As I Am Subtle, False, and Treacherous (blanketforts Day 29)
Title: As I am subtle, false, and treacherous
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm just borrowing them because I like them.
Wordcount: 1640
Prompt: Snowy mountains (um, yeah, I cut that bit)
Notes: The Order of the Phoenix. Title from Richard III.
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“Andromeda!” Sirius roared, shoving forward.
Remus shot to his feet in time to grab his wrist hard enough to stop him. Sirius whipped his head round to glare at him, trying to wrench free. At the sight of his face Remus dug his fingers in with what he hoped was bruising strength. Sirius had not fought down his rage about Regulus at all. He had merely allowed it to build.
Behind him Dumbledore was saying something gentle to Steven. Remus couldn’t spare the attention to listen. He was still focussed on his silent battle with Sirius. His arms burnt with the effort of holding him back. Sirius managed a step forward, wrenching both of their wrists. Remus braced his feet and shoved back, hard.
Sirius stumbled into the chair, and Remus stepped forward. If he could trap him until his sanity came back…
The door closed, and Sirius sagged back against the arm of the chair. He still looked murderous, and his pupils were too wide, but he wasn’t trying to get past anymore. Remus relaxed his grip and turned round.
Steven and Flitwick had gone. Dumbledore was bent over the fire, stirring the coals until the flames leapt high.
“I do believe,” he said, without turning, “that it is time for us to depart.”
Sirius didn’t speak, so Remus said, “To the Tonkses?” It was beginning to sink in. Ted was Yarwood’s next target.
And Regulus Black was missing from his bed.
“Not yet,” Dumbledore said, taking a pinch of Floo powder. “First, let us summon aid.” He tossed the pinch into the fire. “Hogsthorpe Farm!”
Remus hesitated, but then dashed after Dumbledore before the fire could die, dragging Sirius with him, quivering and taut.
They emerged into a big, stone-floored kitchen. A long table ran down the centre, covered with maps and piles of flame-coloured feathers.
Alice Longbottom was standing in the doorway opposite, a feathered mask dangling from her hand, her face slack with surprise.
“What the hell?” she started.
“It wasn’t Radcliffe,” Remus said. “It’s Yarwood. He’s still alive.”
Sirius shoved past him. “He’s gone after Ted. Why the fuck aren’t we doing something?”
“Now, now, Mr Black,” Dumbledore said. “It will not help to be over hasty.” He turned back to the fire. “Let us see. Number Ten, Church Road, St Paul’s Cray.”
The fire died down.
Then it roared up, flames exploding into the kitchen. Remus staggered, and felt Sirius drag him out of the way.
“Oh, shit,” Alice said. “Andie!” She twisted round, shouting, “Emergency! Emergency!”
There were already people running from elsewhere in the building, and Alice pushed out of the doorway, letting them through.
Dumbledore, flames still licking around his feet, turned to greet them, his face stern.
“Who the fuck are they?” a small woman demanded. “Dumbledore? What’s going on?”
Behind her, a familiar voice hissed, “Shit!” and Remus turned in time to see Peter try to duck behind Frank Longbottom. Sirius snarled in his ear.
“Not more of your friends, Pettigrew?” the woman snapped.
“Ah, Marlene,” Dumbledore said. “Perhaps you could summon more of our number. We have somewhat of a problem.”
“We need to get back to London,” Alice said. “If it’s just Jack, Ted and Andie can hold him, but Ted will call HQ for reinforcements.”
“But it’s not,” Remus said, things falling into place. “He’s operating independently of the Death Eaters, but they’re involved too. They’re following Yarwood. And they’re killing everyone who knows he’s alive.”
“And trying to blame it on us,” Alice said, eyes fierce.
Remus nodded. “Because Yarwood didn’t do what they wanted, and because he knows who they are.”
“So why the fuck are we standing here talking?” Marlene demanded. “Pettigrew, do something useful.”
“I’m working on it,” Peter said calmly. “Give me some space.”
Everyone moved, clearing space around the table. Peter shoved forward, shaking out a cloth. Glowing runes writhed across it, reshaping as Peter clenched his fist round his wand and muttered. Everyone leant forward.
“What’s he doing?” Remus hissed to Alice.
“Aligning a portkey,” she hissed back, eyes dark with worry.
Peter stopped and stepped back, watching the runes moved. Then he grinned at Remus, lips tight, “Bit like drawing a map, this.”
Red lines zagged across the creamy cloth, bright as blood. Peter swore and began to cast again.
“Apparation block,” Alice hissed. “How far ahead of us are they?”
“I don’t know,” Remus muttered, and remembered something that might make it better. Or worse. “James and Lily should be there. There’s four of them.”
Sirius stiffened behind him. His arm was still locked around Remus’ waist, but now it felt as hard as rock.
Peter stumbled over the spell, staring at him in shock. Then he took a breath and began again, rolling the Latin out with liquid speed. The red lines shimmered and then the cloth flashed blue, the undyed threads drowning in curls of colour.
“We’re in,” Peter said. “I can’t get closer than half a mile, but we’re in.”
Around the table, people were lifting feathered masks to their faces, and gripping their wands grimly. Remus recognised Frank and Alice, a round woman who he thought was an Auror - Hestia something - one of the Prewitt brothers, his hair almost as bright as his mask, and a tall man with limp hair who had been a Ravenclaw prefect when they were firsties.
“I’ve got the umbrella,” Marlene said.
“Portkey out again,” Alice hissed. “Oy! McKinnon! We need two more masks over here.”
“They’re not coming!”
“Ten,” Peter said. “Nine.”
“I’m not stopping them.”
“Seven, six.”
“I don’t need a mask,” Sirius said, his voice shaking, and reached around Remus to grab the edge of the cloth. Remus grabbed on beside him, so their fingers locked together, and just had time to suddenly think, oh, shit, Prongs! Lily!
Then the world was spinning around them.
There was no snow in south London. Only the quiet dark streets, and the distant rattle of a train. The air was crisp and still, and a startled cat stopped to glare at them where they huddled in the middle of the road.
“Which way?” the Ravenclaw asked.
Sirius pointed, setting off at a run, and they all started after him.
Remus fell in beside Peter, who was huffing for breath. “How long?” he asked.
“September,” Peter wheezed. “Do you know where the - fuck!”
The night came rolling back at them as the sky flashed red with a noise like stone tearing.
“Andromeda!” Sirius roared.
Two streams of light flared into the sky. One unfolded into a vast skull, grinning greenly as the snake slid from its mouth. The other took flight on wings of fire, a phoenix swooping through the night.
“That’s Evans!” someone shouted. “She’s alive!”
Remus was running too fast to ask questions.
They burst into the road to find every door open, and people leaning into the street, shouting questions at each other.
The Tonks’ house was on fire, flames snarling out of the windows.
Alice skidded to a halt, and Remus dodged around her. She cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed, “Get inside! There may be more bombs!”
There was a body on the front path, arched in agony, and still laced with green fire. Frank dropped to his knees beside it.
A dark-robed figure appeared around the edge of the house, wand levelled.
Remus roared, “Stupefy!” and shoved Frank aside as green light flashed. The Death Eater dodged back into the shadows before Remus’ spell could touch him.
“Thanks,” Frank gasped, rising to his knees to point the other way. “Incendio!”
There was a rush of flame across the dry bushes of the front garden, and Remus heard a woman scream. Frank grabbed his elbow and dragged him into the corner of the porch. “It’s Jack!” he gasped. “He’s dead.”
Remus couldn’t bring himself to care. He had no compassion for Jack Yarwood. There was too much blood on his hands.
Sirius slammed into the porch beside them. “I can’t get near the back door. They’re inside as well - saw them through the window.”
“Wands out,” Frank said, and reached for the door. He shoved at it, and it stayed solid. His muttered spell only produced a hiss of sparks.
“We’re at your back!” Alice yelled. “Get in there!”
“Shoulders!” Frank snapped, and Remus shoved himself against the door, between the other two. Three time they rammed against the wood and then the door burst open before them.
Smoke billowed out around them, and a curse came winging at his head. Remus recognised the voice behind it and bellowed, “Lily!”
“Here!” she screamed.
He ducked down, shoving his robes over his mouth to keep the smoke out. He couldn’t see who else was in the hall with him, but he could feel Sirius at his shoulder.
Andromeda Tonks was slumped at the bottom of the stairs, shaking. Her fingers were still tight around her wand, but her hand was jerking too hard to aim. Lily was crouched over her, teeth bared.
Sirius shoved past to drop beside them. “Meda!”
“Sirius!” Lily gasped. “They’re in the house.”
“Where’s Prongs?”
“With Ted. Kitchen - trying to hold the back. Remus - Nym! One of them - up there!”
Sirius surged to his feet, lunging for the stairs. Frank was already crouching beside Lily, so Remus didn’t hesitate. He took the stairs at Sirius’ heels, grasping his wand so tightly his knuckles burnt.
The air was hot, and it was hard to take a breath. Sirius didn’t slow, though.
They burst into Nym’s room, the door crashing back.
A Death Eater was bent over the bed, lifting Nym. She was screaming, clawing at his face.
Sirius roared, “Drop her!”
The Death Eater whirled, his mask coming away in Nym’s small hands.
It was Regulus Black.
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm just borrowing them because I like them.
Wordcount: 1640
Prompt: Snowy mountains (um, yeah, I cut that bit)
Notes: The Order of the Phoenix. Title from Richard III.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
“Andromeda!” Sirius roared, shoving forward.
Remus shot to his feet in time to grab his wrist hard enough to stop him. Sirius whipped his head round to glare at him, trying to wrench free. At the sight of his face Remus dug his fingers in with what he hoped was bruising strength. Sirius had not fought down his rage about Regulus at all. He had merely allowed it to build.
Behind him Dumbledore was saying something gentle to Steven. Remus couldn’t spare the attention to listen. He was still focussed on his silent battle with Sirius. His arms burnt with the effort of holding him back. Sirius managed a step forward, wrenching both of their wrists. Remus braced his feet and shoved back, hard.
Sirius stumbled into the chair, and Remus stepped forward. If he could trap him until his sanity came back…
The door closed, and Sirius sagged back against the arm of the chair. He still looked murderous, and his pupils were too wide, but he wasn’t trying to get past anymore. Remus relaxed his grip and turned round.
Steven and Flitwick had gone. Dumbledore was bent over the fire, stirring the coals until the flames leapt high.
“I do believe,” he said, without turning, “that it is time for us to depart.”
Sirius didn’t speak, so Remus said, “To the Tonkses?” It was beginning to sink in. Ted was Yarwood’s next target.
And Regulus Black was missing from his bed.
“Not yet,” Dumbledore said, taking a pinch of Floo powder. “First, let us summon aid.” He tossed the pinch into the fire. “Hogsthorpe Farm!”
Remus hesitated, but then dashed after Dumbledore before the fire could die, dragging Sirius with him, quivering and taut.
They emerged into a big, stone-floored kitchen. A long table ran down the centre, covered with maps and piles of flame-coloured feathers.
Alice Longbottom was standing in the doorway opposite, a feathered mask dangling from her hand, her face slack with surprise.
“What the hell?” she started.
“It wasn’t Radcliffe,” Remus said. “It’s Yarwood. He’s still alive.”
Sirius shoved past him. “He’s gone after Ted. Why the fuck aren’t we doing something?”
“Now, now, Mr Black,” Dumbledore said. “It will not help to be over hasty.” He turned back to the fire. “Let us see. Number Ten, Church Road, St Paul’s Cray.”
The fire died down.
Then it roared up, flames exploding into the kitchen. Remus staggered, and felt Sirius drag him out of the way.
“Oh, shit,” Alice said. “Andie!” She twisted round, shouting, “Emergency! Emergency!”
There were already people running from elsewhere in the building, and Alice pushed out of the doorway, letting them through.
Dumbledore, flames still licking around his feet, turned to greet them, his face stern.
“Who the fuck are they?” a small woman demanded. “Dumbledore? What’s going on?”
Behind her, a familiar voice hissed, “Shit!” and Remus turned in time to see Peter try to duck behind Frank Longbottom. Sirius snarled in his ear.
“Not more of your friends, Pettigrew?” the woman snapped.
“Ah, Marlene,” Dumbledore said. “Perhaps you could summon more of our number. We have somewhat of a problem.”
“We need to get back to London,” Alice said. “If it’s just Jack, Ted and Andie can hold him, but Ted will call HQ for reinforcements.”
“But it’s not,” Remus said, things falling into place. “He’s operating independently of the Death Eaters, but they’re involved too. They’re following Yarwood. And they’re killing everyone who knows he’s alive.”
“And trying to blame it on us,” Alice said, eyes fierce.
Remus nodded. “Because Yarwood didn’t do what they wanted, and because he knows who they are.”
“So why the fuck are we standing here talking?” Marlene demanded. “Pettigrew, do something useful.”
“I’m working on it,” Peter said calmly. “Give me some space.”
Everyone moved, clearing space around the table. Peter shoved forward, shaking out a cloth. Glowing runes writhed across it, reshaping as Peter clenched his fist round his wand and muttered. Everyone leant forward.
“What’s he doing?” Remus hissed to Alice.
“Aligning a portkey,” she hissed back, eyes dark with worry.
Peter stopped and stepped back, watching the runes moved. Then he grinned at Remus, lips tight, “Bit like drawing a map, this.”
Red lines zagged across the creamy cloth, bright as blood. Peter swore and began to cast again.
“Apparation block,” Alice hissed. “How far ahead of us are they?”
“I don’t know,” Remus muttered, and remembered something that might make it better. Or worse. “James and Lily should be there. There’s four of them.”
Sirius stiffened behind him. His arm was still locked around Remus’ waist, but now it felt as hard as rock.
Peter stumbled over the spell, staring at him in shock. Then he took a breath and began again, rolling the Latin out with liquid speed. The red lines shimmered and then the cloth flashed blue, the undyed threads drowning in curls of colour.
“We’re in,” Peter said. “I can’t get closer than half a mile, but we’re in.”
Around the table, people were lifting feathered masks to their faces, and gripping their wands grimly. Remus recognised Frank and Alice, a round woman who he thought was an Auror - Hestia something - one of the Prewitt brothers, his hair almost as bright as his mask, and a tall man with limp hair who had been a Ravenclaw prefect when they were firsties.
“I’ve got the umbrella,” Marlene said.
“Portkey out again,” Alice hissed. “Oy! McKinnon! We need two more masks over here.”
“They’re not coming!”
“Ten,” Peter said. “Nine.”
“I’m not stopping them.”
“Seven, six.”
“I don’t need a mask,” Sirius said, his voice shaking, and reached around Remus to grab the edge of the cloth. Remus grabbed on beside him, so their fingers locked together, and just had time to suddenly think, oh, shit, Prongs! Lily!
Then the world was spinning around them.
There was no snow in south London. Only the quiet dark streets, and the distant rattle of a train. The air was crisp and still, and a startled cat stopped to glare at them where they huddled in the middle of the road.
“Which way?” the Ravenclaw asked.
Sirius pointed, setting off at a run, and they all started after him.
Remus fell in beside Peter, who was huffing for breath. “How long?” he asked.
“September,” Peter wheezed. “Do you know where the - fuck!”
The night came rolling back at them as the sky flashed red with a noise like stone tearing.
“Andromeda!” Sirius roared.
Two streams of light flared into the sky. One unfolded into a vast skull, grinning greenly as the snake slid from its mouth. The other took flight on wings of fire, a phoenix swooping through the night.
“That’s Evans!” someone shouted. “She’s alive!”
Remus was running too fast to ask questions.
They burst into the road to find every door open, and people leaning into the street, shouting questions at each other.
The Tonks’ house was on fire, flames snarling out of the windows.
Alice skidded to a halt, and Remus dodged around her. She cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed, “Get inside! There may be more bombs!”
There was a body on the front path, arched in agony, and still laced with green fire. Frank dropped to his knees beside it.
A dark-robed figure appeared around the edge of the house, wand levelled.
Remus roared, “Stupefy!” and shoved Frank aside as green light flashed. The Death Eater dodged back into the shadows before Remus’ spell could touch him.
“Thanks,” Frank gasped, rising to his knees to point the other way. “Incendio!”
There was a rush of flame across the dry bushes of the front garden, and Remus heard a woman scream. Frank grabbed his elbow and dragged him into the corner of the porch. “It’s Jack!” he gasped. “He’s dead.”
Remus couldn’t bring himself to care. He had no compassion for Jack Yarwood. There was too much blood on his hands.
Sirius slammed into the porch beside them. “I can’t get near the back door. They’re inside as well - saw them through the window.”
“Wands out,” Frank said, and reached for the door. He shoved at it, and it stayed solid. His muttered spell only produced a hiss of sparks.
“We’re at your back!” Alice yelled. “Get in there!”
“Shoulders!” Frank snapped, and Remus shoved himself against the door, between the other two. Three time they rammed against the wood and then the door burst open before them.
Smoke billowed out around them, and a curse came winging at his head. Remus recognised the voice behind it and bellowed, “Lily!”
“Here!” she screamed.
He ducked down, shoving his robes over his mouth to keep the smoke out. He couldn’t see who else was in the hall with him, but he could feel Sirius at his shoulder.
Andromeda Tonks was slumped at the bottom of the stairs, shaking. Her fingers were still tight around her wand, but her hand was jerking too hard to aim. Lily was crouched over her, teeth bared.
Sirius shoved past to drop beside them. “Meda!”
“Sirius!” Lily gasped. “They’re in the house.”
“Where’s Prongs?”
“With Ted. Kitchen - trying to hold the back. Remus - Nym! One of them - up there!”
Sirius surged to his feet, lunging for the stairs. Frank was already crouching beside Lily, so Remus didn’t hesitate. He took the stairs at Sirius’ heels, grasping his wand so tightly his knuckles burnt.
The air was hot, and it was hard to take a breath. Sirius didn’t slow, though.
They burst into Nym’s room, the door crashing back.
A Death Eater was bent over the bed, lifting Nym. She was screaming, clawing at his face.
Sirius roared, “Drop her!”
The Death Eater whirled, his mask coming away in Nym’s small hands.
It was Regulus Black.