Chapter Four: The Hope
A/N: Many thanks to Silverthreads, foci, Lady-jolly, hotcocoalatte, Jedi Knight Padme, kidarock, and Alesia G for their reviews. I'm glad that some people are enjoying this story and will carry on with it. I'm sorry I'm not writing more faster.
"Albus, tell me," Minerva demanded, her voice low and insistent. She crossed her arms unconsciously, raised her chin, and arrested him with a stare that had compelled fifth-years to confess to misdemeanours that they had committed as second-years.
He paused in his work, took one look at her face, and gave a long-suffering sigh.
"Now, Albus."
Her green-eyed glare was met and matched by steely blue eyes. "We've tried everything," he replied in a low voice. "Everything, Minerva." Her features softened in shared pain. "Nothing gets through the shields he's put up around himself. Severus is the only one who can bring them down, but after this long, we can only assume that he is either unable or…unwilling to do so."
"The mediwizards did everything they could within the limits of the law. Physically, Severus is in perfect health. Mentally…" Albus sighed heavily. "Mentally, we can't get so much as a flicker out of him. His shielding is absolute," he said, a hint of pride mixing with the sorrow in his voice.
"And this?" Minerva asked, her voice rising only slightly as her gesture encompassed the scene.
Albus paused. "Severus cannot escape unaided. I'm going to help him."
Minerva swallowed. "This spell…how dangerous is it?"
"The spell will link our minds, bypassing his shielding and sending me—my consciousness—to wherever Severus has hidden himself away. All I have to do is find him." There was no doubt in either of their minds that the task would be a thousand times more difficult than Albus's words implied.
Minerva did not miss his evasion of her question. She rarely did. "How dangerous is this spell, Albus?"
He looked down at her grimly. "The longer I stay there, the more dangerous it gets. If I'm there longer than…four hours, pull me out. A strong finite ought to do it. I do believe that this will work, however."
"Albus…" she began hesitantly.
He raised a hand. "I have to try," he said simply.
She shook a little, in anger and in fear. "You should have told me."
"Yes," he agreed. Her eyes narrowed. "Minerva, please," he asked softly. "Help me help him."
Minerva closed her eyes and shuddered once, twice, and then stilled. He watched as she straightened, then stared straight at him. "I will wait for your return," she said clearly.
Albus never attempted to read her thoughts without her permission, but sometimes they spilled over. Legilimency or not, her thoughts were evident. You had better come back, Mister. You've got a lot of groveling to do.
He smiled at her warmly, his smile deepening as her expression softened. "I'll be back soon," he promised, dropping a light kiss on her lips. Then, before either of them could change their minds, he reached out to touch Severus's forehead with his fingertips and whispered the incantation.
He was glad, then, when the darkness closed over him, that he could not see Minerva's stricken expression as his body collapsed lifelessly before her.