Lily Potter (Harry Potter's Twin)

Chapter 90

         

Taboo

"Thank you very much for those wise words, Raiper," said Lee through the radio. "Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We don't know when it is possible to broadcast again, but you can be sure we shall be back. Keep twiddling those dials: The next password will ne 'Mad-Eye.' Keep each other safe: Keep faith. Goodnight."

The radio's dial twirled and the lights behind the tuning panel went out. Harry, Ron and I were still beaming. Hearing familiar, friendly voices was an extraordinary tonic; I had become so used to our isolation I had nearly forgotten that other people were resisting Voldemort. It was like waking from a long sleep.

"Good, eh?" said Ron happily.

"Brilliant," said Harry.

"It's so brave of them," I sighed admiringly. "If they were found..."

"Well, they keep on the move, don't they?" said Ron. "Like us."

I felt a twinge of pain in my stomach when I realized that Fred was probably desperately searching for Lily during their travels.

"But did you hear what Fred said?" asked Harry excitedly. "He's abroad. He's still looking for the Wand, I knew it!"

"Harry—"

"Come on, Hermione, why are you so determined not to admit it? Vol—"

"HARRY NO!"

"—demort's after the Elder Wand!"

"The name is taboo!" Ron bellowed, leaping to his feet as a loud crack sounded outside the tent. "I told you, Harry, I told you, we can't say it anymore—we've got to put the protection back around us—quickly—it's how they find—"

But Ron stopped talking, and I knew why. The Sneakoscope on the table had lit up and begun to spin; we could hear voices coming nearer and nearer; rough, excited voices.

"Come out of there with your hands up!" came a rasping voice through the darkness. "We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointing at you and we don't care who we curse!"

The Malfoy Manor

"We've got Potter!" Greyback roared triumphantly. "We've captured Harry Potter!"

The gates at the end of a country lane swung open.

"Come on!" said Greyback to his men, and we were dragged through the gates and up the drive, between high hedges that muffled our footsteps. I could tell Harry was having a vision, his puffy face was contorted in pain.

Light suddenly spilled out over all of us.

"What is this?" said a woman's cold voice.

"We're here to see He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" rasped Greyback.

"Who are you?"

"You know me!" There was resentment in the werewolf's voice. "Fenrir Greyback! We've caught Harry Potter!" Greyback thrust Harry into the light.

"I know he's swollen, ma'am, but it is him!" piped up Scabior. "And here's the Mudblood that's known to have been traveling with him."

Narcissa Malfoy peered over Harry. She raised an eyebrow.

"Bring them in," she said.

The others and I were shoved and kicked up broad stone steps into a hallway lined with portraits.

"Follow me," said Narcissa, leading the way across the hall. "My son, Draco, is home for the Easter Holidays. If that is Harry Potter, he will know."

The drawing room dazzled after the darkness outside. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, more portraits against the dark purple walls. Two figures rose from the chairs in front of an ornate marble fireplace as we were forced into the room by the snatchers.

"What is this?"

The dreadfully familiar, drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy fell on my ears. I was panicking now: I could see no way out.

"They say they've got Potter," said Narcissa's cold voice. "Draco come here."

Draco rose from his armchair, his face a pale but not as pale beneath the white-blond hair.

Greyback forced us to turn again so as Harry was directly beneath the chandelier.

"Well, boy?" rasped the werewolf.

I could hear the footsteps of Draco's pause as he surveyed Harry.

"Well, Draco?" said Lucius Malfoy. He sounded avid. "Is it? Is it Harry Potter?"

"I cant—I can't be sure," said Draco. "I don't think so."

What? I thought. Draco Malfoy was not immediately turning us in. Even with the stunning spell, it still looked like Harry to us who have known him for years.

"We'd better be certain, Lucius," Narcissa called to her husband in her cold, clear voice. "Completely sure that it is Potter before we summon the Dark Lord... They say this is his but it does not resemble Ollivander's description... If we are mistaken, if we call the Dark Lord here for nothing... Remember what he did to Rowle and Dolohov?"

"What about the Mudblood, then?" growled Greyback. I was forced to swivel around again so that the light fell on me instead.

"Wait," said Narcissa sharply. "Yes—yes, she was in Madam Malkin's with Potter! I saw her picture in the Daily Prophet! Look, Draco, isn't it the Granger girl?"

"I... I don't think so."

My brown eyes met Draco's cold silver ones. Surprisingly, he seemed confident in lying.

"But then," said Lucius, ignoring Draco's claims, "that must be the Weasley Boy! It's them, Potter's friends—Draco, look at him, isn't it—what's his name?"

"No," said Draco again, shaking his head. "It can't be Ron."

"The drawing room door opened behind me. A woman spoke, the sound of her voice caused my fear to reach a higher level.

"What is this? What's happened, Cissy?"

Bellatrix Lestrange walked slowly around the prisoners, and stopped on my left, staring at me through her heavily lidded eyes.

"But surely," she said quietly, "this is the Mudblood girl? This is Granger?"

"Yes, yes, Granger!" cried Lucius. "And besides her, we think, Potter! Potter and his friends caught at last!"

"It's not them," mumbled Draco, turning to stride away.

"If this is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed," she muttered, more to herself than the others. "The Dark Lord wishes to dispose of Potter himself... But if he finds out... I must... I must know..."

She turned back to her sister again.

"They must be placed in the cellar, while I think what to do!"

"This is my house, Bella, you don't give orders in my—"

"Do it! You have no idea of the danger we are in!" shrieked Bellatrix. She looked frightening, mad; a thin stream of fire issued from her wand and burned a hole in the carpet.

Narcissa hesitated for a moment, then addressed the werewolf.

"Take the prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback."

"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply. "All except... except for the Mudblood."

Greyback gave a grunt of pleasure. I felt my head get dizzy with fear.

"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!"

Bellatrix hit him across the face; the blow echoed around the room.

"If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," she said. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book. Take them downstairs, Greyback, and make sure they are secure but do nothing more to them—yet."

She threw Greyback's wand back to him, then took a short silver knife from under her robes. Her dark eyes landed on me.