweets on a coffee table.
"He's tall, pale white skin, completely bald, no nose, and red snake eyes." Hestia sighed.
"I know that, I meant like what is he like." I grasped her meaning, and shrugged.
"The Dark Lord is completely insane, but also incredibly smart. Once he tortured a Death Eater nearly to death because he suggested to him that he change his robes because he had worn them for a week straight." Hestia looked shocked, and we were called back into the kitchen as Moody explained the plan to Harry, and Disillusioned him. The others exited, and mounted their brooms while I Vanished myself and turned to smoke. It was a novelty effect, a strange tingling all over your body, and the sense that you were transparent and didn't exist, but still could see. I followed the others from a distance, scouting out any potential threats, as we moved through London towards Grimmauld Place. The others watched warily from their brooms, and, after a few tense minutes of flying, we arrived. Once Harry had read the paper, we entered, me ending the Vanishing Spell. Molly greeted us, and told of an Order meeting taking place.
"Can you catch me up later, Molly? I'm going to stay with Harry." She nodded, and I led him up the stairs to the room. I let him into the room Ron and Hermione were in, before letting them be by themselves. I heard them talking quietly for a moment, then Harry exploded.
"SO YOU HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, BIG DEAL! YOU’VE STILL BEEN HERE, HAVEN’T YOU? YOU’VE STILL BEEN TOGETHER! ME, I’VE BEEN STUCK AT THE DURSLEYS’ FOR A MONTH! AND I’VE HANDLED MORE THAN YOU TWO’VE EVER MANAGED AND DUMBLEDORE KNOWS IT — WHO SAVED THE SORCERER’S STONE? WHO GOT RID OF RIDDLE? WHO SAVED BOTH YOUR SKINS FROM THE DEMENTORS?" I burst into the room, wand drawn, and saw him yelling at them. I tried to gain his attention, but he continued ranting at them. I grabbed his shoulder, and bellowed loudly into his ear.
"SHUT UP, POTTER!" He turned, face livid, and I saw a brief flicker of red before the eyes turned back to their normal green. Without thinking, he threw a punch, slamming his fist into my nose, cracking it, and sending blood spurting out. I fell back, tripped over a bedpost, and smashed my head against the ground. Black stars danced across my vision, and I laid there while Harry watched, mortified.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." I stood shakily, blood still dripping.
"Episkey. It's fine, I've been dealt much worse." The nose cracked back into place, and I vanished the blood.
"That was an impressive tirade, I must say." He smiled a little, and I sniffed a few times as Ginny and the twins entered (well, the twins Apparated in, while Ginny used the doorway).
“Stop doing that!” Hermione said weakly to the twins, who were as vividly red-haired as Ron, though stockier and slightly shorter.
“Hello, Harry,” said George, beaming at him.
“We thought we heard your dulcet tones.”
“You don’t want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry, let it all out,” said Fred, also beaming.
“There might be a couple of people fifty miles away who didn’t hear you.”
“You two passed your Apparation tests, then?” asked Harry grumpily.
“With distinction,” said Fred, who was holding what looked like a piece of very long, flesh-coloured string, which I knew to be part of a pair of Extendable Ears. I quietly exited before traveling downstairs to the kitchens and entering, revealing a small group of people talking animatedly.
"Hello, all. Sorry I'm late." They sighed collectively, and resumed talking. I glanced at the table, noting the blueprints, and realised that they were talking about guard duty once more. I groaned, and turned, stomping out of the kitchen as I had no use there. I entered the empty room, keen on getting a nap before tomorrow, and the days ahead.