Determination

LIII: Rising Action

July 1995

The home was desolate, as if it knew the horrors its true masters were being bestowed upon. Severus had never proven it, in all the years he had diligently studied the manor, but he was certain the place was sentient.

At least to an extent.

But the family home had never felt as lifeless as it had in the month since Meae's disappearance. Severus knew the Dark Lord had her, but he had yet to hear even a scrap of a clue as to where that might be. He couldn't outright ask; It would betray his stance with the dark lord and his followers, show his hand as it was. They'd start to use her as leverage against him, the way they were probably already using him as leverage against her. 

The Dark Lord did not take to his return kindly, as imagined, but he could tell the less-than-man was pleased to have his power and knowledge back at his side. If only to use against Meae for her continuing obedience. 

Severus turned to the shell of a man lying next to him.

"She will return to where she belongs." He vowed.

In all honesty, Severus felt slightly ridiculous making such promises to a man who couldn't appreciate it, but maybe the vow wasn't even for the man next to him.

Maybe the vow was to himself.

"I still have yet to figure out where they've taken her. The order is together again, and though we've been exhausting every resource we can, there's been no new information on where she's being kept or how she's doing." Severus sighed. "Lupin and Black have been particularly insistent on finding her. Black has been using his newfound freedom well, it seems; Lupin has been particularly helpful in recruiting those in the werewolf communities. A nice change from the first time around, I will say. Black has been making more contacts in the auror's office, which has been particularly helpful as well, especially with the minister breathing down everyone's necks." 

Severus took a breath before he started his next sentence. 

"They've been dragging their names through the mud, Harry, Dumbledore, and Meae. The ministry doesn't realize it, but their vendetta against them is furthering the dark lord's plans. Turning everyone against them. Harry and Dumbledore will come out alright, I assume, but Meae? Well, she's not exactly here to defend herself at the moment, is she? Fudge knows it, too. He doesn't believe the dark lord has her, but he's not above using her absence to further push her out of the ministry business. We both know the ministry has been trying to push her out for years." 

Severus sighed again

"I'm afraid they might accomplish that goal soon."

"Padfoot... where are we going?" Harry asked again.

"Nowhere special, believe me," Sirius grumbled.

Uncle Moony sighed from beside them in exasperation, before handing Harry a ripped piece of Parchment.

"Read quickly and memorize." The real Alastor Moody said from behind them.

Harry looked down at the paper in his hands and felt slightly baffled by the words he found written.

The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"What's the Order of the—"

"Not here, boy! Wait till we're inside." Moody snarled before promptly grabbing the parchment in Harry's hand and setting it on fire.

Sirius leaned closer to Harry's ear and whispered, "Don't act like you haven't been eavesdropping on Remus's and I's conversations all summer."

Harry quickly looked to the ground as his hand nervously flew to the back of his neck.
"Well- I- well - I mean- I didn't really."