Support System

Chapter VI - Firewalker

**

A scary-looking man sat at the highest chair of the long marble table inside the Malfoys' dark drawing room. Forced to continue his important wait in insufficient light, even now during late-afternoon, understandably he appeared quite perturbed. His annoyance was excessive today though, not precedential, but that was simply because the reason for this rendezvous was altogether extremely grave. In fact, as the seated man tapped his fingers impatiently, staring unpleasantly at the grandfather clock, his reddish eyes shone brightest of all -

It was not a pretty sight.
Finally, Severus Snape, in seconds few and after, punctually entered at 4:30 to meet Lord Voldemort. Notwithstanding the cordiality, Severus took his seat only to find his master's fixed, unconcealed dissatisfaction. Snape, nervous as ever, didn't want to look like he had any reason to be in trouble with the Dark Lord, and smiled generously as he greeted his master. "Hello my Lord, I hope you are well. What pleasure do I owe this private meeting with your highness?" Snape sounded blatantly servile, totally out-of-character.

Looking at Snape face-to-face, Lord Voldemort scowled meaningfully, slammed a heavy fist on the table, and lividly spat, "SEVERUS, POTTER ESCAPED THE MALFOYS' DUNGEON - HOW? I PLACED HIM THERE BASED ONLY UPON YOUR ADVICE! 'THE MANOR IS "FOOL-PROOF" TO INTRUDERS', RECALL? YOUR INFORMATION WAS APPARENTLY INACCURATE, GIVEN POTTER ESCAPED, YOU BLOODY WASTE!"

Petrified, Snape bowed his head appropriately, faking shame. So this is why I sit here, he thought resignedly, to receive unforgivable blame. Sensibly, Snape stayed silent for several contentious moments, waiting for Voldemort's agitation to wane. Then, upon his master's deep breaths, Snape humbly explained, "My Lord, please understand that I advised so because since the Manor's establishment in the eighteenth-century, zero successful intrusions have surmised! In fact, I therefore maintain that a complete stranger cannot and did not intercept the life-threatening enchantments that protect these walls! Potential intruders wouldn't be aware the Manor's deadly threats exist even, much less how to instantly deal with each one; thus, bypassing these protective grounds would require access to the Ministry's magically-sealed record, which by law is accessible only if the family's under criminal investigation." Voldemort's entertained expression validated Snape's rationale (if only slightly); since he was never in Voldemort's bad light, Snape luckily retained notable credibility as he cleverly added, "Nevertheless, failing ALWAYS leaves me greatly shamed. But as very remorseful as I feel, my Lord, I contest a betrayer orchestrated Potter's escape -- it's the only way!"

For the first time during Snape's speech, Voldemort nodded agreeably. Although Voldemort wasn't satisfied exactly, he no longer was irate either. He responded pleasingly, "Intrusion indeed is about, Severus, of that you are correct. I'm perfectly aware that his cell bars didn't evaporate, and you obviously heard at the meeting that I am certain a betrayer helped Potter. Nonetheless, Severus, you're partly at irrespective fault." The Dark Lord deeply breathed, concentrating severely before saying, "Despite the unknown character, you compelled my trusting belief in you. But now, due to your inaccuracies, we are now troubled with disastrous consequences, Severus!"

Snape winced. Speechless, he bowed his head like before, except this time shame was really felt. Dark Lord disappointedly looked down upon him, dryly grunting at the easily belittled Snape, and impatiently waited until Snape faced him eye-to-eye. The pitiful servant then apologized again, morosely saying, "I am very sorry that my advice failed you. Please do forgive me, my Lord, and allow me the opportunity to return Potter into our custody." Snape's voice was smothered in sincerity.

Lord Voldemort made a crooked, ill-humored smile. Contained, he replied commandingly, "So you will help regain Potter for me, Severus--in time. But if it is your wish to regain trustworthiness fast, I have a mission for you." Voldemort searched Snape carefully, calculating his reception.

Wrinkled in desperation, Severus focused upon the Dark Lord with great engagement, submitting subserviently, "Anything you wish, my Lord."

Voldemort paused tentatively before saying in a low voice, "Interrogate Wormtail--the sole confessor: find out why his cahoots with Potter happened."

"So Wormtail actually admitted to guilt when he said he knew a 'Dumbledore traitor', but would only speak privately? I'd found it quite odd how he refused to say the traitor's name in front of all us Death Eaters, especially since he loves special attention from you!" Snape understood excitedly, his thoughts trailing him a bit.

Voldemort nodded adamantly as he explained, "Wormtail knew he would be pitiful at lying to the Dark Lord inevitably. He squirmed instantly in hopes for leniency." Although partly vulnerable, Voldemort still spoke pompously, ever-assertive.

Snape, goggling in surprise, found none of it overtly guessable. Nevertheless he shook his pretensions off the best he could, for his total concentration would be needed if he planned to restore the glory of himself. Listening closely while Voldemort laid-out the necessary information, the more Severus became adept the more he mentally swore to stay emotionally uninvolved. And finally, as a matter of fact, Severus Snape managed to impress his master a little as he voyaged off to tackle this challenge immediately, wasting no time...

**

Harry sat at the dining table at Grimmauld Place with Tonks and Lupin, finally safe. Still in shock of his escape from the horror, Harry wasn't sure how to feel. Being in Sirius' old house certainly did not help because it made mourning Sirius' recent loss include graphic illustrations as reminders. Nonetheless, Harry was eternally grateful to be somewhere safe.

Tonks and Lupin gave Harry a fright when they began laughing happily. Harry joined in a little strangely but quickly cut to the chase. "I'm so grateful to you both, but I am SO lost. What the hell is going on, and how did you find me?" Harry asked desperately, anxious for details.

Remus and Tonks exchanged prudent glances, and then he spoke first. "Harry, after we were separated by Bellatrix's whirlwind charm, well - Moody and Shacklebolt were killed," he said quietly.

Harry felt petrified, his heart sinking to his stomach in a second. "It's my fault, I wasn't worth dying for!"

"Quiet, Harry, they died honorably, not in vein! They knew the risk as warriors, and they unfortunately were lost," Remus corrected immediately, barely patient. He let a moment pass while Harry bowed shamefully before continuing. "We were sure you'd been murdered instantly. When the Ministry searched the Manor for Narcissa they found no hidden dungeon. Draco Malfoy was alone with his grandfather, and no knowledge of her whereabouts was found--"

"Wotcher, Harry, I bet that's a shocker," Tonks interjected sardonically. Sourly, she comments, "The Malfoys would never sell each other out."

"That's right, we were blindsided. There was no way for us to have initially known that the Manor had been the Death Eater hideout all along," Lupin said wistfully.

Harry asked curiously, "Yeah ... But I think I MIGHT know who tipped you off, actually. I begged Wormtail when he was patrolling the dungeons by himself to free me, and it sent him into a spasm of some sort. And for some reason I can't get out of my mind that he owes me a life-debt for saving him that night at the Shrieking Shack..." He spoke wistfully, thinking after a moment to add, "Oh wait, I should tell you if you don't already know, Snape's been working for Voldemort--He caused Kingsley and Mad-Eye's death!"

The two looked suddenly both enraged and bemused by Harry's realization. Remus opened his mouth to speak first but, looking more perplexed than ever, likely asked a different question than intended. "Wait, why is that you were kept alive by Voldemort, anyway? Our tip was anonymous but you very well may have just deciphered it!"

The two rescuers looked proud of Harry, relieved as ever, and beamed. Still, Harry paled hesitantly before breaking into a more elaborate explanation. "Voldemort tried killing me with a brand-new wand while Snape laughed, but the problem still persisted. After screaming 'Avada Kedavra' at me, Voldemort was thrown back with a blue flash against the cell bars behind him."

Tonks seemed ten times more bemused as she responded. "That's very strange, Harry. And I bet he doesn't want to use any Muggle methods of destroying you..." Tonks observed insightfully. Alerted suddenly, she beckoned, "Harry, check THIS out!" She passed a Daily Prophet across the table, its headline instantly immersing Harry's eyes into its stunning news:

**

CORNELIUS FUDGE REAPPEARS WITH A STORY THAT THE DAILY PROPHET EXCLUSIVELY PRESENTS IN FULL: CORNELIUS FUDGE'S "MY ASHAMED CONFESSIONS" (Starts on Page IV!)

By Rita Skeeter

Without help from Ministry Aurors, Minister Cornelius Fudge has reappeared publicly in relative health, although not without a quite bizarre circumstance: Cornelius Fudge's reentrance into public began with his urgent pleas at London's Daily Prophet headquarters, not with him notifying work or concerned citizens. While obviously withholding important information, Fudge desperately came knocking at Prophet Headquarters and very humbly begged that his tell-all, self-confessional be printed as soon as possible. Though beyond startled by Fudge's dysfunction, we quickly agreed to publish it today. Unbelievably, in further display of his lacking lucidness, Cornelius Fudge skived off cheerily without another word or direction. It was as though the successful deal had made him an overwhelmingly jubilant man!

Because Fudge appears to be not fully cognitive of whatever ordeal kept him missing all this time, his coworkers ask that Mr. Fudge is given time for private rest. Nevertheless, hereby the Daily Prophet exclusively presents the Minister's confessional text in full, as Mr. Fudge desired --

**

Harry paused, feeling more incredulous with every word read. Looking up at Tonks and Lupin for the first time since immersing into the article, Harry received uncertain expressions. Harry wanted to reassure their waver but was unsure what he should say; he ended up, though, lowly saying in a vulnerable voice, "I can't believe all this is really happening! I couldn't have imagined everything become this illogical, especially all at once! I feel like our whole wizarding world makes absolutely NO sense right now!" He sounded flabbergasted, stuck between confusion and disbelief during what turned into an overextended, awkward silence; hence, when a vital question suddenly sparked in Harry's mind, he wasted no time to curiously ask, "So is Fudge still the Minister of Magic?"

His two rescuers vehemently shook their heads, and Tonks even chuckled a bit as Remus answered him. "No, he definitely isn't. Read on about the magical community's nonstop persecution of Fudge, Harry, if you'd like. He's already received countless death threats, apparently..."

"That's better than he deserves," Harry scoffed bitterly. "But why on earth would Fudge commit political suicide like this? Don't tell me he didn't know it would be the end of his career!" Guiltily though, Harry wondered whether Fudge's self-incriminations were worth reading. At the least it was fascinating that the former minister had apparently lost his mind; after all, Fudge was very deceptive, so Harry could only imagine what had made him delusional enough to publicize this.

How else could this have happened? Harry thought, bamboozled as ever. There's simply too many puzzles, and not just about Cornelius Fudge either. No, everything happening fits into one monster of a puzzle, that's for damn sure.

Astride with empty thoughts, Harry felt hesitant like never before...

**

Severus Snape strutted quickly through the dungeon's path to the jail, making sure his dragon-hide boots echoed loudly. Upon reaching the square of cells, he was furious that indeed Wormtail, ones of theirs, was filling the occupied cell. Wanting Wormtail to know his disgust, Snape, standing at his front-and-center, jeered loudly, "Well hello, Wormtail! Let's have a little chat, petty little double-crosser, so you can tell me how DARED you!" Although the taunting words echoed, Wormtail, greatly intimidated, coyly crouched under the farthest shadow.

Reinforcing himself, Snape grinned charmingly at Wormtail before he raised his wand threateningly; upon hearing Pettigrew cry out, Snape only bellowed deafeningly, "RAISE YOURSELF UP AND ANSWER ME, RAT! NOW, OTHERWISE I'LL BE VERY DISGRUNTLED AND WILL USE THE CRUCIATUS CURSE RATHER THAN DIPLOMACY!"

The small man, flinching pathetically, reluctantly stood up to be addressed. Satisfied, Snape wrapped his hands on the cell's bars closely, delightfully smiling, and asked mockingly, "Oh mistrusted fellow of mine, Pettigrew, tell me, why did you do it - why?" His voice was drawling, intrigued almost.

Wormtail, already a short-statured man, looked dwarf-like as he whimpered before Snape. Rubbing his shaking hands together, he pleadingly answered, "It was my life-debt to Potter, Severus, and I had no choice! You must remember--"

"Silence, Pettigrew, allegiance means nothing to you! Besides, you could've saved Potter at the graveyard!" Snape derisively interrupted. "Honestly, are you actually trying to lie that this is all because Potter stopped your old friends from killing you that night at the Shrieking Shack? Ha!"

Wormtail shook his head disagreeably, greatly agitated as he emotionally alleged, "Not hardly, Severus! It wasn't like that at all! No, I was doing my first assigned inspection of the dungeon jail, and then that the boy called out to me--"

"There, there, Peter, did he ask very nicely?" Snape suggested sarcastically, cruelly rolling his eyes.

Wormtail threw his hands up in frustration. "This choking feeling started at my throat, and my lungs felt like they were exploding each time I tried disregarding the boy. I thought I was about to have a heart attack, but no, it wasn't that..." Wormtail, sounding utterly terrified, twitched as he spoke. "I remembered it was the Marauder's Pact! When me, Prongs, Moony and Padfoot were stupid sixteen-year-olds, making things like that map and becoming Anamagi together, we all participated in an Unbreakable Vow on Halloween: we vowed that if one of us or our descendants saved another of us or our descendants, the favor MUST be returned if the person truly needs and asks to be saved. Oh how funny we thought we were, closer than brothers, friends forever - we were fools!" The tiny man shrieked at his admission. "So you see, since Potter saved me, then pleaded for my help from the dungeon too, I would either have saved him or died myself, since you know that's what happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow!"

Snape had been fixed on Peter's every last word fervently, and had to consider that he sounded believable. Why else would Black and Lupin have let him live like that at the Shrieking Shack? Because Harry asked somehow became less infeasible. Noble as that sounded, Snape spontaneously now disbelieved it, considering James' and Lily's murders and Black's thirteen-year, very wrongful Azkaban imprisonment for it. Surely Lupin and Black would have decided that a thirteen-year-old like Harry could understand later, if not then, how Wormtail deserved to die for causing those things...

Nevertheless, not wanting to provide room for error, Snape robustly said, "Why don't we find out for sure, Pettigrew, hmm? Be prepared to be dosed with Veritaserum in fifteen minutes." But Wormtail looked relieved, not terrified, and when Snape administered the Veritaserum later that day --

Wormtail's story actually stayed intact!

Now what? Snape worried. Obviously the Dark Lord's expectation is that we die before committing betrayal, but that would be completely uncharacteristic for him. Simply put, though, either way Wormtail acted very disloyally, and therefore deserves no compassion...

Wormtail was short of a having even a lukewarm excuse for Snape, however, who felt pretty compassionless. Indeed, as Severus surveyed Wormtail up-and-down condescendingly, he angrily commented, "Well nevertheless, poor fellow, without or with your unsettling circumstance, the Dark Lord either way will exterminate you for committing treason!"

Wormtail, paralyzed in terror, gasped breathlessly as total fear surmounted him...

**