Author note: Hello everyone. I rewrote this chapter twice before I was finally happy with it, which is why there was such a delay. The format also got messed up between files, so I had to try to fix that. If there are any formatting errors, please let me know so I can fix them. Thank you!
The Unbroken Threads
Chapter Ten
The Prince's Advice
Harry blinked against the bright rays of sun coming in from the arched windows that lines the Hospital wing in Hogwarts. He sat up much too quickly; Lights popped in front of his eyes and he felt sick. The room was a blur and shapes danced in front of his eyes, until his glasses were shoved on his face by Ron who looked half awake.
"Harry!" he said in a rushed whisper.
"We were worried about you," said Hermione, wide awake and putting aside a book.
"Wha—" asked Harry as he blinked hard to clear his vision. The Hospital wing cleared in front of him, as he saw the numerous students milling about. Harry noted that none of them looked harmed in any way, and a group was playing exploding snap in a corner, much to Pomfrey's disapproving glare. Next to him though was the only other person still in a bed. Draco Malfoy's blonde hair spread out on his pillow, and his pale, sharp
face was lax in sleep.
"He's the only one who hasn't woken yet," Hermione came over and sat down next to Ron, but Harry noticed they didn't keep the usual distance this time. He hoped this was a sign they patched up. "How are you feeling, Harry?"
"Confused," he replied honestly. The scar on his forehead hurt like an open wound, causing him to wince when he went to rub it. The last thing he remembered was pain bursting from it, and then nothing. Before that though, he was in the tower with Malfoy and Riddle…
"What?" asked Hermione in alarm. "What's wrong?"
"Where's Riddle?" demanded Harry.
"Shh!" hissed Hermione, looking around to see if any student heard them. All three sets of eyes landed on Malfoy, but he didn't stir at their voices.
Harry glanced around and saw his wand laying on the bedside table. He reached over, and with a flick, and cast Muffliato making sure they weren't overheard. A few students glanced up at them, but none of them appeared to have heard anything. The group playing exploding snap cheered, as a clear victor was declared, and a Hufflepuff stomping off after defeat.
"You know I don't like when you use that spell," Hermione said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hermione, this is serious," Harry stressed. "Where is Riddle?"
"He's in his office, I imagine," she answered. Harry made a move to get out of bed, but Hermione grabbed his arm, and pulled him back in. "You can't go! There's a ban on anyone leaving the Hospital Wing until Riddle lifts it due to the attack last night."
"Yeah, and we heard you were fighting last night by yourself," Ron said darkly.
"I didn't plan to have Death Eaters attack the school," Harry hissed in annoyance, shrugging Hermione off, but staying in bed. His scar throbbed, which made him rub at it.
"Don't you see what he sees?" Ron shot back, his eyes narrowing at Harry's scar. "I thought you and Riddle had everything worked out, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"All summer you've practically waited by the windows for Riddle to come by," Ron accused, his cheeks turning red in anger. "And then, you and he would go off together on these secret missions! Then, nothing! I thought it would get better at school but first week there's you and Riddle, defending Hogwarts together and leaving the of us in the dark. You'd think helping a guy out for four years would mean something!"
"I didn't plan any of this. I've told both of you loads of things!" Harry argued hotly. "About Sirius, about Dumbledore, and who did I come to when I first found out about Riddle? YOU!"
Ron and Harry huffed as though they ran a marathon, neither backing down. Hermione grabbed each of them by the ear, pulling harshly so they almost fell onto their sides.
"Both of you, stop!" she said, giving them a final yank before letting go. She turned her glare to Ron. "Harry's under a lot of pressure to defeat Voldemort, and you know that!" Before Harry could add to it, her head whipped around in his direction, her glare not easing. "And Harry, Ron is your best friend! You've got to realize he misses you, and is concerned."
They averted each other's eyes, and rubbed their sore ears. Ron cast a glance at the double doors that led out into the hallway. Harry thought he might just get up and leave, despite the ban. Instead, Ron slowly sat back down.
"I don't like it…" Ron muttered. "You always in the middle of things."
"I don't try to be," Harry responded. Ron made a disbelieving sound in the back of his throat, but Hermione gave him a look, and he stopped. Harry shook his head. "Listen, I know what it sounds like, but I honestly did just stumble into this."
"Why don't you tell us what happened?" Hermione offered.
"I was leaving Snape's office from detention, and coming back to the tower, when the attack started," Harry
started with a frown. "A few people ran past me, and I went to see what was happening. That's when I found the Death Eaters by the Astronomy tower… I followed the stairs up…"
"There weren't any Death Eaters found upstairs," Hermione said.
"No, but…" Harry hesitated, and his eyes went between his two friends.
A sudden swooping in his stomach, as though the floor fell out from under him rushed through him. Ron's face, disbelieving as though preparing to be lied to, and Hermione looking so earnest. It came with a rush to Harry that he knew, if he lied to them, or kept withholding information like he had been all summer, he might lose them. His chest ached, and his clenched his bedsheets.
"Riddle… was there, with Draco," Harry answered, then swallowed. "Riddle… seemed like he was torturing him for information on the attack."
"Why would he think Malfoy knows anything?" asked Ron with his nose wrinkled, his eyes resting on Draco's
sleeping form.
"When you say tortured…" Hermione whispered.
"He was able to hurt him through the Dark Mark on his arm," answered Harry, his mind peculiarly blank as though continuing the thought would lead to unpleasant places. Hermione noticed his mood right away, preventing Ron from asking another question.
"What happened when you arrived?" she asked quickly.
"Riddle threatened to toss Draco from the tower, and I reached out to stop him," Harry felt the ache in his chest return.
Ron cursed under his breath. Harry took a few deep breaths, not wanting to focus on what happened for longer than he had to, but he couldn't deny telling Ron and Hermione made him feel oddly lighter.
"And then, my scar hurt," Harry concluded with a shrug despite the tightness in his chest. "Next thing I know, I woke up here."
"D-Do you think…" Ron stuttered, and glanced around the room but no one was paying attention to them due to the spell. "You-Know-Who might have been here?"
"Ron, he couldn't have been," Hermione answered at once, but her eyes rested on Harry, imploringly.
"He wasn't," Harry answered slowly. "I think… my scar reacted to Riddle. It was like when Voldemort," –this time Harry did shudder— "touched my forehead in the graveyard. But, this time I passed
out, I think."
"We knew they had the same soul," Hermione reasonably said with a small nod. "That doesn't explain how Snape brought you and Malfoy to the hospital wing."
"Snape?" asked Harry in alarm.
"McGonagall told us Professor Snape brought you here," Hermione explained with a frown. "Maybe Riddle asked him to while he searched for more Death Eaters?"
"Must have…" Harry weakly replied as he wondered what happened after he passed out in the tower.
"Why would You-Know-Who only send a small group, though?" asked Ron.
"Maybe, the way they got in only allowed a small group?" Harry offered happy that the subject was changed from Riddle.
"Or," whispered Hermione. "It was a test."
"A test?" Ron turned to Harry in confusion who shrugged.
"Yes," she continued more strongly now, nodding to herself. "To see how Hogwarts new Headmaster would respond to an attack. If he was too soft, it would be easy to pick him off."
"But," Harry began feeling dread climb his throat. "If he responded by killing off every attacker?"
Hermione, Ron, and Harry all became silent for a few moments. Harry shifted uncomfortably, while Ron's face grew pale enough that his freckles stood out starkly against his skin.
"Voldemort's next attack is going to be worse because of it," Harry said, and there was no question behind it. The necklace hung heavy from his neck once more, and his hand came up to touch the ring that lay under his hospital gown.
"Riddle showed he was willing to cross a line Dumbledore wouldn't," Hermione said, looking horrified. "And now Voldemort will want to deal with him personally. Riddle basically declared war… if he only let them be arrested instead, this may not have been so bad."
Ron's mouth opened a few times as though to refute the claim, but each time he snapped it shut. Soon, he just stared at Hermione as though she would continue but she wrapped her arms around her torso, and her brows pinched in deep thought.
"Who do we tell? Riddle?" asked Ron in a slightly panicking voice. "He's got to be the only one who can stop
You-Know-Who but would he help now? I mean, they're the same person…"
"They're not the same—" Harry started automatically, then snapped his mouth shut.
Harry was humbled to find he wasn't sure where the line was drawn with Riddle anymore. Hermione took his sudden troubled expression as if he were upset at Ron. She elbowed Ron once more, before looking apologetically at Harry.
"We know he's not the same," Hermione began and before Harry could argue, she continued. "He's important to you, and he's protected you. But," –her eyes darted down to Harry's chest where the
black ring lays— "we can't trust him. Not completely. Not after what he did."
"I… I know," Harry muttered, before, "I still need to speak with Riddle. Give him a chance to explain."
His friends nodded in agreement. Another cheer went up from the group as a second game finished causing Harry to glance up. He spotted Madam Pomfrey starting circle by, and scrambled to cast the
counter spell to remove Muffliato before they were caught using spells in the Hospital wing. Hermione and Ron straightened, awkwardly pretending they were having a normal conversation. Madam Pomfrey gave an unimpressed look as she approached.
She strode over to Harry and checked him over. He gave her vague answers, hoping she wouldn't realize his scar was to blame about his state of being. He had enough of that in his fourth and fifth year to last a lifetime. She ordered him to take it easy the next day, but agreed that he could leave the bed with the others when the ban was lifted. Harry felt relieved that he didn't have to try to sneak out. He doubted the matron would ever let him live it down if he did.
That's when Harry remembered his invisibility cloak was still in the tower from last night, and almost swore under his breath. He quickly told Ron and Hermione that he would have to get his cloak back from the tower, they agreed to help him when he was ready.
Zachary Smith and a few others tried to circle close to Harry after that. He was lucky that Hermione and Ron's dirty looks kept them at bay until Flitwick came in, announcing the ban had been lifted and they all should report to the Great Hall for lunch.
"When did you two get here if they put on a curfew and you weren't injured?" asked Harry.
"When McGonagall came, and told us you were in the hospital wing," Ron answered.
"We insisted that we be allowed to come stay with you the night," Hermione said, then smiled at Ron who was already acting bashful. "Ron gave a big speech about it. Really convinced McGonagall so she and Professor Flitwick brought us here last night."
"Really?" asked Harry with a grin. Ron's ears turned red.
"Yeah well," he started with a shrug and not meeting their eyes. "You're our best friend. Figured you'd want us here if something bad happened."
Harry felt a burst of warmth in his chest and was embarrassed to find his eyes watering slightly. His hand came up and he pulled Ron into a hug, which only made both their ears turn scarlet. They separated quickly when a few students chuckled, neither of them looking each other in the face, and Hermione had the good grace to look off as though nothing unusual was happening but Harry could see the smile curling at her lips.
Harry had dressed back in his robes, and every student except Malfoy who was still asleep on the bed, was led into the Great Hall for lunch. Harry had the urge to ask Madam Pomfrey what was wrong with the Slytherin, but thought better of it. He didn't want his friends to ask any questions that could lead to Harry having to explain more on what happened last night.
Many of the students had their heads together in quiet conversations, and the pair of Aurors were guarding the doors. The students filed in and joined the rest of the school that were already seated. The tables were already filled with food, and much of the morning breakfast was almost done. Harry's eyes went up to the staff table
instinctively.
Hagrid's large form was easily spotted at the end, and he appeared to be in a conversation with Sprout. McGonagall was standing in front of the platform with her wand out, and was guiding Ministry members. The table was filled with people now, Harry recognizing many of the Auror uniforms that a line of no less than ten people wore. They stood silently around the room, arms crossed in front, and stern expressions on their faces. The Minister sat down in McGonagall's chair, right next to Riddle.
Riddle was leaned slightly away from the Minister, his lips pursed, and hands folded on the table. Scrimgeour's well-worn face was grim as he spoke adamantly towards Riddle. Harry spotted the tall, dark figure of Professor Snape practically a shadow sitting on Riddle's other side. Even though his face was looking out at the students, Harry was sure he was listening to every word spoken by the pair next to him.
A distant screech was heard, and most students looked up as easily twice as many owls as usual poured into the room, each clutching a letter in their talons. Ron's small owl Pig pushed its way through, and flopped down, nearly landing in the custard. A great barn owl swooped in and dropped the Daily Prophet off for Hermione, who instantly grabbed the paper, and started reading. For once, Harry was interested to see what was written as the bold headline caught his attention immediately.
HOGWARTS AT WAR?
"Well, that was fast," Hermione muttered as she scanned the page. "They're already reporting on the attack."
"Let me see!" Harry said, snatching the paper out of Hermione's hands, who yelped at him. Harry ignored her attempts to get it back, quickly skimming the first article. He skipped all the parts that he knew, and finally found the section he wanted.
Magnus Thomason the new Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry cut quite a sight as he approached the Daily Prophet reporters for comment. It reminded this reporter of the previous Headmaster, the late Albus Dumbledore, when he appeared unharmed, and unhampered by his recent brush with the followers (known as Death Eaters) of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He had much to say when asked about the attack.
"In seemingly impossible way, five members of the group that call themselves Death Eaters, broke into the school late last night. It appeared their mission was to assassinate me, not harm any students. I was able to swiftly take care of the threat, as the Minister has said, and have taken extra precautions to prevent any future attacks."
Thomason informed us of the many charms and spells which will now be stationed at the school, and have already begun being put into place by a group of Aurors brought by the Minister. Their presence will remain at the school for a week while, we are assured, they are preventing any future break-ins.
"I can assure you all, Hogwarts is still a safe place for children to learn, and practice. This was an attempt to dissuade parents from allowing their children to grow, and protect themselves and I warn any parent from taking them from school. If parents fall for this tactic, then their attack will be a success."
Harry continued to search through the article, disappointed that there wasn't any mention of how the Death Eaters got in, or if any escaped. He handed the paper back to a miffed looking Hermione, who straightened it before reading.
"Has mum gone mental?" asked Ron quietly.
Ginny, who just walked in to sit across from them, slammed her bag on the table, rattling the silverware. Several of the Gryffindors along with a few Hufflepuffs turned at the noise.
"You got a letter too?" she said, pulling out a piece of parchment that was crumpled as though someone balled it up.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Mum's gone mental!" Ron looking aghast towards his sister, then back at Harry. "Mum says her and Bill will be coming to take Ginny and me from Hogwarts because she doesn't feel it's safe enough! All because of the attack last night."
"My mom's saying the same," said Dean from his seat next to Ginny, waving his own letter. "But, I ain't going with her. She's lost it if she thinks our house is more safe than Hogwarts where our Headmaster and Harry took out five Death Eaters by himself."
"Wait, what?" asked Harry.
"It's all over school," Dean continued, already picking out some desserts, and avoiding Harry's eyes. "Ernie's been telling everyone you said you'd beat them, then raced to the tower where three Death Eaters were. You went to the hospital wing and the Death Eaters were found dead."
"I did run into Ernie but I didn't even fight anyone," Harry argued, looking around, but everyone at the table appeared to be really interested in their plates. Especially Ron. "Did you think I actually fought and killed three Death Eaters?"
"Well, not killed them," Ron muttered abashed. "But, it's not that unbelievable to think you'd run after them."
"What's your Gran say, Neville?" asked Ginny loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"Oh, Nan says she's sending me a few books on defense," Neville added quietly, his eyes still on his own letter, and his cheeks turning red. "Says, I'm old enough to defend myself, and should be after our trip to the Ministry. She says I should use the new wand she bought me this summer to good use." A pause, and Neville's face grew redder. He mumbled, "And she's proud of me for staying."
"Well, good on her!" Ginny exclaimed with passion. "Your Nan's got more sense than our parents, that's for sure!"
"Ron, I'm sure your dad will talk some sense into your mom. These past few months have been hard," Hermione assured Ron, patting him on the shoulder.
Ron grabbed his bag, pulled out his quill, and starting writing a reply which didn't look like it was going to be pleasant by the speed he was writing. Before the ink even dried he rolled it up and gave it to his owl Pig.
"Don't bring back a reply if she's angry," Ron instructed Pig. The little owl screeched as though acknowledging the order before taking off in his energetic flight.
"Did you say I'm not going, too?" asked Ginny.
"Yes," answered Ron as though asking her to challenge.
"Good," Ginny gave a firm nod and began eating.
The murmurs of students slowly died out as Riddle stood up. He approached the podium and regarded the students all peering up at him.
"I know many of you have heard the news of the attack that occurred last night," he began, lacking his grand gestures. "I am pleased to say no student or faculty member died, despite the Death Eater's best efforts. I want all of you to know you are safe at Hogwarts even if it feels less secure this morning. We have already been attacked by the enemy and they have not succeeded. We have."
Several students applauded at the announcement, many excited to hear that an attack was fended off. It was mainly first and second years, but Harry could see many of the older students understanding what else was said. There was an attack inside Hogwarts, and that should never be applauded.
"Classes will resume in two days," Riddle continued, his head tilting ever so slightly to the side. "Those students whose parents will come to pick them up, should meet in here this evening one hour before dinner."
Without any flare, or dismissal, Riddle left the Great Hall with the Minister in tow. A few of the Aurors filed out with them in a paired line, while the majority stayed in the hall, not moving from their spots. Hagrid and Sprout were among the teachers who had turned to watch the procession, neither looking thrilled. McGonagall merely went up to the staff table and took her proper seat, her face tense. Snape, meanwhile, stood up, nodded towards his fellow staff before slinking off to follow the group.
It took a few seconds before the silence was broken and the murmuring began anew.
Harry spent much of the afternoon watching the marauder's map. The set of footprints he kept his eyes on were Riddle's. Harry hoped that he could find the Headmaster alone at some point during the day but it didn't take long to figure out the Minister wasn't going to leave Riddle's side. Even during the few times where Riddle was in his study, the Minister or Aurors were in the office leading to the study. The tower, where Harry figured his cloak must be, was also swarming with Aurors most of the day, though finally started clearing up later in the day.
The evening fell sooner than expected. Like many of the Gryffindors, Harry sat in the common room while a few students gathered their things. Two first years, and a second were heading home, while Colin Creevey proclaimed loudly that he wasn't going anywhere. His younger brother Dennis, stood by his side, excitedly nodding along. Harry managed to muster up a smile when the Creevey brothers said they felt safer when Harry was going to stay. Harry didn't have the heart to tell them the rumors of him beating any Death Eaters last night were not true.
A girl from Ravenclaw came into the common room and hugged a first-year Gryffindor girl who was tearfully packing to go home. The two girls left without a word to anyone else. Harry wanted to tell them to stay, but couldn't bring himself to move. Instead, he focused back on the map, growing frustrated at the lack of options. That's when he spotted the tower, and its hallway, where void of people for the first time today.
Hermione was fiddling with her quill, attempting to do homework, while Ron joined a group of fifth years playing chess in the corner. Harry didn't have to ask to know they felt just as helpless as he felt. He took another glance at the map, noticing the group still hadn't left Riddle's office but no one was heading to the tower, before tucking it away. Hermione's eyes found his, and Ron stood up, heading over.
The trio left the common room, and went down the stairs towards the long hallway that connected many of the towers.
"The map shows no one near the tower, and there hasn't been for the last hour," said Harry when they were alone. "Can you two be look outs, while I search?"
"Of course," said Ron at once, sounding excited. He nudged Hermione with a smile.
"Yes, we can do that," Hermione answered, tucking a hair behind her ear.
They made their way through the nearly empty hallways towards the astronomy tower. The torches were beginning to light as the sun was setting over the school. A few students that were wandering the halls traveled in close groups, all heading downstairs to the Great Hall. Harry was dismayed to see trunks amongst some of them, knowing that they were heading to danger, not away from it.
Hermione pushed Harry and Ron into a dark corner just before Nearly Headless Nick floated by, his head bobbling worse than usual as he took guard for a group of students. They waited until the shuffling of feet echoed from the main staircase before continuing.
The landing that led up to the tower was roped off with a sign warning anyone from trespassing.
"I shouldn't be more than a few minutes," whispered Harry.
"We'll try to make noise if there's someone coming," Hermione said.
"I'll tell 'em we were asked to watch and prevent anyone from going up," Ron said with a smirk, flashing his Prefect badge. Hermione looked like she wanted to argue using his authority incorrectly, but shrugged.
"Good luck," Hermione said, patting Harry's shoulder. She and Ron told up positions on either end of the hallway. They gave Harry the thumbs up when the coast was clear.
Harry ducked under the ropes and quickly made his way up the stairs. He slowed as he reached the top, taking deeper breaths as it was quite a climb, and felt his heart almost stop in his chest. There was a figure standing in the middle of the room, right where Riddle had stood the night before. Harry felt his mouth dry, for half a second wondering if Riddle had known his plans, and was waiting for him in the tower, before his eyes adjusted in the low light.
The figure was dark robed figure, and had shoulder length greasy hair.
Harry took a quiet step backwards, aware of any sounds he made now.
"No need to turn back now, Potter," said Snape, not even turning around to check. "You're already in trouble, you might as well come up here for whatever it is."
Silence fell between the two of them while Harry debated on what to do. As much as Harry hated to admit it, Snape was right. If he was already in trouble at least he could do was look for his cloak. Hopefully Snape would let him retrieve it before he was dragged out of the tower. Harry took the last few steps up to the tower, his eyes quickly darting around the dark corners for his cloak.
Snape slowly turned, a slightly raised eyebrow at Harry's blatant searching.
"If you lost something during your foolhardy attempt at being the hero, I'm pleased to say the Ministry most
likely confiscated it unless, you're looking for your ridiculous cloak," Snape said with an unpleasant smile. "Our Headmaster has taken a liking to it, and has it in his office. Though, one would think an important thing would be kept safe if one did not want to lose it."
"I wasn't trying to—"
"Get yourself killed? And yet," Snape interrupted, that smile falling for a more serious expression. The Defense teacher took a step, pulled out his wand which made Harry instinctively flinch, and Snape flicked his wand towards the archway behind Harry. A shimmering door formed, and with another gesture, "Muffliato" the room was now private.
Harry's eyes went to the door, and his heart hammering against his rib cage. The reaction was so strong not because he felt trapped, because no matter how much he disliked Snape, Harry knew he was safe, but the spell. The only people who knew about the Muffliato spell were his friends, and the Prince… the potion's book Harry had been using to exceed in lessons. But, Harry's mind refused to connect the dots, as Harry liked the Prince, there was no way he could be Snape.
"What, exactly, are you hoping to accomplish by befriending Riddle?" Snape asked bluntly, his hands crossing in front of him, squaring out his shoulders to look even more imposing.
"This may surprise you," Harry replied sarcastically, "but I was hoping for a friend."
"I see a night in the hospital wing certainly hasn't curbed your lip," Snape sneered, taking a step towards Harry. Harry refused to back down but felt the need to grab his wand. Snape stopped outside of arm's length, allowing some room, but his height advantage was clearly noted. "Do you think he'll take care of all the Death Eaters for you? Kill the Dark Lord? Save the wizarding world?"
"I don't become friends with people based on what they can do for me, if that's what you're implying," Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Clearly," Snape said, his voice punctuated at the end. "I can hardly see the use of an insufferable know-it-all, and the least skilled Weasley and apparently so can you."
"What are you talking about?" Harry clenched his teeth.
"Oh, I just couldn't help but notice how you've been charging off on your own lately, chasing after the headmaster's robes," Snape's lips curled. "I always suspected the 'Chosen One' would outgrow his little followers. After all, when you have the favor of the most powerful wizard in the world there's no need for Granger or Weasely."
Harry pinched his lips, refusing to reply as the anger boiled up in his veins. The last two times he engaged the defense teacher, Harry was bested and sent running along like a child. He struggled to take a calming breath though it did little to loosen the fury coiling in his chest.
"I wonder…" Snape said slowly. "How many of your friends will survive the next encounter with the Death Eaters? Maybe you keep hiding in the headmaster's shadow because you're afraid, Potter. Afraid your little friends won't be able to defend themselves."
"You would think," Harry fumed. "Being the defense teacher, you would be responsible for teaching them to defend themselves."
"Unfortunately, not all students can be taught," Snape began as though Harry didn't speak. "It's a shame so many didn't make it into my NEWT classes this year. So many of them could use a teacher, as I doubt many will survive the next few months."
Before Harry was even aware of it, his wand was in his hands, pointing at the man in front of him. Harry could barely hear anything but the roaring of his blood in his ears. He opened his mouth to curse, hex, or just shout at the man in front of him, when his vision narrowed to a speck. His forehead burst forth with pain, and his stomach flipped.
"What do you think you're going to use that wand for? As much as I would like to teach you..." Snape sneered, but to Harry it seemed he was down a hallway now. Snape continued to berate him, but his voice drifted off just like Harry's vision, and within the span of a single breath, Harry was in a dark room.
He wasn't the only person feeling angry tonight.
Voldemort paced in front of a Death Eater, the fury rolling off the Dark Lord was almost tangible, and the cowering man lowered himself. It did not save him though. Voldemort was greatly displeased at the failed attempt to assassinate the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and such a slight would not be taken lightly.
The man begged, and the yew wand flicked. Crucio.
The room came back to him, and Harry shuddered. His skin felt sticky from the sweat that started pouring the moment him and Voldemort connected for that moment before he was shut out. Snape looked less unsure, a hand slightly out stretched as though to grasp the wand that had already lowered.
The anger mixed with the lingering pain from the connection in Harry's stomach, and his back of his mouth tasted of bile. Harry moved his tongue around, trying to rid himself of the taste, and his eyes met the man in front of him.
"I hope you enjoy your next meeting with Voldemort," Harry hissed, his victory feeling hallow even if Snape paled slightly at the insinuation.
"I never do," Snape all but whispered. He waved his wand over the shimmering door.
Harry took a few shaky steps towards the archway, overcome with exhaustion from his brief connection to Voldemort. Just before he made it to the first step, Snape spoke once more.
"Fifteen points from Gryffindor," he said quietly. "For trespassing."
Harry didn't even bother glaring at the man, instead he marched down the stairs, meeting Hermione and Ron. He ignored their questions until he put at least a few hallways between Snape and himself. His anger calmed enough that his hands stopped trembling, but by the looks on his friend's faces, he didn't appear any better.
His thoughts stormed together, but there was one thing Harry knew for certain after his argument with Snape. If everyone was going to survive Voldemort, they needed as much help as they could get. He paused in the hallway, and turned to his friends.
"We're starting the D.A. again," Harry announced.