Double Dog Dare! -- Episode 6
Lev, 22 December 2001

She's beautiful," thought Sirius as he watched Janet Tweksberry play with Fidelis. "But there's something not quite right. Her voice. The way she talks - it's so familiar.

"Mr. Lennox," Janet called from across the yard, "Your dog is so precious."

"Fidelis is actually not my dog. I'm watching him for a..." Sirius paused. He did not want to say 'friend' aloud. "I'm watching him for an acquaintance of mine. And please, call me Linus." His voice wavered as he said the name.

"I've never seen you in Ottery St. Catchpole. Are you new here?"

"No," Sirius answered a bit too gruffly. "I'm, uh, just passing through."

"There's not much here to see," laughed Janet.

There was an awkward silence between the two of them. Finally Janet spoke.

"Please, Linus, come inside and I'll fix you and Fidelis something to eat. It's not every day that a handsome man comes to watch me sunbathe."

"Aren't you afraid of letting a strange man in your house?"

"Not at all. I can take care of myself. Besides, I imagine that you lost your best chance to try anything naughty."

She laughed as Sirius blushed and followed her into the house.

"Merlin's beard, this is exactly what I wanted," thought Sirius. Snape had told Dumbledore that the house belonged to a Death Eater killed by the Aurors. Buried in the basement was a map of Azkaban. And not just any map, it was an Azkaban version of the Marauders' Map. With it, Voldemort would have no trouble freeing the Lestranges. The thought of Margo Lestrange free and at the Dark Lord's side caused him to shudder involuntarily. Somehow he had to distrace this Muggle woman and get into her basement. looking at Fidelis trotting beside him, he suddenly quite glad that Dumbledore insisted he take the dog.

Even luckier, Janet gave Sirius a tour of the house. He became a little uneasy as she pointed out "the bedroom" on multiple occasions. But at least now he knew the location of the basement door.

When Janet went into the kitchen, he quickly transfigured so he could speak to Fidelis.

"I'm going to pretend to have stomach cramps and ask to go to the loo, but I'll really go to the basement. I need you to keep Janet distracted so she does look for me. Do you think you can be cute?"

Fidelis glared at him in such a way that there was no doubt to whom he belonged. Sirius understood and apologized for questioning the dog's professional ethics, reassuring the dog that he was the best partner Sirius ever worked with.

As he heard Janet approach, he quickly transfigured himself back to normal and readjusted his clothes. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about his mussed hair.

"Here you go. Some fruit and chocolate. Nothing fancy, but it works well for a first meal together."

Janet seemed particularly interested in finding out about Sirius's past. She asked so many questions that he began to have a bit of dificulty making up lies.

After about ten minutes, he clutched his stomach and started to groan slightly.

"Janet, I'm sorry. It's my stomach."

"Oh dear. I hope it was nothing I gave you."

"No. I had some bad fish yesterday. I think it was spoiled."

"The door is down the hall to your left, dear."

As Sirius left the kitchen he heard Fidelis bark for Janet's attention.

"Okay, cutie-pie," she said, "but first let me change into something more appropriate for playing with dogs."

Sirius ran down to the basement to find - nothing. No boxes, no junk, no keepsakes. He searched every corner hoping to find a secret wall, but was disappointed.

"Are you looking for this perhaps, Sirius Black?" hissed a sultry voice behind him.

Sirius spun around to see Janet holding a parchment scroll in one hand. In her other she pointed a wand at him. Dressed in sleek black robes, she looked menacingly familiar. Why was he unable to place her face?

"Who are you?" he hoarsely asked.

"First thing first. Encapture!" Two chains appeared out of her wand and pinned Sirius's arms and legs.

"Where's Fidelis?" he yelled, fearing the worst.

"The little mutt saw me with a wand and ran out of the house. Look's like he's the smarter one."

"Who are you? Why do you have a map of Azkaban?" Sirius asked again.

"I have a map, because I'm going to use it. And as to your first question. My name is Janet Tewksberry, I didn't lie. But my birth name was Janet Channing. I believe you knew my sister, Margo."

"Sirius's eyes widened in horror. Margo Channing was the maiden name of Margo Lestrange.

"You're her sister? Why have I never heard of you?"

"Patience, dear. We have plenty of time to talk. You're not leaving here after all. Stupefy!"

Sirius Black fell the ground unconscious.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On the other side of town, Fred and George Weasley walked into the Burrow to find their mother frantically cleaning with and without her wand.

"Mum, what's up? Why the mad cleaning?" asked Fred.

Molly Weasley looked more harried than usual. "I have some distant cousins coming in from America. They're in town now. They were on a tour, but they're stopping by for a visit."

"We have cousins in America?" asked George, "Why haven't we ever heard about them before?"

Molly stopped cleaning for a moment. "They're squibs. That entire branch of the family. All squibs and all accountants. They moved to America and we don't discuss them." Then she added viciously, "I don't want any talk about magic while they're here. They may not know. And I don't want your father to have to cast a memory charm on them."

"Fine. Sure," said Fred. "What are their names?"

"My cousin is named Vera McCarthy and her husband is Michael. They have two sons, Jason and Jeremy."

Fred looked at George who looked helplessly back at him.

"Oh yes," Molly continued, "Since Charlie, Ron, and Ginny are camping, you two will have to entertain the boys. And if you so much as cause one problem or cast one tiny spell, I promise to bring it back on you tenfold." She stormed out of the room.

"Fred," said George, "Do you think we'll remember each other when she's through with us?"

"I'm just hoping we'll remember our own names," replied Fred glumly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sirius awoke to find himself chained against the wall and Janet sitting on a stool watching him. In the dying light of the setting sun she looked so much like her sister, it was a wonder that he had not immediately recognized the connection.

"We have so much to discuss, Sirius Black. I imagine that you won't give me answers willingly. So I won't bother to ask. Imperio!"

Sirius felt his mind start to slip away, but he fought hard to hold on. Gripping every muscle he won the struggle only to find a malicious smile on Janet's face.

"I had so hope it would work, but Dumbledore only trusts the best, doesn't he? It's a pity. Thanks to the Aurors I am a widow, and I did want some pleasure. Luckily for me, I get pleasure from torture. Not so lucky for you, I'm afraid. Crucio!"

Sirius screamed loudly as the pain surged through his body.

Janet Tewksberry just laughed.