Double Dog Dare! -- Episode 30
Lev, 5 October 2002

The world around Sirius Black blurred into a swirling mass. When it refocused, one person stood before him - Harry Potter, but different than the last time Sirius saw him. His eyes were dead, his gaze blank. Two other figures emerged from the twisted world. It was James and Lily. Lily put her arm on Harry's shoulder and turned him around. James stared at Sirius with accusing eyes. Then he too turned around and the three Potters disappeared into the darkness.

"No! James, I'm sorry!" shouted Sirius. "Harry! Come back!"

He fell to his knees, ignoring the sudden pain in his face.

"Black! Black!" shouted Severus Snape as he slapped Sirius, "Snap out of it!"

Severus was so preoccupied that failed to see Fidelis lying unconscious at his feet, Nor did he notice the figure behind him until she grabbed his throat, immobilizing him. Janet just shook her head as she looked at the two wizards. Then she laughed.

"It's the lingering effects of my dementor concoction, but I'm sure the great Potions Master already knew that," she said.

"Accck!" Severus responded, desperately fighting for air.

With her free hand, Janet pulled a rolled up piece of parchment from her robes. She held it up to Severus and slapped him hard across the face.

"I believe you wanted this," she said, "The map of Azkaban."

Snape's eyes grew wide. He felt blood run down his cheek.

"I see now what I should have done before," she snarled, "I don't need this anymore, and I don't want you or Dumbledore to get it."

She held the map high above her head and her fist burst into flames. Severus, still gasping for breath, recoiled from the heat. When the fire died down all that was left in her hand was ash, which she licked from her palm.

"Now the map is a part of me forever, and no one can have it," she cried. Janet threw Severus against the wall, knocking him out. She turned her attention to Sirius, who was still sobbing on the floor.

"Poor, poor pet," she said, "This experience will haunt you forever. Perhaps next time you should think twice about looking in strange basements."

Looking down, she noticed the black buttons on the floor. She smiled to herself.

"Probably nothing," she said, "But why take the chance?"

She recited a spell and one by one, the buttons vanished. Then she disappeared.

~*~*~*~*~

Mafalda chuckled to herself. "Molly did you get it?"

Molly placed a parcel on the table. She grinned rather broadly. "Oh yes," she said. "You should have been there, Mafalda. The Muggle clerk who sold them to me was so embarrassed. I swear he turned three different shades of red."

The two women laughed.

"So the question is how we're going to be getting my troublesome twins back to me so that they don't make a mess of things," Molly asked with a sigh.

"Well, Charlie and Ron volunteered to find them. I imagine they'll have a far easier time at it than Arthur, Minerva, and Albus at the Ministry. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone about the plan yet."

"Good," said Molly. She looked at the clock on the wall. The hands denoting Ron and Charlie neared those of Fred and George. She wondered if she should worry that all four hands approached the hour of Mortal Danger.

Mafalda lit a fire in the hearth. "Do you want to call Arthur or should I?" she asked.

"You do it," Molly giggled. "He won't believe me when I tell him what I bought. In fact, he may not be able to handle it. Maybe it will be better if he knows the Ministry financed it."

Both women burst into hysterical giggles again. For five minutes neither one could stop, hooting louder whenever they tried to look one another in the eye.

Finally Mafalda, gasping for breath, said, "Who would have thought that the two most powerful and evil witches of this generation would have a mortal weakness for vintage, Muggle, gay pornography magazines?"

"I think," Molly said, wiping a tear from her eye, "Little Janet is going to regret visiting Big Sister at Hogwarts. She should have stayed at Durmstrang where she belonged."

Molly and Mafalda fell to the floor trying to restrain their laughter.

~*~*~*~*~

Charlie and Ron found Fred, George, and Jason walking around Knockturn Alley, looking very nervous. Charlie shook his head.

"Oi! What are you three doing?" he shouted. Fred jumped nearly three feet.

Putting on a brave face, George walked up to Charlie and said, "Looking for Death Eaters. What else?"

Charlie rolled his eyes. "And you think they're going to be around here?"

"Where else would they be?" asked Fred.

"Some place the Ministry doesn't know anything about," Charlie replied.

"Harry told us he saw Lucius Malfoy here a few years ago," said George.

"Who?" asked Jason.

"Death Eater. A big and scary one," said Fred, "And if Harry came, I thought we should."

"So that's why you came," said Ron, "You came here because Harry's been here."

"You're daft," said Fred, "But it doesn't hurt to check all the options. Especially after his letter."

"I don't understand any of this," said Jason.

"Don't worry, we'll explain it all when we get home," said Ron.

"I would think you should explain now," said a harsh, high- pitched voice, "After all, you won't be going home."

They all turned around to see the black robed, crimson eyed figure of Voldemort standing before them, his arms loaded with shopping bags.

His mind numb from fear, Ron momentarily wondered if Voldemort got his supplies for free or if he had to pay for them.

~*~*~*~*~

Margo Channing sat outside the Traitor's Gate, the hidden cave that began beneath Azkaban and led to the sea. On her belt she wore the sword that her sister had given her. Now it was rusted and eroded from the blood of dementors who had foolishly wandered into her cell. Though she liked the sword very much, she knew she had to part with it. She threw the sword into the sea and watched it sink.

"You do that with all your presents," said a voice from within the cave, "I used to wonder why people ever gave you anything at all." Janet stepped out of the cave smiling.

"Had to," said Margo, "Can't arouse suspicion, even the slightest bit. Not with the end so close. Mother wouldn't have wanted it that way."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Our Carol was a very subtle woman. It's a shame Dumbledore killed her."

"I suppose she gave him no choice," said Margo, "But I'm surprised she was careless enough to confront him."

"Mum must have been certain she would win their duel if she did that," said Janet. "Dumbledore's a tricky one though. I suppose in death she taught us her most important lesson - never get too confident."

Both sisters were silent for a moment.

From her black leather robes, Janet pulled a bottle of wine and two goblets. She poured a glass for Margo and a glass for herself.

"To Mum!" they toasted.

"So what're you going to do next?" Margo asked.

"I'm not sure. Snape and Black are slippery devils, so I'll probably have to kill them. And Dumbledore has been made aware of me. I need something to divert his attention. Perhaps it's time for some indisputable evidence to be found against certain high ranking Death Eaters. Like the corpses of Snape and Black in their houses."

"So which former colleagues will be joining me here?" Margo asked, an evil grin spreading across her face.

"Malfoy and that spineless toad, Avery. They'll pay for what happened to Baby Crouch with their freedom. And when they get here, make sure to give them an appropriate welcome."

Margo nodded and cackled with glee.

"Good-bye for now," said Janet. She gave Margo a kiss on the cheek, handed her a present ("Try not to throw this one away," Janet said.) and disappeared. Margo remained seated by the Traitor's Gate, watching the sun set over the water. When the first stars appeared, she turned back into the cave, and kissed her old wand. It felt so good to have it in her possession again.