Dementors and the Death Eater

Marysia looked up at Kingsley Shacklebolt, concerned. "What?"

"Marysia, I'm an Auror. Kingsley Shacklebolt is my name. I think that this wizard is, or could possible be, a Death Eater." He was being friendly, but his demeanor was professional and his eyes were serious.

Just like my dad when he wants me to travel with him... Only this won't be as pleasurable. Marysia braced herself to hear the worst.

Fred kept a reassuring arm around her shoulders. Marysia's look of fear was apparent, but not because Kingsley is an Auror, at least not this time. Fred could see the difference. Her eyes were skeptical, but questioning, when she looked at Kingsley before he mentioned Death Eater.

"I'm going to place you back under some of the spells this wizard put on you. I will confound your memories about these papers, try and hide the memory of Bill getting them." Kingsley watched her face as he spoke. "It will protect Bill and yourself. Maybe this wizard won't realize you're not under his control, at least long enough for him to make a mistake. And I'll be watching you."

Well, he's being reasonable, but can an Auror do that? Are they allowed? Marysia nodded. "Alright then," she said apprehensively and looked at Fred inhaling deeply.

Reading her concern, Fred gave her a slight squeeze. "It will be alright; you can trust him."

"You said that you have been remodeling a shop?" Kingsley asked patiently. "Which one?"

"The shop – it's up the street a bit, not too far from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, just past Gringotts. It's an expansion of my aunt's shop, Annie Ett's Bed Bath and Body Boutique."

She was shaking again, Fred noted, and he rubbed his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

Kingsley smiled. "My wife will be pleased! She loves that shop – a regular customer. So what is the layout? Is it anything like the one in Hogsmeade?"

"Yes, it has the same floor plan and about the same size. The shop is as close to the original as I can make it. Aunt Annette wanted customers who walk in to feel like they were in the Hogsmeade shop. But I don't have space for the private garden, of course, so I have set up an atrium in the back. Marysia thought for a moment, He hid in the pantry once, followed her into the workroom... "There is a small storeroom, more like a walk in pantry behind the counter, under the stairs. There are also the workroom and a small storeroom downstairs," she pointed out.

Kingsley nodded, thinking as she described the shop in detail. "Hum, fine then – that's good. I know the Hogsmeade shop well."

"She already has the sign up in the window and a plaque above the door," Fred added. "You can't miss it, and there are potted plants and a flowering vine."

"It's a clematis," George stated. Fred and Kingsley both turned to him. "Growing on the side of the shop, a clematis vine. Mum has one like it on the fence at home."

Marysia remembered something else: he would come into my flat from the shop... "I have a two bedroom flat upstairs with a large patio balcony in the front. It's accessible from the stairs behind the counter. But he usually came in when the workers were still around... or when I came back from dinner." I think.

"Alright then, are you ready, young lady?" Kingsley asked. Fred and George watched as Kingsley placed the spells on Marysia and carefully confused her memories about the night before, blurring any memory of Fred or George seeing the papers, of meeting Bill and Mr. Weasley, and eliminated the memory of meeting the Auror. After asking her several questions, Kingsley nodded, satisfied. He said bye to Fred and George and left to watch the street for the wizard she'd described.

"I need to get to the shop!" Marysia exclaimed suddenly as if waking from a trance.

"I'm going with you," Fred announced as George's eyebrows disappeared into his hair. "I'm going to be around just in case his guy tries anything on you. I'll protect you like I did last night," he said with a wink.

"Better yet, you could come in and help," Marysia replied, flicking her fingers as quotes when she said help. "Margaretta is coming today with the products and all the supplies for setting up the work room. You could come and go as you need to all day if you want." Marysia liked the idea of having him around.

George shook his head, but Fred raised his hand. "I finished most of the potions we needed to do today. If Marysia helps again, we can finish the rest after dinner," Fred countered George's look of complaint. "We can both do three potions each, with Marysia helping?" Fred asked with a look questioning whether this was a good idea.

She shrugged and nodded. "If not, we could do three of them after you close up the shop and then finish the other three after dinner? It will take longer, but would be easier."

"So we can have all the potions caught up tonight," Fred stated, turning back to George.

"I don't know," George said, but he knew Fred had his mind made up. "I'd like to try brewing three potions at the same time... It looked hard – fun, but hard."

*~****~*

Fred walked with Marysia to her shop, keeping alert for any signs of the wizard she'd described, but didn't see him. Looking in the window of her shop, he saw two women were already there; a middle-aged witch, who was carrying boxes out of the fireplace, and a younger witch, who disappeared behind the counter carrying a large box. The witch stepping from the Floo set her pile of boxes down and Apparated out. As Marysia entered the door Fred held open for her, there was an excited, high-pitched squeal followed immediately by a small darting figure that ran straight for her. She deftly caught the petite house-elf in a swoop, spinning her around in a hug, before kissing her on the head and setting her down.

This obviously happens all the time, Fred thought, amused. The petite house-elf looked up at Fred curiously and then skipped off. The house-elf, he noticed, had lace sewn on the pillowcase she wore, and it was tied around her chest with a wide ribbon in a perfect bow on her back. Quite a few witches were waiting in the atrium and came into the shop as she arrived. Marysia gave Fred a warm smile and followed Margaretta to the table set up in the atrium to interview the first one.

The shop looked quite different without the construction equipment, paint buckets and extra boards stacked around. Instead there were boxes beginning to pile up on the hardwood floor. Everything was painted a soft off-white color, trimmed in a very pale sunrise-gold. Behind the counter a staircase with a delicately carved banister curved and disappeared. The windows to the atrium took up the entire back wall behind the staircase, and it was full with plants already, many in bloom. The fireplace, made of warm sandstone, sat on the wall opposite the counter, and a rug was rolled up on the floor next to it. Even empty this is such a ladies' shop, he mused. No mistaking that!

The house-elf ran around, happily placing products on the shelves, her ears bouncing. The house-elf, Tobpi, seemed to know on which shelf everything needed to be, taking products from each box, placing them on the shelves. The older witch reappeared with several more cases of products from the Floo, setting them down on a counter with the rattle and clinking sounds of ceramic and glass containers. The little house-elf immediately ran over to take a large box, to carry it over to the shelf where she intended to place the items. Fred casually pulled out his wand to help move the other boxes to where the house-elf was working and to clear the counter for the next delivery. Within a few minutes the witch appeared with more cases, and Fred, smiling, sent them flying with the Banishing Charm across the shop to land expertly next to the house-elf.

"She'll wear you out if you try to keep her pace," said a warm and friendly voice behind him coming from a shapely, slightly heavy woman. "I'm Marysia's aunt's sister, Margaretta."

"Fred Weasley," he said, extending his hand. She looked up, surprised as she shook it.

"Not Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' Fred Weasley?" She had that look of awe and respect that gave him an inner sense of pride.

"The very one," he said, smiling at her.

"Oh my! Stocking our shelves? Just won't do!" Fred laughed at her. Her charm was magnetic. "We are so hoping that Marysia chooses to work for us permanently, but she passed all her classes with Outstandings and earned a place at the Healer's Academy in the Potions master's class," Margaretta said, giving him a warm smile, and then she turned her gaze, watching Marysia, who was talking to a young wizard at the counter. "She intends to do both, running the shop as a manager around her course schedule at St Mungo's until she decides." She suddenly gave Fred a frolicsome grin. "Maybe you can help her choose?"

Fred smiled back, laughing at Margaretta's innuendo. "I've seen her potions work; she's very good."

Margaretta nodded, brimming with pride. "Yes, she is."

Figured Marysia would want to take on both jobs. It will keep her very busy, he thought. But it will mean she'll be living here, at least.

As the older witch appeared yet again with more boxes and set them down, Fred sent one box sailing easily from the fireplace with a swish of his wand. She stopped to thank him, introducing herself as Almaline.

"Fred, Fred Weasley. It's nice to meet you," he said in return.

"Oh! Are you really? Oh my goodness," she responded, surprised, her eyes instantly flashing with respect and recognition. She chatted briefly with him, then Apparated out. Each time Almaline reappeared from the Floo, Fred moved the boxes to where she indicated, and Tobpi placed the products where they belonged. Between the three of them, the work went quickly as the house-elf bounced around.

Except for the times between Almaline's appearances and disappearances, Fred spent most of the day watching as Marysia moved around between interviews and helped set up the back work area. She gave every indication that her intention was to run the shop, and Fred was hopeful she would.

By late afternoon, Margaretta, Marysia and Fred ate a late lunch of sandwiches from the restaurant Marysia liked best as the women talked over plans for the shop and its possible employees. It was obvious that both women had liked the same three, and Marysia had liked the young wizard that had applied for stock boy. Marysia filled out the appointment cards usually used for special invitational lunch appointments for the witches she wanted hire.

By the end of the day, the shop was almost ready for its opening. The shelves were half full already with the colorful jars, bottles, vials, boxes and canisters, all neatly lined up and displayed. Fred knew he had to go home too, help close up their shop and all. Tobpi's lip quivered when she was told they were through for the day until Marysia picked her up and said she was needed the next day, which made Topbi smile again. She hugged the petite house-elf and set her gently back on her feet before the house-elf popped out. Margaretta gave both Marysia and Fred hugs as the two women said their cheerful good-byes before Margaretta joined Almaline inside the fireplace. Almaline called out, "Annie Ett's – Hogsmeade," as she threw down the Floo powder, and they vanished in an eruption of green flame.

"Why didn't she just Apparate?' Fred asked as he watched them go.

"Margaretta can't," Marysia said quietly. "Side-along Apparation terrifies her."

"Never passed her Apparation test?" Fred assumed. He knew someone who had severely splinched himself and never got over it.

Watching his face cautiously, Marysia said hesitantly, "Never went to magic school." Fred looked back at her, puzzled.

Marysia paused a while before explaining, her voice unsure of his reaction. "Didn't you notice that she didn't use any magic at all?" Fred shook his head. "Margaretta is the nicest, kindest person I know. She has incredible business sense, and she can do any figure in her head. She went to Muggle school and has a degree in business." Marysia waited to see if he caught on.

"She's a Squib?" he stated, surprised.

Marysia winced. "I hate that word," she replied, but nodded, surveying his reactions.

Fred suddenly caught on. She wants to know if I'm prejudice against Squibs? "She has a magnetic charm about her," he stated, remembering his first impression when meeting her.

Marysia smiled warmly. "Yes, she does. And she keeps this business going. I admire the fact that she and her sister went into business together. You'd love my Aunt Annette too. People say we are very much alike."

Fred inclined his head to go, but Marysia wanted to get a 'few things' first. "I'll be right behind you. I'll catch up to you at your shop." She turned and ran upstairs. He shrugged and went outside.

*~****~*

Her flat had been ransacked: boards lifted up, cupboards all opened, several torn off, all the boxes and crates opened or smashed. Marysia moved carefully through the flat, her wand drawn. Everything was still and quiet and very cold. She cautiously entered her room, relaxing when it appeared empty and lowered her wand. It's really cold in here, she observed, and a shiver ran down her spine. Like the rest of the flat, it had been ruthlessly ransacked. Then the door closed behind her.

The wizard in black robes and menacing eyes, who had been terrorizing her, stood blocking her escape. A Dementor floated at his side. "Welcome back, young lady. I've been waiting for you," he snarled.

Marysia was petrified with shock and fear. "What do you want?" she managed to say, her voice a mere squeak.

"You have something I want obviously," he said, his voice controlled and cold.

"What?" Her fears were escalating, and she was freezing, but she couldn't move, couldn't cry out. The Dementor hovered, waiting.

The wizard moved into the room, getting close, followed by the Dementor. She turned toward the patio as an escape and saw another Dementor hovering outside the glass doors. The Dementor in the room hovered nearer, closer to her, and she screamed in terror.

"Tell me where the diary is, and I'll have it back off," the wizard demanded.

"What diary?" she cried, the confusion in her mind mixed with her fear.

"Don't play games with me. I know it is here. I followed it here," he snarled. "Give – it – to – me."

"I don't have it!" she screamed. The Dementor outside the glass doors was opening them and coming inside. All thought vanished as she watched, horror struck. The other was hovering above her now; its hands and face visible.

"Liar! Your father sent it to you," the wizard berated menacingly.

"I don't know what you mean. He's sent a lot of stuff to me!" she pleaded as she fell to her knees.

"I know it is here. Where have you hidden it? I'll tear this place apart if I have to," his voice rose in anger. The second Dementor joined the first, its hood pulled back, and Marysia tried to turn, to avoid looking at its face and its hands, either of them...

The Dementors lunged at her, and Marysia screamed again, feeling sick and faint at the same time.

Suddenly, Fred and George erupted through her bedroom door as she collapsed in a huddle on the floor.

*~*****~*

Fred watched her fly up the stairs to her flat, waited a moment, and then stepped outside to wait for her. He waved at George as he crossed the street. "Where's Marysia?" George asked as Fred approached.

"She said she had to 'get something'. How much more could she have?" Fred asked, amused.

"Fred, she's a girl! They have lots of stuff..." he answered laughing, and then stopped short. A dark shadow seemed to roll up the wall by Annie Ett's Bed Bath and Body Boutique. It wasn't the shadow that made him freeze; it was the climbing clematis vine on the wall as it shriveled and died instantly from frost that caught his attention. "Fred – Marysia!" he cried. "Quick – grab Shield Cloaks!"

Fred didn't turn around, he simply Apparated with his brother into the shop. They both grabbed Shield Hats and Cloaks and then Apparated to the atrium of her shop.

As they entered into the shop itself, they heard Marysia screaming upstairs and bolted up to her. The door to her flat opened easily. "Her room should be down this way..." Fred said in a throaty whisper, and they ran to where her room should be.

Not taking any chances Fred fiercely thrust his wand at the door. "Bombarda!" he yelled, shattering the door, and Fred and George burst in ready to fight.

"Expecto Patronum," George yelled, and his wand burst a sliver light that became a large orangutan Patronus that flew at the Dementors, causing them to freeze midair. Marysia seemed to slump to the floor as the Dementors floated up toward the ceiling.

Simultaneously, Fred aimed the Bat-Bogey Hex at the Death Eater. Winged lumps sprouted on the face of the Death Eater and began attacking his face.

George struggled with the Dementors as they lunged yet again, trying to descend toward Marysia, who was now lying on the floor. The orangutan Patronus held its ground, arms and legs flailing, keeping them away from her. Slowly, George's Patronus pushed the Dementors away, along the ceiling, toward the open glass doors, and their hoods once again covered their hideous faces.

Fred fired another curse at the Death Eater, which struck a glancing blow as he swung at the flying Bogies around his face. The Death Eater fired curses that bounced around the room as he and Fred struggled to hit each other. Fred effectively sidestepped a green jet of light from the Death Eater's wand and fired off a Stunning spell. It hit the Death Eater's left arm, making it hang limply at his side.

George, meanwhile, was holding his ground, and his Patronus finally managed to push the Dementors into the open doorway of the balcony. George moved to avoid Fred and the Death Eater as they fought. He felt a glancing blow on his shoulder as a spell repelled off his cloak.

Fred was having better luck than the Death Eater, the shield hat and cloak helping to deflect wizard's spells. Both the Death Eater and Fred were heading toward the glass doors of the balcony, where George was chasing the Dementors off with his Patronus.

The orangutan Patronus, waving arms and legs wildly, finally chased the Dementors off as they escaped out the glass doors, over the balcony patio and into the night.

Marysia lifted herself up, her terror seeming to slack off as she looked up at Fred fighting against her foe, but she was feeble, woozy, and unable to rise. Her memories of the wizard's visits were becoming clearer and more focused as shame and anger mixed with her fear. She couldn't help them, Even if I could aim a spell at him, it might hit Fred! She felt worthless.

Fred's attacks pushed the Death Eater out onto the balcony patio. Even as he fired another curse at Fred, the Death Eater in his long cloak slipped on the wet tiles on the patio floor. Water from the potted plants, Fred noted. I'll have to thank whoever had watered for her. He gave George a nod without taking his eyes off the Death Eater, and together they shouted spells: Fred, the Jelly-Legs Jinx and George, the Furnunculus curse.

Marysia watched, stunned, as Fred and George stood their ground in the doorway. If anything happens to him – them, it will be my fault... How could I have been so stupid to let him get to me... If Fred and George hadn't come... I'd be... dead.

The Death Eater's imbalanced footing distracted him, and he fell as the curse and jinx hit him squarely. He slumped to the floor, a revolting lump. The large winged bogies were now flapping around a swollen face. There were thousands of small tentacles that broke out all over his face, arms and hands, and he fell onto the iron guardrail and potted plants that surrounded the patio. Even with the wiggling tentacles on his arms, the Dark Mark could be seen clearly on his left forearm.

Kingsley Shacklebolt suddenly burst into the room next to Marysia. "You cannot Apparate in here!" he bellowed. "Is everyone okay?" He moved quickly out onto the balcony and applied the Body-Binding spell on the squirming Death Eater.

Fred and George gave each other a high five. "Chalk one up for the D.A!" they cried.

Marysia retched.

*~*****~*

Author's Notes:

I owe a big debt of gratitude to Phoenix and Notsosaintly for all their hard work and time in cleaning this story up and making it presentable. Thank you both. I appreciate it more either of you can you know.