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Entry tags:
Scars, Part 27
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairings: Snape/Lupin, Ash/Tsubasa; also a little Theodore/Blaise, Dylan/Hermione, and Aric/Takeshi
Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.
Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Warning: AU. This story contains a character from Half-Blood Prince, but does not follow the HBP storyline.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III. (These stories are archived on my website and also on Moonshadow.)
Summary: Ash is lured into a trap by Greyback, and Snape and the others try to figure out how to rescue him.
Part 26
Pairings: Snape/Lupin, Ash/Tsubasa; also a little Theodore/Blaise, Dylan/Hermione, and Aric/Takeshi
Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.
Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Warning: AU. This story contains a character from Half-Blood Prince, but does not follow the HBP storyline.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III. (These stories are archived on my website and also on Moonshadow.)
Summary: Ash is lured into a trap by Greyback, and Snape and the others try to figure out how to rescue him.
Part 26
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The "werewolf murders" (as the Daily Prophet had dubbed them) had cast a shadow of fear over the wizarding world, and the public was in a state of near-panic. Tsubasa had even more reason to be worried than the general public, because he knew the specifics of the case: that the former Death Eater Greyback was the culprit, and that he had a magical artifact that allowed him to transform at any time of the month. Not to mention the fact that Tsubasa's new lover, Ash, appeared to be the true target of Greyback's unknown employers, since he had been framed for the murders of his parents.
Yet in spite of all this, he was strangely happy. He enjoyed the evenings that he spent alone in his quarters with Ash, sometimes talking, sometimes making love, and at other times just sitting together quietly and enjoying each other's company. During those moments, he felt as if they were encased in a small cocoon of safety and contentment, where the outside world did not exist.
His warrior instincts, honed by years of training with the tengu, warned him that this was a mistake, that he should not be letting down his guard at a time like this. Hogwarts was heavily warded, so he felt safe enough within the castle, but still, Tsubasa was careful to always keep his swords and wand within reach, even when he and Ash were making love. It was always better to be a little paranoid than a little dead, as one of his former tengu instructors liked to say. Tsubasa smiled, thinking to himself that the sharp tongues and beaky noses of his tengu friends reminded him a great deal of Professor Snape. Or maybe it was the other way around, but either way, Snape would fit right in with the tengu flock. If the Potions Master could take Animagus form, Tsubasa wouldn't be surprised at all if he turned out to be a crow. Some of the other teachers disliked Snape, but Tsubasa thought that like the tengu, his heart seemed to be in the right place, despite his abrasive manner.
Ash had resumed his job at the Ministry, and Tsubasa worried for him a little whenever he left the castle, but he was probably almost as safe there as he was at Hogwarts. Even with the stolen artifact, it was unlikely that Greyback would be able to break into the Ministry. A werewolf had no special ability to break through magical wards, and there were too many witches and wizards stationed there to make a frontal attack anything less than suicidal.
Still, although Tsubasa worried, it was convenient to have Ash at work and out of the way, because it gave him time to work on the lover's token he was making. The unique magic of the crane folk enabled them to work with supernatural speed, and they could weave and sew an entire garment in a matter of days, where it would take a normal human weeks or even months.
However, all Tsubasa had to show for his efforts so far was a relatively small length of cloth, of rather shabby workmanship. The silk threads themselves, magically spun from his own feathers, were as soft and fine as any of his clanmates', and of much higher quality than even the finest material made from silkworm cocoons in the human world. However, due to his rather limited (some would say inept) weaving skills, the cloth he had made was filled with little runs and snarls, although he had been working with as much precision and care as possible. He had even unraveled and rewoven the cloth several times, and unfortunately, this was as good as it was ever going to get.
He didn't even have enough cloth yet to make a full-length robe or kimono as he had planned, but he supposed it didn't matter, since the cloth was of such poor quality that he could hardly allow Ash to wear it in public without being ashamed. But there was enough for a shirt, and perhaps Ash could wear it beneath his robes where it wouldn't show. Even if it looked ugly, the silk would still feel soft against his skin, and besides, it was the thought that counted, Tsubasa tried to tell himself, although without much conviction.
He could ask his father to weave Ash a robe of fine quality, of course, but it was the custom of the crane folk to personally weave a garment for their mates, and it was considered the height of poor taste to have someone else do it for you. A lover's token was supposed to be created with one's own hands, weaving one's love and devotion into the cloth along with the threads. Takeshi could get away with skirting that rule since he was mostly human and did not possess the weaving magic, but Tsubasa was a full-blooded crane and it would be shameful for him not to weave Ash's token himself.
Not that he had ever cared what the clan elders thought of him, and Ash wouldn't know about crane customs, but still, it was something that Tsubasa wanted to do for his mate--even though he and Ash had not yet formally exchanged pledges.
Not formally, maybe...but Tsubasa had acknowledged Ash as his mate when he had recklessly plunged into a cave to comfort a grieving--and transformed--werewolf. And Ash had acknowledged Tsubasa as his mate when the wolf had laid its head in Tsubasa's lap instead of ripping his throat out.
So he measured out and cut the cloth into pieces, then began to sew them together, accidentally jabbing his fingers several times with the needle. He absent-mindedly sucked on his bleeding thumb as he wondered when he ought to present Ash with his gift. After Greyback and his cohorts were captured, probably, which Tsubasa hoped would be soon.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ash's first few days at Hogwarts were relaxing--or at least as relaxing as things could be under the circumstances, with the murderer still at large. As much as he hated to admit it, he had needed the time to recover from his grief and get to know his half-sister, not to mention begin to build a relationship with Tsubasa. However, after those first few days had passed, Ash began to chafe at the enforced confinement. He wasn't exactly a prisoner at the castle, but everyone from his pack leader on down had made it clear that he shouldn't venture outside school grounds--for his own protection, of course. The only exception that he had been allowed was a single visit to the werewolves' townhouse, directly by Floo, to reassure his packmates that he was all right.
Hogwarts was certainly a much nicer and more spacious prison than a cell at Azkaban, but still, his inner wolf chafed at the idea of enforced confinement, no matter how pleasant. He was also bored; Tsubasa, Lukas, and Laura all had classes during the day, leaving Ash to his own devices. The Headmaster gave him permission to use the school library, and that distracted him for a short time. Books had been a refuge to him as a child, and the sheer amount of books in the school library dazzled him--it was at least a hundred times larger than the little library in his great-aunt's house.
But even Ash couldn't read for hours on end without getting bored, so he would wander around the school restlessly, looking for something to distract him. Even the insults and pranks of the resident poltergeist were a welcome diversion, and the Gryffindor House ghost was friendly and loquacious, and Ash was able to pass some time listening to Nearly Headless Nick's stories about the history of the school, as well as some current gossip about the teachers and students.
He also talked with Lupin a bit, between and after classes. Lupin was apparently writing some sort of textbook on lycanthropy, and was eager to interview as many werewolves as possible.
"I don't know if this is such a good idea," Ash said doubtfully. "But Lukas told the pack that we could talk to you if we wanted." Ash wasn't at all sure that he wanted to talk about his past, even with another werewolf, but he was bored enough to at least hear Lupin out. Besides, thanks to Rita Skeeter, his past was no longer a secret.
"It's strictly voluntary," Lupin said with a pleasant smile. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But I do think that fear is borne of ignorance, and if people understand us werewolves a little better, perhaps they won't fear us so much."
"They called us heroes after the war," Ash said bitterly. "But I knew it was too good to be true. Look how quickly they turned against us as soon as rumors started about a 'werewolf murder'. It will take more than a book to change human nature."
"Probably," Lupin admitted. "But at least it's a start."
Ash avoided talking about his childhood, and Lupin didn't press him on it, but he did share some stories about his life in the pack after Lukas took him in. The other werewolf smiled a little wistfully as he jotted down notes.
"I felt so alone when I was young--so ashamed and scared," Lupin said. "It would have been nice to have known other werewolves while I was growing up."
"'Nice'?" Ash asked incredulously, then added sharply, "I'm sure that most of the pack would have found it 'nice' to have a family that still loved and protected them after they were turned. I'm sure they would have found it 'nice' to attend Hogwarts instead of stealing and scavenging in order to survive. I'm sure that any one of us would gladly have traded places with you if we could have, Lupin!"
"I wasn't trying to belittle the hardships that you and your pack went through," Lupin said quietly. "I know very well how lucky I was to have had loving, understanding parents, and I wouldn't have traded them for anything. I know I was also very lucky to have had a Headmaster like Dumbledore, who permitted me to attend Hogwarts, and to have made friends at school who didn't care that I was a werewolf. I only meant that I would have felt less lonely and frightened as a child if I had known other werewolves, but I am very grateful for the life I have."
"Sorry," Ash mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed now about losing his temper. He was a little jealous of the relatively easy life Lupin had led, compared to his own and the rest of the pack's, but mostly he was venting his own frustration at being confined on the other werewolf. "I'm a little out of sorts, but it's not your fault."
Lupin smiled sympathetically. "The wolf is restless, isn't it? Or maybe it's not fair to blame it on the wolf; Severus was the same way when he was under house arrest last year and was confined to the castle. He actually doesn't leave Hogwarts very often, except for the holidays, but being told that he couldn't leave drove him crazy. He knew it was all psychological, of course, but the castle felt claustrophobic to him." Lupin's smile turned a little wry. "Actually, he drove me a little crazy as well. Severus isn't one to suffer in silence when he's irritated."
Ash laughed. "No, I didn't think that he was. I can sympathize with him, though. I feel exactly the same way."
"Then maybe you should tell Arthur that you're ready to go back to work," Lupin suggested. "Dawlish knows now that you're not the killer, even though you'll never get an apology out of him. He's focusing all his efforts on finding Greyback."
Ash followed Lupin's advice, and although he wasn't really that fond of his job at the Ministry, he was relieved when Arthur said he could return to work. It turned out that there was actually little for him to do other than investigate a few minor complaints and file paperwork, but even that was preferable to being cooped up in the castle with nothing to do.
With all the hysteria about a possible werewolf serial killer on the loose, the public wasn't interested in frivolities like Muggle toys, and even the smugglers were laying low. Still, Ash was able to at least pretend that he was doing something useful, and he could talk with Kingsley, Tonks, and Harry, who tried to keep him up to date on the investigation--when he could manage to find them, since they were often out of the building trying to track down leads. Even when he could find them, they didn't have much to tell. However, he did at least learn that a scholar friend of Aric's sister was working to help track down the stolen medallion, which presumably would lead them to Greyback.
The only major offense he'd had to deal with so far was a Squib who had bought a gun on the black market. Driven into a terror by the Daily Prophet's inflammatory stories, the Squib had bought the gun for protection because he had no magic to defend himself. Unfortunately, he had only a vague idea of how to use the gun and wasn't very discreet about his target practice. Fortunately, through sheer dumb luck he managed not to kill himself or anyone else, but the Ministry was called in when he accidentally shot out a neighbor's window. Possessing a firearm was a serious offense, and he was arrested, fined, and sentenced to a prison term in Azkaban--but at least he'd be safe from werewolves there, Ash thought a bit sourly.
If they were all lucky, once the killer was caught and the hysteria died down, Arthur would probably take pity on the man and commute his sentence. If they weren't lucky...well, Ash would have a great deal more to worry about than the fate of a single unfortunate Squib.
So when a new report of a possible Muggle Artifact violation came in, Ash jumped at the chance to relieve his boredom and find a distraction from his worries.
"...reports of a flying bicycle," the Department Head Perkins was saying.
"A flying what?" Ash asked, not sure that he'd heard right.
"A flying bicycle," Perkins repeated. "So far only one drunken Muggle has witnessed it, and even he chalked that vision up to an excess of alcohol, but we've had a few confirmed sightings by the local wizards, too. Fortunately, the sighting happened out in the countryside, away from the more populated areas, but there is a small mixed Muggle and wizard village located near the sightings. I'd like you to go and nip this in the bud before we have to send in the Obliviators."
"Of course," Ash replied eagerly, happy to have a chance to leave the office. "You don't think it's Otto Bagman again, do you?"
"It does sound like his handiwork, doesn't it?" Perkins laughed. "But no, it can't be him. He's still in prison for that incident with the Porvora that injured Miss Dietrich. It's most likely some young wizard up to a little harmless mischief. I've heard that Arthur Weasley had a similar habit of tinkering with Muggle devices when he was a boy."
"That doesn't surprise me," Ash said with a grin. "All right, I'll go check out this flying bicycle."
"No one goes out on assignment alone," Perkins reminded him. There weren't enough Aurors to run the investigation, let alone escort other Ministry employees, so Arthur had started a "buddy system" as a precaution after the last murder. Personally, Ash didn't think that most of his colleagues would be very useful in a fight, but none of the murders had taken place in broad daylight, so he didn't see any harm in humoring the Minister.
Perkins glanced around the office and his gaze fell on a young wizard working at a nearby desk. "Take Wilson with you," he told Ash.
Hal Wilson instantly jumped to his feet, looking as eager to be gone from the office as Ash. He was a young man with sandy hair and a cheerful smile, and he had recently transferred in from the clerical section because he thought that "working in Muggle Artifacts would be more fun". Like Arthur, he was a pureblood who found Muggle technology fascinating, and also like Arthur, he was a bit too exuberant and idealistic for Ash's tastes. But in his favor, Wilson was good-natured and didn't seem to be afraid of werewolves, so Ash just nodded and accepted the other wizard's company without protest.
They traveled by Floo to the little village and spoke to some of the local wizards. If they recognized Ash from the stories in the Daily Prophet, they didn't say so, although they did gaze at his scarred face nervously. Still, they were polite and answered all his and Wilson's questions as best they could, although their answers weren't especially helpful.
"Do you have any idea who might be responsible for this?" Wilson inquired.
One of the villagers scratched his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then replied, "Well, the Hooper boy is a half-blood, and he has one of those bicycle things, and he is a bit mischievous, but he's away at Hogwarts right now."
None of the other villagers could come up with any suspects, and when Ash and Wilson questioned the Hooper family, they vehemently denied that their son could be involved. "How could he, when he's not even here?" Mrs. Hooper logically pointed out. She even insisted on showing the two Ministry employees that her son's bicycle was securely locked away in a storage shed while he was at school.
Strangely enough, none of the people who'd witnessed the flying bicycle could recall seeing anyone riding it, so they couldn't give a description of the wizard or witch who had enchanted it. They had merely seen it floating in the air, riderless. They could, however, provide a general location for the sightings: the nearby woods located outside the village. The bicycle had been seen skimming over the treetops before descending out of sight into the forest.
Having received directions, Ash and Wilson set off for the woods alone, since none of the villagers seemed inclined to accompany them. Ash was happy enough to leave them behind, because the village reminded him uncomfortably of the one he had grown up in.
Ash moved through the woods as silently as a real wolf, glancing upwards every so often to keep an eye out for the flying bicycle. Meanwhile, Wilson blundered behind him, making a great deal of noise as he stepped on fallen twigs, brushed past bushes, and pushed aside overhanging branches.
"Will you keep it down?" Ash asked irritably. "We'll never catch the culprit if he can hear us coming from a mile away."
"I can't help it," Wilson argued good-naturedly. "I'm a city boy; I'm not used to hiking through the forest. You certainly move stealthily enough, though. Is that a werewolf thing?"
"Of course not," Ash replied curtly. "Most of my packmates are city-bred, and they'd probably be just as noisy as you. I used to play in the woods a lot when I was a kid, that's all."
"Really?" Wilson asked curiously. "I never pegged you for a country boy."
Ash shot an annoyed look at him and growled, "My stepfather was a farmer. Don't you read the Daily Prophet?"
"I never read that trash," Wilson said contemptuously, and Ash laughed in spite of himself.
"You know, you're not such a bad sort after all, Wilson."
"Of course not. Oh, look--there it is!" Wilson pointed up, and Ash saw a glint of light filtering through the leaves above them--the sun reflecting off the metal frame of a bicycle.
They hurried after the bicycle, no longer concerned about being quiet, trying to keep it in sight without stumbling on the roots and brush underfoot. The bicycle moved at a slow and steady pace, though, and they were in no danger of losing it, even when they paused to glance down to keep their footing. Eventually they caught up with it when it descended into a small clearing.
"Hello?" Wilson called out. "We're from the Ministry." When there was no reply, he added, "There's no point in hiding; we know you're here. You needn't be scared; for a first offense, you'll only get a warning and a small fine. In fact, that's quite a clever charm you put on the bicycle. I'd like to talk to you about it if I may. Hello?"
It suddenly occurred to Ash that this had all been just a little too easy, that it almost seemed like the bike had been deliberately leading them here. His body tensed as the wolf sensed danger, and he reached for his wand as his head swiveled around, eyes searching for the wizard who was controlling the bike.
"Be careful, Wilson," he said in a low growl. "This may be a trap."
Wilson turned towards Ash, startled, but before he could reply, a voice above them shouted, "Sectumsempra!"
Ash cried out in pain and dropped his wand as the spell tore open his hand, nearly cutting it in two. He had no time to dwell on the pain, however, because immediately after he was hit by what felt like at least two hundred pounds of dead weight as a man dropped out of a tree directly on top of him with a howl of maniacal glee.
No...not a man, at least not entirely. His body was human, but his face was that of a gray-furred wolf with a mouth full of long, yellowish fangs. Its breath was hot and rank on Ash's face, and for one terror-stricken moment, he was transported back to the werewolf attack that had turned him when he was twelve years old.
"Ash!" Wilson cried. His face was white with fear, but he stood his ground and drew his wand--a brave move, but not necessarily a smart one. The werewolf--who must be Greyback--lashed out with a long, muscular, fur-covered arm and knocked Wilson off his feet before he could get a single spell off, sending him flying backwards into a nearby tree, which the back of his head hit with a solid thunk!
Wilson moaned and his body slumped down to the ground and lay still. Ash had no time to wonder whether the young man was dead or just unconscious, because he was too busy struggling and gasping beneath Greyback's weight, trying to catch his breath, which had been knocked out of him when the werewolf had dropped on him. "So you're the wolf who's been giving my Lady so much trouble," Greyback said, his jaw dropping in the wolfish equivalent of a grin. "You don't look like much to me; you're barely more than a cub." He leaned in closer and whispered, "Your mummy and daddy were very tasty, boy. I wonder if you'll taste as good as them?" And he ran his tongue across Ash's cheek.
Ash snarled in disgust and spat in Greyback's face. He struggled with renewed fervor, ignoring the pain in his wounded hand as he kicked, punched, and clawed at Greyback, fighting to break free.
The other werewolf grunted as one of Ash's blows connected solidly, but it didn't seem to affect him much. "You're a feisty one," he growled, sounding more amused than angry. Then without warning, he lashed out with one hand and ripped open the right side of Ash's face with his talons. "Now both sides of your face match!" Greyback laughed, his eyes glittering with sadistic pleasure as Ash howled in pain. "It's a pity that it won't leave a scar since you're a werewolf--assuming you live long enough for it to heal, that is."
In his hybrid state, Greyback had the advantage of teeth and claws in addition to his superior weight and strength. There was no way that Ash would be able to beat him in human form without his wand, so he gave in to the fear and anger rising within him, trying to encourage the wolf to emerge so that he could transform.
{Goddamnit,} Ash snarled silently to himself. {It figures that the one time I actually want to lose control to the wolf, I can't do it!}
Then Greyback opened his jaws wide and clamped them around Ash's neck, and suddenly he had no problem summoning up the wolf as a wave of terror washed over him. Reacting instinctively to a life-and-death threat, his body transformed, and Ash was so caught up in his fear that he barely noticed the usual pain of his flesh and bones twisting and breaking and reshaping themselves.
However, with Greyback's jaws locked around his throat, Ash was unable to bite his attacker, and he was still pinned beneath Greyback's half-human body, which was larger and heavier than Ash's wolf form. He desperately clawed at the other werewolf, and he felt cloth tearing and flesh giving way beneath his talons, but Greyback still would not let go. If anything, his jaws clamped down tighter, pressing against Ash's windpipe and cutting off the flow of air. He could also feel Greyback's fangs beginning to push through the thick ruff of fur around his wolf-self's neck and pierce into flesh, but as he struggled for breath, Ash realized that he might very well suffocate before he had a chance to bleed to death.
{I'm going to die,} Ash thought frantically, filled with despair as he realized how much unfinished business he had left in his life. {I never told Tsubasa that I love him...I think, or at least I hope he knows that I do, but...I've never actually said the words to him. And Laura...she'll be all alone if die; what will happen to her? Maybe Lukas will take her into the pack for my sake...} He thought of his pack leader, who had taken him off the streets and given him a home. His surrogate father and brother and friend all in one, who had saved him as a child, and now he was going to squander the gift Lukas had given to him because he had been stupid and careless enough to walk into Greyback's trap. He knew that his pack leader would mourn for him, but at least he now had a wife and baby to comfort him. {I'm so sorry that I won't be able to see your son, Lukas...} was Ash's last thought before everything faded to black.
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Hal Wilson was half-conscious and vaguely aware of the struggle between the strange werewolf and Ash, and he knew that he needed to go to his companion's aid, but his body would not cooperate when he tried to move. He was afraid at first that he might be paralyzed, that he had hit the tree hard enough to snap his neck, but he felt his fingertips twitch slightly, so he was probably just stunned.
Not that he wouldn't be dead soon enough, unless he could summon up enough strength to get up and grab his wand. Or at least Apparate out of here--but he couldn't just leave Ash behind to be killed. On the other hand, Hal wasn't trained in combative magic; he was a clerk, not an Auror, so he wouldn't be much help in fighting the wolf-man. But if he could Apparate to the Ministry quickly enough, maybe he could bring the Aurors back in time to save Ash...
The point turned out to be moot in the end. Hal watched in horror as the brown wolf who was Ash stopped struggling and went limp between the wolf-man's jaws. The werewolf released Ash's body, then scooped him up with one arm, holding the large wolf as easily as if it were a puppy.
Then the werewolf walked over to where Hal lay and wrapped his free hand around Hal's throat. {That's it; I'm dead,} Hal thought. He might have wet himself in terror if he hadn't still been dazed from the blow to his head.
Lifting him by the neck, the werewolf hauled Hal up until their faces were level. His hand gripped Hal's throat tightly, and he struggled to breathe as the monster growled, "The only reason I'm leaving you alive is that I need you to take a message to someone for me."
"Who?" Hal wheezed.
"Cyril Diggory, the leader of the werewolf pack," the werewolf replied. "Tell him that Greyback is challenging him, and that we are to fight in single combat for leadership of the pack. He is to come and meet me alone, no Aurors, or I will kill his dear friend Ash."
That must mean Ash was still alive! Hal glanced over at Ash, and while his body was limp and unconscious, he could see now that the wolf was breathing shallowly, his sides rising and falling slightly with each breath.
"Where should he meet you?" Hal gasped.
"I'll send him the time and place later," Greyback said, then he dropped Hal and Disapparated.
The first thing Hal did was breathe in deeply, his lungs burning from lack of air. When he was no longer in danger of fainting (although his neck was still throbbing painfully where Greyback had grabbed him), he paused to consider what he should do. On one hand, his duty as a Ministry employee was no doubt to report this to the Aurors immediately. On the other hand, while Greyback hadn't explicitly said not to tell anyone other than Diggory about the attack, he had threatened to kill Ash if the Aurors got involved, and Hal didn't want to take any chances.
Hal couldn't really call Ash a friend; the werewolf was civil to him, but a bit standoffish. Still, he couldn't blame Ash for being wary, considering how most of the people at the Ministry treated him like an outcast, and Hal admired the way Ash didn't seem to care what anyone thought of him. And he envied Ash's roguish good looks a little. Many of the young women at the Ministry sneered about "the werewolf" in public, but Hal often caught them giving Ash admiring glances when they thought no one was looking. No matter how much women claimed that they wanted a "nice guy," they always seemed to be attracted to the bad boy types, Hal thought wistfully. Then again, rumor had it that Ash wasn't interested in women, and was currently living with a handsome male teacher at Hogwarts.
Anyway, although he and Ash weren't close, Hal liked him, and he didn't want to put his coworker in jeopardy. He just didn't know what to do. Even if he did want to keep the kidnapping a secret, how would he explain Ash's disappearance at the office without arousing suspicion?
Finally he decided that it was too much for him to handle alone. He knew and trusted Kingsley Shacklebolt, so Hal decided to confide in the Auror and hope that he would be discreet. Feeling a little better for having made a decision, Hal Apparated back to London.
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Fortunately, Dawlish wasn't in the Aurors' office when Hal Wilson walked in, looking bruised and disheveled, or things would have gotten more complicated than they already were. Once Kingsley heard Wilson's story, he brought in Harry and Tonks. Wilson was worried about Ash's safety and reluctant to share his story with too many people, but it was fairly easy to persuade the young man to put his faith in the Boy Who Lived. As much as Harry disliked his fame, it did come in handy sometimes. The three Aurors conferred briefly, and after a bit of debate, decided that they needed to include Arthur. He was the Minister, after all, and moreover, he considered Ash a friend.
Arthur decided that they needed to talk to Lukas as soon as possible, so they all headed over to Hogwarts. They consulted with the Headmaster, who then called Lukas, Snape, Lupin, and Tsubasa into his office.
"So many people," Wilson said nervously, eyeing the small crowd. "If word gets out..."
"It won't be through one of us," Snape said coldly, and Wilson paled slightly. It was not so many years ago that he had been a student at Hogwarts, and very few of Snape's students ever completely got over their fear of him even after leaving school.
"I didn't mean you, Professor," Wilson mumbled, wilting under the Potions Master's glare.
"We all worked together in the Order of the Phoenix, except for Professor Tsubasa," Tonks said, kindly but firmly. "We've trusted each other with our lives in the past; we can all keep a secret, and none of us would ever betray the other's trust."
Still cowed, Wilson said nothing, but his eyes flickered over to Tsubasa, who said solemnly, "Ash is my mate. I would never do anything to jeopardize his safety."
"Oh," Wilson said, his eyes widening. "So for once the office gossip was right!"
"Worry about the gossip later, Mr. Wilson!" Snape snapped acerbically. "What we need right now is to know exactly what happened today."
"Yes, sir," Wilson said meekly, and explained the day's events as best he could, starting with the report about the flying bicycle.
Lukas snarled with rage when he heard how Greyback had attacked Ash, but before he had a chance to speak, Snape turned on Arthur and shouted, "What the hell were you thinking, sending Randolf out on assignments, particularly to remote locations! We knew that he was the ultimate target of Greyback and his employers!"
Arthur flinched and protested, "But Greyback has always attacked late at night, when there are no witnesses around. I thought it would be safe enough to let Ash handle a few routine investigations during broad daylight. And we've set up a buddy system at the Ministry, so that no one goes out alone."
"Oh, and that worked out very well," Snape said sarcastically, with a pointed glance at Wilson, who wilted further.
"But Severus, I thought you knew that Ash had gone back to work, and you didn't say anything at the time," Lupin pointed out reasonably.
"I thought he was just working in the office," Snape grumbled. "I didn't expect that he'd be running all over England on his own." Another glance at Wilson. "Or as good as."
"I was worried about Ash going back to work," Tsubasa admitted. "But like Professor Snape, I thought he was just working in the office, so I didn't try to stop him."
Lupin smiled slightly at his lover. "It's nice to know that you're concerned about Ash, Severus."
This time Snape turned his glare on Lupin, who gazed calmly back at him, unperturbed. "This is about more than just Randolf, Lupin, and you know it!" he barked. "This is about the danger of the werewolves' rights being taken away, and the possibility that the Death Eaters could regain a foothold in the wizarding world!"
"Well, right now all I care about is Ash!" Lukas growled, looking rather offended at the way Snape had so lightly brushed aside the concerns about Ash.
"Excuse me," Dumbledore said mildly, stepping between the two angry men. "I think it would be best to put aside our quarrels for the moment and focus on getting Mr. Randolf back safely, don't you?"
"True," Lukas conceded, his anger fading, and Snape nodded curtly.
"Let us go back over the attack again, Mr. Wilson," the Potions Master ordered. "What exactly did Greyback say? Did he give any clue as to whom he was working for or where he was taking Randolf?"
"I'm sorry, sir," Wilson said miserably. "I got knocked against the tree, and I was only half-conscious. I remember hearing him talking to Ash--more like growling, really--but I can't remember his exact words, just the tone of his voice. He seemed more amused than angry, like a cat toying with a mouse. I didn't really come to until he grabbed me and gave me the message for Mr. Diggory. His exact words were..." He frowned, wrinkling his brow in concentration, then said slowly, "'Tell him that Greyback is challenging him, and that we are to fight in single combat for leadership of the pack. He is to come and meet me alone, no Aurors, or I will kill his dear friend Ash.' And he said that he would send a message about where and when to meet later."
"You must remember something!" Lukas shouted in frustration. "Think harder!" The pack leader advanced on Wilson, baring his teeth in a threatening snarl, and the young man took a few hasty steps back.
"I've tried; honestly, I have!" Wilson protested. "I want to help Ash just as much as you do, but--"
"I seriously doubt that," Lukas growled, but Lupin placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to both calm him and hold him back from attacking Wilson.
"He may not be as close to Ash as you are, but I'm sure that he doesn't want any harm to come to Ash," Lupin said gently. "It's not his fault that he was nearly unconscious during the attack, and yelling at him isn't going to help him remember."
"'Nearly' unconscious," Snape murmured to himself, frowning thoughtfully. "Actually, Mr. Wilson might be able to help us, after all."
"He might?" Lukas asked eagerly.
"I might?" Wilson asked, a bit more doubtfully.
"You said that you were dazed by the blow to your head, but you did not completely lose consciousness, is that correct?" Snape asked briskly, with none of his former hostility.
"Yes, that's right, Professor," Wilson confirmed. "But like I said, I don't remember what Greyback said...or rather, I couldn't make out his actual words."
"Your conscious mind does not remember," Snape said didactically, as if lecturing in the classroom. "However, the subconscious picks up a great deal more detail than the conscious mind is aware of."
"Maybe, but how does that help us?" Wilson asked in confusion.
"Gryffindors," Snape sighed to himself, then asked impatiently, "Have you ever heard of Legilimency, Mr. Wilson?"
"Um, I think it's something to do with mind-reading?" Wilson asked hesitantly, with the air of a student expecting to be chided for his ignorance.
"That is a somewhat simplified and inaccurate description, but I don't have time to explain it in detail," Snape replied, a bit condescendingly. "So yes, in essence, mind-reading. I can use Legilimency to retrieve your memory of the attack, and it should give us a more accurate picture of what happened."
Wilson looked a bit apprehensive about having Snape in his mind, and Arthur said, "We won't force you to do this, Hal," although Lukas looked as though he might object to that statement. "However," Arthur continued, "if you are willing, it would be a great help, and your memories might hold the key to rescuing Ash."
"Then I don't see how I can object," Hal said. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, then turned to face Snape. "All right," he said with an air of forced bravery. "I'm ready, sir. What should I do?"
"Albus, I'll need your Pensieve," Snape told the Headmaster, who immediately went to fetch the item from a cupboard. Meanwhile, Snape turned back to Wilson and said, "Try to relax. This will be easier if you remain calm and try not to fight me. And if you can try to concentrate on your memory of the attack and bring it to the forefront of your mind, that will help things go quicker and more smoothly."
Wilson took another deep breath, exhaling slowly, then closed his eyes and said, "Yes, sir."
Snape took out his wand and silently cast the spell, then entered his former student's mind. He felt Wilson mentally flinch, automatically resisting the intrusion in spite of his good intentions, a normal instinctive reaction for someone undergoing the process for the first time. Snape could simply have ripped open Wilson's mind as he had the Romanian sanatorium director's, but doing so could cause permanent mental damage to the victim, and Arthur would probably be upset if Snape accidentally turned the boy into a vegetable. And Snape did grudgingly accord the young Gryffindor a small degree of respect for voluntarily agreeing to let the dreaded Potions Master into his mind, so he gently eased his way past Wilson's mental barriers instead of just tearing them down.
After a few moments, Wilson calmed slightly, and although he was still nervous, he made an obvious effort to relax and not fight Snape, who found the memory of Greyback's attack easily enough. Wilson was concentrating intently on it, as Snape had instructed, and it helped that the memory was still fresh and vivid in his mind, having occurred so recently.
"I have found the memory, Mr. Wilson," Snape said, in a much more soothing tone than he normally used with his former students--well, with anyone other than Lupin and his sons, actually. But extracting the memory would be a delicate process, and he didn't want anything to go awry if Wilson started to panic. "I am going to temporarily remove it and put it into the Pensieve so that we may all observe the memory more closely. It will not hurt, and when I am done, I will restore the memory to your mind. I promise that you will suffer no harm from the procedure."
"O...okay, Professor," Wilson said gamely, still nervous but determined. "What should I do?"
"Nothing," Snape replied. "Just remain calm; I will handle everything else. Now, I am going to place my wand against your temple. Do not be alarmed." He slowly drew out a long, silvery strand from Wilson's head and deposited it in the Pensieve.
When he was done, Wilson shook his head slightly and said, "Hmm, I don't feel any different."
"I told you that you would take no harm from it," Snape replied irritably.
"I know, but I thought maybe my head would feel, well, empty or something," Wilson said sheepishly.
"In that case, you should feel no different, since all Gryffindors tend to be empty-headed," Snape retorted, more out of habit than anything else.
"Never mind that now!" Lukas snapped impatiently, and for once, Snape didn't argue.
"Very well, let us examine Mr. Wilson's memory."
They gathered around the Pensieve and took turns immersing themselves in the memory, since there were too many of them to all use the Pensieve at once. After they'd all had a chance to examine the memory, Snape restored it back to Wilson's head and frowned, tracing his lips with one finger as he often did when he was lost in thought.
"Wow!" Wilson exclaimed. "I had no idea I could remember so much without being aware of it."
Lukas's eyes were gleaming with a combination of murderous intent and frustration. Greyback was obviously the one he wanted to hurt, but he looked as though he might settle for anyone within close reach. Wilson cautiously backed away from him, and even the Aurors gave him a wide berth.
"But this doesn't really help us!" Lukas growled. "We didn't learn anything about where Greyback took Ash."
"We did learn that he's working for a woman," Harry said hopefully. "He said that Ash was giving 'my Lady' trouble."
"He doesn't say her name, though," Tonks said. "Do you think it might be Imogen Macnair, Severus? I know that you don't want to suspect your former students, but..."
Snape sighed, looking weary and resigned. "The pureblood elite are a bit sexist, as I'm sure most of you have noticed. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part, the main role of a pureblood woman is to marry and provide heirs to carry on the family name. Most of the Death Eaters were men, and out of all the female Death Eaters, only Bellatrix Lestrange and Alecto Carrow were truly active participants. The others, like Narcissa, were wives who took the Mark mainly as a show of support to their husbands' cause. They attended important Death Eater ceremonies and meetings, but did not take part in the raids and murders.
"Whoever freed Greyback from the sanatorium must have a close connection to the Death Eaters, or they would not have known his location, or even that he was still alive. Bellatrix is dead and Alecto is in prison. And obviously, Delia Avery and Narcissa are not suspects. Out of all the women who are close relatives of the Death Eaters, there are very few who would have the inclination to actively take part in a scheme like this, and even fewer who would be strong enough, both magically and emotionally, to exert control over Greyback."
Snape paused for dramatic effect, and both Kingsley and Lukas glared at him impatiently. "For Merlin's sake, will you just get on with it, Snape?" the werewolf leader snapped.
"On the surface, Imogen Macnair is a very proper young pureblood woman," Snape continued coolly, as if he had not heard the interruption. "She always publicly defers to her father and brother, and never behaves in a manner that is even remotely unladylike. However, she is intelligent and skilled in the Dark Arts, and moreover, she is very strong-willed. After observing the twins closely during their several years at Hogwarts, and on a few social occasions outside of school, I would guess that Imogen is the dominant twin." A small, wry smile crossed Snape's lips. "I doubt that Warren is consciously aware of it, but he almost always follows his sister's lead and heeds her advice, although she is subtle enough that it isn't obvious to outsiders. Which isn't to say that Warren isn't a capable wizard in his own right, because he is. But notice that Greyback refers to 'my Lady,' not 'my Lord,' which implies that the 'Lady' is the one in charge. Since this is a memory, I cannot sense any of Greyback's emotions, and must judge only by his tone of voice and facial expressions, but I believe that there was some sincere respect in his words, which is significant, because in the old days, Greyback had little use for females other than...er...bedding them.
"The twins are capable mages, though young and untested, but together, I believe that they are skilled enough to have freed Greyback and kept him under control, at least temporarily, although I doubt that they will be able to keep him on a leash indefinitely. And in my opinion, Imogen is the only female suspect we have who is capable of controlling him and winning his respect. So in conclusion, I must reluctantly agree that the culprits are most likely Imogen and Warren."
"You couldn't have just said, 'It's the Macnairs'?" Kingsley asked in an exasperated voice. "Never mind--don't answer that; I know we don't have time to argue. Arthur, I'll need an arrest warrant to bring the Macnairs in."
Arthur looked unhappy. "We still have no hard evidence pointing towards the Macnairs..."
"Snape knows the Death Eaters and their families and allies better than anyone else," Kingsley said. "I may not like him, but I respect his expertise in this matter. If he says the Macnairs are guilty, then that's evidence enough for me!"
"It's not that I doubt your word, Severus," Arthur told the Potions Master. "But I've been trying to be fair and apply the same rules to everyone--and that includes my enemies as well as my friends."
"Are you going to let Ash get killed because you refuse to bend the rules a little?" Lukas demanded. "Do you think that the Macnairs and Greyback are going to play by your goddamned rules?!"
"As Minister of Magic, you do have the authority to use your own discretion in cases of emergency," Snape said sharply. "And if this doesn't count as an emergency, I don't know what does. You must decide which is more important to you, Weasley: your idealism or Randolf's life."
Arthur sighed wearily and said, "I will draw up the warrant immediately."
As the Ministry workers prepared to leave, Lukas cried, "Wait! What about Ash? What am I supposed to do?"
"We'll let you know as soon as we find out anything useful," Arthur promised. "Hopefully, we'll be able to get Ash's location--and Greyback's--from the Macnairs."
Kingsley looked determined, but not nearly so optimistic. "Stay put in case Greyback contacts you." Then his eyes narrowed and he gave the werewolf leader a stern look. "And I'm sure that I don't need to tell you not to go running off on your own if you do get a message from him. They're obviously setting up a trap for you."
"Obviously," Lukas snarled, but he didn't respond to Kingsley's warning--something that didn't escape the Auror's notice.
"I mean it, Diggory," Kingsley insisted. "No matter what Greyback said about not bringing in any Aurors, you can't go running off to play hero by yourself--"
"Like a Gryffindor," Snape muttered under his breath.
"--or you'll wind up getting the both of you killed," Kingsley finished. "Understand?"
"Yes," Lukas replied sullenly.
"We care about Ash, too," Tonks said kindly. "We'll use every precaution to conceal our presence from Greyback, if it comes to that."
"We can use my Invisibility Cloak," Harry offered.
"Hopefully, we can get the Macnairs to give up Greyback's hiding place, and catch him off-guard and ambush him when he's not expecting it," Tonks continued.
"I want to be a part of any attack on Greyback," Lukas said adamantly.
Kingsley hesitated, then said, "We'll discuss it after we interrogate the Macnairs."
"In the meantime, I'll contact Henry Bletchley and see if he's found a way to use that ring yet," Snape said.
"Good idea, Severus; thanks," Tonks with sincere gratitude, and Snape just grunted in reply.
Tsubasa had remained quiet throughout most of the discussion, and his face was impassive, almost emotionless, except for a faint glint in his eyes--just a hint of the frustration that was mirrored in Lukas's.
"Well, I guess I'll go sharpen my sword," he finally said. "If I'm lucky, I'll get a chance to use it on Greyback."
"Not if I get to him first," Lukas said, but he gave the crane man a fierce but comradely grin and clapped him on the shoulder.
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However, the curator who had been a friend of the twins' mother noticed the Aurors arriving, and quietly passed word of it to Imogen, who correctly sensed that they were not here for just another harmless interrogation session. She immediately fled and sent a warning to her brother.
Once the Aurors realized that Imogen was missing, they rushed over to the Macnair mansion, but it was too late. By the time they succeeded in breaking down the protective wards guarding the estate, Warren was long gone.
Part 28
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Afterword: Readers with very good memories might remember Hal Wilson as a minor character who appeared towards the end of Phoenix Rising. He was a young Ministry employee who was showing Percy some fireworks he had bought at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He was created for the purpose of giving the fireworks to Percy so that Percy could later use them to alert the Order to the Death Eaters' location. I hadn't intended to bring him back in future stories, but when Ash needed a companion to accompany him on the investigation, Hal seemed like a good fit; Perkins just didn't seem right, somehow. Actually, I was originally going to send Ash off alone, but I liked the idea of Snape analyzing the attack from the memory of a witness.
Oh, and the icon is supposed to be Tsubasa.
The "werewolf murders" (as the Daily Prophet had dubbed them) had cast a shadow of fear over the wizarding world, and the public was in a state of near-panic. Tsubasa had even more reason to be worried than the general public, because he knew the specifics of the case: that the former Death Eater Greyback was the culprit, and that he had a magical artifact that allowed him to transform at any time of the month. Not to mention the fact that Tsubasa's new lover, Ash, appeared to be the true target of Greyback's unknown employers, since he had been framed for the murders of his parents.
Yet in spite of all this, he was strangely happy. He enjoyed the evenings that he spent alone in his quarters with Ash, sometimes talking, sometimes making love, and at other times just sitting together quietly and enjoying each other's company. During those moments, he felt as if they were encased in a small cocoon of safety and contentment, where the outside world did not exist.
His warrior instincts, honed by years of training with the tengu, warned him that this was a mistake, that he should not be letting down his guard at a time like this. Hogwarts was heavily warded, so he felt safe enough within the castle, but still, Tsubasa was careful to always keep his swords and wand within reach, even when he and Ash were making love. It was always better to be a little paranoid than a little dead, as one of his former tengu instructors liked to say. Tsubasa smiled, thinking to himself that the sharp tongues and beaky noses of his tengu friends reminded him a great deal of Professor Snape. Or maybe it was the other way around, but either way, Snape would fit right in with the tengu flock. If the Potions Master could take Animagus form, Tsubasa wouldn't be surprised at all if he turned out to be a crow. Some of the other teachers disliked Snape, but Tsubasa thought that like the tengu, his heart seemed to be in the right place, despite his abrasive manner.
Ash had resumed his job at the Ministry, and Tsubasa worried for him a little whenever he left the castle, but he was probably almost as safe there as he was at Hogwarts. Even with the stolen artifact, it was unlikely that Greyback would be able to break into the Ministry. A werewolf had no special ability to break through magical wards, and there were too many witches and wizards stationed there to make a frontal attack anything less than suicidal.
Still, although Tsubasa worried, it was convenient to have Ash at work and out of the way, because it gave him time to work on the lover's token he was making. The unique magic of the crane folk enabled them to work with supernatural speed, and they could weave and sew an entire garment in a matter of days, where it would take a normal human weeks or even months.
However, all Tsubasa had to show for his efforts so far was a relatively small length of cloth, of rather shabby workmanship. The silk threads themselves, magically spun from his own feathers, were as soft and fine as any of his clanmates', and of much higher quality than even the finest material made from silkworm cocoons in the human world. However, due to his rather limited (some would say inept) weaving skills, the cloth he had made was filled with little runs and snarls, although he had been working with as much precision and care as possible. He had even unraveled and rewoven the cloth several times, and unfortunately, this was as good as it was ever going to get.
He didn't even have enough cloth yet to make a full-length robe or kimono as he had planned, but he supposed it didn't matter, since the cloth was of such poor quality that he could hardly allow Ash to wear it in public without being ashamed. But there was enough for a shirt, and perhaps Ash could wear it beneath his robes where it wouldn't show. Even if it looked ugly, the silk would still feel soft against his skin, and besides, it was the thought that counted, Tsubasa tried to tell himself, although without much conviction.
He could ask his father to weave Ash a robe of fine quality, of course, but it was the custom of the crane folk to personally weave a garment for their mates, and it was considered the height of poor taste to have someone else do it for you. A lover's token was supposed to be created with one's own hands, weaving one's love and devotion into the cloth along with the threads. Takeshi could get away with skirting that rule since he was mostly human and did not possess the weaving magic, but Tsubasa was a full-blooded crane and it would be shameful for him not to weave Ash's token himself.
Not that he had ever cared what the clan elders thought of him, and Ash wouldn't know about crane customs, but still, it was something that Tsubasa wanted to do for his mate--even though he and Ash had not yet formally exchanged pledges.
Not formally, maybe...but Tsubasa had acknowledged Ash as his mate when he had recklessly plunged into a cave to comfort a grieving--and transformed--werewolf. And Ash had acknowledged Tsubasa as his mate when the wolf had laid its head in Tsubasa's lap instead of ripping his throat out.
So he measured out and cut the cloth into pieces, then began to sew them together, accidentally jabbing his fingers several times with the needle. He absent-mindedly sucked on his bleeding thumb as he wondered when he ought to present Ash with his gift. After Greyback and his cohorts were captured, probably, which Tsubasa hoped would be soon.
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Ash's first few days at Hogwarts were relaxing--or at least as relaxing as things could be under the circumstances, with the murderer still at large. As much as he hated to admit it, he had needed the time to recover from his grief and get to know his half-sister, not to mention begin to build a relationship with Tsubasa. However, after those first few days had passed, Ash began to chafe at the enforced confinement. He wasn't exactly a prisoner at the castle, but everyone from his pack leader on down had made it clear that he shouldn't venture outside school grounds--for his own protection, of course. The only exception that he had been allowed was a single visit to the werewolves' townhouse, directly by Floo, to reassure his packmates that he was all right.
Hogwarts was certainly a much nicer and more spacious prison than a cell at Azkaban, but still, his inner wolf chafed at the idea of enforced confinement, no matter how pleasant. He was also bored; Tsubasa, Lukas, and Laura all had classes during the day, leaving Ash to his own devices. The Headmaster gave him permission to use the school library, and that distracted him for a short time. Books had been a refuge to him as a child, and the sheer amount of books in the school library dazzled him--it was at least a hundred times larger than the little library in his great-aunt's house.
But even Ash couldn't read for hours on end without getting bored, so he would wander around the school restlessly, looking for something to distract him. Even the insults and pranks of the resident poltergeist were a welcome diversion, and the Gryffindor House ghost was friendly and loquacious, and Ash was able to pass some time listening to Nearly Headless Nick's stories about the history of the school, as well as some current gossip about the teachers and students.
He also talked with Lupin a bit, between and after classes. Lupin was apparently writing some sort of textbook on lycanthropy, and was eager to interview as many werewolves as possible.
"I don't know if this is such a good idea," Ash said doubtfully. "But Lukas told the pack that we could talk to you if we wanted." Ash wasn't at all sure that he wanted to talk about his past, even with another werewolf, but he was bored enough to at least hear Lupin out. Besides, thanks to Rita Skeeter, his past was no longer a secret.
"It's strictly voluntary," Lupin said with a pleasant smile. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But I do think that fear is borne of ignorance, and if people understand us werewolves a little better, perhaps they won't fear us so much."
"They called us heroes after the war," Ash said bitterly. "But I knew it was too good to be true. Look how quickly they turned against us as soon as rumors started about a 'werewolf murder'. It will take more than a book to change human nature."
"Probably," Lupin admitted. "But at least it's a start."
Ash avoided talking about his childhood, and Lupin didn't press him on it, but he did share some stories about his life in the pack after Lukas took him in. The other werewolf smiled a little wistfully as he jotted down notes.
"I felt so alone when I was young--so ashamed and scared," Lupin said. "It would have been nice to have known other werewolves while I was growing up."
"'Nice'?" Ash asked incredulously, then added sharply, "I'm sure that most of the pack would have found it 'nice' to have a family that still loved and protected them after they were turned. I'm sure they would have found it 'nice' to attend Hogwarts instead of stealing and scavenging in order to survive. I'm sure that any one of us would gladly have traded places with you if we could have, Lupin!"
"I wasn't trying to belittle the hardships that you and your pack went through," Lupin said quietly. "I know very well how lucky I was to have had loving, understanding parents, and I wouldn't have traded them for anything. I know I was also very lucky to have had a Headmaster like Dumbledore, who permitted me to attend Hogwarts, and to have made friends at school who didn't care that I was a werewolf. I only meant that I would have felt less lonely and frightened as a child if I had known other werewolves, but I am very grateful for the life I have."
"Sorry," Ash mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed now about losing his temper. He was a little jealous of the relatively easy life Lupin had led, compared to his own and the rest of the pack's, but mostly he was venting his own frustration at being confined on the other werewolf. "I'm a little out of sorts, but it's not your fault."
Lupin smiled sympathetically. "The wolf is restless, isn't it? Or maybe it's not fair to blame it on the wolf; Severus was the same way when he was under house arrest last year and was confined to the castle. He actually doesn't leave Hogwarts very often, except for the holidays, but being told that he couldn't leave drove him crazy. He knew it was all psychological, of course, but the castle felt claustrophobic to him." Lupin's smile turned a little wry. "Actually, he drove me a little crazy as well. Severus isn't one to suffer in silence when he's irritated."
Ash laughed. "No, I didn't think that he was. I can sympathize with him, though. I feel exactly the same way."
"Then maybe you should tell Arthur that you're ready to go back to work," Lupin suggested. "Dawlish knows now that you're not the killer, even though you'll never get an apology out of him. He's focusing all his efforts on finding Greyback."
Ash followed Lupin's advice, and although he wasn't really that fond of his job at the Ministry, he was relieved when Arthur said he could return to work. It turned out that there was actually little for him to do other than investigate a few minor complaints and file paperwork, but even that was preferable to being cooped up in the castle with nothing to do.
With all the hysteria about a possible werewolf serial killer on the loose, the public wasn't interested in frivolities like Muggle toys, and even the smugglers were laying low. Still, Ash was able to at least pretend that he was doing something useful, and he could talk with Kingsley, Tonks, and Harry, who tried to keep him up to date on the investigation--when he could manage to find them, since they were often out of the building trying to track down leads. Even when he could find them, they didn't have much to tell. However, he did at least learn that a scholar friend of Aric's sister was working to help track down the stolen medallion, which presumably would lead them to Greyback.
The only major offense he'd had to deal with so far was a Squib who had bought a gun on the black market. Driven into a terror by the Daily Prophet's inflammatory stories, the Squib had bought the gun for protection because he had no magic to defend himself. Unfortunately, he had only a vague idea of how to use the gun and wasn't very discreet about his target practice. Fortunately, through sheer dumb luck he managed not to kill himself or anyone else, but the Ministry was called in when he accidentally shot out a neighbor's window. Possessing a firearm was a serious offense, and he was arrested, fined, and sentenced to a prison term in Azkaban--but at least he'd be safe from werewolves there, Ash thought a bit sourly.
If they were all lucky, once the killer was caught and the hysteria died down, Arthur would probably take pity on the man and commute his sentence. If they weren't lucky...well, Ash would have a great deal more to worry about than the fate of a single unfortunate Squib.
So when a new report of a possible Muggle Artifact violation came in, Ash jumped at the chance to relieve his boredom and find a distraction from his worries.
"...reports of a flying bicycle," the Department Head Perkins was saying.
"A flying what?" Ash asked, not sure that he'd heard right.
"A flying bicycle," Perkins repeated. "So far only one drunken Muggle has witnessed it, and even he chalked that vision up to an excess of alcohol, but we've had a few confirmed sightings by the local wizards, too. Fortunately, the sighting happened out in the countryside, away from the more populated areas, but there is a small mixed Muggle and wizard village located near the sightings. I'd like you to go and nip this in the bud before we have to send in the Obliviators."
"Of course," Ash replied eagerly, happy to have a chance to leave the office. "You don't think it's Otto Bagman again, do you?"
"It does sound like his handiwork, doesn't it?" Perkins laughed. "But no, it can't be him. He's still in prison for that incident with the Porvora that injured Miss Dietrich. It's most likely some young wizard up to a little harmless mischief. I've heard that Arthur Weasley had a similar habit of tinkering with Muggle devices when he was a boy."
"That doesn't surprise me," Ash said with a grin. "All right, I'll go check out this flying bicycle."
"No one goes out on assignment alone," Perkins reminded him. There weren't enough Aurors to run the investigation, let alone escort other Ministry employees, so Arthur had started a "buddy system" as a precaution after the last murder. Personally, Ash didn't think that most of his colleagues would be very useful in a fight, but none of the murders had taken place in broad daylight, so he didn't see any harm in humoring the Minister.
Perkins glanced around the office and his gaze fell on a young wizard working at a nearby desk. "Take Wilson with you," he told Ash.
Hal Wilson instantly jumped to his feet, looking as eager to be gone from the office as Ash. He was a young man with sandy hair and a cheerful smile, and he had recently transferred in from the clerical section because he thought that "working in Muggle Artifacts would be more fun". Like Arthur, he was a pureblood who found Muggle technology fascinating, and also like Arthur, he was a bit too exuberant and idealistic for Ash's tastes. But in his favor, Wilson was good-natured and didn't seem to be afraid of werewolves, so Ash just nodded and accepted the other wizard's company without protest.
They traveled by Floo to the little village and spoke to some of the local wizards. If they recognized Ash from the stories in the Daily Prophet, they didn't say so, although they did gaze at his scarred face nervously. Still, they were polite and answered all his and Wilson's questions as best they could, although their answers weren't especially helpful.
"Do you have any idea who might be responsible for this?" Wilson inquired.
One of the villagers scratched his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then replied, "Well, the Hooper boy is a half-blood, and he has one of those bicycle things, and he is a bit mischievous, but he's away at Hogwarts right now."
None of the other villagers could come up with any suspects, and when Ash and Wilson questioned the Hooper family, they vehemently denied that their son could be involved. "How could he, when he's not even here?" Mrs. Hooper logically pointed out. She even insisted on showing the two Ministry employees that her son's bicycle was securely locked away in a storage shed while he was at school.
Strangely enough, none of the people who'd witnessed the flying bicycle could recall seeing anyone riding it, so they couldn't give a description of the wizard or witch who had enchanted it. They had merely seen it floating in the air, riderless. They could, however, provide a general location for the sightings: the nearby woods located outside the village. The bicycle had been seen skimming over the treetops before descending out of sight into the forest.
Having received directions, Ash and Wilson set off for the woods alone, since none of the villagers seemed inclined to accompany them. Ash was happy enough to leave them behind, because the village reminded him uncomfortably of the one he had grown up in.
Ash moved through the woods as silently as a real wolf, glancing upwards every so often to keep an eye out for the flying bicycle. Meanwhile, Wilson blundered behind him, making a great deal of noise as he stepped on fallen twigs, brushed past bushes, and pushed aside overhanging branches.
"Will you keep it down?" Ash asked irritably. "We'll never catch the culprit if he can hear us coming from a mile away."
"I can't help it," Wilson argued good-naturedly. "I'm a city boy; I'm not used to hiking through the forest. You certainly move stealthily enough, though. Is that a werewolf thing?"
"Of course not," Ash replied curtly. "Most of my packmates are city-bred, and they'd probably be just as noisy as you. I used to play in the woods a lot when I was a kid, that's all."
"Really?" Wilson asked curiously. "I never pegged you for a country boy."
Ash shot an annoyed look at him and growled, "My stepfather was a farmer. Don't you read the Daily Prophet?"
"I never read that trash," Wilson said contemptuously, and Ash laughed in spite of himself.
"You know, you're not such a bad sort after all, Wilson."
"Of course not. Oh, look--there it is!" Wilson pointed up, and Ash saw a glint of light filtering through the leaves above them--the sun reflecting off the metal frame of a bicycle.
They hurried after the bicycle, no longer concerned about being quiet, trying to keep it in sight without stumbling on the roots and brush underfoot. The bicycle moved at a slow and steady pace, though, and they were in no danger of losing it, even when they paused to glance down to keep their footing. Eventually they caught up with it when it descended into a small clearing.
"Hello?" Wilson called out. "We're from the Ministry." When there was no reply, he added, "There's no point in hiding; we know you're here. You needn't be scared; for a first offense, you'll only get a warning and a small fine. In fact, that's quite a clever charm you put on the bicycle. I'd like to talk to you about it if I may. Hello?"
It suddenly occurred to Ash that this had all been just a little too easy, that it almost seemed like the bike had been deliberately leading them here. His body tensed as the wolf sensed danger, and he reached for his wand as his head swiveled around, eyes searching for the wizard who was controlling the bike.
"Be careful, Wilson," he said in a low growl. "This may be a trap."
Wilson turned towards Ash, startled, but before he could reply, a voice above them shouted, "Sectumsempra!"
Ash cried out in pain and dropped his wand as the spell tore open his hand, nearly cutting it in two. He had no time to dwell on the pain, however, because immediately after he was hit by what felt like at least two hundred pounds of dead weight as a man dropped out of a tree directly on top of him with a howl of maniacal glee.
No...not a man, at least not entirely. His body was human, but his face was that of a gray-furred wolf with a mouth full of long, yellowish fangs. Its breath was hot and rank on Ash's face, and for one terror-stricken moment, he was transported back to the werewolf attack that had turned him when he was twelve years old.
"Ash!" Wilson cried. His face was white with fear, but he stood his ground and drew his wand--a brave move, but not necessarily a smart one. The werewolf--who must be Greyback--lashed out with a long, muscular, fur-covered arm and knocked Wilson off his feet before he could get a single spell off, sending him flying backwards into a nearby tree, which the back of his head hit with a solid thunk!
Wilson moaned and his body slumped down to the ground and lay still. Ash had no time to wonder whether the young man was dead or just unconscious, because he was too busy struggling and gasping beneath Greyback's weight, trying to catch his breath, which had been knocked out of him when the werewolf had dropped on him. "So you're the wolf who's been giving my Lady so much trouble," Greyback said, his jaw dropping in the wolfish equivalent of a grin. "You don't look like much to me; you're barely more than a cub." He leaned in closer and whispered, "Your mummy and daddy were very tasty, boy. I wonder if you'll taste as good as them?" And he ran his tongue across Ash's cheek.
Ash snarled in disgust and spat in Greyback's face. He struggled with renewed fervor, ignoring the pain in his wounded hand as he kicked, punched, and clawed at Greyback, fighting to break free.
The other werewolf grunted as one of Ash's blows connected solidly, but it didn't seem to affect him much. "You're a feisty one," he growled, sounding more amused than angry. Then without warning, he lashed out with one hand and ripped open the right side of Ash's face with his talons. "Now both sides of your face match!" Greyback laughed, his eyes glittering with sadistic pleasure as Ash howled in pain. "It's a pity that it won't leave a scar since you're a werewolf--assuming you live long enough for it to heal, that is."
In his hybrid state, Greyback had the advantage of teeth and claws in addition to his superior weight and strength. There was no way that Ash would be able to beat him in human form without his wand, so he gave in to the fear and anger rising within him, trying to encourage the wolf to emerge so that he could transform.
{Goddamnit,} Ash snarled silently to himself. {It figures that the one time I actually want to lose control to the wolf, I can't do it!}
Then Greyback opened his jaws wide and clamped them around Ash's neck, and suddenly he had no problem summoning up the wolf as a wave of terror washed over him. Reacting instinctively to a life-and-death threat, his body transformed, and Ash was so caught up in his fear that he barely noticed the usual pain of his flesh and bones twisting and breaking and reshaping themselves.
However, with Greyback's jaws locked around his throat, Ash was unable to bite his attacker, and he was still pinned beneath Greyback's half-human body, which was larger and heavier than Ash's wolf form. He desperately clawed at the other werewolf, and he felt cloth tearing and flesh giving way beneath his talons, but Greyback still would not let go. If anything, his jaws clamped down tighter, pressing against Ash's windpipe and cutting off the flow of air. He could also feel Greyback's fangs beginning to push through the thick ruff of fur around his wolf-self's neck and pierce into flesh, but as he struggled for breath, Ash realized that he might very well suffocate before he had a chance to bleed to death.
{I'm going to die,} Ash thought frantically, filled with despair as he realized how much unfinished business he had left in his life. {I never told Tsubasa that I love him...I think, or at least I hope he knows that I do, but...I've never actually said the words to him. And Laura...she'll be all alone if die; what will happen to her? Maybe Lukas will take her into the pack for my sake...} He thought of his pack leader, who had taken him off the streets and given him a home. His surrogate father and brother and friend all in one, who had saved him as a child, and now he was going to squander the gift Lukas had given to him because he had been stupid and careless enough to walk into Greyback's trap. He knew that his pack leader would mourn for him, but at least he now had a wife and baby to comfort him. {I'm so sorry that I won't be able to see your son, Lukas...} was Ash's last thought before everything faded to black.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hal Wilson was half-conscious and vaguely aware of the struggle between the strange werewolf and Ash, and he knew that he needed to go to his companion's aid, but his body would not cooperate when he tried to move. He was afraid at first that he might be paralyzed, that he had hit the tree hard enough to snap his neck, but he felt his fingertips twitch slightly, so he was probably just stunned.
Not that he wouldn't be dead soon enough, unless he could summon up enough strength to get up and grab his wand. Or at least Apparate out of here--but he couldn't just leave Ash behind to be killed. On the other hand, Hal wasn't trained in combative magic; he was a clerk, not an Auror, so he wouldn't be much help in fighting the wolf-man. But if he could Apparate to the Ministry quickly enough, maybe he could bring the Aurors back in time to save Ash...
The point turned out to be moot in the end. Hal watched in horror as the brown wolf who was Ash stopped struggling and went limp between the wolf-man's jaws. The werewolf released Ash's body, then scooped him up with one arm, holding the large wolf as easily as if it were a puppy.
Then the werewolf walked over to where Hal lay and wrapped his free hand around Hal's throat. {That's it; I'm dead,} Hal thought. He might have wet himself in terror if he hadn't still been dazed from the blow to his head.
Lifting him by the neck, the werewolf hauled Hal up until their faces were level. His hand gripped Hal's throat tightly, and he struggled to breathe as the monster growled, "The only reason I'm leaving you alive is that I need you to take a message to someone for me."
"Who?" Hal wheezed.
"Cyril Diggory, the leader of the werewolf pack," the werewolf replied. "Tell him that Greyback is challenging him, and that we are to fight in single combat for leadership of the pack. He is to come and meet me alone, no Aurors, or I will kill his dear friend Ash."
That must mean Ash was still alive! Hal glanced over at Ash, and while his body was limp and unconscious, he could see now that the wolf was breathing shallowly, his sides rising and falling slightly with each breath.
"Where should he meet you?" Hal gasped.
"I'll send him the time and place later," Greyback said, then he dropped Hal and Disapparated.
The first thing Hal did was breathe in deeply, his lungs burning from lack of air. When he was no longer in danger of fainting (although his neck was still throbbing painfully where Greyback had grabbed him), he paused to consider what he should do. On one hand, his duty as a Ministry employee was no doubt to report this to the Aurors immediately. On the other hand, while Greyback hadn't explicitly said not to tell anyone other than Diggory about the attack, he had threatened to kill Ash if the Aurors got involved, and Hal didn't want to take any chances.
Hal couldn't really call Ash a friend; the werewolf was civil to him, but a bit standoffish. Still, he couldn't blame Ash for being wary, considering how most of the people at the Ministry treated him like an outcast, and Hal admired the way Ash didn't seem to care what anyone thought of him. And he envied Ash's roguish good looks a little. Many of the young women at the Ministry sneered about "the werewolf" in public, but Hal often caught them giving Ash admiring glances when they thought no one was looking. No matter how much women claimed that they wanted a "nice guy," they always seemed to be attracted to the bad boy types, Hal thought wistfully. Then again, rumor had it that Ash wasn't interested in women, and was currently living with a handsome male teacher at Hogwarts.
Anyway, although he and Ash weren't close, Hal liked him, and he didn't want to put his coworker in jeopardy. He just didn't know what to do. Even if he did want to keep the kidnapping a secret, how would he explain Ash's disappearance at the office without arousing suspicion?
Finally he decided that it was too much for him to handle alone. He knew and trusted Kingsley Shacklebolt, so Hal decided to confide in the Auror and hope that he would be discreet. Feeling a little better for having made a decision, Hal Apparated back to London.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fortunately, Dawlish wasn't in the Aurors' office when Hal Wilson walked in, looking bruised and disheveled, or things would have gotten more complicated than they already were. Once Kingsley heard Wilson's story, he brought in Harry and Tonks. Wilson was worried about Ash's safety and reluctant to share his story with too many people, but it was fairly easy to persuade the young man to put his faith in the Boy Who Lived. As much as Harry disliked his fame, it did come in handy sometimes. The three Aurors conferred briefly, and after a bit of debate, decided that they needed to include Arthur. He was the Minister, after all, and moreover, he considered Ash a friend.
Arthur decided that they needed to talk to Lukas as soon as possible, so they all headed over to Hogwarts. They consulted with the Headmaster, who then called Lukas, Snape, Lupin, and Tsubasa into his office.
"So many people," Wilson said nervously, eyeing the small crowd. "If word gets out..."
"It won't be through one of us," Snape said coldly, and Wilson paled slightly. It was not so many years ago that he had been a student at Hogwarts, and very few of Snape's students ever completely got over their fear of him even after leaving school.
"I didn't mean you, Professor," Wilson mumbled, wilting under the Potions Master's glare.
"We all worked together in the Order of the Phoenix, except for Professor Tsubasa," Tonks said, kindly but firmly. "We've trusted each other with our lives in the past; we can all keep a secret, and none of us would ever betray the other's trust."
Still cowed, Wilson said nothing, but his eyes flickered over to Tsubasa, who said solemnly, "Ash is my mate. I would never do anything to jeopardize his safety."
"Oh," Wilson said, his eyes widening. "So for once the office gossip was right!"
"Worry about the gossip later, Mr. Wilson!" Snape snapped acerbically. "What we need right now is to know exactly what happened today."
"Yes, sir," Wilson said meekly, and explained the day's events as best he could, starting with the report about the flying bicycle.
Lukas snarled with rage when he heard how Greyback had attacked Ash, but before he had a chance to speak, Snape turned on Arthur and shouted, "What the hell were you thinking, sending Randolf out on assignments, particularly to remote locations! We knew that he was the ultimate target of Greyback and his employers!"
Arthur flinched and protested, "But Greyback has always attacked late at night, when there are no witnesses around. I thought it would be safe enough to let Ash handle a few routine investigations during broad daylight. And we've set up a buddy system at the Ministry, so that no one goes out alone."
"Oh, and that worked out very well," Snape said sarcastically, with a pointed glance at Wilson, who wilted further.
"But Severus, I thought you knew that Ash had gone back to work, and you didn't say anything at the time," Lupin pointed out reasonably.
"I thought he was just working in the office," Snape grumbled. "I didn't expect that he'd be running all over England on his own." Another glance at Wilson. "Or as good as."
"I was worried about Ash going back to work," Tsubasa admitted. "But like Professor Snape, I thought he was just working in the office, so I didn't try to stop him."
Lupin smiled slightly at his lover. "It's nice to know that you're concerned about Ash, Severus."
This time Snape turned his glare on Lupin, who gazed calmly back at him, unperturbed. "This is about more than just Randolf, Lupin, and you know it!" he barked. "This is about the danger of the werewolves' rights being taken away, and the possibility that the Death Eaters could regain a foothold in the wizarding world!"
"Well, right now all I care about is Ash!" Lukas growled, looking rather offended at the way Snape had so lightly brushed aside the concerns about Ash.
"Excuse me," Dumbledore said mildly, stepping between the two angry men. "I think it would be best to put aside our quarrels for the moment and focus on getting Mr. Randolf back safely, don't you?"
"True," Lukas conceded, his anger fading, and Snape nodded curtly.
"Let us go back over the attack again, Mr. Wilson," the Potions Master ordered. "What exactly did Greyback say? Did he give any clue as to whom he was working for or where he was taking Randolf?"
"I'm sorry, sir," Wilson said miserably. "I got knocked against the tree, and I was only half-conscious. I remember hearing him talking to Ash--more like growling, really--but I can't remember his exact words, just the tone of his voice. He seemed more amused than angry, like a cat toying with a mouse. I didn't really come to until he grabbed me and gave me the message for Mr. Diggory. His exact words were..." He frowned, wrinkling his brow in concentration, then said slowly, "'Tell him that Greyback is challenging him, and that we are to fight in single combat for leadership of the pack. He is to come and meet me alone, no Aurors, or I will kill his dear friend Ash.' And he said that he would send a message about where and when to meet later."
"You must remember something!" Lukas shouted in frustration. "Think harder!" The pack leader advanced on Wilson, baring his teeth in a threatening snarl, and the young man took a few hasty steps back.
"I've tried; honestly, I have!" Wilson protested. "I want to help Ash just as much as you do, but--"
"I seriously doubt that," Lukas growled, but Lupin placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to both calm him and hold him back from attacking Wilson.
"He may not be as close to Ash as you are, but I'm sure that he doesn't want any harm to come to Ash," Lupin said gently. "It's not his fault that he was nearly unconscious during the attack, and yelling at him isn't going to help him remember."
"'Nearly' unconscious," Snape murmured to himself, frowning thoughtfully. "Actually, Mr. Wilson might be able to help us, after all."
"He might?" Lukas asked eagerly.
"I might?" Wilson asked, a bit more doubtfully.
"You said that you were dazed by the blow to your head, but you did not completely lose consciousness, is that correct?" Snape asked briskly, with none of his former hostility.
"Yes, that's right, Professor," Wilson confirmed. "But like I said, I don't remember what Greyback said...or rather, I couldn't make out his actual words."
"Your conscious mind does not remember," Snape said didactically, as if lecturing in the classroom. "However, the subconscious picks up a great deal more detail than the conscious mind is aware of."
"Maybe, but how does that help us?" Wilson asked in confusion.
"Gryffindors," Snape sighed to himself, then asked impatiently, "Have you ever heard of Legilimency, Mr. Wilson?"
"Um, I think it's something to do with mind-reading?" Wilson asked hesitantly, with the air of a student expecting to be chided for his ignorance.
"That is a somewhat simplified and inaccurate description, but I don't have time to explain it in detail," Snape replied, a bit condescendingly. "So yes, in essence, mind-reading. I can use Legilimency to retrieve your memory of the attack, and it should give us a more accurate picture of what happened."
Wilson looked a bit apprehensive about having Snape in his mind, and Arthur said, "We won't force you to do this, Hal," although Lukas looked as though he might object to that statement. "However," Arthur continued, "if you are willing, it would be a great help, and your memories might hold the key to rescuing Ash."
"Then I don't see how I can object," Hal said. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, then turned to face Snape. "All right," he said with an air of forced bravery. "I'm ready, sir. What should I do?"
"Albus, I'll need your Pensieve," Snape told the Headmaster, who immediately went to fetch the item from a cupboard. Meanwhile, Snape turned back to Wilson and said, "Try to relax. This will be easier if you remain calm and try not to fight me. And if you can try to concentrate on your memory of the attack and bring it to the forefront of your mind, that will help things go quicker and more smoothly."
Wilson took another deep breath, exhaling slowly, then closed his eyes and said, "Yes, sir."
Snape took out his wand and silently cast the spell, then entered his former student's mind. He felt Wilson mentally flinch, automatically resisting the intrusion in spite of his good intentions, a normal instinctive reaction for someone undergoing the process for the first time. Snape could simply have ripped open Wilson's mind as he had the Romanian sanatorium director's, but doing so could cause permanent mental damage to the victim, and Arthur would probably be upset if Snape accidentally turned the boy into a vegetable. And Snape did grudgingly accord the young Gryffindor a small degree of respect for voluntarily agreeing to let the dreaded Potions Master into his mind, so he gently eased his way past Wilson's mental barriers instead of just tearing them down.
After a few moments, Wilson calmed slightly, and although he was still nervous, he made an obvious effort to relax and not fight Snape, who found the memory of Greyback's attack easily enough. Wilson was concentrating intently on it, as Snape had instructed, and it helped that the memory was still fresh and vivid in his mind, having occurred so recently.
"I have found the memory, Mr. Wilson," Snape said, in a much more soothing tone than he normally used with his former students--well, with anyone other than Lupin and his sons, actually. But extracting the memory would be a delicate process, and he didn't want anything to go awry if Wilson started to panic. "I am going to temporarily remove it and put it into the Pensieve so that we may all observe the memory more closely. It will not hurt, and when I am done, I will restore the memory to your mind. I promise that you will suffer no harm from the procedure."
"O...okay, Professor," Wilson said gamely, still nervous but determined. "What should I do?"
"Nothing," Snape replied. "Just remain calm; I will handle everything else. Now, I am going to place my wand against your temple. Do not be alarmed." He slowly drew out a long, silvery strand from Wilson's head and deposited it in the Pensieve.
When he was done, Wilson shook his head slightly and said, "Hmm, I don't feel any different."
"I told you that you would take no harm from it," Snape replied irritably.
"I know, but I thought maybe my head would feel, well, empty or something," Wilson said sheepishly.
"In that case, you should feel no different, since all Gryffindors tend to be empty-headed," Snape retorted, more out of habit than anything else.
"Never mind that now!" Lukas snapped impatiently, and for once, Snape didn't argue.
"Very well, let us examine Mr. Wilson's memory."
They gathered around the Pensieve and took turns immersing themselves in the memory, since there were too many of them to all use the Pensieve at once. After they'd all had a chance to examine the memory, Snape restored it back to Wilson's head and frowned, tracing his lips with one finger as he often did when he was lost in thought.
"Wow!" Wilson exclaimed. "I had no idea I could remember so much without being aware of it."
Lukas's eyes were gleaming with a combination of murderous intent and frustration. Greyback was obviously the one he wanted to hurt, but he looked as though he might settle for anyone within close reach. Wilson cautiously backed away from him, and even the Aurors gave him a wide berth.
"But this doesn't really help us!" Lukas growled. "We didn't learn anything about where Greyback took Ash."
"We did learn that he's working for a woman," Harry said hopefully. "He said that Ash was giving 'my Lady' trouble."
"He doesn't say her name, though," Tonks said. "Do you think it might be Imogen Macnair, Severus? I know that you don't want to suspect your former students, but..."
Snape sighed, looking weary and resigned. "The pureblood elite are a bit sexist, as I'm sure most of you have noticed. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part, the main role of a pureblood woman is to marry and provide heirs to carry on the family name. Most of the Death Eaters were men, and out of all the female Death Eaters, only Bellatrix Lestrange and Alecto Carrow were truly active participants. The others, like Narcissa, were wives who took the Mark mainly as a show of support to their husbands' cause. They attended important Death Eater ceremonies and meetings, but did not take part in the raids and murders.
"Whoever freed Greyback from the sanatorium must have a close connection to the Death Eaters, or they would not have known his location, or even that he was still alive. Bellatrix is dead and Alecto is in prison. And obviously, Delia Avery and Narcissa are not suspects. Out of all the women who are close relatives of the Death Eaters, there are very few who would have the inclination to actively take part in a scheme like this, and even fewer who would be strong enough, both magically and emotionally, to exert control over Greyback."
Snape paused for dramatic effect, and both Kingsley and Lukas glared at him impatiently. "For Merlin's sake, will you just get on with it, Snape?" the werewolf leader snapped.
"On the surface, Imogen Macnair is a very proper young pureblood woman," Snape continued coolly, as if he had not heard the interruption. "She always publicly defers to her father and brother, and never behaves in a manner that is even remotely unladylike. However, she is intelligent and skilled in the Dark Arts, and moreover, she is very strong-willed. After observing the twins closely during their several years at Hogwarts, and on a few social occasions outside of school, I would guess that Imogen is the dominant twin." A small, wry smile crossed Snape's lips. "I doubt that Warren is consciously aware of it, but he almost always follows his sister's lead and heeds her advice, although she is subtle enough that it isn't obvious to outsiders. Which isn't to say that Warren isn't a capable wizard in his own right, because he is. But notice that Greyback refers to 'my Lady,' not 'my Lord,' which implies that the 'Lady' is the one in charge. Since this is a memory, I cannot sense any of Greyback's emotions, and must judge only by his tone of voice and facial expressions, but I believe that there was some sincere respect in his words, which is significant, because in the old days, Greyback had little use for females other than...er...bedding them.
"The twins are capable mages, though young and untested, but together, I believe that they are skilled enough to have freed Greyback and kept him under control, at least temporarily, although I doubt that they will be able to keep him on a leash indefinitely. And in my opinion, Imogen is the only female suspect we have who is capable of controlling him and winning his respect. So in conclusion, I must reluctantly agree that the culprits are most likely Imogen and Warren."
"You couldn't have just said, 'It's the Macnairs'?" Kingsley asked in an exasperated voice. "Never mind--don't answer that; I know we don't have time to argue. Arthur, I'll need an arrest warrant to bring the Macnairs in."
Arthur looked unhappy. "We still have no hard evidence pointing towards the Macnairs..."
"Snape knows the Death Eaters and their families and allies better than anyone else," Kingsley said. "I may not like him, but I respect his expertise in this matter. If he says the Macnairs are guilty, then that's evidence enough for me!"
"It's not that I doubt your word, Severus," Arthur told the Potions Master. "But I've been trying to be fair and apply the same rules to everyone--and that includes my enemies as well as my friends."
"Are you going to let Ash get killed because you refuse to bend the rules a little?" Lukas demanded. "Do you think that the Macnairs and Greyback are going to play by your goddamned rules?!"
"As Minister of Magic, you do have the authority to use your own discretion in cases of emergency," Snape said sharply. "And if this doesn't count as an emergency, I don't know what does. You must decide which is more important to you, Weasley: your idealism or Randolf's life."
Arthur sighed wearily and said, "I will draw up the warrant immediately."
As the Ministry workers prepared to leave, Lukas cried, "Wait! What about Ash? What am I supposed to do?"
"We'll let you know as soon as we find out anything useful," Arthur promised. "Hopefully, we'll be able to get Ash's location--and Greyback's--from the Macnairs."
Kingsley looked determined, but not nearly so optimistic. "Stay put in case Greyback contacts you." Then his eyes narrowed and he gave the werewolf leader a stern look. "And I'm sure that I don't need to tell you not to go running off on your own if you do get a message from him. They're obviously setting up a trap for you."
"Obviously," Lukas snarled, but he didn't respond to Kingsley's warning--something that didn't escape the Auror's notice.
"I mean it, Diggory," Kingsley insisted. "No matter what Greyback said about not bringing in any Aurors, you can't go running off to play hero by yourself--"
"Like a Gryffindor," Snape muttered under his breath.
"--or you'll wind up getting the both of you killed," Kingsley finished. "Understand?"
"Yes," Lukas replied sullenly.
"We care about Ash, too," Tonks said kindly. "We'll use every precaution to conceal our presence from Greyback, if it comes to that."
"We can use my Invisibility Cloak," Harry offered.
"Hopefully, we can get the Macnairs to give up Greyback's hiding place, and catch him off-guard and ambush him when he's not expecting it," Tonks continued.
"I want to be a part of any attack on Greyback," Lukas said adamantly.
Kingsley hesitated, then said, "We'll discuss it after we interrogate the Macnairs."
"In the meantime, I'll contact Henry Bletchley and see if he's found a way to use that ring yet," Snape said.
"Good idea, Severus; thanks," Tonks with sincere gratitude, and Snape just grunted in reply.
Tsubasa had remained quiet throughout most of the discussion, and his face was impassive, almost emotionless, except for a faint glint in his eyes--just a hint of the frustration that was mirrored in Lukas's.
"Well, I guess I'll go sharpen my sword," he finally said. "If I'm lucky, I'll get a chance to use it on Greyback."
"Not if I get to him first," Lukas said, but he gave the crane man a fierce but comradely grin and clapped him on the shoulder.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
However, the curator who had been a friend of the twins' mother noticed the Aurors arriving, and quietly passed word of it to Imogen, who correctly sensed that they were not here for just another harmless interrogation session. She immediately fled and sent a warning to her brother.
Once the Aurors realized that Imogen was missing, they rushed over to the Macnair mansion, but it was too late. By the time they succeeded in breaking down the protective wards guarding the estate, Warren was long gone.
Part 28
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Afterword: Readers with very good memories might remember Hal Wilson as a minor character who appeared towards the end of Phoenix Rising. He was a young Ministry employee who was showing Percy some fireworks he had bought at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He was created for the purpose of giving the fireworks to Percy so that Percy could later use them to alert the Order to the Death Eaters' location. I hadn't intended to bring him back in future stories, but when Ash needed a companion to accompany him on the investigation, Hal seemed like a good fit; Perkins just didn't seem right, somehow. Actually, I was originally going to send Ash off alone, but I liked the idea of Snape analyzing the attack from the memory of a witness.
Oh, and the icon is supposed to be Tsubasa.
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Your OCs are always so interesting. Even just a tiny cameo like Wilson seems to have so much character
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