Chapter 3
The Potter's house had an oppressive feeling that sent a chill running down Albus Dumbledore’s spine, that same chill was felt by both Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Minerva McGonagall. Feeling dread and fear deep into his bones Sirius Black pushes through everyone and ram into the Potter household.
“Sirius no! You have no idea what could be in there! We must enter as a group! Let me go in first to make sure that there are no traps in place!” Dumbledore called after him.
A loud shout was all that answered him, and moments later the breaking of all the windows left in tacked.
“Moony! They’re dead! James, and sweet Lily… they’re… dead.” Sirius managed to say through sobs.
“Our cub?” Remus asked, tears rimmed his eyes.
“Missing.” Answered Dumbledore and Minerva
Remus’s eyes flashed yellow. “We will find our cub Sirius… we will find her… Even if I have to tear through every single person, witch, wizard, and muggle, to get her back! He snarled.
A black wolfhound howled in response.
“Remus! Sirius! Would you two calm down and see reason. I know you two are proud Gryffindor’s but there will be no rash actions done! If you want to help your goddaughter you need to use your mind. Albus… what should we do?” Minerva looked to him expectantly.
“I believe the best course of action is two make it public that young Hara is missing… something is bound to slip about her whereabouts.” Dumbledore said the constant twinkle in his eye nonexistent.
“You KNOW who has him Albus…” Remus growled. His eyes still shining yellow.
“Remus… I can’t see why Voldemort would take her. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill her with her prophesied to kill him. He wouldn’t let that kind of threat loom. My only guess is that she may have been rescued before Voldemort had the chance to take her life. Are you aware of anyone else who was under the fidelius charm? Anyone that could have possibly been here tonight that Voldemort wasn’t aware of?”
A collective “no” was the only answer Dumbledore received.
“ I see… I will contact the rest of the order and send everyone out to see what they can find. Remus, Sirius I believe that it might be best for you to go rest and settle your mind a bit. I will contact you in the morning with any new information.”
“Rest? You expect us to be able to rest while our goddaughter is missing and our best friends have been murdered by Voldemort?!” Remus screamed and looked on the verge of turning into moony.
“I think he might be right Remus…” Sirius put his arm on Remus and gave him a subtle squeeze hoping that he would get the message. “ We will be of no help to our cub if we aren’t in the right frame of mind.”
Maybe… you’re right Sirius. I apologize Albus. Do be in touch in the morning if you would. Thank you for being here Minerva.” Said Remus. Both he and Sirius dipped their heads to both of the professors and disapparated back to Grimmauld Place.
“We have to figure out where she is Sirius. I’m barely able to keep Moony from taking over from having both Lily and James gone, and little Hara still out there somewhere!” The last few words of Remus’s sentence sounded more feral and had Sirius ready to turn into pastor at any moment to try to temper Moony.
“Don’t you think I know that? But Dumbledore won’t allow us to meddle with anything unless he knows every detail. You know that. We needed to get away from him so we can come up with a solution of our own! We are the Mauraders! Get Wormtail here.”
A quick Floo Network call later had Wormtail apparating into the Sirius’s study.
“What can I do for you my friends?” Wormtail said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know Wormtail…” Remus said looking shocked.
“What don’t I know?” Replied Wormtail, with a little too much inflection in his voice.
“I’m… I’m so sorry Peter… I.. truly thought you knew. James, and Lily. They’re… they’ve been murdered by Voldemort…”
Peter wailed and fell to his knees sobbing. “Not James, and Lily… oh! And the poor babe.. she won’t ever have a chance to grow up!” Tears and loud pitiful crying filled the room.
“Our cub might be okay! She’s missing Wormtail… that’s why we called you here we need to come up with a plan to get her ba-...” Sirius was cut off.
“Missing! Missing? Oh… oh no… she was supp- he said he was going to-...” Peter brought his hands to his mouth and started nibbling his nails fearfully and shaking.
“What did you just say Wormtail? Who was supposed to what? What about Hara? Speak!!!” Barked both Remus and Sirius.
“You can’t be upset with me.” Started Wormtail. “He- he said he was going to kill me! If I didn’t tell him! What was I supposed to do!?” Wailed Wormtail as he ran past both of them.
“I would have died before I betrayed my friends! I would’ve done that for you too! Peter!! What did you do?!” Screamed Remus.
“I told the Dark Lord! I…. he said I would live. That you guys could too! You just have to take his mark like I did!” Peter ran through the front of the Blacks family door after Sirius had locked down the wards to prevent apparition.
“Stupify!” Fired Sirius.
“Reducto!” Yelled Remus.
“Nopritanto!” Sirius fired off again, hitting Wormtail preventing him from disapparating until Sirius canceled the spell.
Wormtail faltered a for just a moment before he regained his balance and began running again.
“Friends! Forgive me! I was trying to save our lives! I swear it!” Begged Wormtail while still running.
“Why should we trust a rat!” Said Moony and Remus in an eerie dual voice. “ I always knew rats were only good for a meal…”
Wormtail rushed quickly into a nightclub and hid himself amongst the crowd. Remus and Sirius looked through the masses of dancing people shoving people out of the way until they saw Peter huddled behind a pillar.
“Reducto!” Wormtail cast the spell towards the pillar destabilizing the entire building and causing a partial collapse, bits of concrete hitt both Remus and Sirius until they were able to manage a shielding spell.
In a last ditch effort on the part of Wormtail, he pressed his finger against his Dark Mark hoping that the Dark Lord would care enough to save him.
A half dozen pops! were heard over the moans and cries of muggles injured from the collapsed building.
“Stop! Everyone freeze!” The Aurors demanded, while pointing a wand at Peter, Sirius, and Remus.
“It was them! That one there he’s a werewolf! He’s trying to kill me and he’s trying to kill all these muggles. I’m merely trying to protect them. Get them. Get them!!!” Wormtail implored.
Remus snarled and his eyes took a dangerous shade of orange and yellow. They looked like they were on fire. “He helped kill our friends!” He pointed towards Wormtail.
Pop!
“Tsk tsk… such a mess you’ve made Wormtail.” Voldemort stepped over a body ignoring the Aurors training their wand at him. Unknowing who was truly before them. “Lucky for you, you found just who I was looking for…”
“Incarcerous!” Voldemort bellowed sending two flashes of blue light towards Remus and Sirius so quickly they had no time to dodge or put up a shield charm. They fell to the ground in a heap, unable to speak through the bind
Six more flashes of rapid red light had all the Aurors stunned.
“Come Wormtail. Obliviate the muggles and the Aurors then meet me back at the manor.”
Voldemort Grabbed Remus and Sirius by their hair and disappeared on the spot. Once they arrived in his study he quickly dropped them to the floor unceremoniously and took a seat in a regal looking chair behind a huge ornately carved dark wooden desk. With a wave of his hand both Remus and Sirius were able to speak once more.
“Where is hara Potter? Give her to me you bastard!” Sirius yelled, spit flying from his lips.
“Now now Lord Black. There is no need we can’t have a pleasant and informative conversation. Your goddaughter is… hidden. Her location may be revealed to you depending on the outcome if we come to an agreement or not. But know that she is completely safe.” Voldemort said, like it an average everyday conversation between friends.
“What is it you want from us?” Lupin questioned.
Voldemort stood from his chair and began pacing and twirling his wand between his fingers. “Since you left the leader of the light, he’s been making… arrangements, for little Hara. Arrangements that will only become easier to bring into fruition with the event that just occurred between you two and Wormtail. He’s arrogant enough to believe that he will once again have the Potters child in hand. Once he does, he wishes to send her off to live with her muggle relatives.”
“What? No… she’s our goddaughter. She belongs with us. Dumbledore knows that.” Said Sirius.
“So these documents that were submitted mere hours ago to petition for magical guardianship for himself, and for Hara to live with her muggle relatives are false?” The Dark Lord levitated the scroll to the two godfathers.
“Remus, these… look like they’re the real deal… legitimus!” Sirius cast on the document. A green glow gently surrounded the paper. The Godfather’s gave each other wary glances.
“He can’t do this… it will never be approved? It still is in the pending process. Once the Wizengamot realizes Hara has surviving godparents then they’ll deny his request for magical guardianship.” He put his hand on Sirius’s shoulder reassuringly.
A very satisfied smirk appeared on the Dark Lords lips underneath the hood of the cloak. “One would think… but alas… there is more to it than that. Dumbledore also prepared a reason why the two of you would not be suitable to raise Hara. Remus Lupin, Dumbledore has pointed out that one day out of the month you have a bit of an extreme personality change, one might say your behavior is a little beastly… And Sirius Black, you have ties to known Death-Eaters, one Bellatrix Black, and Regulus Black, with an entire familial history of questionably Dark, muggle, mudblood, and half-blood hating wizards… Have I stated anything that is false gentlemen?”
The godparents looked at each other apprehensively. “It would still go up for vote. Sirius still comes from a respected family. And Lucius Malfoy was pardoned. I couldn’t imagine Sirius would become guilty just by association?” Remus half-heartedly defended.
“You may be right, wolf. But, that’s not all. In the last few hours you’ve strengthened Dumbledore’s claim that you are not fit as magical guardians.” Voldemort grabbed an old wooden radio box, tapping his wand to it twice and it came to life.
“Update! Sirius Black and one Remus Lupin- known werewolf were sighted late last night chasing Peter Pettigrew through a muggle town. The altercation ended in a muggle nightclub where the the two wizards destabilized the structure and collapsed part of the building killing nearly a dozen muggles and wounding many more. Aurors who responded to the scene have had their memories wiped completely up until their arrival. Now, a statement from Headmaster Dumbledore. “Upon discovering the murders of James and Lily Potter, and gaining the knowledge of Haras kidnapping, Sirius and Lupins demeanor took on a murderous quality. I recall them saying they would tear through any that stood in their way to enact vengeance on muggles, and wizards alike for the loss of their friends and goddaughter. I believe something may have snapped in the two wizards and that’s why the tragedy of the muggle nightclub came into being. There is still no word on Peter Pettigrew's disappearance. It could be that they kidnapped him upon escaping. If anyone sees or hears anything I urge you to do what’s right and alert the department of magical law enforcement immediately but do not approach them yourselves as they do not seem to be in the right state of mind. Remus, Sirius. If you are listening, turn yourselves in. Your losses will be taken into account. You are still cared for. Please do not shed any more innocent blood.” That’s the last word from headmaster Dumbledore. If you have any information on the location of Hara Potter, Sirius Black, or Remus Lupin, call immediately. We will stay strong as a community this day as we grieve those lost. There are also rumors circulating that one Sirius Black might have been the Potters Secret Keeper and may have defected from the ranks of the light and went back to his family’s dark roots. Did he betray the Potters to he-who-must-not-be-named? I hope we will have answers and justice served very soon. Signing off, Jonathan Vane.”
The look on both of The Godfather’s faces could only be described as true despair. Why had Dumbledore betrayed them in such an unforgivable and damning manner?
“Now, with that albeit, false information weighing against the both of you, what do you think your chances of being Hara’s guardian are now? What do you think your chances are that you’ll even be able to avoid being sent to Azkaban for the duration of your life, if not receive the dementors kiss?”
There was an uncomfortable pause as the men exchanged looks, then Remus gave a sigh. “So what is it that you want, Riddle?”
Voldemort’s jaw tightened upon being addressed by his muggle given name but said nothing on the matter. “I can clear both of your names so you’d be able to push through for custody of the child. But I need to have access to her at all times, and know that if I decide anything regarding her, be it choice of friends, education, training, anything… that my wishes trump yours. You both will stay with me wherever I reside at the time and raise the child in absolute safety. I will give the order to my death-eaters that you will not be touched. Finally, you will name me your Lord. I will not require you to take my mark. But you are free to request it on a later date. It has some… benefits you are not to be privy to at this moment.”
“I would rather Hara be spared the dark influences and be raised in unquestionable safety with muggles and Dumbledore… what do you think Sirius?” Asked Remus.
“Sirius gave a reluctant nod. He didn’t think that Hara could be any safer than with both he and Remus watching over her.
The Dark Lord was silent for a moment, then sighed with an exasperated resignation. “I will give you critical information that pertains to Haras safety if you give me a vow of secrecy in regards to what I’m about to disclose. You will use absolutely none of what I’m about to use against me in any way! I will even give you a vow that what I tell you is the truth to the best of my knowledge.”
They agreed, only trying to gain knowledge to protect Hara. Lucius was summoned once more and conducted the unbreakable vow between the three men, and was quickly dismissed. Voldemort cast a few silencing spells around the room, and then dropped a heavy ward to prevent anyone from walking in on them.
“Last night when I went to eliminate the threat of the prophecy…”Voldemort lifted an eyebrow when Both Remus and Sirius looked ready to attack him at any moment. “ I cast the killing curse on young Hara and it rebounded and hit me instead… I started to die. I felt my core giving out and my body slowly shutting down. That’s when she reached for me. I haven’t the faintest idea why other than she just wanted someone to hold her or comfort her. Knowing I didn’t have long to live, I humored her and took her hand. That’s when it happened. It felt like lightning and struck, and my body was repairing itself. Not only repairing the damage that the killing curse had done. No. But the years of damage various rituals, battles, and dark magic have inflicted on my body. Even more shocking, my magic core expanded. Somehow your goddaughter healed me, and gifted me with strength. I’m now more powerful than I’ve ever been!” The Dark Lord chuckled darkly at the horrified look that both Remus and Sirius both wore. “Ah-ah… I’m not finished. Are either of you familiar with Horcruxes?”
Remus visibly paled, seemingly unable to speak. But he just stared at Voldemort with complete revulsion and unadulterated horror.
“Moony! What is it?! What is a horcrux!?” Sirius yelled at Remus shaking him roughly. He felt his heart sink at his best friends’ potent reaction to the word.
“A horcrux is a piece of your soul… th-that you sever using the blackest of magic. It’s one of the only known ways to achieve immortality. But, what’s needed for the creation… its… it’s pure evil Padfoot… that’s the only word suitable to describe horcruxes...” He answers in a hoarse whisper.
“ I have several. ” The Dark Lord Smirked. At least I think I still have several… “ And one more after last night. Remus. You are right. The traditional way of creating a Horcrux is quite difficult, and dark even by my standards. But there is another way to create them I discovered quite by accident. After I deposited the child into a location that is still to remain a secret from the two of you, I did my own research. I was startled at what I found. I had to see it for myself. To spare you the details and to save me my precious time from slumming with you two dolts. When I cast the killing curse, and it rebounded hitting me instead, I unwillingly severed my soul once more. That silver of my soul latched on to your niece. And now, she is… oh how do you say it wolf? Oh! An evil horcrux.” He gave both of the men an appraising look. Seeing how they would react. But they seemed to be frozen in place at that revelation. If that stunned them… wait until I reveal the other part to this… “When the killing curse hit Hara, her soul seemed to have been affected as well. You see, a fragment of her soul broke off, and latched on to me. I am now your one year old nieces horcrux!” Voldemort took immense pleasure in the despair he caused both Black and Lupin.
“So… since it seems that a kneazle has caught your tongues… Ponder this for a moment. Do you really want me dead if it means that part of your niece will die too? And If the ever so observant Dumbledore discovers that Hara is my horcrux, what do you think he will do? I cannot be killed if she still lives. Do you think he will spare her? Or do you think he will kill her… “for the greater good…” A sadistic smile sprung to life on the Dark Lord's face.
“Well?” Voldemort asked, already knowing the answer. They would give.
They gave each other resigned looks. The answer shining in both of their tear brimmed eyes. “We accept your terms My Lord…” they said in unison, bowing before their new master.