Two more at Grimmuald Place
The plan was set in motion the next morning. Dumbledore had called Dobby and filled him in on the plan, the houself was more than happy to cooperate, even if that meant going back to the manor. What surprised most of them was that he held no ill will to the Malfoy heir and seemed like he almost pitied the teen. Dobby was going to take the Potters from the manor to a safe house, from there they were to take a port-key to Grimmauld Place.
Dumbledore had let Severus know that they were ready for that night and Dobby was in on the plan and awaiting Draco’s call. The port key was set up and stationed at the safe house where Bill and Fleur were staying. They were going to meet them there, check identities and port-key back. Everything was planned and set.
Harry doesn’t know when he fell asleep but he was awoken by someone dragging him. He startled awake as he was being moved from the cell, he became overtly aware that his parents were yelling at whoever was holding him to let go. He looked up and saw another death eater he didn’t really recognize, he thought it might’ve been a Carrow but he wasn’t sure, hard to tell which one it was. They both were ugly sights.
“Hey where are you taking me?” Harry asked.
“Dark Lord isn’t here today, but he left us with a message to wear you down a bit before he gets back” ugly sneered.
“You leave him alone, you hear me? You hurt him and I will personally kill you!” James threatened.
“Tsk you should learn to keep your mouth shut. Reducto!” And just like that James was blasted against his chains and he laid unconscious on the cold ground.
“James!” She went to struggle against her chains.
“You move anymore and they both get worse than what’s coming to them.” Ugly said. She immediately quieted and stilled. She made eye contact with Harry, tears in her eyes. He looked at her and gave her a small nod. Harry was then dragged out of the small cell and Lily was left alone to her thoughts.
After a few minutes of walking Harry was dragged to a stop at a new cell, about the size of a broom cupboard. He looked in and saw that there were no windows, no lights, and only one door. His heart began to race as he realized what was going to happen, he tried his hardest not to let his fear show, but there was only so much he could do. Ugly looked down at him with a sickening smile and pushed him into the new cell.
“Get comfy Potter, you’re going to be here for a while,” he sneered.
“Well I don’t have to look at your ugly face for a bit. Can’t complain about that.” Harry snarked
“You little brat. CRUICIO” Harry writhed in pain as the curse coursed through his body. Every centimeter of his skin burned like they were on fire, every nerve felt like it was being severed by a dull knife. His head felt like someone decided to use it as a quaffle. He tried his best not to scream, he’s had worse from Voldemort himself, but after a bit he couldn’t help but yell out. “That ought to teach y’a” and ugly walked out the door. Locking Harry in a small, dark, windowless room.
Lily had tears in her eyes as she heard her son scream. “You son of a bitch I’ll kill you! You leave him alone, I swear to god you’ll be dead by morning!” She screamed. She heard James wake up with a groan that brought her attention back to him.
“Lils? What happened? Where’s Harry?” He asked his wife.
“They took him away.” She didn’t care to elaborate anymore.
Harry was freaking out. He knew he was claustrophobic, he rationally knew he wasn’t at Privet Drive anymore, but somehow that barely brought him comfort. Yeah he didn’t have his fat uncle breathing down his neck and locking him in a cupboard, but at least his uncle could only give him superficial wounds. Here, he knew he could die at any moment. At any moment his parents could die. Again.
As the hours passed he started growing more anxious. More scared, his heartbeat quickened and it seemed like the walls were getting smaller.
“Ok potter, remember what Hermione said, breathe in for 7, hold for 7, breathe out for 7. One, two, three, four, five.. oh god” he pulled his hand through his hair and sat down at a corner. He remembered doing this in his room when his anxiety got too much, it helped then but he wasn’t sure if it would now. He forced his head between his knees and tried to continue to breathe.
Lily and James sat in silence, they prayed they would continue to hear nothing but silence. Afterall, at least it wasn’t Harry screaming. After several hours the door opened again and this time it was the young Malfoy heir that entered. He looked awfully frazzled and skittish, Lily and James looked at each other slightly confused.
Malfoy walked over to them and knelt down in front of their chains. “Alohomora” he whispered and the chains unlocked. Both Potters reached up and rubbed their wrist. James opened his mouth to speak before Malfoy cut him off, “Dobby?” He whispered, a small house elf with socks on his ears appeared with a pop. “You know what to do. Where’s Potter?” He asked the parents.
“They took him away, few hours ago. We’re not leaving without him.” Lily said.
“Yes you are, I’ll find him and have Dobby bring us to you guys. You must go now.” He pushed the parents to Dobby and gave the houself a nod. The elf disappeared with a pop before either Potter had a chance to react.
When the feeling of being squeezed finally released, James and Lily found themselves on a beach. “Dobby must go back to help master Draco and Harry Potter. James and Lily Potter must go to the house quickly. Dobby does not want to disappoint his friends.” Dobby pushed the couple towards the house before disappearing once more.
As James and Lily made their way to the house they found a redhead and a blonde waiting for them at the door. “You must be James and Lily, pleasure. I’m Bill Weasley, this is my girlfriend Fleur DeLacour.”
“Weasley? You’re Aurthur and Molly's oldest?” James asked. Bill smiled and nodded. “Merlin, last I saw you, you were younger than 8!”
“Pretty sure there were only five of us too” Bill smirked.
“You finally got a sister?” Lily asked
“Yeah eventually, anyway, looks like Harry will be coming along soon. We set up two port keys. Take this one, it’ll take you to headquarters. Here read this,” Bill said holding an old spoon. He handed them a piece of paper that said Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
“Surely this isn’t what I think it is,” Before James had a moment to check Bill’s features, he had the old spoon thrusted into his hands. He barely had a moment to switch the spoon to one hand and grab Lily’s before the whole world spun.
After a few seconds, the spinning finally stopped. James let go of Lily’s hand and she fell forward clutching her stomach. “Never did get used to port keys did you Lils?”
“I have no problem punching you right now Potter.” She said as she pushed back her nausea. James opened the door and they walked through the threshold. She heard a gasp and looked up at the people in the hallway.
Sirius and Remus were sitting in the kitchen when they heard the commotion from the porch. Apparently so did the rest of the house because the kids filled up the staircase and the Order members got out their wands and stood in front of them.
After an agonizing few seconds Sirius heard a voice he never thought he’d hear again. As the door opened he saw his best friend and a woman he considered to be a sister. People he never thought he’d see again in this lifetime, people who walked in like they hadn’t ever been dead before. Remus reached for his hand, apparently going through the same emotions he was experiencing.
“Prongs.. Lily..” Sirius said, feeling his hand fall from Remus’s. He quickly rushed forward and tackled them into a hug. Tears springing into his eyes, not caring that he was crying in front of teenagers, he let them fall. He felt Remus come up behind him and join in on the hug. When they pulled back, Sirius could see the tears in his best friends eyes.
“Merlin, it's good to see you again, Padfoot. But I have to say, this is a downgrade.” James quipped
Sirius let out a bark of a laugh that surprised all the teenagers, there’s only been a few times they had ever heard Sirius laugh like that and all of them had been in the presence of Harry. “Well not much you can do when you’re a wanted criminal and this is all dear old mum left you”
“James, Lily. I’m so glad you’re here, but we have to check. We have to make sure it’s you,” Remus said, holding a vial of veritaserum.
“It’s alright Remus, we understand.” Lily said taking ahold of the potion and dropping some into her mouth before handing it to James.
“Names” Moody stepped forward to do the questioning
“James Fleamont Potter”
“Lily Marie Potter née Evans”
“Siblings”
“Not by blood, but Sirius Black” Sirius gave a small smile.
“One, Petunia Dursley née Evans”
“Children”
“Harry James Potter,” James answered.
“How are you here?”
“Truly have no idea, we woke up in a cell.”
“Do you have any intention of harming anyone here?”
“Unless you’re Voldemort or that ugly son of a bitch who cursed my son, you’re safe” Lily snarled.
“Well, I’d say you passed with flying colours.” Moody said handing the antidote to the couple who graciously took it. It wasn’t long before the kids made their way down the stairs and were standing in front of the Potters.
“Where’s Harry?” One of the redhead boys asked.
“We were separated a few hours before Malfoy and the house elf showed up. I was knocked out for that though…” James trailed off.
“He was taken to another room. One of them said Voldemort wanted him worn down before he got back…” Lily finished.
“I’m sorry Mr and Mrs. Potter, we didn’t mean to upset you” the bushy haired girl said with a glare to said red headed boy. “We’re Harry’s best friends. I’m Hermione Granger,” she hugged the boy next to her.
“Ron Weasley,” he said.