The Last Marauder

Fighting the Incalculable

Sirius entered the Three Broomsticks and headed for the backroom. He knew that Dumbledore had asked what was left of the old Order to assemble there that night and he eagerly wanted to know what their plans were.

Dumbledore knew as well as Sirius, as well as any reasonable human being, that Fudge was as incompetent as one could be in dealing with the Dark Lord and if developing own strategies helped overcoming the paralysis the Ministry was stuck in then Dumbledore was willing to do so.

Sirius entered the backroom where Arthur and Molly Weasley, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, Mad Eye Moody and much to his surprise Bill and Charlie Weasley were already sitting on the only table in the room. He greeted them and took a seat next to Arthur.

Only seconds later, the door was opened again and Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape entered.

"Good evening everybody. Ah Sirius, I'm glad that you decided to come tonight."

Dumbledore smiled and sat down, but from the look on Snape's face Sirius judged that he was not half as glad as Dumbledore. The smile had vanished from the headmaster's face as fast as it had appeared.

"I know that it is of no use to hide the facts from you. The Ministry is completely helpless at the moment as far as I know. For more than a year Voldemort has done hardly more than assembling his allies around him but I fear that the attacks last week were only the beginning.

What really worries me is that we don't seem to have a way to find out what they are going to do next. So the reason I asked you to come here tonight is for one ask you whether you have any useful information for us and for another whether you have any idea how we can prepare for the incalculable."

He looked around in the room and Sirius was startled by the fact that Dumbledore, who normally appeared to be knowing a lot more than any of them, seemed to be helpless. 'He doesn't have any idea either' Sirius thought.

Arthur spoke.

"As you said Albus, the Ministry is rather confused these days. They put more effort in hiding what has happened from public, both muggle and wizard, than they do in finding means to fight back. I don't think that we can rely on Fudge and his men to develop a useful strategy. They don't seem to have any information as well, if they have then it's sources I don't have an insight into. I had hoped that you knew more."

Dumbledore shook his head but at the moment he wanted to say something in return, Snape suddenly started talking.

"The problem is gaining information. I can't spy on the Death Eaters like I did in the year before Voldemort's downfall anymore, they don't trust me. I don't have access to anybody in the Inner Circle though I can guess very well who they are. All I have are contacts to people in the outer circle and I don't know how valuable the information I can gather from them is. I have neither been told about the attacks nor has there been any hint at Death Eater activity at all."

He shrug his shoulders.

"They could start another attack any moment and there would be nothing that we could do to prevent it."

Sirius had shaken his head slightly for the past minutes.

"Then what is the use in all this? If Snape can't get any information, neither of us can. If we don't have any information, we cannot be prepared. Dumbledore, what do you expect us to do? Why did you ask me to come here tonight?"

"Sirius, tell me again about Harry's breakdown the night of the first attack."

Everybody in the room threw questioning looks at Sirius and Dumbledore.

"I cannot see the use in it, but if you like. I was upstairs when I heard Harry screaming downstairs. I ran into the living room and found him lying on the floor, suffering from serious pain without any visible reason, hands clutched tightly against his forehead. It took more than ten minutes until the pain vanished and he lost consciousness. His scar was swollen and...well, I don't have any words for it. It didn't look like a fifteen year old scar anymore, it looked as if it had hardly healed. Harry slept for a long time and didn't remember anything when he finally woke up."

Dumbledore nodded.

"As you know, Voldemort was seen to participate in the attack that afternoon. He used the Cruciatus Curse and I think that's what Harry felt. Voldemort however didn't use it to torture alone, he used Cruciatus to kill that afternoon. You all know what that means, you all know that using Cruciatus on that purpose needs a powerful wizard and you all know that it is one of the most cruel things that can be done. We have to find a way to stop this, we have to stop it before war breaks out. What we need is a point where we can start.

Severus, I know that I ask a lot of you, but I need you to use your old contacts now. Try to get as close to the inner circle as you can. Maybe that's what they expect, maybe they try to trap you and I only ask you to do this if you're really willing to."

Snape nodded. "You know my answer."

"Good. Alastor, Arthur, Mundungus, you will keep an eye on the Ministry. Try to separate them into people who are too tightly bound to Fudge and into those who could be of help. Convince as many Aurors as possible of the fact that listening to Fudge no longer is a reasonable alternative. Set them off in search of any Death Eater activities or hiding places, whatever information you can gather. And sent somebody trustworthy off to have an eye on the Malfoys. Maybe you yourself should do this Arthur. I have the feeling that Lucius is deeply involved in all this."

Both nodded.

"Bill, Charlie, I want you two to have an eye on the developments outside of England. You already have connections through your jobs, try to find out anything that could be of help. But remain careful. Stay together, never act on your own and if you need any help or notice anything strange, no matter how unimportant it seems, contact your father or me immediately."
"Yes sir."

"Now Minerva, Arabella, there is hardly anything you two can do at the moment than to convince trustworthy friends of yours. Arabella, would you agree to take over Severus' classes for I fear that he will no longer be able to come back to Hogwarts on a regular basis."

"Sure Albus."

They all rose and wanted to leave but Dumbledore gestured Sirius and Snape to remain seated. When everybody had left, Dumbledore turned towards Sirius.

"I know that you wonder why I asked you to come here tonight. There is something about which we didn't tell you until now. That is because it's rather a speculation than a fact but the more I think about it the more I am convinced of the idea."

Sirius looked puzzled.

"What is it?"

Much to his surprise it was Snape who answered this question.

"It was I who came up with the speculation and before I tell you I would ask you to answer me some questions to confirm it. I don't want to raise your temper even more without clear reason, I want to leave that room on my own, you know."

Sirius frowned.

"I don't see the use in it yet but go along."

"When Voldemort still was in power he wanted the Potters dead, so much we know. Am I right that both Lupin and you were more than once tempted or threatened to hand them over?"

Sirius slowly nodded.

"Yeah. The tempting was done with Remus, some colleagues of his let accidentally slip that 'dark creatures' were treated well in Voldemort's circles and that he had found ways to make things easier for them. Remus never talked about it that much, but they first tried to make him curious. He wanted nothing more than lead a normal life, a life without hiding what he was. But the temptation was not enough, the prize of giving Lily and James away was too high, so they tried to offer him the possibility of revenge on those who had treated him bad over the years. Though the seduction was high", he stared at Snape with everlasting disgust, "he resisted. The actual threatening was done to me. First very subtle by people working for the Ministry at that time, then more clearly. But none of us ever gave in and after some time they realized it I think."

Snape nodded.

"That's why they wanted you dead."

"Yeah, but why do you bring that up now?"

"Because when I heard about Lupin's death that was the first thing that came to my mind. You just said it, they tempted Lupin with the promise of revenge. He only had to give Lily and James away and he would be given the revenge he longed for. I think that's what they're trying to do to you now."

"But you forget that James and Lily are dead, what could I give them in return?"

"Are you really so thick Black? Use your brain just once, it's not only for decoration." Snape now hissed at him.

"Harry."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Whatever Voldemort tried, he could not kill Harry. And now he is protected with all our might. Voldemort needs to get hold of him and what would be better than using the one person Harry would trust his life to without hesitation?"

Sirius thought for some long moments.

"So I am right if I suppose that you want me to pretend that I'm willing to sacrifice Harry for my personal revenge?"

Dumbledore and Snape nodded.

"Yes, and delivering Sirius Black would be a possibility for us to get Severus back close to the Inner Circle."

Sirius shook his head.

"You're nuts. Both. That boy's been through more than enough already, I can't put him into this danger!"

Snape glared at him.

"It's not that you have to take Harry, go to Voldemort and say 'Look what I brought you'! We only need to convince them that you are willing to do it."

Sirius still shook his head.

"I can't. I'm sorry Dumbledore, but I can't."

He got up.

"Please Sirius, think about it. Talk to Harry. You know that I would not risk his life at random and even if you decide to help us his life won't be in more danger than it is now. And think about what he has been going through during the last attack."

Sirius left without another word. He didn't show it but he was fuming with anger. What did Dumbledore think? He could not risk Harry's life, not like that. He had sworn to James that he would do anything to protect Harry, he could never look into a mirror again if he agreed to that lunatic idea. He would not even mention it in front of Harry tomorrow.

Sirius opened the door of his small house and went into the bedroom. Longingly, he looked at the bed but he knew that sleeping was out of question. It would involve dreaming and he could not stand that tonight. So Sirius went into the bathroom and swallowed a phial of Waking Potion, then he paced the living room for hours, thinking Dumbledore's suggestion over and over again.

The next morning, Harry woke with a start. His scar hurt like mad and just as he had gotten up to drink some water he heard it. It wasn't somebody in his room talking, it was a voice that seemed to be inside his head, yet far away at the same time. It said just one word, but that word made Harry's stomach jerk in his last moments of conscious thoughts. The voice said "Crucio".

Ron opened his eyes and for a moment thought why he had woken up all of a sudden. Then he heard the scream. It was Harry screaming. Ron immediately pulled the curtains of his four-poster aside and found Harry lying on the floor, still in his pyjamas, knees drawn to his chest, hands clutched against his head, screaming in pain and agony.

"Harry!"

He knelt at his friend's side and touched his shoulder but Harry didn't react. His body was tensed all over and he didn't respond. Neville, Dean and Seamus had gotten out of their beds as well, all bearing shocked expressions.

"What is going on Ron?"

"I don't know. Get Dumbledore, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey immediately!"

The three stormed off and Ron was left alone with Harry.

"Harry? Harry, can you hear me? What shall I do?"

But Harry still didn't respond. Ron tried to remove Harry's hands from his forehead but it took him a lot of force to do so and he managed it only for a short moment before Harry pressed them back onto his scar. Ron's eyes widened even more. Harry's scar was bleeding.

He shook his head.

"Harry, please! Tell me what I can do, I want to help you but I need to know what's wrong. Harry!"

"I fear there is nothing we can do at the moment Mr. Weasley."

Ron turned around and found Dumbledore coming towards him, kneeling down at Harry's other side. Seconds later Madam Pomfrey came into the room.

"Poppy, bring him to the Hospital Wing please. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do against the pain but prepare some potions that that cure the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and conjured a stretcher on which she waved Harry out of the room. If she found any of Dumbledore's orders unusual, she didn't show. Ron however did.

"Cruciatus? What...How?"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"Not now Mr. Weasley. We will tell you but now there are urgent matters to be done. Poppy will take care of Harry, maybe you can visit him later, after breakfast. Try to calm down a little, I will explain everything as soon as time allows."

And he turned around and left the dormitory, leaving a very confused Ron behind.

"Ron, is Harry alright?"

Neville, Dean and Seamus were standing in the doorway. Ron shrug his shoulders.

"I don't know, he didn't tell me what was wrong with him. Said he would explain when he had time."

Neville lay a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder. "It'll be all right, just try to calm down."

Ron nodded. "Yeah. I think I'll get dressed now and...tell Hermione."

When he came down into the Common Room, Hermione was already sitting in an armchair. Seeing her boyfriend, she jumped to her feet.

"Ron! What happened, Lavender told something about Harry being brought to the Hospital wing and that he was screaming!"

Ron said nothing but took her into his arms. Then he told her what had happened that morning which seemed to upset her even more.

"Ron, we have to look for him!"

"No Mione we can't. They won't let us in the Hospital wing now. Dumbledore said he would explain later and maybe we can visit Harry after breakfast."

Hermione nodded and wiped away a tear.

"OK."

When they arrived, the Great Hall was already bursting with rumour talk. It seemed that everybody up to now knew what had happened in the Gryffindor dormitory that morning and everybody seemed to have an explanation of his own.

They had just sat down when Malfoy came into the Hall with his Slytherin friends.

"Heard that Potter fainted this morning. What's wrong, Dementors in the castle?"

Pansy Parkinson giggled.

Ron said nothing but got up, rushed past Crabbe and Goyle who were far too slow to catch him, grabbed Malfoy by the neck of his robe and pushed him against the next wall.

"Shut the fuck up ferret! You of all people should know that Harry had no problem with Dementors, I can remember quite clearly that his Patronus knocked you off your feet. But believe me, if I hear anything from you for the rest of the day, I'll beat the shit out of you so that you wish you had never been born!"

He let go and walked back to the table but turned around half-way.

"And you would be in good company, I know a lot of people who actually wish you had never been born!"

He sat down beside Hermione and started his breakfast.

Sirius sat on the sofa in the living room with a large cup of coffee in front of him. He was scanning the pages of the Daily Prophet for some interesting news when he heard Dumbledore's voice from the fireplace.

"Sirius?"

He put the paper aside and looked up.

"Dumbledore, what is it?"

"Sirius, please come to the castle immediately. It's about Harry."

Sirius' eyes widened.
"What happened?"

"His classmates informed me half an hour ago that he was lying on the floor in his dormitory, screaming in pain. We've brought him to the hospital wing immediately, I think it would be good if you were there."

Sirius nodded and got up, only half realizing that his legs didn't seem to support him fully.

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

Dumbledore vanished and Sirius hurried to grab his broom. He didn't even bother to lock the door or to turn off the coffee machine in the kitchen, all he could think of was getting to Harry as fast as possible.

He landed his broom at the main entrance and ran off towards the hospital wing. Students threw curious looks at him but he didn't care. Harry, he had to get to Harry.

He literally burst into the Hospital Wing, causing Madam Pomfrey to give him a stern look.

"Where's Harry?"

"Over there Sirius." Her expression softened as she realized his concern. "The headmaster is with him."

Sirius nodded and drew back the curtains around the bed the nurse had shown him. Dumbledore was sitting in a chair next to the bed Harry lay in. Harry was pale like the covers he lay on, he was unconscious and there was a bandage around his head.. Sirius sat down at the edge of the bed.

"Dumbledore what's happened?"
"I think the same that has happened the day before he came here. Only worse."

Sirius bit his lower lip and took Harry's hand. It was cold.

"Another attack?"

"Yes, I talked to Fudge shortly. I don't know the details though."

"How long has the curse lasted?"

"We don't know exactly when it started, but my estimation is twenty to twenty five minutes. His scar has started bleeding."

Sirius ran his free hand across his face as if he was searching for something to say in return. He felt Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder.

"I'll leave you now. I think it would be good if you were here when he awakes. I'll explain to his roommates as much as they need to know, they were rather upset. Ron and Hermione surely want to come but I think this will have to wait. However, I'll explain them the full extend of what has happened, I think it's no use hiding it from them. They're already concerned enough. Nobody will disturb you here, I'll make sure."

Sirius nodded.

"Thank you."

Dumbledore left and Sirius took a firm hold on Harry's hand while he softly stroke his cheek with the other.

"It's okay now Harry, it's over. I'm here. Just sleep, I will be here when you wake up, I won't let anybody harm you anymore."

McGonagall led Ron and Hermione towards her office and made them sit in front of her desk. A couple of moments later, Dumbledore entered the room and sat down in front of them.

"Hermione, Ron, I know that you are concerned about Harry. Everybody is. But I have to tell you that you can't visit him now, not until he is conscious again. Sirius is with him at the moment, I think that's for his best.

However, I think I have to explain the little we know about what is ailing him to you.

He has had such an attack before, on the day previous to his journey to Hogwarts. We connect this fits to the Death Eater attacks that have taken place both that day and this morning. I can't tell you about the latest attack, I have not been able to gather information myself. But we know for sure that Harry shows the symptoms of somebody who is put under the Cruciatus Curse and we know for sure that during the last attack Voldemort has used this curse to torture somebody to death. Our explanation so far is that Harry's connection to Voldemort, both through his scar and through the blood he gave for Voldemort's resurrection, causes him to suffer from the curse when Voldemort uses it to kill. It takes a lot of strength to kill with Cruciatus, a lot of focus and summoning of every magic ability within the person who uses that curse, we think that this causes their bond to...'activate' if you want to. However, Harry doesn't suffer the full extend of that curse, otherwise he would not be alive anymore. That at least is something.

I know this sounds hard, but I thought you had the right to know."

He looked at his students who seemed to be more than just disturbed. Finally, Ron spoke.

"Is there something we can do for him?"

Dumbledore smiled. Had it not been for the Marauders he had known he would have said that he had never seen a friendship like this before. So much care and loyalty, it was a silver bond at the dark horizon.

"Not now Ron, not now. He will be very tired when he wakes up and all we can do is help him feel comfortable. Last time he couldn't remember anything and I do hope that it is like that this time as well. It would be better for him. I'll tell you as soon as he wakes up, maybe you should go to class right now. A little distraction could be helpful."

He smiled at them and the three left McGonagall's office.

Hidden behind the wastepaper basket in the corner sat a pale rat and had it not been common knowledge that rats could not do such thing, any observer at that moment might have said that it smirked.