Hello everyone again! *sits down, reclines in the chair* *Snape walks in with a foul expression, sits rigidly* He won't get a drink now, because someone accused him of being alcoholic, poor man. Heh.

So you think trouble is already upon us, eh? *Snape snorts* mwe hee hee hee….

let us see. Chapter 10, *hit play*

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Harry turned over in his sleep, in the early hours of Monday morning. It seemed that he could not find any rest, because he kept tossing and turning. Finally, his body settled down, immobile, as always when a dream is about to begin…

            He was blind, walking in a place he knew was full of colour and visual splendour, but he couldn't see. He didn't have his wand or his walking stick. Sasha slithered away from him. "Sasha, without you I can't see!" he called after the snake, but she didn't return. Harry had no means of seeing the wonderful marvels that surrounded him. Harry had never felt more desperate for vision in his life- he had to see what was around him.

"What would you give to have your vision back?"

The voice was a whisper, barely of threshold level. Harry answered, his heart beating faster and faster:

"Anything. I would do anything!"

"That is what I wanted to hear," the voice said, and laughter surrounded Harry who suddenly felt as if he had lost something precious.

            Harry sat up in bed, panting. He touched his forehead; cold sweat had dampened the tufts of hair there. He blinked many times, as if to make certain that it had been a dream, that nothing had changed. He heard silence around him, and saw darkness.

"Accio wand!" Harry called, and when the sleep wood came to his hand he muttered "Lumos!"

The spell must have worked, yet Harry saw nothing, the pitch blackness still engulfing him as snugly as ever. Harry let the wand drop in his lap and covered his face, half disappointed and half relieved that the dream was not true, that he had not stricken some sort of bargain for which he didn't know the price, but gave him something back that he otherwise would never get. He couldn't get himself to breathe normally, his blood pumping in his veins, his heart thumping with adrenaline as if he had just come out of a battle.

            Finally, he felt Sasha slithering towards him, and he put out his hand for her. She wrapped herself around his wrist and set her head in his palm.

"Why are you sssso dissstresssed?" she hissed.

"I dreamt that you abandoned me," Harry replied.

"Ridiculousss…" Sasha said indignantly, and Harry had to chuckle. He stroked Sasha, and she rubbed her head against his fingers. Sasha always reminded Harry of the stern professor that had given her to him. He swallowed.

"I miss him, Sasha," Harry said softly, sitting back against his pillows.

"Why?" the snake asked, still enjoying her master's caress.

"When he was around I… I didn't feel so blind. Now he's gone… I feel I am weakened."

"Nonsssenssse… you are ssstronger than when I met you," Sasha said. Harry smiled thinly.

"Do you really think so, Sasha?"

"Of courssse, Harry," Sasha said unruffled, not realising how much Harry was uplifted by what she had said. Harry got up and dressed, then pocketed his wand and took his walking stick. It was yet too early for breakfast, but he could go at the library to study for the OWLs. He tapped his way down the stairs from his prefect room and then out the portrait hole.

It didn't take him long to realise that something was terribly wrong. He could hear footsteps- adult footsteps when at this time there should be none. He could hear murmuring that sounded aggressive and somewhere there was Dumbledore's voice countering the muttering. He stopped and strained to hear. You don't have to… …in a few hours we will… … this is not a reformatory institution! Harry gritted his teeth, and instead of going to the library, he walked towards the guest quarters in the east wing, meaning to go interrogate Sirius.

At least, that was Harry's intention.

"Stop there, state your purpose and identification in the name of the Ministry's Inquisitors!" a harsh, buoyant voice made Harry freeze, and turn slightly to the right to face its source.

"The Ministry's what?" he asked.

Instead of answering, came a mutter, and Harry didn't waste any time. His wand was out in less than a second.

"Protego!" he shouted, and felt the tremble of the shield protecting him from a hit. He clenched his teeth and was halfway through chanting a nasty hex that would give his attacker an elephant's trunk, when Dumbledore's voice prevailed and stopped the skirmish from becoming a duel.

"Stop! May I ask, Inquisitor, why you are attacking a student?"

"He failed to convince him of his good will."

"I only asked who he was!" Harry protested, already angry.

"Fine, this seems like a misunderstanding on both parties. Let me then introduce you to each other. Inquisitor, this is Harry Potter, 5th year student in Gryffindor, and fervent opponent of anything Dark. Harry, this is one of the Ministry's Inquisitors. They will be patrolling the school grounds to protect against dark wizards."

"In Hogwarts!?"

"Dark wizards are everywhere, young man," the Inquisitor said pompously.

"You mean besides yourselves!?"

"You lost your Potions Master to a  Dark wizard attack, and you dare question me!" the Inquisitor would surely have resumed battle if Dumbledore wasn't present.

"Don't you even think of using Severus Snape as your excuse of being here, or I don't care who you are and who you work for--"

"That is enough, Harry, thank you," Dumbledore said, and Harry had the idea that Dumbledore was extremely happy with his outburst. "Where you looking for someone in particular?"

Harry clenched his teeth.

"No, Headmaster," he said and tapped past the Headmaster and the man. As he was passing by the Inquisitor, Harry whispered audibly:

"I was only up to no good."

***

            Sirius entered Remus' DADA office, all anger, having seen the whole scene with Harry and the Inquisitor from the aisle- however Dumbledore had warned him with his glance not to intervene.

"I am telling you, Moony, we are not going to get along well with—" he paused, his eyes staring at a small black cat. He paled, then his eyes travelled to the cup of wolfsbane that Remus was about to consume. Remus looked surprised- not pleasantly. Another moment passed that Sirius was looking between the cat and the cup, then the ex-convict became angry.

Very angry.

            He slammed the door shut and grabbed Sombre by the tail as the cat was trying to leap past.

"You miserable GIT!"

"Sirius no!" Lupin stood up, but Sirius had already grabbed Sombre and was about to start doing something close to Bellatrix's number. A pop was heard, and suddenly Sirius was on the floor, holding Severus Snape by the leg.

"Release me, Black, or I will –"

"You son of a bitch, do you have any idea what everyone has been through thinking you were dead? What Harry has been through? Is still going through? Is this your idea of a joke, because I will kick the fun out of it!" Sirius was practically screaming, and Remus quickly cast a sound-proof charm to prevent anyone from overhearing. Snape tried to speak, but Sirius didn't give him a chance, continuing with his tirade:

"Do you know that only half an hour ago he honoured your name and was ready to fight over your memory you stupid son of a bitch!? How did you have the gall, the nerve to do this to him?"

            Snape whipped his wand in an arc and Sirius found himself sitting in a chair, in a bodybind. Snape picked himself up slowly.

"As I recall, Black, we had all agreed that Harry would believe me dead, in order for his reactions to be real, and the ploy be believed. So drop the valiant godfather act with me; what is really angering you? That I kept you in the dark as well?"

"Severus, please release him. Sirius, calm down, I beg you. We can't afford to be heard."

Almost a full minute passed before Sirius' breathing came less violently, and Snape let up the bodybind. Sirius gritted his teeth. Snape sat down near the desk. He looked as if recuperating from a disease.

"For your information, Black, I tried to reveal the truth to Potter yesterday, but I was prevented from doing so."

"What prevented you from doing it later? From telling me?"

"You? Why should I tell you anything, Black? As a matter of fact, I was under the impression that you were blissful with me gone from the world," Snape said scathingly, quoting words that Sirius had spoken in anger years ago, when he had led him to the Shrieking Shack. Sirius scowled.

"That was a long time ago, Snape, geez. Get a life."

"How charming of you to urge me to do so, Black, but apparently I am needed to do everyone's dirtywork," Snape said and scowled as well.

Silence reigned in the room for a long time.

"Drink your wolfsbane, Lupin, before it cools," Snape said tiredly.

"I am glad that you are not dead," Sirius said quickly. Snape arched an eyebrow and looked at him. Sirius almost flushed. "I mean, for Harry. He needs you so much."

"I don't want you telling him anything about me, Black."

"You will leave him to think you dead? Do you know that he and his group are training to become fighting machines because they want to avenge you?"

"If I knew my death would be such an academic motive, I would have done it years ago," Snape drawled, watching Remus take his potion with the nose closed.

"This is serious, you git!"

"I am fully aware of who you are," Snape said, and Sirius blinked. It was not like Snape to sidestep questions or attacks with jokes of the kind. Snape got up from his chair.

"I will tell Potter who Sombre is myself, when I am given the chance. I want neither of you telling him anything before that. Not with the Inquisitors roaming. Remember Black- you are Unspeakable, and this is one of the Order's classified information. Understand?"

"Get out of here before I kick your feline ass out the window," Sirius almost growled in assent. Snape shifted into Sombre and walked out of the room, tail high.

***

"Does anyone have any idea who all these faceless people are? They look like Dementors in a fair," Blaise asked her classmates in the Slytherin table, as they were settling down for breakfast.

"You mean you haven't heard? But of course, how could you, when you are studying for the OWLs all the time. I wonder where you find it in you to study almost like that mudblood that hangs around Potter," Pansy chattered.

"Wouldn't it be more economical to call her by her name, Parkinson?" Draco smirked as he elegantly unfolded his napkin.

"They are Inquisitors from the Ministry. They are here to patrol the school," another Slytherin said.

"Whatever for?" Draco asked.

"Seems our success with Snape made Dumbledore shit his pants," Pansy snickered. Blaise rolled her eyes.

"Really, Pansy, sometimes I don't know if you try to be this irritating. Dumbledore wouldn't be afraid unless he saw our Dark Lord himself, and only then," Blaise said with arrogance, as befit her Death Eater status. Pansy shrugged and grinned.

"They already tried to blast Potter off his shoes. Dumbledore saved him, you know," she said with gusto.

"No, really? They are on our side, then?" Blaise asked, carefully painting the eagerness on her face.

"It seems so! They cover their faces with glamourie- some say they might even be some of the Death Eaters that got away in the Hogwarts Attack!"

"That sounds great!" Blaise grinned from ear to ear, when inside her, her heart fell to her stomach. Oh, Merlin no. Did it have to be so soon?

            The Headmaster took his place in the high table with all the staff. Professor Snape's seat had not been removed, and it stood there empty, no other sitting in it.

"May I have everyone's attention, please," Dumbledore said, and when there was quiet, he continued. "You may have noticed some people walking in the aisles that are not part of our staff today."

Harry snorted from where he was sitting, rubbing Shasha's head.

"They are Inquisitors, sent from the Ministry to ensure our safety and that no dark wizard is hiding among us. When they stop you and ask who you are, please answer them. I have to inform you that if you give the Inquisitors reason, they will look upon you as an enemy. There is no reason to be afraid though," he said a bit louder to cover the noise that his statement created, "as long as you stop when you are asked to and identify yourselves. Now, let's have breakfast."

            Ron snorted as he grabbed the toast.

"Sure we are safe. I don't see the Slytherins be uncomfortable- see that Parkinson, she's all giggles."

"I think you are right, Ron," Hermione said and set down her fork. Harry, however, continued eating as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"Eat up, guys," he said, "because our time's coming, and these guys are gonna be pushovers when we are done with them."

***

"Stop! State your purpose!"

"You there, where are you going? Can you prove it?"

"I'll shoot if you don't answer me, and stop stuttering!"

            The prompts and rude commands were giving Harry a headache. Apparently, however, he was not the only one, because during lunch Dumbledore announced that to facilitate the work of the Inquisitors, all students would walk from one class to another in groups that would be escorted by a Professor or Madam Pomfrey. The Inquisitors didn't seem to appreciate the fact; Harry heard them grunting and muttering as if they were disappointed, but the shouts ceased after this announcement. However, it was as if martial law had been declared in Hogwarts.

            In the Gryffindor common room, Harry walked up to Hermione.

"'Mione, would you come with me? I need some help with my DADA work," he told her, and both her and Ron blinked up. This was the phrase Harry used when he wanted to talk to them about the Study Group business. They both came with him in his prefect room, and Harry shut the door.

"What is it, Harry?"

"We have to be far more careful now about our meetings. Unfortunately, we need to make them more frequently in the same time. We have much to learn and even more to practise."

"Alright…"

"I will set an hour from now on that will be standard, and I will change it every week. We will all try to meet to the room of requirement. I'm afraid it means less sleep- we will be meeting after midnight."

"Won't we be more obvious? We will be the only ones walking in the aisles at that time of the night," Ron said.

"I asked my godfather to do some shopping for me," Harry said and smiled thinly. He went to his closet, his fingers tracing it until they closed around the handle. He opened it and took out a medium-sized package.

"What is it?" Hermione asked. Harry tossed it towards Ron, who caught it and opened it. They both breathed in sharply in awe of what was in there.

In the parcel were three Invisibility Cloaks.

"Harry, this must have cost a fortune!"

"I have a fortune, 'Mione, and we are at war. Each cloak takes two. Give one to Neville, you two have the other, and make sure Blaise and Draco get the third."

"What about you?"

"I don't need any cloaks- I am Hogwart's shadow when I want to be," Harry said, and his unfocused, immobile emerald eyes sparkled with determination.

***

            It was already the end of March, and Snape still had not found the moment to tell Harry the truth. He had started being restless- all the Inquisitors around never gave him a single chance, and there was one present at all hours in Dumbledore's office. He had started really loathing them all when one had kicked him so hard that he had to sneak in his office to get some potion against internal bleeding. Having to sneak in my very own quarters, I ask you. This will not pass unpunished.

            The Order itself had not had a chance to meet within Hogwarts grounds with all the Inquisitors present- it was a blessing that Snape had given to Remus Bellatrix's whereabouts before they had set foot in the castle. However, any activity on the part of the Order had stalled, because they had no chance of doing it in Hogwarts, and in the same time they had to accompany or protect students 24 – 7. I wonder if Dumbledore had foreseen this, or he made an error letting them come here.

            As Sombre, he walked down the aisle and sat near the armour that Harry used to beat senseless when he was first learning to cope with his blindness. I never thought that I would think upon those days as happier times. Sombre always sat there, watching Harry walk past so silently that even he, with his finetuned hearing couldn't discern the boy's footsteps, and so quickly, through the shadows cast by the few candles of the corridor, that it was impossible to see the Boy-Who-Lived if you didn't know he was there. Sombre was so proud of the boy he actually purred at times. Those times, Harry would pause, then realise that it was a cat purring, and hurry on even faster.

            He should pass any moment now. Perhaps I should stop him and tell him now. Before the schmuck patrolling the aisles comes this way. Or is it too dangerous? Perhaps Harry will shout, like Black did…

Harry walked past like a shadow, his left hand tracing the wall, his walking stick almost not touching. Sombre was ready to shift, when he heard a set of footsteps that weren't supposed to be there. Harry heard them too and tried to run away.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!" Harry reacted lightning fast and the spell was thwarted. However, the Inquisitor had planned his attack, and was holding a second wand already poised to strike. Sombre saw the telltale swish movement and heard no spell-word. Harry could not see all this, and he could not suspect the danger he was in. He will kill him with the sabre spell!

That could not be allowed to happen. Sombre let out a yowl and pounced.

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And that's that for tonight! *hands Snape a nice red Cabernet in a tall glass and sits with him* As you can suspect, action is going to be the daily deal from now on… what was Dumbledore thinking? *snickers* *Snape rolls his eyes*

As for my reviewers:

Barbara Kennedy: Machiavellian twist? *chuckles and bows* Thank you, thank you. Snape taught me well. The Wake for Snape happened a few days after his alledged death. Sombre was out stalking Mrs. Lestrange. I just didn't bother describing it. It wasn't like there would be an enormous turnup. *chuckles*

fyre: No, Snape's surviving the killing curse has nothing to do with his animagus form. So I guess Sombre is still with his lives intact. *g* I think it's apparent if Sirius knew or not about the charade with this chapter. I am sorry you don't appreciate Blaise, but you can't expect her to open up now. She is nothing sort of a Sphinx in keeping everything she feels and thinks to herself, simply because it's a question of survival. In any case, the story is not over yet, perhaps you will end up liking Blaise ;) As for what Harry will sense out regarding the inquisitors, we will soon see. Thanks for the delicious review!

Shinigami06: I am flattered that it caused you so many emotions. I hope this chapter meets the standard.

excessivelyperky: you think it's furry now? what will it be later then??

water drifter: how Snape remained alive will probably be revealed in the next chapter or the one after it.

Marauder3Moony: *grin* thanks!

Wolfmoon: Thanks for the vote of confidence! Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Mikee: Hey there! Nice to have you back with us! As for your hoping, trust me, everyone else is hoping for the same, too.

ShortySC22: Thanks!

Chantelli: don't worry, we are only half-way through this one yet.

mickeymoose: I agree!

Ms Padfoot: sometimes I sort into Slytherin, other into Gryffindor. I'm an official Gryfferin *snickers* What IS a Fuzzy Navel, anyway??