HPNSA - BOOK ONE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DOORS

“Albus” Remus said; his face distorted by the horror of the image in the pensieve.

Ron could not help but get nervously curious - it would take a great deal for Remus to react this way. Krum did say that Prior Mortem was a ritual that required torture and rape, things that even he would find horrifying specially since the victim of such a ritual is Harry. But Remus’ reaction to the vision was different and something told Ron Krum did not say everything that should be said regarding the ritual.

“Albus today was the second day,” Remus said. “A few more hours and the final part of the ritual will begin.”

“How sure are you that the vision was today?” Tonks said.

“Peter made sure of it. He knew we would try to extract Draco’s memories, he made sure that we knew what was happening to Harry.” Remus said.

Ron waited patiently for someone to explain to him what was going on; they seemed to have forgotten he was there or they were purposely ignoring him.

“But that vision is incomplete,” Remus said. “We have to extract the rest of it, and fast because we don’t have much time, it will be too late for Harry if we can’t find him soon.”

Severus was still sitting on his chair looking very pale and worn. He shook his head. Remus approached him and was forcing him to extract Draco’s memory once more but Severus was shaking his head, muttering something about the Dark Lord. Perhaps even Voldemort anticipated this act, Ron thought.

“Remus, I can’t go on, we must extract it directly from Draco.” Severus said.

“But you said he can’t even stay lucid,” Remus said.

“What happened to Draco?” Ron said.

Suddenly the room became quiet. They realized that Ron was in fact there, listening to them all this time waiting for them to turn to him and explain. Ron didn’t want to impose though he felt like he deserved to be told.

“Yes, Ron. Maybe you should leave us for a minute,” Tonks said.

“No, let him stay.” Dumbledore said.

“But Albus he may not be able to handle this,” Tonks said.

“He has sacrificed a lot for Harry, more than anyone of us in this room.” Dumbledore said. Ron felt thankful that their headmaster looked at him with this much respect but inside he was asking himself if he really wanted to be here, to find out what has befallen Harry…if he could handle it. “He deserves to know.”

They all looked at Ron and though he didn’t like their pity he knew he should not expect anything less. To them he was still a child – Harry was still a child.

Remus nodded his head. “We don’t know what happened to him, Ron, though something was done to him. He’s gone mad, and every time we try to extract his memory he goes wild and suffers a seizure. I don’t know what they did, it’s not the Imperius curse though, or we won’t be able to get anything out of him at all. Though Peter made sure that we knew the important details,”

“Peter? You mean Scabbers?” Ron said.

“Yes, Ron. You’re old rat seemed to have developed a conscience. He’s the one who helped Draco escape.” Remus said.

“How?” Ron said.

“That’s what we are trying to determine because the moment we see that,” Remus said.

“You mean you haven’t seen it yet?” Ron said.

“Something twisted Draco’s memory, the pensieve goes back and forth and I can barely understand some of it,” Remus said. “Perhaps Peter was purposely distorting it, I don’t know, but it was like running through a maze.”

“No.” Severus said with great difficulty. “It wasn’t Peter.”

“I placed a spell on him, Remus.” Dumbledore said.

“When Draco came to me for help last summer he begged me to take him in because Lucius was prepared to hunt him down and kill him.” Severus said. “He knew too much of their plans for his own good.”

“I made him swear allegiance to the Order and placed a spell on him that if he was ever cruel to Harry – if he so much as fights with him – he will loose his mind.” Dumbledore said.

Ron now looked at Draco who was lying on a bed in a trance. “So you’re saying he did something to Harry?”

“Only one way to find out,” Severus stood and waved his wand over Draco and conjured a spell to get him off the trance. Immediately after, Draco began writhing on the bed screaming loudly.

“HARRY! HARRY!” Draco cried. “STOP IT! FATHER NO! HARRY!”

“Draco! Draco! Look at me! Look into my eyes!” Severus cried.

But Draco’s eyes could not see them they were wild with fear. “I WON’T CLOSE MY EYES. I WON’T CLOSE MY EYES, PETER!”

“DRACO!” Remus cried. “Albus he’s about to have a seizure!”

Dumbledore went to Draco calmly and placed his hand over his face. He conjured an ancient spell and Draco’s face illuminated with a soft light. He slowly relaxed under the spell until at last the madness from his eyes disappeared. Dumbledore fell to his knees.

“Albus!” Remus said holding the old wizard. Ron ran towards them and helped Dumbledore to his feet.

“Now, you can question him.” Dumbledore said breathing hard. Ron and Tonks helped the old wizard back to a chair.

“Draco,” Severus said.

Draco looked at him, “Professor Snape!” He said faintly.

“Draco, where is Harry?” Severus asked.

“He’s in the Forbidden Tower, they’ve taken him to the Forbidden Tower. Peter used a Portkey by the Lake,” Draco said slowly, tears filling his eyes.

“We’ve searched the lake there’s nothing there.” Ron said.

When Draco saw Ron his eyes grew wide and fear returned to them, “You’re son is alive, I should tell you that. He’s in London, I tried to save him, and he’s in London! Don’t kill me, Ron! They made me do it!”

Ron felt a pang of fear churn his insides. “They made you do what? Draco what did you do?” Ron said.

“You have to believe me, Ron, I didn’t want to do it! They forced me to!” Draco screamed.

“Ask him about the Portkey before the spell turns.” Dumbledore said.

“Draco! The Portkey, by the lake, what is it?” Severus said.

“Beans! A can of beans!” Draco said, then the wild light that had disappeared from his eyes returned with full force and he started struggling again, crying madly about not closing his eyes. Severus placed him back in a trance.

“We have to go back to the lake and search again!” Remus said.

But Ron looked at Draco; struggling with what he heard him say. He was forced to do it, he said. Whatever it was he did it proved ill since Dumbledore’s spell worked and he now lost his mind.

“Ron! Now, we haven’t got much time.” Remus said again. Grabbing him by the arm.

Hesitantly, Ron nodded his head and ran out the door with Remus, and Tonks behind him. It was now nearly midnight; the third day of the ritual was about to begin.


***

Martha rolled over again for the nth time. She could not sleep and found it hard to force herself to. She stood and went to her room where Candice and Archer lay sleeping. She looked at him and slowly picked him up. She hummed to him softly and rocked him back and forth, smelling his hair.

“So,” She said softly, walking back out to the living room of her one-bedroom flat. “You’re magical are you?” The baby slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. “Barely a week old and already showing magic.” Martha felt so sorry for the babe in her arms, but she knew he could not stay with her even if she wanted to. “I’m pretty sure no magical person could resist you…” She said laughing a little.

Candice yelled in the other room and ran out to find the missing baby in her sister’s arms. “Oh, thank goodness!”

“Shhh!” Martha said.

“Well, next time you take him, stay inside the room!” Candice whispered.

“It’s ok to talk, he’s awake, no thanks to you.” Martha said. “The bad lady woke you up? Didn’t she, Archie, didn’t she?”

“He’s adorable isn’t he?” Candice said.

“He is.” Martha said.

“I think you’ve grown attached to him.” Candice said.

Martha cocked her head and said, “I still think we should bring him back to his parents.”

“If they’re still alive…” Candice said sighing loudly.

“What do you mean?” Martha said.

“Remember I told you that the one who bore him is the one prophesized to end the reign of you know?” Candice said. Martha nodded her head and sarcastically rolled her eyes. “Anyway, they were after him,”

“Him? You mean her.”

“No. Him.”

“How can it be a ‘Him’? You’re mad!” Martha said.

“Martha, in their world there are things that happen for reason that we in our world can’t even begin to explain. I’ve learned from Draco,” Candice said.

“Wait, Draco, you’ve said that name before. Wasn’t he the kid you adopted before?” Martha said,

“Yes. The one I found nearly dead.”

“Didn’t Arthur warn you about the family of that kid?” Martha said.

“Yes, and for good reason. Draco came to me with the one who bore this child and said that his father tried to kill him.” Candice said.

Martha protectively covered the baby, “Why would anyone want to kill this child?”

“What? Not him. Draco! It was Draco’s father who wanted to kill Draco and the Boy who gave birth to Archer.” Candice said.

“Do you know how ridiculous you sound? A boy giving birth!” Martha said.

“Well, he’s a special being. He’s magical. He has the lower female parts though the rest of him is male.” Candice said.

“You mean like a Hermaphrodite?”

“No, though the word is close to that…I think…it’s…no…” Candice said.

“What?” Martha said.

“I’ve forgotten. But moving on, he was left there at my house and Draco went back to him to try and get him back home. I had to leave because if Draco’s father found us he would kill Archer – and me, because I helped them.” Candice said.

“Well knowing these people, anything is possible with them.” Martha said. “So the mother…father…whatever of this child could be dead then.”

“I hope not. If he dies, then he we-do-not-name has won.” Candice said. “And you know what that means.”

“Yeah, the killings would come back.” Martha said shaking her head in bitterness.

“Hopefully Draco would be able to get him to safety. He lost a lot of blood giving birth, and was extremely weak, but you can tell that he had some power in him. And did you know that this child came with a golden ball?” Candice said.

“A golden ball?”

“Yes, when he came out, a golden ball came shortly after him. I thought it was some kind of payment for my services so I picked it up and placed it inside my pocket but after a while it disappeared. Turned to dust.” Candice said.

Martha looked at the baby with interest “Well, you are full of mysteries, aren’t you little one?” Martha said looking at the mitten that slowly unraveled itself and floated in the air. “Maybe he’ll bring us good luck because we helped him.”

Candice held the baby’s hand and place back the mitten. “He can’t go back, Martha. Not unless we’re sure he’ll be safe.” Candice said.

Martha nodded in agreement. “Well, he can’t stay here either. I mean if they are after him as you say, then it will only be a matter of time before they find him here.”

Candice sighed. “Why are you so anxious to get rid of him?”

“I’m not anxious to get rid of him, Candice. But we can’t handle him. How do we protect him? I don’t think you are capable of doing magic, and mum made sure I didn’t learn any, though she said I showed a little potential as a child, she and dad made sure we never learned any.” Martha said.

“You should have though,” Candice said. “It would have made things easier for us when they died. We were hunted like animals too, and were saved by, what’s his name?”

“Moody! Alastor Moody.” Martha said.

“Right. Imagine if uncle Evans got to us first.” Candice said shaking off the memory of that night their parents died.

“Don’t you have that thing that Arthur gave you?” Martha said. “That what was it again, something you can use to call him if you needed to?”

“Oh, yes, right! Now where did I put that?” Candice said.

“We can contact Arthur using that. I know you want to see him too so this is sort of a win-win situation for you.” Martha teased. “We’ll contact him and he’ll come and take Archie. He’ll be safe with them.” Martha said.

“That’s it. I’ll Find that thing, call Arthur and we leave Archie with them, perhaps he’ll even let me visit sometime.” Candice said her smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Candice, you’re such a flirt.”

***

The whole lake was now astir with Knights, and members of the Order and Dumbledore’s Army; Ron had informed them to look for a can of Beans by the Lake for it was the Portkey that would take them to the place where the Death Eaters have taken Harry.

“Beans?” Neville said.

“Yes, that’s what Ron said.” Seamus said picking up one empty can after another.

“I remember picking up a can of American beans,” Neville said.

“Where?” Hermione said overhearing Neville, “RON!”

Ron came running over to her, “What is it? Have you found anything?”

“Yes, Neville says he saw a can of American Beans somewhere here,” Hermione said.

Ron went to Neville and asked him about the can of beans he saw. Neville began to get nervous. “I…I saw one…”

“Where? Where Neville?” Ron said.

Neville looked around and tried to remember where he had last looked. “It’s…it’s…”

“WHERE?” Hermione cried.

“I can’t remember if you shout!” Neville said.

“Well, it’s almost daylight, remember fast!” Hermione yelled.

“Calm down! Alright,” Ron said and held Neville by the shoulders. “Close your eyes Neville. Look back, when did you see the can of beans?” Suddenly Professor Snape came running out calling Professor Lupin and Tonks. “Don’t mind them, close your eyes and remember, Neville.”

Neville shut his eyes tightly and for several minutes he kept on muttering to himself. Hermione had to walk away in frustration.

“Ron,” Professor Lupin ran toward them.

Ron knew there was more bad news. “Yes, Professor Lupin?”

“They are going after the child! The Dark Lord has sent those who did not participate in the ritual yesterday to look all over London for your son.” Remus said.

Ron felt the burden increase tenfold and he closed his eyes tightly and brushed his hair with his hand. Hermione went to him and she went back to Neville who was still grappling with his memory trying to get it to straighten up.

“Come on, Neville…” Hermione said.

“I’VE GOT IT!” Neville cried aloud. “It’s in the lake, I’ve found it a couple of yards over there then held onto it till I was several yards into the lake and left it there.”

“What?” Ron said.

“No, that seems accurate,” Professor Snape said. “Draco was soaked when I found him.”

They all ran towards the lake and told the Knights to start breaking the ice once more. Slowly they searched the icy water for signs of the can.

“GOT IT!” Cried Dean.

Everyone’s eyes turned to him and when Remus finished examining the object told Dean to take it to the shore.

“But if it’s a Portkey how come Dean is still here?” Hermione said.

“Because it needs this,” Professor Snape showed them the Dark Mark that was burned on his forearm. “Put it on the ground,”

Dean placed the can of beans on the ground. Severus bent slowly to it and as soon as his hand touched the surface he vanished.


He found himself beside a large can of lard by an old harbor. The wind was blowing mighty hard and nothing could be seen within a few feet from the shore. Severus then looked around to find other items that could have been used because there was no tower anywhere near him. Then he saw a small boat with the same Dark Mark. He went closer to it and found a looking glass tied tightly on one of its oars. He took the looking glass and cut it off. He looked through the glass and turned here and there and suddenly he stopped. He has found the forbidden tower.


Moments later Professor Snape reappeared and everyone went to him. “I’ve found it!” He cried.

“We have to go there by group, or they’ll know we are coming and meet us before we are ready. There is only one way across and it’s by boat. A very small boat.” Severus said.

“Right. Ron someone has to go to London to rescue your child.” Remus said.

“We’ll do it!” Hermione cried. “Ron, I and those who will come with me will look for your son.”

“Tonks, Bill and Charlie will go with you,” Remus said.

“I’ll go with them as well. They need another Auror if these dark wizards are about.” Professor Moody said.

Remus nodded and Hermione ran towards the DA to get volunteers.

“Alright who’s coming with me?” Hermione said and nearly all the DA members volunteered. Then with Professor Moody, Tonks, Bill and Charlie, they all headed towards London to look for Harry’s child.

Ron then organized the Knights and they all prepared themselves for battle in the Forbidden Tower. With them came the twins, Arthur, Professor Snape, Remus, Hagrid, and Albus Dumbledore.


***

It was now five o’clock in the morning. The sun was shining brightly outside and Martha thought of going out for a walk. Candice was up and drinking coffee and when Martha told her she wanted to bring the baby with her Candice snorted but later on agreed.

“Bundle up, it’s pretty cold outside, even with that bright sunshine.” Candice said.

“Alright, nasty lady isn’t she.” Martha said.

“I heard that, don’t you believe her Archer.” Candice said giggling a bit.

“Archer, sounds awfully close to Arthur now don’t it.”

“Oh hush!” Candice said but Martha saw a flirty smile on her face.

Martha wrapped the babe in a thick blanket then placed about two bottles of milk in a bag then they headed out. Martha decided to go to the Park and sit in one of the benches so that she and Archer can enjoy the sunshine.

“There was a little boy, named Archie, and he had red hair…” She said, or sort of sung it though the tune was unrecognizable. The baby stretched and yawned and Martha saw something tied around his neck.

“Oh, what is this?” Martha found a silver chain and at the end was a pendant that glittered in the sunlight. “Is this magical?” She whispered softly. “Babies shouldn’t be burdened with such hocus pocus, you know.” Then she took off the necklace and placed it in her pocket. “You’ll get that back. Don’t suppose it can be sold or even pawned anyway.” Then she kissed his head again and sat there enjoying the sunrise. But something told her they were being watched and she could feel the hair at the back of her neck stand on end.

***

“There it is,” Remus said looking into the glass. “Right, we’ll go there in groups of six. That’s as much as the boat can hold including Severus. Once you’re on the shore be on the alert. It looks like the whole tower is preparing for something evil.”

“Why does Severus have to come with every group?” Arthur said.

“Because the boat won’t run unless someone with a Dark Mark is inside.” Severus said.

“Ah, I see.” Arthur said.

“It’s a new model,” Fred said.

“Yeah, powered by the Dark Mark.” George said.

Ron scowled at them. “The two of you better prepare yourselves. We are in for a lot of trouble.”

Slowly, very slowly, groups of six knights went into the boat and crossed the waters to the Forbidden Tower. Ron found the business excruciatingly slow but there was no other way around it. The final boat loaded him with Dumbledore, Remus, Arthur and the twins. Ron felt happy knowing his father and brothers were beside him that day. He braced himself for whatever lay within those walls for he knew it was not going to be a pleasant picture.

***

Hermione and the rest of the DA were now in London. There were divide into three groups and given a detection device with Harry’s essence inside.

Hermione tried to shake hers because it seems that it detected nothing of the sort. Until about a quarter past five, they were in the Park and the device started going wild - someone nearby was related to Harry and had incredible magic.

“He’s here.” Hermione said, she lit up her wand and conjured a spell so that the other groups would know that they have found Harry’s child. Then her group led by Bill Weasley ran around the park searching everywhere for signs of the child. Hermione kept checking her device. “He’s by the benches.”

But just then three men dressed in white robes with their faces covered was in front of them. Hermione braced herself for the attack. Minutes later the whole park lighted with different colours and screams of horror and death were heard once more in Muggle London.