#potteringpctter

LILY braced herself when they arrived to the safehouse, not wanting to show the death eater how utterly broken she felt over the lose of her child, the thought of how he might be with each passing moment never leaving her. Were they feeding him, cleaning him? He was a baby a small baby barely two years old, did any of those monsters even know how to take care of a small child? Still, she'd managed to compose herself when they entered the basement, she sat her kit down on a corner table before turning to him her face twisting when he spoke. Her green eyes blazed with anger, the sight of him growing it tenfold upon remembering he was the reason they took her son. "Your friends, took our son." She said stepping closer. "You're going to tell us everything because I have lost all concern for your wellbeing at this point."

AMYCUS could kind of see it now, what Potter saw in her. She was hot when she was angry. Mean, in a different way than the women he usually interacted with, but still crazy hot. She was every bit as fiery as her red hair. His jaw ticked, but he kept his cool demeanor. The Death Eaters took Harry? Curiouser and curiouser. "You took me first," he pointed out, sounding bored but his interest was piqued. "-and I don't have any friends, so I don't know who you're referring to, but my condolences for your loss."

ALICE lingered in the back; there was a fire and anger in her eyes that she didn’t bother dampening. This man - boy - before her was part of the organization that had stolen away her friends’ little boy, while her own son slept beside him. They destroyed Arabella’s home. She had no sympathy for Amycus as she watched Lily display her own rage. She couldn’t wait to see the redhead enact a mother’s wrath upon him. So she lingered near the door, Frank near, as she watched with cruel satisfaction written on her face.

JAMES quickly stepped forward, although angry and wanting to burn down the world, he knew Amycus, specifically was not to blame for this particularly interaction. After all, he wasn't the reason why their son was kidnapped. No, even James could see that. He gently took Lily's hand, pulling her away from Amycus for a second before whispering low in her ear. "It's not going to get us anywhere if we're cruel to him," he said. "Trust me. I know him... Just, let me try something?"  He met her eyes then, strong, hoping she wouldn't mind the interruption.

LILY ignored the interjection about them taking the death eater first. If only so she wasn't reminded that it was her completely sound and sober decision to do so in the first place. That kind of reminder would only derail her. She reared closer to him her jaw ticking, "Let's not kid ourselves by assuming you have more than two brain cells, but if I were you I'd be making good use of them right about now because god help you if I don't get my son back,-" She was cut off mid tirade when James pulled her back and she whirled on him eyes blazing as brightly as the deep red of her hair. "I don't care much about his comfort right now James! Or are you forgetting he associates with the likes of the scum who have Harry? Who knows how many children he's robbed from their parents himself!" She exclaimed not nearly as quietly as her husband. Though at his affirmation and request she settled somewhat. "Fine. I'll get the serum ready."

ALICE flinches at Lily’s tirade. Although this is exactly what she’d expected, exactly what she hoped her friend would unleash, it was different to hear it. She took a tentative step forward, but didn’t continue. Anger and recklessness might very well ruin this interrogation. The collection of information needed to be done precisely, carefully. She allowed the two parents to take charge until they stepped too far, or not far enough, although she doubted the latter would be an issue.

JAMES knew that the request must've seemed out of the blue. But he also knew Amycus. Knew him from school, from times when the pair, although unlikely, would sit at The Leaky together and talk. It wasn't as if he wasn't angry, or that he particularly even cared about Amycus' comfort at this point. But, not every interrogation needed to be pins and needles. "Lil," he said, trying to calm her, gently meeting her eyes for potentially the first time since they'd learned their son was kidnapped. "Trust me." As she left, James shook his head softly and went and sat down in front of Amycus, spinning the chair around so he could rest his forearms on top of it. "I don't like this as much as you don't like this, Carrow," he said. "My son is missing. In exchange for you, they took my son. Not even two years old. The one you said was going places just a day ago." He let that settle in, and took a deep breath himself, trying to steady himself. Eyes meeting Amycus', he tried not to flinch. "You told me you were a Death Eater for a reason, Amycus. Not just because we were blasted. Why? Why are we sitting here right now? Give me something, mate."

LILY could feel her gut twisting at James' words. Not even two years old. The one you said was going places. She simply clenched her fists at her sides as she stalked across the room to where she'd earlier left her laboratory kit, meeting Alice and Frank's only a minute. She didn't particularly like the person she was right now, she didn't even want to think of what she might truly be capable of if pushed to that point. And they were there to bare witness to just that. She opened up the bag, taking out the small green elixir bottle and then a bottle of water. Along with a few other odds and ends. She had brought the truth serum of course, but also some more nefarious concoctions that might help things along if needed.

AMYCUS' head lulled to one side as she insulted him. It wasn't anything he hadn't heard before, even from the so-called-friends she not-so-kindly referred to before. That was only part of the reason Amycus didn't like people. "How about you put your two braincells together and find another outlet for your anger. Like, I don't know, whoever took your child." He was being so cavelier, but when had Amycus ever shown any care or concern for anyone other than his sister? She was projecting. So bloody pissed off at herself she was taking it out on him. Cool. This was fucking batshit. He opened his mouth to continue but someone cut in and Amycus' tired eyes cut to James... the reason he was here. "Au contraire, Jimmy Jams. Pretty sure I like this a little less than you do, but the wench has us both beat." He flashed a wolfish grin and settled back further in his chair. Might as well try to get fucking comfortable. "Correct. In exchange for me. An eye for an eye. That, my friend, is Karma." Eyebrows wiggled a little, fishing for some type of reaction. "You said it yourself. I like the kid... Why did I tell you?" he mused aloud. He swiped his tongue over his lips, then bit them together, waiting for the lightbulb to go off in that pretty little head of James'. "Maybe I confided in you because I trusted you, mate," he challenged. Was it true? Probably not, but his new bff Lily was cooking up a truth serum for this very occasion so...

JAMES couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty for what Amycus’ was going through. He expected him to poke at it; to make a hole where there was already a tear. But James hadn’t expected Amycus to say that he had trusted him. “Godric, you trusted me?” he asked, trying to keep his face neutral. “We both bloody know that’s not the best answer.” Taking a deep breath, James tried to reason with Amycus. “An eye for an eye means equality, Carrow. But you’re an adult. My son has barely lived. We both know this unfair. We both know that I’ll help you if you help us.” That much was true. James wouldn’t lie about that. But would Amycus trust him now? He didn’t know.

AMYCUS had spent years mastering his pokerface. It was the only way to survive in the Carrow household. He didn't answer, deciding to let the question hang in the thick air between them. The corner of his lips twisted up into something sinister. "You gonna choose me over her?” he asked, sending a pointed look over James' shoulder. "Didn't think so. She's already written my obituary for the Prophet, mate. Doesn't matter what I say. Kidnapped child or not, killing me was always the endgame here so save me from this friendly little chat she and I are about to have and just kill me now." He lowered his gaze and rolled his neck, curious if James would call his bluff. "For what it's worth though, I had the chance to harm your child and the motive. And I didn't, did I?"

FRANK stood in the back, wand clasped tightly in his hand, taking in everything in the room. He watched James and Lily did the unthinkable as they demanded answers about their son, felt Alice’s sturdy presence in the corner waiting for the time to step in, and listened to the Death Eater say a lot of words that didn’t really mean anything. It was frustrating, watching the young kid with the horrendous mark on his arm, poke and tease the Potters - even if he truly had no idea where their son was. It seemed unlikely, unless the kidnapping had been planned before they got Amycus in their custody. All he could hope for was that the truth serum that Lily was preparing would at least give them some information. He nodded at the redheaded girl - approving and encouraging her move of sorting through her bag. Following protocol, he or Alice should be the ones to give the green elixir to the Death Eater - but things were already out of order here, and it would probably do Lily good to take back some of the power. Talk between two boys who had once known each other would only complicate things. It would be impossible for them to not be personal - and even though the matter itself was, it was clearly hardly productive. He’d wait until it was necessary, step in and ask the questions that would hopefully point them in the right direction to where Harry was being kept.

LILY had stayed quiet letting James try his way like he'd asked though she whirled in place to glare at him from across the room. "Do not assume you know anything about me. Let's not forget I'm not the one associated with a criminal organization that routinely tortures and murders innocent people." The nerve on him to try and paint her out to be the one out for him for no god damn reason. "We wouldn't be here at all if those weren't the kind of people you support. Killing you was never in our plans, but I'm not surprised you would think that considering what your people do."

ALICE stepped toward Lily again, this time reaching her. “Careful. No one wants me to see you take this guy down more than I do, but he is the way to Harry. Let’s figure that out before we do anything...drastic.” She whispered the words so Frank was the only one close enough to hear. “As aurors, there’s protocol we need to follow to make sure we all stay out of trouble. Let me give him the serum.” Her eyes were firm, but pleading. She understood just how much emotions could cloud someone’s judgement during a crucial moment.

AMYCUS rolled his eyes dramatically slow as he turned his head to look in Lily's direction. "Right. You wouldn't know anything about an organization that kidnaps, poisons and tortures someone for crimes they hypothetically committed, would you?" A smirk curled in his lips. "What exactly are you implicating me for anyway? For being a part of a club? For having some sick art on my arm?" He shrugged halfheartedly. "Tell me, Lils - can I call you Lils? - who's the bad guy here? Still me? Whatever helps you sleep at night." He winked again, paying no mind to the other people in the room. "Do not assume you know anything about me," he said, throwing her own words back at her.

FRANK watched as his wife approached the younger witch, agreeing with everything that she warned in a hushed tone. It was no surprise that when she needed to, Alice would step in and help guide Lily. He only hoped that she would trust her fellow Order member and mother - as well as a talented Auror - to run the interrogation. "She's right," he told Lily with a nod, taking a moment to look at his wife before returning his attention to the redheaded girl and trying to get her to focus on him rather than the vile things coming out of Amycus' mouth. It was easy to act as if their cause was the same, when Frank and Alice knew first hand that the Death Eaters interrogations were nothing like this. "We will get the information we need. We just need to act properly. Let Alice do it."

JAMES shook his head at Amycus’ words, eyes meeting his with a deep sadness. Or maybe it wasn’t sadness so much as weariness. First his son, and now Amycus. “Of course I’ll choose Lily,” he said, shaking his head. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t care about you, either.” He stood out of his chair, shoulders shrugging. “Let me know if you change your mind.” And with that he looked to Frank and Alice. He’s all yours, he seemed to be saying, shoulders down.

ALICE could only imagine how deep Lily’s emotions ran for this entire situation, but it seemed James was at an even deeper crossroads. Amycus was his friend, it seemed, and this interrogation didn’t look like it was going to end well. With shoulders back, Alice careful took the serum from Lily and approached Amycus. “I can shove this down your throat or you can take it willingly - it’s your call.” She offered the vail to him with raised brows. Switching seamlessly into auror mode was easy given the tension in the situation. And that required an entirely different personality and set of morals than the one people were used to from her.

LILY was so angry speaking was difficult, but she understood where Alice and Frank were coming from, and honestly she was so thankful that they were there. If left to their own devices she and James would like just crumble under the weight of their own guilt and panic. She let Alice take the bottle, and after taking a deep breath she hand Frank the water bottle for him for the bitter elixir. Because despite her anger and willingness to incinerate anything and everything in the path to get getting back her baby she was not an unkind woman. Composing herself she went to stand with James, needing him to lean on.

AMYCUS could handle James and had even gotten used to Lily (though, despite his feigned bravado, she still scared the shit out of him) but his patience was wearing thin with their friends. Three's a crowd. Five's a party. None of his 'friends' were invited. "The flying pitch's a little uneven here, don't you think?" he asked, lazy eyes sweeping the room to look at each of the four interrogators. "No." Like the foul creature he was, he actually spat in Alice's direction. She may have been 'pureblood' but she wasn't sacred, not like her traitorous husband. She didn't deserve his respect. "Let her do it," he sneered, tilting his head in Lily's direction. "I want her to remember who the villain in this story is every time she looks in the mirror."

JAMES had been waiting for a moment like this. The moment where the fire in his veins took hold. And, Amycus' actual threat to Lily did that. Without a second thought, he grabbed the vial from Alice's finger-tips, sending a second paralyzing spell Amycus' way, shutting him up just for a moment. "No," he shook his head, looking at Lily. "You're not the bad guy here, Lils." And so, he did it for her. He wished that the night hadn't come to this moment, but still, holding Amycus' mouth open, he quickly poured the liquid down his throat, then held his nose. It was do or die here, literally, and James couldn't even look Amycus Carrow in the eye.

ALICE wiped the saliva off her shoulder - it missed its intended mark - with extreme distaste. It wasn’t the first time she’d been spit on, and it wouldn’t be the last. His words however, elicited irritation. An unruly detainee was always so much more work. Before she could reply beyond acknowledging his slight, the vial  was gone from her hands and James was shoving the liquid down Carrow’s throat. Panic filled her. “James! That’s enough!” Her voice was firm, demanding. This situation was getting out of hand. Let her conscious be stained, or Frank’s - they’d seen enough already. Conducting torture in this form was something she worried James wouldn’t fully recover from.

LILY watched the interaction carefully, though she nearly lurched away from James when he had the audacity to spit in her friends directions. She'd be all to happy to force the concoction down his throat without a hint of remorse, despite what he had to say about it. Her serum would not harm him in anyway, and him telling the truth would only make this more painless for him. So really it was a mercy. Though James was off before she could even react, she watched him knowing full well that he would think on this far more than she would have. Though she couldn't help but feel the slightest bit comforted knowing that no matter the distance that had filled between them as they both dealt with their grief differently, they would always stand up for one another.

AMYCUS was waiting for it - the moment James Potter snapped. A viscious smirk curled on his lips as he watched it happen. James grabbed the vile in a fit of rage, coming straight for him. And Amycus wasn't even going to fight him. It was four wanded wizards verse one incapacitated, defenseless wizard. His mouth was forced wide, but he would have swallowed it down easily - every last drop. He tried to lean into James' view but his mobility was limited... so he just let out a maniacal laugh. "Do you always fight her battles for her?" he asked, licking a trace of the serum off his lips. "First question's yours hero," he challenged, looking right at James.

JAMES didn't notice he was breathing heavily until Amycus was speaking again. He turned away to wipe the sweat from his brow (when had that happened?) and pulled his glasses off his nose for a moment. Suddenly, he felt ten years older. Taking a deep breath at Amycus' question, he didn't turn around when he asked, "Where would they most likely have taken Harry?" He supposed anything could be justified if he were only looking out for his son, but still, the guilt rode in his stomach, making him want to vomit.

AMYCUS tsked and shook his head back and forth. "Wrong question, Jimmy Jams." His range of movement was very limited and it was very fucking inconvenient. All he could gesture with was his facial features and he relied heavily on body language. "One of the manors. That's an easy one," he answered, voice dripping with boredom, and like the little shit he was, he feigned a yawn. "Next time ask me what you really want to know." Aaand he actually fucking winked before turning towards Lily. "Your turn, little Red. Any questions for the big bad wolf?"

LILY watched them, the frown that had settled unlikely to dissipate for the duration of this unsavory interaction. His flippant answers though did make her feel just a little bit angrier every time he opened his mouth. Without really even looking at him because her attention was fixed on Carrow, Lily took the bottle she'd earlier handed to Frank and walked over to him. Uncapping it she offered it to his face since his hands were immobilized. "Give me the names of the death eaters in Voldemort's inner circle." She said, forgoing any question relating directly to Harry's possible whereabouts, which he had no way of knowing anyway. The smart thing to do would be to extract as much information about the Death Eaters from him as possible enough so that it could sorted through and they could decided what would be useful, where or rather toward whom they could focus their efforts.

AMYCUS eyed the water bottoe warily, not trusting anything she gave him. The damn serum left a bitterness in his mouth he wasn't particularly fond of though so he gave in and opened his mouth. He only swallowed half of it before tilting his head back and spitting it upwards, creating a little fountain with his mouth. Water ran down his face, so when he looked straight ahead again, he shook his head, making the water droplets fly. Ge let out a sigh of relief, making an ahhh sound... like a fucking child. "Amycus Carrow," he stated, just to be facetious but the urge to spill more names was literally causing him physical pain. Fucking serum. He tried to hold it back but finally gave in. "Just kidding. I'm not in the inner circle so I know nothing," he teased, flashing a pained smile. "Jonas Travers," dick. "Rodolphus LeStrange." Asshole. He considered for a moment before adding, "Rabastan LeStrange." Guilty by association. Then, just for shits and giggles, he added, "-and Sebastian Wilkes. The right hand man."

FRANK could see that the young Death Eater was doing everything to rile them up. Either to get under the skin of those he once knew, distract them from the information he had, or the information he didn't - or all of the above. Still, Frank had to make himself stoic. Even though he wanted nothing more to throw a spell in Amycus face to wipe off the grin as he spat in his wife's face and teased the other two, he knew it would do them no good for all three of them to lose their head. Instead he handed the bottle to Lily, keeping his eyes on his wife, silently assessing her current state. The only thing that pulled his attention from Alice were the names that Amycus started to rattle off, burning them into his memory.

ALICE wasn’t the least bit surprised at the names revealed. Well, Sebastian Wilkes was a little bit of a shock. He always seemed...well, not the Death Eater sort. Still, she looked back, eyes meeting her husband, and gave a brief nod. They had become perfectly synchronized partners over the years, the movement as if to say, “we’ll look in to this later.” She turned back to the child in the chair, her eyes narrowed. “If you’re done playing with your own saliva, I’d prefer we moved on.” She wondered if the Death Eaters even missed his presence. They probably only stole Harry to send a message, but weren’t concerned with actually getting this nuisance back. “Care to add to that list?” She paused, meeting Frank’s eyes again for guidance. Their questions had to be specific, precise. She turned back as if she was satisfied with their quiet conversation. “Where do your meetings take place? I want the names of the specific locations and owners of the manors, if those are on the list.”

LILY stepped back when he only spit up the water instead of drinking it all. Dipping her head into her hand she had to massage the pulse at her temple. Drained and enraged all at once. She let Frank and Alice return to the forefront letting them do what they did best though she didn't let up her death glare in his direction.

AMYCUS was tired. Physically. Mentally. "No." The older witch was a snore, but that could work in his favor. Maybe she would bore him to sleep - or better yet, bore him to death! She was catching on though. Getting a little more specific with her question. He bit down on the inside of his cheeks to keep from blurting anything out too fast. "Knockturn Alley. Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley. Right under your nose," he said, but that didn't really answer her question, so he continued. "Carrow. Travers. LeStrange. Wilkes," he answered, pointing a bored look in her direction but there was a challenge in his eyes.

ALICE rolled her eyes. Of course he would twist that question, no matter how specific. His information was hardly that, and wasn’t helpful at all. “Do you think they’re on their way to help you?” She said in mock curiosity. “The Death Eaters, that is. They took Harry, but who’s to say they’ll bother getting you back? We’ve spent enough time with you to understand that you’re not exactly the useful type.” Her cruel words flowed freely, a finger tapping against her chin. She kept a few feet away, though. She liked this outfit enough to not want him to spit on her again.

LILY rolled her eyes as he regurgitated answers. "The serum is strong enough that he won't be able to talk his way in circles if you ask him direct questions. I say we start naming off the wizards we suspect. Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Evan Rosier, their all related aren't they?"

AMYCUS' brows came together to form a crease between his eyes. "Maybe that's what they want. The more time you spend interrogating me, the more quality bonding time your son gets with them." He shot a look James' way before cutting his eyes back to Alice. "You need my help or you wouldn't be here while he's there - wherever there is. I may not know where he is - because you kidnapped me before it happened - but I may be able to find him. Or I could if I was useful," he shrugged one shoulder, just barely, but enough to know he was regaining control of his body. His eyes darted to Lily but the only answer he got was an aggravated, "Yes." They were related, that's all she asked.

FRANK nodded in return to his partner, watching as she continued on to interview Amycus. At the sight of Lily, he finally made his way up to the chair where the Death Eater was tied up, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder as he passed her. He ended his walk just a couple steps behind his wife, listening as the two women discussed their questions, his eyes trained on the boy. "There's no need to dance around the questions - he's dispensable as a Death Eater already, especially now that he's revealed information." Going off of Alice and Lily's lead, he made another step forward to Amycus. "You clearly underestimate us and just how many people are searching for Harry. You're just one stop in the search." He looked down at him, crossing his arms across his chest and gripping tightly onto his wand. "Who do you report to?"

AMYCUS couldn't help but roll his eyes. Useless. Dispensable. They were trying to get a reaction from someone who couldn't feel anything - someone who was already dead inside. He knew his place in the Death Eaters. Knew he was only minimally useful. He liked it that way. "One very long, very useless stop," he baited them with another bored look. He looked from the wand to Frank's face, chuckling under his breath. "Lord Voldemort." Technically, they all reported to the Dark Lord... and Amycus didn't like to deal with anyone else unless he had to.

LILY was growing more impatient by the minute, this was supposed to be easy. He couldn't lie, yet the asshole was craftier than she'd have given him credit for skirting around the truth where ever there was room to. "He can't talk his way out of a yes or no question. So how about I ask a different way. Are Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, and Evan Rosier death eaters?"

AMYCUS’ bored look was gone as he fixed her with a hard stare. One of those three names was a person he almost considered a friend. A murderous friend that would kill him for outing him... but what choice did he have? The witch was good, and that serum of hers was a bitch like it's maker. He worked his jaw, starring her right in the eye as he replied with a quick, "Yes." Then, because the stunning spell was wearing off, he made a sudden move. It was a small little jump, but it made a loud noise as the legs of the chair scratched the floor. "Anything else, or are we done here?"