The Unknown Witness

Chapter Nine: The Insider's Instinct

Lucy and Claudia were running. Lucy had a firm grip around her sister's wrist, leading her frantically through one passageway after another, each one as dark to her as the cell had been to Claudia. The only way was up.

Lucy hadn't seen a window for her entire stay in the lair. She couldn't imagine the place with a view, a real location with people looking in as well as out upon the world. She just couldn't see it in her mind. She would suppose later that it was because the whole thing seemed so unreal, so completely alien to her being that her imagination just rejected it. It just seemed so utterly dark that there was no possibility of the building being basked in the glorious light of day. The pureness of the sunbeams would seem wasted on this establishment. It didn't deserve the light. Even the flaming torches that guided the way were flickering, struggling to survive against the dark and dying to be extinguished. All she could concentrate on was what was in front of her, and right now it was their escape. But she just didn't know how she'd get it.

'In here!' she hissed quietly to the stooping figure behind her, pulling Claudia's wrist sharply as they dove into a side room to avoid a group of oncoming Death Eaters. They passed them without a second glance as the door closed to seal them in. They could breathe for a minute.

'This is madness!' Lucy heaved, letting her shoulders sag a little as the tension of being on the prowl eased temporarily. But it could not be irradiated from her voice. 'Pure and utter madness. We could be stuck here for days before we find our way out of this place! It's worse than the London underground...'

Her breathing then became slightly erratic, panicky even as she paced the room, her footsteps doing little for the nerves of her sister. Claudia grasped her head with a similar level of distress, her hands clutching desperately at her hair, feeling knotted and dull after days spent in the dark. She sighed again herself.

'I think we need to stop for a minute and really think this through,' she said, regaining an alarming amount of clarity with the pause. 'We can't just dive in headfirst because we don't know what we're up against. From what Harry and the others told me, these aren't the type of people you want to meet down a dark alley...'

'I think we're slightly past that.'

'I know. But that doesn't change a thing. What have we got in here with us?'

Claudia could hear Lucy begin to rummage, her hands opening cupboards, draws and closets and shutting them again in vain. She could feel her energy seeping out with every unsuccessful opening. 'Nothing, Claudia,' Lucy was saying, 'Nothing at all. A few torture bits, some keys... some parchment.... Wait a minute... '

Claudia could barely utter a reply before she felt something come over her. Material, thick and heavy, seemed to float then descend upon her face, closing her in its darkened depths as she struggled to pull them off. But still she managed to smile, and keep her reaction to a small and muffled humph.

'Put it on,' said Lucy as she pulled the robes of her own down over her dirt-ridden jeans. She pulled gingerly at the material until it fell right into place. They even felt heavier on than they did when she held them. The material cascaded right down to her dainty feet, covering the tips of her shoes so she almost floated as she strode across the room. She almost liked the feeling: powerful, superior. She supposed that was the purpose. She suppressed a tiny shudder then helped her sister with her own. She pulled the hood up over her head and for her sister did the same. Then she gasped.

'What?'

But Lucy couldn't reply, for the transformation was horrifically outstanding. Claudia was holding the sleeves of the robes together like a muff, her hands becoming invisible in the mass of midnight black. But it was what it did to her face that scared Lucy. The hood hung low across it, obscuring all her features in the darkness of its shade making her lack of face as intimidating as she'd first found Damien and the other Death Eaters. But somehow Claudia's colourless eyes managed to protrude the dark. It was as if they almost belonged with the magic. They were set in the darkness of her face like two sparkling pure white opals, shining brightly but unable to convey anything at all. It was like a stare of death.

'Lucy, what's the matter?'

She managed to shake herself to rights. 'Nothing, it's nothing. Come on - at least we're a bit less conspicuous now.'

So they stepped back out into the hallway and proceeded to stride along. Lucy was holding herself much steadier now, as if the disguise of one of them awarded her the confidence and comforts it gave to the Death Eaters. Nobody battered an eyelid, least of all her sister. They just held their breath and walked.

The corridor seemed continuous, and showed no sign of letting them ascend. But still they walked, for there was nothing else left to do. The flames flickered from here to there, muffled shouts echoing through the stone and mud-filled walls not straying them from their path but simply blotted out of their minds, for they had to focus on the path at hand. Escape was the only option. And with every step the fear increased, until it became unbearable. Until they were confronted.

'Oi! You two! What do you think you're doing?'

Lucy froze at the voice as her grip round Claudia's wrist tightened. They didn't dare turn at the sound of the on-coming footsteps, and Lucy for one wouldn't have been able to find the energy to do so anyway. It was as if she were frozen to the spot, her limbs imbedded in a glacier to forever be a piece of petrified art. Her breath came out as a shudder as the voice addressed them again.

'Didn't you get the orders? We've got a situation here, and...'

'Its OK, they were looking for me.'

She finally breathed as they both turned round to face the scene. Another dark figure was stalking down the hall toward them, slightly smaller than the man who blocked their path behind. The other figure walked toward them hurriedly, urgently even, prepared to defuse the situation with a few well-chosen works. The figure produced his wand

'Head back downstairs, Avery.' Damien was saying, stepping into the glowing light of the nearest torch. His profile was illuminated. 'These two are on supervision orders. Keep me out of trouble. You know how angry the Dark Lord would be to learn they disobeyed him? Not to mention...'

'All right, young sir,' replied the man he called Avery, who by the tilt on his head was observing him with suspicion, but wasn't foolish enough to question. 'Everything seems to be in order here. I'll head back down. Just keep him out of everything, won't you?' he now settled his gaze on the shaded figures of Lucy and Claudia.

'We will do as the Dark Lord desires and nothing else,' said Claudia very suddenly, almost stiffly as she bowed her head toward him as he scuttled away down the corridor. Lucy bowed herself, but straightened to look closely at Claudia with a slight mood of apprehension. She was very strangely subdued. Lucy turned her attention to their rescuer.

'Damien!' she said in a stage whisper. 'What are you playing at? You're going to get yourself killed if you pull anything like that again!'

Damien glanced at her quizzically, silent with consideration. Lucy could feel her heart beating wildly, but if Damien knew he ignored it. 'Nothing to be concerned about, Lucy. Despite my age I do hold a certain amount of importance in this very nasty equation. I'm not just the Saturday boy, you know.'

'So what are we planning to do now?' Lucy replied, ignoring in return his attempt at futile humour.

'Oh, so it's we now, is it?' he said slyly. He sighed wearily, almost bored, but continued nevertheless. 'Well, I think the question is, what are we trying to do?'

Lucy was about to speak the obvious, when Claudia interrupted her.

'Help Sirius,' she said quietly, timidly even, as if her true desire was too shameful to admit. She even hung her head as the words escaped her lips. But she was only admitting the truth.

'Well then,' said Damien, apparently enjoying his superior position. 'I think our best move is to stay put. By any means,' he stopped, as a few muffled cries from above effectively pushed his point. He raised his eyes skyward in retaliation to the sound. 'Sounds like your rescue party is already here.'

***

'Shush!'

Hermione scolded Ron ferociously as he attempted to muffle his dusty cough that had made her jump so loudly that her high pitched squeal echoed uncomfortably down the passage, bouncing off the ever emerging stone as they continued to delve further into the depths of the lair. A few pebbles tricked down the slope as a result. Ron shot her in return a look of pure annoyance, but both were silenced themselves by an ever-vigilant Remus, who signalled a quick shift in direction to avoid a hurried Death Eater who descended the stairs ahead of them. Harry realised it was at times like these that he could appreciate the true value of the invisibility cloak.

Sirius, heading the pack in their silent transit, directed them toward the descent. There was a strange glint in his eye, vengeful even as he lead them to the stairs, his back pushed right up against the wall in the dark but still alert and fully attentive. Harry pondered for a minute as he observed this formidable figure how little he really knew about his Godfather. He'd been a legendary prankster, a carefree student, always ready to blow up the dungeons and not give a damn about the detentions that followed. Yet he'd fought the Dark right alongside Dumbledore, had contacts within the Aurors, and was trusted enough and responsible enough to be chosen as the original secret keeper. He was a walking paradox, a vault of tremendous talent, able to become Animagus while still in his youthful teens while his peers still had trouble with basic summoning charms. All this Harry knew for fact. But he didn't know what actually lay behind it all. What created the joker and allowed the possibility of his betrayal to be so believable. Right now he was a fighter. But Harry had a feeling there was much more to be discovered.

They crept down the stairs in single file, Harry's hand clasped around the wand that sat in his pocket as if his life depended on it. He observed a dull ache developing in his forehead; an almost tingling feeling creeping across his scar, but considering the circumstance he wasn't surprised by its presence. He didn't expect anything less, but merely prayed it wouldn't be too much of a hindrance on his concentration. If he ever needed all his wits about him, now was certainly the time. Voldemort was near, and there was nothing he could do about it.

'This way...' Sirius mouthed silently when they reached the bottom of the stairs. They stalked off down yet another endless corridor that Sirius seemed strangely comfortable with. His eyes were almost greeting the familiar, flicking with memories as he counted doors before him and carefully planned their route. Only Hermione was brave enough to question his peculiar behaviour.

'Sirius...' she whispered as she crept up close behind him. 'How do you know where we're going?'

But Sirius didn't answer. Instead Remus took up the mantle leaving his old friend to concentrate other route. He drew in a sharp breath. 'Because this isn't exactly his first visit.'

Ron's eyes widened. 'What?'

'Voldemort's hideouts may have changed location...' said Arabella, 'But they never appear to change layouts. That was half the challenge: Voldemort was always the master of concealment, but originality was never really his thing. But we never really found out much about the layout.'

'Why?' whispered Harry.

'Because not many people came out of it alive...' muttered Sirius quietly, an obvious pain present in his face. Yet more of the Marauder to be revealed. He looked down another set of corridors and emerged to address them again. 'We're here. Come on.'

They followed in a stunned silence. This corridor seemed the bleakest yet, the torches dimmed further than Harry thought was possible as if plunged the hall into near darkness. He supposed if this was where they kept the prisoners, the need to see was unnecessary. Sirius wasn't fazed by the abruptness of the dark at all. Instead he strode down the passage with astounding confidence, almost as if he knew the system well and thrived upon breaking its restrictions. He'd done it before, after all.

He stopped outside an oak door with an ugly gargoyle knocker. 'The highest security cell,' he said without a prompt. He began feeling around the edges of the door. 'I'd recognise it anywhere. That gargoyle has a vicious temper, so don't ever try to cross it...'

At this comment, the stone face of the creature growled in agreement, its eyes narrowing wildly as its pointed teeth protruded over its lower lip. Harry was sure it hissed. Hermione took a step back in alarm but bumped back into the figure of Remus, who took her shoulders reassuringly and suppressed her shudder to a minimum. But then Sirius let out a little gasp of his own as the gargoyle spat even more ferociously.

'What is it?' said Arabella with an air of urgency, stepping up to the front. 'What's the matter, Sirius?'

Wordlessly, he pushed against the door as it fell back into the cell, unlocked and swinging free on its ancient hinges, squeaking every inch of the way. Sirius stood back, wide-eyed, as Harry held no hesitation in pushing his way to the front and stepping into the darkness of the prison. He was vaguely aware of the others furiously debating whether they'd keep a muggle in an enchanted cell like this as they all entered behind him to look, when Harry helped provide them an answer.

'Claudia's jacket,' he said without emotion, retrieving it from the floor of the room and throwing it at Sirius, who caught it with a gasp. 'She was wearing this when we first called round. Everywhere in the house was so cold. She was shaking like a leaf...'

'Quiet!' Arabella suddenly hissed, eyeing the small crack of light that protruded from the doorframe as if it were the devil itself. Footsteps, voices... Harry now felt a hand being placed on his head as he was pushed violently to the floor. He kept low to the ground, slipping silently to the darkest corner of the room, already finding Ron and Hermione taking the cue, both staring at him with their eyes plastered open with fear. He openly returned the stare as the footsteps grew closer, all of them producing their wands as the marauders formed a protective wall around the next generation. Harry didn't even see the face of the intruders. But sickeningly, he recognised the voice.

'Well, well, well...' said Lucius Malfoy, his own wand aloft and with a sneer on his face. 'What do we have here?'

***

The man sat back in his chair and sighed with more apprehension than he'd felt for a long, long time. Fourteen years in fact. He hadn't felt his heart pang in that way since that fateful Halloween, hadn't held his breath in the same way as he waited for the inevitable outcome of that night. He leant forward on his desk, holing his forehead with a finger and a thumb, letting out a deeper sigh than before. But for some reason he was yet to find adequate explanation for, he felt that everything wasn't quite lost. Something deep inside his soul was saying the outcome wouldn't be all bad. And that was a feeling he trusted.

'Sir?'

The head appeared in the fire again. He waved his hand silently to indicate for the speaker to continue. The head looked downcast. 'I followed them, sir, and I believe they went straight in. I took the standard precautions. I think that's all we can do.'

'Indeed,' the man nodded in agreement. 'We can't do anything but let nature run its course. However, I have my full trust that they will be successful.'

'I have to admire your faith, sir.'

'Alas, these days it is all we truly have,' he muttered to himself, humming a little absently. He then shook himself professionally and turned his attention sternly back to the fire, his eyes blazing like the flames. 'Do your best from where you are,' he said. 'Don't do anything that may jeopardise their position, just keep a close observation on the situation. These are the most capable group of individuals I have come across since the dark days. I do not doubt their abilities. The faith is a treasured quality to have my friend. It'll take you very far indeed.'

'Yes sir.'

***

'Malfoy...' Arabella hissed, stepping forward with her wand arm raised. Lucius didn't even bother with disarming. Instead he allowed his own wand to omit a streak of deadly blue light that struck Arabella across the wrist, sending her wand cascading to the ground and rolling away into the dark. Arabella stumbled, her eyes screwed up against the pain as she held her wrist tightly with the other hand, now looking at the father of Draco with more disgust than Harry thought humanely possible. She was positively seething with hate.

'You never were one to play fair, were you, Lucius?' she spat, her eyes now forming menacing narrow slits. 'More content on playing the fool...'

'Brave words, Miss Figg. Very, very brave. I suppose you weren't a Gryffindor for nothing.' He stepped into the room and was closely followed by his minions, all heavily shielded from their eyes by the heavy folds of their hoods. He seemed even more loathsome than the last time Harry had seen him, now twirling his wand lazily between his fingers, his face twisted into something that resembled amusement mixed with disgust as he stepped into the dimmed light with his hood firmly cast down. He wasn't scared to show his status. He thought he was powerful, and thought everyone else needed to be aware of it. He raised his wand again.

'No!' cried Remus, stepping forward before his sensibilities could prevent him. If Lucius could sneer with further delight, that was exactly what he was doing.

'Oh my, Mr Lupin.' He said with menacing amusement, indicating to one of the death eaters to cover old Moony with a wand. Remus' expression didn't change a bit. 'Things do appear to get better. I do hope it's not your time of the month, for that would be most inconvenient. For you, I mean...' he added with a small laugh to himself. 'I could think of many ways such a transformation could play to our advantage.'

Remus growled, but a shuffle from the darkest corner of the cell diverted Lucius' attention. He turned on the ball of his foot and held his wand out rigid, eyes glaring into the black.

'Step out of the shadows, Phoenix,' he spat, the hatred apparent in his voice. 'For you have every reason to fear. You might as well face the inevitable.'

'As should you, Lucius, as should you.'

As the last brick of their physical wall collapsed, Harry felt Ron move his arm and push both him and Hermione protectively back into the wall, as if he wanted them all to suddenly sink right into it. Ron and Hermione were both looking at Harry, wide-eyed. They were shaking, but all three were managing to stay safely out of sight.

'Sirius Black...' said Lucius with a sly smile as Padfoot stepped into view. 'What an honour. Azkaban's most notorious bestows us with his presence? I could not expect anything more. Apart from Harry Potter, of course...'

But the exchange of glances between the older members of the group had really said it all. Lucius picked up the cue and began sniffing the air suspiciously, walking slowly around the cell while his minions blocked the door, wands out. They were truly outnumbered and lacking in viable alternatives.

'Time to make you and your little friends known, Potter.' Lucius was drawling out with a degree of unpleasant satisfaction. 'If you don't do it now, then the Dark Lord will...'

Harry went to move, but Hermione's hand grabbed his shoulder and forced him back to the wall. He was greeted by two pairs of eyes looking at him as if he were mad. Ron was shaking his head madly.

'He's not here, Lucius,' said Arabella, still holding her wrist against the dull ache that resided there. 'It's only a three for one deal tonight...'

But then Harry finally broke free of Hermione's restraints and stepped out from behind his father's friends, bathed in the fading glow of the torches outside. He must have looked quite menacing despite his lack of height, as a number of the Death Eaters backed away, almost frightened at the sight of the Dark Lord's conqueror with his ever present scar. But Lucius wasn't so perplexed. Instead he pushed his lips together in an expression of disapproval: it was plain to see from where Draco got his infamous scowl. His grey slate-like eyes narrowed further still.

'You are certainly creative with the truth, Miss Figg.' He said, his eyes never leaving Harry as Ron and Hermione finally scrambled to their feet, flagging him in their automatic ensemble. It wouldn't be Harry alone if they had anything to do with it. Harry could have sworn he saw a flicker of a smile from Sirius, as if history was repeating itself. But it was gone in an instant and the deadly formality returned.

'And yet more! I say, do you have the entire Gryffindor population hidden in that corner?' Lucius questioned, peering at the sextet. He waved his hand behind him and a couple of Death Eaters moved off in response, most probably to alert Lord Voldemort. 'Our luck appears to be in tonight, my friends. Our master will rejoice, while tomorrow we will enjoy some wonderful executions, no doubt. We shall contain them here and consult him...'

The Death Eater next to him had raised his wand, ready to disarm them all. He'd even uttered the first syllable, but Lucius put out a hand to halt him there.

'No need for that, my friend,' he said in a sickening fashion, unable to keep the malice from his voice. 'Much more entertaining for them to attempt the impossible. I dare say that one of you fools have heard of the irrevocabillis charm? Hmm?'

Arabella looked at him blankly, choosing not to answer instead of letting him know the extent of her knowledge. Hermione decided to voice it. 'The irreversible effect. Allows magic to flow one way, but not the other.'

'Indeed,' said Lucius, Hermione finally being drawn to his attention. 'You're that filthy little mudblood my son has told me about, aren't you?' he snarled. Hermione didn't respond, but Ron shot daggers at him. 'I really should have known. The Potters always liked to associate with the lowest of our kind. Isn't that right, boy? Oh well.' After looking meaningfully at Harry, causing the blood to pound in his ears, he turned to face Hermione again, the expression of disapproval unmistakable. 'Knowledge is dangerous, little girl. Lethal in your case. You're not worth the paper you're written on. Nevertheless, you are correct. This door grants a person entrance, but never bids them leave. You can stand on this side of the door and yell the password as much as you like, but you will not get a response. Your charm will fall on deaf ears. Only the door outside is receptive to the incantation. The charm cannot be overridden. The technique they use on the cells in Azkaban I do believe? Of course only one individual in this room would be able to answer that one...'

At this point, Sirius snapped. He lurched for Lucius, taking him by surprise and sweeping up to grasp his throat, pushing him back into the wall. Harry had only seen that look on his Godfather's face once before, back in the darkness of the Shrieking shack. A look of vengeful hunger only satisfied with the rat. Hatred in its purest form. Sirius was breathing hard through gritted teeth. But Lucius didn't even bother to struggle. He even seemed amused.

'What are going to do to me, Black?' he quizzed, his breathing a little raspy as he held his own wand tightly in his fist, the Death Eaters pulling out their own. He smiled. 'Are you going to fight me? Bare fisted, au naturale?'

Sirius simply growled in return, knowing full well that this was a battle he couldn't win, being so hopelessly outnumbered. He released his grip and Lucius slid a little down the wall before regaining his balance, then pocketed his wand. Sirius stepped away as Lucius straightened his wand and pulled back up his hood, concealing his sharp features as he spoke.

'I suppose we must bid you goodnight,' he said with the utmost politeness, his tone of voice considering the situation enough to make Harry's skin crawl. 'Or even bid you adieu. It is doubtful you will see the dawn. The Master will be waiting.'

And then he and his minions departed, the large oak door closing with a deafening slam while silence engulfed the group. Their number seemed truly up.

***

The three of them walked along the corridor again, glancing from side to side and delving into the occasional room for any sign of Sirius and his crew whose rattles they'd heard from above. After ascending the stairs, Damien walked between the sisters, Claudia gripping the sleeve of his robes for some form of guidance through the maze of halls ahead of them. Sirius was here. She could feel it. It was as if his presence in such close proximity to herself made the air electric, the possibilities brought with their meeting making the air creep up and down her spine with some form of magical mystery. This man had dominated her life for the past fourteen years. He had at times dictated it. They had both been robbed of birthrights. And together they would get them back.

'This is too easy...' Lucy was muttering from behind her own black hood. She seemed more comfortable in the disguise it awarded, the ability to blend into the darkened stone and not even raise an eyebrow by any unexpected behaviour a reassuring possibility. 'This is just too damn straightforward, wandering around here as if we're a piece of the furniture. It just doesn't feel right, Damien...'

'Do you think it feels right to me?' he snapped, his voice still quiet but the sharpness of its blade effectively piercing the night. He stopped abruptly as he leaned round them to inspect the next passage. He even sneered a little at Lucy's outburst, almost like a spoilt teenage brat. But the situation had already proved that Damien was far from that. He continued. 'Do you think I feel particularly comfortable playing the double agent and trying to save all your necks? I don't do this sort of thing by choice you know.'

'What do you do it for?'

'Necessity,' he replied shortly. 'If I don't, then no one else will.'

'Then why bother?'

The question lingered in the air like a bad smell, poisoning all three of them as Damien considered his answer, taking his time and mulling over its words in his conscious. They took a few more steps before he finally voiced his answer. He almost chuckled

'I will leave that for you to work out by yourself,' he said more quietly than before. He blinked and then looked Lucy straight in the face. 'I need to keep some secrets.'

Lucy shook her head. It would appear that Damien would always remain a mystery. Maybe it was better that way for all parties involved. They moved on.

The walking continued. Claudia could hear the muffled voices again, this time coming from below. Even she with her sensitive ears had to strain to pick up the slightest trace of the speech, her face paling a little as she failed to pick out the words that from their tones were not the most friendly being spoken. They weren't being shouted, but muttered in such a precise and controlled way it seemed to chill the air for miles around. It was a voice with an intent she felt she didn't want to know about. But Lucy and Damien didn't even notice. She must have imagined it. Her feet carried on regardless.

Lucy's mind was not concentrated on a single subject matter, but was flitting from one thought to another like a song bird through the wood, unsure where to settle simply because it didn't know where to turn. So many branches, so much choice. So much still unknown. Without the darkness and the Dementors that came with it, her brain was beginning to clear. And for the first time her fear infiltrated it, stopping the song from her heart from calming her so. She was supposed to be the strong one, but she didn't know what they were dealing with. Her sister was right. For a moment in the cell, with Damien on their side, she felt she could conquer the world. Nothing could stand in their way. But now being able to walk openly beside him, Claudia tugging desperately at his sleeve, she finally acknowledged their vulnerability. And that was a feeling that would never sit comfortably on the shoulders of a fighter.

Damien then came to a sudden halt, Claudia continuing to walk a little ahead before she realised her guide had stopped. She gasped at his absence and then stepped back up against the wall, seemingly paralysed without his leading help. Lucy followed, slipping in by her sister's side as Damien stood in the middle of the hall, transfixed by some object that Lucy could not make out, if it were there at all. He wasn't taking notice of anything except his own breathing.

'Damien?' Lucy whispered timidly, reaching out a hand. 'Damien, are you all right? What's the matter?'

'Shush!' he snapped suddenly, his eyes flashing under his hood as the developed a deep sense of concentration again. Now the sisters were truly apprehensive. Claudia had recovered some of her composure and was breathing quite calmly, tranquil even. It suddenly occurred to Lucy that she knew exactly what was going on.

'What is he saying?' Claudia asked Damien in a similar tone of voice to that she'd used on Avery. Lucy shivered again. Damien didn't turn to give an answer, but merely whispered it to the air that was in front of him.

'The rescue party has been apprehended,' he said officially, Lucy completely puzzled as to how this information reached him. Damien kneaded his arm, wincing a little as if the joint was aching but somehow aware of Lucy's profound bafflement, for then he addressed it. 'The Master knows. When something like this happens, he is able to send a message to us all through the dark magical channels. We are all linked to him under the dark mark...'

'The dark mark?' said Lucy, none the wiser. Then Damien rolled up the sleeve of the arm he had been tending. The skin upon the inside of his forearm was red raw, as if the image that was engrafted into his fresh was freshly done yet not quite set. The marking, a skull with a snake protruded from its mouth like a tongue, was flashing black, occasionally being highlighted as if a message was being transmitted. Damien allowed Lucy to touch it tenderly with her fingers, feel the burn and then leap back with surprise. He didn't react, just rolled down his sleeve again and continued with the explanation.

'Normally they are just used for summoning purposes when his servants are out in the field, but they become a most useful communication device in times of utmost urgency. They are located in your original cell, Claudia.' he said, addressing her shadow at the wall. 'Which certainly makes our task a lot easier. But that does also mean they are perfectly aware of your absence too. Our time frame has been cut drastically, so just do everything that I say and everything will go to plan. Agreed?'

Lucy raised an eyebrow. 'Our?'

'Come on,' he said, choosing to ignore her reply. He pulled at Claudia's sleeve again and they set off toward the prison floor. If the situation hadn't been so desperate, Lucy would have sworn that Damien smiled. It was just unfortunate that he hadn't been able to listen to the rest of the discussion.

***

'So what are we to do now, my Lord?'

Voldemort removed his wand from Lucius Malfoy's arm, the tattoo beginning to fade as the message came to its natural end and sat back in his seat. They were to continue their private discussion as the Dark Lord rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his red narrow eye slits not leaving Lucius' face for an instant. Wormtail was lurking somewhere nervously near by. Voldemort could sense him dithering and it was obviously not to his pleasure.

'Will somebody please remove that fool from my presence!' he hissed angrily as a couple of large looking Death eaters gratefully took the command and Wormtail by each arm and escorted him outside. Voldemort and Lucius were now alone.

'Lucius,' he said slowly and precisely, 'that is truly the question of the moment. Everything seems to have gone according to plan...'

'Indeed...' replied his servant sycophantically.

'But...' the Dark Lord continued, ignoring Lucius' remark. 'That doesn't mean that it will do in the future. The Phoenix does happen upon the habit of escaping from my clutches quite frequently. It is not a characteristic in their activities I thrive upon.'

'Yes, my Lord. So what do you have planned for our guests to prevent such an incident from occurring?'

At such a comment, Voldemort would often lose his patience. He would scold the speaker with a curse for demanding his intentions, send them a painful reminder they'd be wiser not to forget. No matter how many Death Eaters he had to control in such a manner, they never seemed to learn. They still had the nerve to ask. He supposed underneath all that obedience, the ones who hadn't joined in out of fear were still hankering after the power. That was the whole basis of the situation. As he had told the young Quirrell when he was barely a shadow among the trees, there is no good and evil, only power, and those too weak to seek it. And he only wanted the strong. So instead of cursing one of his most powerful followers, the Dark Lord raised an eyebrow at Lucius' demand and went ahead answering the question.

'We will duel,' he said frankly. 'We will finish what was begun in June. The Potter boy will be killed, and hopefully so too will his friends. It will be a warning to those bumbling fools at the Ministry that the Dark Mark is back and this time will not take prisoners. Their bodies will be deposited on their doorstep in London, and as their blood begins to seep into the drains they will know we have truly arrived.'

'But my Lord...' Lucius began. 'Do you believe that will be enough? I mean with the last duel - where you fought bravely, I must inform you - matters out of our control drove to make it inconclusive...'

'Ah, Lucius,' the Dark Lord said quietly, his gleaming eyes drawing level with Lucius' sharp, glacial face. 'You think I am going to deprive my returned followers the opportunity to bask within the glory of their deaths? It will be a team effort, my friend. We will work together for a glorious victory. We will be feared together. But I alone will get the last blow. You may crush them until they cannot move for their lives, for then only I will take that force from them. It that understood?'

Lucius nodded.

'Good.' Voldemort stood up to his full, terrifying height. He breathed heavily, then continued. 'Then send a group of servants to stand outside their cell. I don't want to take any chances. They will not get away. I have waited far too long, and tonight their deaths will be ours to rejoice. Dismissed.'

***

Sirius was pacing. Harry had seen him pace just once before, in the cave high above Hogsmeade a little while after the second task. He'd been deep in thought and considering the evidence Harry was putting before him with the manner of an attorney, gnawing absently on a chicken leg whilst discussing the activities of Barty Crouch Senior. Or so they thought. He'd been speaking all the way through that, constantly questioning, seeing the layers that hadn't occurred to Harry or that youth had deprived him knowledge of. Crouch's mysterious absences from the judges panel of the tournament had just been a curious oddity, the danger being there but in the euphoria that followed Harry's successful adventure in the lake not taken as seriously as it might have. They didn't know what was coming then. But now they were painfully aware, horribly aware. There appeared to be no way out.

So Sirius was pacing with a frantic air, every step forced and slightly broken as he rubbed his unshaven face wearily with one hand as the others looked on. Harry saw his eyes were closed against the dark, his lips moving in silent murmurs as he turned sharply in the corner of the cell. They all had to cope with the certainty of the dawn in some way or other. Arabella was exploring the door with a glowing wand, searching for cracks, a way round the charm that was yet to be recorded. She was frowning at the wood and tapping it here and there while Hermione looked on, occasionally muttering her ideas and advice that Arabella took on board willingly, her own resources exhausted. Ron simply sat with his back to the wall, his head in his hands, looking so downtrodden and defeated that his silence soon attracted other attention. Hermione glanced up from her work on the door and gazed at his fallen figure for a while, before she crept right over and simply put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it very gently. She looked him straight in the eye and Harry could see his friend begin to falter.

'Don't worry, Ron...' he vaguely heard Hermione say. 'We're going to get out of it, I just know it...'

Harry would've done anything for a slice of her confidence right now. But instead he felt like he was looking down the barrel of a gun and everything would end without all the fundamental answers. These could be his last moments and there was so much he didn't know. Sirius didn't seem in a fit state to say anything, so he approached the paling Remus.

'What are we going to do?' he asked innocently, feeling a little stupid for not having a better question at such a hideous time. If Remus thought this, he didn't show it.

'I don't know Harry,' he sighed, resting his head back against the wall. 'I honestly don't know. We can't try to break out of here, you heard Lucius. The only way to get out is if someone lets us out...'

'A bit like the Fidelius charm?' asked Harry quietly.

Remus froze for an instant and then smiled weakly at the son of his friend. 'Yes, I suppose. You only get the story with the secret keeper's consent. We'll only escape with treachery...' he sighed, drifting off in his own thought for a moment. Then he straightened up and looked Harry directly in the eye. 'But whatever we'll do, we'll fight. I know that's what your father would do. That's something that I'm sure of.'

Harry smiled weakly, then turned to look straight at Remus again. 'If -I mean, when we get out of here, you and Sirius need to tell us everything about him.' he could feel a lump forming in his throat. 'I need to know, Remus, he's my father and...'

'I understand,' said the Werewolf. 'There's no need to explain....'

But then he was cut off by regular weighted footsteps. Thump, thump, thump. Everyone looked up, Hermione wiping away a silent tear as the footsteps grew louder and louder. Harry knew exactly what they were thinking, the twinkle of Ron's humour evaporating into the night as Sirius' own face darkened with their plight. But whatever they were expected, it was far from what they got.

The door opened with such an air of urgency, Harry was certain it was about to fall of its hinges with the force. Indeed as it slammed into the stonework behind, the echo it created was enough to even made Hermione jump, sheer apprehension that didn't suit her face etching across her features. She edged further into the corner, looking as if she was going to faint, reminding Harry of that battle in the toilets with the troll that had brought them together in the first place. And although he somehow doubted that Ron would attempt to knock out three death eaters with a simple levitation charm, he was sure that the danger would have a similar bonding outcome.

'What do you want?' growled Harry, now standing on his feet with his wand gripped tightly in his fist. 'Come to wind us up some more, or is 'the Master' ready for us now?'

Harry had obviously had enough. He was glaring at the figures through the darkness, the loathing on his face created by fourteen years of hurt and betrayal and now making its true debut. Harry was growing up, and fully prepared to face the battles he knew were to come. Its just too soon, Hermione thought, lifting herself off the ground to join Ron at their best friend's side. We shouldn't be facing this now. We should never have to face it. Evil should not exist. But one long look at the hardened face of Sirius reminded her that there'd never been any justice in the world as far as Voldemort was concerned. No justice whatsoever.

'Harry...' his Godfather was saying, putting a calming hand on Harry's shoulder that the teenager made no effort to bat away. He even looked quite gentle. 'Leave it...'

'Harry, it's me...' said one of the figures, lowering the hood of its robes. 'It's Claudia...'

Sirius suddenly seemed to lose all control of his facial features, as a million emotions flickered across its surface where none appeared to settle. Confusion, distress, outright amazement. His breathing became short as he finally laid eyes upon the personification of his freedom, manifesting itself in this woman clad in black, flying into the cell like an angel of the night to deliver him more hope than he'd ever felt in his life. He couldn't help himself. He stepped forward into the torchlight and took hold of her arms, looking frantically into her face for any sign of recognition, any twinkle in those colourless eyes that even now caused him to gasp with the sheerness of their ice-like stare. But there was no need for introductions. She knew it was him. She could feel it was him. She raised her own hand and felt along his unshaven face, and smiled.

'Sirius Black...' she said quietly, so quietly it was as if they were the only two people in the world. 'The elusive Sirius Black. The cause of my insomnia for the past two decades. It's an honour to meet you at last.'

He removed her hand from his face and lowered her arm to her side. 'The honour is all mine, Ms Darlington. Believe me, it's all mine...'

Another taller figure was helping Ron and Hermione to their feet while Arabella and Remus gathered round Claudia, dumbstruck. Harry just hung back for an instant while they bombarded her for explanations, the other taller figure coming back to her side while the smaller one hung back strangely. Harry was watching it intensely.

'... They'd taken my sister Lucy as bait,' Claudia was explaining with rapid confidence as the said sister removed her own hood. Claudia pointed absently in the direction she believed the smaller figure stood behind Harry now. 'But luckily she had her guard, Damien here, on her side and so together they broke me free. That thing, Voldemort, he wanted me to...'

But Harry wasn't listening. Even if the world had exploded, it was doubtful he would have noticed for the surge of amazement that flowed through his veins as his eyes clapped sight upon the face of the Death Eater Damien. He'd unleashed a tired, almost frustrated sigh, scratched the back of his head and removed his hood with it, allowing it to slope gently down onto his shoulders and the folds to cascade down his back, finally revealing his face. Harry was so taken back he couldn't even get the words out. He sucked in a deep, deep breath and spoke.

'Draco?'

Draco Malfoy didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. His white blond hair was lying long around his ears, untouched by the dark that was yet to fill his pale, pointed face with any form of colour or emotion. He just stared at Harry, his slate-grey eyes narrowed in their usual look of disapproval as he ignored the voicing of his name and addressed them in his bored, drawn out drawl. He looked up then back at Harry.

'Footsteps,' he said bluntly, ignoring Ron's dropped chin and Hermione's look of sheer shock. Sirius snapped back into life and agreed with him.

'He's right,' he said, taking Claudia by the wrist and leading them all toward the door. 'They've finally sent out a guard. And if we don't get out of here within the next minute, it isn't going to be pleasant. We can do explanations later. Come on.'

By the sound of the shouts now coming from below, Harry couldn't have disagreed even if he wanted to. He was in too much of a daze. He looked from Draco to his Godfather, via Ron and Hermione, and by the looks on all their faces they were as dazed as he was. But there was still a prison to escape from. Still a life to be saved. And with that in mind, he wasn't going to hang around. With one last look to the left and the right, the group departed from the cell and ran straight into the dark, the door slamming silently behind them.

*

to be continued...