Chapter LXXXVI: The Bad Feeling

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GEORGE:

The dementors' attack on Harry sent the Order into another state of emergency. As worried as everyone still was about Lucy — well, everyone who knew, Fred and I still hadn't told Ron or Hermione or Ginny — I think everyone was glad that Harry's problem had a far more tangible solution. A number of Order members went to get him from Privet Drive the very next day, but before they left, Professor Lupin pulled the two of us aside.

"I'm guessing you don't know if Lucy happened to send something to Harry a couple of days in advance that might have arrived on his birthday?"

We shook our heads.

"We tried to send a letter asking him yesterday," Fred explained.

"But Hedwig was a bit irritable and didn't let us attach the letter to her leg," I finished. "Then all of this happened, so we figured we'd just ask him when he showed up here."

Professor Lupin nodded. "I was just about to ask if you two would mind. Try not to alarm him unnecessarily, but..." He scratched behind his ear. "Merlin, who am I kidding? If he finds out, he finds out. Just ask him, please, and let me know what he says. I fear I already know the answer, but if she did somehow contact him or did send something before she was taken, I'd feel a bit better."

"Any leads, Professor?" Fred asked. "Any at all?"

Fred and I hadn't been allowed back into any other Order meetings. We had to try to keep the younger kids from finding out — there was really no point in telling them, there was nothing any of us could do, it was just a matter of worrying or not worrying, and they had enough to worry about once the Harry situation arose. We had been forced to hide all of our Extendable Ears too, after Mum found them. Mum told us there had been no sign of Lucy, nor any leads. We knew that two or three Order members were stationed at the Diggory house at all times, in case her captors returned to either send a message or try to arrange some sort of deal, and we knew that Professor Lupin had checked a number of places around the country, but that was the extent of what we knew. In other words... not much.

Professor Lupin hesitated for a second.

I realized something with a jolt and dropped my voice even lower. "Do you think it has anything to do with the fact she's a werewolf?"

"We know about that," Fred said quickly, seeming to have just reached the same conclusion. "Is that why you've been heading up the efforts? Do you think you know something everyone else who doesn't know might be overlooking?"

After another second of hesitation, he nodded. "Mad-Eye already knows about her condition, of course, being her mother's partner for the duration of her career as an Auror. Your father knows now, too, because I brought him with me to investigate the first couple of places." Professor Lupin sighed. "Last time the world was — well, like this — there was a bit of tug-of-war happening over the werewolves. I was the only one on Dumbledore's side in the beginning, and I was often given missions to attempt to convince one or two to come over to our side. It's possible that they're currently attempting to recruit her."

"But why?" Fred burst out. He lowered his voice. "Sorry. But, Professor, she's fifteen and Voldemort killed her brother. What are they thinking?"

"Think about the influence she could have now. Sister of Cedric Diggory, daughter of Susan Diggory, best friend of Harry Potter. Rita Skeeter already stirred interest in her when she was portrayed so mysteriously in that article about Harry last November. If she were to switch sides — which I know for a fact she never would, I'm merely trying to understand their thought process — it would be a devastating blow to our side."

I absorbed his words in stunned silence.

Suddenly, I felt even more helpless in the face of the storm.

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