The Horcrux Heist
‘But it’s so unfair!’ Harry said, face close to the mirror, voice low, ‘Why could I come at Christmas but not at Easter? Can I not just come for a couple of days?’
‘I’m sorry Harry, 'Dumbledore said no -’ Sirius was leaning forwards, elbows on the old oak table at Grimmauld Place, ‘I really am, we both really want you here.’
They had asked, at Harry’s request, even though they’d known what the answer would be. Now that Voldemort was back, they couldn’t deny that Hogwarts was the safest place for him. Sirius had been in a foul mood about it all week, but aside from the safety aspect, they had other things to be getting on with. Once the Easter holidays had commenced, an owl had arrived from Narcissa with nothing but a date and a time inked in her looping hand. Remus glanced up at the clock - she would be arriving any minute. He nudged Sirius with his foot and tapped his watchless wrist.
‘I’m going to have to go, Harry, sorry,’ Sirius said, ‘I’ve got to do something for - sorry - I’ll call you tomorrow, OK?’
He closed the mirror and slipped it carefully back into its case, chewing anxiously at his lip.
‘Poor lad,’ Andromeda said, looking at them over the rim of her tea cup, ‘You’ll see him soon, Sirius. Don't dwell on it. Sometimes we've got to do what's best for them.’
Sirius nodded, getting up to refill the kettle and sitting down again with a shrug as Kreacher snatched it from him.
‘Yeah I know,’ he said quietly, drumming his fingers on the table, ‘Just rubbish,’ he glanced out of the window where thick clouds were gathering against the pale grey sky, ‘Shouldn’t they be here by now? Her letter said -’
He was interrupted by a knock on the front door, followed by a screeching from the hallway.
‘I’ll go,’ Andy said, getting up, ‘You shut your mother up.’
‘Don’t know what she's shouting about anyway,’ Sirius grumbled, ‘She should be pleased we're getting the family back together again.’
They were gone only moments before they returned to the kitchen, Narcissa and Draco in tow, the remnants of a disillusionment charm still sliding from his blond hair. Remus watched him as Narcissa set down her single sleek briefcase and pulled off her leather gloves, turning to murmur quietly to her sister and cousin. Draco looked slowly around the kitchen, taking in the large furniture, the house-elf that was clanking around at the stove, and finally his old Defense professor.
‘Hello, Draco,’ Remus said, trying for a friendly smile, ‘Come and sit down, Kreacher will get you a cup of tea.’
Draco stared at him for a moment, feet rooted to the spot. His eyes slid from Remus to the window behind him and Remus wondered if he was planning an escape.
‘Don’t be rude, please, Draco,’ Narcissa said, giving him a gentle push towards the table, ‘And take off your coat inside.’
He nodded, silently, his smart woollen coat slipping from his shoulders. He folded it neatly over one arm, but remained standing.
‘Come on now, don't be shy,’ Andromeda said, leaving her sister's side and threading her arm through her nephew's bent elbow, pulling him towards the table. ‘I can't tell you how thrilled I am to meet you at last,’ she added, smiling so warmly, Remus thought he might have seen Draco’s mouth twitch, although it could have been in surprise. ‘You two should get going,’ she said over her shoulder to where Narcissa still stood with Sirius, ‘We’ll be just fine here, I'll look after this one.’
‘I don't need looking after,’ Draco muttered.
‘Of course you don't,’ Andy agreed without hesitation, ‘You can look after me. How's that? Get a move on you two, sooner you go, sooner you'll be back.’
Narcissa nodded, curtly, coming over to kiss Draco quickly on the head. Sirius looked at Remus, communicating his goodbye with his eyes. The plan was simple, and they’d gone over it a hundred times, but he still had a sick feeling in his stomach. Don't be long, Remus tried to say in reply. Come back to me.
‘Back soon,’ Narcissa said, with a hand on Draco’s shoulder, ‘Be good for me, sweetheart.’ She ruffled his hair lightly, causing him to immediately reach up and smooth it back down, and then they were gone, the kitchen door shutting gently behind them. Draco didn’t move, hands back in his lap, eyes on the teacup Kreacher had set before him. Remus glanced at Andromeda, who was inspecting the boy carefully.
‘Well,’ she said after a few moments, ‘They say you look like your father, but I’d say you’re certainly one of us. Don’t you agree, Remus?’
Draco looked up at her then, the expression of cynicism on his face so like Sirius, he couldn’t disagree. The white-blond hair was certainly a Malfoy trait, but the grey eyes, high cheekbones, pointed chin - he was certainly his mother’s son. Draco eyed Andromeda for a moment, as if taking in her own features, but said nothing, and turned back to his tea. Remus wondered what Narcissa had told him, how she’d persuaded Lucius Malfoy’s son to come and sit quietly in Sirius Black’s kitchen with his Muggle-loving estranged aunt and his werewolf ex-professor.
‘Would you like anything to eat?’ Remus asked, ‘Kreacher made a cake -’
Draco shook his head without looking up and Remus looked at Andromeda again, who this time was looking back. She shrugged.
‘How’s school?’ Remus tried again, ‘Have you got a lot of homework to do over the holidays?’
‘What would be the point in doing homework?’ Draco said, his voice still quiet as he met Remus’ eyes for the first time, ‘If I’m not going back to school?’
‘Hmm,’ Remus said, so she had told him something, ‘I suppose you have a point there,’ he picked up his teacup and sipped.
‘Do you know where she’s taking me?’ Draco asked, suddenly bold, tone accusatory.
‘I don’t,’ Remus replied, ‘Truly. Somewhere that will be safe, I hope,’ he looked at Draco carefully - there was something there behind the defiance in his eyes -
Draco looked down again, threading and unthreading his fingers in his lap.
‘Can I use the bathroom?’
‘Er, yeah, sure. Up the stairs on your left.’
Draco stood quickly, rattling his teacup slightly as he climbed over the bench and headed for the kitchen door. He left it ajar, and Remus could hear the stairs creaking slightly as he climbed them.
‘Well,’ Andy sighed, ‘Pretty awkward so far.’
‘Yeah,’ Remus replied, ‘Do you know anything about Quidditch? I think he likes Quidditch.’
‘I know it involves broomsticks,’ Andy said, ‘Maybe he’ll be so inspired by the topic, we can just nod along,’ she paused, ‘Game of chess?’
‘You’d have to play him, I'm rubbish.’
‘Mmm, that's true.’
Remus was only momentarily affronted. She wasn’t wrong.
‘I wonder how long they’ll be,’ he glanced at the clock again, ‘What do you reckon?’
‘Honestly no idea,’ Andy said, shaking her head slightly, ‘Cissy reckoned she should be able to get in but there OK but could be all sorts of paperwork so -’
‘Mmm…’ he chewed at his lip,‘Think they’ll be alright?’
‘I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about,’ Andy said, eyebrows slightly raised, ‘Sirius isn’t even going in.’
She was right, of course. Sirius had accompanied Narcissa, but he certainly couldn’t be seen with her. Right now he was probably down a side street just outside the bank, heavily disguised, just in case -
‘Are you ever going to tell me what it is she’s getting for you?’
‘Probably,’ Remus said, ‘Hopefully. Afterwards. If it all goes to plan -’
Andromeda adjusted her jumper, picking absent-mindedly at a bit of fluff on her sleeve.
‘He’s been rather a long time,’ she said, glancing at the open door, ‘Do you think we should -’
‘Let’s give him a few more minutes,’ Remus replied, ‘He’s probably just sitting in there for a bit longer so he doesn’t have to come and sit out here with us.’
He turned and tapped the kettle with his wand, realising Kreacher must have retreated to the basement sometime after the awkward questions about homework and ran a hand nervously through his hair.
‘Harry’s got some Quidditch annuals in his room,’ he said, ‘I could go and get those.’
‘Does he definitely like Quidditch?’
‘Yeah, I think - yeah - he was on the team last year -’
‘Ok then,’ she shrugged, ‘Might be worth a try. I’ll finish the tea.’
Remus climbed the stairs to the first floor, and pushed open Harry's bedroom door. It was just as he had left it at Christmas, a jumper slung over the back of the desk chair, his old scuffed trainers at the end of the bed. Remus rubbed at his chest, trying to relieve the pang of sadness he felt at the fact Harry wasn't there now, feet up on the sofa, polishing his broom handle with a mouthful of Easter egg. He grabbed a couple of annuals from the bookshelf, picking up a Gobstones box for good measure and headed back into the hallway, noticing the open bathroom door as he turned towards the stairs.
Maybe Draco had gone down while he was in Harry’s room - somehow - very quietly? He hesitated at the top step - no, there was no way, Remus would've heard him -
He turned back the other way, ‘Draco?’ he called, pushing the bathroom door open further. It was definitely empty. The dullness of the day outside made the hallway dark, shadows looming. It reminded Remus why he usually avoided being here without Sirius. He turned a corner and saw a light was on at the end of the hall - the library door standing ajar.
Draco was sitting at Sirius’ desk, bent low over something, wand in his hand. Remus watched as he muttered something under his breath, his wand tip glowing gently, illuminating the yellowed parchment beneath it -
‘What are you doing?!’ Remus asked, struggling to keep the alarm out of his voice and Draco jumped violently in his seat, looking up with wide eyes.
‘Nothing!’ he said quickly, ‘Sorry - I was -’ his eyes darted nervously across the room, ‘Sorry - I just thought I could get a book or something -’
‘But you decided going through someone else's desk was more appealing?’ Remus said, stepping into the room, cursing himself for not locking the door. He had no idea what Sirius had left in the chaotic piles on his desk. He'd been obsessively going through everything they had found since they'd returned to the house, leaving ancient texts and books of dark magic lying around all over the place. Draco shrank backwards, pulling his hands into his lap as Remus reached for the book that lay open in front of him.
It was one of Regulus' exercise books, Hogwarts crest almost worn off the battered cover. Remus examined the open page carefully - it was potions notes - Hiccuping Solution it looked like, with Regulus' trademark scribbles down the margins. He flicked to the next page - Alihotsy Draught. Was he Draco just looking for practical jokes?
‘Who’s R. Black?’ Draco said, his voice almost a whisper, curiosity overcoming his fear.
Remus examined him carefully once more, ‘What were you doing with your wand?’
Draco looked down at his hand, as if surprised to find his wand there.
‘Oh,’ he said, ‘Um, nothing -’
‘I saw you - you cast a spell. Not something you should be doing during the holidays.’
Draco swallowed and glanced at the door again.
‘I can find out for myself if you'd prefer,’ Remus said, in his best teacher voice, ‘But it would be easier if you just told me.’
‘It was nothing,’ Draco said again, ‘It was just to translate the code -’
Remus looked down at the book again, flicking back through earlier pages. It wasn't one of the notebooks he'd paid particular attention to, dismissing it partly as a school book, but partly because they couldn't read half of it - Regulus' coded scribbles eluding any attempts to decipher them. That was no longer the case: where the strange symbols had been, running in all directions, squeezed between rows or neat script, was more tiny writing - now in English - and actually, he squinted harder at the page - maybe French and - was that Latin?
‘How?’ he said, a little louder than he had meant to. He cleared his throat and looked back at Draco, ‘How did you know how to do that?’
Draco shrugged, ‘Mum showed me. She used to write me secret notes when I was a kid. Looked like the same code so I tried the spell. Who's R. Black?’
Remus took a step back, utterly amazed. He leant gently against the side of the desk, and flicked over to the previous page. This one had been translated too. ‘Sirius’ brother,’ he said after a pause, ‘Regulus.’
‘So, Mum’s cousin?’
Remus nodded, still turning back through the pages. There was so much in here they hadn't been able to read before -
‘Draco,’ he said slowly, ‘Will the code stay this way? Or will it turn back?’
‘It’ll stay if you want it to. You can put a fix on the charm.’
‘Can you show me?’
*
‘Not quite, little bit lighter, like as if you're trying to scoop it up really gently,’
‘This?’
Yeah, kind of -’
‘Sirius will be better at it,’ Remus said, ‘He’s better at things like this -’
‘Things like what?’ a voice said behind them, and Remus turned to find Sirius in the doorway, Narcissa pushing past him to get into the room. She hugged Draco, hard, before holding him back from her and inspecting him from head to toe.
‘You’re alright?’
‘Of course he is, Cissy,’ Andromeda said, standing to hug her sister, ‘Been making himself very useful actually.’
They'd made their way through several of the coded books. The charm was surprisingly tricky to master, but that, Remus supposed, was probably the point. Draco had patiently shown him, again and again, until he had got it to work, but his success was still a little inconsistent.
‘What are you doing?’ Narcissa said, suspiciously, picking up one of the books and inspecting it. She turned the page, finding one they hadn't yet translated - ‘Oh,’ she said, surprise in her voice, ‘I see.’
‘What I want to know,’ Andy interrupted, ‘Is when you and Reggie made up a secret language none of the rest of us knew about?’
‘You what?’ It was Sirius' turn to grab the book. He flicked it back to the beginning, turning the pages quickly, ‘Oh my god -’
Narcissa shrugged, ‘What did you think we were doing while you two were off playing rebel? Sitting around crying for you to come home?’
Sirius tore his eyes from the book to look at her, the surprise clear on his face.
‘Oh come on, you can’t be serious -’ she added, rolling her eyes.
‘Show me the spell.’
Remus had been right in his assumption that Sirius would master it quickly. He had always been good at fine wand-work and in this case, his determination was unmatched. They had spent less than half an hour on it, Narcissa helping to demonstrate and then insisting it was time to go - to get to Andy’s and catch the portkey Dora would have ready for them to transport them to - well, Remus had been telling the truth when he said he didn’t know. They bid them farewell as they stepped into the fireplace, Remus shaking Draco’s hand briefly and wishing him good luck.
‘I hope we will see you again soon,’ he said, surprising himself slightly with how much he meant it. He turned from the green flames, still flickering in the fireplace and put his arms around Sirius, pushing his face into his hair.
‘You got it then?’
‘Yeah, she got it,’ Sirius replied. He squeezed Remus briefly, and turned to pull a leather-covered box from his bag. He flipped it open: there was no doubt it was the same one they had seen in Hokey’s memory, the badger on the front clearly visible even in the darkening kitchen.
‘They let her in, just like that?’
‘She didn’t really elaborate to be honest,’ Sirius replied, ‘But she’s the non-incarcerated next-of-kin and she was carrying the correct wand so,’ he paused, ‘I’m not entirely sure she didn’t help herself to quite a lot of gold too, but whatever, not like Bella’s using it is it?’
Remus huffed his breath through his nose, impressed by Narcissa’s gall.
‘She was pretty unphased,’ Sirius continued, ‘I’d sort of forgotten, what she can be like, when she puts her mind to something,’ he smiled, ‘She was funny though - kept bitching about how Lucius had been given a crappy old diary to look after when Bella had got a Founder’s relic. I think she was actually a bit annoyed.’
‘Mm -’ Remus said, picking up another of Regulus’ exercise books and flicking his wand, watching as the symbols transformed into words. ‘You really had no idea about this code?’
Sirius shook his head, ‘Must’ve been after I started Hogwarts - you remember what he was like then -’ he bit his lip, hands moving gently across the ink splattered cover of Advanced Potion Making.
Remus nodded, turning over a couple of pages and flicking his wand again.
‘It makes sense, really,’ Sirius continued, ‘I’d always gone off with Andy, while she was still around anyway, and Bella was always -’ he hesitated, ‘Pretty terrifying. I’d forgotten that Cissy and Reg were friends.’
He looked utterly forlorn for a minute, and so very tired.
‘What do you want to do about the cup?’ Remus asked, ‘Wait til morning?’
‘No,’ Sirius said, shaking his head slightly, ‘No, it’s already making me feel like shit, let’s take it straight to Dumbledore.’
*
‘I’m impressed,’ Dumbledore said, as he looked down at the cup, nestled in its silken wrappings. He flipped the box closed, setting it carefully down on his desk. ‘Narcissa and Draco?’
‘Gone,’ said Sirius, ‘Safe.’
‘Very good,’ Dumbledore nodded, resting his chin gently on his hands.
‘So, are we going to stab it with the sword?’ Sirius asked, looking pointedly at the leather box.
‘I don’t think that would be wise,’ Dumbledore replied, ‘I am concerned that now Voldemort has regained a physical form, he may be able to sense it if we do so. Until now, he was existing as an incorporeal being and I believe that is what has allowed us to destroy the previous Horcruxes without detection,’ he paused, ‘It would be unwise to alert him to our plot before Harry is ready.’
Remus could see Sirius’ knuckles whitening as he gripped the arm of his chair.
‘I will look after it,’ Dumbledore said, ‘While we try to confirm the location of the final Horcrux, and of Voldemort himself. You tell me you may have some further research to do?’
‘We might do,’ Remus replied, reaching over, and placing his hand on top of Sirius’, ‘We’ve found some more material, not sure if it is of any interest yet.’
‘Very well,’ Dumbledore said, ‘Leave this with me. Let me know what you find.’
They were half way back down the drive before Sirius spoke again. The earlier clouds had darkened, threatening rain and a strong wind had picked up, branches creaking over their heads.
‘I can’t -’ he said, his voice cracking as he forced the words out. Remus could barely hear them, but the look on his face was enough to communicate how he was feeling.
‘I know,’ Remus said, squeezing the hand that he still held and glancing up at the vague glow of what he knew was the waxing gibbous moon, only just visible through the clouds, ‘I know. Come on. One more to go. Let’s get home.’