94 hp Diagon Alley

. said Greyback, and Harry heard him step aside and look down at Ron. "And you, Redhead?" "

"Stan Thornpark," said Ron.

"To hell with you," said the Scarbio one, "we know Stan Sampak, and he's got us in trouble."

Another bang.

"I'm Buddy," said Ron, who Harry could hear blood dripping from his mouth, "Buddy Weasley."

"Weasley?" Greyback said gruffly. "Then, even if you're not a Mudblood, you're married to a pure-blood traitor. And last one, beautiful little friend..." His mouth watering voice made Harry shudder. upright.

"Slow down, Greyback," said Scarbio, to the laughter of the others.

"Oh, I'm not going to bite her just yet. Let's see if she remembers names a little quicker than Barney. Who are you, girl?"

"Penelope Clearwater," said Hermione, her voice full of terror, but believable nonetheless.

"What about your bloodline?"

"Half-blood," said Hermione.

"Easy to check," Scabio said, "but they all look Hogwarts age—"

"We're not barking anymore," said Ron.

"No more, Redhead?" Scarbio said. "So you decided to come camping? And thought you could use the Dark Lord's name as a joke?"

"No kidding," said Ron, "vomit."

"Slip of tongue?" There was another burst of laughter.

"You know someone who keeps saying the Dark Lord's name, Weasley?" Greyback growled. "The Order of the Phoenix. Is it about you?"

"No."

"Hmph, they don't have enough respect for the Dark Lord, so the name is taboo. That's how some members of the Order got caught. We'll see. Bind them with the other two prisoners!"

Someone grabbed Harry by the hair and pulled him up, dragged him a short distance, pushed him to the ground, and tied him back to back.Harry was still blind, barely able to see through his swollen eyes.When their captors finally left, Harry whispered to the other prisoners:

"Who still has a wand?"

"No." Ron and Hermione's voices came from either side of him.

"It's all my fault. I said that name, sorry—"

"Harry?"

A new but familiar voice came from directly behind Harry, from the man strapped to Hermione's left.

"Dean?"

"It's you! If they find out who they've caught—! They're a Snatch Party, just catching truants to sell—"

"Not a bad night," said Greyback, as a pair of big hob-headed boots approached Harry, and there was more banging from the tent, "a Mudblood, a runaway goblin, and three truants." Yes. Have you checked their names on the list, Scabio?" he roared.

"Checked, there's no Vernon Dudley on it, Greyback."

"Interesting," said Greyback, "it's interesting."

He squatted down next to Harry, who saw a face through the tiny gap between his swollen eyelids, a mess of gray hair and beard, pointy yellow teeth, and an aphthous sore at the corner of his mouth.Greyback smelled the same way he had on top of the tower where Dumbledore had died: a mix of dust, sweat, and blood.

"So you're not one we're after, Vernon? Or are you on the list, but not by that name? Which Hogwarts house did you go to?"

"Slytherin," Harry said without thinking.

"Funny how they all thought we wanted to hear this," Scabio sneered in the dark, "but none of them knew where the common room was."

"In the dungeon," Harry said clearly, "you have to go through the walls, and it's full of skulls and stuff, and it's at the bottom of a lake, so the light is all green."

There was a brief silence.

"Okay, okay, it looks like we did catch a baby Slytherin," said Scarbio. "You're lucky, Vernon, because there aren't many Mudblood Slytherins. Who's your father? "

"He works for the Ministry of Magic," Harry lied, knowing that if they investigated a little, his whole story would fall apart in an instant, but the game would be over as soon as he regained his face anyway, "Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters. "

"Greyback," said Scarbio, "I think there's a Dudley in there."

Harry could barely breathe: would luck, sheer luck, get them out safely?

"Okay, okay," said Greyback, and Harry could hear the slightest tremor in the grim voice, and he knew Greyback was wondering if he had really beaten and tied up the Ministry official's son.Harry's heart was pounding against the rope around his ribs, and he thought Greyback would have noticed. "If you're telling the truth, Ugly, a trip to the Ministry of Magic is nothing to be afraid of. I guess your dad will reward us for sending you back."

"But," said Harry, mouth dry, "you've got to let us—"

"Hey!" a voice shouted from the tent. "Look at this, Greyback!"

A dark figure ran over, and under the light of the wand, Harry saw a silver light, and they found the sword of Gryffindor.

"V-very pretty," said Greyback, contentedly, taking the sword from his companion. "Oh, it is. It looks like it was made by goblins. Where did you get it?"

"It belonged to my father," Harry lied, praying desperately that Greyback wouldn't see the name engraved on the underside of his sword hilt in the gloom, "we borrowed it to chop wood—"

"Wait a minute, Greyback! Look at this, the Daily Prophet! Hermione Granger,'" Scarbio was saying, "'is known to be the Mudblood who traveled with Harry Potter.' "

Greyback crouched in front of Hermione. "You know what, girl? This picture looks a lot like you."

"No! Not me!"

Hermione's terrified scream was a confession.

"...is known to have traveled with Harry Potter..." Greyback repeated softly.

There was no sound around.Harry's scar ached, and he did everything he could to resist the pull of Voldemort's mind.Staying sane has never been more important.

"So things have changed, haven't they?" Greyback murmured.

No one spoke, and Harry felt the people of the search party staring blankly, and felt Hermione's arm trembling beside him.Greyback stood up, walked a few steps in front of Harry, squatted down again, and looked carefully at his deformed face.

"What's that on your forehead, Vernon?" he asked softly, pressing a dirty finger to Harry's taut scar, breathing foul-smelling breath into Harry's nostrils.

"Don't touch it!" Harry yelled.

"I suppose you wear glasses, Potter?" Greyback said softly.

"I've found the glasses!" shouted one of the Snatchers hiding behind. "There's glasses in the tent, Greyback, wait—"

Seconds later, Harry's glasses were forced across his face.The Snatchers were all closer now, staring at him.

"It's him!" growled Greyback. "We've got Potter!"

They all took a few steps back, surprised at what they had gained.

"...to the Ministry of Magic?"

"Fuck the Ministry of Magic," Greyback yelled, "they'll take the credit and we won't even see it. Just hand him over to You-Know-Who, I say."

"You're calling him? Here?" Scabio said, full of awe and horror.

"No," Greyback snarled, "I haven't - it's said he's using the Malfoys as his base. We'll just take the boy there."

Harry guessed why Greyback hadn't summoned Voldemort.The Death Eaters took advantage of the werewolf by making him wear their robes, but only Voldemort's inner circle would bear the Dark Mark, and Greyback had yet to receive the highest honor.

"... Surely it was him? If not, Greyback, we're dead."

"Who's in charge here?" Greyback growled, covering up his lack of qualifications just now, "I say this is Potter, he and his wand, a total of 20 Galleons! If you are too timid to go , it’s all mine, and if you’re lucky, this little girl might even give it to me.”

"Well?" said Scarbio, "well, we'll follow you! And what about the others, Greyback?"

"Bring them together. There are two Mudbloods, and this is another ten Galleons. Give me that sword, too. If it's ruby, it'll make me a fortune."

The prisoners were dragged up.Harry could hear Hermione's rapid, frightened breathing.

"Hold on tight. I'll take Potter," Greyback said, grabbing Harry's hair, and Harry felt the long yellow nails scratching his scalp. "Count to three." !one two three--"

The Snatchers apparated with them.Harry struggled, trying to shake Greyback's hand away, but there was no hope.Ron and Hermione were squeezed so tightly on either side of him that he couldn't pull himself out.

They landed on a country road, and the prisoners staggered into each other.Harry's eyes were still swollen.After a while of getting used to it, he saw a pair of wrought iron gates, behind what appeared to be a long driveway.He was slightly relieved that the worst had yet to happen, Voldemort wasn't here, he should still be abroad - the last time Harry's scar hurt, he was near a prison.As for how long it will take Voldemort to arrive after learning that Harry is here, that is another matter.