The Second War (A Remus Lupin Story)

12. Interrogation

Everything seemed fuzzy, slow. Remus and Tonks drew their wands. Many people were only just realizing that something strange had happened. Heads were still turning toward the silver cat as it vanished. Silence spread outward in cold ripples from the place where the Patronus had landed. Then somebody screamed.

Guests were sprinting in all directions. Many were Disapperating. The protective enchantments around the Burrow had broken.

Remus looked all around for Tonks. She had disappeared in the scrambling crowd. As he pushed his way across the dance floor, Remus saw cloaked and masked figures appearing in the crowd.

He raised his wand and shouted, "Protego!" The word was echoed on all sides.

Remus turned his head just in time to see Harry, disguised, Ron, and Hermione disapperate. His breath caught in his throat. They were safe. Nothing else mattered.

Most of the guests had disapperated now, leaving the order members, death eaters, and ministry members. It all went very fast. Before he knew it, Tonks was by Remus's side and they were both on their knees, wandless.

Remus felt cold shackles on his wrists, and someone had a wand to his throat. All around him, Remus could hear others being restrained. Fred Weasley was kneeling on Remus's right side, and Tonks was on his left.

Once everyone had been seeming subdued, the warm feeling of the wand point left Remus's throat, and a Ministry official spoke. "Do any of you know the whereabouts of Harry Potter." It was silent besides the sound of heavy panting. The wizard reached into his cloak pocket to pull out a scroll of parchment. On the parchment was a picture of Harry's face. "Mr. Potter is wanted for questioning about the death of Albus Dumbledore. If any of you know where he is, I suggest you speak now."

Still no one spoke. Remus turned his head slightly to see Tonks looking at him with wide eyes. On her other side knelt Molly, Arthur, and Ginny. Remus turned his head slowly to the other side to see Fred, George, Fleur, Bill, and Charlie.

"I should inform you all that if we find you are holding back information, the resulting punishment will be time in Azkaban." If Hermione, Harry, and Ron had been smart, they would not have told anyone where they were going. Remus was pretty sure that they had been smart.

"Very well," the wizard said, then he Disapparated.

When he was gone, another Wizard walked to the front. It was Yaxley. He smirked as his eyes scanned the group. Finally his eyes stopped. He pointed at Molly Weasley. "We'll start with you." Molly kept a surprisingly straight face as she stood up.

"Mum, no!" Fred shouted as his mother walked past him.

"Stop!" George said, trying to stand up. A death eater shot a spell at George, and he fell back again, grunting in pain.

After Molly had been led into the house, Remus felt the shackles on his wrists disappear. Apparently, the Death Eaters and Ministry members did not feel threatened by nine people without wands.

Remus stood up cautiously, testing the waters. When no one attempted to stop him, he straightened up and moved toward Tonks, helping her up, too.

"Molly will be fine," Remus assured Arthur who was looking very pale. "If we all stick to the story that Harry left yesterday, then we'll all be fine."

"Yes, of course," Arthur whispered. "The story..." He was looking at the house where Yaxley had brought Molly.

Remus looked over his shoulder at the group of Death Eaters. They were talking quietly among themselves, as well. A few of them were watching the group of Order members, but they all looked nervous.