The League Against Voldemort

Note: This story was written before 'Goblet of Fire' was published; hence some of the things here contradict what we learned from it. I hope this doesn't harm anyone's enjoyment of the story. We open about a month after the events in 'Moony & Padfoot'.

~

The nightmare still ringing through his mind, Remus sat bolt upright. For a second of blind terror, as dream and reality blurred, he heard the taps on the window again. But even when his head cleared, the taps continued. He could see nothing but the curtain twitching in the draught. Breathing rapidly, he went over and pulled the curtain aside.

There was an owl looking reproachfully through the glass, yellow eyes shining. Relief flooded through him, and he undid the catch and let the owl in. A blast of icy wind sent shivers all over his body. The owl dropped the letter on the floor and swooped off again with an irritated hoot. Remus picked it up and lit the lamp. By the flickering light, he could make out the familiar purple seal of Hogwarts, and he recognised the handwriting of the address. Still shivering, he broke open the seal, wondering why Dumbledore was sending him an owl in the middle of the night.

Midnight, 6th January

Dear Remus,

I write in haste. Voldemort has made an appearance two hours ago, at Dover. He sank a Muggle ferry, and a witch has been killed. The League will be re-formed immediately. As a former member, I ask you to take up your position again. Please be at Hogwarts at dawn.

Albus Dumbledore.

Head of the League Against Voldemort.

The letter fell from Remus' suddenly nerveless hand, and he sat heavily on the bed. Voldemort, back. Back from whatever Harry had done to him. Back to fill the magical world with terror, to kill the brave and the good, to slake his terrible thirst for power with their life's blood.

He lay back, shaking, heedless of the wind whistling through the still-open window.

At last, he sat up, taking a shuddering breath, trying to calm himself. The League was re-forming. He remembered their last meeting, when they all had all known that there was a traitor within the ranks, and had watched each other with suspicious eyes. The League - Dumbledore's idea, of course, his network of spies and powerful wizards who were determined to destroy Voldemort. He had formed it the year Voldemort appeared, when Remus was still a student at Hogwarts, and when he and his friends had left school, Dumbledore had invited them to join. He had tried not to think about it before, for it only brought painful memories with it. But now there was no choice. If the League was coming together, if Dumbledore wanted him, he would go.

With hands that still shook a little, he dressed and pulled his warmest cloak around his shoulders. Then he went downstairs and found the second-hand broomstick he had bought. It was certainly no Firebolt, he though ruefully as it juddered sideways and lurched into the air with a protesting groan.

As he flew through the bitter winter skies, he looked at the pinpricks of light below and shuddered to think of the fear that would be returning to them, fear that would make the worry caused by Sirius look like a child's game. The thought of Sirius nearly made him lose his grip on the broom. If Voldemort had come back, what would have happened to him? He realised that Pettigrew must have reached his master. And if Sirius had failed to prevent that, there was no telling what might have happened to him.

With a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, Remus flew on. At last he could make out the towering bulk of Hogwarts. He was numb with cold. The broomstick gave a final jerk and deposited him in a heap on the ground outside the front steps. Shivering violently, he picked himself up and knocked on the castle doors.

'Oh, Remus!' Minerva McGonagall dragged the door back. 'How are you? Why haven't I heard from you sooner?' She gave him a rare smile, but he noticed that her eyes were dark-circled, and she looked as though she had not slept. 'You'd better go straight up. We're meeting in the office.'

Remus nodded mutely, and he began to make his way through the familiar passages to Dumbledore's office. The gargoyle at the foot of the stairs admitted him without question, and he climbed up.

'Remus! Wonderful, come in.' For someone who had just discovered that his worst enemy had returned, Professor Dumbledore looked remarkably cheerful. 'Almost everyone's here now. Go and take a seat.'

Remus went into the room where the League used to meet, and sat at his place at the round table. There were a number of gaps around the table, empty chairs that could not be filled. Against his will, his eyes were drawn to the pair of chairs where Lily and James had once sat, and the McKinnons' seats, and Francis Bone's, and Jenny and William Prewett's. He looked at Sirius' place, and at Peter's with a frown. Last of all his eyes fell on Andrea's chair, and he looked away hastily.

Snape was watching him with mistrustful eyes from his place on Dumbledore's left. Lady Irene de Beale, whom they said was descended from Rowena Ravenclaw herself, was reading an early edition of the Prophet and frowning. The entire front page was filled with the headline, in huge black print. You-Know-Who Returns. In the corner, Miranda Goshawk was knitting calmly. She was almost as old as Dumbledore himself, and a witch of great wisdom. Simon McKinnon, the only survivor from his family, kept an eye on Professor Dumbledore as he waited. Cornelius Fudge shifted uncomfortably in a seat in the other corner. He was not actually a member of the League, but he was present on this occasion because of the importance, Remus supposed.

Minerva came in, followed by Hagrid, and a third person whom Remus did not know, a weather-beaten man with eyes set very deep in his skull.

'Wonderful, we're all here.' Dumbledore stood at the head of the table. He did not introduce the strange man, who took the seat between Remus and Minerva, James' old place. 'You all know why we're here,' Dumbledore began in a straightforward tone. 'There is no need for me to elaborate. And so, to business. We do not yet understand how Voldemort - ' there were a few flinches around the table as he spoke the name '- has managed to return. It is as shrouded in mystery as his thirteen-year disappearance. However, we will make finding this out our priority.'

Snape cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him.

'Headmaster, surely the cause of Lord Voldemort's return is clear to you. Without doubt, it has been with the help of his servant Sirius Black.' He shot a malicious look at Remus.

Dumbledore blinked, also looking at Remus, as Fudge rose to answer.

'Well, now, Professor, I am afraid that the Ministry of Magic has been unfortunate - most unfortunate - in this sorry affair. I assure you all that we are doing our utmost to secure his recapture.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'Of course, we will look into all the possibilities,' he said. 'For more pressing matters. The security arrangements will have to be reinstated.' He nodded to Miranda Goshawk, who was taking the minutes. She sat bolt upright, dropped a stitch and cursed under her breath before scribbling something on the crumpled parchment on the table. 'I trust you all remember what roles you played before. You will resume them, with whatever alterations must be made.'

Dumbledore began to talk about the importance of keeping up their courage and not panicking. Remus stole a glance at the stranger. He was looking around the table warily, his keen eyes seeming to mark the other members' every movement.

'Okay, that's about everything. Remus, I'd like a word before you go.' Snape shot him another fierce look. The people around the table began to talk, in hushed voices as if they were at a funeral, as Dumbledore sat down and wrote a few things on some parchment.

Remus turned to the stranger. 'Are you new to the League?' he asked.

'In a manner of speaking. I have been working in conjunction with you over the years, but I have not attended a meeting since the very first one.' The man's voice was quiet, but Remus received the impression it could carry across a screaming crowd of Quidditch supporters should the occasion arise.

He nodded, and remembered his manners. 'Sorry. I'm Remus Lupin.' He extended a hand, which the stranger took in a strong grip.

'My name is Arion.'

Remus nodded, choosing not to ask whether that was his first or second name. 'What have you been doing for the League?'

Arion frowned. 'I'd prefer not to discuss it just now.'

The others were leaving. Hagrid clasped Arion's shoulder as he passed.

'I 'aven't seen you about much. Been off workin' for Dumbledore, eh?'

Arion smiled a little. 'As always. How are things?'

Hagrid shook his shaggy head. 'Such awfu' news. Why don' yeh come down an' have a cup o' tea with me, an' tell me where yeh've been all year?'

'That'd be great.' He rose and with a nod to Remus and to Dumbledore, he followed Hagrid from the office.

Remus looked back along the table. Snape was talking urgently to Dumbledore in his soft voice, and from his expression Remus could guess what it was about. Minerva was listening as well, seeming to agree.

'Severus, you know I will not take any unnecessary risks. I believe as you do that it is vital to find Sirius Black,' said Dumbledore, more loudly. Snape looked slightly disappointed, as if he had wanted to argue further. 'Now, will it be possible for you to continue with your previous work? I know it was unpleasant for you, but you do appreciate how very important it is. Are the arrangements still in place?'

'Yes, they are. I can go back to it, if I must,' said Snape, sounding less than delighted. 'At least I'll be able to get near Black.'

Dumbledore nodded vaguely. 'Good.' He looked at Remus. 'Why don't you come through to my room, and we'll have a little talk about what I'd like you to do.'

When they were in the privacy of the small round office, Dumbledore began, 'You know as well as I that Sirius is innocent. But you also know that without Pettigrew, or some other evidence, I have no way of convincing the League, or the Ministry. And so I would like you to look for Peter Pettigrew, and perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone.'

Before Remus could think of an answer, Dumbledore continued, 'I was hearing things about you, a few weeks ago.' His moustache twitched slightly. 'Both Snape and Fudge came to me with all sorts of stories. If Sirius is going to help you in this - as is, I suppose, appropriate - do try and keep it from everyone else. I know he is innocent, but if anyone else catches you, you may not be so lucky. Of course, I will do my best to protect both of you from any further persecution, but I can promise nothing. Do you know where Sirius is?'

'He was at my house last month, and he's already looking for Peter. I haven't heard from him since then.' Remus sighed. 'I'm rather worried about him, to tell you the truth. He said he was going to Albania - after you sent us those files, you know - and if Pettigrew got past him … I don't know.'

'Well, I have heard nothing bad, so I suppose we must assume that he's lying low. Certainly the Ministry have lost his trail - though Severus told them about the Animagus. Clever of him, to find that out.' He smiled suddenly. 'But Sirius's outsmarted us again.'

'Is Voldemort still in England?' asked Remus worriedly. 'Where does he hide?'

'Ah, for that, I'll have to send you to ask Arion. He's my expert on this - if he doesn't know, you can be sure nobody knows.'

'Arion?'

'Yes indeed. He knows all the magical places on this island, he knows where Voldemort could and couldn't be. He's spent most of his life travelling across England, and he is a wizard of great power. You can trust him as you would me. I'll have a word with him, and send you an owl. Is there anything else?'

Remus shook his head. 'That's fine. I'll start looking for Sirius and Peter.' He rose to go.

'Oh, and Remus - do take care.'

With a wry smile, Remus left the little office.

He took his time going through the passages to the main door, remembering his old life here. A student shot out of a door, pulling his robes around him as he went, and nearly bowled Remus over. In his sternest professor voice, he said, 'No running in the corridors.' The boy whirled around, and Remus' mouth fell open. So did the boy's.

'Professor Lupin? What are you doing here? Have you heard?'

Remus looked at Harry. Over the summer, he had shot up, and was now almost as tall as his father had been.

'Yes, Harry, I've heard,' he said sombrely.

Harry turned his green eyes to him. 'Is it - I mean, did Pettigrew help him?'

'I'm very much afraid that he did, but I don't know for certain.'

'Hermione says it said in the Daily Prophet that it was Sirius.' His tone was outraged. 'They're so stupid! I think we should tell them.'

Remus shook his head. 'That would probably only get me and Professor Dumbledore, and you three, into serious trouble. We're going to keep looking for evidence. Sirius is hunting everywhere for Peter.' He did not mention his fears for Sirius' safety to the boy.

'Well … if you say so. Is Sirius all right? He hasn't written to me except for a birthday card, and I saw in the Prophet in November that he was seen somewhere in Wales.'

'Sirius was fine a month ago - he was at my house.' A bell clanged, and Harry looked around.

'You'd better go, you don't want to miss breakfast.' The smell drifting through the castle reminded Remus of how hungry he was.

Harry nodded. 'Will you be around? Everybody really misses you here. The new teacher's nowhere near as nice as you, she's a bit boring.'

'I'll give you my address - have you got something to write on?' Harry handed him some parchment, and Remus scribbled a few words. 'Your owl will get it there. Off you go, now.'

He watched as Harry strode out of sight, and then went down to the doors. Outside, the air was still cold, and the grass was white with frost. Dark clouds were gathering in the west, and the wind was rising. Remus mounted his broomstick and rose into the stormy sky.

TO BE CONTINUED

Blaise.
27th January 2000.