Double Dog Dare! -- Episode 25
Mona, 10 June 2002

Molly Weasley finished drying the lunch dishes and with a distracted flick of her wand sent the last plate flying into the cupboard. Her attention was directed through the kitchen window into the backyard where Fred, George, and Ron ("We missed what?!") were giving Jason his first flying lesson while a sullen Jeremy was working out his frustration at being completely unmagical and earthbound by helping Charlie de-gnome the garden.

Her heart stopped momentarily as Jason did a particularly steep dive, pulling up at what seemed the last possible moment. He then zoomed back to his cousins (as fast as the old Clean Sweep could zoom), where high-fives were exchanged all around.

Shaking her head, Molly had to admit the boy had an affinity for the broom. Blood runs true, she thought proudly and with a hint of a smile. But Jason's need to prove himself a wizard coupled with the normal illusions of immortality of the average fourteen-year-old had her convinced that he would likely break his neck before the afternoon was out.

"As if Vera isn't beside herself enough at this point," she muttered irritably. The elder McCarthys had all but bolted from The Burrow as soon as it was possible, and they had remained holed up at their hotel ever since. Jason and Jeremy had been given permission to stay with their cousins after the Weasleys convinced Michael and Vera that it was a good opportunity for Jason to start acclimating to his new status.

And with the events of the past few days, Molly couldn't bring herself to chastise the boys. Not only did Jason have the newfound discovery of his wizarding nature to come to terms with, but he had seen a vision that few wizards had the misfortune to see. The image of Vol- You-Know-Who had understandably shaken the boy, though he had tried to hide his reaction behind a show of teenage bravado.

Unable to watch any longer after seeing Jason stuff himself into a bush ("Hey Fred, watch this Ð OOF!"), Molly looked instead at the grandfather clock in the corner and sighed. Arthur's hand still pointed at "Work", as it had for 3 days straight. After the effects of the twins' tea had worn off, a much-less haughty Addison DeWitt ("I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours Ð bawk!") had released the magical barriers around The Burrow and Arthur had summoned Minerva to help him figure out how to handle things at the Ministry.

Thankfully, they found Mafalda stunned in her office, but otherwise unharmed. According to Arthur, her first words on being apprised of the situation had been "When I get my hands on that treacherous prick, I'll make him wish he was having an audience with his "Dark Lord" instead!" Molly smiled outright at the thought. She liked Mafalda.

***

Viviane, Sirius, and Dumbledore watched the corner of the house around which they had seen Fidelis disappear. It had taken some time, but with the information that Janet revealed to Black during his captivity and Fidelis' strong psychic connection to his Master, they had been able to track Tewksberry and her captive.

"I'm not convinced that this is going to work," Sirius growled. "I could have dug through the wall in a fraction of the time that it's taking Fidelis. Janet could return at any moment, you know, and then-" He broke off, shuddering.

"Time is indeed of the essence, Mr. Black," Dumbledore nodded gravely. "But as we discussed, Fidelis is the only one who can slip through the wards unnoticed. We can't afford to lose the element of surprise, unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Dogboy, your track record thus far leaves you in no position to criticize," Viviane snarled. The combination of worry over Snape's condition and rage over the theft of her sword had blackened her mood nearly beyond recovery. "In any case, I'm looking forward to meeting up with that psychopathic bi-"

"Professor Chance, please," Dumbledore interrupted before Viviane could finish ramping up into full-metal revenge mode yet again. She shot him a look that made him thankful she was currently unarmed. "Hrm, yes. I mean, we must stay focused on the task at hand. Once we have Severus safely out of there, we can turn our attention to dealing with Janet Tewksberry."

"But how long are we going to wait? It's been over an hour and-"

"Black, shut up and look." Shaking a clump of the damnable swamp muck off her sleeve , Viviane pointed. Disappointment and fear rose in her throat as she watched Fidelis run towards them. Alone.

The small puppy stopped in front of the three very worried humans and looked at the mangy one expectantly. Sirius quickly changed into dog form and a conversation of barks, growls and whines ensued. After several minutes, Black changed back, relieved but puzzled.

"He's fine. And he has his wand."

"Well then where is he? Does he need our help in breaking through the barriers? What are we waiting for?" Vivane drew her wand and started determinedly for the house.

"Viviane, stop!" Sirius grabbed her arm. "He wants us to wait. Now that he has his wand, he has a plan to get the map back and take care of Janet. But he has to play along until she takes him to the meeting."

At this, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, looking quite Snapien with not a twinkle in sight. "Meeting? With whom?"

Before Sirius could answer, Fidelis tugged at the old wizard's robes and answered, almost cheerily, "Rrrrrol-de-rort!"