The Last Gift, Chapter 6 (Part 2)
Here's the second part of the chapter.
All the planning in the world couldn’t give them much. In the end, it was a rescue operation and they didn’t have much choice but to swoop in and portkey her parents to safety. Hermione felt somewhat better that the people accompanying her were all very adept. Lucius, Tonks, Remus, and Kingsley were her team - and they did actually look like a very mismatched hero squadron when they stood together waiting for her.
“It’ll be all right, Hermione,” Tonks smiled, squeezing her shoulder. The rest of them nodded in agreement. Her eyes stayed on Lucius. He was somber and distracted, the furrow between his brows pronounced and his eyes roving restlessly about. She trusted Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley, but she knew her best gauge of what to expect was Lucius - and Lucius was nervous.
“Are we ready?” Kingsley asked. “Everyone has their portkeys?” They all checked and double-checked that they had the proper equipment. With each person’s confirmation, they were ready to go. Hermione took out her portkey (one of Madame Hooch’s old stopwatches) and pressed the button. As she felt the hard hook behind her navel, she looked up and caught Lucius’s eyes. Then she was being sucked away and everything familiar was gone.
They had elected to accost her parents at their dental practice rather than at home. If Lestrange was searching by dentists, he would come here first. Even if he wasn’t it was one of the only things they could do to try to stay one step ahead. If the Death Eaters were going to set a trap they would probably do it at the house in the hopes that Hermione would show up there.
The building was a small one-floor house that was painted a warm bisque color. The windows had sun catchers hanging in them and she could see yellow curtains behind the glass. She had Obliviated her mother, but nothing about her decorating taste had changed. Hermione swallowed and fought tears that were mostly borne of stress.
She focused on Kingsley and Tonks instead. They were the Aurors in the group and watching them coordinate the operation really reminded her of how serious their job was. Tonks was forever joking around when she wasn’t on duty and sometimes even when she was, but when she got serious, she was just as intimidating as Kingsley. It didn’t matter that she had pink hair or that her partner was twice the size of her. Hermione would not want to be on the receiving end of any of her hexes right now.
Remus and Lucius rounded the other side of the building, both with wands drawn. Lucius paused briefly to look in the window of the examination room. In any other circumstances Hermione would have laughed at the look on his face. She was certain he was looking at the tray of instruments and thinking about how barbaric Muggle dentistry was.
Remus approached them. In a low voice, he said, “It’s all clear.”
“Okay. Let’s review the plan. We don’t have enough time to reverse the memory charms so we’re going to have to take them without it. Did we agree that stunning spells are the best route?” Kingsley asked.
“I wish there was some other way,” Hermione fretted. “They’re going to be so scared.”
“They’ll fight us otherwise,” Remus said. “They won’t understand.”
“I know,” she sighed. “All right. Stunners, but let’s please be as gentle as possible.”
“Of course.”
“All right. Hermione, you’re with Tonks. You two get Hermione’s mum. Remus and I will get her father. Lucius will be the lookout. What’s the signal if we have trouble?”
“My Patronus,” the blond wizard answered.
“What’s the form, just so we’re sure?” Tonks asked. “We need to have these details down.”
Lucius looked away, but answered in a strong voice. “It used to be a peacock, but the last time I tried it was a dragon.”
Nymphadora stared at his profile, understanding the underlying pain in his words. Her Patronus had changed during a time of great heartache, too.
“A dragon, then,” she nodded. “I think we’re ready.”
Lucius stood in front of the building trying to unclench his muscles. Every part of him was screaming that this was too easy. It didn’t feel right. Rodolphus was not to be underestimated…
It was at just that moment that he felt a sharp twinge in his left arm. That was the only thing the Dark Mark was good for anymore. Part of its magic was that it alerted one to the presence of his comrades.
One of them was here.
“Expecto Patronum!”
Nothing.
“Damn it, Expecto Patronum!” he cried, slashing the air with his wand. Once again there was nothing, only a feeble burst of silvery mist from the end of his wand. The loathsome throbbing in his arm was rendering him incapable of finding a memory happy enough to produce a corporeal Patronus. Everything in his head was tinged with misery.
Lucius did the only thing he could. He turned and ran for the door, hoping to anything or anyone that cared that his mental state had not just sentenced someone to death.
Hermione and Tonks were already gone, Mrs. Granger in tow. As Lucius burst in, Kingsley blinked out of existence with Mr. Granger. That left Remus - and if Lucius hadn’t fired a spell at just that moment, the werewolf would have been dead.
“Avada Kedavra!” His voice came out of him with a viciousness that he didn’t recognize as his own. Remus’s eyes went wide; even though he knew Lucius was on his side, he couldn’t stop the knee-jerk reaction that thought the spell was meant for him. It arced well to his left.
Unfortunately, Rabastan Lestrange was able to sidestep it. The green jet of light sizzled into the wall, making a great black scorch mark upon the nondescript wallpaper. However, in avoiding it, he had to move closer to Remus and the werewolf snapped into action. He dropped low and swept the legs out from under the Death Eater. Rabastan hit the ground hard and in a second Lupin had his wand at his throat.
Lucius had only a millisecond to be relieved. This was the wrong Lestrange. Where was Rodolphus?
“Stand down, beast,” an arrogant voice issued from behind Lucius. He whirled, wand raised, but the curse died on his lips as he caught sight of Rodolphus.
It wasn’t just Rodolphus. He had a hostage, but not the one they’d been told to expect. Instead of Pansy Parkinson, Rodolphus had both knife and wand on her father, Miles. He looked terrible; his face was a map of bruises and it seemed that if Lestrange was not holding him up he might have fallen in a heap upon the floor.
“Release my brother or Mr. Parkinson here dies.”
With a quick glance at Lucius, Remus carefully backed off. He kept his wand on the Death Eater. Rabastan got to his feet and reached for his wand. Then they were back on a level playing field, save that Rodolphus held an innocent man’s life in his hands.
“Where is Pansy?” Lucius asked coldly.
“The young Miss Parkinson is keeping audience with the Dark Lord.” Rodolphus smiled sadistically. “He very much likes the way her skin bruises. So many lovely colors.”
At that, Miles gave a struggle, an agonized look on his face.
“You’re sick,” Remus growled.
“A fine bit of hypocrisy, werewolf. Isn’t it you who has a taste for human flesh?”
“I never have, but after today I might be tempted to sample yours when the next moon comes around,” he responded darkly.
Rodolphus chuckled, unaffected by the hatred being directed at him by both of his adversaries.
“What is it that you want, Rodolphus?” Lucius demanded. “We aren’t going to give ourselves up.”
Remus spared a brief glance for his only ally. He said that with such certainty. Did he really not care for the man that had been his friend? No, he didn’t think that was it. He could see the strain on Lucius’s face. The plain and simple fact was that there was no good solution. Miles Parkinson’s face said he knew that - he didn’t expect to be saved.
“Perhaps not for him, but…” Lestrange paused thoughtfully. “Why don’t you tell him, Miles? Why don’t you tell him about your dear little whore of a daughter?”
“She is not a whore!” the beaten wizard raged.
“She is now,” Rabastan leered. Remus itched to hex him in ways that were far from legal.
“Tell him, Miles,” Rodolphus pressed, trailing his wand up and down the man’s bloodstained cheek. “Or I’ll just kill you right here.”
The threat spurred the Parkinson patriarch into action. He looked to be fighting tears.
“She’s pregnant, Lucius. It’s Draco’s child. She’s pregnant with your grandchild.”
Hermione was so busy tending to her unconscious parents that she didn’t notice that their homecoming party was short two people. Tonks, however, noticed very quickly that her husband was late in returning, and so was Lucius.
“Kingsley.”
The tall man turned. “Hm?”
“I think we should go back. Remus and Lucius haven’t returned.”
Kingsley’s face hardened. “Son of a bitch.”
All the air went out of him. He had never before been filled with a feeling of such dread. This was what he had meant. This was what the Dark Lord had meant when he said there were still ways he could hurt him. He was going to dangle this baby, his grandchild, in front of him like a worm on a hook.
“Please, Lucius. Please don’t let my daughter die!” Parkinson begged. “The Dark Lord said if you give yourself up he’ll release her. Please, even if it’s only for the baby, don’t let him hurt her anymore…”
At that moment, the bang of the door slamming against the wall announced the presence of Tonks and Kingsley. In a second the Auror had his wand against the back of Rodolphus Lestrange’s neck. Tonks moved stealthily to her husband’s side, training her wand on Rabastan. They now outnumbered their enemies, but Rodolphus still had the upper hand, because as quickly as Kingsley could kill him, he could kill Parkinson.
“What’ll it be, Lucius?” Rodolphus asked, completely unfazed.
Lucius tried in vain to calm the screaming inside of him. He could not leave Pansy and his grandchild to die slowly at the hands of the Dark Lord. He knew Voldemort was likely lying about releasing her, but he still couldn’t walk away. If he knew where she was, there was the slim possibility that he could somehow save her and the baby. That would never happen if he didn’t go with Lestrange brothers right now.
“There will be terms,” he forced out shakily. “You will release Mr. Parkinson and he will leave with the rest of my comrades, all of them unharmed.”
“Fair enough,” Rodolphus smirked.
“What is going on here?” Kingsley demanded.
“There’s something I have to do.” Lucius crouched down slowly and placed his wand on the floor. “Release him.”
Rodolphus lifted the knife first. With a raise of his shoulder, he moved his arm to place the blade against Shacklebolt’s throat. If the Auror moved it could be the end of him. Kingsley stayed very still; Lestrange had his guarantee that he wouldn’t be fired on after releasing his hostage.
He lifted the wand and Parkinson fell to the floor with a sound of pain. As he did so, Rabastan stepped forward and took hold of Lucius’s hair. He placed his wand against the blond wizard’s temple.
“Lucius…” Tonks said, clearly disturbed by the turn of events. She lifted her wand, aiming it right between Rabastan’s eyes. Remus gently touched her arm. When she turned to look at him, he shook his head.
“You have your bargain. Good day, you filth,” Rodolphus spat. With that, he, his brother, and their new prisoner blinked out of sight.
“What the hell just happened?” Kingsley demanded. He pressed his hand to his neck; Lestrange had nicked him with the knife as he Apparated away. It stung and it was bleeding, but it wasn’t deep enough to cause any worry.
“Parkinson needs medical attention,” Remus replied, “and so do you. I saw him cut you. I’ll fill you in after that.”
Kingsley growled. “No, I want to know now. I don’t leave people behind.”
“It was his choice,” Remus said firmly. “Can we respect it by getting the hell out of here?”
Grudgingly, Shacklebolt agreed, and the foursome went back to Hogwarts.
“You were never even after her parents,” Lucius said softly. “It was all a set up for this.”
Rabastan had gone elsewhere. Rodolphus was his only company. He sat in a chair across from where Lucius knelt, his wand trained carefully at the as yet unbound wizard. Rodolphus laughed languidly, his cold mirth echoing in the room.
“Oh, no, Lucius, we were after her parents…and we got them.”
Lucius’s chin shot up. “What? That’s impossible. We portkeyed them out.”
“I’m afraid not. I buried them myself last night.” He showed Lucius the back of his hands; dirt was encrusted beneath his nails. “See?
Panic ballooned in his chest. “Then…who did they take?”
Rodolphus grinned. “The Carrows. Polyjuice is a wonderful thing.”
Lucius’s eyes widened. His companions had brought back two psychotic Death Eaters and they didn’t even know it. Hermione would be alone with them…
He let out a cry of rage and lunged. Rodolphus was ready for him. With an equivalent shout of hatred, he shot to his feet, grabbed the chair, and swung it at his former comrade. The leg caught Lucius right across temple with a solid, sickening thwack. Lights exploded behind his eyes and after a spike of intense pain, everything went dark.
All the planning in the world couldn’t give them much. In the end, it was a rescue operation and they didn’t have much choice but to swoop in and portkey her parents to safety. Hermione felt somewhat better that the people accompanying her were all very adept. Lucius, Tonks, Remus, and Kingsley were her team - and they did actually look like a very mismatched hero squadron when they stood together waiting for her.
“It’ll be all right, Hermione,” Tonks smiled, squeezing her shoulder. The rest of them nodded in agreement. Her eyes stayed on Lucius. He was somber and distracted, the furrow between his brows pronounced and his eyes roving restlessly about. She trusted Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley, but she knew her best gauge of what to expect was Lucius - and Lucius was nervous.
“Are we ready?” Kingsley asked. “Everyone has their portkeys?” They all checked and double-checked that they had the proper equipment. With each person’s confirmation, they were ready to go. Hermione took out her portkey (one of Madame Hooch’s old stopwatches) and pressed the button. As she felt the hard hook behind her navel, she looked up and caught Lucius’s eyes. Then she was being sucked away and everything familiar was gone.
They had elected to accost her parents at their dental practice rather than at home. If Lestrange was searching by dentists, he would come here first. Even if he wasn’t it was one of the only things they could do to try to stay one step ahead. If the Death Eaters were going to set a trap they would probably do it at the house in the hopes that Hermione would show up there.
The building was a small one-floor house that was painted a warm bisque color. The windows had sun catchers hanging in them and she could see yellow curtains behind the glass. She had Obliviated her mother, but nothing about her decorating taste had changed. Hermione swallowed and fought tears that were mostly borne of stress.
She focused on Kingsley and Tonks instead. They were the Aurors in the group and watching them coordinate the operation really reminded her of how serious their job was. Tonks was forever joking around when she wasn’t on duty and sometimes even when she was, but when she got serious, she was just as intimidating as Kingsley. It didn’t matter that she had pink hair or that her partner was twice the size of her. Hermione would not want to be on the receiving end of any of her hexes right now.
Remus and Lucius rounded the other side of the building, both with wands drawn. Lucius paused briefly to look in the window of the examination room. In any other circumstances Hermione would have laughed at the look on his face. She was certain he was looking at the tray of instruments and thinking about how barbaric Muggle dentistry was.
Remus approached them. In a low voice, he said, “It’s all clear.”
“Okay. Let’s review the plan. We don’t have enough time to reverse the memory charms so we’re going to have to take them without it. Did we agree that stunning spells are the best route?” Kingsley asked.
“I wish there was some other way,” Hermione fretted. “They’re going to be so scared.”
“They’ll fight us otherwise,” Remus said. “They won’t understand.”
“I know,” she sighed. “All right. Stunners, but let’s please be as gentle as possible.”
“Of course.”
“All right. Hermione, you’re with Tonks. You two get Hermione’s mum. Remus and I will get her father. Lucius will be the lookout. What’s the signal if we have trouble?”
“My Patronus,” the blond wizard answered.
“What’s the form, just so we’re sure?” Tonks asked. “We need to have these details down.”
Lucius looked away, but answered in a strong voice. “It used to be a peacock, but the last time I tried it was a dragon.”
Nymphadora stared at his profile, understanding the underlying pain in his words. Her Patronus had changed during a time of great heartache, too.
“A dragon, then,” she nodded. “I think we’re ready.”
Lucius stood in front of the building trying to unclench his muscles. Every part of him was screaming that this was too easy. It didn’t feel right. Rodolphus was not to be underestimated…
It was at just that moment that he felt a sharp twinge in his left arm. That was the only thing the Dark Mark was good for anymore. Part of its magic was that it alerted one to the presence of his comrades.
One of them was here.
“Expecto Patronum!”
Nothing.
“Damn it, Expecto Patronum!” he cried, slashing the air with his wand. Once again there was nothing, only a feeble burst of silvery mist from the end of his wand. The loathsome throbbing in his arm was rendering him incapable of finding a memory happy enough to produce a corporeal Patronus. Everything in his head was tinged with misery.
Lucius did the only thing he could. He turned and ran for the door, hoping to anything or anyone that cared that his mental state had not just sentenced someone to death.
Hermione and Tonks were already gone, Mrs. Granger in tow. As Lucius burst in, Kingsley blinked out of existence with Mr. Granger. That left Remus - and if Lucius hadn’t fired a spell at just that moment, the werewolf would have been dead.
“Avada Kedavra!” His voice came out of him with a viciousness that he didn’t recognize as his own. Remus’s eyes went wide; even though he knew Lucius was on his side, he couldn’t stop the knee-jerk reaction that thought the spell was meant for him. It arced well to his left.
Unfortunately, Rabastan Lestrange was able to sidestep it. The green jet of light sizzled into the wall, making a great black scorch mark upon the nondescript wallpaper. However, in avoiding it, he had to move closer to Remus and the werewolf snapped into action. He dropped low and swept the legs out from under the Death Eater. Rabastan hit the ground hard and in a second Lupin had his wand at his throat.
Lucius had only a millisecond to be relieved. This was the wrong Lestrange. Where was Rodolphus?
“Stand down, beast,” an arrogant voice issued from behind Lucius. He whirled, wand raised, but the curse died on his lips as he caught sight of Rodolphus.
It wasn’t just Rodolphus. He had a hostage, but not the one they’d been told to expect. Instead of Pansy Parkinson, Rodolphus had both knife and wand on her father, Miles. He looked terrible; his face was a map of bruises and it seemed that if Lestrange was not holding him up he might have fallen in a heap upon the floor.
“Release my brother or Mr. Parkinson here dies.”
With a quick glance at Lucius, Remus carefully backed off. He kept his wand on the Death Eater. Rabastan got to his feet and reached for his wand. Then they were back on a level playing field, save that Rodolphus held an innocent man’s life in his hands.
“Where is Pansy?” Lucius asked coldly.
“The young Miss Parkinson is keeping audience with the Dark Lord.” Rodolphus smiled sadistically. “He very much likes the way her skin bruises. So many lovely colors.”
At that, Miles gave a struggle, an agonized look on his face.
“You’re sick,” Remus growled.
“A fine bit of hypocrisy, werewolf. Isn’t it you who has a taste for human flesh?”
“I never have, but after today I might be tempted to sample yours when the next moon comes around,” he responded darkly.
Rodolphus chuckled, unaffected by the hatred being directed at him by both of his adversaries.
“What is it that you want, Rodolphus?” Lucius demanded. “We aren’t going to give ourselves up.”
Remus spared a brief glance for his only ally. He said that with such certainty. Did he really not care for the man that had been his friend? No, he didn’t think that was it. He could see the strain on Lucius’s face. The plain and simple fact was that there was no good solution. Miles Parkinson’s face said he knew that - he didn’t expect to be saved.
“Perhaps not for him, but…” Lestrange paused thoughtfully. “Why don’t you tell him, Miles? Why don’t you tell him about your dear little whore of a daughter?”
“She is not a whore!” the beaten wizard raged.
“She is now,” Rabastan leered. Remus itched to hex him in ways that were far from legal.
“Tell him, Miles,” Rodolphus pressed, trailing his wand up and down the man’s bloodstained cheek. “Or I’ll just kill you right here.”
The threat spurred the Parkinson patriarch into action. He looked to be fighting tears.
“She’s pregnant, Lucius. It’s Draco’s child. She’s pregnant with your grandchild.”
Hermione was so busy tending to her unconscious parents that she didn’t notice that their homecoming party was short two people. Tonks, however, noticed very quickly that her husband was late in returning, and so was Lucius.
“Kingsley.”
The tall man turned. “Hm?”
“I think we should go back. Remus and Lucius haven’t returned.”
Kingsley’s face hardened. “Son of a bitch.”
All the air went out of him. He had never before been filled with a feeling of such dread. This was what he had meant. This was what the Dark Lord had meant when he said there were still ways he could hurt him. He was going to dangle this baby, his grandchild, in front of him like a worm on a hook.
“Please, Lucius. Please don’t let my daughter die!” Parkinson begged. “The Dark Lord said if you give yourself up he’ll release her. Please, even if it’s only for the baby, don’t let him hurt her anymore…”
At that moment, the bang of the door slamming against the wall announced the presence of Tonks and Kingsley. In a second the Auror had his wand against the back of Rodolphus Lestrange’s neck. Tonks moved stealthily to her husband’s side, training her wand on Rabastan. They now outnumbered their enemies, but Rodolphus still had the upper hand, because as quickly as Kingsley could kill him, he could kill Parkinson.
“What’ll it be, Lucius?” Rodolphus asked, completely unfazed.
Lucius tried in vain to calm the screaming inside of him. He could not leave Pansy and his grandchild to die slowly at the hands of the Dark Lord. He knew Voldemort was likely lying about releasing her, but he still couldn’t walk away. If he knew where she was, there was the slim possibility that he could somehow save her and the baby. That would never happen if he didn’t go with Lestrange brothers right now.
“There will be terms,” he forced out shakily. “You will release Mr. Parkinson and he will leave with the rest of my comrades, all of them unharmed.”
“Fair enough,” Rodolphus smirked.
“What is going on here?” Kingsley demanded.
“There’s something I have to do.” Lucius crouched down slowly and placed his wand on the floor. “Release him.”
Rodolphus lifted the knife first. With a raise of his shoulder, he moved his arm to place the blade against Shacklebolt’s throat. If the Auror moved it could be the end of him. Kingsley stayed very still; Lestrange had his guarantee that he wouldn’t be fired on after releasing his hostage.
He lifted the wand and Parkinson fell to the floor with a sound of pain. As he did so, Rabastan stepped forward and took hold of Lucius’s hair. He placed his wand against the blond wizard’s temple.
“Lucius…” Tonks said, clearly disturbed by the turn of events. She lifted her wand, aiming it right between Rabastan’s eyes. Remus gently touched her arm. When she turned to look at him, he shook his head.
“You have your bargain. Good day, you filth,” Rodolphus spat. With that, he, his brother, and their new prisoner blinked out of sight.
“What the hell just happened?” Kingsley demanded. He pressed his hand to his neck; Lestrange had nicked him with the knife as he Apparated away. It stung and it was bleeding, but it wasn’t deep enough to cause any worry.
“Parkinson needs medical attention,” Remus replied, “and so do you. I saw him cut you. I’ll fill you in after that.”
Kingsley growled. “No, I want to know now. I don’t leave people behind.”
“It was his choice,” Remus said firmly. “Can we respect it by getting the hell out of here?”
Grudgingly, Shacklebolt agreed, and the foursome went back to Hogwarts.
“You were never even after her parents,” Lucius said softly. “It was all a set up for this.”
Rabastan had gone elsewhere. Rodolphus was his only company. He sat in a chair across from where Lucius knelt, his wand trained carefully at the as yet unbound wizard. Rodolphus laughed languidly, his cold mirth echoing in the room.
“Oh, no, Lucius, we were after her parents…and we got them.”
Lucius’s chin shot up. “What? That’s impossible. We portkeyed them out.”
“I’m afraid not. I buried them myself last night.” He showed Lucius the back of his hands; dirt was encrusted beneath his nails. “See?
Panic ballooned in his chest. “Then…who did they take?”
Rodolphus grinned. “The Carrows. Polyjuice is a wonderful thing.”
Lucius’s eyes widened. His companions had brought back two psychotic Death Eaters and they didn’t even know it. Hermione would be alone with them…
He let out a cry of rage and lunged. Rodolphus was ready for him. With an equivalent shout of hatred, he shot to his feet, grabbed the chair, and swung it at his former comrade. The leg caught Lucius right across temple with a solid, sickening thwack. Lights exploded behind his eyes and after a spike of intense pain, everything went dark.