Support System

Chapter II - Go on Ahead

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Dark-gray bricks had sustained the grandeur of Malfoy Manor's three stories and two watchtowers since the eighteenth-century. Although its vast, well-kept green lawn was friendly-looking, strict clearance was mandatory to pass the daunting double-gated entrance, which itself measured twenty feet in length and width. Disturbingly, overhead the gates an encircling stone arch read a stern warning: TRESPASSERS TO THE MALFOY MANOR WILL SUFFER DIRE CONSEQUENCES. Adding to this standoffishness, life-sized statues of Salazar Slytherin and prominent figures on the Malfoy family tree were visible in every direction past the gates. Sometimes even Death Eaters, the Manor's most welcomed visitors, were spooked by these realistic sculptures while walking up the stone path to the Manor, for their extraordinary figures seemed to stare in a suspiciously life-like manner.

This particular pitch-black night, however, was about to become the crucial thirty-first of July, so the arriving Death Eaters couldn't afford to be distracted by unimportant matters: at precisely a quarter to midnight, Bellatrix Lestrange, Theodore Nott, and Walden Macnair Apparated onto the Manor's front porch. As Lord Voldemort's honored choices, these Death Eaters were proud yet anxious about taking up their most important mission to date. Aware of their anxiousness, Voldemort had sought their early arrivals so he could deliver a quick preparatory speech at the Manor before their mission's due start at midnight.

Narcissa Malfoy, the last selected Death Eater, apprehensively greeted the three at the lavish double-doors. Quickly, she led them down the immediate hallway and inside the drawing room, the venue as of late for important meetings: one torch on each of the four walls dimly lit the room. Baffling tapestries and cryptic portraits ravishingly chronicled the lives of prominent Malfoys across the room's black walls. In the center, a well-furnished marble table and its seventeen cushioned chairs extended across the room, while a tall, Victorian-style grandfather clock decorated the main, facing wall.

The Death Eaters were caught off-guard by a starker-pronounced coldness when Narcissa shut the door, for the Dark Lord condescendingly eagle-eyed them...

Lord Voldemort awaited them quietly, sitting on the highest chair at the table's farthest end. He smiled nefariously as his companion snake, Nagini, rose from beneath the table into a delicate embrace around his shoulders. Petting her affectionately, he surveyed his approaching Death Eaters sharply with his reddish eyes, sending shivers up their spines even now...

Finally, once his Death Eaters took the seats closest to him, the Dark Lord politely addressed his followers. "Evening, most favored Death Eaters of mine -- I hope you are well."

"Yes, my Lord," the four replied automatically, knowing he wasn't truly concerned with their present wellbeing (unless it was going to depress their performances, that is).

"Good, good," Voldemort said pleasantly, smilingly satisfied by their undivided attention. "Now, as there is such little time before you'll be executing this ultimatum of mine, listen closely: Severus, privy to Dumbledore's will, has ensured that Harry Potter not be kept at his family's home for the rest of summer after all. Instead, Dumbledore has been successfully convinced by Snape's supposed "inside knowledge", so now the Order of the Phoenix's top Aurors will escort Potter to those Weasley blood-traitors. That Dumbledore is a dimwitted old fool, ha, I tell you!" Voldemort's cold laugh echoed around the room.

Narcissa was first to respond to his commands. "We are excited to fulfill our assignment with honor, and we promise to succeed in spite of any difficulties in the forthcoming challenge."

Voldemort's sickening smile was a satisfied answer to his Death Eaters' anticipation. Appeased, the Dark Lord spoke again in his monstrous tone. "At precisely midnight the Order will rendezvous at Number 4, Privet Drive for a speedy pick-up. Thus, we will intercept their journey to the Weasley house - the Burrow, they call it - and fiercely duel to the death if necessary, as we must have Potter in our clutches! I, of course, am not at all worried, because I know their abilities are second-rate to ours." Voldemort studied his four followers and their militant demeanors. Once satisfied, Voldemort checked the clock before sharply glancing back at them. "Five minutes and we mount our brooms for take-off! Oh most prized Death Eaters of mine, are you ready to hunt for those perverted with impure and pitiful blood?"

Voldemort nodded approvingly as his Death Eaters rose with him to start their mission.

**

The day before Harry's birthday, a boring Thursday, began gloomily but ended spectacularly. It was late at night when the largest barn owl at Hogwarts tapped urgently at his bedroom window, carrying a letter and newspaper once again. Alarmed, Harry immediately opened his window and took the items, feeling pretty certain these were Dumbledore's again. Surprising Harry completely, this time Dumbledore shared great news:

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Dear Harry,

I have always said that patience is a great virtue. Proving such, I now have a cheery turn of news: thanks to inside knowledge from a particular spy, I am able to have you safely escorted to the Burrow tomorrow, where you'll of course spend the rest of the summer! It is a happy coincidence that tomorrow also happens to be your sixteenth birthday, is it not, Harry? I hope that is a satisfactory present from yours truly!

Although there is much to be discussed at a later date, for now just please heed the warning that a party of familiar faces in the Order will arrive at midnight tomorrow. But I am begging you to keep your eyes open and ready in the meantime. I assure you that your prospective trip to the Burrow will be without any disturbances, so just hold on a little longer, Harry!

With sincerest pleasure,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

**

Harry was elated beyond belief. He even forgot about the Daily Prophet lying on his desk for several minutes. Finally remembering the untouched newspaper at random, Harry, swiftly seizing the edition into his belated hands, was instantly thrown back by the intriguing headline.

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THREE WITNESSES TO CORNELIUS FUDGE'S DISAPPEARANCE REVEAL PUZZLING CLUES TO MINISTRY

By Rita Skeeter

The investigation surrounding Minister Fudge's mysterious disappearance progresses slightly thanks to three witches who wish to remain confidential. Their testimonies corroborated the following facts regarding Fudge's disappearance from his residence in Badger's Fortress (a wizarding village outside London): reportedly, six mysterious figures wearing thick scarlet robes and large hoods loitered nearby around the approximated time of Fudge's criminal disappearance. Peculiarly, the witches saw that on each of the hooded figures' robes was a bronze insignia of the Ravenclaw raven. They were certain that the robed figures never left the vicinity of Minister Fudge's residence. Although these findings far from end the mystery, the Ministry concludes this uniform is totally dissimilar from that of the Death Eaters.

In the meantime, Amelia Bones continues as temporary Minister of Magic. In closing the matter of this new discovery, Bones stiffly informed, "Further evidence is confidential until later notice."

Hopefully the Ministry will succeed in the investigation before it's too late. For now, we can only hope for an end to all this growing confusion... - July 30, 1996

**

Harry finished the article feeling more confused than ever. The scenario was more puzzling than ever now that the Death Eaters were all but ruled out. And strange as it was, throughout four years of exposure to the wizarding world, Harry had generally accepted the binary of Voldemort vs. the wizarding community; hence, Harry had viewed the two as THE opposing forces of good and evil for all practical considerations. Nothing had given him any reason to wonder seriously about a possible third-party. Inside though, Harry rapidly realized this ignorance perhaps now severely endangered him --

The uncomfortable lack of certainty about this hypothetical, third-party menace never left Harry as he waited for the Order to pick him up at the appointed hour...

**

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Harry, alarmed, turned automatically to his window and saw witnessed four familiar faces waving at him from midair on broomsticks. It was midnight exactly, and indeed it was true that friendly rescuers were here! Harry raced to his window and cheerfully greeted them. "Tonks, Professor Lupin! Professor Moody! Mr. Shacklebolt!"

"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks teased, winking at him.

"Hello, Potter," growled Mad-Eye, as usual appearing paranoid as ever.

"Harry Potter, it's nice to see you in one piece! Good man!" Shacklebolt joked in that recognizably deep, gentlemanly voice of his.

"Hey Harry, it's a nice relief to see you've been holding up alright!" Professor Lupin greeted him warmly, although his tone was less cheerful.

Very briefly, Harry thought how bad losing Sirius was after only two years of knowing him. Then, suddenly Harry felt a whole new level of empathy for Lupin. 'I would have to times that by a million to imagine what Lupin's summer has been like. I've been thinking only of me unfairly trapped at the Dursleys, like I'm the one and only depressed victim in recourse. He suddenly felt like he'd been kicked hard in the gut.

Knowing this was not the time, he tried to shift his thoughts. Harry covered his sudden episode of uneasiness as he replied breezily, "Hey mates! SO good to see you finally! I reckoned you'd be around anytime now!" Harry felt silly for doubting that his friends would be there to get him when Dumbledore had said they would, even as he'd worried there'd be a "last-minute" rescheduling or cancellation.

Finally, it hit Harry that he was truly leaving, right now! Motioning for them to wait, Harry hurriedly pulled his trunk and Hedwig (who currently slept soundly inside her cage) toward the window. Every second closer to freedom intoxicated his insides, literally. Everything felt blissful by the time Harry mounted his Firebolt ten minutes later, finally. Laughing as he flew into dark skies, Harry Potter joyously broke free from Dursley captivity for another school year!

**