Chapter 29
Albus was fuming.
He was currently sitting in a holding cell at the Ministry, having been arrested two hours prior. He had attempted to escape via his "loyal" phoenix, but Fawkes hadn't responded. Amelia had happily added "resisting arrest" to his charges (theft, attempted line theft, fraud, lying to Aurors, interfering with Auror investigations, blocking magic, blocking creatures, blocking mates/soulmates, putting compulsions on people, multiple uses of the Imperius, Obliviating without a license, and attempted murder) before Disarming him of his wand, luckily not the Elder wand, which was in his desk. He was then Silenced and taken to a holding cell. His lawyer, Gregory Doge, would be arriving soon.
"Fawkes," he growled for the fifth time since being arrested. "Fawkes!"
"He's not coming," Gregory's voice drawled, as he entered the cell. Gregory was several times more intelligent and cunning than his father, Elphias, who was Dumbledore's eldest friend. He had been one of Albus' personal lawyers since 1986. And one of the best.
"What do you mean?" Albus frowned, as the man took a seat.
"He brought the Ministry a list of yours about, oh, ten minutes ago," Gregory said coolly, pulling a folder out of his briefcase. Albus cursed. "I have to admit, Albus, it looks bad. You only have a few options."
"Which are?" Albus demanded.
"The first is to tell a semi-truth: plead guilty, that you did almost everything you were accused of, but you did it for the Greater Good," Gregory said calmly. "People are still terrified of You-Know-Who and believe him to be evil as well as Dark. If you tell them that the brat is You-Know-Who's son-"
"-the brat will lose all trust in me and I'll have to turn Longbottom into a savior," Albus snapped. "I'm still working on getting his complete faith back in me. And even if I did tell them he's Voldemort's b*stard-" he ignored Gregory's flinch "-I would most certainly get Kissed for line theft."
"The second option, then," Gregory sighed, "is an insanity plea."
"No."
"The third option is to deny everything," Gregory stated, "claim that Death Eaters and You-Know-Who are giving false information to sully your good name. The goblins are known Dark creatures and will want to help You-Know-Who. Do you want-"
"Yes," Albus said sharply. "The boy will trust me more if it seems as if I did nothing, and Death Eaters did everything. It would help if Voldemort-" again he ignored Gregory's wince "-were back by my trial."
"False or true You-Know-Who?" Gregory questioned, writing a few things down.
Albus smiled, eyes twinkling.
-------
1980
Carrie felt the wards on his house rupture and groaned. This was the seventh time in the last month! He knew it couldn't be Death Eaters, because he'd left the Order after that stupid photograph, but it surely couldn't be the Order. They were too nice.
Except the person who broke down the door was Albus Dumbledore, Alastor Moody, and Peter Pettigrew.
Everything went dark.
Caradoc Dearborn
Status: Coma
Location: Unknown
-------
January 1981
Mike, Penny, Edgar and Mildred were fighting furiously. Julian had cast a few protective charms over his sister and cousin. The adults had forbidden Julian to attack, so he stayed behind his parents, aunt, and uncle, shooting some of the spells his mother had taught him at the Death Eaters.
Although, he was confused. Uncle Mike was a Death Eater, so why were they being attacked?
A green light shot out of nowhere, and Julian jumped in front of his sister....
...
Amsel stumbled over the rubble in an effort to get to her brothers. Her senior partner yelled at her to stay back, but she was focusing on the unmoving bodies.
Then Susan stirred, and Amsel let out a sob of both relief and grief.
Elizabeth Bones
Status: Coma
Location: Unknown
-------
April 1981
Benjy had just finished work and was heading to Order headquarters. Dumbledore had given him a mission: follow Rupert Wilkes and report back to Dumbledore. Wilkes hadn't done anything except have dinner with his parents, though. He wasn't sure if Dumbledore needed to know that, but he was supposed to report every day.
Dumbledore met him outside of the Hog's Head. "Well, my boy?"
"All he did was have dinner with his parents," Benjy sighed. "He hasn't done anything Dark or evil since he left school. Maybe he's-"
"My boy," Dumbledore said calmly, a dangerous expression in his gaze. "He is a Death Eater. He is evil, and it is only a matter of time before he kills. Perhaps you aren't good enough for this job."
Benjy blinked. "What?"
"I'm sorry, my boy," Dumbledore sighed regretfully, pulling out his wand. "This is for the Greater Good."
"Move!"
Benjy was suddenly knocked to the side, just as he heard Dumbledore yell, "Avada Kedavra!"
He heard the crack of Apparition and found himself sucked through a familiar tube.
When he could see again, he found himself in Wilkes' arms. He yelped and fell over onto soft carpet.
"You really are bad at sneaking, Fen," Wilkes said dryly.
Benjy Fenwick
Status: Missing
Location: Unknown
-------
Frank Longbottom
Status: Imperiused
Location: St Mungos
Alice Longbottom
Status: Imperiused
Location: St Mungos
Fabian Prewett
Status: Coma
Location: Unknown
Gideon Prewett
Status: Coma
Location: Unknown