Any scenes in bold is occurring at a different time (Flashback).

Enjoy!

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Deceiver of Fools
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The hatred in his eyes was obvious. It only caused the being in front of him to laugh in what he supposed was amusement.

Filthy fucking bastard…

"I see that we finally understand each other, Sirius."

The way he said his name caused waves of nausea to surge within him, but his rage at the whole situation kept it at bay, only increasing his death glare.

"There is not much to understand, is there?" He spat, "you disgusting son of a –"

"You should show respect to my master!" a voice shouted interrupting Sirius, who turned to the figure that was pointing a wand threateningly at him.

"You!" he snarled, "You rotten dirty little weasel! How dare you betray us to this creature? I'll kill you with my bare hands!" and he would have lunged at Ron had he not been stunned by an amused looking Lucius Malfoy.

"Now, now, Black. We all know you are a rabid animal, please try and restrain your… inner impulses." Malfoy drawled, casting a calming spell on him before releasing him from his binds.

"I hope you rot in Hell, Malfoy!" he said, is calm voice betraying the anger he felt at the whole lot of them. He spat in Ron's direction before turning to the being watching them and asked something he has been wanting to know for a while, "why are you so intent on having me anyway? It is not as if I'd make a difference in your… little army."

"That is where you are wrong. Do you actually think I'd devote this much attention to your pathetic existence were you not fundamental to my plans? You, Sirius Black, shall bear my mark and your presence will make all the difference in my forces. For with you at my side I'll be able to tip this war in my favour," a sinister expression came upon Voldemort's face then, almost as if he was dreaming.

He could only look at the Dark Lord with his incredulous expression, not understanding a single word that he had just been told but knowing that somehow that monster expected him to be cooperative. A dry chuckle escaped from him then, "You speak as if I was some great acquisition! You may be able to force me into joining you, Voldemort, but that is where it ends. There is only so much I'd be willing to comply, and I'd rather gladly take the Avada Kedavra curse as opposed to support you any further."

"There are means to change that inane conception of yours…for Death shall not be granted to you. I have learnt that pain is a strong motivator in such situations and my servants have had much experience in this practice."

The off hand way he mentioned torture was nearly enough to send shivers across his spine, but his disregard for his words served only to anger him further and he had to exert extreme self control not to simply jump the man and strangle him with his bare hands.

Now that is a tempting thought… pity that I'd never make it…

"Torture? You think I'd give in to pain? One would have thought you'd give me more credit than that after all the trouble you went to get me." He answered sarcastically, his posture defiant and his faze unwavering, and he noticed, with some glee, that his cousin was become restless at his lack of disrespect for her Master.

"I take it that you'd rather suffer than?"

"Some things are just worth the pain." He shrugged, knowing that truth in his own words even if those around him did not.

"How utterly pathetic and foolish of you…typical Gryffindor behaviour," the disgusted sneer on the man's face was another reason for joy in Sirius' opinion, "you'll lose that soon enough."

Voldemort then turned to the other three in the room and said, "Bella, take him to a guest room and make sure he doesn't leave! We shall have a full meeting tonight and he shall be marked then."

"Yes, Master."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me your fucking reasons for having me marked! If you're going to ruin my life I deserve to know why, damn it!" He snarled

Lord Voldemort merely glanced at him, his red unblinking eyes fixing on him for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke, "Your presence by my side will allow me to implement a forgotten Ministry policy, one that my faithful Lucius here found and presented to me. I suggest that you revise your knowledge of Ancient Ministry policies, Sirius, if you still desire to know more. Now get out!"

At that, Bella turned to him and practically blasted him through the entrance doorway, following at a leisurely pace behind him.

Probably paying me back for being rude to her Lord

They went up the stairs in silence and down the corridor to stop before one of the many doors. He didn't even glance inside as Bellatrix opened the door, choosing to observe her and gauge his chances of being cursed for what he was about to do.

"Get in!" she practically shouted when he refused to move.

"First time we meet in years and this is hoe you treat me, cousin?" he replied as he moved towards the doorway, "How utterly boring of you."

"Quiet you traitor! You should have been on your knees and begging for forgiveness from the Dark Lord for your disgrace today!"

"Yes, yes..." he brushed her comment off with a wave of his hand, but used the opportunity to ask what he really wanted to know "What law was he talking about back there?"

Bellatrix didn't answer, simply looking at him with something akin to an amused expression, "That is for you to find out on your own."

"Do you know how long that would take? Just tell me the law, you don't even have to say the clause!" He pleaded, his curiosity overpowering any shame he might have felt at the moment. Apparently his near begging was enough for as she made to leave she said, "Third archaic law: clause BA19-PB24" before closing and securing the door behind her.

OOOooo§oooOOO

They had been waiting for hours. At times it seemed like days. Waiting for a message, an arrival, a sign….waiting for anything to happen.

This standstill is unbearable! Thought Minerva as she paced around the room, her agitation not allowing her to remain seated.

It was then, when everyone felt that they were about to explode from the tension of it all that a loud bang was heard coming from the entrance hall.

At once they moved, running, pushing and pulling at each other to try and make it as fast a possible to the source of the noise. There, in the hall stood three people, one of them was leaning against the other for support and the third still picking herself up from the floor.

"Remus! Thanks the Gods!" Molly all by screamed, rushing towards the trio, but before she could bombard them with questions Madam Pomfrey appeared and in her commanding voice barked, "Everyone out! They need medical care, not a crowd around them!"

She was quick and efficient in her methods and soon had all three of them into the made shift infirmary at Grimmauld. She was unable, however, to disband the crowd of Order members that entered behind her. Some were muttering about only three of them having returned, others were expressing their concern for the ones left behind, but much of it was lost to them, as they were more than glad to be allowed to lie down and have their injuries treated.

Madam Pomfrey, with the help of Minerva, first examined and treated Remus, then Hermione and then Tonks, administering to both women a sleeping potion to aid them in their healing. Just as she was about to repeated her previous orders to the group huddling in her infirmary Albus Dumbledore spoke.

"I'm sure that they need their peace and rest, Poppy, but we also need to know at least some of what happened to see if there is something that we can do to aid them." His voice was grave and Poppy relented, only because she knew that against the headmaster she would not win, but demanded that everyone else leave the room.

"Now wait a minute! My son still hasn't returned and I don't know what kinds of danger he is in! I won't leave until I know what happened!" Molly said, her face set in a determined expression with Arthur by her side.

"Poppy –" Dumbledore began again only to be interrupted by the irate nurse.

"All right! Fine! You three can stay but I want everyone else out!"

More people looked like they were about to protest but she didn't give them the chance to even open their mouths, forcing them out of the infirmary and slamming the door on their faces.

"Be quick Headmaster" she said and then went to the adjacent room after placing monitoring spells on all three of them.

Albus nodded before turning to Remus, his gaze telling him exactly what he wanted.

Closing his eyes, Remus took a deep breath, thankful that his ribs were healed, and began explaining, "I expect you know everything that happened up until we left Grimmauld?"

"Arthur was kind enough to inform me."

"Yes…well then, once we arrived at his hideout Snape helped us out by taking us around the house and through the back entrance that lead into the kitchens. There we encountered two death eaters and learned that both Harry and Hermione had been captured and that Hermione was being kept in a tower. We split up into three groups, each designated to once child. Tonks and I were to go after Hemione, Snape and Moody were to get Harry and Sirius and Emmeline were to rescue Ronald…"

"We entered the main hall and made out way upstairs to the tower and encountered only once death eater on the way up. One the way down, however, we met two of them and would have had a hard time escaping were it not for the aid of Draco Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Molly repeated, flabbergasted.

"Yes, he stunned one of the Death Eaters and showed us a secret passageway leading directly to the kitchens, From there we quickly made our way out through the back and using the emergency portkey came back to headquarters since none of us were fit to apparate or wanted to risk flying." He finished, summarising everything he thought important.

"What about the other teams?" Dumbledore asked gently, seeing how tired he was.

"I don't know, we split up in the entrance hall…but Albus, I feat that we –"

The door to their room busted open preventing Remus from finishing his sentence, and in entered Minerva McGonagall followed by three battered looking people and, of course, the general Order crowd.

OOOooo§oooOOO

"Third Archaic Law... third Archaic law..." muttered Sirius as he skimmed through the many books that were brought to him, "why couldn't that blasted house elf have just brought me the right book?"

He had been spending the last hour flipping through books.

Flipping through hundreds of freaking books! I thought I was over with this when I left school, for Merlin's sake! Stupid house elves, stupid crazy Bellatrix, fucking stupid Dark Lord bastard with megalomaniac ideas! I hate research!

Throwing away another book in disgust he looked around and picked up a copy of "Magical Laws: A Pure-bloods Guide" and automatically browsed through the index, searching for archaic laws or anything similar.

Archaic…archaic…archaic! Here! Archaic Laws page 438!

He wasn't that excited as he turned to page 438 for this was around the fifth book he had found with a reference to Archaic laws, the previous ones not being of any use as they containing only historical information.

Archaic Laws

Archaic Laws are the terms used to denote those policies which were created before an official Ministry association was agreed upon and which the Ministry eventually decided to abide to should the occasion arise. There are five main laws, together with a few minor ones, which were mostly implemented by the Pureblood families of Old and their supporters. For more information of each individual law turn to pages 440, 444, 448 and 452.

As interesting as it may have been to read up on outdated pureblood views and politics, Sirius simply turned to page 444, figuring they were in order and would talk more about the Third Law.

The Third Law, more commonly known as the Vetoing Act

In the Ministry's younger year's dissension ran high between its members, investors and the people. Many still thought that the need for an official Ministry to be folly and a tool to control their families and standing laws. Others still were willing to use the new organisation to further their means, exploiting their still weak structure and stature. Having better knowledge than most and a far insight into what was need to make our society progress all Pureblood families came together to make the Third Archaic Law to appease these vehement protests to most ministry policies and procedures.

Skimming through the detailed explanation on how all the families came together and the various agreements they proposed and discarded, he turned the page to look for clause BA19-PB24. He found it two pages further, nearing the bottom of the page:

Clause BA19-PB24:

As agreed upon the signing of the Third Law, clause BA19-PB24 gives the purebloods the power to veto or change any Ministry policy as long as their new proposition for change is supported by the majority (15) of the Head of the pureblood families. Note that all Pureblood families are obliged to vote on the new Ministry proposal.

At first it didn't seem to make any sense, for he was unable to see how such a law could profit Voldemort in his plans, however as he read and re-read the clause the implications became quite clear and a cold feeling began to form in his stomach.

Vetoing power? What were these Ministry idiots thinking when they agreed to this? Voldemort will be able to do anything as he wishes! Legalise Muggle hunting! Forgive the unforgivables! Ban muggleborns! Disband Hogwarts! Bloody freaking hell! They might as well hand him the Ministry right away!

He read through the law again, searching for any loop-holes, anything that might prevent him from complete takeover. It simply didn't make any sense that with this law in his possession that Voldemort still hadn't acted, so there must be a reason for that.

With any luck this is all just been a waste of my time and the law is actually invalid!

It was then that he saw the footnote symbol next to 'majority' and looking at the bottom of the page he found it:

(15) Majority is declared to be above 80 of the family Heads involved. Should the numbers of Pureblood families fall below 30 this clause is thereby declared invalidated on the grounds of partial voting.

Relief flowed through him but it was short lived as his small chat with the Dark Lord came back to him, especially how it emphasises the fact that his addition to his forces would aid him in taking over.

Damn it! He can't have eighty percent of the purebloods can he? How many families are there still out there anyway?

Making a quick count of all the families he knew he only came up with 13 and some of those families he knew would never support Voldemort…

Well, that's what you thought about yourself too wasn't it? Look at you now, waiting to be branded as one of them. The little voice inside his head that he now permanently associated with his distasteful school classmate, Snape, whispered into his mind.

OOOooo§oooOOO

All attention shifted from him to the three newcomers, who were quickly ushered into their beds and examined as he had been, the difference being that neither Severus, nor Moody nor Harry felt that they had to be tended to.

"Blast it woman! Can't you see that I am fine?' Moody growled out. Pushing Poppy away.

"I can see that you are bleeding heavily from your side and that you have the vestiges of a dark curse still one you. Now sit still or I shall bind you!" Poppy countered, every inch as fierce as Mad Eye. "And you!" she continued pointing to Severus, "you shall remain where you are until I check you over young man or I shall confine you to your bed for the rest of the week!"

Throughout all the commotion occurring between Poppy, Moody and Severus Harry silently made his way towards Remus and gave him a warm hug.

"Harry…I'm so glad that you are safe!" he whispered in relief as he hugged him back.

"Yeah, they didn't even hurt me much. What about Hermione?" he asked, looking at her sleeping form just two beds down.

"She'll be fine, Poppy healed her very efficiently and now she is just sleeping the rest of it off."

"I'm glad…" his voice trailed off and Remus got the impression that he was gathering up enough courage to ask him something very serious. He was not disappointed, "Did…did dad come back yet?" he asked in a soft voice.

He froze and something must have shown in his expression because Harry soon looked distressed. Any attempt he might have made to comfort him was thwarted by the arrival of Albus at his bed.

"Harry" his voice was stern, "I need you to tell me everything that happened since yesterday afternoon."

At once he knew that the boy was not pleased, not pleased at all, for he took on a similar expression that Sirius did when he was about to rebel against something. So it came as no surprise when Harry turned to look at the headmaster and said, "No."

Everyone else was shocked though and he had to hide a small smirk.

"I'm sorry?" Minerva questioned

"No, I am not going to say anything until we have Sirius back here safe and sound!" Harry said forcefully.

"It is only a matter of time Harry, surely while we wait you can –" Albus tried again but like before, he was interrupted.

"It is not a matter of time! Don't you see that he is in danger? Are you that blind?" Harry all but shouted.

"Surely he is not in any more danger than either of you were at the time." Minerva said sounding offended by his disrespectful tone.

Something in their expressions soon got to Harry and he found those intense green eyes turned to him, "You didn't tell them about…about Ron?"

"I was going to, but then you arrived and no one was paying attention anymore."

"What are you two going on about?" Molly finally said, "What about my son? Why is Black in more danger by going after him? Has…has anything happened to Ron? Is he…is he…?" but she was unable to finished as she burst into tears at their sombre expression.

"Ron is not dead Mrs. Weasley." Harry finally said, his voice strained, "It was all a trap… and we walked straight into it! Ron…" his voice faltered as the gravity of what he was about to say overwhelmed him, "Ron… he-he wasn't kidnapped… he as working with Voldemort all the time!"

Silence. Shocked silence;

Then all hell broke lose as everyone present started speaking at once, Molly Weasley being the loudest of them all.

"A lie! That is a lie! My son would never! It can't be true!" she protested, her sobs momentarily forgotten.

"Silence!" Albus' voice boomed throughout the room, 'Now Harry, are you sure about that? It is a very serious accusation."

"I'm sure." He replied, a pained expression on his face, "I… I saw him, with Voldemort and he admitted to everything…"

"No! No…it can't-he would never" Molly moaned in distress.

"Remus, what do you know of this?" Albus questioned over Molly's moans.

"Only what Hermione told me on the way back, that Ron was the traitor and that he had sided with Voldemort out… out of envy of Harry."

A sigh escaped Albus as he turned to Severus, intending to ask him the same question.

"I knew nothing of Weasley joining the Dark Lord, however he did seem pleased on these last few meetings," Severus supplied as soon as he had the headmaster's attention, "Potter was also daft enough to yell out loud something similar on our way back to headquarters, nearly ruining all our careful preparations for his rescue."

"Sirius and Emmeline were the ones in charge of bringing Ronald back, correct?"

"Yes."

A shadow seemed to pass over Albus' face, "Then, I'm afraid that the chances of them returning to us are very slim indeed."

Something dawned on Remus then, something he should have noticed before, "Albus! Sirius… he knew! He must have known about Ron being the traitor!"

"What are you on about Lupin?" Severus said, his sneer in full place.

"I mean, why would he send you to get Harry instead of going after him personally? Even counting the reasons he gave us at the time, in a normal situation they would not be enough to sway his decision. But if he knew… then he would want to go after Ron himself for revenge…" He explained, easily ignoring Severus' frosty glare.

"Preposterous! How could he have known?" Minerva exclaimed.

"It would be easy if he was working with the bastard." Moody stated, his comment causing many people to start taking at once again.

"Shut up!"

Harry's sudden scream startled all of then enough that he did manage to get everyone to quiet down.

"Now is not the time for this! Sirius is not working for Voldemort! We need to go back and help him! We can't leave him there!"

"Go back? Are you daft boy? It was dangerous enough the first time round; by know they will have noticed your disappearance and the whole house will be on alert!" Moody stated, glaring at Harry.

"If we take a bigger group then –"

"Don't you think that you've endangered enough people for one day, Potter?" Severus snapped at him, "Or have you no respect for our lives? If you haven't been so foolhardy and reckless in the first place there would be no reason to go rescue your mangy mutt of a Godfather, you there?"

That last comment stung him, it was obvious by his expression that Harry felt as if he had just received a physical blow.

"The fact is, Harry that we cannot afford to lose anyone else to Voldemort. The odds of another rescue team being captured are far higher than of them succeeding, it is too dangerous and I will not allow any more lives to be lost." Albus explained, trying to prevent another argument from breaking out around them.

"So you are going to simply abandon him to Voldemort?" Harry screamed, "Is that it Headmaster? When people are no longer useful then they become expendable? Why was I worth rescuing but not Sirius?"

"Harry –"

"No! I won't stay here while the only family I have left is in danger! I won't allow you to kill my father! You are no better than Voldemort by acting like this!" He said, glaring at Albus with loathing.

All of those present flinched at the insult and some of them even looked personally offended by what he had said to their leader, but Albus didn't seem to mind.

"Would everyone else kindly leave the infirmary?" he said, turning away from the fuming Harry to look at the group behind him. They all knew that it was not a question but a veiled order and soon left, leaving Albus, Harry, Remus and both sleeping women in the room.

Looking deep into Harry's eyes Albus said seriously, no twinkle present within his blue orbs, "I think, Harry that it is about time you answered certain questions concerning Sirius and yourself."

OOOooo§oooOOO

"Ennervate"

Awareness slowly came back to him. The first thing he saw were two angry faces looking down at him, followed by the notion that he was on his back on the floor, a very undignified position.

"Malfoy!" hissed one of the voices, shaking him forcefully, "Malfoy!"

"What?" he snapped, having a slight headache from when he assumed he fell.

"Who stunned you? What did you see?" demanded the other and their identities soon came to him.

The Lestrange brothers.

"I…I don't remember…I think they jumped me from behind…" he said in an uncertain tone of voice, hesitating in just the right places so that it was made believable, while carefully hiding his true intentions deep within his mind.

I may not be an expert Occulmens but at least I know how to protect what I want protected.

"Are you sure? You saw nothing? Nothing at all?" Rastaban inquired further, looking at him suspiciously.

"What are you questioning me for? You found me here didn't you? Can't you two bloody well see? I was unconscious!" he snapped again, feeling it was within his rights to be offended, "what happened? Who attacked me?"

Rodulphus was less than pleased with his tone of voice and attitude, and showed it with a few well placed curses, following by saying "you watch your tongue boy! You are already in enough trouble as it is!"

"Trouble? Why?'

They can't have caught on…there is not proof of anything! I made sure of that and the potion I used to simulate the effect of a stunner leaves no traces…

"The mudblood prisoner is gone," Rodulphus finally explained, "and while Yaxley is still recovering from his injuries and cannot testify, it is highly suspicious that out of the two of you, you were only hit with a stunner while he is still suffering the after effects of a rather dark curse. Your bodies were also found too far from each other given that the two of you were supposed to be guarding the hall together."

"I…I…" he said, thinking quickly of an excuse, "I think we heard some noise, while we were patrolling and Yaxley went further ahead to investigate. He didn't think me old enough to help him," he added in a moment of inspiration, making sure enough bitterness crept into his voice, "and I wasn't going to stand there looking like an idiot so I made my way down the hall to finish the inspection and when he still didn't return made my way back…I don't remember how I got here…"

Both brothers looked at him searchingly but his acting skills were immaculate and they didn't see through him, after questioning him again just to be on the safe side they told him to stay put while they checked on their other prisoner, the 'Potter brat'. He whined a bit but eventually relented to staying behind, not that he minded much, it left him to his thoughts.

Settling down on the bed he couldn't help but think of one Hermione Granger and if she had made it back safely.

At least, if she had been caught I would have heard about it…I hope she is all right…

OOOooo§oooOOO

"My Lord, what are we to do with your… newest servant?" Lucius found himself asking once Bellatrix had left them, risking a half glare at the figure beside him.

"You disapprove of him, Lucius?"

"It is not in my place to disapprove of your decisions, my Lord." He answered diplomatically as always.

"Yesss…and not to forget that, Lucius. The boy is of no further use to me; do with him as you will." Voldemort said in a dismissive tone.

Lucius noted with some curiosity that no protests or exclamations of betrayal came forth from the boy, despite his careless dismissal. Ronald Weasley continued to stand in place as if immobilised.

"Curious Lucius?"

"My Lord… I know of your powers and influences but I can't help and wonder on how you managed to convince one of his kind to join us…" he inquired tentatively, praying that his question was not answered with a round of crucio for his impertinence.

"You would, wouldn't you…" Voldemort answered as he caressed his wand in a thoughtful manner, "I shall forgive your insolence this time Lucius and will even indulge you in answering your question."

"You are very generous, my Lord."

"As you know, Wormtail here was kept as a pet rat by the boy for many years. In a rare moment of small intelligence he planted a seed into the brat's mind, which could be activated at anytime providing Wormtail with a mental path into his mind. Of course, with his poor magical skills and even inferior mental ones it took years before he had established a strong enough link, allowing him to convince the boy to give into his darker thoughts and feelings. Such a marvellous little spell this is, Lucius, for it mutilates what the person is feeling, exploiting all and any dark thoughts of jealousy, envy, rage and sadness of which Weasley here felt plenty towards Potter."

Lucius merely nodded, having heard of such a spell but never seen it in use and turned to look at the boy again with a new perspective.

He is no more than a puppet to my Lords whims.

"He is inactive at the moment?"

"Yes, apparently the little show with the Mudblood and the Potter spawn caused him to try and resist the spell with more vehemence. Right now there is not a single thought in his mind."

"Hm…" he said in thought, "My Lord, if he is no longer necessary to your plans, may I be so bold as to suggest a means to deal with him?"

Voldemort motioned for him to proceed.

"Give him to Black." Lucius stated, "I assure you that he will endeavour to kill the boy even without his wand. It would be… interesting to observe his reaction once he learns that the boy was innocent."

Voldemort smirked and gave a ominous chuckle, "Lucius, what a devilish mind you have, such wonderful ideas you come up with…Wormtail! Take the boy to Sirius and make sure they are both locked in!"

Wormtail jumped at the sound of his name and nodded, "Y-yes Master", hurrying off with his puppet in tow to do his master's wishing.

"We shall see how they fair in a few hours once the meeting has started."

OOOooo§oooOOO

The door to his room opened and before he could so much as speak or see who stood on the other side, a body was pushed inside and the wooden door closed once more.

The figure stumbled as bit before straightening up and it took Sirius a few seconds to realise who it was that was standing before him, but when he did he felt anger cloud his vision and his magic to burn in his veins in pure, hot rage.

"Weasley!" he spat before he lunged at the boy.

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Feedback is always appreciated.
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Well…I hope no one was expecting this ending! (That would mean that I did a half decent job with this!) Ron is actually innocent! The last scene gave me so much trouble, because I was thinking if I should or shouldn't put it there… in the end 'good' Ron won and so there it is! We've got around 2 more chapters to go before the end!

I'm sorry if the quality of this chapter is not up to par…my cats have decided to rebel against me and are arguing with each other which constantly interrupted me throughout the writing! If anyone sees any inconstancies please tell me and I'll fix them!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I may take a while to update again because I'm travelling at the end of next week, or I may update beforehand, but it is more probable for me to update later! Just a little warning!

Until next time,

Hells Angel & Heaven's Demon