章節 13: Chapter 13
Harry felt his head spin at the young man standing in front of him and he clung to Snape whose eyes widened in understanding and almost dragged Harry inside. Harry was walking no stumbling as he dragged along behind Snape with his eyes firmly fixed on the death eater who was looking slightly puzzled at Harry's reaction to him.
He was just like Sirius; with his hair falling just like Sirius's had, his eyes the same color as Sirius, his body was just like Sirius, he walked the same way, he looked the same way and Merlin! He even lifted his eyebrows in the same way. This was Sirius; Harry was almost convinced and he had come out of the veil looking some twenty years younger and he had become a death eater and had saved Harry and had killed the rat.
Poor Harry! His conflicting thoughts went round and round in his head until he felt dizzy with their intensity. Why had Sirius not contacted him? But Sirius was dead wasn't he? Harry had seen him fall into the veil. Then did Voldemort rescue him from the veil somehow and was he going to use him to harm Harry?
Was that why he had saved Harry? Because he was Sirius? But if he had saved Harry because Harry was his godson, then why did he not call on Harry to let him know he was alive? Did he not realize how Harry would be feeling?
Harry's thoughts almost destroyed his mind at that moment as his world spun around him. Harry was shaking with so many emotions and he simply could not take his eyes of the death eater and Harry's face had an expression that was a combination of hope and apology and despair and agony and betrayal, betrayal that Sirius had not come for him and then confusion that this simply could not be his Sirius as his Sirius would have come to him first.
All of them had by now trooped tiredly inside and Hermione and McGonagall had seen the death eater and had gasped, putting their hands over their mouths in total surprise and shock. It was very cramped in the cottage and Snape shrank the sofas and all of them sat on the floor on which McGonagall hurriedly conjured a thick carpet.
No sooner had they sat down than Harry whispered at the death eater "Who are you? Just who are you?" Harry was trembling with shock as he kept looking at the death eater who was he knew by the name of Arran and who was looking right back at him in astonishment and a small frown at Harry's behavior as Harry turned in sudden anger. Snape had known damn him. "Severus!" Harry almost ruined his throat in his desperation to understand, "What is going on here? Who in the name of Merlin is that?" Harry's magic started going haywire and the whole cottage started shaking along with Harry.
"Harry just calm down, I said calm DOWN." Snape put his hand on Harry's chin and turned it to him. Harry's eyes were wide in his face and he was shaking with the intensity of his feeling. There were four other people with Arran and Harry had not even seen them.
"He is Arran Lestrange, Harry, the son of Bellatrix. This is his cousin Rhiannon, the daughter of Rabastan Lestrange. He is twenty years old and she is your age."
Harry stared at the death eater who now understood Harry's stares and smiled at him. Harry though did not smile back at him as he kept looking. He could have been Sirius all over again. He looked just like Sirius did before Azkaban, the way he had been in Harry's parents' wedding photographs. Arran Lestrange! He was Arran Lestrange! Not Sirius Black. Harry calmed down slowly and still shaking realized with clarity for the first time since he set his eyes at the death eater that this man was not Sirius.
The first feeling after that realization was total and utter disappointment. A feeling of despondency ripped through Harry as he realized that this man was not Sirius. For five sweet minutes he had hoped against hope and now that hope was crushed. Harry swallowed hard as he tried to look as if he did not mind and had made a mistake and failed miserably as he just could not take his eyes of that young man.
It took a few minutes for Harry to get his bearings and when he did he blushed in sheer embarrassment at the way he had behaved as he slowly came to his senses.
Arran had the same features, the same eyes, the same everything and Harry found his eyes straying to him again. That was why his voice had been so familiar. It was like hearing Sirius. As he knew Sirius had gone his brain had refused to accept or recognize the voice. He saw Arran looking at him and he reddened and turned away looking at the others but not really registering them, who had gathered there and blushed once more as he realized he had acted such a fool in front of so many.
This man was the son of Sirius's killer. Harry grimaced at the irony of it. He just wanted to keep looking at the young man on one hand because he was so much like Sirius, like his twin in fact and yet on the other he was a man whom Harry should just hate on principle because it was his mother who killed Sirius. It was all very confusing to Harry as he sneaked yet another look at the face he had thought he would never see again.
Arran cleared his throat in the silence of the cramped cottage. "We have come here to talk you in detail with you about many things. Now you know Draco, Pansy and Blaize. This is Ria my cousin and both of us are home schooled. All of us are against Voldemort," at Harry's widening of his eyes, Arran smiled, "Yes as I told you before I can say his name as can all of them here and all of us want to help you provided you will help us in return."
Harry looked helplessly at Snape, McGonagall and Hermione who were all silently watching the young and handsome Sirius look a like death eater talk so casually of opposing Voldemort. Harry on his part tried to come to terms that this was a death eater and he was here to talk business and demand something from them for helping them. Only his brain refused to work beyond the fact he was looking just like Sirius.
He grimaced inside and scolded himself silently. "Harry you are being as silly as you were in third year when you did not learn the Patronus charm because you wanted to hear your mother's and father's voices. Just like them, Sirius is also," Harry gulped and shaking he clasped his trembling hands, "also…also dead. This is not Sirius okay?" He swallowed again and pushing all his wayward emotions and thoughts compressing them inside gazing sightlessly at his hands.
A minute or two later Harry steadied him self and looked up at the others who had accompanied Arran Lestrange. Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Blaize Zabini and the other girl must be the one who led him out of the dungeons and to safety, what was her name yes, Rhiannon.
All of them who had until now been known as hard core Slytherins, who would be worse than their parents, who were already death eaters, who were cruel to everyone in School and hated by one and all. Yet all of them were here ready to fight and kill their parents' and oppose Voldemort.
Harry swept his gaze once over everyone and looked for a moment at Draco, who was steadily gazing at him no animosity in his grey eyes, but a slight flush that might have been embarrassment or shame or something else that Harry could not discern, filled his cheeks. Harry looked away and turned to Arran who was the spokesperson and leader for their group. He was also the eldest and all the others were Harry's age.
"What do you want of me?" he asked Arran in a very low troubled voice, "And how will I be sure all these," Harry looked for a second at the Slytherins who were sitting there quietly, "people with you are against Voldemort?"
"Because they will give their oath to that effect and they will also not seek revenge in case their parents' are killed or kissed by your side." Arran paused for a second for that to sink in and then continued,
"That means all of us are here without out parents' knowledge and that alone should convince you Potter but we will give you a general oath to the effect we are against Voldemort and we will do our best to help you to bring him and the real death eaters down. In return all of us want to be protected from prosecution and our assets, properties and vaults are released to us and we be allowed to live our lives in peace."
Harry was awake by this time as he listened to Arran who was speaking as if he was the Ministry. He looked at him with disbelieving eyes.
"And you think I will have this type of influence with the Ministry of magic? The Ministry of Magic called me an attention seeking idiot last year and the people believed them. You want to fight against Voldemort, great, but you want a guarantee from me that you will be free; well I cannot give you that. You should approach Dumbledore. He is the man with all the influence." Harry's voice was incredulous.
Arran shrugged equally angrily, "And you are the Boy-who-Lived," as Harry opened his mouth to retort fiercely Arran held his hands up, "the people listen to you Potter. You are their hope and when you defeat Voldemort they are going to kiss the hem of your robes a.k.a. death eater style. Use a little bit of that influence to help us. We are not asking much while we are going to fight for you like I did today. You owe me a life debt for that. I could call you in on that you know."
Arran was very disappointed in Harry and it showed in his bitter speech. Draco and the others were mistaken about his bravery, and his escape in the Department of Mysteries must have been a fluke. Arran sighed in sheer frustration. Potter had to help them, they were the children of the worst of the death eaters and the Ministry would never give them a chance.
And all the drama just because Potter thought that he, Arran looked exactly like his godfather. Well Potter was weak and he was their Savior. What a joke!
He sighed as he thought of the fate of the Wizarding World that was dependent on this boy, and sighed again but it could not be helped as he and the others in this room with him needed Potter weak or not. He squared his shoulders and was about to call in the life debt to make Potter help all of them, only his respect for the boy went zooming down when suddenly Potter turned to whisper to Snape after erecting a silencing charm around them.
Arran watched as Snape shook his head angrily as did McGonagall and Granger and Potter was obviously not agreeing with all three of them. After five minutes of tense fighting between Potter on one hand and the other three, Snape angrily shrugged off Potter's beseeching hands on his arms and flicked his wand and a beautiful pensieve came into his hands.
Potter was looking miserable as Snape turned away angrily, but canceling the silencing charm Potter squared his shoulders and turned towards them, a very strange expression on his face.
…..
Harry was taken aback that Arran, Malfoy and the rest were looking at him to save them. He almost laughed at the irony of it all as he was going to have to fight to live for him self to live in peace once he managed to defeat Voldemort and was still breathing that is. Snape did not want to show Harry the memories he and McGonagall had seen, but Harry knew that was the only way to make sure Arran did not call in the life debt as if he did Harry could not deny him and he could not fulfill the debt either.
"I am going to tell you why I cannot help you and if you can find a way out of this, well, you don't have to ask for help. If I can do anything in any way to help you all, well I will do it."
Now Arran was puzzled as were the other Slytherins.
"I was going to the infirmary one day a few days after the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries with my invisibility cloak on and I saw Ron Weasley who is my friend as Malfoy would have told you, receiving a letter from Fawkes who is the Headmaster's familiar. He and his sister Ginny Weasley were invited to the Order meeting that was held that night and Hermione here and I were not to know about it.
"I attended it in secret after spending the rest of the day in the library seeking out spells to hide my aura, scent and against Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye. I learnt a lot of things in that one meeting to know that I am today fighting not only against the death eaters but also against the Order and the Ministry because of Dumbledore.
"These three are the only ones with me in this fight and I am afraid it will be a fight to the finish just as it will be with Voldemort. I want all of you to see only one memory; one of that Order meeting that I attended and I am afraid it put me off Order meetings forever and then we can discuss. The only thing I will want from all of you is an oath that you will give me now that you will never reveal this in any manner to anyone without my consent."
All of them immediately raised their wands and said so mote it be. Harry counted all the wands much to Arran's amusement and placed his wand on his temple.
Harry removed a strand and placed them into the pensieve and looked steadily at the others. "the memory that I am going to show all of you is true. I swear this on my magic." A golden swirl of magic came out of Harry's wand and surrounded him and went into him. Wasting no time, Harry started the pensieve from where all the regular Order members were leaving.
Everyone watched with amazement as the memory played out and Arran's and the Slytherins faces darkened and the others were stunned at what they were seeing.
There was a deathly silence as the implications of what Harry had shown them sunk in. Snape slowly extended his hand and placed it on Harry's shoulder and squeezed it softly in an apology, but it was not needed as Harry turned to smile at him, his eyes showing only his happiness at the concern Snape had exhibited for his sake.
Snape smiled reluctantly at him and then turned to Arran. "Seeing this memory you realize how difficult it is for Harry. This is the cottage I brought him to supposedly break him and after certain events the four of us have joined hands to do our best to defeat not only the Dark Lord but Dumbledore and Moody and the Weasley brothers and sister. Don't call for the debt now Arran, Harry will not be able to fulfill it. Please.' he finished softly.
"Sir is it only the three or all of the Weasleys involved?" Draco asked him, glancing swiftly at Harry.
"Only those three are involved Draco, as far as we know." Snape nodded at him.
"What is your true aura? Have you seen it and unlocked your powers and gifts? I can see only a blue one though it has the indication that it has been changed." Arran asked.
Harry hesitated and looked at Snape for guidance. "His aura is pure silver, thick shining silver, with strong green and golden lines running through it and a very tiny black dot where his scar is. The green lines are thin while the golden is thick and vibrant. Yes, his magic has been released and his gifts unlocked."
There were loud gasps after Snape said that and Harry also gaped at him at the almost flowery description of his aura. Arran was very impressed and he looked at Harry and saw Harry's expression and smiled.
"And his gifts? I am asking for a reason Severus and you know none of us could ever betray him now." Arran asked him intently.
"Parsel Magic, Blood Magic, Dark Arts, Runes, Animagus, Potions, Spell Crafting, Elemental Magic, Wandless Magic and Aura Sight." Snape told him softly watching his expression closely.
Arran was stunned for a second and there were loud gasps once again as Snape recited all of Harry's gifts. Then Arran spoke briskly.
"Okay, I have got all of that except the elemental and I know so much of Black Magic. Ria has Runes, Dark Arts, Charms, Potions and spell crafting. My aura is green with thick silver lines and big golden dots. I have subdued the golden and the silver and made it green only. Draco's aura is green and pink with many big silver dots, and he has Wandless, Runes, potions, Dark Arts and Blood Magic. Blaize also has a pink and a green aura and his gifts are potions, charms, Arithmancy and the Dark Arts. Pansy has a green aura with pink dots and her gifts are the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, runes and potions.
"If all of us and Potter and you three who are as good as they come cannot get together and beat the stuffing out of all of them then I think we deserve to lose and ultimately die. I vote that we give these sanctimonious assess who dare think that they can take decisions for the rest of the world a kick on their butt and also vote we show them a thing or two, in fact I vote we show them a great many things."
All of them shouted in agreement at that and Arran continued, "We take care of old Snake-face first and," his eyes and face became very bitter and pinched, "his loyal death eaters, the Lestranges, Lucius Malfoy, his wife is not a death eater and I think she should be given a choice later on, Avery, McNair, Ameyctus, Alecto, Rookwood, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Parkinson, Zabini, Greengrass and Bulstrode and then go after Dumbledore, Moody and the Weasleys."
"You forgot Wormtail and you are talking about killing your people here." Harry told him hesitantly as he glanced at the others and at Arran who was talking about killing their parents' and talking just like Sirius would have his wayward mind told him and Harry immediately clamped down on that thought.
"What people are you talking about Potter?" Draco Malfoy asked him before Arran could reply with the same bitterness Arran had shown only moments before. "What people are they who tell you that killing someone like Granger or your mother is the right way to live and it is the step that should be taken for the betterment of our world. What blood purity do you think this we will have with this type of narrow minded attitude and these steps taken?"
Blaize took off where Draco stopped unable to continue, "Do you have any idea of the how we live Potter? Draco has to call Granger and the other muggleborns mudblood as often and as loudly as possible and all of us, not Slytherins mind you, but us death eater kids have to insult, act belligerent and loud to one and all. It is a show of power, we have been told. What power we show if we show any at all is debatable but there you are."
Draco stared at him his face flushing and his eyes sparkling with the rage that was dancing in them.
"Potter I love Slytherin, do not doubt it. I and I am speaking for all of us here, will never choose any other House. But today because of this half – breed creature that calls itself the descendent of the mighty Slytherin the entire House has fallen into disrepute. Slytherin was the House for ambition, slyness, achievement and good stature, that's right Potter good stature.
"Today all of us are nothing more than slaves, slaves of not only Voldemort but also our families, who expect us to die for nothing. Giving up our lives for a cause is something, but dying because we are controlled by madman who is just allowing us, no commanding us throw away our lives after killing as many muggles and muggleborns is just not on. Our families are so bent upon the power they will receive when Voldemort wins they are blind to the atrocities they are committing in the name of purification and cleansing of the Wizarding World"
Draco Malfoy was quivering with suppressed rage and helplessness about his situation that looked pathetic to Harry as he saw the proud faces that usually looked at everyone in disdain in Hogwarts now anxious and angry about everything.
"Potter you have to help us. We never trusted the fool of a Headmaster who is primarily responsible for the state of Slytherin House. He has divided the Houses and created an almost unmanageable rift within the School that was not there before he came as a professor of Transfiguration to Hogwarts. He has never cared for us and if our Head of House professor Snape were not so protective of us, most of us would not have survived the hostile environment that exists both at our home and School." Pansy Parkinson was looking down as she spoke in a low but a very intense voice.
"We will do what it takes Potter to help you, and if we die in the process well, we have given our lives for what we believed in; died in a war that we fought for us and our children of tomorrow, just as the four of you are now fighting. Don't say no." Blaize Zabini pleaded with Harry and all of them nodded at that and then there was only silence.
"Wormtail is dead Potter." Arran said softly into the silence, Harry looked up at him sharply and glanced at Snape to confirm it and as Snape nodded grinning in an altogether happy way that was very disturbing.
"Well the Dark Lord was convinced that he had fulfilled his life debt to you. Poor, poor Wormtail, I am afraid he died not knowing who he was and why he was being killed." Snape told him viciously smiling and explained to Harry and the others what had happened with the rat.
Harry was feeling very contrary, both horrified at the way Pettigrew had been killed and happy the man who had betrayed his parents and sent Sirius to Azkaban for thirteen years was no more. "That was very cruel of both of you."
Arran and Snape smiled at Harry's innocence which Snape found amazing. For all that Harry had suffered he should not have any innocence at all and should have become extremely resentful and turned dark. Yet this boy was like a breath of fresh air.
"Cruel of them? Harry the rat betrayed your parents' and he was responsible for Sirius being in prison for thirteen years. Good he went is all I say." McGonagall was very happy. Harry had to agree with her on that point and they refrained from talking more about Peter Pettigrew.
"I think we must take them down one by one," Arran said pensively as he thought about the death eaters. "Pettigrew was easy to tackle because we took him down alone. What do you guys say? Potter you, Draco, Snape and I will get around in this one month while these Ria, Pansy and if you will not mind Miss Granger, you will do research and help us and also come along with us and help us when we need more people for a hunt. For that is what we will do, hunt these people one by one and leave them with the Ministry for the first time, making sure they are good for nothing after we get to them."
Arran looked around at all of them after he finished and saw what they thought. McGonagall, Hermione and Snape looked pleased and he knew Draco, Pansy and Ria agreed, but he could not discern Potter's expression but slowly he nodded.
"What will we do once School starts?" Harry asked him.
"We lie low as we will need the time to plan to act during the holidays." Arran replied promptly.
"So you are saying you divide the time of attacks to three times in a year. Now, Yule and Easter." Harry asked him thoughtfully.
Arran nodded as Draco replied, "Potter what we need to do is to take care of the really bad death eaters, like Avery, Rookwood, Mulciber, McNair as these are in the Ministry and the Lestranges and my father, and Alecto and Ameyctus who kill for fun. That is the core group apart from Ria, Arran and I who are the most trusted among the younger generations.
"The second group or the second circle consists of Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Nott, Greengrass, Bulstrode, and Davies; yes Potter the whole family is with the Dark Lord as is Terry Boots' family, Boot, Flint, Zabini's mother and Edgecombe's mother and all their children."
Snape nodded his head at the names and spoke softly to the others.
"We should be very careful. The Dark Lord may be a crazy maniac and a snake faced git but never forget he is one of the most brilliant wizards and one of the most intelligent ones. One mistake and he would become alert and once he starts really thinking he can arrive at correct conclusions most of the time.
"Even today he was right in thinking I had something to do with Harry's escape. He did not have evidence to back it up, that is all. We must take down the death eaters of the inner core circle first and that will greatly undermine his strength. He will then be forced to do two things, one depend more on us; Arran, Draco, Ria and me and the other thing he would be forced to do will be to use the less experienced death eaters in his second circle whom he does not trust as much.
"Since they are not the death eaters of the kind the Lestranges, Lucius Malfoy or the others are, the Dark Lord will be terribly short of the really good men on whom he actually depends upon. And I do not know if you do Arran, but the Dark Lord has created horcruxes as in plural. Harry has destroyed one and Regulus destroyed another. That was why he was killed. He was seen when he went with Kreacher to the caves to get the horcrux."
Snape was lost in bitter memories as he looked straight ahead his eyes seeing the scene nearly fifteen years ago. McGonagall gasped as Snape had not told her this. He looked at her inscrutably as he added, "Yes Minerva, it was I who went with Regulus to bring the locket from the caves by the sea. I was standing to watch his back at one place and as he went in, another death eater saw him from another place far away and went off to tell the Dark Lord."
"The day he was killed was the day I turned to Dumbledore. I had to avenge his death somehow" Snape finished quietly looking down as Arran stared at him a very strange expression on his face.
But all he said was, "Yes I knew about the horcruxes, we all did, but what I did not know was two were destroyed." Arran said quietly.
Snape looked up, "Then come give Harry your oath and I will take him to the Order and I will try and bring him back here, but if I am not able to, then we will start from Yule. And we will have to be careful about Dumbledore as well. Do not forget that." He warned Arran and the others.
Arran nodded his head in agreement and then he raised his wand and spoke solemnly, "I Arran Lestrange," and at once Draco, Pansy, Blaize and Ria lifted their wands and said their names and then Arran continued, "swear on my magic to help Harry Potter in his fight with Voldemort, Dumbledore and if the Ministry of Magic works against him, then the Ministry as well. So mote it be."
The others echoed the words as well and then Arran, Draco and the others got up to leave. Arran handed a plain silver ring to Snape and asked him to get in touch with him by saying or thinking the words 'Regulus and Sirius are brothers'.
Snape scowled at the thought of having to say Sirius's name let alone think it but as Harry nudged him, he left it at that and did not say a word more.
Arran smiled at that and then all of them left. Draco and Pansy looked awkwardly at Harry and Hermione for a second, "If we do not meet before start of term, remember I will continue to be nasty, more nasty and all those who have taken the mark and that is almost the entire sixth year who will also bait you. Watch your back as I will not be able to help you in the open." Draco told him looking elsewhere.
Harry did not answer until Draco looked at him frowning that Harry had no response to what he had said, when Harry held out his hand and smiled. Draco flushed the memory of nearly five years coming to the forefront with surprising clarity.
Harry did not let his hand down, nor did he say anything. He merely stood there with his hand outstretched. Draco slowly took it and shook it when Harry drew him close and hugged him briefly. Draco was shocked and before he could say something Harry spoke softly to him.
"I know you will never consider any other House except Slytherin Malfoy, but what you did today along with Parkinson and Zabini probably qualifies all of you for Gryffindor as well. You said I should not mix with the wrong sort way back then and I chose wrongly, but if you accept now, Hermione and I will be proud to be your friends." He finished looking steadily at Draco all the time and Hermione nodded her head smiling as she did.
Draco's jaw hit the floor and he flushed with so many emotions he could not comprehend any one. He just nodded his head as did Pansy and Blaize and smiling very genuinely Arran led all of them out of the cottage.
Harry sagged after they had left with yet another burden of looking out for these people. Snape was even more exhausted and Hermione bustled around bringing the dinner and many nutrient and pepper up potions and alertness potions as Snape would need all his wits around him.
She also asked Harry to take the alertness potion and one dose of the pepper up and then after rehearsing what they would say, they checked their auras and de scented them selves and took the portkey to Hogsmeade.
Snape had sent word only to Albus and was going to Hogwarts with Harry to meet with him. Snape and Harry landed at Hogsmeade and walked briskly towards Hogwarts to meet Albus Dumbledore.
Harry was still thinking about Arran and his resemblance to Sirius and he sighed as he kept pace with Snape's swift strides to meet the man who had spoilt his life as much as Voldemort had.
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