Chapter 32: Rescue Mission Impossible

“What?”

“How do you know?”

“Why would you say such a thing?”

Shouts of disbelief rang through the room. Harry simply hung his head and sighed. “There will always be evil people in this world. There will always be someone who wants power; always someone to fight.” For a moment he sounded older than his years.

Silence filled the room.

“That may very well be.” Minerva said thoughtfully, staring at Harry, “Especially since we all thought Peter was dead…again.” She added. It was almost ironic in its repetitiveness.

“At the moment however, there are more important things to deal with.” She looked around the room.

“We have become seriously sidetracked from what this meeting was called for to discuss.” She turned to Moody as she said this, motioning to him that the floor was now his.

“We had originally told you that we believe that we have found Mr. Draco Malfoy. We have now confirmed that, and we need to assemble a rescue mission, a Mission Impossible of sorts.” He began giggling.

“Mission Impossible?!” Hermione asked incredulously, “That is a muggle movie!” She stared at him suspiciously, “You are acting awfully odd Moody, should we pull out the Veritaserum again to make sure you really are you?”

Moody sobered up, but the twinkle remained in his eye, “Aye, I am who I say I am, I am just feeling particularly happy these days, that’s all.”

Hermione, not quite satisfied, mumbled something about waiting and seeing.

“Moody?” Minerva glared at him, willing him to continue.

Clearing his throat he continued. “I call it a Mission Impossible…mission,” he giggled again, receiving yet another stern look from Minerva before hastily continuing, “because the spell work involved in his imprisonment is so complex that if it is not 100% correct, it will kill him.” He had lost all trace of humor, and was once again all business.

“We also don’t know how long it has been since he has been fed.” His voice softened.

Harry felt a twinge of sorry for Draco that surprised him to his core; he had thought that after what happened outside the AstronomyTower that he could not feel anything but hatred for him.

“I have a list of people that Minerva and I compiled based on skill and expertise, if for some reason you feel that you can not help with this, please let me know now.” He waved his wand and the names appeared in the air:

Minerva McGonagal
Alastor Moody
Remus Lupin
Kingsly Shackbolt
Fred Weasley
George Weasley
Miriam Stout
Molly Weasley
Ginny Weasley
Hermione Granger
Harry Potter

“If your name is not on this list, please do not be offended, it is nothing against you or your abilities, we simply can not have everyone there. If your name is not on the list you are free to leave.” Moody said as the group scanned the names and slowly began filing out.

Harry blinked as he spotted his name, unaware that the remainder of the people were staring at him.

Frowning slightly, he wondered why his name was on the list, it had been obvious throughout school that he and Draco were arch enemies, why would he be chosen for a dangerous mission involving saving his enemy.

He considered for a moment refusing to join the mission, but suddenly remembered the twinge of sorrow that he had felt for the other boy.

He looked up, his decision having been made, realizing that the entire room was staring at him. “What?” He asked, in an attempt of boredom.

“Nothing.” Hermione answered and the group as one looked away, determined not to even glance at Harry.

Sighing he got up and made his way over to the others.

“If we are to assume that Harry is correct, that there is a new Dark Lord and that the visitor we had in the Department of Ministries was acting as a spy for that person, then we also need to assume that they know about Draco. We need to move quickly and efficiently, it may however, already be to late.” Moody stared at each person, driving home his point.

Satisfied that the small group understood the precariousness of the situation, moody nodded and began issuing tasks.

“Molly, you and Miriam well stay here and prepare a bed for him, we will simultaineously pray for the best and assume the worst.”

At both Harry and Ginny’s equally confused frown, Hermione rolled eyes and whispered, “Pray that we will be able to extract him with out killing him, but assume that he will be next to dead if not there already.”

“Ah!” The two nodded and smiled up at each other. Instead of glaring away as Harry expected, this time, Ginny simply lowered her eyes, the smile slowly leaving her face.

Still smiling and feeling heartened, Harry pulled his eyes away from Ginny and back to Moody.

“Remus and Kingsley, we need you to keep an eye out and offer protection from anyone who makes it past Fred and George.” Moody turned to the eager faces of the twins.

“Boys, we need you to run interference. Distract anything that tries to get past you, and of course, we don’t want you to look like yourselves, have fun with this one.” He said with a gleam as wicked as the ones in the eyes of the high-fiving twins.

“The rest of you will assist us in breaking the spells. Both Ginny and Hermione are very adept at picking up new spells, and Harry has done a lot of complicated spell work and does not fold under pressure.” Moody’s face was full of pride as he looked at Harry.

“We will fill you in on the spell work when we get there, is everybody ready?”

The group began making their way to the grates to leave Head Quarters by floo, when they heard someone clearing their throat.

Turning around, they saw Moody and Minerva standing, unmoving from the front of the room, each with an equally amused expression on their face, Moody, barely containing his laughter.

“We're we not ready?” Molly asked, concerned that maybe they had jumped the gun.

“We have made some special changes.” Minerva said a smile still on her face. “It is difficult to get here for a meeting if you are not directly next to a grate with floo powder, and it is too dangerous to go outside to apperate. It took some time, but Moody and I managed to create a spell that will allow us to apperate from and to one room in the house, and one room alone. It is not this room, I think that would be too easy, what is unique about it is that the room has a Secret Keeper, unless you are told about the location of the house from the Secret Keeper, and the location of the room from a separate Secret Keeper, you will not be able to get to it.” She beamed with pride as she described the room.

Harry could not help smiling at Minerva and Moody’s apparent pleasure, “So who is the Secret Keeper?” Harry asked, wanting to get this over with.

“I am.” Moody said gruffly, “follow me.” He waved his wand, undoing the magic sealing the door and made his way upstairs.

Harry followed silently along, his thought flitting from one subject to another, like a butterfly to different flowers. “I hope Sirius is really alright and not just pretending.” Harry thought, it was the one thing his mind kept refocusing on.

He looked at the house as they moved through it, heading up the stairs. It had been cleaned and repainted, and was once again back to its old splendor. This was a house that could rival the Malfoy Manor any day, “and it’s all mine.” Harry thought, smiling.

His smile was replaced by a small frown, “No.” he thought, its not, Sirius is back now.” He realized that both the house in Godric’s Hollow and this house had both belonged to him, and that now the owners were back from the dead, for lack of a better term, were they still his? He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts, and decided to ask someone about it later.

They were coming up on his own special room where he kept the Horcrux. He prayed silently hoping they hadn’t picked that room for people to arrive in.

They continued past the room, and Harry breathed an audible sigh of relief. He looked down at the thick antique Persian rug, and had to restrain from laughing. Apparently, like so many of the “Pure-blood” wizarding families, The Black’s dislike for muggles didn’t extend to the finer products they made.

Moody drew up short in the middle of the hallway and faced the now moved portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black “Shrieking Shack” Moody said. For a second Harry wondered if Moody had finally lost all of his marbles, but Phineas, with a disgruntled look on his face, only nodded and the portrait door swung outward allowing the group admittance to a fairly large, padded room.

Harry looked around baffled before busting into laughter. “A padded landing room, that’s brilliant.” He continued laughing, ignoring the puzzled expressions of the people around him.

Minerva cleared her throat, bringing Harry back to reality. “From now on,” She began, rolling her eyes in Harry’s direction.” When you need to arrive here, please come this way, the floo network is not as safe as it used to be.” She finished cryptically.

“Harry, we need you to call Dobby when we get there, we will need his help.” Moody said, looking at Harry intently.

“Ok.” Harry said slowly, thinking about Sirius, “I can do that, but I will need to meet you there in that case.” Harry said quickly, disappearing before anyone could question him.


“Are we ready then?” She asked. Satisfied by the nods she said, “Good, then we will apperate directly into the Malfoy Manor living room then as to not draw attention to the house if it is being watched, one, two, three.” And they were gone.

Harry arrived in front of his house. He had tried to land in the room with Dumbledore’s portrait, but felt like he had hit a tree right before he landed. He instantly realized that the same anti-apperation that had once been in place, probably still held. He briefly wondered if Dumbledore had been the one to place the spell on the house.

He bolted inside and ran to the back room.

“And that’s when they jumped out of the frying pan.” Dumbledore was saying.

“Why do I always come in at this part of the story?” Harry wondered aloud, shaking his head in amusement.

Sirius was reclining back in the desk chair gave a hearty laugh at that.

Harry smiled glad to hear and see his Godfather again. Resisting the urge to run over and embrace him, Harry simply smiled and asked, “How is he?”

Dumbledore smiled broadly, “He is fine, dear boy, perfectly fine as far as I can tell. And everyone knows what a good judge of character I am.” Dumbledore said, still smiling.

Both Sirius and Harry’s eyebrows shot up a good inch. “Right.” Said Harry, turning to the House Elf he said, “Dobby, how is Winky doing these days?”

Dumbledore chuckled softly in the background.

“Oh!” Dobby exclaimed, a smile lighting up his face, “Winky does better, master Harry, much better, she happy, she sees what Dobby means sir!” Dobby exclaimed, “Actually sirs, Dobby was going to ask about her sir,” he continued, a blush rising into his large ears.

“What is it?” Harry asked, baffled.

“Well, sir, Dobby wants to know, if it’s ok with Master Harry, and his parents, if Dobby could maybe.” He began to falter, and Harry trying not to feel impatient with the obviously embarrassed House Elf said, “What is it Dobby, just tell me.”

Dobby took a deep breath, squared his little shoulders and said in a rush of breath, “Dobby is wanting to know sir if he might possibly bring Winky to live here with him.” He closed his eyes tightly, finally opening one just a bit to stare at Harry.

Harry stared dumfounded at Dobby for a few moments then burst into laughter, “You want Winky to live here with us?” He shook his head at the small Elf’s embarrassment. Calming his laughter he doned a serious expression.

“Well Dobby,” he said austerily, “If that is what you and she wants, and it is ok with Hogwarts, then I see no reason why she can’t come here, but Dobby,” Harry added interrupting the House Elf’s glee, “She has to follow the same rules as you, got it?” He asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh yes sir, Master Harry won’t be disappointed! Dobby is going to tell Winky now!” Dobby said ecstatically.

“Wait!” Harry yelled, interrupting the House Elf’s departure. “She can come here now, I actually need both of your help.”

“Anything, Master Harry!” Dobby said fairly bouncing on his heals.

“Why don’t you wait to see what I have to say before agreeing to it Dobby.” Harry said grimly. He quickly filled Dobby in on the outline of the mission. By the time he had finished the small Elf’s face was set in angry resolution.

He was fighting the urge to not help at all because he was to help save a Malfoy, but yet still wanting to help Harry.

“Will you help us Dobby?” Harry asked, pleading with the small elf.

“Master Malfoy is Master Harry’s enemy,” Dobby said slowly, “but Master Harry still wants to help his enemy?”

“I have to.” Harry said simply, “It is the right thing to do.”

Dobby stared at Harry for a few moments before smiling and saying “If Master Harry can do it, then so can Dobby!”

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, and said, “Ok then Dobby, call Winky and have her watch Sirius and we will leave.”

Harry braced himself as he and Dobby arrived a few minutes behind the rest of the group in the Malfoy’s living room. He wasn’t sure if he would be attacked by assailants. Dobby did a double take glance at Harry before imitating his stance.

“What are you doing Harry?” Hermione asked quizzically at his ninja stance. Ginny giggled at him as she walked past. The smile did not leave her face, even after she made eye contact with him.

Harry dropped the stance and began following after her, only to be held up by the twins.

“Don’t push it mate.” George whispered out of the side of his mouth.

Harry scowled but did not pursue her.

Harry looked over to Moody, who was standing perfectly still, head raised, his magical eye spinning like crazy. Harry got the distinct image of a deer, catching the scent of a predator, holding perfectly still to ***** the danger before bolting.

Satisfied that there was no one there, Moody relaxed a bit. He silently motioned for the boys to go outside to keep a look out.

The boys nodded to each other and disappeared with a crack, hoping that if there were any Death Eaters observing the house, they would think the intruders had left.

Harry wondered briefly what the twins had planned if anyone should approach the house.

Moody led them deep within the house, down to the basement and the secret dungeons that they had found and recovered all types of dark artifacts. He lead them deeper still into what looked like catacombs until they reached a dead end.

Moody looked to Harry and nodded.

“Ok Dobby, show us what you’ve got.”

Dobby approached the wall, pushed back the sleeves of his smart little suit that he had picked out himself. The Potter’s had insisted that he wear whatever he wanted to. After watching an old Batman movie on a muggle TV that Arthur had given them, Dobby had decided that he was the Potter’s Butler and wanted to dress accordingly.

Dobby pressed his palm against the wall and gave a light shove. The wall cracked down the center and opened up, creating an arch.

Harry leaned down and patted Dobby’s shoulder, smiling at him thankfully.

Dobby puffed out his chest, proud for the praise.

The looked through the arch at what appeared to be a straight drop down into darkness. They paused, uncertain of what to do. “Look!” pointed at Hermione as tiny stairs began to emerge from the side of the wall.

“Everybody watch your step.” Moody called as he stepped through the arch first. They decended for what seemed like miles along the almost miniature stair case before the reached the ground

The group continued down the narrow corridor, lined with various doors. Each door had a small opening to look in. Harry peered into the first room, and gasped in horror. After that first room he refused to look in the rest of them, afraid of what he might see.

The group turned the corner and drew up short at the sight of a small elf hunched over a table.

“Who are you.” Moody demanded, causing the elf to jerk up.

“What?!” Harry asked confused, “But you're dead!"

AN: a cliffie of sorts for you!