Order Only: Scott and Rory Brownmiller

[alt_arthur]

I went out after supper to pen the goats up in the shed for the night. I had just turned to fasten the latch--and suddenly my blood froze. A wand tip was digging into my neck, just under my ear.

'Turn around, Arthur. Slowly,' a hoarse voice said. 'Very slowly.'

I obeyed and saw him there, swaying in the dimming light, his son clutched tightly to his chest, wrapped in burlap sacking. The boy's eyes were closed, and his head lolled backwards, mouth slack. Scott's right hand was outstretched, shaking, but the wandpoint was now zeroed right between my eyes. 'No sudden moves,' he cried in a soft voice, and I could hear the panic. 'I'll kill you if I have to. I swear I will.'

'But you don't have to. Merlin, I'm glad to see you. I've been so worried.' He hesitated, afraid to believe, and I added softly, 'Is the boy all right?'

His eyes flicked downward. 'He's just asleep. I keep putting him under. He's hungry. But all I've had to give him are eggs.'

Eggs. From the chicken coop. How long had he been here? 'What happened to Norma?' I asked.

His eyes filled with tears. 'Norma's dead. When she joined Dogstar, we put charms on our wedding rings. So we'd know. She'd gone to a meeting. I was waiting up for her and...I felt it burn. Thursday night, Friday morning. I only had time to grab Rory and run.' He licked his lips, on the brink of flight, or blasting me, or I don't know what. Terrified, and unsure what to do. 'Norma said--Norma said, if it all went to hell, that I should go to you. That maybe you would help.' His hand started shaking harder. 'If you're really Arthur Weasley. If the MLE didn't kidnap you and put a goon in your place with polyjuice.'

I kept my hands up and open. 'I'll help you. Let me get my wife.' He crouched lower, and I could tell he was just about to lose it. 'I'm taking my wand out,' I said, easing it slowly from my wand pocket. 'Just to call Molly. Watch.' I sent a patronus to the house. It was a risk, but I knew Molly was upstairs in the bedroom, and Percy was shut in his own room.

Oddly enough, the sight of the patronus seemed to steady him. He straightened up from his crouch, looking relieved. 'You are Arthur. Norma told me what your patronus was.' He thought for a minute. 'Did Norma ever tell you the nickname she used for me?'

I thought for a minute and remembered. Years ago she told me: it was 'Raven.' He raised his wand and an enormous silver raven patronus burst out the end of it. The goats stared up at it, chewing their cuds, absolutely unimpressed, as it circled the shed roof until it winked out. I let out a long, slow breath. He was who he said he was as well.

Molly came in then, and stopped in her tracks with a squeak. 'Oh my goodness!' She looked down at the boy in her arms, and said exactly the right thing: 'Oh, the poor little boy! He must be so hungry and frightened! I'll just nip into the house and make you both some sandwiches. And I'll get him a blanket, and perhaps a pillow...' she headed back to the house, muttering to herself.

And after that, it was all right. I convinced him to allow me to call Kingsley. We took them with side along apparation here to the Order Safe house number 3.

What on earth do we do with them?

Comments

[alt_frank]

I'll apparate over to the safe house.

al is going to talk to arabella.

we're going to have to wait til the boy is conscious enough to answer questions properly just to make sure.

we're going to have to ask about how involved he was in dogstar. sounds like it was mostly his wife, though.

[alt_frank]

arabella will want to know how fit you think he'd be for moddey. that, or we could send him and his boy to France.

[alt_molly]

I've packed a bag for them both, Arthur. Fortunately, I have some children's clothes in his size, since we had a swap today. And I can tuck in a toy or two. And perhaps some camping gear--but perhaps that can wait until you figure out where they'll be going.

[alt_sirius]

Merlin.

Dora told Ellie to clean up all the trays of dishes, which is our signal that there's something going on in the journals that I should go up and read.

Bugger all, Arthur. I'm sorry about Norma.

But it's a good job they did come to you. Have you asked what he wants? He may just want to get out after all he's been through.

[alt_arthur]

Yes, I think that was the case, actually. He stayed out of it, to keep the boy safe. But he did know about it; she told him a great deal. It would probably be very useful to debrief him.

Kingsley's being his most soothing, which helps. The man's still shaking quite a bit. It's obvious he's been under immense strain, barely able to sleep. He's been hiding here at the Burrow since that first night, in the hay pile in the goat shed during the day and roaming around a bit more at night. He obtained water from the river. But he's ravenous with hunger. And the boy's been under imperio for three days, to keep him quiet and sleepy, and to force him to eat those raw eggs. Scott hated it, but he didn't have much choice.

[alt_arthur]

I think he can't even begin to think about it until he has a couple of nights of sleep under his belt, without the fear that someone's going to stick a pitchfork into him, and then haul him off to get taken apart by MLE. He's still shaking from the adrenaline jag of confronting me.

I think once he's slept, the grief will hit him, too. He won't be fit to make too many decisions for a day or two at least.

[alt_arthur]

What about Sherwood?

Although that would be rough living for the boy, I suppose.

He might actually be safer in France, true. I'm sure that things will be hot for him here for months to come.

[alt_bill]

I'm glad you found him, Dad. And that it wasn't Percy's turn to shut up the goats tonight.

[alt_arthur]

Merlin. We can all give thanks for that.

[alt_poppy]

France is a good option. If he's willing. Things will be very dangerous here for them.

And for you, too, Arthur. I hate to think--

What if MLE have you under watch? They mustn't stay there any longer than necessary.

[alt_frank]

we're already at the safe house, but you're right, arthur shouldn't stay here much longer.

we take off for our smuggling run in a few weeks. so that's definitely on the table.

and if he needs to camp out in the safe house until then, we can keep him fed and under wards without compromising our security too badly.

[alt_sirius]

Agreed, Frank.

...

Have you been following Harry's posts tonight?

Poppy? What's wrong up there?

[alt_frank]

right.

no point in letting him make up his mind one way or the other until he's slept and eaten.

I'm pretty sure he'll stay where he's put for the time being, arthur, unless you or min think we ought to keep a twenty four hour watch on him. if not, we can check on him first thing in the morning.

[alt_kingsley]

I'm willing to stay, and I think it would be a good idea. It would at least discourage him from bolting in the morning. Arthur's right, he's really wound up. Can't blame him, with what he's been through.

I think we'll want to debrief him all we can about Dogstar, too. And depending on what he can tell us, that may take some time.

[alt_arthur]

He's responding well to Kingsley, so I'll leave the poor man and his son in Shacklebolt's capable hands. Headed for home now...don't want Percy to get suspicious about why I've been out doing the night chores for so long.

[alt_frank]

right.

Kingsley, man, you okay on your own tonight? I think it'd spook him too much to be outnumbered. and he likes you better.

I can go, come back tomorrow. that work for you?

[alt_arthur]

And yes. I'm rather devastated at the news about Norma, too.

A very good-hearted woman, toiling in the trenches of the Ministry doing the most thankless of tasks, and she didn't deserve this.

Damn. I am truly going to miss her.

[alt_kingsley]

Sure, we'll be fine. Bring a good breakfast when you come back, maybe some of Victor's pancakes if you can manage it. Hearty food after a decent night's rest always makes things look better.

[alt_nymphadora]

That's such a shame. I'm sorry.