A Dark Time For The Light

75

The blow fell as they consulted with Remus’ doctor. They had brought Poppy into the consultation. She shared all her own findings with his and the two of them could come up with nothing better. “You’ll have to leave the soporific out of his next Potion, Severus, it will interfere with his chemotherapy drugs”, Poppy intoned seriously. Remus sank down, frightened. He started to shake and Severus wrapped an arm around him, “We will never use that chain again, love”, he promised gently, “We’ll find another way to keep you calm, but I’ll never do that to you again, I swear”.

It was when they got home that Remus voiced his deepest fears, “Sev, it’s Spring, and you know what that means, don’t you?”. Severus just nodded as he held his Wolf, “The Spring Rut. I know”. He offered eventually, “I’ll just have to stock up on salves and stuff, bandages etcetera. This won’t be easy, love, but we’ll get through it”. Remus heaved a deep sigh, “I want you to muzzle me. I’ve seen Muggle dogs with them on in the park. At least, that way, I can’t bite you”. Severus looked appalled but had to agree with his wisdom.

They had another distressing reason for visiting the local High Street although the day started agreeably enough.

Severus woke naturally out of an incredibly erotic dream to find it a reality and the head of his swollen-to-bursting cock really was being gripped gently by his lover’s throat. The sight by itself was enough to send him over the edge and he was coming in long spurts, twisting his hands in Remus’ hair and moaning loudly. It was when they moved and Severus removed his hands from his beloved’s head, that he pulled away large hanks of hair at the same time. “Oh, God. I’ve hurt you”. Remus took the hair from Severus’ hands and threw it into the bin, “No you haven’t, love. It’s the drugs. About 70 per cent of all patients lose some or all of their hair. I was hoping to be in the other 30, but it would appear not”, he shrugged ruefully, “Will you still love me as a baldie?”. Severus gathered him into his arms, “I will love you even if you turn blue, you are always beautiful in my eyes”, and as he said it, he knew it to be true. He gazed at Remus into those bewizarding tawny eyes, then let his eyes roam, over the delicate features, the long rangy limbs, slender hands and feet, the slight but strong build, then stroked his lover’s face with one hand as their eyes met again. He thumbed away a tear then kissed him, gently laying him down and worshiping his beloved with hands and mouth. Remus chuckled as his body was loved so thoroughly and expertly then moaned as Severus took his length into his mouth and made him see stars with his tongue.

That day they ended up at a barber’s shop and Remus had the lot shaved off, his Greek barber using a cut-throat razor sharpened on a leather strop, then steaming and moisturising the skin of his whole head and neck. It really was a most relaxing experience. Remus bought a knitted beanie in the small Army surplus store, because the weather wasn’t so warm yet and he was amazed at just how much of the body’s temperature was lost through the scalp with no hair to keep the warmth in.

Next stop was the pet shop. They bought a leather covered steel muzzle big enough for an Irish Wolfhound with it’s long snout, that would allow the animal to drink but not to get it’s jaws open enough to bite, plus a collar and stout lead, “For if you have to go out into the garden”, Severus whispered. As they left the shop, he squeezed Remus’ hand, “You’ve been really brave today, love”.

They decided on a late lunch and dipped into the Feathers which served food all day. Remus pulled off his hat and Belinda’s eyes went round, “Wow, radical haircut, Remus”, then remembered, “The chemo, hey?”, and pulled them a couple of pints of their newest guest ale to try, “On the house, chaps. It’s not been settled long. See what you think. Oh, yes, Harry’s in the Games room”. They ordered and paid for food and wandered in to the other room.

Sure enough, there he was with a table to huimself, practicing safety shots and setting up snookers, they watched quietly as he lined up a corker three-cushion shot and pocketed it, punching a ‘yess’ into the air. The other two applauded and Harry looked up, smiling when he recognised them, then his eyes widened when he caught sight of Remus, “Bloody hell, Remus, slip with the razor this morning, did you?”, they hugged in greeting. Remus expected a bit of ribbing and smiled as Harry ran a hand over his smooth skin, “Mmm, feels nice actually, suits you too. So what brings you two miscreants in here?”

Harry finished his frame and came over to where his friends were sitting eating their lunch. All felt a bit decadent sitting in the pub in the middle of a weekday afternoon. Harry dived into their shopping bags, then opened the bag from the pet shop. “Whoa, kinky!”, he exclaimed, examining the collar and chain. Both the men turned red. “It’s not what you think, Harry”, muttered Remus, “Sev can’t give me the soporific in the potion while I’m doing the chemo, so, erm, we just thought, you know, to be on the safe side”. Harry giggled, despite himself.

They spent a happy afternoon with Severus taking Harry on at the tables for a best of three. Harry won, but only just. He had to leave, “I said I’d do dinner tonight”, He hugged both men briefly and was gone.

He was just putting the finishing touches to the moussaka he was making when his lover walked in from work. He shoved the dish back in the oven and took Draco in his arms for a long kiss. “Been skiving off to the pub have we?. You taste of beer”. Harry nuzzled his lover’s neck, “Went for some practice this afternoon. Sev and Remus came in. Remus has shaved all his hair off”, he continued his ministrations, “Mmm, that’s nice. Why?”. “I suspect he’s shaved it off before it all falls out. It’s a side-effect of the cancer treatment. It suits him in a weird way”. They held each other and kissed again, “How long until dinner?”. Harry grinned and led Draco to the shower, “Long enough”, he growled.

Hermione was feeling frustrated. She just couldn’t sort out this new system and she wasn’t sure where the problem lay. She studied the diagrams, she was positive she’d connected everything according to the instructions but if so, why no uplink to the computer?. She was going around in circles in her mind and still frowned as she was called to the dinner table. Seamus asked her what was up. “I just can’t connect the dots of this system and it’s driving me nuts. There’s either something I’ve not done or something I’ve done wrong. I need Josie on this one”, she sank her head in her hands as Ginny dished up dinner. Her famous fish pie.

Seamus shrugged, “Maybe we should call her in”. Hermione smiled as she ate, “I should speak to the others first”. After dinner, she tried to contact Harry and Draco, to find both of their phones switched off. She rolled her eyes and called Dean for his input. Dean was in agreement, “She sorted out the old Bunker’s computer. We may have to smuggle her into the house, though, maybe one night or something, which means we’ll need a driver. I’ve got a feeling you don’t want Joe to know anything”. She smiled, “Yes. I like the guy, now I’m getting to know him a bit, he seems eager and keen and he’s started classes now, but, I dunno, can’t put my finger on it, but there’s just something about him I don’t trust”.

The next day, she ended up in the passenger seat with Cellan, who she did like and did trust, She put a small proposition his way when she discovered that he kept the van overnight. He agreed readily. He was in truth, somewhat awed by all of these folk and was ready to help in any way he could. At lunchtime, she tried Harry again and got through. He agreed wholeheartedly, “Call her in. She’s bloody good”. He listened to her plan to utilise Cellan as a driver and to go in after hours. Leave as normal, then sneak back later after dropping Joe off. “You’ve got a real problem with him, haven’t you, ‘Mione?”. “Sorry, Harry, but I’m going with my gut on this one. In fact, I’d love to have Alice look into him, if you know what I mean”. He was thoughtful as he closed his phone.

She called Josie next and briefly outlined the problem and the need for secrecy. Josie was on board in seconds. “Don’t say any more, Miney. I’ll come to yours tonight after I’ve had me tea. We’ll talk then. See ya later”, she rang off. Hermione grinned, the pieces were beginning to fall into place. She went back to work.

That night, the whole House was on tenterhooks as Josie sat at the computer. Her shoulders slumped, “Everythin’s allright this end, Miney. It’s your uplink hardware that’s the problem, either that or the phone line. Sorry, guys, but I’m goin’ to have to go on-site”, she shrugged apologetically. Hermione hugged her, “What are your shift times this week?, it’s just that we’ve only got ‘til the end of this week to sort it. The contract ends then”. Her friend grinned, “How about tomorrow, if your driver is up for it?”. Hermione was on the phone to Cellan in seconds who agreed.

“I want Dean, Seamus and Ron as lookouts. Then you and me to do the job and Cellan as the wheels outside of the ward zone. Everyone take your wands with you, you may need them”. The plan was set. After work, the van would load up as usual. They would drop Steffie and Alan and Joe off home, then would pick up Josie at the pre-arranged meeting point and drive back to the house before dark, do the deed as quickly as possible and get the hell out of there. Hermione pushed a tenner into her friend’s hand as she climbed into a cab. “See you tomorrow”.

Hermione then called Harry and Remus on conference and both put their phones on speaker so their respective partners could listen in too, then briefly outlined the plan. Both Harry and Severus offered to have their bikes along with spare helmets outside the ward zone in case the group had to scatter. Hermione giggled, “Backup. Nice one guys, we probably won’t need you, but it would be mighty nice to know you are there, although you both know you cannot step beyond the wards, even though he has no recognition wards up, he does have a Death-Eater ward in place, so no-one with a Mark can pass through for now, without his say-so. Could both of you charge your phones tonight?. You’ll be our ears. I will keep my line open. I want to know that someone can hear us on the outside”. They all agreed on the time and place. The call ended.

No-one slept well that night. This was the most audacious stunt they had pulled to date and all were nervous. Severus was pre-occupied at school the next day and his enthusiastic fourth years almost blew up the lab until he intervened. Ginny was restless at work and mis-filed the whole of the letter ‘M’ ‘s in the shop. Harry paced about in the flat, trying to occupy himself, but donned a jacket and left for Remus’ flat. At least he could angst in company. All of those not directly involved were nervous and jittery. The boys packed wands that day at work. Hermione worked alongside them, just painting today and covering channels she had dug in the plaster,

Eventually the day ended. Steffie could feel the tension in the van as she was run home, but the Magicals were keeping schtum. Joe was trying to divine the tension also, but got nowhere with questions. He was dropped off in turn. Alan was the only one who didn’t seem to pick up on it and wished his colleagues a cordial goodnight.

They sped back across London, picking up Josie on the way. She was beaming as she was let into the back of the van with a hefty toolbox. She was dressed in a navy blue overall which swamped her tiny frame, her hair, like Hermione’s tucked away under a cap and her waist cinched with a heavy tool belt. “You remembered the drill?”, she enquired of the van at large. Dean produced it from his own kit bag. A cordless, fully charged.

The van was quiet as they drove through London rush-hour traffic arriving back at the house just after seven. They parked out of the way, just beyond the wards. Hermione opened her phone line and checked that Harry and Severus were in place. They were. Five people slipped out of the van and through the wards onto the property. Everything was quiet, just as they had left it. Ron had left the lock partially off so the girls could get into the house easily. The boys split up as per the plan and stood watch, wands drawn and ready.

Hermione set up the ladders and Josie set up the testing gear and made a circuit of the house checking everything. “Here’s your problem, babe. You’ve been sold a bit of a duff board. Loads of dry joints. These buggers will need re-soldering, may take a bit”, she was down the ladder in a trice and had her soldering iron plugged in, then was back up the ladder in moments, the plastic handle in her teeth with a roll of flux in one hand. Hermione murmured into her microphone, “Told you she was a fucking genius, didn’t I?”, to murmurs of assent from her contactees.

She took her time about it, but declared herself satisfied after testing all of her new connections. She was just descending her ladder when a shriek was heard in everyone’s ears. “Fuck!!. He’s here. He just apparated thirty yards from me”. Ron. Hermione muttered, “Leave it to us”. There was another squawk from Dean, “Three more, all in full regalia, so I can’t see who they are. Oh shit. One of ‘em’s Malfoy senior”. Hermione muttered, “Don’t do anything, guys, we’re gonna try and bluff this out, but if we’re not out in five minutes, then come after us”.

The boys all listened in as Josie introduced herself to the newcomers. “Hi, there, I’m Josie and this is Janey. We’re on the electricians team. You was ‘avin’ a bit of bother with your wirin’ and we stayed be’ind tonight to sort it out, like, but we’ve just finished, so we’ll be orf now. Are you the owner of the house, sir?”, she asked, bold as brass. The blond man smiled, “Well, sire, what is the world coming to?. Lady electricians”. He took Josie’s hand and kissed it. Her skin crawled. Hermione was hastily packing the testing kit and kept her face down obscured by the bill of her cap. Her friend smiled and simpered prettily.

Voldemort extended his hand to Hermione, she flirtily placed her hand in his and he kissed it, “Such rough hands on a lady, sssuch a pity”, he hissed. She tried not to pull her hand back too quickly. They gathered their bags hurriedly and bid their bosses goodnight before fleeing, collecting the three boys as they burst through the wards and got the hell out of there.

“Follow us back to the House”, Hermione curtly demanded as she slumped in the back of the van. “Josie, you were a fuckin’ star, girl!”. Josie seemed to be in shock, “Did I just, like, speak to him?”. Hermione hugged her friend, “You were fucking brilliant, Jose. That was Draco’s father who kissed your hand, but, yes, it was him you spoke to. Let’s get home and see if we can see what they’re up to”.

Hermione called Draco and Remus and the Guest House. Severus was picking his lover up as was Harry to bring them all to the House. Hermione instructed Poppy and Minerva to hop into a taxi and gave them the address. “You need to see this”, was all she said. Then called Alice, “Be at our House in half an hour”, to be assured, “I’m calling a cab right now. Don’t start without me”. Hermione laughed and rang off.

They all tipped into the house. Colin made everyone tea as they waited for the others to arrive, which they did in short order. Hermione and Josie were ensconced before the computer. They heard Hermione’s triumphant, “Yesss”, as she switched the screen off until they were all present and correct. Alice was the last to arrive, “So. What’s all the excitement about?”. Hermione’s eyes glittered as she sat her new friend down, “This”, was all she said as Josie turned the monitor back on and Hermione flipped between the cameras.

“Ladies and Gentlemen”, she announced, “Welcome to the new home of Lord Voldemort”, ending on a flourish and a short bow. She changed the cameras. “This is his main living room”, three cameras hidden in the architrave around the room. She pressed a switch, music could be heard, “We left the radio on, by accident, not!”. She took them on a virtual tour of the house. All the cameras worked as did the microphones. They picked up the feed from the meeting earlier that evening. Draco paled as he saw his Father. Harry held him tight. Alice was most impressed at Hermione’s ingenuity and said so. The meeting wasn’t about anything much, just Voldemort showing off his new headquarters and boasting about the price he had obtained the property for. Seamus shook his head. “I can’t believe he’s fuckin’ talkin’ property prices. This is priceless guys. We’ll know everythin’”. Hermione blushed, “That was the general idea, and we couldn’t have done it without Josie, here”. There was a general murmur of congratulations.

At the back of the room, Severus had gone pale seeing his nemesis once more and Remus held him tight. He glanced around the room to see Draco holding Harry who couldn’t face the screen as his hated enemy appeared. Hermione sensed the strong feelings around her and turned it off. “There’s an alarm on the system that’s triggered by anything bigger than a large dog, which will automatically start my hard drive to recording, so it doesn’t matter if anyone’s monitoring traffic or not, we’ll still get everything. We’ll know what he’s thinking, planning, doing”.

The room was stunned. All except Alice, who was laughing. “Fuck, ladies, this was a supremely clever move. Backup, backup, backup. If you want to share the files, I’m at an undetectable IP address. We can mirror it to me and I’ll take backups if you feel your system is too close to home, so to speak. That way, we can take evidence. Of his planned genocide. It’s up to you”, she shrugged.

Most of the room hadn’t a clue what she was on about, but the girls knew. They shared a grin then turned to her, “Brilliant idea”, and asked for her IP address. In a short while, Alice had access to everything the cameras and microphones recorded. As her cab pulled away that night, she finally let the grin spread on her face.

These people really were trusting pussies. And she had them exactly where she wanted them.