Chapter 2: Snape's Escape
There was a silence and then an outbreak of muttering between all of us.
Neville raised his hands, "Alright, everyone calm down. I'm sure Harry has a plan."
We all looked at Harry, who exchanged looks with Ron and Hermione.
"Ok, I think it's time that Snape and the Carrows learned who's castle this really is. Alright everybody, I do have a plan but it's a little risky. If anything goes wrong the whole thing is worthless." Harry looked around at us as though we was looking for snitches. I kept my face determind. "Now, the only thing I need you to do is to act like I was never here. Snape is sure to be hoping that you lot will know where I am. Say nothing, no matter what he threatens you with don't give me away. I'll take care of the rest. Those of you who don't have your school attire on we don't have time to get fully dressed just throw on your robe."
"Alright everybody, you know the plan." Neville said, "Let's go."
My friends and I turned and hurried to our trunks by our beds, before I reached my cot my Kayla passed in front of me. We caught each other's eye and I saw her blush before she hurridly looked a way; my stomach felt as though I had missed a step. I opened my truck and pulled out my robe and knocking a few other items out of my trunk, I kicked them under my cot as I threw my robe on over my clothes. I turned and walked over to Caroline who was digging in her trunk.
"Hey, d'you reckon Harry's plan is going to work?" she said as she turned to face me.
"Well, we've gone through this much haven't we? But, if we can't trust him who can we trust?" I replied.
Neville moved to the front of the room and called everybody to order.
"Alright, now. We will have to quietly move back in to our dormitories and walk down with the rest of our house. We can't all go at once obviously because the Carrows would know something is up. Now, curfew is in about 30 minutes. So, we'll go in pairs of 2s and 3s." Neville said.
We all started moving towards the door while Harry check his Marauder's Map for Filch and the Carrows. Once it was determined that we would make it safley to our Common Rooms they let us go in pairs.
"Don't forget the plan guys," said Neville urgently, "remember to not look suspicious or anything. Keep your face as blank as possible. Ok? Now, hurry back to your dormitories as quickly as possible. I'm not sure where your passage will come out, but make sure you keep quiet."
Austin, Kayla, and I were the only one's in Gryffindor aside from Neville, Dean, Seamus, and Lavender, so we left as one group. We walked pass Neville and the others up the narrow stone passage; our footsteps echoing quietly. We reached the door and I put my head against the wood hoping to hear if anyone was in the corrior on the other side. It was silent.
"Alright," I whispered to the other two, " I reckon it's clear."
I pulled my head back and reached for the knob and slowly turned it and pushed the door open enough to stick my head out. I peered my head around and glanced along both ends of the corridor; it was empty. I turned my head towards Austin and Kayla.
"Let's go," I mouthed to them.
We stepped out in to the corridor and watched as the door formed back into the stone wall.
"Lumos!" I muttered holding my wand up as the tip ignited, behind me I heard the other two light their wands as well.
"What floor are we on?" Kayla whispered,
Austin and I glanced around for some indication as to where we were in the castle. I held my wand higher to try and see the portraits on the walls, but none gave any clues as to were we were.
"I don't-" I started to whisper, but Austin ran to the nearest window and looked out.
"We're facing the Black Lake, and by my judgment I'd say we're on the fifth floor." he said, turning around and holding his wand aloft to see us clearly.
"Alright," said Kayla, "let's go. We can't hang around here all night."
We sprinted as quietly as we could down the corridor, when we reached the end I threw out my hand to stop Austin and Kayla from running pass. With my back against the stone wall I snuck my head around the corner to look into both passages of the other corridor. Once I knew it was clear, I ran and renched the door open opposite us to the Grand Staircase.
We stepped out and ran as quietly as we could up the last few flight of stairs to the seventh floor and to the Fat Lady, pausing here and there to make sure that the way was clear. We ran as fast as we could the last few feet to the Fat Lady, who looked down at us with concern and dissaproval.
"My dears, you'd better hurry inside. If you're caught out of bed at this time.." she said urgently. "Password please, and hurry! I heard from Violet that the Carrows and Professor McGonagall are on there way up here."
"D-Dragon's B-Blood!" panted Kayla.
The Fat Lady's frame swung open and Kayla and Austin crawled in with me at their heels. The Common Room was empty, and quiet aside from the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Kayla went and sat in one of the arm chairs in front of the fire and grabbed the nearest book in her reach, while Austin and I grabbed the chessboard someone had left on the table and sat down in next to her on the floor and set the game up.
"Just act normal." I said to them.
Kayla started reading, but I could tell from the expression on her face she wasen't taking any word of the book; while Austin and I attempted to start a game of chess. As the minutes dragged on slowly I found myself gazing into Kayla's eyes while she was attempting to read; messmerizing their shape and color.
"Scott? Hello? Scott, mate. It's your turn." Austin said to me.
I snapped back into reality but before I could make my turn the portrait hole opened and Alecto and Amycus Carrow stomped into the room with Professor McGonagall right behind them looking as though they were dragon dung.
"What are you whelps up to?" Amycus snarled at us.
"Playing chess. Not against the rules now is it? Last time I checked we were at perfect liberty to play in our Common Room." I retorted.
"Mind yourself, Marshall. Or you'll find yourself hanging by your ankles in the dungeon." Amycus threatened, eyeing me with hatred.
"If you'll excuse me Professors Carrow, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't order around my students. As they are in my house." Professor McGonagall said curtly.
"I suppose we'll let you have the little athority that Professor Snape has granted you. While you still can." Alecto snapped.
Professor McGonagall glared at them from behind her glasses before she turned to me and the others.
"Marshall, Kissane, and Jones. Please kindly wait here with Professors Carrow, while I go fetch the rest of your house." Professor McGonagall said as she moved toward the entrance of the dormitories.
We listened as Professor McGonagall's footsteps went upstairs and into the dormitories and then the sound of the rest of the house coming down the staircase. My brother Chris was one of the first to come in to the Common Room, he glanced around the room spotted me and made his way over.
"Scott, do you know what's going?" he asked as he pulled his robes on over his jacket and shirt. "McGonagall is making us get dressed, it's ten-oclock at night!"
"No, she just had Kayla, Austin, and I wait down here."
Professor McGonagall sheep-hearded the rest of the house in to the Common Room and then went to stand next to the Carrows, careful to keep a distance from them in the process.
"Listen up you prats! Headmaster Snape wants you all down in the Great Hall for an anouncement. Keep a straight and file line on the way down, and so help me if I hear any of you talking on the way down." said Alecto sharply eyeing me in particular.
Amycus, Alecto and Professor McGonagall led the way down to the Great Hall, none of us daring to make any sound in fear of getting caught.
Amycus banged open the door to the Great Hall and led us in to join the other houses, I kept my face smooth and blank; determind not to give anything a way. Professor McGonagall went to stand in front of us while the Carrows made for the front on the Hall. The doors to the Great Hall banged open and Snape prowled in looking as much like an overgrown bat as ever. He strod to the front of the Hall and turned on his heel to face us.
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour." he said quietly, his eyes scanning the Hall. "It's come to my attention that earlier this evening...Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmade." There was many whispering at this statement.
My brother turned to me with his face full of surprise.
"Harry Potter's here!" he whispered, turning back to face Snape. Kayla, Austin, and I exchanged looks.
"Now!" Snape said raising his voice his black eyes gleaming. "Should anyone...student or staff attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty."
The hall remained in a deadly silence. I kept my face forward determindly staring at the back of Secilley Shipman in front of me.
"Now then," Snape said with the sound of someone attempting to move on to a lighter subject. While he prowed down the row of students. "if anyone here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening. I invite them to step forward. Now!"
Snape reached our part of the Hall and was glancing what seemed to be right at us. His peercing stare almost unbearable. I forced my face to stay blank and had taken to picking out the different shades in Secilley's blonde hair. I heard movement behind me and then gasps as Harry stepped out from between rows of students wearing robes over his clothes also. He stepped right out into the open across from Snape.
"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies you still have a bit of a security problem, headmaster." Harry said to him, and the Hall doors opened again as the whole Order stepped in to the Great Hall. "And I'm afraid it's quite extensive. How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him. Tell them!"
Snape whipped his wand out, but before Harry could get his out or Snape could raise his far enough Professor McGonagall ran out in front of Harry with her wand at the ready. I threw my arms out and pushed back Kayla and Chris as we all back towards the lowerd his a fraction but then raised it again. The Hall was silent.
Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and flames erupted out of her wand and shot at Snape who blocked them so quickly his wand appeared a blur. She continued to shoot flames at him while advancing slowly. But Snape deflected them all, two bounced off his sheild and hit the Carrows knocking them to the ground. Snape whipped around his cloak flying about him and disapparated and flew towards the window at the front of the Hall and smashed through it flying off in to the night.
"COWARD!" Professor McGonagall yelled, as we watched Snape flee, with a flick of her wand all the candles erupted with fire filling the Great Hall with warmth.
I turned and Kayla and I embraced but quickly let go blushing and avoiding each other's eye, and I turned and gave my brother a high-five. Then out of nowhere there was a loud ringing in my ears, the lamps all around the hall flickered and grew smaller. I looked at the ceiling and saw clouds, so dark they were almost purple, forming. Then someone screamed.