Chapter 18: Constant Vigilance

Ten minutes passed while Beth and Harry distractedly went about their purchases, their heads swivelling every time the little bell above the door tinkled. It wasn't until they were ready to leave that they saw Remus through the dirty window. They made their way out of the shop to meet him. When he got close enough for them to see his face, they were surprised by his exasperated expression.

'Didn't you find anything?' asked Beth. 'I'm sorry, I must have overreacted.'

'Oh, I found something,' said Remus. 'I wish I didn't though. Take a look for yourselves.'

Beth looked toward the alleyway and caught a glimpse of a very large, very familiar black dog peering around the corner at them. 'Oh.'

'That explains why he was so happy earlier,' said Harry. 'What was he thinking? He could be seen!'

'I think you've hit the nail right on the head,' Remus replied darkly. 'He wasn't thinking.'

They decided to ignore Sirius.

'Will that make him go back?' asked Beth doubtfully.

'Probably not,' said Remus wearily, 'but if he's seen with us, there's a greater chance he'll be recognised.'

So, with mixed feelings of annoyance and sympathy for Sirius, they bundled up their newest purchases and continued down the street.

Next they visited the Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Harry asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Beth and some fifth year ingredients for himself, Beth poked curiously at a crate of minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop).

They walked past a shop that was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

'Could we stop in here for a moment?' Beth asked Remus. 'I'd like to ask Mr Ollivander a few questions. He said he knew my grandmother.'

A tinkling bell rang somewhere toward the back of the shop as they stepped inside. At first glance the shop appeared empty.

'Hello?' Beth called awkwardly.

'Good morning,' said a soft voice from a shadowy corner. 'I've been expecting you.'

Harry and Beth jumped. Remus turned calmly to face the thin old man and nodded a greeting.

Beth cleared her throat nervously. She wondered fleetingly whether Mr Ollivander realised the significance of the Muggle movie reference. 'It's good to see you again, sir,' said Beth. 'I was hoping to speak to you about my grandmother.'

'Ah yes,' said Ollivander. 'I thought as much. You favour her, especially your eyes…' He fixed Beth with his pale stare. 'Do come sit a moment. I will answer what I can.'

He led them to the back of the shop. They ducked under a dingy curtain into a tiny room with a table and four rickety looking chairs. Beth perched tentatively on the edge of hers.

Mr Ollivander leaned back in his chair. 'Well now, what do you wish to know?'

'You said my grandmother was like me, avoiding eye contact. Did she have the same… gift that I have?'

'Yes, she did. I'm afraid, however, that she had about as much idea how to control it as you. The gift of Insight is extremely rare. Rarer still are those who know how to weld it. In my lifetime I've only come across two with the Insight: your grandmother and you.'

'Is there no one left to teach me?' Beth asked desperately.

He frowned and rubbed his frail chin as he studied her with his wide silvery eyes. 'I know of one person who may be able to help. She's an old classmate of mine from my Hogwarts days. She did a lot of research on the Insighted when she graduated. No idea what she's up to these days. We haven't been in touch for twenty years now. She may not even still be alive. It's a long shot, but I'll do some digging.'

Beth tried not to let her disappointment show as Ollivander led them back through the curtain and bowed them from his shop. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Remus, Beth and Harry made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron. The shabby pub was quiet. The bald old barman stood wiping tables with a grimy cloth. Three burly wizards entered the pub from the other door, the glare of sunlight behind them obscuring their faces. The three made identical movements, and Remus and Harry mirrored them without conscious thought: All five of them drew their wands. Beth, a few seconds late in realising what was happening, ducked behind the bar as she plunged her hand into her pocket and drew her own wand.

'Expulso!' bellowed the great blonde Death Eater, and the bar behind which Beth was hiding blew up. The force of the explosion slammed her into the wall and she felt her wand leave her hand. Bits of debris rained down around her.

'Petrificus Totalus!' yelled Remus from out of sight, and the Death Eater fell forward like a statue to land with a crunching thud on the mess of broken glass and wood.

'Stupefy!' Harry sent two Stunners in quick succession. The remaining Death Eaters dodged the spells and fired back at Harry and Remus. A jet of red light hit the window, rebounded and hit the barman, who collapsed beside the table he'd been cleaning.

Beth crawled out from underneath the remains of the bar, shaking bits of glass ashtray out of her hair. Out of nowhere a thick arm snaked around her neck and yanked her to her feet. Through watering eyes, she saw Remus fall to another spell. Beth tried to turn her eyes onto her captor.

'No you don't, freak!' He jerked his head away, and shoved her face first against the wall. Her forehead slammed into the tiles.

'Crucio!' yelled a deep voice and Harry's screams filled the air.

Panicking, Beth fought with every bit of strength she had. 'Look at me!' she shrieked. 'LOOK AT ME!'

Time seemed to stand still. The Death Eater's grip on her slackened. Shocked, she saw him turn his face toward her as though under a spell. Then it started: Images flashed across her mind, memories not her own. A tiny blonde girl raised her arms, wanting to be picked up, calling for her daddy… a child's nursery lit up with green light… Lightening flashed low in the sky, illuminating a lone man slumped against a tiny tombstone… A snakelike man sneered cruelly, his voice echoing in Beth's head: 'Serve me or lose your other daughter as well'…

'Beth!'

She jerked back to reality. The Death Eater lay unconscious at her feet, his face streaked with tears. The battle was over, and an eerie type of silence had fallen over the pub. Dust drifted low in the air. Remus was leaning heavily against the wall, exhausted but alive. The barman sat limply in a chair that had survived the scuffle, his head in his hands. Sirius was bent over Harry, helping him to his feet. She was alarmed to see Harry pale and shaking.

'Sirius? What – '

'Later,' he said tersely. 'Floo to Hogwarts. Take Harry. I'll be along in a moment.'

With some difficulty, she pulled Harry's arm over her shoulders, stepped up to the cracked fireplace and threw some powder into the flames. 'Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts!' she croaked.

She held Harry tightly to her side until the spinning stopped and they staggered into the familiar room. Beth heaved Harry into a couch beside the fire. He lay down immediately and closed his eyes.

'Harry?' Beth watched him anxiously. 'Are you okay? Can I do anything for you?'

He shook his head slowly, eyes still closed. The fireplace flared up behind them and Sirius stepped through supporting Remus, who was drawn and pale. Beth hurried forward and seized Remus' other arm. Together she and Sirius helped Remus onto the couch opposite Harry.

'Are you hurt?' Sirius asked Beth as he moved to kneel beside Harry.

She realised she was trembling from head to foot. Her head was still pounding from being shoved into the wall, but otherwise she was remarkably unscathed. 'No, but Sirius – Harry – ' Her throat was impossibly tight as she stared at Harry. She struggled to comprehend what had just happened, why Harry was so limp and shaky. What kind of spell could cause such suffering?

Sirius put a hand on his godson's shoulder and Harry opened his eyes. 'How do you feel?' said Sirius, watching him carefully.

'It burns,' whispered Harry. 'Under my skin. Cruciatus.'

Sirius stood up quickly, looking murderous. He turned to Beth. 'Get Madam Pomfrey. Take the Floo.'

For the third time that day, Beth stepped over the hearth and threw glittering green powder into the flames. She soon returned, the matron hot on her heels and carrying a large bottle of Pepper Up Potion. Madam Pomfrey poured out four steaming beakers and handed them around. The potion burned Beth's throat as it went down, making her cough and splutter.

'Merlin!' gasped Sirius, setting his empty beaker on the table. 'That is worse than fighting Death Eaters.'

Madam Pomfrey ignored him, her attention focused on Harry. 'Let's get you into bed, dear. I'm afraid there's no potion strong enough to properly treat the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. The best thing for you is a good long sleep.'

Harry swayed as he got slowly to his feet. Sirius gripped his arm and helped him up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

Madam Pomfrey turned to Remus and cast a diagnostic spell. She pursed her lips when she read the results. She pulled out another potion and thrust it into his hand. The Floo flared behind them and Dumbledore stepped out.

'Is everyone alright?' he asked.

Madam Pomfrey didn't look up from treating Remus. 'Mr Potter was hit with the Cruciatus, and Remus got two Stunners to the chest but there's no lasting damage.'

Beth had been trying to keep fear at bay ever since reaching Hogwarts, but now it enveloped her, seeming to crawl over her skin, throbbing in her chest, clogging her throat. 'Will someone tell me what happened to Harry?!' she snapped. 'What is the Cruciatus Curse?'

'It's an illegal Dark Curse that causes excruciating pain,' Remus explained, his voice hoarse. 'Prolonged use has been known to drive people into madness. Harry was only under for a minute at most, so he should be fine in a few days. Even so, it's a horrific experience.'

Beth stared at him in horror before turning on her heel to march up the stairs after Sirius and Harry. When she reached the landing she stopped and looked around, unfamiliar with this part of the castle. She could just make out Sirius' voice coming from a room two doors down. Harry was lying curled on his side, tucked securely under his covers. She noted with concern that his tremors hadn't eased. His eyes were closed and his breathing slow and even. Sirius perched on the bed behind him, rubbing his back and speaking in a low voice. Beth paused in the doorway, suddenly feeling like an intruder. She had thought she come to know quite a lot about the magical world, but one afternoon had shown otherwise. She knew nothing of the darkness that Harry and Sirius and so many others fought against. Beth knocked tentatively on the open door. 'How is he?'

Sirius looked up. 'He was in quite a lot of pain, but he just took a Dreamless Sleep potion. He'll be okay after a long rest.'

Beth moved closer to the bed, her throat tight as she watched Harry. She reached out to touch him, but withdrew her hand before she made contact, afraid to cause him more pain.

Sirius looked at her with understanding. 'Come here.' He patted the bed beside him. 'How are you doing?

She couldn't keep her eyes off Harry. 'Are you sure he'll be okay?'

'Positive. I know it looks bad – the Cruciatus is the worse form of torture there is – but I promise Harry will make a full recovery.'

'How do you live like this?' Beth asked shakily. 'In constant danger from those people?'

'It doesn't get any easier. I find that it helps to keep in mind what we fight for. It tends to put things in perspective.' Sirius looked meaningfully at Harry.

'I just want him to be safe,' Beth said desperately.

Sirius sighed. 'You and me both.'