“We’ve been waiting for you.” He said in a squeaky voice. “You were supposed to have been here an hour ago. The Dark Lord does not like to be kept waiting.”

The dark figure did not move.

“Well, what do you had to report” The man with the squeaky voice was trying very hard to be cross, but it would have been more convincing if had not been shaking.

“I do not report to you Peter Pettigrew.” The dark figure said in a low rumble.

Peter jumped at the use of his full name, he had been avoiding using it since most people thought he was dead.

“Well” he said desperately trying to act more confident than he felt. “Our master trusts me, he is occupied at the moment.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure he is.” The dark figure laughed cruelly. “But you tell your master if he thinks I will speak to anyone but him he will be very disappointed. I would be very offended to hear that he values hunting down muggles more than my-- service.”

Peter was shaking very hard now, the dark figure had not moved, but his mere presence was menacing.

“You tell your master that next time he requests to meet that he have the courtesy to show up. Next time I will not be so understanding.”

With that the dark figure swept out of the room. Walking quickly down the street he looked over his shoulder. No one had followed him. Just in case he took a turn down a deserted alleyway and jumped lightly onto a roof. He watched as Peter and the rest of the death eaters filed into the street looking around, and then disappeared.

***

The next morning Harry got up early. He was restless. It wasn’t until he had paced his room for a quarter hour before he remembered his mom’s book. Sitting down on his bed he opened to a page somewhere close to the middle.

The love of my beloved is upon yonder side A stretch of water is between And a crocodile waits upon the sandbank

The notes on this one were scarce, the whole poem was circled but only one word was written Tonight.

Harry didn’t have much time to ponder this when there was a knock at his door. It was Mrs. Figg.

“I thought you might be up, too excited to sleep?”

“Yes,” Harry admitted “I can’t wait to go.”

“Well come downstairs dear, Arabella has made breakfast.”

Harry followed her downstairs. The smell of bacon wafted in the air and cheerful chattering was coming from the kitchen. Apparently Harry was not the only one who had gotten up early. Sirius and Arabella were sitting at the table talking animatedly. Harry was glad they had made up.

When Arabella saw Harry she jumped up

“The bacon!” she jumped up and ran over to the stove. “Who likes their bacon a bit crispy?” she asked sheepishly.

Sirius laughed “don’t worry, if anyone has a problem they can blame me! I shouldn’t have gotten you started on chaser tactics.”

Arabella served up the slightly burnt bacon and toast.

“Well, if I burnt the bacon I will make it up with the drinks!” She went to the fridge and pulled out some oranges. Then she grabbed something plastic out of the cupboard, set it over a pitcher and cut an orange in half.

“Homemade orange juice!” She said cheerfully. “One of my American friends sent me a crate of oranges as a thank you, and there is nothing better than home squeezed orange juice in the morning.”

Harry enjoyed the juice. Aunt Petunia had never squeezed orange juice, and watching Arabella he understood why. By the time she had made a glass for everyone she was sticky and there was pulp all over the counter and floor. It didn’t seem to bother her though, she was laughing at her own antics.

“You can tell I don’t do this very often, I’m not very graceful.”

Everyone was assuring her when Lupin walked in the kitchen. His hair was ruffled and he still looked half asleep.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me up? I obviously missed all the fun.” His eyes went from the floor, to each of their smiling faces.

“Oh Remus, we wouldn’t want you to lose any beauty sleep, you need it.” Arabella said, with a mischievous smile.

He was looking at Arabella with mock hurt when a ball of orange pulp hit him full in the force in the face. At the look on Lupin’s face Harry nearly fell out of his chair laughing. Lupin recovered though, grabbed more pulp and pushed it into Arabella’s face.

A”Truce!” she choked out through laughter and orange pulp.

Harry had never seen them all so happy. It made him laugh and cry at the same time that these people had suffered so much, and they were facing more head on. Their families and friends had been taken away from them, things you normally base your life on had been stolen and yet here they were laughing. As much as it saddened Harry it also amazed him. It amazed him that after so much pain they could still laugh, still smile, still get up every morning and keep going. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he thought this. He wiped it away quickly, before anyone could see.

If they thought he was sad they would stop their fun. For some reason they all seemed to love him very much, even Arabella and Mrs. Figg, who he didn’t know very well. Their love was evident in the sacrifices they had made for him, made them without him even knowing. Harry couldn’t help but to be excited for the day, but there was a nagging in the back of his mind. It wasn’t right. Something wasn’t right.

***

They used floo powder to get to the Burrow, Hermione had arrived before them. Arabella went to say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before they headed over to the stadium, leaving Harry Ron and Hermione alone.

“Can you believe it Harry! Can you really believe it! We’re going to get to meet the entire English side. It’s brilliant! My dad couldn’t even get tickets, how do you suppose Arabella got them?” Ron said this all very fast, obviously bursting with excitement.

“Happy birthday Harry,” said Hermione with an amused grin on her face.

Ron stopped gushing abruptly. “Oh yeah, Happy Birthday, sorry Harry.”

Harry laughed, he had missed his friends.

***

Dumbledore was in his office sitting very still. It was fifteen minutes past the time of the appointment, and worry was stretched over every line of his ancient face. Finally the door to his office opened and Severus walked in. He seemed to be in a hurry, and did not even bother to apologize for being late.

“It’s all going to plan headmaster. There was a small problem, but I was able to smooth it over. It is exactly as we have discussed.”

“Very well then.” But Dumbledore knew there was more, he would never have come here just to tell him that. “What else is there Severus?”

“There’s going to be another attack.” Snape said it with no emotion in his voice. Dumbledore could see his eyes go dead. “It will be at the quidditch stadium today, and it will be on Harry.” He paused raising his head to look directly into the headmaster’s eyes. “Voldemort is counting on me to do it.”

***

As there was some time before the practice started Arabella took Harry, Ron and Hermione to Diagon Alley for lunch. Arabella watched them contently as they talked about what they had done this summer, and how excited they were for the practice. Harry and Ron laughed when Hermione tried to join in the quidditch conversation, she constantly boggled up terms and asked stupid questions. How could the girl be so smart at school, and yet so ignorant about quidditch?

It wasn’t till they got up from lunch that Arabella noticed a man wrapped in robes with a hood covering his face sitting in a dark corner booth by himself. Her heart froze. She sent the kids off for an ice cream cone before she slunk over to the booth in the corner.

“Sirius, I know that’s you, what the HELL are you doing here?”

Sirius lifted his head slightly so that she could see his face.

“Do you think I’d let my godson walk around unprotected.” An unconvincing smile on his face.

“But Sirius, I’m with him and unless” Her breath caught as she realized “you know something.”

Sirius lowered his head again and whispered very fast, and very quietly “I shouldn’t even warn you, but I want you to know, to be prepared for trouble. Please”

He didn’t have to finish the sentence, she knew he was worried.

“Why don’t we stay home then, I’ll tell the kids something we’ll all go home and”

Sirius shook his head.

“You have to go.”

There was desperate finality in his tone. Arabella didn’t need him to explain why, if they didn’t go today Voldemort would know that Dumbledore had a spy. She also knew it was killing Sirius to let his godson walk straight into danger. She felt horror creep into her face as she realized what might happen. Sirius grabbed her hand in a mixture of reassurance and desperation.

“Bella dear, there’s nothing you can do besides stay by Harry. Dumbledore has a plan, I’ll be there, but I can’t be by Harry’s side, please, you’ve got to promise me you won’t leave him.”

Arabella got herself under control.

“Sirius, I will not leave his side for an instant.”

***

Harry had never been so excited. The stadium loomed high into the sky as they approached it and the light breeze carried the familiar scent of freshly cut grass. A perfect summer day for quidditch, mildly warm and sunny, only a few fluffy white clouds rolling lazily through the sky.

He and Ron had on matching grins they could not get rid of, even Hermione looked excited. When they arrived at the entrance to the stadium they were met by a very tall, very large wizard. He smiled at Arabella.

“Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I’ve been busy.” She answered returning his smile “but I missed you horribly Frank.”

“Who have you got with you?” he asked looking at the threesome. His eyes stopped on Harry and his eyebrows rose a bit. “Crikey! You’re Harry Potter.”

Arabella stepped in to save Harry.

“This is Harry, Ron and Hermione. They are here to celebrate Harry’s birthday. Guys, this is Frank.”

She handed Frank the tickets, which stirred him out of his trance.

“Right,” he grinned, “well, I hope you guys are ready, it should be quite a treat!”

They walked out onto the pitch, Harry was in heaven. A few of the players were zooming above warming up before practice while the others grouped together in the middle of the field talking. One spotted their group and came running out to meet them. She was a very petit woman, with golden blond hair and amazingly green eyes.

“Bella dear! How are you” She gave Arabella a big hug before turning to Harry. “You must be Harry, happy birthday.”

“Thanks.” Harry mumbled blushing slightly under her gaze.

“Harry, Ron, Hermione, this is Penelope, my cousin”

“Pleased to meet you.” said Hermione trying to make up for Harry and Ron who were both starring at Penelope with glazed over eyes.

“Well, you are in for a treat today! We’ve got a lovely practiced planned, working on perfecting some of our new moves. Really, you should be some of the first to see them! Looks like we’re starting, enjoy you all!”

At that moment a cloud covered up the sun, and Harry gave an involuntary shiver.

“You didn’t tell me your cousin was the seeker!” Ron spat out as soon as he had picked up his jaw from the ground.

Arabella just laughed at him and shuffled them to the visitors seats. Harry’s bad feeling past as he watched the team take flight. They whizzed around the field at half speeds first, going over drills in slow motion, and then speeding them up.

“They put together a strong side this year” Ron said obviously as entranced as Harry was. “The keeper, Carlyle is probably the best in the world! And of course Penelope is a first rate seeker.”

Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron blushed again.

Harry made mental notes during the practice. He couldn’t wait to try some of the moves with the Gryffindor team. Ron wasn’t kidding about Carlyle, he was great. At one point the captain of the team, Wordsworth, had to tell him to let up so that the chasers had a chance. Penelope was great too. Harry didn’t realize how great a flier she was until she went into a dive straight down, only too pull out at the last minute. The whole team as well as the small group of visitors were all covering their eyes or clutching their hearts in fear, but Penelope just laughed and waved the snitch at them.

All too soon the team was landing, tired after a long practice. Penelope motioned for them to come over and meet everyone. As they started walking over Harry noticed Arabella seemed tense. Her eyes were wandering all over and her hand was in her robes, presumably on her wand. Harry didn’t say anything to her, but he also became more alert. Ron looked like he was in heaven. Penelope introduced him to the beaters (Wordsworth and Blake) the three chasers (Byron, Moore and Browning) and then to Carlyle. When he good willingly shook Ron’s hand Ron forgot to let go and Hermione had to nudge him before Ron realized what he was doing.

They talked for a while with the team. Harry got some great tips from them when Penelope suggested that he try one of the moves. He agreed gladly and took the broom Wordsworth gave him. Not wanting him to be left out Carlyle let Ron take his broom, but Hermione politely declined the use of the one Browning offered her. Soon Penelope, Harry and Ron were all up in the air. It felt so good to fly again.

Penelope had barely started showing him the move when Harry’s scar started to burn. Blinding pain shot through his head, and he headed towards where he thought the ground should be. He heard Ron calling to him, but it sounded like he was far away. Through some miracle Harry got to the ground. Arabella was at his side in an instant, Ron, Hermione and Penelope were right behind her.

All of a sudden the pain stopped, and a chilly silence hung in the air. Harry looked up, but he knew what he would see even before he did. Lord Voldemort.

Voldemort stood on the field. A group of hooded death eaters had stunned the rest of the team, and where pointing their wands at Arabella, who stood in front of Harry defensively. But this wasn’t her fight, Harry slowly got to his feet and went to stand beside her. He felt his friends presence behind them. Desperate thoughts came into his head. He could not be responsible for their deaths, this was his fight, too many people had died because of him already, too many people have had their lives ruined. Harry would not let that happen today.

“Harry, we meet again” Voldemort’s voice was like ice. “But don’t worry, today is just a test”

Harry felt his spine tingle at his words, Voldemort was teasing him.

“Just remember, you are not safe Potter, anywhere. Happy birthday”

Harry opened his mouth, but before the words came out Voldemort had disappeared. The death eaters had not however. Hardly did Harry feel Arabella grasp his shoulder when the death eaters stunned her, Ron Hermione and Penelope. Harry was alone now. He stood their defiantly, unwilling to let them see his fear.

“So he left you to do the dirty work. Couldn’t handle to kill me himself.”

One of the death eaters stepped forward laughing coldly.

“Don’t you understand silly boy, he doesn’t want to kill, not today anyway.”

For a fleeting moment Harry thought he recognized the voice, but the thought was driven out of his head when the death eater lifted his wand to cast a curse. Harry was ready to dodge when his mind was suddenly, blissfully wiped of all thought.

Harry, pretend you are in pain, please

A voice yelled in his empty mind. Sirius’s voice.

No, why should I Another voice answered back.

Do it Harry, fall down, pretend you are in pain, please

I don’t see why I should

But Harry recognized the voice, he should do what Sirius told him to do.

PLEASE HARRY NOW

Harry did it. He fell on the ground and started shaking. After an indeterminable amount of time he heard another voice.

“Harry! Harry, stop!” It was Arabella shaking him. He opened his eyes slowly, thoughts rushed back into his head.

“What happened! Where are they!” Harry sat up quickly and looked around. There was no sign of a death eater anywhere.

Ron and Hermione looked pale.

“They just wanted to hurt you.” Hermione spoke in a very small voice. “They just came to torture you.”

“But they didn’t torture me at all.” Harry said confused

“The Cruciatus curse” Penelope said gasping.

“I didn’t feel that. I didn’t feel that at all, Sir—“ He stopped looking at Penelope “er- someone put me under the imperious curse and told me to act like I was in pain.”

Everyone looked at him concerned. Except for Penelope everyone knew he had meant to say Sirius. After an empty moment Arabella helped Harry to his feet.

“Come on guys, I think that is enough for one day. Let’s go home.”

Penelope walked them out of the stadium. She said goodbye to them pleasantly, but gave her cousin a sharp look before heading back to the looker room.

“Sirius put the Imperious curse on you Harry?” Ron asked as soon as Penelope was out of earshot, and eyesight.

“Yeah, it was his voice in my head, I don’t understand. Do you Arabella?”

Arabella jumped when Harry addressed her.

“No Harry.” She said grimly “not really anyway. I suspect we will get some answers when we get home.”

Harry wasn’t so sure, but when he saw her face he thought they might stand a chance. Arabella’s jaw was clenched as well as her fists. Her eyes were steely as she marched forward at a very fast pace. Harry recognized all the signs of a coming outburst. Whoever they met first better have earplugs with them.

***

To Harry’s surprise Arabella managed to control her temper. But only barely. Remus was alone at the house when they all showed up. He looked braced for a fight, but before Arabella could start yelling he got out that they had been informed of today’s attack by a spy, and that they had to let it happen or Voldemort would have known who the spy was.

This didn’t seem to impress Arabella, and she was about ready to explode, when Sirius came in the door. She took one look at him and any anger she had died. When he walked through the door he stopped abruptly on the threshold, as if he was not quiet sure where to go or what to do. His face was blank all the way down to his glossed over eyes. Harry went to him quickly and walked him over to the couch. Sirius gave a lost look to Harry and then pulled him into a tight hug sobbing violently.

“Sirius, I’m okay.” He said lamely.

“You could have been hurt,” Sirius cried into his shoulder. “I should have never let Voldemort that close to you, no matter what. Oh god Harry, he could have killed you, he could have killed you and I wouldn’t have been able to save you.”

Harry looked desperately at Remus, who was looking just as desperately at Harry. Mrs. Figg walked into the room at that moment. She took one look at the situation, marched over to Sirius and pulled him to his feet roughly.

SMACK

Sirius stopped crying and looked wide eyed at Mrs. Figg, his hand covering the red print on his cheek. She had slapped him. Hard.

“Young man, I expect better of you.” She said her voice was stern, but not cruel. “We all have a long night ahead of us tonight. Dumbledore is counting on you, we are all counting on you. If you think you made a mistake, fine, but learn from it and move on. Pull yourself together, I can not tolerate your failure, I need your help.”

Sirius was now looking at Mrs. Figg with absolute amazement. Standing up straight, he smiled kindly at her.

“My dear, you are the most amazing woman” and smiling ever broader “besides being absolutely right.”

Mrs. Figg waved him off. “enough, it’s time we had a council of war.” She led a stunned Ron and Hermione into chairs and kissed her daughter on the cheek.

“What is it Remus?”

Lupin had been staring at Mrs. Figg as well. All of a sudden he strode over to her and shook her hand enthusiastically.

“If you knew how many times I have wanted to do that! Padfoot old mate, next time you need-”

“Don’t even think about it,” Sirius growled “Mooney, if you ever hit me I promise I will hit you back.”

The tension broke and everyone settled in. Harry felt a new determination flowing from his friends. He knew from Mrs. Figg’=s speech that something bad was going to happened, and there was no doubt in his mind that tonight was going to be a long night, but whatever it was he knew that they could meet it head on.