"As you should be," The Dark Lord said. "You'll need a little help I think. Find a way for your soon-to-be brothers to get into the castle and they will provide the distractions necessary for you to capture her with little danger to your safety."
"Yes M'Lord," Draco replied. "I'll find a way."
"You will stay here for the rest of the summer," Voldemort continued. "You'll be taught what you need before you return to Hogwarts."
"Thank you M'lord."
When Draco had been dismissed, Voldemort next called his spy in the midst of Dumbledore's order. Severus arrived several minutes later.
"M'lord, how may I serve?" Severus asked as he knelt before his master.
"Severus, my faithful servant," The Dark Lord started in his smooth hissing voice, "What news can you tell me of the Order?"
"Albus continues to be concerned about Potter's safety," Severus replied. "He thinks Black's influence is causing the boy to disregard his opinions. Frankly it's the same recalcitrant attitude he's always shown that Dumbledore has blithely overlooked."
"Interesting," Voldemort said. "Anything else?"
"Dumbledore is doing something that occupies a great deal of his time but he is not forthcoming about what it is," Snape said. "He disappears for long periods of time and never offers a reason."
"Inform me if it is anything of importance."
"Yes M'lord," Snape said. "Is there anything else?"
"There is one other thing," Voldemort said after a moment. "What has been the Order's response to the Dementors?"
"As you'd expect; they try to get there if they can, most of them are proficient with the Patronus Charm. They helped the Ministry disperse them last night."
"Do they deploy in groups or individuals?"
"Depends on the number of Dementors; individually to cover more area if they need to."
"That's very informative," Voldemort replied as he sat back in his chair and thought. It was a full minute before his thoughts returned to the man kneeling before him. With a dismissive gesture he said. "You may go."
"Yes M'lord," Snape rose and bowed, backing away. As he neared the door he remembered who he had seen when he had arrived. "M'lord, if I may? I noticed Lucius' son when I arrived."
"Yes, but he is none of your concern."
"My apologies, I should not have asked, but..." Snape hesitated knowing he was treading on very thin ice, "if his mother does not know where he is, she is sure to ask my assistance. What can I tell her?"
"You are to tell her nothing," Voldemort commanded. "He will arrive home shortly before he is to return to Hogwarts with a satisfactory excuse. Why he is here is none of your concern."
"Forgive me," Snape said as he bowed. "I shall not ask again," He backed out of the door and was gone.
...…
"Are you alright Moony?" Sirius asked. It was early evening and that night was the full moon. The two of them were sitting in the lounge working their way through a bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky. They each were on their third glass of the potent liquid. Sirius had waited until now before starting the conversation he wanted with his old friend.
"I guess," Moony replied. "Wolfsbane always makes me feel a bit melancholy."
"You still have a few hours before the moon's out," Sirius said as he looked at his watch. "Can you believe the kid is married?"
"It is remarkable isn't it?" Remus replied as he swirled the brown liquid in his glass before downing a swallow. "Have to admit, Hermione does remind me a lot of Lily."
"That she does. She's got the same brains and did you see that punch? That was definitely like Lily in temper," Sirius shook his head as he continued guiding the conversation to where he wanted it. "Can you believe we've seen both James and now Harry married and we're still a couple of old bachelors?"
Remus took another sip of his Firewhisky and studied the glass for a few seconds before replying. "I'm sure someday the great Padfoot will fall for a beautiful woman and settle down to have a litter of puppies."
"I've actually been thinking of that," Sirius replied. "Remember James when Harry was first born, that look he had?" At the nod from his friend he continued. "I've been wondering what it'd be like to hold a kid of my own."
"A worrisome thought for the entire world, let me assure you," Remus smiled as he glanced at his friend. "No, I'm sure you'll make a great father if, and it is a big if, you can find someone to actually marry you."
"Hey."
"Just kidding my old friend. I am sure someday you will make some fine lady happy and you will have that child or puppy to carry on the new Black motto."
"What about you?" Sirius asked. This was the crux of the conversation. He'd started it just to get Remus talking about women and marriage.
Remus shrugged. "You know I can never marry. I can't be that close to anyone, to endanger someone I care about..."
"Oh, so you're saying you didn't care about me and James all of those years?"
Remus shook his head. "You know how dangerous that was; we should never have done it."
"But you now have wolfsbane," Sirius reminded his friend. "Find yourself a nice woman who'll make sure you take it like a good werewolf. She'll fluff the pillows you curl up on and then stroke your fur until you fall asleep."
"No, I could never do that to her, she des..."
"Her?" Sirius pounced. "You have someone you like don't you?"
"Just drop it Sirius," Remus pleaded. He took a sip from his glass. "Even if there was someone, I...I could never... no just drop it."
"I already know who it is," Sirius told his friend. "And you know she likes you."
Remus glanced up, a little slower than he normally would considering he had almost three glasses of Firewhisky down. "You're lying. You're just trying to get me to tell you," He settled back down and took another sip. "Like I said, just drop it. It can never happen."
"Why?" Sirius asked as he took his own swallow of alcohol.
"Because I could never do that to her, not being what I am," He took a large swallow of the liquid and looked over at his friend. "She...she deserves much better than anything I can..." Lupin ended with a shrug and a shake of his head.
"Tell me Moony," Sirius began in reply, "what did you think of yourself when you got to Hogwarts? Did you think you deserved the friendship of three kids who decided the person you were was what was important and not what you were?"
Moony swirled the liquid in his glass but said nothing.
"Not for a single moment in my life since, have I ever regretted being your friend. Don't you think this woman should have the same chance?" Sirius drained his glass and got up. "I'm going over to an old friend's house to see how her review went. Do you remember Isabelle Grealsom?"
"Yeah, I remember her," Lupin replied. "She married someone though...Thomas Edgecombe I think."
"Yeah, Thomas died a few months back. Anyway I ran into her at the Ministry and she wasn't doing so well. I thought I'd drop in and see how she's holding up."
"Comforting a widow?" Remus asked.
"Looked like she could use a friend," Sirius replied.
"Tell her I said hello," Remus said as he lifted his glass.
"I will," Sirius agreed. He got up and walked toward the door. When he got there, he turned back to his old friend. "I wasn't lying you know, I do know who it is. Remus if it's me that's holding you back, you and Tonks have my full blessing. I couldn't think of anyone better for her," He turned and walked out the door leaving Remus staring open-mouthed at the spot he'd left.
It was another minute before Remus recovered enough to mutter, "That Son of a Bitch," Only to remember that's exactly what Sirius was.
....
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