Chapter 127: Desperation and Regret
"Oh, no worries about that. That potion will keep him asleep for hours, even with just a sip. I got the recipe from that Snape fellow," he shuddered a bit remembering the trip to Azkaban. "He was more than willing to help capture the 'Potter brat'," the Minister stated proudly. When he had told the man the plan, the ex-teacher was more than willing to give up the formula. Fudge didn't even have to offer to cut his time, not that it would have help. Snape couldn't brew the potion, so Cornelius had one of his contacts do it. Seeing how well it worked, he was glad he took the trip to Azkaban, nerve-wracking though it was. That hooded character had been correct, Snape was very helpful. He was going to have to remember that, and perhaps get the man out of prison. He could hire him on as a personal brewer.
Umbridge 'accidently' knocked Harry's head into a wall, and simpered inconvincibly, "Oops."
Fudge just chuckled, "Now, now, Dolores, he is supposed to be unharmed. We don't want to lose our gold, do we?"
"No, of course not. It was an accident," she smirked, and continued down the dark, dirty tunnel. There were lights on the walls, but they only showed how filthy these passages were.
Fudge followed her to the end of the tunnel, and there waited their contact. "Here's Potter, now where's our gold?" the Minister demanded importantly, trying unsuccessfully to be the leader in the conversation. His posturing made him look foolish as they stood in the end of the dark tunnel.
Dolores, non-to-gently put the boy on the ground near the hooded man. She didn't even think for a moment they would be backstabbed. This was the Minster after all. No one could afford to thwart him.
"Oh, I've got it right here," was the reply as a wand flashed out. Two hurried shots of green light, and the two officials were dead on the floor. It would be some time before they were found.
"I'm sorry, Harry," the still hooded man said as he leaned over and took the boy's arm, and then he Disapparated, leaving the clean crime scene behind in the dark tunnel.
Luna's POV
Luna Lovegood was sitting in her History class, reading the book along with the professor, humming a little tune, when suddenly she saw. It wasn't much, only flashes of an unconscious Harry being tied to a large object. It had the feel of something that hadn't happened yet. She shook her head, gathered her books, and then quickly left the class. She didn't know where the rest of her friends were, so she ran out of the castle to the Whomping Willow. With a wave of her hand the tree stopped, letting the little blonde go through the tunnel.
"Sirius! Remus! Is anyone here!?" she yelled urgently, when she got to the end. She slammed the door open and looked frantically around the room. She was glad when she saw Harry's godfather, he was the only adult her friend trusted completely. She needed to let him know what she saw. She only hoped the man understood.
"Luna?" the glamored man asked, confusion showing clearly on his disguised face. "What's wrong?"
"Where's Harry?" she asked, grabbing the man's shoulders in a tight grip, and shaking them.
"He's with Remus. They're at the Ministry listening to the prophecy. You should know that. Didn't Harry tell you?" Sirius asked, getting a gentle hold on her hands, and pulling them in front of him. He held them tight since they were shaking. He just knew she saw something. "Tell me what's wrong," he said softly.
"The Nargles have Harry, or they will soon. Do you have a way to contact Mr. Lupin?" she asked with tears in her eyes. She hated her sight sometimes. She just knew they wouldn't be on time. The tears tracked uncontrollably down her face. She didn't even bother to stop them. Nothing they did now would help. She knew that this next part Harry would have to do alone. Still, she had to try. It's what friends did.
Sirius, well used to Luna's way, puzzled out that Harry had been kidnapped or was going to be. He ran to his room and grabbed the communication mirror. "Moony!" he yelled, holding the mirror so hard that is almost cracked.
Luna followed him, hoping to hear good news. Praying that just this once her vision was wrong.
"Padfoot, what is it? I'm in the middle of a meeting," the werewolf asked, when his face showed in the mirror.
"Where's Harry?" the other man demanded.
"He went with the Minister. Why?" was the confused response.
"Let's just say our favorite blonde saw something. You need to find him," Sirius ordered urgently. His eyes frantic with worry. He was upset that Remus would let Harry out of his sight for even a moment. He sat and berated himself for not going. Now his godson was in trouble, and there was nothing he could do.
"Don't be ridiculous Sirius, he's with Fudge. What could happen?" the greying-haired man asked as he got up to go investigate, Amelia right behind him. If Luna saw something then it was worth checking out, but he still didn't see the Minister as a threat. However, that didn't mean that someone else could have nabbed the boy. There were many unsavory characters running around the building. And with that thought, he cursed himself for his thoughtlessness.
"A man who almost had me Kissed, so he didn't look bad. A man who is in Malfoy's pocket. A man who has no morals. Remus, how could you leave Harry alone with him?" the dogman all but yelled. He couldn't believe Moony would leave Harry with that… politician. Didn't all the bias laws the man had tried to pass teach the werewolf anything?"
"Harry knows how to take care of himself. Besides, we're in the Ministry, where there are wards against all forms of travel. How would anyone be able to kidnap Harry?" Remus asked, even as he started worrying. He was attempting to keep his voice calm, and not say what he was thinking. He could see a bit of blonde hair in the background and knew Luna was there.
He and Bones had been running since Sirius said Luna saw something. They were pushing people out of the way, and taking the stairs two at a time, to go faster. They got to the Minister's office and threw open the door. It was empty.
Madam Bones stomped out to ask the secretary if she knew where the man was.
"Shite, he's not here," the werewolf swore, looking around, and finding the spilt teacup. He leaned over the cup and took a big whiff. "Potions," he growled as he smelled the fumes that only a canine could scent. He didn't pick it up, leaving it there for Amelia. He started to sniff around the room, but there was only the smell of some hideous perfume filling the air.
"I'll kill that man if anything happens to Harry," Sirius declared, a fierce snarl on his face.
"Not if I get to him first," Moony growled, still trying to pick up Harry's scent. Though he wasn't completely sure it had been Fudge, all the evidence was pointing to him. The man had a lot to answer for.
After he circled the entire office, he slumped his shoulders in defeat. All he could smell was the perfume, making him belief whoever wore it was a frequent visitor. He'd have to tell Amelia. Right now, he was blaming himself for the loss of his cub. He picked up the still activated mirror and looked at Sirius and could see the man was thinking the same.
"Don't think you're off the hook either. I will never forgive you if anything happens to him," Padfoot stated firmly. His face morphed into a growl, that would have been more at home on his dog form.
"I'll never forgive myself," was Moony's sad reply. "I'm going look around here and be home as soon as I can. I'll find him, I swear," he said, he looked at his friend all but begging for understanding.
"Make sure to check around outside," Sirius suggested, holding on to his temper with the tip of his fingernails. "There might be a trail there. I'm going to sniff around the Alley. I'll see you later. Out," he said, causing the mirror to go black. "Don't worry, Luna, we'll find him," he said to the crying girl.
"No, you won't," she said woodenly, and then left the Shack to go, and have a good cry.
"Dammit."
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