At first, when Harry had explained to Moody, who was the only Council member present at the time, he couldn’t believe his mismatched eyes. A Death Eater was given the location of the Order’s headquarters and then brought there. Then Harry had to quickly explain his rational that he believed Draker could possibly provide some kind of lead to another Horcrux. He had to know something since he was an old servant of Voldemort.
So, after scorning Harry for going overboard and compromising their security, Moody chained up the Death Eater to a chair in the basement. He then summoned all the Council members for an emergency session.
“We have no choice now but to try it your way, Potter,” McGonagall said angrily. “But next time you decide to pull something so off the charts, don’t!”
“Head back to Privet Drive, Harry,” Lupin said, talking through his fingers.
“You’re not just gonna stick me there, are you?” Harry asked nervously.
“We’ll contact you when we have another job for you,” Podmore said simply. “Now go back.”
Why were they so mad? Harry asked himself as he headed out the room. Surely that Death Eater could give them a clue. He soundlessly Apparated back to Privet Drive nervous, confused, and dejected”and it wasn’t even midday.
Back at number seven, Hermione greeted Harry warmly until she saw his face. Ron also noticed and seemed to wonder what was wrong.
“Did the mission go bad?” Hermione asked, slightly scared.
“Are the Mallings dead?” Ron said, leaving his breakfast.
Harry looked at Ron quizzically. “How did you know I was there?”
“Saw you there last night, and asked the Council after you left,” he explained. “Well, what’s the trouble?”
Harry then went into the story of the previous night, and that morning’s capture of a Death Eater. He looked into their faces expecting to see understanding, but that was the opposite of what he actually got.
“What were you thinking?” Hermione asked in frustration. “Taking a Death Eater into headquarters? Are you mad?”
“You weren’t there!” Harry told her. “It was spur of the moment. Otis Mallings said ‘old servant’, and it seemed logical that Draker should know something.”
“But Voldemort would never say anything about the Horcruxes to anyone!” Ron said. “You should know that better than anyone.”
“I know that! But Draker could know something significant that could lead us to one. He’s an old servant. He should have noticed something.”
Hermione merely groaned and went upstairs. Ron went back to the food he had on the table.
Harry stared at him for a second. “And what were you doing at headquarters last night, anyway?”
“What the Council asked me to do.” He left it at that. Harry shook his head and went to bed. After all that had happened, now wasn’t the time to think about it.
Over the next month, Harry didn’t get any word of the progress being made with Draker, which irritated him, since it was his idea. It took Ron and Hermione some time to act normally around him again. Neither of them could make sense of revealing to a Death Eater where the Order resided. In truth, Harry couldn’t either, but it had to be done. Any clue to a Horcrux was worth the risk. If Draker was important, why would he be sent on what should be a simple assassination?
Harry spent most of his time back on the Repalo spell, still trying to get it to work. He tried all sorts of emotions, wand jabs, and pronunciations, but nothing worked. All that happened was that Harry’s resolve to find its use increased. Why did he care?
As it was getting closer and closer to Halloween, that was when Harry’s depression about Hogwarts and being back at Privet Drive set in more thoroughly. It was during this time that the halls of the school would be buzzing with talk about the first Quidditch match of the season, and the upcoming feast. Instead, he was stuck back in his old home that was never really his home, with no Quidditch match or feast. Just the Dursley’s babble over the wireless, a spell that wouldn’t work, and the anticipation of a Death Eater’s words back at headquarters.
When Halloween did come by, it predictably didn’t turn out to be anything special. Over the wireless, Dudley was talking with his parents about his plans to join his friends at a party. Harry scoffed.
“More like vandalizing houses, stealing candy, and scaring little kids,” Harry said in a disgusted tone. The sun was starting to set, and Dudley’s night of terror would start soon.
“At least I bewitched the doorbell so we won’t hear it,” Hermione said, trying to cheer him up. Harry had made a passing mention at the annoyance they would receive that night. She then looked at Ron. “But I guess you wouldn’t care either way since you won’t be here.”
“I’ll be here,” Ron said, affronted. “And don’t make it sound like you’re jealous that I’m getting out more. I’m not exactly out having a good time, you know.”
“Why aren’t you going out?” Harry asked curiously.
Ron shrugged. “I dunno. I was just told not to come in today.”
Over the wireless, they could hear Dudley say, “I have to go, Mum.” And sure enough, outside the window at number four’s door, Dudley opened the door and left. He dressed in all black and strolled smugly away.
“Git,” Harry muttered, thinking of going out in his Invisibility Cloak to ruin his fun.
When the sun went down and the first costumed children went out to get their share of candy, the first stop of many groups of kids and their parents was number seven. A particularly large group went up to the steps and rang the doorbell, which wasn’t heard by anybody inside. Many of the parents looked intently at the door, hoping to finally see the occupants of the house. Eventually they gave up and left. Five minutes later a group of hooligans egged the house.
Then the sound of the backdoor opening and closing attracted their attention. “Oy!” cried Bill’s voice. Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at each other and then went into the kitchen to find Bill looking through the pantry. He came out with some ground coffee and smiled. “Happy Halloween…maybe not.”
“What are you doing here?” Ron asked, confused.
“Can’t I pay a visit to my little brother and his friends?” he asked back, taking a coffee pot and filling it with water. He poured the coffee grounds in the water, tapped it with his wand, and it started steaming.
“Not here,” Ron responded. “And isn’t it a little late for that?”
“The Order fears a Death Eater attack in a town or two up north,” Bill said, getting to business. “They sent out groups to watch over things at the Halloween festivals and stuff. I’m here for two volunteers.”
“Just two?” Hermione asked.
“’Course. One of you has to stay and watch things here.”
“You’re staying, Ron,” Hermione told him.
“Why me?” Ron argued. “Do you want to get in the middle of an attack?”
“It’s not that. I just haven’t left this place since arriving. Harry only once. And you’ve been out all the time.”
Ron looked to Harry for help. He only shrugged. “She has a point…but if you’re willing to tell us what you’re up to…”
Ron kept silent.
“Get you’re coats, you two,” Bill said, pouring the coffee into a flask he conjured up. “We have to meet Baxer soon.”
Within the next five minutes, Bill grabbed Harry and Hermione and they Apparated away from Privet Drive. When they materialized, they ended up in a field with a town up ahead. Even from a distance it was easy to tell how big of a festival they were having. Bonfires were lighting up the sky over the town, and the noise from the residents was overwhelming.
“Welcome to the quaint little Muggle village of Kartley,” Bill announced. “Every year they throw this big party that attracts a lot of visitors. A prime target for any Death Eater who’s looking to cause some Halloween mayhem.”
“We won’t be much help at repelling them,” Hermione stated.
“Sir! Sir!” a squeaky voice called. Harry looked down to see Winky jogging towards them looking scared. She was wearing a small and surprisingly clean blouse.
“Winky, I thought I told you to stay with Geoffrey,” Bill said accusingly.
“I tried, sir! I tried!” she said, tears starting to form in her large eyes. “But Winky has lost Mr. Geoffrey. I did as you say: I keep my distance away from Muggles with Mr. Baxer in my sight. But he vanished in large party.” Winky started to cry and hugged Bill’s legs. “Please don’t let me go! I have no place else. I is sorry!”
Hermione looked at Winky with concern. Bill just sighed in annoyance.
“Don’t let her go!” Hermione said to Bill.
“I’m not letting you go, Winky. It’s not your fault.” He pulled her off and smiled at her. “Now, go back to town and stay on a roof or something to watch over things. We’ll get there soon.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, cheering up a little and running off.
“She’s so sensitive,” Bill said, shaking his head. “Makes one mistake and she thinks I’m gonna chuck her out.” He gestured for them to make for the town.
“That just means you’re treating her well,” Hermione said approvingly. “How much are you paying her?”
Bill sighed again. “I keep telling her that she deserves more pay and that I don’t own her, but she won’t listen. She barely accepts a Knut a week. ‘I is a good house elf.’ You have no idea how guilty I feel…what?” he asked, for Harry was staring at him.
“Why is Winky here in the first place?”
“If we have any trouble, then she pops on over to headquarters and asks for some backup,” Bill explained simply. “Dad has Dobby with him in another village.”
They stopped talking about all things magical once they were close to the village and people had begun to appear around them. The only people in the houses were costumed children and those giving out the treats. But the center of it all was a lot more chaotic. A live band was on a stage and was playing for all those around; others were dancing around the bonfire, and many were just talking with friends and having a good time.
Suddenly a man in a pirate costume appeared in front of them and admired Bill. “Very nice scars! How did you get them to look so real?”
“It was torture,” Bill replied. “Took me forever to get it like this.”
The man then looked at Harry and Hermione, who were in plain clothes. “Get in the spirit, you two!” He then ran off.
“Now, where the hell is Baxer?” Bill asked, looking around and thoroughly annoyed. “I’m gonna report him if we don’t meet up soon.”
“Maybe he’s in disguise,” Harry suggested. “The weirder you look, the less conspicuous you are, of course.”
“Or maybe,” Bill continued, crossing his arms and looking towards the bonfire, “he’s just being an idiot.” And Baxer could be seen dancing around with a bottle in his hand. The three of them made for him.
“Bill!” Baxer said, more lively than he had been back at Godric’s Hollow. “Glad to see you finally made it! Oh, and you have Harry Potter and a girl I don’t know with you.”
“Hermione,” she corrected.
“Sure,” he responded dully, turning to Harry. “I was looking forward to seeing you here, Mr. Potter. Just wanted to say thanks for the assistance back at Godric’s Hollow.” He took a swig of the brandy. “Wow, I had no idea that Muggle drinks could be this tasty.”
Bill grabbed him and dragged him to a secluded part of the festival. “Geoffrey,” Bill whispered, “could you explain to me why you left Winky’s sight, when I specifically told you she’s supposed to watch our backs? And how could she do that if she doesn’t know where you are?”
“C’mon, Bill, house elves are only good for cooking and cleaning. They can’t do much past that.”
Hermione was scandalized. “Excuse me! But house elves are capable of doing anything if they put their minds to it.”
Baxer stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You have a point…I guess they could also tend the garden.” He ignored her scowl.
“We have a job to do, remember?” Bill cut in, ending the conversation. “Look, Geoffrey and I will take the perimeter. You two just patrol the actual party. If there’s any trouble, send sparks into the sky. And here.” Bill went into his robes to pull out some Muggle money. “Buy yourselves some masks or something. They should have something on sale.”
“Can you believe him?” Hermione said a minute later, while standing under a tree to keep an eye out for trouble.
“A grudge isn’t enough to gang up one each other, Hermione,” Harry said to her seriously. “That happens now and Voldemort wins.”
“It’s not just that,” she defended. “But didn’t just leave Winky, but he also goes and gets drunk while on duty. And from what you said, Baxer isn’t much of a fighter. What’s wrong with him?”
“Don’t judge. He’s doing what can,” Harry said, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Besides, if you want somebody really incompetent, look at Mundungus.”
“Now who’s judging? You know, stealing Sirius’”or rather your things, doesn’t make him useless. He has connections with crooks that can come in handy. What exactly does Baxer contribute?”
“This is my second time meeting him, Hermione, so I really don’t know. Can we please drop this?”
Hermione remained for a second. She then pointed out a nearby convenience store that had a line of people trying to buy drinks. “Let’s use the money and get something,” she suggested.
From the pile of cheap costumes that were lying in the corner of the store, Harry picked out a bandana and Hermione a plastic witch mask complete with a wart at the end of the nose. After purchasing them, Harry wrapped the bandana around the lower part of his face and then put the hood of his jacket up.
“Think I should be more offended?” Hermione asked through the mask. Harry started to laugh.
After an hour the festival didn’t even begin to die down. The only problems were those caused by people getting into fights. At one point, Harry was scared that he spotted a Death Eater who was probably buying time before causing trouble. But upon closer inspection it turned out to no more than a Grim Reaper costume.
“This is just a bloody waste of time,” Harry declared, after having to pull off the hood of someone who looked more convincingly like a Death Eater.
“You’re just saying it because people around here only look like them,” Hermione said, after having to apologize to the man they unmasked. “If you stop paying attention to every person in black robes, then you won’t think that as much. If a real one came, they would immediately start killing people.”
“Guess you’re right.” Harry then accidentally bumped into a pair of people in wolf masks and tattered blue robes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t touch me, you filthy Muggle.”
Harry and Hermione froze. It couldn’t be! Harry thought horribly. The pair then shoved them both out of the way, and laughed about it. Looking back at them, Harry noticed they both had one hand in a pocket, and peering around as if searching for someone.
Why him? Why was it that Death Eaters always came during Harry’s guard duty? Why was it that the Mallings were attacked on Harry’s watch? Why? Why? Why? But now wasn’t the time to ponder that.
“Harry,” Hermione breathed, taking off her mask slowly to reveal wide eyes. Even the way her breath rose up into the cold air showed something ominous. “Maybe we should have Winky get help.”
“Agreed.” Harry didn’t take of his face covering since it was the only thing that stopped the Death Eaters from recognizing him.
They both simultaneously started sprinting in the opposite direction to the outskirts of the village.
“Winky!” Harry called out desperately. Crack. She appeared by their side looking frustrated.
“I is supposed to stay on a roof and watch, like sir said to!” she whimpered angrily. “I cannot defy him again. I don’t want to be fired!”
“If you don’t go to Order headquarters right now and get as much help as possible, I’ll make sure that Bill fires you!” Harry shouted, knowing she wouldn’t listen otherwise. “Now, listen to me and go!”
Winky squealed and left. Harry was about to point his wand into the air to send the sparks, but Hermione stopped him.
“Are you dunce? That would be a dead giveaway to the Death Eaters that we know they’re here!” Harry cursed, knowing she was right.
He and Hermione instead ran off to look all around the village. But the only thing they saw were the children from earlier heading back home with a bag full of sweets. Finally, they saw them arguing some feet away from another person dressed in a black cloak.
“He could be a Death Eater!” Baxer argued. “Better safe than sorry.”
“We already unmasked five others. In fact, I think we did him twice.” Bill then saw Harry and Hermione running over with their wands out. “What happened?”
“Death Eaters,” Harry gasped, taking in air. Baxer went pale.
“You sure you saw correctly?” he stammered. Bill shushed him and led the way out of the village for some privacy.
“We already sent Winky for help,” Hermione continued.
“Wait a minute,” Bill said skeptically, “how come we haven’t heard them causing trouble?”
“I dunno,” Harry said crossly. “The point is that they haven’t started killing yet. And we should take them out before they do.”
Crack. Behind them appeared Moody, flanked by four other Order members. They all had their wands raised and were ready for battle. They all had tried to don their Muggle best, so it was a good thing it was Halloween. They must have been hanging around headquarters, waiting to be needed.
“Where are the bastards?” Moody growled eagerly. “And how come this village isn’t up in flames?” He had on his usual overcoat with a bowler hat pulled over his oversized eye.
“There are at least two Death Eaters by the heart of the festival,” Harry explained. “For some reason they haven’t started to kill any Muggles yet.”
Moody couldn’t help but look even a little disappointed; still, he let out a relived, “Good. Now we need a plan. Heart of the festival you say?” Harry nodded, and Moody began to stare at the village. “Yes, I make out the concentration of Muggles…. Here’s what we do…”
Within a minute, Moody positioned Bill, Baxer, the four other Order members, and himself in spots around the bonfire and stage. He then sent Harry and Hermione as the ones to carryout the preemptive strike. After that, if any other Death Eaters were around, then everybody else would jump in.
“This is bad,” Hermione said, putting her mask back on. “What’s Moody thinking? He didn’t want us in the Order in the first place. Why would he put us in danger like this?”
“We’re covered,” said Harry, his hand in his pocket gripping his wand. Up ahead the two in the blue robes and wolf masks left the festival, and started moving away. They covered the distance until they could hear them talking.
“Damn it, Craddock,” one said, “I’m getting tired of walking among these Muggles. Why don’t we just cause some mayhem?”
“Because,” the other named Craddock hissed, “our orders aren’t to kill Muggles. It’s to capture Harry Potter!”
Harry and Hermione stopped in their tracks. What! Harry thought. How did they know I’d be here? They caught up again to continue to listen in.
“Killing Muggles would draw out Potter,” the first argued. “I was at Godric’s Hollow, and I saw him fight there. He won’t run from a fight!”
Craddock stopped, took off his mask, and looked the other in the eyes. “The Dark Lord wants to avoid another Godric’s Hollow. If Potter is here, he isn’t alone. Others will come to his aid, and it’ll be harder to get to him.”
“We’ve been out here with six others looking, and we still haven’t found him. This festival is going to end sometime, and by that time Potter will be gone.”
An evil smiled spread across his face. “I see your point. I’m sure the Dark Lord wouldn’t mind as long as we have our target.”
Harry nudged Hermione, and they both raised their wands. “Stupefy!” The two Stunning Spells caught them both completely by surprise, and were they were hit. The Muggles that saw stood agape at what just happened. Some were rather impressed probably thinking it was a trick, and others backed away slowly.
“Now what?” Hermione asked, looking around. That Death Eater said there were six others around, and all of them had to be blending in”at least they were until Harry saw three of them come out with wands drawn.
Harry pulled Hermione away, as one of them yelled, “Avada Kedavra!” The Killing Curse hit a house, and blasted the front into pieces. The Muggles got the hint and ran screaming. They would hopefully pass on what happened so they would stay away.
Then a barrage of spells and jinxes came from all around, hitting two of the Death Eaters. The last three appeared, and the real fight began.
“Penicus!” Harry shouted, throwing a spell at a Death Eater aiming for the last of the fleeing Muggles. It hit with a resounding snap, and he fell over unconscious.
“Dicorga!”
Harry looked just in time to see the slashing movement of a wand across an Order member’s body. He just stood there for second, spit up blood, and then toppled over, undoubtedly dead.
Harry was enraged. “Nisadra!” The spell was on target, until it was deflected. She then immediately threw a counter spell, which managed to graze the side of Harry’s head, and take off his hood and bandana.
The Death Eater stood, stunned. “Harry Potter!” said a female voice behind the mask. “Well, well, this is certainly interesting”Stupefy!”
“Protego!” Harry cried, and the spell was deflected.
“Reducto!” he heard Hermione yell. Harry followed with another of his own. Both spells flew at the female Death Eater. She completely blocked the first, but the second only partially. Her mask and hood came off to reveal a woman that couldn’t have been too much older than Harry. Her dark blond hair and features were good looking enough, but her eyes had the intent to kill.
“Avada Kedavra!” she shouted, pointing at Hermione. Harry was too far to do anything.
“Reducto!” Moody’s voice cried. His spell suddenly hit Hermione, and she was blasted out of the way of the Killing Curse. “Sylvia Coleman,” Moody said to the woman Death Eater, without any guilt over Hermione. “I thought you would be smarter than to follow your father’s footsteps.”
“You locked him up in Azkaban when I was still young!” the Death Eater named Sylvia howled. “Joining was my best chance for revenge”Avada Kedavra!”
Moody somehow dodged, and the duel ensued. Meanwhile, Harry went to see if Hermione was okay. The worst she had was a few bruises and annoyance at Moody.
“Should we help?” Hermione asked her, after she stood up.
“He’s fairing,” Harry observed, witnessing the duel. “There are others that need help.”
With the Order still outnumbering the enemies seven to five, they were slowly taking each of them down one by one. Harry and Hermione assisted in taking down a stubborn Death Eater with a habit of using Unforgivable Curses. But Bill and two others suffered injuries, and their strength lessened.
And finally only two were left, including Sylvia, who was still busy with Moody. When she about to get ganged up on, she emitted a smoke screen and ran off. Everybody who was still up shot a barrage of spells into the mist, but there was no sound of confirmation that she was hit. Then when the mist cleared, Sylvia was gone. Fortunately, the rest of her group was still among them.
When it was clear that there was no way of getting her, Moody started to concentrate on the casualties. His and Harry’s first one was the one Sylvia had killed. Strangely enough, there were no wounds on his body.
“You did all that was asked of you, Shostak,” Moody said somberly, closing Shostak’s eyes. “At least that wench didn’t mutilate you.”
Harry now started to get a horrible feeling stewing inside him”a feeling that had been suppressed until now due to the fighting. He was dead! A member of the Order was dead and it felt like it was his entire fault. The only reason the Death Eaters had to be fought was because Harry was here.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Bill, who had on a sling and a sympathetic look. “It’s not your fault, Harry,” he said, as if reading his mind. “He knew what he was doing.”
“We need to take all of these Death Eaters to headquarters for questioning,” Harry declared. He had to get to the bottom of this. How did they know Harry would be here?
“What?” It was Baxer, who surprisingly didn’t have a scratch on him. Why did he fight at Godric’s Hollow and chickened out here?
“No way, Potter,” said Moody, angrily. “Just because you brought in one without our permission doesn’t mean we’re taking prisoners. The one we already have is already a nuisance.”
Baxer did a double take. “We have a Death Eater at headquarters?” None of the others took this as news.
“You’re a useless whelp, Baxer,” Moody said. “We saw no reason to tell you.” Baxer threw Moody a filthy look, but cringed at his stare.
“These Death Eaters knew I’d be here,” Harry continued. “Right, Hermione?”
“He’s right,” she said. “Before we attacked, they confirmed that they have some source of information.”
“Well wherever this source is, I doubt they know,” Moody argued. “The only reason we’re keeping the other is because he could lead us somewhere. We’re going to leave all the scum here for the Ministry.”
“But,” Harry started.
“NO! Now, tie them all up and erase their memories,” Moody ordered. It was the end of the discussion and Harry knew it. “And somebody please take Shostak.”