Chapter 60: The peak of the war
When they got back home Lily and Rick immediately called for an important meeting with his mother. Dorea had wanted to scream bullshit at the prophecy but knew better than to play with fate. It took a long while for her to calm down and to be convinced of the plan. After sending a Patronus to him, Remus apparated outside the manor ten minutes later. They quickly fill him in about everything except the prophecy.
“And you want me to… What exactly?”
“Be a traitor. It’s obvious by now that someone in the Order is on Voldemort’s side.”
“We know how awful it sounds but the prejudice against werewolves makes you the first suspect for most people. Especially when Voldemort has many werewolves packs on his side.”
“But you don’t believe I am.” he asked with a frown and Rick snorted.
“Not for a second. You’re a loyal man, Remus, especially towards the people you think you’re indebted to. Like Dumbledore giving you the possibility to study at Hogwarts or Lily for her wolf-eazy pills and friendship.”
“One look at you with Rose in your arms reinforced the fact that I knew you weren’t the traitor, Remus. You had so much love and joy in your eyes when you looked at her. You can’t fake that.”
His friends’ answers made him feel good about himself. Very few people had so much faith in him. He had noticed, right from the start, that some people in the order kept their distance from him. It hurt a bit but he was used to it.
“Again, what do you want me to do, exactly?”
“Be suspicious.”
“That’s a bit vague, Lily.” Rick said then turned to Remus. “Be inconsistent with what you say. For example, say you spend the day with Rhiannon then contradict yourself another time. In other words: lie.”
“That I can do.”
“After seven years dealing with the teaching staff to avoid detention, I’m not surprised.” Lily chided him with a giggle.
“What do I do in the meantime? Albus has not sent me for a while talking with the packs and I’ve been trying to find a job in the muggle world because I can’t live on Rhia’s salary alone. I don’t have much success though. Anyway, everyone knows that and I can’t just do nothing.”
“Hmm… Would you be interested in making brooms?” The proposal was given after a second of reflection from Rick.
“Brooms?”
“Yes. For Quidditch. Next year is the World Cup in Japan. Regardless of my selection or not, I intended to make brooms for the whole team. The problem is: I’m alone in making them and don’t have much time. I can give you the plans and notes and you could make a business out of it? I was searching for someone I could trust to work on them and not run away with everything.”
“Maybe. I need to see what I’m working with. Charms and runes are my best subjects but I’m far from your level guys.”
Rick led Remus to his lab and showed him the schematics for each type of broom he had created. Not only that he also showed him the blueprints for brooms he intended to release for the public and the different models of the same type. Remus had been impressed by what he was seeing and asked questions here and there about runes. Why this combination and not this one? Why that particular rune and not another or what did that charm do and won’t it enter in conflict with another?
When Remus left he couldn’t wait to tell the news to Rhiannon. He had found a stable job, very well paid at that and cherry on the cake, his girlfriend would be interested in it. He was sure he was getting lucky tonight.
Albus quickly came back to them with a location they could use for their trap. A small cottage in his hometown named ‘Godric’s Hollow.’ named after Godric Gryffindor himself since it was his place of birth. His portrait had been quite curious when the married couple had told him the news. They visited him from time to time to see if he was alright with his situation and shared the news on what was happening in the world outside since he was ever the adventurer. He had been absolutely delighted to learn that he had another descendant and was very complimenting when he saw Rose the first time. He revealed that the tradition of naming girls after flowers was started by his own grandfather and he was glad to see it had been perpetuated for a thousand years. He had attributed Lily’s name to a fluke of life until then.
Rick and Lily also went to Longbottom Manor to put the wards they had promised to add. It had taken two days before they were done and so Frank could link himself back to the ward stones as Lord Longbottom, his father having passed away the previous year in the dragon pox epidemic. Many had succumbed to it and as a result lots of changes happened. The most notable names were Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, Orion Black and Abraxas Malfoy although for the latter Rick was pretty sure he was killed by his son, Lucius. After putting the Fidelius on Longbottom Manor, making Frank’s mother, Augusta, the secret keeper, Rick and Lily began to work on the cottage at Godric’s Hollow and there was a lot to do since it was a simple muggle home.
One evening, the Potters were reviewing the plan one last time in the living room in their usual seats.
“Yes, mom. We did think of-”
A sudden crack noise sounded in the living room and Rose dropped out of thin air onto Rick’s lap. Thanks to his fast reflex of seeker, he grabbed his daughter before she could hit his legs and hurt herself. The three adult Potter had eyes as wide as saucers.
“D-did she…”
Tipsy popped into the living room in a state of distress, cutting Dorea’s off.
“Mistress! Young Missie Rosie is gone! Tipsy lost-”
“She’s here, Tipsy.” Rick quickly called out to the elf who was already a crying and sobbing mess. She cried even more but this time in relief when she saw Rose in her father’s arms. The little prankster was apparently quite proud of what she did because she kept giggling.
“Well… I guess you really did apparated away when you were a baby. Like father, like daughter.” Dorea laughed.
“I’m going to put a tracking charm on her. Thank god she hasn’t seen the outside yet.” remarked Lily who was a bit unhappy with her daughter.
Rick was about to tease his wife about Rose being a daddy’s girl when he felt someone breach the wards of the manor. Someone registered into them. He wondered who it was since they were not supposed to get any visitors and usually people warned them in advance.
“We have a guest. Tipsy would you mind?” the house-elf popped away. Lily and Dorea had their wand in hand.
“Do you know who it is?”
“Not an enemy, their magical signature is known to the wards.”
Less than a minute later, Marlene showed up to the living room and was a crying mess. Rick had Tipsy take Rose away and put her to bed while Lily quickly took her sister by choice into her embrace. With his arms now free, Rick joined the girls hugging then led the blond witch to the sofa where they all sat down. Before anyone could ask her what happened, Marlene shocked them all.
“I’m pregnant!”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Congra-”
“Sirius doesn’t think so!” she said between two sobs.
“WHAT?!”
“He said... H-he said he wasn’t the father and l-left the mansion.”
“Oww Marlene.”
Lily was sympathetic towards her best friend and took her in another hug, which the latter readily accepted and kept crying on Lily’s shoulder. On the inside she was thinking the same as Rick though. A mutt was going to die in a very painful way. Rick was more literal in his thoughts than his wife was but if anyone could have seen what she was thinking they would have chosen Rick to deal with them.
They supported and comforted Marlene as much as they could for hours. Giving reassurance they would be there for her no matter what. Her and her baby since she wanted to keep it even if the father didn’t recognize it. Lily distracted Marlene by the fact they would be both mothers and planning all kinds of activities between Rose and her child and between them as mothers.
Rick stayed quiet, knowing Lily had things in hands. Instead he went to the kitchen and asked Cookie to make some more food for Marlene. Preferably, something that could cheer you up. Plans for Marlene to stay a few days with her friends were being made when Rick felt the wards acting up again.
This time two people. One whose magical signature was known and the other unknown. The loud sound of something breaking coming from the living room, made Rick go to check in a hurry with his wand drawn. The cries of a baby made him think of Rose being there but Tispy had put her to sleep. Curious and confused he turned to a state of panic when he saw Amelia laying on the ground with bleeding wounds on her back. She was using her own body to protect a baby in her arms.
“MOM!” he yelled as he went immediately to Amelia.
“Oh my god! What happened?!”
Lily and Marlene had followed him in the hope to provide support against the invaders of their home.
“Lily, prepare the Fidelius, now! Marlene, take that baby with you and follow me.”
In a flash everyone moved. Rick used his wand to raise Amelia from the ground and directed her towards the small healing room, Marlene in tow while Dorea led the way. Amelia was laid on her stomach on one of the beds and Dorea began to examine her. From what Rick could see, she had deep cuts and burns. He used his wand for a basic diagnostic spell he learned from his mother on the baby in Marlene’s arm and felt relieved when nothing came out of it. The little baby was healthy and he had Tipsy put her to sleep next to Rose in her crib.
“Mom, how bad is it?”
“Better than it looks. While she was hit by curses, they weren't that dark. she won’t have any scarring regarding the burns but the laceration will be visible.”
She had stopped the bleeding and was now applying a salve on the burns to numb the pain and heal the skin or so Rick believed. When she was done, everyone went to Lily who was ready for the Fidelius. Dorea, since she wasn’t leaving the Manor, was made the secret keeper and promptly shared the secret with everyone living here, which included Amelia and the babies. Nothing good could happen when someone not aware of the secret was inside the place protected by said secret. They were safe for now and whoever attacked Amelia wouldn’t be able to follow and find her.
After so many out of the blue situations this evening, the Potters were completely drained. They went to sleep, Rick and Lily took Marlene with them to their bed for comfort while Dorea slept in the children’s room.
The news of the Daily Prophet the next morning not only came quite late but was dire. Three Ancient and noble Houses were massacred by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. The Bones, the Shafiq and the McKinnon. Marlene, who was already distressed by Sirius' rejection of their child the previous evening, lost it and Rick had to stunned her.
“This can’t go on, Lily.” he said as he picked up Marlene from the chair she was sitting on and brought her to the healing room. “We need to take care of him now.”
“The cottage is not ready, yet.” the redhead replied but not in a protesting or contradicting manner. More in a reminding way.
“Then it’s not ready. We’ll improvise.”
Marlene was laid to the bed next to Amelia. The redhead chose this particular moment to wake up from her sleep.
“Ngh,” was the sound she made. It was clear she was disoriented when she began to look around and became agitated.
“Amelia! You’re in Potter Manor, you’re safe, calm down!”
The mention of Rick’s home, made her stop fighting a bit. “Potter Manor? Why…”
“You apparated in the living room badly wounded last-”
“Susan!” The redhead was now frantic, trying to get out of bed despite the obvious discomfort and pain she was feeling. Rick put her back down. “Let me go! I need to-”
“She’s safe! She’s sleeping next to Rose. I can have Tipsy bring her to you.”
“Please.” she asked in a begging tone.
Ten seconds later and Amelia had her niece secured tightly in her arms. She was rubbing her cheek against her little head while crying profusely. Rick couldn’t do anything but sit on the edge of the bed.
“They… They…”
He spoke in a mournful tone. “I know, Amy. The Shafiqs and the McKinnons too.”
“I… Edgar and Robert. They told me to take Susan and… and run. I wanted to stay and fight. He… Edgar… he used the imperius on me. Forced me to come here.” she said in a broken and angry tone.
“You would have died had you stayed. Who would have protected Susan then? What family would she have left?”
“Is there… Is there anyone…”
“I’m sorry, Amy.” The sad tone and expression on his face told her everything she needed to know. Contrary to his expectation Amelia didn’t go into another sobbing fit but instead talked with righteous fury. In insight, he should have known. He knew what kind of person Amelia was.
“I’m going to kill them all! I’m…”
“You will do no such thing!”
“Oh, I will! Watch me.”
“You will not, Amelia. Because you’re the only person I trust in the Aurors and who’s not part of the order. That will give you even more credibility when it’s time for the trials. The Order of the Phoenix is not such a secret organization anymore. Plenty of people know about it but at the end of the day we’re vigilantes, outlaws. Our words will mean very little. You are as white as snow. You represent an incorruptibility that will seal the Death Eaters' fate.”
“You can’t expect me to-”
“He’s right, lass.”
Alastor Moody was at the entrance of the healing room and surprised them both. He was supposed to be at the prison, watching the inmates. Walking towards them, the sound of his peg leg hitting the floor, echoing through the room, he stopped next to his protege. Rick would learn later that Lily had asked Dorea to send the man a patronus with the secret of the manor and to come immediately.
“Dumbledore wanted to recruit you for the Order but your brother and I ran interference. We knew you wouldn’t but just in case… We wanted for you to be unaware of everything going on in the shadows.”
“But why? I-”
“Because we both agreed that one day, you could be the one leading the purge of corruption in the ministry. Make no mistake, this war? It was bound to happen, with or without Moldy-short. Maybe not so soon but it would have happened. You’re incorruptible, lass and do what’s right. More than anyone in the department. Some take bribes, some are outright criminals with a badge, some are even supporters of him.”
“Director Crouch-”
“Is a cunt more interested in his career than anything. He wants to be minister and this war is a golden opportunity for him. Never thought it weird that good old Crouch who’s from the neutral faction leaning towards the dark began a crusade against the dark? He’s just wearing a mask. Once Minister, things won’t change. Heck, things didn’t change in the DLME since he became its head. You… you’re the new blood that could fix everything from the inside. You have the name, you have the status, you have the skills and more importantly, you have the character to see it through.”
That placated Amelia. A lot. To discover that her mentor and her eldest brother thought so highly of her warmed her heart but also put considerable pressure on her shoulders.
“When the time comes, Amy… We’ll make sure to provide you with everything we can to speed up your ascension. Yes, speed up because we all know that one day you would become either director of the DMLE or Minister for Magic on your own hard work and ethics. It would take too long however and time is not something we have in spades.”
“What… What do you want me to do?”
“Be yourself. Do things right.” answered Moody and Rick followed up.
“We’ll take care of the rest. Our hands are already dirty with blood. There is no point in you dirtying yours.”
“Yes.”
“That said. I… have to tell you both that after last night, Lily and I are… well… we had a plan to put into action to deal with Voldemort but we decided to accelerate it. Starting today we won’t be reachable for a while. But be ready to move when we call for you.”
“You’re going into hiding’?”
“No, Amy, we’re pretending to.” Rick shook his head negatively.
“Why?”
“Bait. You're acting as bait to lure him out. Ain’t you?”
Rick looked at Amelia for a moment, then Moody. He didn’t know if he should talk to them about the prophecy or not. Dumbledore certainly didn’t want word to spread. He trusted them both however. More than Dumbledore in truth. The man had been sketchy during the whole war. Keeping secrets close to his chest. That was why Rick kept secrets on his own (with the exception of Lily and his mother). That was why he created the secret group inside the Order without Dumbledore knowing. Sighing he made his decision.
“I will need an oath of silence from the both of you at the end. Almost a month ago, Dumbledore told Lily and I about a prophecy…”