Secret Keeper

Chapter Nine:

October 27, 1981

“James, James!”

A gentle hand shook James Potter awake. He looked around groggily.

“Huh? What?” He looked at his watch. It was three o’clock in the morning.

“Remus is here,” Lily explained patiently to him.

Instantly, James was wide-awake and alert. He sat up quickly, his eyes darting around the room.

“Where? Where is he? Is he okay? Does he know what happened to Sirius?”

“I’m right here.” Remus stepped out of the shadows and sat down on the couch where James had fallen asleep. “And we’re not sure right now where Sirius is. We went to the old mansion, but apparently Voldemort got advance warning from someone, because the place was empty when we got there and everyone was gone.”

“Then how do we know that Sirius was there in the first place?”

Remus avoided his eyes. “Blood.”

“Blood?” James asked apprehensively. “My God... how much?”

“A lot.”

“I see,” James said at last, his hands trembling. “Well, what are we going to do now?”

“Dumbledore’s sent some people to do some investigating for him,” Lily said softly, holding her husband’s hands in her own. “He’s trying to find out where they’ve taken Sirius.”

James nodded, his throat feeling dry. It’s all my fault, he thought bitterly, if only I weren’t such a stupid prat. What was I thinking?!

James’ train of thought was interrupted by a new arrival. Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the fireplace and peered at James closely.

“Good, James, you’re awake,” Dumbledore said calmly, looking at James with concern in his twinkling blue eyes. “Have Remus and Lily told you the news?”

Again, James nodded. He seemed to be unable to speak. He stared at Dumbledore quietly.

“Did you discover anything new, Professor Dumbledore?” Lily asked anxiously.

“Not yet, Lily,” Dumbledore said. “I’ve sent a spy to try and discover where they’ve taken Sirius. He should be back soon...”

As if on cue, a new shape appeared, revolving in the fire. James looked at it apprehensively. Snape’s figure appeared in the fireplace and stepped out, looking at James with the usual sneer on his face.

“Headmaster,” he said, looking at Dumbledore respectfully.

“So it’s you?” James spat at Snape. “You’re the spy?”

Dumbledore nodded. “Indeed. Severus has been working for me for quite some time now. Any news of Sirius?”

“Wait!” James shouted, cutting off Snape, who had just been about to speak. “If you were spying for our side, how come you didn’t know that Peter was a spy?”

“What are you talking about?” Snape snarled, glaring at James.

James gestured towards Peter, who was still cowering in the corner. “Why didn’t you tell us that he was a Death Eater?!” he shouted heatedly. “Huh?”

Snape had apparently just noticed that Peter was there. Looking into the corner and seeing the Dark Mark on Peter’s arm, he gave a start, and his face turned pale.

“My God...” he whispered to himself. “Pettigrew... but I – how – a Death Eater?”

James rolled his eyes. “No kidding,” he said sarcastically, wincing as Lily stepped on his toes in warning.

“I didn’t know...” he said, staring at Peter with an expression of disbelief. “Professor, I swear, I didn’t-”

“A spy for our side, are you?” James interjected angrily. “A likely story! You were probably working for Voldemort the whole time, you-”

“That is enough.” Dumbledore cut him off, his voice dangerously quiet. “James, please do not jump to conclusions. Severus, please explain to me how you were not aware of the fact that Peter Pettigrew was employed by Voldemort.”

Snape gulped. “I – I didn’t – I didn’t know, sir... all the times I was with him, I never saw Pettigrew there. I swear to God I didn’t know that Peter Pettigrew was a Death Eater.”

Dumbledore nodded, apparently satisfied. “Very well then, Severus. My best guess as to how this happened is that Voldemort has gotten suspicious. He knows that not all of his Death Eaters are loyal to him, that they are bound to his side only from fear. He is afraid that he may have been betrayed. You, seeing as you teach at Hogwarts and come into contact with me regularly, are probably one of many on his list of suspects.”

Snape looked stunned. “I never gave him any reason to believe that I might be working for you, Professor,” he said shakily.

James still looked furious. “Yeah? You never gave us any reason to believe that you were working on our side-” he yelled, but Remus silenced him with a look.

Dumbledore was still gazing at Snape intently. “I trust you, Severus. Now then, what can you tell us about Sirius’ situation?”

“They have taken to him to an old house in a town called Little Hangleton. I believe that it is referred to as the Riddle House, although why, I do not know.”

“Very interesting...” Dumbledore said, looking thoughtful. “Riddle... makes sense.”

“What makes sense, Professor?” James asked eagerly, but Lily threw him a look, warning him not to interrupt.

Snape continued as if there had been no interruption. “They knew that Lupin had gone for the Aurors. It was Augustus Rookwood who provided him with that information.”

“Augustus Rookwood?” Remus asked, stunned. “Of the Department of Mysteries?”

“Yes, him,” Snape said heavily. “I believe he has begun to work for the Dark Lord only recently. Anyhow, Rookwood warned the Dark Lord of your arrival, Lupin, so they Stunned Black and took him to the Riddle House.”

“How is he?” James asked abruptly.

“How is who?” asked Snape, looking as if he already knew the answer.

James glared at Snape, his face twisted in anger. “Sirius! How is Sirius?!”

“He’s alright, I suppose,” Snape snapped. “None of his wounds are serious, with the exception of a large cut on his neck. He’s lost a substantial amount of blood from it, but his condition is not critical.”

Remus, Lily, and James exchanged horrified glances. “Wha – what are they doing to him?” James stammered.

“I believe the Dark Lord has given up on using the Cruciatus Curse,” Snape said smoothly. “He-”

“The Cruciatus Curse?” Lily asked, looking extremely nervous. “They – they tortured him?”

“Why didn’t you help him?” James burst out. “Where were you when all this happened, huh? Standing behind your master laughing like everyone else?”

“That is enough, James,” Dumbledore said, looking at him sharply. “I understand that you are concerned, but please try to be rational. Severus could not help Sirius without giving away his identity as a spy-”

“I don’t care!” James yelled. “Sirius is dying-”

“Black is not dying,” said Snape, looking as if he wished the opposite were true. “He is fine. He just-”

“I’ve got to go find him!” James exclaimed. “I have to find him!”

“Don’t be a fool, Potter,” Snape snapped irritably. “Your presence will only endanger Black further.”

“What do you mean by that?” James asked hotly.

“My meaning is that if you make yourself an easy target for the Dark Lord, which you undoubtedly will, then he will no longer have any reason to keep Black alive. He will kill him.”

“But why?” Lily whispered. “Why would he kill Sirius?”

“Spite, I suppose. The Dark Lord isn’t exactly known for his mercifulness. He is very angry that several Cruciatus Curses and the Imperius Curse could not convince Black to tell him where you are. And I must say, Black’s manners were not exactly impressive either. I believe on several occasions he told the Dark Lord to ‘go to hell.’”

Remus groaned inwardly. It was just like Sirius to go around insulting people without any thought of the possible repercussions. The fact that the person he was insulting was Voldemort did not help the situation at all.

“My God...” James mumbled to himself miserably. “This is all my fault, he shouldn’t be going through this right now, he shouldn’t be suffering so much for me...”

Dumbledore looked at James gently. “There is nothing you can do, James,” he said quietly. “Feeling guilty and blaming yourself will not help Sirius in the least. He wanted to do this for you. He would be willing to die so that you could live.”

“I don’t want him to die for me!” James yelled. “I don’t want him to!”

Remus touched James’ arm sympathetically. “Don’t worry, James, we’ll get Sirius out of there, I promise.” He turned to Snape. “Where did you say he was again, Severus?”

“The Riddle House,” Snape said, looking at Remus contemptuously. “It’s in a village called Little Hangleton. You can ask any of the residents there, they will show you where it is.”

Remus nodded, turning to Dumbledore. “Professor, I will go alert the Aurors, shall I?”

“Yes,” said Dumbledore, “I daresay they will be able to rescue him. But make sure that anyone present when you make your announcement stays with you the entire time. We do not know who is working for the Dark Side and who isn’t. You have to be sure that none of them have the opportunity to warn Lord Voldemort of your arrival.”

Remus nodded again. “I understand, Professor. I’ll go now.”

He turned to face the Potters, both of whose faces were pale and wretched looking. “Lily, James,” he said gently. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

James jumped up. “Remus, I’ll go with you,” he said quickly, but Lily grabbed his arm and pulled him back onto the couch.

“You can’t,” Lily said quietly. “You can’t, and you know why.”

James sunk down on to the couch. “But I – I can’t just stay here when he’s in so much danger. I can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

“I know, I know,” Lily said softly, leaning on her husband’s shoulder, “but there is nothing you can do except stay here and keep yourself safe. It’s what Sirius would have wanted you to do.”

Remus looked again at Lily and James. “I’ll be back soon,” he said softly, looking them in the eye. “I’ll be back soon, and I’ll bring Padfoot back with me.” With that, he turned around and vanished into the fire.

“Bye, Remus,” whispered Lily quietly. “And good luck to you.”

“I suppose I will be leaving now too,” Snape said shortly, not bothering to even look at the Potters. “Headmaster,” he said, looking at Dumbledore respectfully.

Dumbledore nodded. “Yes, Severus,” he said. “Perhaps it is time for both of us to return to the school.” He looked at Lily and James. “Good bye, Lily, James.”

“Bye, Professor,” Lily said. “Thanks for everything.”

Snape and Dumbledore both grabbed some Floo Powder, and soon, they too had stepped into the bright green fire and vanished.

As soon as they had left, James began crying quietly, his trembling hands covering his face. Lily patted him on the back soothingly.

“He’ll be fine, James,” she whispered softly. “He’ll be fine.”