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The Secrecy Charm Broken


Orion Black was dead, and his head fell to the floor as the life went out of him.

“NO!”

The Dark Lord spun back around to find Sirius Black pushing past him. How he had managed to overthrow the freezing charm - nobody would ever know. He just had. He shoved the Dark Lord aside and threw himself to the floor beside his father, gripping his shoulders and turning him over. Sirius didn’t know why he cared. After everything that had happened in the last four years, this should’ve been a relief, a weight off his shoulders… but he could feel his heart shattering as memories from his youngest times flooded him… He grappled at Orion’s body, “Father… No.”

It was quite eerie… everyone else so still, Sirius alone crying over his father’s body… the Dark Lord staring on with a wholly bewildered look upon his face. It was all too clear that he couldn’t understand what it was Sirius was feeling, either, and he was rendered actually speechless by it as Sirius began to cry, his face pressed against Orion Black’s chest as he knelt beside him on the cold stone floor.

There was a creak at the door and Voldemort turned around.

Dumbledore and the entire Resistance had just poured through the doors. The secret keeper dead, the secrecy charm broken, they’d been able to get inside and Alastor Moody had his wand at the ready, eager to send some Death Eaters to Azkaban. Voldemort looked from Dumbledore to the dead body on the floor, made the connection, and waved his palms, sending another burst of energy through the room that was strong enough to ruffle Dumbledore’s beard, releasing all the body binds on his death eaters alone - keeping the Order frozen - and disapparated.

Druella Black laughed as she wriggled from the half-spun ropes that had nearly captured her from Annalee McKinnon and Maryrose Jenkins and looked down at Alabaster Jackson, “It would’ve been nice to finish the job of your family,” she hissed, “But I’ll get you another day.” And she, too disapparated.

The cloaked Death Eaters started disappearing one-by-one, hissing and groaning as they went. Moody’s wand flicked fast, though, and he managed to freeze two of them before they left as he ran into the room. Someone had grabbed hold of Regulus, Severus, and even Barty on their way, taking them as side-alongs, even as Regulus had tried to run to Orion and Sirius…

McGonagall ran into the room as Dumbledore waved his wand to release the body binds on the others, and James, who’d been teetering in a duck for too long, fell forward to the floor. Lily put her hand on her face, it was still cold from Voldemort’s touch and she shivered at the memory of it… Andy Woodhouse was still wailing, “I can’t see! Please! Somebody! I can’t see! What’s happening!”

“The Resistance is here,” Frank said, “Orion Black is dead.”

Madam Pomfrey knelt beside Frank and said, “I’m here, Mr. Woodhouse,” and she reached for his head, gently turning his face to look into his eyes, “What’s caused this?”

“I think the spell he spoke was… kay-sis?” tried Ali.

“Caecus?” Pomfrey looked worried, “We’ve got to get you to St. Mungo’s boy.” She looked about, “Albus, he needs to go to Mungo’s. It’s the caecus.”

Albus frowned. “Yes... Fabian.” He reached out and caught Fabian Prewett by the shoulders, “My boy, please escort Mr. Woodhouse to St. Mungo’s, immediately.”

“Yes sir,” Fabian said and he bent down, taking hold on Andy’s arm.

“I’m coming, too,” Frank said, “He’s my best mate.” Fabian nodded, and he grabbed onto Frank and Andy both and the three of them disappeared with a CRACK!

James crawled over to Sirius, who was still folded over Orion’s prone body, sobbing so that his shoulders shook but no noise was coming out. James sat beside him, his back to Orion Black, not daring to speak, unsure what to say. Lily hurried over too and she knelt at Sirius’s side and wrapped her arms around him, her cheek pressed into his back. “I’m so sorry, Sirius,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Not to be outdone in the comforting department, James said, “At least you haven’t got to worry about him torturing you anymore, mate…?”

Lily looked over at James disapproving, “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

“His dad was evil, it wasn’t -- not really,” James said stupidly.

“But it isn’t what he needs to hear right now!” Lily explained, “James, you don’t understand. He isn’t mourning what his dad’s become, he’s mourning what he was!”

This doubled Sirius’s cries and made them audible as he gasped for breath and turned to face Lily, burying his face in the crook of her neck and shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him all the tighter. James stared on, biting his lip.

“MY SON!” Charlus grabbed James and pulled him up and away from Lily, Sirius, and Orion, as he and Dora doted over their boy, wiping the dirt from his face, inspecting cuts and bruises and taking a general inventory on his well being.

Dumbledore looked about at the other Order members as they recovered from their various fights and injuries - other than Andy Woodhouse’s sight, it seemed no damage had been done to any of the Order members. Dumbledore couldn’t help but be proud.




In the basement, Remus wasn’t himself. He was very much a wolf at that moment, snapping and trying to get out of the basement to feed on the flesh he could smell was so very close, howling now and again in frustration… But Greyback was much more experienced and had taken much more of the wolfsbane potion, enough to keep his mind through the entire night… Fenrir Greyback had heard and understood the whole battle, and it had left him very afraid.

Orion Black - dead for the mistakes he’d made in carrying out the orders of the Dark Lord. Well, many of the missions that Orion had been given had been ones that Fenrir himself had been assigned on, too, and he, too, had failed at them. He, too, had let the boys evade him - had allowed Peter Pettigrew to disappear just last year… He’d allowed Veigler to get away, allowed James Potter to escape… And if Orion Black had been considered a failure in this mission, then he would be too, if Remus Lupin survived the night… So even as the Resistance flooded through the doors, as the Death Eaters retreated and the Order members recovered… Greyback turned to look at the other wolf.

He walked slowly across the basement, calculating, even as Remus leaped and jumped for the stairs, howling and growling… I am your alpha. Your natural alpha. I am the one who made you what you are… Omega, sit.

Compelled by the alpha… Remus sat.

Very good.

Greyback’s feet padded the floor as he moved ‘round Remus in circles.

There was a crack in the dark. Then a tentative whisper. “Fenrir… my love?”

Greyback swung his head to look, his yellow eyes piercing the dark. Druella stood, back against the wall, palm out, clutching her wand at the ready. Greyback nodded his mangy head and Druella sighed in relief.

Remus growled.

Greyback turned to him and snapped his teeth menacingly. Omega, calm. The other wolf stopped growling and flattened his ears to his head. Down, commanded Greyback, and the other wolf laid down. Greyback turned back to look at Druella.

Druella walked slowly across the room, nervous energy pouring from her. She held out her palm and Fenrir moved to her and allowed her to pet his head, to move her fingers through his fur and she grinned wickedly, cackling quietly so that none in the room above would hear her… Then she walked more boldly forward, no longer afraid of the other wolf, knowing he was under Fenrir’s commands, and she slid her fingers through his fur as well, clutching onto the two wolves. She grinned up at the light that came through the door… thinking how foolish they all were, to think they could win that easily… and she disapparated… taking both Fenrir Greyback and Remus Lupin away.




A shiver went through Lily, even as Sirius cried into her neck. Lily looked over toward the open basement door, where the howls had been coming from and it occurred to her that the howling had stopped. “Sirius,” she whispered, “Remus.”

Sirius pulled out of her hug and he wiped his eyes and he stood up and hurried among the others to the door of the basement. Lily followed him. They reached the three little steps, where Sirius had fought so hard to get back up into the kitchen. They got there only just as Druella was grinning up at the door… only just as she disapparated… only just in time to see the two wolves go with her.

“REY!” Sirius shouted, but it was too late to do anything to stop her taking him. “REMUS!”

Dumbledore heard the shout - he got to the basement door first, catching Sirius by the back of his leather jacket only just before he’d recklessly jumped into the already empty basement. Dumbledore pulled Sirius and Lily back into the kitchen as McGonagall rushed over, hearing the shouting, too, as Sirius struggled again Dumbledore’s grip, calling Dumbledore all sorts of fresh names, trying to get to the basement - to do what, he didn’t know, but he was in a blind panic - all rational thoughts having been stolen from him by the amount of traumas he’d already endured.

“What is going on now, Albus!” McGonagall exclaimed, thinking that she’d had quite enough already.

Dumbledore shook his head, not wanting to discuss the disappearance of the werewolves in present company. “We need to get the children back to the castle,” he instructed her. “There is a jar of powder on the mantel. You and Chriselda and Hagrid are to bring them all back to the castle, see to it that Madam Pomfrey keeps them all in the hospital wing. James Potter may go home with his family for the night and will be given clearance to return to the school tomorrow. Dumbledore put his arm around Sirius, even as Sirius continued to fight his grasp - which was surprisingly strong for such an old man.

McGonagall nodded and put her arm around Lily, “Come along, Miss. Evans,” she said.

“But Sirius --” Lily started to protest.

“-- will be with Dumbledore,” McGonagall replied, “And therefore quite well taken care of. Come.”

Lily looked sadly at Sirius, then followed McGonagall to round up the others for the hearth.

Dumbledore grabbed hold on Sirius’s shoulders. “Off we go, Mr. Black,” and with a CRACK! they disapparated.