Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.
The Time Meddlers
Chapter Twenty-Three - The Capture
Tox,
I thought I'd let you know that Minister Bones has posthumously pardoned Sirius Black. A small notification will be on the last page of the Daily Prophet and owls are being sent to his remaining relatives. Again, I'm sorry this couldn't have been done before his death, but at least history will know the truth about him.
Sincerely,
Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt
"I'm sorry, Sirius," said Harry after showing Padfoot the letter he'd received earlier. He'd used his time-turner as an alibi when he snuck from Hogwarts to his shop, The Troublemaker's Paradise. They were in the back room under a privacy spell that even Dobby, who worked there, couldn't penetrate. "If only I'd waited on freeing you…"
"Look Harry, I haven't seen or felt a Dementor for nearly a year, and I'm enjoying my new life as Terry Cochran."
"But…"
"And half the Wizarding world would still distrust me, figuring I bribed my way out like so many other Death Eaters." Padfoot grinned. "Besides, I get to help a new generation of troublemakers pull pranks at Hogwarts. What greater honor could I ask for?"
His remark was met with appropriate laughter, and Harry had to admit his godfather had a point. "That is true. Many people will always believe Sirius Black was the worst Death Eater that ever lived, and no decision by the Ministry will change that. This way, you don't have to prove you're not a murderer to everyone you meet."
"And with my name officially cleared, it won't live on in infamy forever." He then put a hand on his godson's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Harry, you and Hermione did help me tremendously, and I am in your debt. Never doubt that."
--TM--
The next few weeks passed quickly, with Harry receiving the final comic from the subscription the Grangers had bought him the previous year. When Hermione mentioned that they'd be happy to renew it, he agreed that it would be a great Christmas present, yet again.
Christmas break finally arrived, so all the students going home for the holidays were on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, who like last year, was spending Christmas with the Grangers, was sharing a compartment with Hermione, Luna, Ginny and Neville. Although Hermione had put up a ward to stop Draco and his goons from visiting them, it seemed as though he'd learned his lesson, although truthfully, he hadn't been as aggressive since his father died.
"Are you sure your parents won't mind if we invite Terry to Christmas dinner?" asked Harry.
"Of course not. We'll simply explain to them what a good friend he is and that he has no one to spend the holiday with," replied Hermione.
"Who's Terry?" asked Neville.
"Terry Cochran. The owner of The Troublemaker's Paradise," replied Harry with a grin.
"You know him? Fred and George adore him! They're going to try to work there this summer. Sort of as apprentices."
Harry grinned. "We know. He mentioned them in a letter."
Hermione leaned forward conspiratorially. "Don't tell them this, but Terry's hoping to open a Hogsmeade branch when they graduate in a few years and having them run it."
"They'd love that!" declared Ginny excitedly.
"Terry Cochran has been their hero longer than they know," said Luna from behind the Quibbler she was reading. It took a lot of effort for Harry to school his features so he didn't reveal that he knew exactly what she meant. They'd been admiring the Marauders, including Padfoot, ever since their first year at Hogwarts. The only question was how Luna knew that. He made sure not to make eye contact with Hermione, as he realized she was probably thinking the same thing as him.
The Boy-Who-Lived glanced at Neville and Ginny, and was relieved to see they were confused by the statement, but had both decided not to comment on it.
--TM--
"Hello, Harry. It's good to see you again. You've grown at least an inch," said Mrs. Granger as she pulled her daughter's best friend into a hug. Hermione was currently hugging her dad.
"It's great to see you again, too, Marissa," he replied, using her first name as he'd been instructed. "You too, Adam," he added, looking at Hermione's father.
"How was term, Harry?" Mr. Granger replied while shaking his hand as his wife and daughter hugged.
"Alright. Thanks for letting me stay at your house again."
"Our pleasure," replied Marissa.
"Well," said Adam. "I guess we should get to the car. By the way, both of you have dental appointments tomorrow."
--TM--
The next few days went well, although neither Harry nor Hermione enjoyed their dental cleanings or having their braces adjusted. Neither of them had cavities, and Harry was highly complimented on how well he'd taken care of his teeth for the past year. The main reason he'd decided to have his teeth cared for the muggle way, as opposed to asking Madam Pomfrey to do it, was to score points with Hermione's parents, and so far it seemed that was going rather well. Both Harry and Hermione had quickly done their homework, which was still four years beneath their mental level. Harry was looking forward to third year, where he could at least take a few classes he hadn't already gone through. It was at dinnertime the day after they left Hogwarts that the young couple decided to broach the subject of Sirius' (although he did not go by that name anymore) Christmas plans.
"Mum," said Hermione, "there's someone else we would like to invite to Christmas dinner."
"That's fine, dear. Who is it? One of your other classmates?"
"Actually," replied Harry, "It's an adult friend of ours. His name is Terry Cochran and he owns a joke shop in Diagon Alley."
Eyebrows raised at that explanation. "I'm surprised you'd be that close to him."
"We met last summer at his shop," said Harry, "and I've kept in contact with him."
"He's a muggle-born who moved here from Australia," added Hermione, "although he's been working on acquiring a British accent."
A look of concern came on Adam Granger's face. "I know you're somewhat of a celebrity in your world, Harry. Is it possible that he's just hoping that being associated with you will be good for his business?"
Harry hid his amusement at that thought, and was genuinely touched that the adult Grangers would be that concerned about him. "He hasn't advertised his friendship to me yet," he replied, "but you can meet him for yourself and see what you think of him if you let him come over."
"He doesn't have any family left," added Hermione. "His parents died a few years ago and he doesn't have any brothers or sisters."
"And he runs a joke shop?"
"The Troublemaker's Paradise," Harry said reverently.
"Tell me truthfully," said Marissa. "Have you used any of his products at Hogwarts?"
"Could you pass me some more potatoes?" asked Harry, avoiding the question.
"Harry?" said Adam as he granted his guest's request.
"Not that the teachers have noticed. I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything."
Both of the adults at the table, as well as Hermione, laughed at that statement. "Well, as long as you're not getting caught…" said Adam until his wife cleared her throat. "I mean, you shouldn't prank anyone. You're there to learn, not laugh. I mean…"
"You mean you like the idea of Harry performing pranks but think I want you to deny it," Marissa interrupted before looking at Harry. "Don't hurt anybody, don't get caught, and above all, don't get our daughter in trouble."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I suppose you can invite Mr. Cochran over for Christmas dinner so we can get to know him," said Adam.
"Thanks."
--TM--
"Argg! I can't stand all this homework! Why can't they let us enjoy Christmas Break?"
"I know what you mean, Susan," replied Hannah Abbot. She and her best friend, Susan Bones, were at the Minister's Mansion. Susan had lived there with her aunt since she took office. Amelia Bones was busy at the Ministry, so the two girls were alone in the house, not counting the four aurors that were stationed outside - one on each side of the home.
Security had been upgraded since Fudge had been killed. For example, now there was no Floo system inside the house. It had been moved to a nearby small, separate building built for that purpose. The wards had never allowed anyone to Apparate or Portkey into the mansion, so Floo was the method of entry and exit that the aurors believed Fudge's killer had used. The only mystery was how the killer got Fudge's password to the Floo. Although no one knew whether he'd done it or not, he was supposed to change his password every month to something difficult to guess.
The two Hufflepuffs had decided to get their homework done as quickly as possible, so that's what they were working on. Currently, they were writing a Charms essay that had been assigned by Professor Flitwick.
At the same time, the Auror standing guard outside the back wall wasn't actually standing. He was sitting on a conjured padded chair reading the Daily Prophet. He'd had this same duty the day before and found it even more boring than parchmentwork. He, Mark Burke, had finished his training the previous summer, hence his lack of seniority that led to guard duty. He was rather short at five foot five, and had light brown hair and a goatee, although no one could currently see that since both he and his chair were disillusioned. However, his newspaper was not. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to read it. From a distance, he thought he heard something being muttered and looked up from his paper to see a green beam of light coming straight at him. That was the last thing he ever saw.
The disillusionment spell, along with the conjured chair, disappeared with Auror Burke's death, so he visibly fell to the ground with his DP covering his face.
Slight chuckling could be heard nearby from an invisible figure. "That's perfect, Severus. That shows exactly how he was caught off guard. You did that man a huge favor. Imagine how much trouble he'd have to face at work if he'd only been stunned."
"Indeed, Shadow," the former Potions teacher, who was also invisible, replied. "If you will…"
Although Snape couldn't see his new master, he could hear the incantation Aetas Abrogo Impedimentum, which removed a six foot square of the back wall until the counter-spell was cast, leaving no evidence behind. Although he knew the incantation and wand movements for the spell, he could only make a hole two square feet. The Shadow had told him that it had taken more than one ritual to gain enough power to make the spell work well enough to use in this manner. This obscure spell not only removed physical obstacles, but any wards or magical shields. It had been in one of the first obscure books the Shadow had stolen, and was perfect for maintaining the illusion of being able to move through shadows to enter rooms with no entrance and leave no clues of how it had happened. In fact, despite Auror suspicions, this had actually been the Shadow's method of entering to kill Fudge.
The two invisible villains quickly entered the house and found themselves in an empty bedroom.
"We'll spread out," ordered the leader after restoring the wall. They wouldn't' want the hole found. Besides, it only took a few seconds to make another hole. "When you find the girl, stun her. If anyone else is in the house, kill them."
--TM--
"Finished," declared Susan happily as she put down her quill.
Hannah replied, "I'll be done in a…"
At that moment, the door opened and the girls could see the outline of a disillusioned man. Without a sound, a red beam shot from the man's wand and hit the surprised niece of the Minister while her friend watched in horror.
"I have her, Shadow!" a voice young Miss Abbot would never forget from the short time he was her teacher shouted before saying the feared words, "Avada Kedavra!"
Hannah saw the green beam of light racing toward her and dropped off her chair to the floor. The spell went above her and hit a window, shattering it.
"What's going on?" shouted a voice from outside the window. It was one of the remaining Auror guards.
"Help!" shouted Hannah at the top of her voice. She heard Snape swear before her best friend began to float toward him. "NO!" she screamed, but Susan was floating too fast and was already out of the room. Hannah ran out, seeing the body of her friend rounding a corner.
"Miss Abbot!" came a voice from her other side. She turned to see an Auror.
"He's got Susan!" she shouted in her panic. "That way!"
She watched as that Auror, along with two more, ran in the direction she'd indicated, only to find out that no one was there. She distinctly heard one of the Wizarding police say that Mark Burke was dead outside.
"Tell us everything you can," asked the female Auror in charge while the other two were searching the area.
"It was Professor Snape and someone else who he called `Shadow,'" she replied through her tears. She then told the rather short story of what had happened.
--TM--
Minister Bones' Niece Kidnapped by Former Hogwarts Professor!
By Rita Skeeter
Yesterday, while Minister Bones was safely in her office, her niece, fourteen-year-old Sharon Bones, was kidnapped from the Minister's Mansion, where one of the guards was too engrossed in reading his copy of the Daily Prophet to notice that he was being murdered. Aurors must remember that my articles are far too interesting to read while on duty and should be saved for off hours, where they can be given full attention as they deserve.
The only witness to this crime was her best friend, Hannah Anderson, also fourteen. They were, ironically, working on their Potions homework when their former Potions Professor, Severus Snape, burst into the room, immediately hitting Miss Bones with the full body-bind. He then shot a Killing Curse at Miss Anderson, who leapt over it, before kicking Mr. Snape below the belt. The noise finally attracted the other Aurors that were supposed to be guarding the house, so they rushed in. Snape called out to a companion he called the Shadow before levitating Miss Bones right past the guards and leaving with this Shadow.
Headmaster Dumbledore, who has repeatedly gone on record as saying that he trusts Severus Snape, had this to say. "Obviously, Severus met up with Bellatrix Lestrange, who has decided to call herself `Shadow' for reasons that are her own. He must have gone on that mission to make sure no one was hurt and purposely missed the Killing Curse he fired at Susan's friend. Apparently, Bellatrix is under the impression that poor Susan can help resurrect You-Know-Who."(We edited out the feared name that the Headmaster spoke).
When asked why the kidnapping was successful or if he'd known about it in advance, he looked at his pocket watch and claimed he was behind schedule. If Dumbledore is correct about the Shadow being the escaped prisoner, Bellatrix Lestrange, then she has now killed one Minister of Magic and kidnapped another Minister's niece, both from the Minister's Mansion.
Minister Bones had this to say.
"Whoever this Shadow is, along with Severus Snape, you have gone too far. Attacking any child is a cowardly act, but attacking my niece was the worst mistake of your life. There is no rock you can hide under to escape me. I am going to find you, and when I do, you'll beg me to put you in Azkaban."
At the Granger house, Hermione couldn't help but cry as she read the story. Although she knew that Rita had made many mistakes, including names and ages of the girls involved, it didn't take much to figure out who was really kidnapped. After Harry read the paper he cursed and vowed that, "The next time I see Snape, I'll kill him." Fortunately, the adult Grangers hadn't heard him, but Hermione did. All she did was nod in agreement.
The next time they were inside Harry's trunk, they tried to figure out how they could get any leads on where the Shadow had Susan, but found that until they knew where Snape was, they had no clue. The only thing they knew for sure was that Snape was under a Fidelius Charm somewhere in England. They asked Sirius to keep his eyes and ears open for any information.
--TM--
Christmas Eve had gone very much as it had the previous year, including their visit to a church, but all Harry and Hermione could think of was Susan, wondering what was happening to her. Her parents had been told what was bothering them because it was too obvious, and were entirely sympathetic to how concerned they were for their classmate. However, they did make an effort to enjoy the holidays as much as possible.
This year, Winky wasn't surprised to get Christmas presents, although she was still very grateful for them. She once more baked a ton of dessert items for them to enjoy while opening the other presents. The Grangers did indeed renew Harry's subscription to The Amazing Spider-Man while Harry gave them a painting he'd found in a muggle art store. He gave Hermione a book he knew she didn't have, while she gave him a new Seeker's glove. They were still keeping to their commitment not to exchange special gifts until the next Christmas, when they would be officially dating. They were both looking forward to Terry Cochran's visit for dinner that evening.
--TM--
Harry and Hermione were both pleased when the doorbell rang. That was his first test to prove he was muggle-born, as they had both reminded the pureblood Sirius Black. Over the course of the past four months, he had been learning as much muggle `common sense' as possible to maintain his cover.
"Hello," said Marissa as she opened the door. "You must be Mr. Cochran."
"Yes, Mrs. Granger, that's me. I insist you call me Terry," he replied, shaking her hand with his right. In his left hand was a bottle of wine. "And thank you for allowing me here. Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas, Terry. And I insist you call us Marissa and Adam," said Mr. Granger from behind his wife. They led him inside and offered to take his coat. When he removed it, it was revealed that he was dressed in a nice suit. After Marissa commented he'd arrived right on time, they all went to the dining room where Christmas dinner was served.
"The kids tell me you own a joke shop," said Adam while they were eating.
"Yeah. It's a lot of fun. They told me you're a dentist."
The small talk continued for a few minutes until Adam finally asked, "I do wonder how you got so close to the kids when they're in school."
They'd rehearsed the story that Sirius told them. "Well, what can I say? I met Harry right after I opened up the shop and we immediately hit it off. He introduced me to Hermione, too. When he's ordered supplies from my shop, about once or twice a month I believe, he'd include a note and I've also written to him while filling those orders. Anyway, I mentioned in passing that I'd be alone for Christmas and was truly surprised to get an invitation here. I honestly wasn't trying to get him to invite me, although I'm very happy to be here. May I say that the turkey is excellent, Marissa."
"Thank you," she replied. The conversation went well from that point on. The Grangers couldn't find anything to fault him with and promised to visit his shop later in the week.
--TM--
At the same time, the Shadow had finished eating Christmas dinner and looked at the crying girl inside a small cell.
"Quit your crying, girl! I did heal you, after all. You should be happy that you're going to live for now. I have many more rituals I need you for."
"My aunt told me you were horrible, but not this horrible…"
"Nullus Spiritus!" the Shadow shouted to avoid hearing the long-abandoned name the villain had once gone by. With one hand, the Shadow held Susan was under the horrible curse, which stopped her from breathing, and with the other hand picked up a glass with a red liquid in it. At first glance, one might believe it was wine, but it was easy to tell at a second glance that it was obviously blood - Susan Bones' blood. The Shadow drank the crimson liquid down as Susan's arms moved about in desperation. Susan's face was turning blue before the Shadow set the glass down and released the curse. While the victim was gasping for breath, her tormentor commented, "Didn't I tell you to call me the Shadow of Pain?"
--TM--
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