Chapter 7 – Troubled Little Friend

September left and October came. So did the first Hogsmeade weekend, which was windy and sleety. Students were queuing to be prowled by Filch with Secrecy Sensor as the security in the castle was higher than ever. Every owl, every letter and every student were monitored.

Severus was down in the dungeons in his office. Last night he had returned from the meeting with the Dark Lord. To report everything new he had found out in the last two weeks. Nothing much, it was. The Dark Lord was not satisfied as Draco was not acting fast enough and Severus also could not provide new information. So it had been a very exhausting night. This time the Lord had been ungrudging but Severus doubted that next time he would escape a Crucio.

Afternoon came fast as Snape spent most of the day just dozing at his desk, trying to read useless essays on Dementors. He heard footsteps behind the door and soon a knock too. The door opened and a man with dirty, ragged hair came in. It was Filch and he was clutching something in his hands.

'What is it?' Snape asked sharply.

'Professor McGonagall asked me to bring you this. She said it is something highly dangerous. My Sensor could tell, of course,' Filch said sounding a bit too excited.

'Show me,' Snape said now interested in the object.

'She warned not to touch it.'

Filch approached his desk and put the bundle on it. Snape took his wand and pointed at it. The packaging slowly creased open and revealed an ancient silver and opal necklace he had seen before. His insides clenched.

'Who brought it to Castle?'

'I don't know. McGonagall just gave it to me and sent me off,' Filch said, now sounding resentful.

'Did anyone touch it?'

'Yes, yes, I think so. They took someone to the hospital wing.'

Snape jumped up. This was serious. The necklace was a very dangerous and dark object. Touching it spreads a mighty curse. Whoever touched it is lucky to still be alive.

'I will now go to the Hospital Wing. Leave the necklace here and don't touch it. Make sure no one enters my office while I'm away.'

Filch grunted but nodded. Snape watched him for a moment then hurried away. Within minutes he was at the Infirmary. He entered it and was greeted with a cry of relief.

'Thank Merlin, you are here! I already wanted to send someone for you. I don't know what to do!' pattered Madam Pomfrey.

Snape immediately noticed a girl who had touched the necklace. Katie Bell, she played for Gryffindor Quidditch team. She did not look good at all. He had to prevent the spreading of the curse.

'Notify St Mungo's,' he ordered the hysterical Madam Pomfrey who did not seem to be able to control herself anymore, 'and calm down. I will need your help.'

Mere thirty minutes later Severus left the Infirmary. His forehead covered with sweat. He had done everything he could. The girl is doing to be fine. St Mungos staff will take care of her. She will miss a few weeks of her life, though. Now Severus had to worry about something else. He had an idea who sent the necklace.

'Enter,' said Dumbledore's voice when Severus knocked on his office door couple of minutes later.

Severus stepped into the light room and took a seat opposite Dumbledore. The Headmaster looked at him and smiled sadly.

'Are we thinking the same thing, Severus?'

'No doubt we are,' he replied darkly.

'So that is what our little friend has been planning,' Dumbledore said, 'that is what he has been hiding from you.'

'I can't believe he was so foolish. Did he really think that no one would notice such a dark object being brought in the Castle?' Snape stormed.

He was furious. And he had all the right to be. He had to protect Draco but he was running around, purchasing dark objects.

'Dear Severus, I simply think that young Draco does not know what to do to succeed in this task,' Headmaster said quietly, 'he is grasping at every straw he can. It was indeed very unlikely that the necklace would reach me. Hogwarts is under better protection than ever.'

'So what next,' Snape spat 'is he going to try to weasel a Dragon in the castle, hoping that you would come across its path?'

Dumbledore chuckled.

'I see nothing funny,' Snape snapped.

'Severus, I understand how you feel. You made the Unbreakable Vow. And trust me, you will accomplish it. I highly doubt that he will kill me.'

'I'm surprised how easily you can talk about this.'

'We both know what's waiting for me,' Dumbledore smiled sadly again, 'and I do not want to wait for it.'

'Yes, you want me to kill you.'

'As I have already explained to you,' Dumbledore nodded.

He said nothing. He was tired.

'Don't worry about that now, Severus. Everything will turn out for the best.'

Snape glared at him. He very much doubted this.